What Caught My Eye Today

Canada - An obese inmate was released early from a Montreal prison because prison facilities could not adequately accommodate him. The inmate, who weighs more than 400 pounds, suffered from health problems during the two years he spent in jail for drug dealing. No kidding. I would have thought that prison food may have help dude shed a few pounds. Apparently not. The prison mattress was a foot too narrow for him, his legs did not fit under the prison tables, and the prison chairs could not support his weight. Citing those hardships, a judge granted him early parole. Hardships? The guy is a convicted drug dealer, for heaven's sake. He shouldn't be entitled to a country club membership. I say let the guy pay his debt to society. If a 200 pound dude got sent up for the same crime, you would see him being released early.

Venezuela - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened to send the army to the state of Carabobo if voters there do not elect his ally as governor. Ah yes, democracy in action, the Chavez way--"Of course you have a choice, just don't choose against me." Chavez' candidate is one of several Chavez allies in danger of losing their election or re-election bids in upcoming state and local elections. The far-left Chavez was wildly popular when he was first elected, 10 years ago, but his appeal has been waning. Last year, voters rejected his plan to change the country's constitution to give the president more power. If Chavez was smart he would have followed the lead of President Bush. What Bush couldn't do, he got Vice President Dick Cheney to do for him...or maybe it was the other way around. I'm not so sure.

Costa Rica - This is one of those boring but important stories that is buried in the newspaper and probably didn't even get mentioned on the network news. After four years of delay, Costa Rica finally approved the last law necessary to implement the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). The country signed the regional free-trade pact back in 2007--along with the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. The other signatories of the pact, which calls for easing of tariffs and more free-market policies, have already enacted it. Costa Rica's opposition lawmakers initially refused saying they didn't want to open the state-run telecommunications and insurance industries to competition. Yes it is unfortunate how free markets and tend to create more competition. But see, here's the thing. If the state-run industries are really that good, then the competition will have a tough time stealing away customers. Could it be, that lawmakers are afraid of competition, because their product isn't that good in the first place? And on another note, this is one of those occasions where I sort of feel bad for President Bush. This is a pretty big win for his foreign policy and no one is likely to even know that it happened because of all the stuff going down in the Middle East. Of course there is also the economy woes here at home--which I think is now officially in a recession--that will also steal some of thunder away from CAFTA. Dude, just cannot catch a break in his final weeks.

Kosovo - This next item is just flat out creepy. Kosovo's deputy health minister was removed from his post last week in a scandal over the illegal harvesting of kidneys from Serbian prisoners during the 1999 war. He had given permission for the organs to be sold on the black market. See what I mean? Seriously, this has to be a pretty clear cut violation of the Geneva Convention doesn't it. I'm pretty sure, you are not supposed to be stealing vital organs from perfectly healthy prisoners of war. Last month, Serbia came up with evidence that Kosovars had stolen kidneys from Serbian prisoners by obtaining confessions from two surgeons who had assisted in the operations. This is one of those times when I wouldn't might seeing some hardcore Muslim justice handed down. In Saudi Arabia, if you get caught stealing, your hand gets chopped off--so you cannot steal again. I'm thinking that would be a fair punishment for this Kosovar health official.

Potpourri - Here's another installment of news tidbits from around the globe reflecting a sign of the times; and in this economic environment, the signs aren't that good.

• Cigarettes - Because of taxes, the average price of a pack of cigarettes is $8.66 in New York State, compared with $3.33 in low-tax South Carolina. South Carolinians spend $304 per person every year on cigarettes compared with $296 for New Yorkers.Which basically means the taxes are starting to work. I read in a separate article that the percentage of American adults who smoke has dropped below 20% for the first time.
• Spam - Spam manufacturer Hormel has added a second shift at its plant and is operating seven days a week to meet demand for the inexpensive canned meat product. Spam "seems to do well when hard times hit."
  That sort of thing brings a tear to your eye, don't it?
• Japan - Japanese policy say that with welfare spending falling and health care costs rising, the country is experiencing a surge in crimes committed by the elderly. Crimes by people older than 65 have more than doubled since 2003, with theft the most common offense.
  Admittedly, this is probably glossing over a rather dire situation, but I'm thinking if Grandpa has run out of Depends undergarments, I'm inclined to let him take whatever he needs. Consider the alternatives if you don't. You'll have quite the mess to mop up.

