What Caught My Eye Today

Hurricanes - Usually when I lead off with a weather story, its not good news. Sadly, that is the case this time as well. With a historic evacuation complete, and gun-toting police and National Guardsmen standing watch over this city's empty streets, even presidential politics stood still while the nation waited to see if Hurricane Gustav would be another Katrina. (More on the political angle to this story in a moment.) The storm is set to crash ashore midday Monday with frightful force, testing the three years of planning and rebuilding that followed Katrina's devastating blow to the Gulf Coast. Painfully aware of the failings that led to that horrific suffering and more than 1,600 deaths, this time, officials threatened arrest, loaded thousands onto buses and warned that anyone who remained behind would not be rescued. The exodus of 1.9 million people is the largest evacuation in state history, and thousands more had left from Mississippi, Alabama and flood-prone southeast Texas. Forecasters say Gustav is likely to grow stronger as it marches toward the coast with top sustained winds of around 115 mph. The storm could bring with it a storm surge of up to 14 feet and rainfall up to 20 inches wherever it hits. By comparison, Hurricane Katrina pushed about 25 feet of surge. I'm trying desperately to find an upside to this story, some silver lining or a glimmer of hope--I'm trying, but coming up with goose eggs. Here's hoping for the best.

2008 Presidential Race - Mindful of the potential for disaster, the Republican Party scaled back its normally jubilant convention — set to kickoff as Gustav crashed ashore. President Bush said he would skip the convention all together, and John McCain visited Jackson, Mississippi today as his campaign rewrote the script for the convention to emphasize a commitment to helping people. You know, there is a bit of irony here. Remember this past Friday, when the media was applauding McCain for stealing Barack Obama's thunder by announcing his vice presidential running mate (more on that in a second)? Well here we are on the eve of the GOP convention, and the Republicans are being one upped by a natural disaster. You just never can tell, can you. All that aside, you have to tip your cap to McCain for casting aside politics for a greater good. (Plus, I'm guessing someone has figured out a way to garner a lot of positive PR for the McCain campaign by doing this).

So how about McCain picking first term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as a running mate. I'm sure all the so called political pundits had her pegged for the job from day one. Palin She mayor of small-town Wasilla, Alaska, for six years before she became governor in December 2006. McCain made a ringing defense of Palin, who Democrats argue has less experience than their presidential candidate, Obama. He cited Palin's stint as governor of a "state that produces 20 percent of America's energy" as well as her previous membership in the PTA and her time spent on the city council and in the mayor's office in Wasilla,a town of fewer than 7,000 people outside Anchorage. Well heck, if Palin can survive the local PTA, I'm all for her being next in line to run the most powerful nation on the planet. Democratic Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut said McCain's selection was merely designed to appease the hard-right conservatives in the Republican Party. "His knees buckled" when it came time to picking a running mate, Dodd said of McCain. Oh I don't know about that. I'm thinking that picking a first term governor that no one has ever heard of--and a woman, no less--probably took a pair of brass ones, if you know what I mean.

Canada - Here is yet another reason to move north of the border--assuming a national healthcare system isn't motivation enough for you. Canada is finally getting its very own pornographic cable channel. Woo-hoo! And thoroughly Canadian it will be. The new channel, Northern Peaks (one assumes that one of many double entendre were intended here), will have far more than the 15% "Canadian-made content" required by law. Fully 50% of the videos will be Canadian. Okay, usually I would jump at the chance to comment on this story, but the chick from The Edmonton Sun does such a good job, that I couldn't hope to top her. Here are some excerpts from her editorial:

"...most sex scenes are filmed indoors, and we have only the producers' word for it that the studio is in Canada. Therefore, I want Canadian landmarks in my Canadian porn...Better yet, to ensure that no Californians or Czechoslovakians sneak into the cast, require all Canadian porn stars to be tattooed with the maple leaf--in strategic places.

You just know that she had fun with that story.

Blood - Scientists have devised a method to generate a virtually endless supply of blood from embryonic stem cells. If you listen closely, vampires around the world are celebrating like you wouldn't believe. The advance could eventually pave the way for a blood supply that comes from the lab, making blood shortages a thing of the past. If the system can be duplicated on a large scale and in a cost-effective manner, hospitals and blood banks will have access to an ample supply of all blood types While on the surface, this certainly appears to be a promising development, does anyone besides me, see a potential downside to this? Ethics aside (and there's a whole heap load you can talk about there), I'm not so sure I want my blood supply to come from aisle five at the local grocery store.

Potpourri - Here's another collection of snippets on current events. Enjoy.

Childbirth - According to a recent Census Bureau study, more women than ever are choosing not to have children. 20% of women ages, 40-44 have no children, double the level of 30 years ago. I'm sure that it is purely coincidental that 30 years ago, there weren't nearly the career opportunities open to women that there are today.

Olympics - According to a study by the University of South Australia, every gold medal won at the Olympics costs a country $37 million in training costs. This could explain why the majority of the medals in the Beijing Games were won by the 10 nations with the biggest economies. Hmm, what's the word I'm looking for? Oh that's right. Duh. They needed a study to figure this out?

What Caught My Eye Today - The 'Missus' Edition

Fred's Note: It was bound to happen at some point. Someone got tired of me deciding which stories to report on. The fact that it was the missus who got fed up with my selections first...well, to tell you the truth, I somewhat surprised that she lasted this long. So without further adieu, I give you my commentary on what caught someone else's eye.

Golf - Non-English speakers are being turned away from membership at a private country club in Vancouver, British Columbia. The club doesn't ban members from speaking other languages, but insists its members be able to communicate in English so they can understand the club's rules and regulations. The policy was implemented about eight years ago when immigrants from Korea, Japan, and China started applying for membership. In a related story, the LPGA recently announced new English-language proficiency requirements for women on the tour, which is dominated by Korean women. I'll get to the LPGA in a minute. First, things first. Dude, its a private country club. They should be able to make up whatever rules they feel like. If someone doesn't like the rules, don't pay the flipping membership fees. No one is twisting their arms. As for the LPGA, well that's a bit different. Other than some awkward social moments at the post-tournament press conferences, is it really that big of a deal if some of the players cannot speak English very well. I have a hard time seeing all this bad PR being in the best interest of a tour that has historically had a hard time getting sponsorships. Maybe you all should rethink this one.

Sex Addiction - I'm already laughing, and I haven't even started yet. X-Files star David Duchovny has submitted himself to a California rehabilitation facility for sex addiction treatment. Poor bastard. The actor made the announcement through a brief statement released by his lawyer saying, "I ask for respect and privacy for my wife and children as we deal with this situation as a family." One of Duchovny's most recent roles has been starring as a drunken, bitter, sex-obsessed novelist struggling with writer's block and raising his pre-teen daughter on the critically praised Showtime series "Californication." That role must be a real stretch for Duchovny. Not to make too much light of what is obviously a serious medical condition, but what happens when he's released from treatment. Surely his wife, actress Tea Leoni, will still want a little something-something from time to time. If he indulges her, isn't that sort of like falling of the wagon?

Flies - You know, the bugs. A U.S. researcher discovered, long before a hand slaps down to deliver the killing blow, the fly has already planned an escape route. Ah yes, another stunning breakthrough for the scientific community. It takes a fruit fly just 200 milliseconds — or 0.2 seconds — after it senses a looming threat to adjust its pre-flight stance in the direction it will flee. The researcher also found that the escape response was not reflexively tied to flight initiation, as the flies performed the stance adjustments even in instances when they decided flight wasn't necessary. For people wishing to swat a fly, he recommends aiming for a spot where the fly will be, rather than where it is. Or, you could go out and drop 4 or 5 dollars on a can of bug spray. I don't want to get in the way of science; all I'm saying is a can of Raid can pretty much get rid of those annoying flies rather easily.

Track and Field - You have to applaud this lady's perspective on the thrill of competition. Simply outliving the competition is part of a 95-year-old javelin thrower's strategy to get onto the podium in the Canada 55+ Games. You go, girl. Florence Storch had six chances to toss her way onto the podium for the over-85 javelin division at the games New Brunswick, Canada. "Now I've outlived them all, I have no competition," Storch said. "In fact, so many of my friends have died, I'm in a class by myself." Hey, in my book a win is a win. Storch's 64-year-old son, Ed, is also competing in the track and field events at the games and has won gold in the 100- and 200-metre races. The Canada 55+ Games are held every second year and allow seniors to compete in 19 events that include golf, bowling, bridge, track and field, swimming, hockey, curling, lawn bowling, badminton, slo-pitch softball and horseshoes. Okay, here's my beef. I sat through 3600 hours of Olympic coverage, and not one channel of 3000 on my cable system can see fit to provide one lousy hour of what is surely athletic drama of epic proportions. What gives?

So that's it folks. I hope I did justice to the stories that the missus gave me.

