What Caught My Eye Today

Myanmar - Security forces fired warning shots and tear gas canisters while hauling Buddhist monks away in trucks as authorities tried to stop anti-government demonstrations, the first mass arrests since protests erupted last month. About 300 monks and activists were arrested across Yangon, according to an exile dissident group, and reporters saw a number of monks — who are highly revered in Myanmar — being dragged into trucks. The junta had banned all public gatherings of more than five people and imposed a nighttime curfew following eight days of anti-government marches led by monks in Yangon and other areas of the country, including the biggest protests in nearly two decades. President Bush on Tuesday announced new U.S. sanctions against Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, accusing the military dictatorship of imposing "a 19-year reign of fear" that denies basic freedoms of speech, assembly and worship. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called for an urgent U.N. Security Council meeting on Myanmar, or Burma, and urged the military regime there to be restrained in reacting to protests. The European Union also threatened to strengthen existing sanctions against the regime if it uses violence to put down the demonstrations. Seeing as both countries are starting to run out of supporters, maybe Myanmar and Iran should hook up. Seems like a match made in heaven, doesn't it?

U.S. Dollar - The dollar has fallen to yet another all-time low against the euro, after further weak U.S. economic data. Figures showed that consumer confidence has fallen to a near two-year low, while house prices have seen the sharpest drop in 16 years. Analysts said the data boosted expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates still further. In early trading, the euro hit a high of $1.4163, before pulling back to $1.4122 by late morning in Europe. The Fed cut interest rates to 4.75% from 5.25% last week, in a move aimed at restoring confidence in both the housing and financial markets. It was the first rate cut in four years. The high value of the euro has caused concern among European exporters, as it makes their products more expensive in the U.S. Thankfully for us Americans, prices remain the same. Oh happy day. On the bright side, some of us (don't worry, it isn't me) are seeing some upswing in their stock portfolios as profits increase due to increased spending on U.S. goods from the rest of the world.

Baseball - The ball Barry Bonds hit for his record-breaking 756th home run will be branded with an asterisk and sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame, its owner said. Fashion designer Marc Ecko, who bought the ball in an online auction, set up a Web site for fans to vote on the ball's fate, and the decision to brand it won out over the other options, sending it to the museum unblemished or launching it into space. Ecko, whom Bonds called "an idiot" last week, had the winning bid Sept. 15 in the online auction for the ball that Bonds hit Aug. 7 to break Hank Aaron's record of 755 home runs. The final selling price was $752,467, well above most predictions that assumed Bonds' status as a lightning rod for the steroids debate in baseball would depress the value. The asterisk suggests that Bonds' record is tainted by alleged steroid use. The slugger has denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs. Fans brought signs with asterisks on them to ballparks as he neared Aaron's hallowed mark. Regardless of Bonds' guilt or innocence, somehow this seems a fitting end to this story. Maybe someday the truth about his alleged steriods use will come out, but for now, it certainly seems as if Bonds will have to live with the asterisk.

Cycling - Floyd Landis, who has been stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title after failing a dope test, insists he has prevailed on the French roads without cheating. In a letter to his fans posted on his Web site, Landis said: "I can sleep well at night knowing that I won the 2006 Tour de France fair and square. I hope that my campaign to clear my name still means something to all of you who have kindly donated to my legal defense fund. If any good has come out of this, we have shown that the anti-doping system is corrupt, inefficient and unfair. The content of this decision unfortunately highlights this once again. The straightforward and clear dissent in support of my case contrasts sharply with the scientifically flawed and illogical majority decision against me." Whatever gets you through day, sparkplug. I also find it somewhat telling that nowhere on his website, does Floyd show the donations that he has received to date.