What Caught My Eye Today

France - French President Nicolas Sarkozy has gone public with his new girlfriend, model-turned-folksinger, Carla Bruni (click here for her web site). Bruni, 39, has been romantically linked in the past with rock stars Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton. Sarkozy, 52, announced his divorce from Cecilia, his wife of 11 years, just two months ago. From what I can see, it looks like Sarkozy traded up for a newer model. And on another note, this is why the French are so cool. We had a President, who shall remain nameless--though, coincidentally his wife is currently after his old job--who could have taken up with any woman that he wanted, and he goes out and nails a rather homely looking intern. Sarkozy, is totally taking advantage of his position and bagged himself a babe.

Germany - Germany is launching a new TV station dedicated to old age and death, featuring vido obituaries and documentaries about graveyards. The network will also run how-to shows that provide tips on such issues as choosing a retirement home and making an apartment handicap-accessible. You may laugh, but think about some of the genre specific channels that are available on cable now. This is not as far-fetched as you may first think. As an added bonus, I did some digging and got ahold of some of the shows under consideration for the new cable network: "Law and Order: DOA", "Saturday Night Death", "The Old and the Dying", "As the Dialysis Machine Turns", "Survivor: Not This Time", "Grey's Autopsy" and "Dancing with the Morticians".

India - An Indian holy man who claimed his right leg had magical power has had the limb amputated and stolen by thieves Like I could make this story up...The man insisted that his leg could grant wishes to anyone who touched it. Police say this may explain why two strangers arrived in his village, got him drunk, hacked off his leg with a sickle and made off with it. I seriously don't get this country. Some dude is making money of people paying to sit in an airplane that doesn't fly, killer monkeys whacking public officials and now this. I'm trying, I really am, but I just don't get it.

2008 Presidential Race - The Concord Monitor broke with political tradition telling readers in New Hampshire, the state with the first presidential primary, why they should not vote for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney instead of whom they should support. In a scathing anti-endorsement that called Romney a "disquieting figure," the New Hampshire newspaper's editorial board said he looks and acts like a presidential contender but "surely must be stopped" because he lacks the core philosophical beliefs to be a trustworthy president. In particular, the newspaper noted the former Massachusetts governor's change of heart on such issues as abortion rights, stem-cell research and access to emergency contraception, as well as on signing an anti-tax pledge. I don't care how the Romney campaign tries to spin this story; this has to sting. Dude is the first presidential candidate ever to get an anti-endorsement. How much must that suck?

Marriage - A recent survey found that two-thirds of the middle-class women and half of the men polled said they would marry for money. The average base price was $1.5 million. A University of Michigan sociologist said in response to the survey, "I'm a little shocked at the numbers. It's kind of agains the notion of love and soul mates." I don't mind saying that I'm a bit shocked as well. $1.5 million? That's it. I don't know about that. A cool million doesn't go as far as it used to. Me, I'd hold out for at least $10 million, though in the interest of respecting the institution of marriage, I would accept that amount in any combination of cash, stocks or bonds.

Pets - Executives and other professionals are choosing to rent pets rather than own them. Offering what it calls "a unique alternative to full-time pet ownership," FlexPetz rents out its dogs for $39.95 per day. I'm all for free enterprise and enterprenurial ingenuity, but this is bordering on ridiculous. If you are going to have a pet, you should have a pet and not just when it's convenient. What's next flex-spouses--having that special someone when it is convenient for you schedule?