What Caught My Eye Today

Politics - Vice President Dick Cheney on Wednesday harshly criticized Democrats' attempts to thwart President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq, saying their approach would "validate the al-Qaida strategy." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi fired back that Cheney was questioning critics' patriotism. Pelosi said. "And you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to call the president and tell him I disapprove of what the vice president said," Pelosi said. "It has no place in our debate." Bush had previously urged her to call him when a member of his administration stepped over the line by questioning Democrats' patriotism, she said. Later, Pelosi said she had tried to reach the president but was only able to get through to White House chief of staff Josh Bolten. Okay, stop it you two, or you will be sent to the corner for a timeout. It's sometimes hard to believe that these people are charged with running our country.

Iraq - Britain's Prince, Harry is being deployed to Iraq this spring with his Blues and Royals regiment. Royal officials announced Thursday that the 22-year-old prince would fight for his country. His regiment is expected to set out in May or June for a six-month tour. Harry, a second lieutenant, has been trained to lead a team of 12 men in four armored reconnaissance vehicles. Word of the deployment comes one day after Prime Minister Tony Blair said British troop numbers in Iraq will be cut by 1,600 in coming months. Good on ya, mate. Besides, chicks dig scars.

Indonesia - Indonesian authorities will drop hundreds of giant concrete balls into a fissure Friday to try to stem a gushing mud eruption that has inundated villages and factories, an official said. The hot, noxious mud — enough to fill 50 Olympic-sized swimming pools — has flowed from the hole each day for the last nine months, forcing at least 11,000 people from their homes. Four villages and 25 factories have been buried under a 30-foot layer of mud. Mud fissures are fairly common along volatile tectonic belts like that one running below Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago. Man, these guys cannot catch a break can they?

Dancing with the Stars - ABC announced Wednesday that Paul McCartney's estranged wife, Heather Mills, will be among the competitors. Mills will be the first contestant with an artificial limb to compete on the series. Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno, boxer Laila Ali, former basketball star Clyde Drexler and actor Vincent Pastore, who played gangster Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on "The Sopranos," Actor and former country star Billy Ray Cyrus, former 'N Sync member Joey Fatone, Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey, former "Entertainment Tonight" host Leeza Gibbons, model Paulina Porizkova and former "Beverly Hills, 90210" star Ian are also in the cast. I'm not sure this is going to be a fair contest. Really, who would vote against someone trying to compete with an artificial leg?