What Caught My Eye Today

Iraq - U.S. soldiers are building a three-mile wall to protect a Sunni Arab enclave surrounded by Shiite neighborhoods in a Baghdad area "trapped in a spiral of sectarian violence and retaliation," the military said. It said the concrete wall, including barriers as tall as 12 feet, "is one of the centerpieces of a new strategy by coalition and Iraqi forces to break the cycle of sectarian violence" in Baghdad. U.S. and Iraqi forces have long erected cement barriers around marketplaces and coalition bases and outposts in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities such as Ramadi in an effort to prevent attacks, including suicide car bombs. It seems to me that Iraqis should be looking for ways to tear down the walls that divide them (metaphorically speaking, of course) not building more walls.

Impeachment - Vermont senators voted Friday to call for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, saying their actions have raised "serious questions of constitutionality." The nonbinding resolution was approved 16-9 without debate — all six Republicans in the chamber at the time and three Democrats voted against it. Bush and Cheney's actions in the U.S. and abroad, including in Iraq, "raise serious questions of constitutionality, statutory legality, and abuse of the public trust," the resolution reads. Why not? If the Feds are content with wasting time on non-binding resolutions, no reason why state legislatures shouldn't have the same fun.

France - It's been a presidential campaign unlike any France has seen, with rioting youth, a bikini-clad candidate and a national identity crisis, with many scattershot proposals but no central theme to unite the French. On Sunday, it comes down to the 40 percent of voters who are keeping the nation guessing until the last minute of a captivating campaign with stakes for all of Europe. The presidential contenders are still trying to fathom what voters want, and have seemed ready to do anything to court the fringes or the middle — or the opposite camp. Across the country, jobs are voters' No. 1 concern, polls show. But the campaign focus never stayed on jobs, instead switching to school choice, trashing the European Central Bank and taxing the rich, then to cracking down on youth rampaging in a Paris train station. In recent weeks, the most enduring campaign theme was French identity. That, in turn, renewed French gloom over its shrinking role in the world, and the world economy. That may be true, but look at it this way. The French have the better food, the better wine, a language that makes a trip to the bathroom sound sexy, and by a wide margin the best method of kissing. If you think about it, the reason some many of us (myself included) hate the French is envy.

Catholicism - The Roman Catholic Church has effectively buried the concept of limbo, the place where centuries of tradition and teaching held that babies who die without baptism went. In a long-awaited document, the Church's International Theological Commission said limbo reflected an "unduly restrictive view of salvation." The verdict that limbo could now rest in peace had been expected for years. The document was seen as most likely the final word since limbo was never part of Church doctrine, even though it was taught to Catholics well into the 20th century. So long as they don't get rid of purgatory, I'm cool with this. I'd hate to think that I'm definitely going straight to hell.

American Idol - Rumor has it that Sanjaya may meet the President at a correspondents dinner hosted by the White House. The ousted Idol contestant has been invited to the glittery event by the People magazine. You know, I almost feel sorry for the President.

Sports - Already then, how about that update on all those obscure sporting event going on in Europe?

America's Cup - American boat BMW Oracle Racing enjoyed two wins as the America's Cup challengers series started. The Americans led from start to finish and sailed to easy wins over United Internet Team Germany and China Team. Owner Larry Ellison took the helm as Oracle crossed the finish line 2 minutes ahead of the Germans. The Louis Vuitton Cup, which runs through June 11, will decide which of the challengers will sail against America's Cup champion Alinghi in the final from June 23-July 4.

Tour de France - The director of the Tour de France is asking cycling teams to exclude riders who were implicated in the Spanish doping investigation. More than 50 cyclists were implicated in the Spanish probe before the 2006 Tour started, leading to pre-race favorites Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso, along with seven other riders, being excluded from the race. "The Tour was sullied last year," the Tour director said. "It won't happen again." That's true. They're going to run out of riders who are clean enough to race.