What Caught My Eye Today

2008 Presidential Race (Part I) - What with all the headlines that the Democrats have been getting this week, I thought it only fair to give the GOP top billing at least once this week. John McCain decided on a running mate early Thursday, and one top prospect, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, abruptly canceled numerous public appearances. So that must mean that McCain either chose him or someone else (I believe that covers the spectrum of possibilities). Without explanation, Pawlenty called off an interview at the last minute, as well as other media interviews in Denver, site of the Democratic National Convention. Others believed to be in contention for the No. 2 slot on the GOP ticket included former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who was meeting with donors throughout California, and Democrat-turned-independent Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who was vacationing on New York's Long Island. Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, too, was still a possibility, as was the idea that McCain would choose a dark horse from any number of names that have circulated. Well that's good. It would seem that the media reports concur with my analysis of the situation as well.

2008 Presidential Race (Part II) - Not sure if you heard or not, but Barack Obama is the Democratic party's nomination for President. One day after becoming the first black man to win a major party presidential nomination, Barack Obama readied the most important speech of his improbable candidacy, a prime-time address to an estimated 75,000 inside Denver's NFL stadium and uncounted millions watching at home on television. By happenstance, the evening coincides with the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a Dream Speech" on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. Obama's aides were interested in a different historical parallel — Obama was the first to deliver an outdoor convention acceptance speech since John F. Kennedy did so at the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1960. Oh hell, does it really matter? I just want the dude to say something useful.

Georgia - Georgia's foreign minister says the ethnic cleansing of Georgians from the separatist province of South Ossetia has nearly been completed. Georgians have been cleared from their homes across the disputed territory. In some villages, Georgians had lived alongside South Ossetians. Is it just me or does the term 'ethnic cleansing' in any context sound really, really not good?

Meanwhile in other developments, it would appear that Russia finds itself a bit short on friends these days...

Russia faced diplomatic isolation over its military action against Georgia, with its Asian allies failing to offer support and France saying EU leaders were considering sanctions. Moscow has defied pressure from the United States and European powers to pull out of Georgia and looked east to its Asian allies, including China, for support at a regional summit. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization repeated a regular call for the "respect of territorial integrity" and did not follow Russia's lead on recognizing the two breakaway regions of Georgia. Now here's the part of the story that I'm digging on. Moscow said talk of punishing Russia for recognizing the independence of two breakaway Georgian regions was the product of a "sick" and "confused" imagination. Wait, it gets better. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he suspected someone in the United States provoked the Georgia conflict to make the situation more tense and create "a competitive advantage for one of the candidates fighting for the post of U.S. president." He did not elaborate. Well duh. Of course he didn't elaborate. That might suggest that he had some actual proof to back up his claim. Of course, that being said, I find myself in the strange position of seeing how a stunt like this wouldn't be outside of the realm of possibilities for the United States. My how the world has become a complicated place.

Mexico - Mexico's Supreme Court voted 8-3 to uphold legal abortion in the capital, opening the possibility that similar measures could be adopted elsewhere in Mexico — and perhaps beyond. Even with the Supreme Court's approval, pro-abortion groups complain that many doctors refuse to do the procedure in Mexico City. Some are morally opposed, while others fear public scorn or the wrath of the country's powerful Roman Catholic Church. The church blasted the court, declaring itself in mourning and issuing a statement that church leaders would redouble their efforts to campaign on behalf of "the millions of children who are being sacrificed." Honestly, don't you think the Vatican is overreacting just a tad bit here. I think the point that is getting lost in all this is that the Supreme Court is merely upholding a right guaranteed by its constitution, which if I'm not mistaken, is the Courts primary mandate.. That doesn't mean that the the general population is going to rush out and start having a bunch of abortions. My take is that if folks are pretty serious about their faith, in this case Catholicism, then their going to abide by the edicts of their religion regardless of this ruling. The Church's reaction to this ruling suggests to me that it doesn't have much faith (pardon the pun) in its practitioners to do the right thing, at least by Catholic standards.

Vatican - Wow, these guys are having a rough go of things today. First, abortions in Mexico and now frogs in museums... An art museum in northern Italy said it will continue displaying a sculpture portraying a green frog nailed to a cross that has angered Pope Benedict XVI and local officials. The 1990 wooden sculpture shows the crucified frog nailed through the feet and hands like Jesus Christ. The frog, eyes popping and tongue sticking out, wears a loincloth and holds a mug of beer and an egg in its hands. The museum said the sculpture has nothing to do with religion, but is an ironic self-portrait of the artist and an expression of his angst. Earlier in August the pope had written a letter the president of the region denouncing the sculpture. It "has offended the religious feelings of many people who consider the cross a symbol of God's love and of our redemption." Dude, its a flipping piece of artistic impression. Let it go. If you had kept your opinions to yourself, most folks probably wouldn't have given two-shakes about this thing (which sounds pretty ugly looking). But no, you have to go and claim that the symbol of all this is holy has been somehow desecrated by a frog. Heck, now even I want to see it.

What Caught My Eye Today

2008 Presidential Race - Yeah, I know the Democratic convention is going on and we're on the brick of a historic nomination, but I just cannot get into it. Maybe its the fact that this race has been dragging on for the better part of 18 months already. Even though things are finally starting to get interesting, I'm too burned out on this stuff to care. Can't we just go straight to the election? Any way, here's the latest on the Democrat's shin-dig in Denver. Bill Clinton's prime-time speech is the capstone on an eventful day at the Democratic National Convention, which will nominate Barack Obama as the Democrats' candidate to face Republican John McCain in the November 4 election. Hillary Clinton, who lost to Obama in a protracted primary battle but threw herself forcefully behind him in a well-received speech last night, is expected to formally free her delegates to back Obama today. Obama will arrive in Denver for his speech accepting the nomination on Thursday. And then, we'll get to see the dog-and-pony show that the Republicans are throwing from themselves in Minnesota next week. Oh sure, it'll probably lack the drama of the Democratic convention this week--and who doesn't enjoy the spectacle of infighting--but I bet you we'll all be treated to a well scripted convention that will most assuredly give McCain a boost in the polls, not that he currently is in need of one.

Georgia - More political posturing, though this time the war of words between Russia and the West sees Great Britain joining the fray. The British Foreign Secretary is accusing Russia of trying to redraw the map in the Caucasus. He said that Russia has made military gains but will eventually feel economic and political losses. He said Russia must change course if it wants respect and influence. Oh I don't know. If my military had just crushed its rival in under a week, I'd be feeling pretty good about my influence in the region. Meanwhile, it would appear that at least one nation sees an opportunity to make a buck off these proceedings. Ukraine said it wanted to discuss charging Russia more for the lease of a Black Sea naval base, a move that could aggravate regional tensions already enflamed by Moscow's conflict with Georgia. Russia's invasion of Georgia has many Ukrainians worried that Moscow may have designs on their country. But maybe if you start hitting the Russians in the pocketbook, they'll change their minds about territorial ambitions and things will go back to the way they were before this whole thing got out of control. Hey look, a pig just flew out of my butt, too.

Arctic - More ominous signs have scientists saying that a global warming "tipping point" in the Arctic is happening before their eyes: Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has melted to its second lowest level since satellite observations began. The National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado reported that the extent of sea ice in the Arctic is down to 2.03 million square miles. The lowest point since 1979 is 1.65 million square miles set last year. Arctic ice always melts in summer and refreezes in winter. But over the years, more of the ice is lost to the sea and with less of it recovered in winter. While ice reflects the sun's heat, the open ocean absorbs more heat and the melting accelerates warming in other parts of the world. Here's my question...is there absolutely nothing good that can come of global warming? Nothing at all? What about higher profits for sun screen manufacturers, or new Spring Break destinations in the Great White North? Honestly, all this doom and gloom is getting to be depressing.

Hurricanes - Yeah, I'm sure this'll be good news too. On the cusp of Hurricane Katrina's third anniversary, nervous Gulf Coast residents watched as Tropical Storm Gustav threatened to strengthen and crash ashore, testing everything the city has rebuilt. Yup. Just as I suspected. Forecasters warned that Gustav had the potential to grow into a perilous Category 3 hurricane and approach the Gulf Coast by next week. The death toll from Hurricane Gustav is up to 22 in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. So I guess a trip to the Home Depot will be on the agenda for a lot of folks this upcoming Labor Day weekend. Let's just hope that Gustav doesn't become another Katrina. No one deserves to have to go through something like that once let alone twice in three years.

Automobiles - So its come to this for Chrysler...very sad, indeed. Chrysler has started turning itself into a marketer and contract manufacturer of other people's cars. A proud day for the U.S auto industry, no doubt. To plug gaping holes in its truck-heavy lineup, the U.S. automaker plans to stick a Chrysler badge on a restyled Nissan Motors Versa subcompact and possibly a version of the Altima. I appreciate the fact that these dudes are just trying to make a buck, but if you are going to sell out, can't you find something sexier than a Versa or Altima? To pick up the slack at its underutilized truck and minivan plants, Chrysler aims to become an assembler-for-hire for any maker that needs those vehicles. I see. So now we've evolved into pimping ourselves out to the highest bidder. One wonders where these ideas came from? Cerberus Capital Management paid $7.4 billion for 80% of the company and, having underestimated the difficulty of turning it around, is looking to cut costs and conserve cash. We should have known. No self respecting auto-guy would ever willingly sell out like this. An investment company trying to make a buck, well now, that's a different story.

