What Caught My Eye Today

Earthquakes - A small earthquake shook the San Francisco Bay Area today. The temblor measured 3.4 on the Richter Scale and was centered two miles southeast of Berkeley, according to the US Geological Survey's website. The quake, which occurred along the Hayward Fault line, is not uncommon in the Bay Area. Small quakes, similar in magnitude to this one, occur around the Bay nearly once or twice a month. What caught my attention was the Did You Feel It web site maintained by the USGS. Instant feedback from the public is displayed on an interactive map.

Iraq - Brushing aside criticism from the White House, Senate Democrats said their next challenge to President Bush's Iraq war policy would require the gradual withdrawal of U.S. combat troops beginning within 120 days. The draft legislation also declares the war "requires principally a political solution" rather than a military one. The provisions are included in a measure that would repeal the authority that lawmakers gave Bush in 2002, months before the invasion of Iraq, and replace it with a far more limited mission.

A White House spokesman said the administration "of course" would oppose an attempt to alter the existing authorization, and he warned that a pullout of U.S. troops could bring chaos to Iraq. "We're operating under a mandate," he said.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the White House is not only confused, but in denial. "They can spin all they want, but the fact is that President Bush is ignoring a bipartisan majority of Congress, his own military commanders, and the American public in escalating the war," said Jim Manley. "The American people have demanded a change of course in Iraq and Democrats are committed to holding President Bush accountable."

Given that the Senate tried twice, and failed, to pass a non-binding resolution, I'm not exactly holding my breath on this one.

South Korea - The US and South Korea have reached a deal to hand control of South Korea's military back to Seoul by 2012. The agreement ends a 50-year pact that gave the US wartime command of South Korea's army, dating to the Korean War. South Korea ceded control of its military to a US-led UN force during the Korean War, which ended with a ceasefire in 1953. Ceasefire, yes, but how many of you knew that South Korea is still technically at war with North Korea?

Golf - Tiger Woods' winning streak is over no matter what tour he is playing. In a shocking end to a PGA Tour streak that began in July, Woods failed to notice a ball mark in the line of his 4-foot birdie putt that would have won his third-round match against Nick O'Hern. He missed the putt, then lost in 20 holes when the Australian saved par with a 12-foot putt Friday at the Accenture Match Play Championship. I'm guessing that talks of a slump cannot be far behind. Dude cannot even win 8 events in a row, what a chump.

Cycling - You can continue to indulge my love of the sport or feel free to sign off now. My boy, Levi Leipheimer, now leads the Tour of California by 21 seconds (believe it or not, that's a pretty big margin) after winning the 14 mile Stage 5 time trial in Solvang. The tour wraps up on Sunday with a circuit race through the streets of Long Beach.