What Caught My Eye Today

First things first. Happy Birthday, Dad!

2008 Presidential Campaign - The Associated Press and Yahoo! News conducted an in-depth survey of more than 2,000 people asking which presidential candidate is the most likable? On the Republican side, Giuliani gets the nod, both from GOP voters and among voters overall. None of the Democratic candidates has a clear advantage among Democratic voters, with Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards running about even. But in a sheer popularity contest, pitting the most likable Democrat vs. the best-liked Republican, it would be Obama over Giuliani, 54 percent to 46 percent. Overall, the poll finds, Democrats are weighing personal traits more heavily than policy positions this election season; Republicans are putting greater emphasis on policy. Here are some select results to the question, 'How well does each word describe these candidates:

• Decisive - Clinton: 72% Obama: 55% Edwards: 54% Giulani: 67% Thompson: 38% McCain: 57% They all seem a bit pig-headed to me


• Strong - Clinton: 78% Obama: 61% Edwards: 56% Giulani: 69% Thompson: 43% McCain: 62% They mean mentally strong, right?


• Honest - Clinton: 65% Obama: 64% Edwards: 58% Giulani: 58% Thompson: 46% McCain: 59% Are we sure the respondents understood the question?


• Experienced - Clinton: 76% Obama: 35% Edwards: 57% Giulani: 71% Thompson: 38% McCain: 69% Experienced at what, is my question?


• Ethical - Clinton: 67% Obama: 65% Edwards: 59% Giulani: 54% Thompson: 45% McCain:59% Umm...no comment.

This is all well and good and, frankly, a bit more interesting than most polls that I have seen, but I'm not sure that it means much, after all, the first primaries are still a month and a half away. Although it is a bit surprising that Hilary managed a clean sweep. Here's a survey question I'd like to see--how many voters think the build up to primary season is way too flippin' long?

Space Station - Two spacewalking astronauts wired up the international space station's newest room, Harmony, and kept the next shuttle visit on track for early December. NASA cannot launch another space shuttle until the school bus-size Harmony is all hooked up, inside and out. Atlantis is supposed to blast off Dec. 6 with a European laboratory that will dock to Harmony. One of Harmony's other parking spaces is reserved for a Japanese lab. Click here if you are interested in more information about the International Space Station. This stuff doesn't make the nightly news very often, which I think is a bit of a shame. In this day and age where the headlines are dominated by international strife, it is nice to see at least one international collaboration making some positive progress.

France - Schools closed, flights were delayed, trains again weren't running, and newspapers weren't printed as civil servants joined transport workers in strikes to challenge President Nicolas Sarkozy's program of sweeping reform for France. A defiant Sarkozy said voters gave him a mandate for reform when they elected him in May, adding: "We will not surrender and we will not retreat." Sarkozy was elected on promises to reform France — from its courts to its creaking university system, its army of civil servants to rail workers whose special retirement privileges he vowed to eliminate. I'm a bit confused on this one. On one hand, it sounds like the voters are getting exactly what they asked for. On the other had, it doesn't sound like Sarkozy did a very good job of selling his reforms to the general population. I guess it's just another example of the old cliche, 'Be careful what you ask for. You might just get it."

Iran and Venezuela - Venezuela's outspoken president Hugo Chavez joined with Iran's leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in boasting that they are "united like a single fist" in challenging American influence, saying the fall of the dollar is a sign that "the U.S. empire is coming down." Making his fourth trip to Tehran in two years, Chavez has built a strong bond with Ahmadinejad that has produced a string of business agreements as well as a torrent of rhetoric presenting their two countries as an example of how smaller nations can stand up to the U.S. Chavez has strongly supported Iran's right to have a civilian nuclear program, backing the position of Tehran that its atomic activities are intended solely for the peaceful production of electricity. Chavez has recently said that Venezuela also aims to start a peaceful nuclear energy program. Ahmadinejad backed his "dear brother" Chavez in their joint fight with the Bush administration. Since 2001, the two countries have signed more than 180 trade agreements, worth more than $20 billion in potential investment, according to official reports. Iran has partnered with Venezuela on several industrial projects in the South American nation, including the production of cars, tractors and plastic goods. You know, in a lot of ways, these two are a match made in heaven. Besides, who else wants the headache of dealing with either one of these guys? I'm not sure that this burgeoning friendship should be cause for much concern though. It's hard to say just how well this relationship will hold up if either side starts feeling short changed by the other. After all, it's not like Chavez or Ahmadinejad are the most stable personalities.

Cambodia - The head of the Khmer Rouge's largest and most notorious torture center appeared in court Tuesday in the first public session of the long-delayed U.N.-backed tribunal probing the regime's reign of terror in the 1970s. The 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime was blamed for the deaths of some 1.7 million people from starvation, disease, overwork and execution. Many have said they feared the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders might die before being brought to justice. The movement's notorious leader, Pol Pot, died in 1998. Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, is charged with crimes against humanity for his role as the head of the regime's infamous Tuol Sleng prison, also called S-21, in Phnom Penh. Up to 16,000 men, women and children were tortured there from 1975-79 and later taken away to be executed at a site outside the capital known as "the killing fields." Only 14 people are thought to have survived. I try to keep abreast of what's going on around the world, but must confess that this whole deal is new to me. It never ceases to amaze me the extent of evil that man is capable of.

Tennis - The world's former number one tennis player was no match for the current champion when they met on court Tuesday for only the second time. In an exhibition match in the South Korean capital, Roger Federer beat Pete Sampras 6-4, 6-3 in a match lasting just 61 minutes. The Swiss ace is at the peak of his powers, lifting his fourth Masters Cup title on Sunday, whereas Sampras retired from the professional game in 2002. Federer admitted he was "tensed up a bit" because he was facing one of his heroes. But once he found his rhythm, the Swiss was off and running. "It was a little tricky situation. I'd been playing well and Pete's been retired for five years," Federer said. "I expected myself to win tonight. Dude, I should hope so. Pete's no slouch, but come on, he's been out of the game for 5 years. I have to assume the motivation for this match up has to do with some major dollar signs for both Federer and Sampras.

And saving the most eagerly anticipated news story of the day for last...

Yachting - The 33rd America's Cup, initially set for 2009 in Spain, could be postponed until 2011. U.S. challenger Oracle have taken Alinghi to court in New York, arguing the Swiss defender set rules for the next edition of sailing's most prestigious race which are unfairly weighted in Alinghi's favor. Holding the event in 2010 would be difficult as it would compete for television air time with the fooball World Cup in South Africa so 2011 would become the most viable year to stage the next race. If the court rules against Alinghi, the Swiss syndicate will not appeal the decision and will accept racing in the catamaran proposed by Oracle. But if Alinghi wins, Oracle is expected to appeal, creating a period of uncertainty for a further one or two years. Alinghi won the 32nd America's Cup, which featured 11 challengers, defeating Emirates Team New Zealand 5-2 in Valencia in a best-of-nine series. Last week Alinghi rejected a compromise solution aimed at ended the dispute that was presented by Oracle and three of the five challengers. The five challengers who have so far signed up for the 33rd edition are: Team Origin of Britain; Team New Zealand; South African syndicate Shosholoza; Desafio Espanol of Spain and United Team Germany. So like is anyone still reading this?