What Caught My Eye Today

Iraq - President Bush called Democrats in Congress irresponsible for approving war bills that order U.S. troops to leave Iraq by certain dates. He said such efforts will backfire, keeping some troops in battle even longer. The president's remarks come one day after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced he would try to eliminate money for the war if Bush rejects Congress' proposal to set a deadline to end combat. Reid's latest proposal would give the president one year to get troops out, ending funding for combat operations after March 31, 2008, and allowing troops to conduct only counterterrorism operations, train Iraqi forces and provide security for U.S. infrastructure and personnel. Unable to override a presidential veto because he lacks the necessary two-thirds majority support, Reid is trying to ratchet up the pressure on Bush in the hopes the president will cave. You have to wonder how much longer these guys will be able to stick to their guns on this. Regardless of who is right and who wins, if the troops get short changed on this deal, Bush and Reid are both going to get crucified.

Syria - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi toured Damascus on Tuesday, the highest-ranking American politician to visit Syria since relations began to deteriorate four years ago. President Bush criticized the trip, saying it sends mixed signals to President Bashar Assad. The United States accuses Syria of interfering in Iraq and Lebanon and sponsoring terrorists — charges Syria denies. The Bush administration has resisted calls to open direct talks with Damascus on resolving the countries' disputes. Good plan. Let's isolate ourselves from everyone that we're pissed off at. That will certainly help our standing with the rest of the world.

Hurricane Season - Top researchers announced the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season should be "very active," with nine hurricanes and a good chance that at least one major hurricane will hit the U.S. coast. Researchers expect 17 named storms in all this year, five of them major hurricanes with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater. The probability of a major hurricane making landfall on the U.S. coast this year is 74%. There were 10 named Atlantic storms in 2006 and five hurricanes, two of them major, in what was considered a "near normal" season. None of those hurricanes hit the U.S. Atlantic coast — only the 11th time that has occurred since 1945. The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, averages 9.6 named storms, 5.9 hurricanes and 2.3 intense hurricanes per year. Best to plan ahead, people. Start digging out those Home Depot gift cards you got for Christmas.

March Madness - Florida beat Ohio State 84-75 to capture its second straight NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. More importantly, Florida's victory wrapped up my office pool win. I got 50 out of 63 correct picks good enough for a tie for 87928th place with 150 out of a possible 192 points (95th percentile) on Yahoo Sports. The winner, based on points, had 185 points from 58 correct picks. The most accurate bracket had 60 of 63 correct picks.

Yachting - Billionaires are racheting up the trash talk as the quadrennial America's Cup competition gets under way in Valencia, Spain. Try to keep up with me here. Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 is the ultimate preliminary regatta of the opening Acts, and represents a final opportunity for the challengers to move up or down on the Louis Vuitton Ranking table. For Alinghi, the Defender, this racing represents a last look at the challengers; following Act 13, won’t race again until the America’s Cup Match beginning on June 23rd. In one of the most extraordinary races ever witnessed in America’s Cup racing, BMW ORACLE Racing, the top U.S. entry, sailed from 8th to 1st on the final fickle run of Race 1 in Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13. Next up is the Louis Vuitton Cup which will decide who will be the Challenger to the current America's Cup holder, Alinghi of Switzerland. I'm still scratching my head over the fact that a landlocked country is the reigning champion of a yachting competition.