What Caught My Eye Today

2008 Presidential Race - Now that the Olympics are over, the real games can begin. Democrats opened their national convention, seeking peace in the family as they pursue victory in the fall for Barack Obama and his historic quest for the White House. What does it say about the Democratic party, that its first priority is to quell the fighting within its own ranks rather than trying to beat their Republican rival, John McCain? Public opinion polls made the race with Republican John McCain a close one, unexpectedly so given a widespread desire for change in an era of economic uncertainty, continuing conflict in Iraq and poor approval ratings for GOP President Bush. Obama delivers his acceptance speech on Thursday at a football stadium, before a crowd likely to total 75,000 or more. Then he and Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware, his vice presidential running mate, depart for the fall campaign. Oh right, Obama picked his running mate (on the off chance that you had not heard yet). Biden is a good, safe pick on Obama's part; and maybe that's why I have a twinge of disappointment. Maybe I was looking for Barack to venture off the reservation just a bit. John McCain is in the final stages of deciding who should join him on the ticket. His short list of contenders reportedly includes former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge and Independent Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. The announcement was expected soon, maybe even while Obama is holding court in Denver. Well, that would certainly turn some heads, wouldn't it? I was under the impression that there was an unwritten rule that the opposition kept a rather low-profile during the other's convention. Then again, how much does tradition real matter in this day and age?

Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki dug in his heels on the future of the U.S. military in Iraq, insisting that all foreign soldiers leave the country by a specific date in 2011 and rejecting legal immunity for American troops. Fine by me. Why wait until 2011? We can bring our troops home now, if they like. Last week, U.S. and Iraqi officials said the two sides agreed tentatively to a schedule that includes a broad pullout of combat troops by the end of 2011 with the possibility that a residual U.S. force might stay behind to continue training and advising Iraqi security services. But al-Maliki's remarks indicated his government was not satisfied with that arrangement and wants all foreign troops gone by the end of 2011. That cast doubt on whether an agreement is near and suggested al-Maliki is playing to a domestic audience frustrated by the war and eager for an end to the foreign military presence. Given that, I suppose you can say that the Iraqi people share something in common with us Americans. Lord knows the vast majority of us are frustrated by the war and want our foreign occupation of their country to end as well.

Georgia - Stop the presses!!! Russia's parliament voted unanimously to urge the president to recognize the independence of Georgia's two breakaway regions, stoking further tensions between Moscow and the small Caucasus nation's Western allies. I so totally did not see that coming. Just one question. Why bother with a parliamentary vote? Didn't Putin already give Medvedev his marching orders? And here's another big surprise... Reaction from the West was swift. The United States said Russian recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia "would be unacceptable." Experts say the Russian parliament's blessing of the Georgian separatists gives the Kremlin extra leverage as Russia tries to reassert its influence in the former Soviet republics and resist moves by Georgia and Ukraine to join NATO. Currently, neither Russia nor any other U.N. member recognizes the two provinces' independence claims. Both won de-facto independence in the 1990s after wars with Georgia, and have survived since with Russia's financial, political and military support. This thing just isn't going to quietly go away is it? Looks like McCain or Obama won't have to wait very long for their first trial by fire on the international stage.

Cuba - Even though the Olympics are over, I could not resist this last story. Fidel Castro defended the Cuban taekwondo athlete who kicked a referee in the face at the Beijing Olympics, saying he was rightfully indignant over his disqualification from the bronze-medal match. Thank goodness, the dude wasn't disqualified from a shooting event. Then we'd really have a headline, wouldn't we. Taekwondo officials want Matos and his coach banned for life from the sport. But Castro expressed "our total solidarity" for both the athlete and his coach. You go, Fidel. Taekwondo officials called the athlete's behavior an insult to the Olympic vision. His coach countered that the match was fixed and accused the Kazakhs of offering him money. Now, now. Get your facts straight coach. Kazakhs are known for their doped up cycling stars not for bribery. Cuba is accustomed to winning golds in boxing, but settled this year for four silver and four bronze medals. Overall, Cuba took home only two golds, down from nine in Athens four years ago. So there's your real story. When things don't go your way, kick someone in the face.

What Caught My Eye Today

Economy - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the financial crisis that has pounded the country — coupled with higher inflation — is taking a toll on the economy. Thanks for the tip, Sherlock. This is the guy in charge of trying to steer the economy? We're doomed. Here is a sampling of Bernanke's latest pearls of wisdom. "Although we have seen improved functioning in some markets, the financial storm that reached gale force" around this time last year "has not yet subsided, and its effects on the broader economy are becoming apparent in the form of softening economic activity and rising unemployment," Bernanke said. Let me translate that in to language all of us can understand. "Blah, blah, blah...I have no clue what's going to happen next...blah, blah, blah...It's not my fault...blah, blah, blah."

Georgia - Moscow declared it had pulled its forces out of Georgia following the worst confrontation between the Kremlin and the West since the Soviet collapse. That's being a little melodramatic don't you think? But the United States, France and Britain protested the withdrawal was not complete. Big surprise there. With relations being what they are between Russia and the West, Moscow could have given some of its territory to Georgia in addition to pulling out of South Ossetia, and I bet you we still would have found something to crib over. Troops and armored personnel carriers stayed put in at least three positions near Senaki and the Black Sea port city of Poti, raising questions about Russia's intentions. The Russians also said they were creating so-called security zones extending into Georgian territory to prevent future attacks. The U.N. estimates 158,000 people have fled their homes due to the fighting. Yes, let us not forget that while the powers that be engaging in a political pissing contest, that there are tens of thousands of civilians whose lives have been turned upside down.

Child Welfare - Now here's an interesting approach for dealing with those rambunctious teenagers at home Nebraska's new "safe-haven" law allowing parents to abandon unwanted children at hospitals with no questions asked is unique in a significant way: It goes beyond babies and potentially permits the abandonment of anyone under 19. While lawmakers may not have intended it, the month-old law raises the possibility that frustrated parents could drop off misbehaving teens or even severely disabled older children with impunity. That's not possible. Surely these rocket scientists thought this through before they made it a freaking law. Nebraska's approach is surprising because it is the last state in the nation to adopt a safe-haven law. I get it, maybe they're trying to make up for all that lost time. Since the law does not specify, it technically allows anyone, not just a parent, to legally surrender custody. Most other states narrowly define the role of the person surrendering the child. Some hospitals have fielded questions from the public about the law, but no children have been dropped off. Oh, I'm sure that'll happen soon enough. Nebraska lawmakers acknowledge the courts will have to sort out the details, and they have said they are open to revisiting the legislation if necessary. Here's what I don't get. I was under the impression that the legislative branch was responsible for little things like the details. Last I checked, the judicial branch was responsible for enforcing the laws. I guess these dudes in Nebraska missing out on that particular lesson in high school civics class.

Alcohol - Gimme a second, while I go get myself a beer... Okay, here we go. The college presidents said they wanted a national debate on the 21-year-old drinking age. They got it. Sip. For years they have been criticizing the law, saying it only encourages binge drinking and pushes alcohol into the shadows. Sip. After the Associated Press reported that more than 100 college presidents have joined in on the effort. the issue erupted into the biggest discussion on the subject in years. Mmm. That's good. Perhaps one more. Whether the debate will lead anywhere is unclear. Opinion polls suggest most Amercans support enforcing current drinking laws. Sip. Efforts in states including Minnesota, Wisconsin and Vermont to relax the drinking age have been rebuffeted. A 19984 federal law limits a statue's access to federal highway funds if it sets a drinking age lower than 211. Sip. That law is up for reotharzation reauthuretashen (Oh hell, you know what I mean) next year. Colig presidents want it changed so states can decide can decide 4 themselfs the best drinking age, without feer of loosing federal money. Amen, brother.

I'd report on some more stuff, but I heard that they just tapped another keg. Gotta go.

What Caught My Eye Today

Georgia - The White House declared Russia in violation of its commitments to leave the territory of Georgia after routing Georgian forces in a war that erupted two weeks ago. In a sign of growing tension between Moscow and the West over the conflict in Georgia, a Russian news agency reported that Russia had temporarily frozen cooperation with the NATO alliance, though there was no immediate confirmation. That could threaten a deal under which many of the supplies to the NATO security force in Afghanistan are flown in through Russian airspace. It's always comforting to see two global powers able to put aside their differences and work toward a common good. And I'm confident that one day before I die, I will see the U.S. and Russia do just that.

2008 Presidential Race - We'll start with Barack Obama today (not to worry I've got McCain covered as well). Barack Obama says he's decided on a running mate, but he won't say who. Big deal. I've just come up with a plan for world peace...but I'm not gonna tell anyone what it is. The Democratic presidential candidate said that he went with someone who is independent and would challenge him in the White House. He also said he wanted someone who is prepared to be president and would help him strengthen the economy. Well, that's a relief. I was sure Obama was going to pick a guy (or gal) completely unqualified for the job. As for picking someone who is independent, does that mean that Barack may have gone outside the Democratic party for his VP? I guess we'll find out soon.

