What Caught My Eye Today

Myanmar - The death toll from a devastating cyclone in Myanmar could reach more than 10,000 in the low-lying area where the storm wreaked the most havoc, the country's foreign minister warned. Tropical Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, also known as Burma, on Saturday with winds of up to 120 mph. It knocked out electricity to the country's largest city, Yangon, and left hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Myanmar is not known to have an adequate disaster warning system and many rural buildings are constructed of thatch, bamboo and other materials easily destroyed by fierce storms. At a meeting with foreign diplomats and representatives of U.N. and international aid agencies, Myanmar's foreign ministry officials said they welcomed international humanitarian assistance and urgently need roofing materials, plastic sheets and temporary tents, medicine, water purifying tablets, blankets and mosquito nets. While not wanting to diminish the importance of the incredible loss of life (I read one account that puts the death toll at closer to 13,000), the bigger headline may be the fact that the ruling junta is actually reaching out to the international community for assistance. Under normal circumstances, this would appear to be a no-brainer. But understand this is Burma we're talking about, a country that has basically existed for the past several years as little more than a pariah state.

2008 Presidential Race - In a refreshing change of pace, rather than report on the latest rantings of the candidates, here's an item on the folks that really matter in this election, the voters. Voter excitement is pushing registration through the roof so far this year — with more than 3.5 million people rushing to join in the historic balloting, according to an Associated Press survey that offers the first national snapshot. Voters are flocking to the most open election in half a century, inspired to support the first female president, the first black or the oldest ever elected. Also, the bruising Democratic race has lasted longer than anyone expected, creating a burst of interest in states typically ignored in an election year. Some Democratic Party leaders bemoan the long battle, with two strong candidates continuing to undercut each other. But there are clear signs that the registration boom is favoring their party, at least for now. Those last 4 words are the kicker. Surveys are nice and all, and sure I'd rather have positive press than negative press, but the proof will come in November. Will the enthusiasm responsible for increasing voter registration translate into vote in November, especially for the Democratic party? Time will tell.

Iraq - For this next item, might I suggest that you take a momentary break from your senses. Forget the rocket attacks, concrete blast walls and lack of a sewer system. Now try to imagine luxury hotels, a shopping center and even condos in the heart of Baghdad. Stretches the limits of your imagination, doesn't it? That's all part of a five-year development "dream list" — or what some dub an improbable fantasy — to transform the U.S.-protected Green Zone from a walled fortress into a centerpiece for Baghdad's future. But the $5 billion plan has the backing of the Pentagon and apparently the interest of some deep pockets in the world of international hotels and development. Developers are clearly looking many years ahead and gambling that Baghdad could one day join the list of former war zones such as Sarajevo and Beirut that have rebounded and earned big paydays for early investors. I suppose anything is possible. Maybe that's why they call it 'speculative' real estate. And on the upside for these developers, I bet real estate in an active war zone is probably priced to sell quickly.

Germany - There must be something funky in the water in this part of Europe. First there this Austrian psycho who locked up his daughter as a sex slave, and now this. A 44-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of killing three of her babies after their bodies were discovered in the family freezer by her grown children looking for pizza. The three infants are believed to have been born alive, but authorities were awaiting autopsy results to determine how they died. The children discovered the frozen babies while their parents were away for the weekend. The 18-year-old and his sister had been looking for a frozen pizza and came across a lot of expired food so decided to clean out the freezer. The teenager then found three identical packets on the bottom of the freezer and opened one and saw the head and arm of an infant that was wrapped in a hand towel. The woman apparently concealed the three pregnancies, believed to have been in the 1980s, not only from neighbors but also her own family. I'm sorry but how could this broad's husband be clueless to not one, but three pregnancies? I'll grant you that it is not beyond the realm of possibility that she could conceal her outward appearance, but didn't this guy notice the subtle changes in her behavior or appearance at all--like say when they were doing the nasty? This sort of obliviousness blows my mind.

Fanaticism - I want to preface this item by saying not all sports fans are this fanatic, though you do have to applaud the dedication of this individual. A 12-year-old boy finally shunned his Brett Favre jersey for a red shirt for the first time in 1,581 days. The boy wore the No. 4 jersey every day since receiving it as a gift for Christmas in 2003. His father conceded his son was starting to become more concerned about his appearance after the jersey barely came down to his belt line. His mother had washed the jersey every other day and mended it when needed. I'm glad that dude is starting to take more pride in his appearance, but seriously anyone who wears the same football jersey every day for nearly 5 years doesn't stand a chance of surviving high school. This kid is screwed.