What Caught My Eye Today
Iran - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on the U.S. and its allies to "apologize" for accusing Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, a day after the U.N. nuclear watchdog released its latest report on Iran. Oh yeah, that'll happen. The 11-page International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report said Iran "has not suspended its enrichment-related activities." Instead, said the report, Iran "started the development of new-generation centrifuges" — an expansion of enrichment — and continued working on heavy water nuclear facilities. When finished, Iran could cull them for plutonium, a possible fissile payload in nuclear warheads. Ahmadinejad said that the new information forwarded to the IAEA had been faked, claiming "our schoolchildren can make forgeries better than what they do." I'm not so sure that is the best defensive posture for Ahmadinejad to take. If Iranians are so good at making forgeries--as he has suggested--how can the international community be sure that the records that Iran has provided to vindicate itself of allegations of covertly trying to build a nuclear weapons program aren't forgeries? Riddle me that, Mahmoud.
Vatican - The Vatican issued new rules making it harder to be declared a saint. The new guidelines make clear that candidates for beatification should have a 'true reputation of holiness' before being nominated. I would have thought that the old guidelines would have said the same thing. The Vatican is currently considering more than 2,200 candidates, some of whom have had files open for decades or even centuries. Pope Benedicts XVI's predecessor, John Paul II, canonized more saints than did all previous poples combined. Over his 27 years as pontiff, he beatified 1,338 people and canonized 482. I know they would never publicly criticize a pope, especially one as popular as John Paul II, but do you get the feeling that Benedict XVI is doing his darnedest to undo some of the more progressive movement that John Paul created during his tenure?
Retail - Before you decide to blow this story off, read on just a bit further... A growing 'sexual health' sales drive is bringing risque products--lubricants, massage oils, vibrators--into chain retailers. See, what did I tell you. Since 2003, big chains like Wal-Mart, CVS and Rite Aid have more than quadrupled their shelf space for the sex-product category. Not surprisingly, the retailers themselves aren't too eager to discuss the products. Honestly. Why don't you sanctimonious sticks in the mud admit what the general population has known for years. Sex sells. If this comes as any big surprise, maybe you all shouldn't be in the retailing industry.
Potpourri - Here's a collection of items that are rather interesting for those awkward social moments at the dinner table when you run out of intelligent things to say or if you want to come off just a little smarter than that pompous ass you made the mistake of inviting to join you for dinner.
- The federal government spends $952 billion a year on Social Security, Medicare, and other benefits for the elderly which comes out to $27,289 per senior citizen. About 35% of the federal budget is now spent on seniors. That may seem like alot, but considering that the other 65% is probably blown on pork-barrel projects and the war on terrorism, that's not as bad as you might think.
- The city of Newark, New Jersey which averages 2 killings a week, last week marked its 33rd consecutive day without a homicide. The last time the city went this long without a murder was a 40-day stretch back in 1963. Let's give it up for the peeps in Jersey. Way to go.
- Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have access to a gun, which is part of the survival kit stored aboard the Russian space capsule attached to the station. One would assume that the gun is there on the chance that we run into E.T. and he turns out not to be as friendly as we had hoped.
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