Now let's see what the headlines have on our boy John McCain. Hours after a report that the Republican nominee didn't know exactly how many homes he and his multimillionaire wife own, Democratic rival Barack Obama launched a national TV ad and a series of campaign stops aimed at portraying McCain as wealthy and out of touch. Last week McCain cracked that being rich in the U.S. meant earning at least $5 million a year. With most Americans feeling the pinch of a worsening economy, the remarks allow Democrats to suggest that McCain cannot relate to ordinary voters. Honestly, in the world that these two guys live in, I'm not sure either Obama or McCain can relate to ordinary voters. Think about it, how many ordinary voters have any interest in becoming President of the United States. Most of us aren't willing to compromise our ethics or morals the way these two are.

Iraq - Iraq and the U.S. have reached preliminary agreement to withdraw American forces from Iraqi cities by next June, six years into the increasingly unpopular war. Better late than never, I suppose. The draft agreement with Iraq would link troop reductions to achievement of certain security milestones. The proposed deal reflects growing confidence in the ability of Iraqi forces to secure the country. A final agreement would require endorsement of the proposed deal by top Iraqi leaders and the Iraqi parliament. The Bush administration does not plan to submit the deal to Congress for approval. Why start now? As for the upcoming Presidential election, I wonder which candidate is going to spin this latest development to his advantage. Logic would suggest Obama, given his position on withdrawing troops soon after he takes office, but then again, McCain has been on the rise in the polls, so perhaps he'll come out ahead, claiming that it was his wartime strategy that made this deal possible in the first place.

Iran - Iran plans to send a manned rocket into space in the next 10 years. Yeah, good luck with that. Iran said it had put a dummy satellite into orbit on a home-grown rocket for the first time, though U.S. security officials said Tehran's attempted satellite launch was a failure that fell short of claimed successes. The long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into space can also be used for launching weapons. Iran says it has no such intention. Of course not, what conceivable reason could Iran possibly have for being able to launch nuclear warheads over long distances? The West accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear warhead, a charge Tehran denies, insisting its nuclear ambitions are aimed at generating electricity so it that it can export more of its massive oil and gas reserves. See, Iran's motives are completely innocent. They merely have an interest in space exploration. An expensive interest to be sure, but totally harmless...one hopes.

Greeting Cards - Now, now. Work with me. The story is worth reading, trust me. Most states don't recognize gay marriage — but now Hallmark does. The nation's largest greeting card company is rolling out same-sex wedding cards — featuring two tuxedos, overlapping hearts or intertwined flowers, with best wishes inside. Clearly a landmark day for gay rights. Hallmark added the cards after California joined Massachusetts as the only U.S. states with legal gay marriage. A handful of other states have recognized same-sex civil unions. The language inside the cards is neutral, with no mention of wedding or marriage, making them also suitable for a commitment ceremony. Hallmark says the move is a response to consumer demand, not any political pressure. Funny how all the posturing by conservatives and liberal hasn't done squat to quiet the debate over gay rights, but when it comes to the almighty equalizer--that would be money--things tends to just sort themselves out.

What Caught My Eye Today

2008 Presidential Race - What with the party conventions gearing up to start, it should come as no surprise that the headlines are yet again dominated by John McCain and Barack Obama. Today, I have a two-fer for you on McCain. Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, the Democratic Party's vice presidential candidate in 2000 and now an independent who is one of John McCain's strongest supporters, will speak at the Republican National Convention. That's nice. I guess that being an independent gives him the luxury of hanging with anyone he chooses. I bet you won't see Nancy Pelosi anywhere near the GOP convention. Lieberman caucuses with Senate Democrats, though has been a strong supporter of the Iraq war and is a staunch backer of McCain's presidential bid, traveling often with the Arizona senator and campaigning on his behalf during the GOP primary in states like Florida that have large numbers of Jewish voters. McCain is believed to be seriously considering choosing Lieberman, whom he counts among his closest friends, for the GOP ticket. Well that would certainly make for an interesting ticket, wouldn't it. But a word of caution to McCain. Lieberman has been down this road before and it didn't work out so well for his running mate.

And now for a polling update...good news for McCain. According to Real Clear Politics McCain has taken the lead in electoral college votes over Obama, 274 to 264. Of course there are a lot of assumptions built into this (as there are with most polls). In this particular case, the assumption is that there are no toss up states--meaning if a state is leaning toward McCain, it is counted in his favor. If you factor in the toss up states, then you are looking at Obama leading McCain, 228 to 178 with 132 electoral votes up for grabs. Bearing all this in mind, remember this--no one ever won an election based on pre-election poll results.

Poland - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Polish counterpart signed a deal to build a U.S. missile defense base in Poland, an agreement that prompted an infuriated Russia to warn of a possible attack against the former Soviet satellite. Seriously, who didn't see this sort of reaction coming? Rice dismissed blustery comments from Russian leaders who say Warsaw's hosting of 10 U.S. interceptor missiles just 115 miles from Russia's westernmost frontier opens the country up to attack. After Warsaw and Washington announced the agreement on the deal last week, top Russian General Anatoly Nogovitsyn warned that Poland is risking attack, and possibly a nuclear one, by deploying the American missile defense system. To put this into context, how did you think the U.S. would react if Russia decided to put a similar installation in Cuba? Many Poles consider the agreement a form of protection at a time when Russia's invasion of Georgia has generated alarm throughout Eastern Europe. Poland is a member of the European Union and NATO, and the deal is expected to deepen its military partnership with Washington. Well that's good. I'm happy that someone is happy about this arrangement. Let us not forget that this anti-missile system is supposed to protect the U.S. and its allies against possible missile strikes from rogue nations like Iran. Let's see how that's going shall we?

Iran - A day after Iran declared it had test fired a new rocket capable of launching a satellite, the country said yesterday that it was prepared to help other Muslim countries send up satellites. But by then, Pentagon and military officials in Washington were concluding that the Iranian launching had been a failure. U.S. officials said the first stage of the launch was successful, but the second stage failed. Despite the mission's overall failure, the launching was expected to add to Iran's knowledge about how to improve its missile skills, and thus was still viewed as a worrisome development. There's two ways you can look at this. On one hand, one could contend that this is just the latest in a chain of failures that clearly indicates that Iran is nowhere near to having the sort of capabilities that the U.S. is trying to defend against by installing anti-missile systems in Eastern Europe. On the flip side, does anyone really want to see Iran succeed in its endeavors before the U.S. decides to do something about it? Me neither.

Sri Lanka - The Sri Lankan military says it has broken through the Tamil Tigers' defenses in recent weeks, ending a prolonged stalemate and stirring predictions of an imminent rebel defeat after 25 years of civil war. Troops overran a major rebel naval base in July, then pushed deep into the north, capturing four more bases and entering the rebels' heartland for the first time in 11 years. The war on this Indian Ocean island nation has killed more than 70,000 people as the separatists fought for an independent state for minority Tamils in the north and east, following decades of marginalization by governments dominated by the Sinhalese majority. Don't get me wrong, I mean no disrespect to the Sri Lankan people, but honestly...25 years? Sri Lanka isn't that big of an island. Surely, these rebels are starting to run out of places to hide at this point. As for the international community, I appreciate that the world is chock full of conflict, but what does it say about the desire to resolve conflict when the world sits on the sidelines watching a civil war tear apart a nation for 25 years?

What Caught My Eye Today

Zambia - Never good news when a head of state dies while in office, and to do so on foreign soil, again, usually not a promising development. Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa died at a hospital in Paris nearly two months after suffering a stroke, Zambian and French officials confirmed. He was 59. I'm sure this has nothing to do with the quality of health care in France. Seriously, if it was, why would dude have gone to France in the first place? Mwanawasa fell ill in late June at an African Union summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. President Bush issued a statement mourning the loss of Mwanawasa, described as "a champion of democracy in his own country and throughout Africa. As President of Zambia, President Mwanawasa launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign and dedicated himself to improving the welfare of all Zambians," according to the White House statement. Admittedly, I don't claim to know much about the African political scene, but before Mwanawasa's death, when was the last time we heard anything about this guy. I don't recall his name being mentioned as a player in any of the recent affairs going on in Sudan, Zimbabwe, or anyplace else on the continent. Of course, one could chalk that up to what the press deems newsworthy enough to write about.

2008 Presidential Race - Barack Obama's newly minted running mate will be hitting the trail this Saturday. A senior Obama adviser said Obama and his VP choice will appear together in front of the former state Capitol in Illinois where Abraham Lincoln once served. The last time Obama appeared there, early in 2007, he announced he was running for president. Surely, just a coincidence. The disclosure narrowed the window for Obama to reveal his running mate. The campaign says the announcement will come in a cell phone text message to supporters. I'm not exactly sure I would classify this as surprising news. Bear in mind that the Democratic National Convention starts next Thursday. Did anyone think that Obama wouldn't have named his VP choice before the convention got underway? Should you be wondering who the the frontrunners are for the coveted VP slot, for Obama you're looking at Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, Indiana Senator Evan Bayh and Delaware Senator Joseph Biden; and for John McCain you got Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former budget director Rob Portman and former Homeland Security Secretary and former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge.

