What Caught My Eye Today

Economy - Where to begin? Some many dimensions to this story...all bad...but so many dimensions. The government's $700 billion rescue triggering a fearful international sell-off as the U.S. began work on a plan that investors feared would be too little and too late to stave off a worldwide recession. Not exactly the market reaction I was hoping for. The Dow industrials plunged below the 10,000 level for the first time in four years, and at one point were down as much as 800 points before recovering to close with a loss of 370. All sectors — not just financial companies — were being sold off. Remember just last week, when a 777 point loss seemed bad? Now we're talking 800 and beyond. Top economists seemed at a loss for ways to stop the downward spiral. No kidding. A darkening recessionary cloud is spreading over a nation where two-thirds of the economy is derived from consumer spending and where there have been nine consecutive months of job losses. Funny thing about recessions. Turns out you have to be in one for two consecutive quarters before a recession can be officially declared. I'd say we're well on our way.

2008 Presidential Race - I seem to recall Governor Sarah Palin quipping, "What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? Lipstick." Who knew that she was actually serious about that. Sarah Palin expanded her attack on Barack Obama's character to include his relationship with an incendiary former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, as well as his ties to 1960s-era radical Bill Ayers.In her earlier attacks, Palin had said that Obama "pals around with terrorists." News reports pointed out that Obama was eight years old at the time of Weather Underground bombings and that the two men do not know each other well although they live in the same Chicago neighborhood. Well I for one am shocked. It's unfathomable to think that a guy who used to hang out with terrorist organizations when he was 8 years old is now running for President. Seriously, does Palin actually understand the junk she is spewing out? Meantime, a new poll showed that Palin's image has changed little with the public since last week's vice presidential debate, but views of her Democratic rival, Joe Biden, have improved. No kidding. A poll conducted over the weekend found that just over half of registered voters view Palin favorably and about four in 10 think she's qualified to be president, essentially unchanged from a week earlier, before her debate with Biden. Biden's positive image improved slightly to 63%, and those saying he's qualified to be president grew to 77%. You're telling me that 40% of voters would trust this broad in the White House? Wow.

China - China has abruptly canceled a series of military and diplomatic contacts with the United States to protest a planned $6.5 billion package of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. That's a shame. The Chinese action will not stop the country's participation with the United States in international efforts over Iran's and North Korea's nuclear programs. That doesn't sound so bad. But it does include the cancellation of an upcoming U.S. visit by a senior Chinese general, other similar visits, port calls by naval vessels and the indefinite postponement of meetings on stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Neither does that. Here's the one that does sting. China will also not participate in an exchange with the United States on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief that was to take place before the end of November. I'm not sure exactly how China draws the connection between arms sales to Taiwan and humanitarian efforts, but then again I usually rode in the short school bus. Beijing is furious with the U.S. decision to sell Taiwan the huge package of advanced weaponry, including 182 Javelin guided missile rounds and 20 launch units, 32 Harpoon missiles, 330 Patriot missiles and 30 Apache attack helicopters. China, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province, says the sale interferes with internal Chinese affairs and harms its national security. Seems like we've heard this song before--like, maybe from Russia when the U.S. decide to assist Georgia. And we all know how well that turned out.

Cancer - Most people over 75 should stop getting routine colon cancer tests, according to a government health task force. The government-appointed panel of independent medical experts concluded that the benefits of detecting and treating colon cancer decline after age 75 and the risks rise. Colonoscopy complications can include infection, perforated colon and reactions to sedatives. And let's not forget that other risk that tends to increase along with age...you know, death. Colon cancer is the country's second leading cancer killer. Nearly 50,000 Americans are expected to die of colorectal cancer this year. Screening to spot early cancer or precancerous growths has resulted in fewer deaths over the last two decades. Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard but it is not perfect. A long, thin tube with a small video camera is snaked through the large intestine to view the lining and any growths are removed. Speaking strictly for myself--and not being far off from the age range for having get this test done--I would have to say that having some dude shove a tube up my butt to take a video does not even remotely come close to the same vicinity of 'gold standard'. But as I said, I'm speaking only for myself.