What Caught My Eye Today

Jena - A judge denied a request to release a teenager whose arrest in the beating of a white classmate sparked this week's civil rights protest in Louisiana. Mychal Bell's request to be freed while an appeal is being reviewed was rejected at a juvenile court hearing, effectively denying him any chance at immediate bail. Bell, 17, was convicted of aggravated second-degree battery, which could have led to 15 years in prison. But his conviction was thrown out by a state appeals court that said he could not be tried on the charge as an adult because he was 16 at the time of the beating. Yesterday, the case drew thousands of protesters to this tiny central Louisiana town to rally against what they see as a double standard of justice for blacks and whites. The march was one of the biggest civil rights demonstrations in years. This story has been frontline news all week. I hope that this because there is a genuine interest in having a constructive dialogue on race rather than just a passing cause célèbre. I found over 6000 new articles about this story. Only NPR, the BBC and the Guardian had anything to say about the story prior to this week's events. So basically, unless you are an avid listener of public television and radio or are British, you probably had no idea how long this issue has been percolating.

China - Mattel Inc. tried to save face Friday with Chinese officials, taking the blame for the recent recalls of millions of Chinese-made toys as it strives to mend a strained relationship with the nation that makes most of its toys and fattens its profit. The world's largest toy maker sent a top executive to personally apologize to China's product safety chief as reporters and company lawyers looked on. The unusual move reflects how invested El Segundo-based Mattel has become in China. Mattel ordered three high-profile recalls this summer involving more than 21 million Chinese-made toys because of concerns about lead paint or tiny magnets that could be swallowed. Mattel previously said many of the toys were recalled because of design problems. It also said certain vendors in China or their subcontractors violated Mattel's rules by failing to use safe paint or to run tests on paint. If this is just a ploy to maintain business relationship, this is a totally weenie move on Mattel's part. If you guys screwed up in the first place, how come you waited so long to come clean?

Iraq - American convoys under the protection of Blackwater USA resumed four days after the U.S. Embassy suspended all land travel by its diplomats and other civilian officials in response to the alleged killing of civilians by the security firm. A top aide to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had earlier conceded it may prove difficult for the Iraqi government to follow through on threats to expel Blackwater and other Western security contractors. The U.S. ban earlier this week had confined most American officials to the Green Zone, a 3 1/2-square-mile area in the center of the city that houses the American Embassy and thousands of U.S. soldiers and contractors. The decision kept them from visiting U.S.-funded construction sites or Iraqi officials elsewhere in the country except by helicopter — an indication of how dependent the State Department is on Blackwater protection. Blackwater has said its employees acted "lawfully and appropriately" in response to an armed attack against a U.S. State Department convoy. Several Iraqi witnesses and officials claim the security guards were the first to open fire. What a cluster...well, you know. From what I can figure about the only stuff that seems to be running smoothly over there are the military operations that General Petraeus is running. Hey, here's an idea. How about election him President? I bet he come up with and execute a plan to get us out without bringing an end to civilization as we know it.

Free Speech - Columbia University planned Friday to go forward with a speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, while the city mobilized security to protect him from protests during his New York visit. Ahmadinejad, who is to arrive in New York on Sunday to address the United Nations General Assembly, is scheduled to speak at a Columbia question-and-answer forum on Monday. His request to lay a wreath at the World Trade Center site was denied and condemned by Sept. 11 family members and politicians. Ahmadinejad has called the Holocaust "a myth" and called for Israel to be "wiped off the map." The White House has said Iran sponsors terrorism and is trying to develop nuclear weapons. Columbia canceled a planned visit by the Iranian president last year, citing security and logistical reasons. Rallies are planned outside the university building where he was to speak and at the United Nations, prompting city and state officials to prepare a security detail for him. The city police and the U.S. Secret Service are charged with protecting the Iranian leader along with dozens of heads of state arriving for the assembly. I will freely admit that I am not a fan of Ahmadinejad's policies or delusions about world history, but by putting our heads in the sand and pretending the guy isn't out there popping his mouth off isn't going to solve anything. Maybe if we listen to the man, we can figure out how to deal with him a little better. I'll say this, I bet this dude will have a full house on Monday.

Bomb Scare - Troopers arrested an MIT student at gunpoint Friday after she walked into Logan International Airport wearing a computer circuit board and wiring on her sweatshirt. Authorities call it a fake bomb; she called it art. The student's attorney said the charges against her were an overreaction, but authorities expressed amazement that someone would wear such a device eight months after a similar scare in Boston, and six years after two of the jets hijacked in the Sept. 11 attacks took off from Logan. She was charged with possessing a hoax device. A not guilty plea was entered for her and she was released on $750 bail. Okay, so free speech is one thing, but this broad was just plain stupid. There is no difference between this and screaming 'Fire' in a crowded room just for the sake of doing so. Freedom of speech is a privilege that a lot of men and women have given their lives to preserve for us. Let's use some common sense.

Wealth - Microsoft founder Bill Gates is the richest person in America for the 14th year in a row, followed by investor Warren Buffett, according to Forbes magazine's latest list of the wealthiest Americans with Gates' fortune $59 billion and Buffett $52 billion. Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson ($28 billion), head of Las Vegas Sands Corp, and software tycoon Larry Ellison ($26 billion), chief executive of Oracle Corp, remain at No. 3 and No. 4 on the 25th annual ranking of 400 rich Americans, which now requires a minimum net worth of $1.3 billion for inclusion. The collective net worth of those listed on the 400 this year rose $290 billion to $1.54 trillion. Of the top 400 richest Americans, Forbes said 270 were entirely self-made, 74 inherited their wealth and 39 are women. There were 82 American billionaires who did not make the list. To give you some perspective no just how much $1.54 trillion is, Russia's (as in the country) Gross Domestic Product in 2006 was $1.73 trillion. You hear all the time, 'sure they may be rich, but are they happy?'. Dude, these guys are so rich they can buy all the happiness they want.

Baseball - Home run record holder Barry Bonds will leave the San Francisco Giants at the end of this season, the player said on his personal website. Bonds said the Giants had told him he would not be playing for them in 2008 but added he intended to continue in the game. In his statement, Bonds said he believes the Giants made the decision long ago not to bring him back for next season. "Although I am disappointed, I've always said baseball is a business, and I respect their decision," Bonds said. "However, I am saddened and upset that I was not given an earlier opportunity to properly say goodbye to you, my fans, and celebrate with the city throughout the season as I truly believe this was not a last-minute decision by the Giants, but one that was made some time ago." Bonds had said he wanted to finish his career in the comfort of his hometown, where his father, Bobby, played alongside his godfather, Willie Mays. You know some team will pick him up if the price is right. Last time I checked, Oakland wasn't too far from San Franciso, and being an American League team, the Athletics have a Designated Hitter position.

Cycling - Floyd Landis has been officially stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after being found guilty of doping. As a result, Spaniard Oscar Pereiro, who finished second to the American in the overall standings, has been named the new 2006 Tour de France champion. Landis has been found guilty of doping by a U.S. panel of judges following a positive test for the banned male sex hormone testosterone during his victorious ride on the French roads in July 2006. And that ends that. Adios, Floyd.