Money - I bet you think the biggest problem with money is not having enough. Well, my friends, you be wrong. Americans are the biggest cocaine users in the world according to a recent study of paper currency from around the world, which found more cocaine residue on U.S. dollars than any other country. Wait, it gets better. Cocaine is not the only substance you'll find on currency. Most dollar bills, which circulate for about 21 months, show traces of E. coli and other disease-causing bacteria. There's a comforting thought.

Sweden - I just love this country. The Swedish agency that monitors gender equality has begun an investigation of the state-run pharmacy for allegedly selling 'sex toys' suitable only for women. Too many jokes come to mind. I'll just keep going with the story. After sexual aids became available at state pharmacies, numerous complaints came in from men who said the selection excluded them. The pharmacy said there are simply no good sexual aids for men on the market. Maybe, just maybe, these guys need to look at this situation from a slightly different perspective. The right toy at the right time in the hands of the right women...I guarantee you, that the payoff for the next dude she sees will make all that inequity seem like a distant memory.

Olympics - Okay, I'll admit it...I starting to get the teensie-weeniest fatigued from all this coverage. Nevertheless, here's today's little morsel. When track and field athletes set new world records at the Olympics or other major competitions, 35% of people suspect that the winners used performance-enhancing drugs. Could that be because 35% of the athletes did? Of all Olympic athletes, sports fans are more suspicious of weight lifters, runners, cyclists, and gymnasts. Now that I think about it, I don't recall any of the 20 world records setters in swimming being associated with any suspicions of doping. I wonder why.

What Caught My Eye Today

Georgia - There were few signs Russia was following the terms of a cease-fire to end the short war, which has driven tensions between Russia and the West to some of their highest levels since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Russia said it had begun withdrawing from the conflict zone in Georgia, but it held fast to key positions and sent some of its troops in the opposite direction — closer to the Georgian capital. Now, now. Let's not be to quick to judge the Russians just yet. I'm sure there is a logical explanation for everything. You know how unreliable those Google Maps can be.

Pakistan - Can we pick heads of state to buddy up with or what? Pervez Musharraf resigned as the president of Pakistan, avoiding a power struggle with rivals vowing to impeach him that would have deepened the country's political crisis. Atta boy, Pervez. Way to go out with your head held high. His exit leaves the politicians who pushed out the stalwart U.S. ally to face the Islamic militants and economic problems gnawing at this nuclear-armed nation. Kind of gives you a warm and fuzzy knowing that 'everything is everything' for a government in shambles which, oh by the way, has a bunch of nukes. Underlining how the West has already moved on, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered "deep gratitude" for Musharraf's decision to join the U.S.-led fight against extremists following the September 11 attacks, saying he "served as a good ally of the United States." But she was careful to signal strong support for the civilian government that pushed him aside. "We believe that respect for the democratic and constitutional processes in that country is fundamental to Pakistan's future and its fight against terrorism," Rice said. And that my friends is how you through an ally under the bus when said ally can no longer provide any benefit to you.

California - Don't have enough social consciousness in your life. Not to worry. California has loads to spare. California's highest court barred doctors from invoking their religious beliefs as a reason to deny treatment to gays and lesbians, ruling that state law prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination extends to the medical profession. I'm still stuck on the fact that the State Supreme Court had to pass a ruling on this in the first place. The court wrote that two Christian fertility doctors who refused to artificially inseminate a lesbian have neither a free speech right nor a religious exemption from the state's law, which "imposes on business establishments certain antidiscrimination obligations." As you can imagine, this case drew some rather impassioned support for both the plaintiff and the defendants. The American Civil Rights Union supported the Christian doctors, siding with the Islamic Medical Association of North America, the Christian Medical & Dental Associations and anti-abortion groups. The American Civil Liberties Union, California Attorney General Jerry Brown, the National Health Law Program and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association filed papers backing the plaintiff. So riddle me this...what exactly is the difference between a 'civil right' and a 'civil liberty'? At the risk of stating the obvious, the ACRU tends to defend more conservative positions while the ACLU hangs out at the other end of the social spectrum. And I bet you were under the delusion that rights and liberties were basically the same thing.

China - You may want to sit down and take a deep breath before reading this next item. Chinese authorities have not approved any of the 77 applications they received from people who wanted to hold protests during the Beijing Olympics, state media reported. Shocking, ain't it? 74 of the applications were withdrawn because the problems "were properly addressed by relevant authorities or departments through consultations," said a spokesman for the Public Security Bureau. Sure they were. Two other applications were suspended because they did not provide sufficient information and one was rejected because it violated laws against demonstrations and protests. In July, China said protests would be allowed in three parks far from games venues. Applications with detailed paperwork must be filed five days in advance and protests must not harm "national, social and collective interests." A response would be provided 48 hours before the requested rally time. I think the issue here isn't so much with the process, which to be fair seems reasonable. No, I think the issue is that someone may be delusional enough to think that this process would ever be followed.

What Caught My Eye Today

Georgia - Georgia's president Mikhail Saakashvili said that a column of Russian tanks and other vehicles was moving toward the country's second-largest city, and that Russian forces already control a third of Georgian territory. And like it or not, Russia could take the other two-thirds anytime it wants. Russia's foreign minister declared Georgia could "forget about" regaining two separatist provinces. I'm guessing it probably already has. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he saw no need to invoke American military force in the war between Russia and Georgia but warned that U.S.-Russian relations could suffer lasting damage if Moscow doesn't retreat. Is it just me, or does it seem like both Russia and the U.S. are looked for reasons not to get along? Take a look at this next item...

Poland - Poland and the United States reached an agreement to base American missile interceptors in Poland, going ahead with a plan that has angered Russia and threatened to escalate tensions with the region's communist-era master. Do you really believe this announcement is a coincidence given the flap in Georgia? I would wager not. As part of the agreement, the United States had agreed to help augment Poland's defenses with Patriot missiles in exchange for placing 10 missile defense interceptors in the eastern European country. The agreement also includes a "mutual commitment" between the two nations — beyond that of NATO — to come to each other's assistance in case of danger. That was an obvious reference to the force and ferocity with which Russia rolled into Georgia in recent days. The United States has also reached an agreement with the Czech Republic's government to place a radar component of the missile defense system in that country. While Washington says the defense system is meant to guard Europe against missile-armed states like Iran, the Kremlin feels it is aimed at Russia's missile force, and Kosachev told the Interfax news agency the deal will spark "a real rise in tensions in Russian-American relations." See what I mean. It's like everyone involved is just itching to start a new Cold War. I just don't get it.

Olympics - Here's a daily double for you. This first item goes out to my extended family north of the border.

Canada - (Courtesy of the Globe and Mail) True, it's now five days in Beijing and Canada is still without a medal. But remain calm. Not only is there a chance we might yet triumph at women's soccer, but even if we come home empty-handed, let's keep it all in perspective. To make you all feel better, here's the top ten reasons we shouldn't worry about the medal drought.

10. Five days without winning anything is still 15,020 days less than the Maple Leafs. For those of you who don't know, this is a reference to an NHL hockey team--sort of Canada's version of the Chicago Cubs.
9. We still get to watch Diana Swain on CBC's Olympics coverage and she's a fox when she does sports. For my money, I stick with Bob Costas. What a hottie.
8. So what if Togo has a medal and we don't? Their health care system is terribly underfunded.
7. There's no way Celine Dion will need to lip-synch at the opening ceremony in 2010. I think this one is my favorite.
6. Who cares about swimming when you've got curling? Spoken like a truly Canadian.
5. We might be terrible at sports, but at least we're not Spanish.
4. We can still watch Paul Henderson's goal on YouTube any time we get depressed.
3. That Canadian fencer who opened a can of whuppass on herself last night when she lost was far more entertaining than any medals ceremony. Seeing as I'm stuck with NBC's coverage of the Games, maybe I'll get lucky and find this footage on YouTube. I hear the tantrum this chick threw was priceless.
2. There's plenty of time to give Michael Phelps Canadian citizenship before the 2012 Games. What you've never heard of a country granting citizenship to someone who might give you a chance to win some Olympic bling. How about U.S. team's flag bearer?
1. Three words: IT'S. ONLY. SPORTS. Truer words have never been spoken.

Sweden - Now here is a guy that needs to remember that number one reason above. A Swedish wrestler accepted his bronze medal Thursday then stepped off the podium and threw it away to protest what he called "a corrupt system." He lost a 3-1 decision in the 84-kilogram Greco-Roman semi-final. After the match, he shouted at the referee and judges and had to be restrained by a team official. In Greco-Roman wrestling, the mat chairman has the ultimate say (in this case a Cuban). He can agree with the referee and judge or over-rule them. The post-match speculation was that he had been "screwed" but that it was unlikely filing an appeal would change anything. Perhaps dude got caught up in the moment and took temporary leave of his senses. Seriously, bro', you need to chill out. No one said sport was fair (heck just look at the nonsense that gymnasts put up with), but there is no reason to toss your medal on the ground. That just makes you look bad. Try to take the high road next time. In the long run, you'll feel better.

