What Caught My Eye Today

Economy - The House, seizing a rare moment of bipartisanship to respond to the economy's slump, overwhelmingly passed a $146 billion aid package. The plan, approved 385-35 after little debate, would send at least some rebate to anyone with at least $3,000 in income, with more going to families with children and less going to wealthier taxpayers. Sounds promising doesn't it? But don't get too excited. The plan faces a murky future in the Senate, where Democrats and Republicans backed a larger package that adds billions of dollars for senior citizens and the unemployed, and shrinks the rebate to $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples. That plan would deliver checks even to the richest taxpayers, who are disqualified under the House-passed measure. The House and Senate work in the same building don't they? Is it too much to expect that these guys--especially seeing as both chambers are controlled by the Democrats--would check with each other to make sure that every one is on the same page with respect to this stimulus package? Apparently, the answer is yes. I can understand a lack of communication between Congress and the President, but between the House and Senate--that's just too much. No wonder Congress has an approval rating below 20%. I'm surprised it's that high.

Haiti - With food prices rising, Haiti's poorest can't afford even a daily plate of rice, and some take desperate measures to fill their bellies. Families have come to rely on a traditional Haitian remedy for hunger pangs: cookies made of dried yellow dirt from the country's central plateau. The mud has long been prized by pregnant women and children here as an antacid and source of calcium. Cookies made of dirt, salt and vegetable shortening have become a regular meal. Food prices around the world have spiked because of higher oil prices, needed for fertilizer, irrigation and transportation. Prices for basic ingredients such as corn and wheat are also up sharply, and the increasing global demand for biofuels is pressuring food markets as well. The problem is particularly dire in the Caribbean, where island nations depend on imports and food prices are up 40% in places. I'm not suggesting that Haiti's problems are in any way the fault of the United States, but I sometimes question the logic employed by our government for investing money and capital in far away countries, when we have neighboring countries whose populations are attempting to fight starvation by eating dirt.

Of course, things can always be worse...

Somalia - The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees reported that high levels of malnutrition and the difficulties of delivering aid make Somalia the world's most pressing humanitarian crisis. More than 1 million people have fled their homes in Somalia, which is convulsed by fighting between Ethiopian-backed government forces, Islamist insurgents and an assortment of warlords. "The situation is very severe. It is the most pressing humanitarian emergency in the world today -- even worse than Darfur," he said, referring to the war in western Sudan, which has driven 2.5 million from their homes. I don't want to even attempt to fathom the conditions that must exist in Somalia to make it rank worse than Darfur. Reports like this really make you stop and ponder just how civilized our world has become. Depending on where you live, not much.

Aging - Middle age is truly miserable, according to a study using data from 80 countries showing that depression is most common among men and women in their forties. They needed a study to prove this? Researchers found that happiness for people follows a U-shaped curve where life begins cheerful before turning tough during middle age and then returning to the joys of youth in the golden years. One possibility may be that people realize they won't achieve many of their aspirations at middle age. Reality bites, don't it? The good news is that if people make it to aged 70 and are still physically fit, they are on average as happy and mentally healthy as a 20-year old. Nothing like a little survival of the fittest to put the pep back in your step. I can see it now...'I may be old, decrepit and having to take a pee every 15 minutes, but at least I still can. Take that, you dead stiffs!'

Horse Racing - I noticed this item, because it touches upon a headline that I mentioned in my first post a year ago. Barbaro, the powerful bay colt crushed a 19 horse field in the 2006 Kentucky Derby and whose courage after a breakdown at the Preakness two weeks later made him an icon will be honored at Churchill Downs. When it came time to decide how best to honor the horse, who was euthanized on Jan. 29, 2007 from complications of the breakdown, there was only one place Barbaro's owners felt he would feel at home: a short gallop from the site of his greatest triumph. Barbaro's ashes and a bronze statue will be placed in front of an entrance gate at Churchill Downs sometime in 2009. Seems only fitting for a horse that gave so much to this sport in his short lifetime should have a tribute like this to keep his memory alive. Finally a sports story that we can all be proud of.