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.