What Caught My Eye Today

Georgia - One day after the Kremlin and its smaller neighbor agreed to a French-brokered cease-fire to end the dispute over two pro-Russian breakaway territories, the pact appeared fragile at best. What a surprise. A Russian military convoy defied a cease-fire agreement and rolled through a strategically important city in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, which claimed fresh looting and bombing by the Russians and their allies. Its both funny and tragic how history always seems to repeat itself. It's amazing to me how in the 21st century, armies continue to act the same as they did in the Middle Ages. Besides the hundreds killed since hostilities broke out last week, a United Nations agency estimates 100,000 Georgians may have been uprooted. Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili criticized Western nations for failing to help Georgia, a U.S. ally that has been seeking NATO membership. "In a way," he said, "Russians are fighting a proxy war with the West through us." You could argue that he has a valid point. The conflict centers on South Ossetia and another region claimed by Georgia that leans Russian, Abkhazia. When Georgia cracked down on South Ossetia on August 7, Russia sent its tanks and troops into the two regions and deeper into Georgia proper. Abkhazia lies close to the heart of many Russians. Its coast was a favorite vacation spot in Soviet times and the province is just down the coast from Sochi, the Russian resort that will host the 2014 Winter Olympics. Is anyone else getting a feeling of deja vu here? I'm thinking back to the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. Let's just hope that Sochi doesn't suffer the same fate as Sarajevo.

Arkansas - A man barged into the Arkansas Democratic headquarters and opened fire, fatally shooting the state party chairman before speeding off in his pickup. Police later shot and killed the suspect after a 30-mile chase. Police said they don't know the motive of the suspect, though a witness said the man told him he had lost his job. Chairman Bill Gwatney died four hours after the shooting. The 48-year-old former state senator had been planning to travel to the Democratic National Convention later this month as a superdelegate. He had backed Hillary Rodham Clinton but endorsed Barack Obama after she dropped out of the race. I imagine at some point investigators will determine a motive, and I'll bet you it has nothing to do with the upcoming Presidential race. I think the larger issue here is that we may poke fun at or express our frustrations at the political system we have (Lord knows I do), but the folks that actively participate in that system, regardless of party affiliation, are just trying to make our country better. Obviously, the guy who committed this act lost sight of that fact.

Guantanamo - So much for due process. The U.S. military was so eager to get the sluggish Guantanamo war crimes trials moving that the legal adviser to the Pentagon overseer adopted a "spray and pray" approach to pursuing charges, according to Brigadier General Gregory Zanetti. "The strategy seemed to be spray and pray, let's go, speed, speed, speed," he said. "Charge 'em, charge 'em, charge 'em and let's pray that we can pull this off." Zanetti is the deputy commander of the military task force that runs the Guantanamo detention operation. Given this dude's position, you have to allow for the remote possibility that he knows what he's talking about. Here's the fascinating part of this story. Zanetti's statement came while he was giving testimony at a pre-trial hearing for another enemy combatant facing a U.S. military tribunal. The defendant's lawyers claim the charges should be dismissed because they were tainted by unlawful influence from the officer appointed to give impartial legal advice to the Pentagon official overseeing the war crimes tribunals. I'm no legal expert, but yeah, I'd say these guys might be able to prove a conflict of interest here.

World War II - Famed chef Julia Child served in an international spy ring managed by the Office of Strategic Services, an early version of the CIA created in World War II by President Franklin Roosevelt. The National Archives, which this week released a list of the names found in the records, will make available for the first time all 750,000 pages identifying the vast spy network of military and civilian operatives. Should make for some interesting reading, don't you think? I'm all for full disclosure, but the skeptic in me wonders if releasing the names of these individuals is such a good idea. I imagine most the folks on this list are probably dead at this point, but you never know if some crazy lunatic won't get hold of this list and try to exact some measure of revenge on surviving relatives of those that are named. Stranger things have been known to happen. That being said, who knew that Julia Child was more than just a great TV chef. You go, girl.

What Caught My Eye Today

Georgia - Declaring "the aggressor has been punished," the Kremlin ordered a halt to Russia's devastating assault on Georgia — five days of air and ground attacks that left homes in smoldering ruins and uprooted 100,000 people. Yeah, I'd say that's punishment enough. President Mikhail Saakashvili said Russia's aim all along was not to gain control of two disputed provinces but to "destroy" the smaller nation. I'm no expert, but I'd say 'mission accomplished' for the Russians. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, were believed to have died since Georgia launched its crackdown on South Ossetia last week, drawing the punishing response from its much larger northern neighbor. Russia accused Georgia of killing more than 2,000 people, mostly civilians, in the separatist province of South Ossetia. The claim couldn't be independently confirmed, but witnesses who fled the area over the weekend said hundreds had died. Isn't it interesting how this part of the story--Georgia's alleged attempt at genocide--seems to have faded into the background.

Pakistan - Pakistan's ruling coalition said the army would not intervene to support embattled President Pervez Musharraf, whom the government says it will impeach for years of alleged misrule. Memo to Musharraf: Dude, read the writing on the wall. It says, "Get out!" Musharraf has been at the center of a political crisis since early last year. The threat to his presidency has raised fears among the United States and its allies for the stability of the nuclear-armed Muslim country, which is also a hiding place for al Qaeda leaders. A key question is how the army, which has ruled for more than half the 61 years since the country's creation, will react. But coalition leaders said the army and its main security agency would not intervene to back up their old boss. Several Musharraf allies, including members of the old ruling party that backed him, have said they would vote against him and have supported resolutions in provincial assemblies calling on him to face a vote of confidence or be impeached. Looks like Musharraf isn't losing allies--more like he's lost them already. The United States has urged the government to focus on a deteriorating economy and spreading militancy but has not commented on the impeachment, saying it is a Pakistani issue. Now that's funny. Since when has the U.S. ever shied away from weighing in on another country's internal issues? Just ask China or Russia. This 'no comment' is basically an acknowledgement that the U.S. has given up on its staunch ally in the war on terrorism, poor old Pervez Musharraf.

Mauritania - Yup, another geography lesson. Mauritania is a rather large country in Northwestern Africa. The military junta that overthrew Mauritania's government last week adopted a law transferring the power of the presidency to the head of the junta. You know what they say. To the victors go the spoils. The 11-article law announced in a communique confers the rights of the highest office in the country in northwest Africa to the army general who led the August 6 coup. The statement also claimed the coup was brought on by the deteriorating condition of daily life in Mauritania, the president's stonewalling of various government institutions and his firing of the chiefs of the armed forces. The coup came after an increasingly bitter standoff between the army and President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, who last year won Mauritania's first free-and-fair election in more than two decades. That election followed a 2005 coup, which junta leader General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz also helped orchestrate to oust the country's reviled dictator. This guy Aziz has been a busy fellow, hasn't he? Two coups in 4 years? When does he find the time to run the military?

What Caught My Eye Today

Georgia - Russian tanks roared deep into Georgia, launching a new western front in the conflict, and Russian planes staged air raids that sent people screaming and fleeing for cover in some towns. Georgia's president said his country had been sliced in half with the capture of a critical highway crossroads near the central city of Gori. Georgia had pledged a cease-fire, but it rang hollow. The problem with a cease fire agreement is that both sides have to agree to it. And why would Russia want to agree to anything when things are so obviously going its way? The world's seven largest economic powers urged Russia to accept an immediate cease-fire agree to international mediation. Again, why would Russia have any interest in doing so now? In a statement President George Bush said there was an apparent attempt by Russia to unseat the pro-Western Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. He said further Russian action would conflict with Russian assurance its actions were meant to restore peace in the pro-Russian separatist areas. Meaning what exactly? Meanwhile Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin criticized the United States for viewing Georgia as the victim instead of the aggressor, and for airlifting Georgian troops back home from Iraq. Here's a little piece of trivia for you. After the U.S. and Great Britain, Georgia has the third largest contingent of troops in Iraq. Who knew?

Pakistan - Lawmakers in Pakistan's most powerful province accused President Pervez Musharraf of gross misconduct and demanded he step down, an opening salvo in the ruling coalition's campaign to oust the defiant former army chief. Legislators in Punjab province's assembly voted overwhelmingly, 321-25, for the anti-Musharraf resolution, even drawing support from 35 members of the main pro-Musharraf party. Sounds like a mighty big salvo to me. The resolution calls on Musharraf to seek a vote of confidence by the federal and provincial assemblies or to resign. Otherwise the Punjab assembly will ask Parliament to impeach him. The other three provincial assemblies are expected to vote on similar resolutions in the coming days, after which an impeachment motion would be brought up in Parliament. Musharraf seized power in a 1999 military coup and dominated Pakistan for years, but he grew increasingly unpopular, especially after he removed dozens of judges and declared emergency rule last year. He has been largely sidelined since his foes won February's parliamentary elections. No president has been impeached in Pakistan's turbulent 61-year history, but the coalition argues it will succeed in getting the two-thirds majority required in a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament to strip Musharraf of the presidency. Here's an interesting notion--impeaching a president on charges of being unfit to lead. I was under the impression that you only impeached a President because you didn't like him or because he was engaging in a little extra-curricular hankie pankie with comely looking interns. I guess that sort of thing only happens in the United States.

