What Caught My Eye Today

NASA - Astronaut Lisa Nowak was fired from NASA on Wednesday, a month after she was charged with trying to kidnap a woman she regarded as her romantic rival for the affections of a space shuttle pilot. Her dimissal marked the first time NASA has publicly fired an astronaut. NASA officials said Nowak's dismissal did not reflect the space agency's belief in her guilt or innocence. So if not for that, what was she fired for?

Iran - EU powers urged Iran on Wednesday to embrace a U.N. idea of a "timeout" from nuclear activity they fear could yield atom bombs, saying sanctions they sponsored against Tehran would be simultaneously suspended. Iran rejected the overture, insisting its bid for nuclear energy was peaceful, legal and non-negotiable. A 'timeout' is the best diplomatic solution that these guys can come up with? This is a soveriegn state that we're talking about, not a three year old. A 'timeout' probably isn't going to resolve this situation.

Kazakhstan - Here's another injustice raised by the U.S. State Department's The department's annual human rights report. It criticizes Kazakhstan for taking action against the satirical Web site of Sacha Baron Cohen, creator of the fictional Kazakh journalist in the film "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." Specifically, the government took control of the registration of .kz Internet domains in 2005 and revoked Baron Cohen's domain because it deemed his site offensive. "The government limited individuals' ability to criticize the country's leadership, and regional leaders attempted to limit local media outlets' criticism of them," said the report. In defense of Kazakhstan, Borat is rather offensive. It's stuff like this that probably makes other countries get so irritated with the U.S. It's a web site based on a fictional character. Let it go. If we're going to make accusations, can we do so for something that actually exists. Hmm, maybe we should have done that in Iraq as well.

Golf - Tiger Woods will achieve a long-standing ambition this year by becoming a tournament host for the first time. The PGA Tour, in conjunction with the Tiger Woods Foundation, are to stage a new $6 million event in Washington, D.C. from July 5 to 8. "This is a dream come true," Woods said. "I remember when I first came gut on tour and we started our foundation in 1997, my focus and goal one day with my father was to be able to host a tour event. This is a pretty momentous day." I'm betting that this is one tournament that he will definitely play in.

Basketball - The NBA certainly has its hands full this week.

Deputies have responded to five 911 calls from Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest's home since last August, including two domestic disturbances between Artest and his wife, Kimsha. The previous incidents became known after Artest's arrest Monday, when a woman inside his home in a Sacramento suburb called 911 and said she had been assaulted. Artest slapped the woman's face and grabbed her repeatedly, causing visible injuries, according to a sheriff's report. Monday's incident was Artest's latest run-in with local authorities. Last month, county animal-control officers seized his Great Dane, Socks, because it wasn't being fed.

In another incident, Kobe Bryant was suspended one game by the NBA on Wednesday for striking a player in the face, his second penalty for that action in a little more than a month. The most recent incident came with 58 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' 117-107 double-overtime loss to Minnesota on Tuesday night, when Bryant struck the Timberwolves' Marko Jaric after taking a shot. The play was similar to one that drew Bryant a suspension late in January, when he hit San Antonio's Manu Ginobili in the face after taking a shot.

I'm thinking that maybe some anger management classes may be in order. Otherwise these games may need to be relabeled as 'rumbles'.