What Caught My Eye Today

I want start off by wishing the folks a very happy 37th wedding anniversary. I did some checking to see what the traditional gift is for 37 years and you know what I found? Zilch. Looks like Mom and Dad will have to wait for the big 4-0 at which time it appears I'll be springing for some rubies.

Myanmar - China joined Western powers for the first time to deplore Myanmar's crushing of pro-democracy demonstrations and call for political dialogue there in a statement by the U.N. Security Council. The official policy statement is not legally binding, but because -- unlike a resolution -- it required the consent of all 15 council members, it left the Myanmar government isolated. The official policy statement is not legally binding, but because -- unlike a resolution -- it required the consent of all 15 council members, it left the Myanmar government isolated, Western diplomats said. It was the first time the council had taken official action on Myanmar and marked a shift of position by China, a neighbor and key trading partner of Myanmar that had previously used its veto to prevent criticism of the country's authorities. Kudos that China decided to vote with the rest of the world. Of course, the statement is pretty much worthless, so maybe that's why China agreed to it.

Turkey - Turkey, which is a key supply route to U.S. troops in Iraq, recalled its ambassador to Washington and warned of serious repercussions if Congress labels the killing of Armenians by Turks a century ago as genocide. Ordered after a House committee endorsed the genocide measure, the summons of the ambassador for consultations was a further sign of the deteriorating relations between two longtime allies and the potential for new turmoil in an already troubled region. Analysts also have speculated the resolution could make Turkey more inclined to send troops into northern Iraq to hunt Turkish Kurd rebels, a move opposed by the U.S. because it would disrupt one of the few relatively stable and peaceful Iraqi areas. The Turks suspended military ties with France last year after parliament's lower house approved a bill that would have made it a crime to deny the mass killings of Armenians in Turkey amounted to genocide. But Turkey has much more to lose from cutting ties to the U.S. The United States is one of its major business partners, with $11 billion in trade last year, and the U.S. defense industry provides much of the Turkish military's equipment. Here's what surprises me about all this--France and the U.S. actually agreeing on foreign policy? What is the world coming to?

Running - Not the most exciting topic on the face of the planet, but after reading 2 stories about two different marathons on the same day, I figured it was a sign.

First up, soaring temperatures and high humidity played havoc with the Chicago Marathon sending dozens of runners to the hospital and forcing organizers to cancel the event mid-race. With temperatures peaking at 88 degrees and water supplies running low, emergency workers were overwhelmed by racers suffering from the hear. Four hours into the event, the course was closed, and only those runners who were past the halfway mark were allowed to finish. One runner died during the race. How lousy must it have been for the poor slobs who got to mile 14 when the course was closed? They still had to finish 12 more miles.

Next, a Mexican politician who won the over-55 age group in the Berlin marathon last month cheated. An electronic tracking chip indicated that the man, who finished the race in 2 hours adn 41 minutes, took only 21 minutes to get from the 12.4 mile point to the 21.7 point. Nine miles in 21 minutes is faster than any human being can run. Wouldn't it be more accurate to say 'faster than any human being has ever run'? With all the blood doping that is possible these days, I wouldn't rule it out.