Iraq - This is what you might call one of those 'boring but important' news items. Jordan's King Abdullah II held talks with Iraq's prime minister after coming to Baghdad on an unannounced visit, the first by an Arab head of state since the U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. Abdullah called on Arab governments to "extend their hand to Iraq" because a strong Iraq "is a source of strength for the Arab nation." I'm thinking 'strength' is code for 'oil', but that's just me. Ties between the two neighboring countries had been strained since the fall of Saddam because of Jordanian fears that Iraq's Shiite-led government was too friendly with Shiite-dominated Iran. Jordanian officials have been concerned about Iranian influence in Iraq and the loss of discounted oil. See what I mean? Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told the king that Iraq wanted to improve relations with all Arab countries. Well sure, why limit who you sell oil to when there is so much demand for the stuff?

NASA - One wondered when NASA was going to get around to making this announcement. NASA has abandoned plans to get its replacement for the retiring U.S. space shuttles into service by 2013 because of a lack of additional funds and technical issues. The U.S. space agency had hoped to fly astronauts to the International Space Station aboard a new spaceship called Orion as early as September 2013, well before its formal deadline or goal of March 2015. The United States will be without a means to transport people to and from space after the shuttle fleet is retired in 2010 until the new ships are ready to fly. It intends to rely on Russia to ferry crews to the space station and on private companies to deliver cargo during the gap. Gee, that should be fun. And not to dwell on the previous story too much, but how much do you think this will complicate U.S. relations with Russia, now that we find ourselves in the enviable position of having to rely on Russia to get to and from the International Space Station.

Olympics - US swim legend Mark Spitz won't be on hand in Beijing if Michael Phelps breaks his record of seven gold medals at a single Olympics -- because, he says, no one bothered to invite him. Can you say, "sour grapes"?Spitz said the International Olympic Committee, a US television network or FINA -- the international body that governs world swimming -- should have brought him to the Games this year, with Phelps making a go at his record. Spitz became one of the most famous athletes in the world at the 1972 Munich Olympics, winning seven gold medals -- with seven world records -- in what many consider to be one of the greatest achievements in all of sport. Phelps is aiming to better that mark in Beijing, hoping to bring home eight golds. And Spitz cannot understand why he wasn't asked along to see the show. "They voted me one of the top five Olympians in all time. Some of them are dead. But they invited the other ones to go to the Olympics, but not me," he said. "Yes, I am a bit upset about it." I never would have guessed. Spitz also thinks he could have won eight golds himself in Munich if only he had had the chance. "I won seven events. If they had the 50m freestyle back then, which they do now, I probably would have won that too," he said. Now see, its attitude like that that likely deterred most folks from extending an invitation to Spitz. Dude, this isn't about you, Marky-mark. The more you try to make it about you, the more you are going to fade into obscurity. Lighten up already, will you?

What Caught My Eye Today

Georgia - Not that this comes as much of a surprise, but I kind of thought it would take a bit longer than this to shake down... Georgian troops retreated from the breakaway province of South Ossetia and their government pressed for a truce, overwhelmed by Russian firepower as the conflict threatened to set off a wider war. Russia has demanded that Georgia pull out its troops from South Ossetia as a condition to negotiate a cease-fire. It also urged Georgia to sign a pledge not to use force against South Ossetia as another condition for ending hostilities.Georgia borders the Black Sea between Turkey and Russia and was ruled by Moscow for most of the two centuries preceding the breakup of the Soviet Union. Russia has approximately 30 times more people than Georgia and 240 times the area. Not exactly a fair fight based on those statistics, wouldn't you say? Russian military commanders said 15 peacekeepers have been killed and about 150 wounded in South Ossetia and Russia's deputy foreign minister said more than 2,000 people had been killed in South Ossetia since Friday. Russia laid much of the responsibility for ending the fighting on Washington, which has trained Georgian troops. Washington, in turned, blamed Russia. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if there wasn't blame enough to go around for both Russia and the U.S. One has to wonder, though, how the U.S. could conceive that the Georgians could possibly have won this fight?

Iraq - Iraq's foreign minister insisted that any security deal with the United States must contain a "very clear timeline" for the departure of U.S. troops. Fine by me. Let's bring the troops home. Iraqis are insisting that the agreement include a "very clear timeline" for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces, but refuse to talk about specific dates. Okay, look. You cannot have it both ways. Either we leave or we stay. All this pussy-footing about troop withdrawals is starting to get irritating. And from day one it has smacked of political posturing to win favor with Iraqi voters. I'm not begrudging you guys for that, per say, but you have to understand that the U.S. military is not a political tool for you to do what you want with.

Olympics - Olympic organizers vowed to tighten security in central Beijing after a U.S. tourist was killed in a stabbing attack. Police released new details of the Chinese man behind the seemingly random attack on Saturday in which the father-in-law of the U.S. men's volleyball team coach, was killed and his wife was wounded. The man committed suicide afterwards. With 500,000 overseas visitors expected in Beijing for the Olympics, the murder is an embarrassment for China which has been a pains to highlight the security steps it is taking. The crime rate is relatively low in China, where serious offences carry the death penalty and attacks on foreigners are rare. You sort of need to look at this story from the proper perspective. Obviously an attack on an American was the last thing Chinese officials wanted to have happen during the Olympics, but given the scale of this event and clear evidence that this was not a premeditated attack, you almost have to give the Chinese a pass on this one. Clearly, they haven't skimped on security, but the simple fact of the matter is that you cannot watch all people at all times (and Lord knows the Chinese have done everything in their power to do just that) to prevent a tragedy like this from happening.

AIDS - For years, the US has been underestimating the rate of new HIV infections by a whopping 40%. Seems like more than just a minor miscalculation, doesn't it? Until now, most countries, including the US, estimated the number of new cases by applying correction factors to the latest data on national HIV prevalence. The discrepancy came to light courtesy of a blood test developed by the US Centers for Disease Control. By measuring the proportion of antibodies in an individual's blood that are primed to fight HIV, it reveals when they were infected. A larger fraction indicates a more recent infection. When applied to US blood samples from 2006, the test indicates there were 56,300 infections that year, not 40,000 as assumed. So basically, the methodology used to come up with these estimates was entirely wrong and it took 10 years for someone to figure this out. That's a shame. And what does this suggest about the world wide statistics for HIV infections. If the U.S. cannot come up with reliable numbers, how much stock can we place in numbers coming out of less developed countries in places like Africa? Of course, one could argue that it's easier to estimate the number of people not infected with the HIV virus, but that's a slippery slope that I don't want to tread upon.

What Caught My Eye Today

Olympics - Not to worry I'm not going to bore you with medal results or counts. If you aren't watching the coverage, you probably don't care one way or the other. I will, however, continue to pass along some lesser known factoids about the games, because that's just the sort of cool dude I am. The Chinese government is laying out more than four times the $1.5 billion that Athens spent on security in 2004 (If you look at the percentages, Greece spent about 10 times as much as Sydney in 2000). The hefty increase is due in part to the immense size of the 2008 Games. Beijing alone has 31 venues and 6 other cities will place host to soccer, equestrian events and sailing. In attendance will be 10,000 athletes, 30,000 journalists, and 80 heads of state.

If you think those statistics are impressive, take a look at this next set. Philadelphia food-services company, Aramark is catering its 14th Olympic Games. The sheer scale of the project is just the start: 20 million servings of rice, 743,000 potatoes, over 1 million apples, 154,000 pounds of chicken, 800,000 eggs, 936,000 bananas--all adding up to more than 3.5 million meals. No word yet on the amount of Pepto Bismol that will be consumed. I'll get back to you on that.

Economy - Here's another one of those good news/bad news stories. The good news, which has helped the U.S. stock market to its biggest gains in four months, is that commodity prices, led by oil have been plunging. The bad news is that the decline in commodities is an indication of a slowdown in global economic growth. Well, you know what they say--misery loves company. Why should the U.S. be the only country to suffer? Crude oil is off 18% from its peak of $145 a barrel (currently $118). Nickel is down 47%; orange juice down 33%, platinum down 30%, and soybeans down 26%. On the bright side, lower commodity prices help hold down inflation and ease strains on consumers. Trouble is, the welcome price drop owes a lot to unwelcome world economic weakness. So if I'm reading this right, it pretty much doesn't matter if prices go up or down. Either way, we're screwed. Isn't that nice?

Georgia - Still the country, not the state. Georgia's Foreign Ministry said the country was "in a state of war" and accused Russia of beginning a "massive military aggression." The Georgian parliament approved a state of martial law, mobilizing reservists and ordering government authorities to work round-the-clock. Russian tanks rumbled into the contested province of South Ossetia and Russian aircraft bombed a Georgian town, escalating a conflict that already has left hundreds dead. The risk of the conflict setting off a wider war also increased when Russian-supported separatists in another breakaway region, Abkhazia, also targeted Georgian troops by launching air and artillery strikes to drive them out. Talk about a bad situation getting even worse. This is one of those times when the light at the end of the tunnel isn't a solution--its the train coming down on you at full speed.

What Caught My Eye Today

Olympics (Part I) - Newsflash...the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing China have begun...just so you know. China didn't just walk onto the world stage. It soared over it. At last playing its long-sought role as Olympic host, China opened the Summer Games in spectacular fashion with an extravaganza of fireworks and pageantry dramatizing its ascendance as a global power. Scores of world leaders were on hand, and the potential TV audience was 4 billion worldwide for what was certainly the costliest and probably the largest opening ceremony in Olympic history. The centerpiece was the parade of athletes, climaxing with the entry of the 639-strong Chinese team. The run-up to the games had powerful story lines — China investing $40 billion to build Olympic infrastructure, reeling from the Sichuan earthquake, struggling right through Friday to diminish the stubborn smog that enveloped the stadium, known as the Bird's Nest. China's detentions of political activists, its crackdown on uprisings in Tibet and its economic ties to Sudan — home of the war-torn Darfur region — fueled persistent criticisms from human rights groups and calls for an Olympic boycott. Second-guessed for awarding the games to Beijing seven years ago, the International Olympic Committee stood firmly by its decision. It was time, the committee said, to bring the games to the homeland of 1.3 billion people, a fifth of humanity. Kind of hard to argue with logic like that regardless of your feelings toward China. But enough with the pre-game show (probably the only one that makes the Superbowl pre-game ritual seems short by comparison), let's get on with the competition.

Olympics (Part II) - On the off chance that you cannot free yourself up to watch the 3600 hours of coverage or if you just want to cut to the chase and see which country is going to end up with the most medals, then this next item is right up your alley, courtesy of those fun loving jokesters at PriceWaterHouseCoopers. The following factors have been found to be statistically significant in explaining the number of medals won by each country at previous Olympic Games since 1988: population, average income levels (measured by GDP per capita at PPP exchange rates), whether the country was previously part of the former Soviet/communist bloc, whether the country is the host nation, and medal shares in the previous Olympic Games. In general, the number of medals won increases with the population and economic wealth of the country. So did you catch all that? Yeah, me neither. Here are the top ten according to PWHC:

1. China - 88 (+25 from 2004)
2. U.S. - 87 (-16)
3. Russia - 79 (-13)
4. Germany - 43 (-5)
5. Australia (-8)
6. Japan - 34 (-3)
7. France - 30 (-3)
8. Italy (-3)
9. Great Britain (-2)
10. South Korea (-3)

And there you have it. You can skip the Olympics now. No need to thank me.

Georgia - I'm talking about the country in Asia, not the state in the South. Russia dispatched an armored column into the breakaway enclave of South Ossetia after Georgia, a staunch U.S. ally, launched a surprise offensive to crush separatists. Witnesses said hundreds of civilians were killed. Fighting reportedly raged well into the night with Georgia's interior ministry saying that warplanes attacked three Georgian military bases and key facilities for shipping oil to the West. The fighting, threatened to ignite a wider war between Georgia and Russia, and escalate tensions between Moscow and Washington. Aw shucks. This little skirmish won't affect bosom buddies like Russia and the U.S. We're mates, you know. Georgia said it was forced to launch the assault because of rebel attacks; the separatists alleged Georgia violated a cease-fire. The fighting broke out as much of the world's attention was focused on the start of the Olympic Games and many leaders, including Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Bush, were in Beijing. The timing suggested Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili may have been counting on surprise to fulfill his longtime pledge to wrest back control of South Ossetia — a key to his hold on power. The rebels seek to unite with North Ossetia, which is part of Russia. I'm guessing that the traditional Olympic Games cease fire didn't figure much into this dude's plans to create a diplomatic firestorm.

2008 Presidential Race - I got a two-fer for you today. First up, Hillary Clinton. What up, girlfriend? Hillary Clinton told an exuberant crowd Friday she wants Barack Obama to win the White House, even though he dashed her own presidential dreams — and she wants her supporters to vote that way, too. That's nice. Though she has endorsed her former rival, the speech was Clinton's first appearance at a rally for Obama since the two appeared together in Unity, N.H., in June. Better late than never, I suppose.

And then we have John Edwards... Former presidential candidate John Edwards, who won nationwide praise and sympathy as he campaigned side by side with his cancer-stricken wife, Elizabeth, admitted in shame he had had an affair with a woman who produced videos as he prepared to launch his campaign. Uh-oh. Someone got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He denied fathering a daughter, born to the woman with whom he had the affair, and offered to be tested to prove it. A former Edwards campaign staff member professes to be the father. Dude, these guys were having some serious nookie on the old campaign trail, weren't they? Well, so much for a high-level Cabinet position. John-john can kiss that Attorney General posting goodbye.

What Caught My Eye Today

2008 Presidential Race - Let's hope this isn't a harbinger of things to come. A man was arrested by the Secret Service in Miami and was ordered held at Miami's downtown detention center without bail on charges he threatened to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. A Secret Service affidavit charges that the man made the threat during a training class for bail bondsmen in Miami in late July. According to someone else in the class, he allegedly referred to Obama with a racial epithet and continued, "If he gets elected, I'll assassinate him myself." The suspect denied in a written statement to a Secret Service agent that he ever made those threats, and the documents don't indicate that he ever took steps to carry out any assassination. Well sure, maybe the Secret Service should have waited until an opportunity presented itself for the guy to take his shot before it apprehended him. In the affidavit, the Secret Service said the suspect told agents that he suffered from psychiatric problems including post-traumatic stress disorder, but he couldn't provide the names of any facilities where he sought treatment. Apparently, we can add selective memory loss to the list of psychiatric problems this whack job is suffering from.

China - In a speech on Asian policy delivered in Bangkok, Thailand, on the eve of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, President Bush chided China over its record of religious freedom and human rights. Does the concept of bad timing mean nothing to the President? Despite the critique, Bush praised what has become a "constructive relationship" between the United States and China in trade and diplomacy. I'm guessing that this was Bush's way of trying to soften his previous comment. I wonder if the Chinese bought it? China said it is committed to its citizens' "basic rights and freedoms" and criticized Bush for meddling in what Beijing says are its internal affairs. Based on that, I would say probably not. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said, "We firmly oppose any statements or deeds which use human rights, religion and other issues to interfere with the internal affairs of other countries." Oh, there's more. This dude is just getting warmed up. "Chinese citizens enjoy freedom of religion in accordance with the law. These facts are well known. Regarding the Sino-U.S. differences on issues including human rights and religion, we have always insisted on dialogue and communication based on mutual equality and mutual respect, in order to enhance understanding, reduce differences and to expand consensus," he went on to say. In diplomatic terms, this is what you might call a tongue lashing. I'm not sure that I blame China for its reaction. Think about it. If some other country was to accuse us of human rights violations--and according to our government Guantanamo Bay doesn't count--how would that make us feel. And honestly, Mr. President, for once can you try not to piss off another country, especially when you are visiting as a guest to attend the biggest sporting event ever held in it?

Iraq - Iraqi officials said that Iraq and the U.S. are near an agreement on all American combat troops leaving Iraq by October 2010, with the last soldiers out three years after that. Okay so which is it, 2010 or 2013? Maybe I'm a bit slow, but if all combat troops leave Iraq by October 2010, who exactly would be left to leave three years later? U.S. officials, however, insisted no dates had been agreed. Of course not. Why would we agree to time lines when we have time horizons? The proposed agreement calls for Americans to hand over parts of Baghdad's Green Zone — where the U.S. Embassy is located — to the Iraqis by the end of 2008. It would also remove U.S. forces from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009. U.S. acceptance of a specific timeline would represent a dramatic reversal of American policy in place since the war began in March 2003. Throughout the conflict, President Bush steadfastly refused to accept any timetable for bringing U.S. troops home. Last month, however, Bush and al-Maliki agreed to set a "general time horizon" for ending the U.S. mission. Iraq's position in the U.S. talks hardened after a series of Iraqi military successes against Shiite and Sunni extremists in Basra, Baghdad, Mosul and other major cities and after the rise in world oil prices flooded the country with petrodollars. Well, I'm glad someone is benefiting for the higher oil prices, cause I sure the heck am not.

Footloose - Okay 1980s pop culture junkies, this one is for you. Who can forget the awesome soundtrack that accompanied the 1984 movie starring Kevin Bacon? Clearly it got under the skin of indie musician Thomas Bartlett a.k.a. Doveman. Dude released a remake of the soundtrack. I listened to a couple of the tracks and can honestly say I've never heard anything quite like this...and I don't mean that in a good way. Feel free to have a listen for yourselves (click here), though I warn you--those few minutes that you spend on this will be gone forever, so do so at your own peril.

Football - Good news for Olympic fans. Now that Brett Favre's destiny for the upcoming season has been sorted out--boyfriend was traded from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets--we can all take a collective breath of relief and settle in for two weeks of Olympic drama.