What Caught My Eye Today - 2008 Thanksgiving Edition

Fred's Note: So I'm a day late. Shoot me. I started this tradition last year where I take pause from the hectic goings on in the world to give thanks for all the good things in life that all too often we take for granted. And now without further adieu...

What I'm Thankful For -- 2008 Edition

• I'm thankful that I'm not afraid to change...because come January 21, we're gonna get a whole heapload of change. Do me a favor, President-elect Obama--don't make me sorry that I voted for you.
• I'm thankful for the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution...because 8 years was way more than enough.
• I'm thankful that I'm a long way off from retirement...because my nest egg isn't what it used to be.
• I'm thankful for March Madness, NASCAR, English Premier League (that would be soccer for you Americans), and College Football...because you can only derive so much enjoyment out of pulling weeds and scrubbing the toilets on the weekends.
• I'm thankful for Sarah Palin and Tina Fey...because, let's face it, Saturday Night Live desperately needed something worth watching again.
• I'm thankful that when I drink water, that in all probability, it is in fact water...you cannot say the same for the dudes on the International Space Station for much longer
• I'm thankful from my job...mostly because I still have one.
• I'm thankful for Hugo Chavez, Kim Il Jong and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad...because it's guys like you that remind me that we could have done a lot worse than Bush #43
• I'm thankful for Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears...because its nice for us ordinary folk to hear that fame and fortune isn't always as good as it's made out to be.
• I'm thankful for my dogs...seriously, no matter how bad things get, you can always hug a puppy and everything gets better.
• I'm thankful for family and friends...because, well why wouldn't you want family and friends in your life, well most of them anyway.
• I'm thankful for the missus...because she's part of everything good in my life (yeah, yeah...a bit sappy, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and lay it all out there)
• And finally, I'm thankful for 2009 being just around the corner...and at the risk of stating the obvious, being around for the next year is certainly much more appealing than the alternatives.

Back with our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.

What Caught My Eye Today

India - Teams of gunmen stormed luxury hotels, a popular restaurant, hospitals and a crowded train station in coordinated attacks across India's financial capital, killing at least 82 people and taking Westerners hostage. A group of suspected Muslim militants claimed responsibility. Sadly, this sort of thing does happen rather frequently around the world. That being said, there is a particular reason that this incident caught my attention. India has been wracked by bomb attacks the past three years, which police blame on Muslim militants intent on destabilizing this largely Hindu country. Nearly 700 people have died. On this occasion, the attackers specifically targeted Britons and Americans, witnesses said. Clearly there is no justification for this unprovoked attack, but then again maybe the attackers didn't see things the same way. It's rather obvious that American policies since the September 11 terror attack, while not necessarily unjustified, have done little to boost our popularity with a lot of countries. The sad truth of the matter is like it or not depending on your nationality, you might not be welcome in very many places outside your borders. And unless that changes--and forgive the cliche here--there is very little chance for us to "all just get along."

Presidential Transition - This is kind of cute...sorry but I couldn't come up with a better way to characterize this next item. President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, said their young daughters will still have to do chores in the White House and won't get out of doing homework just because they're the president's children. That means helping out around the house. I bet the White House staff will just love that. "That was the first thing I said to some of the staff when I did my visit," Michelle Obama said. "I said, 'You know, we're going to have to set up some boundaries,' because they're going to need to be able to make their beds, and clean up." I say good for them. Even if you are the President and First Lady of the most powerful nation on the planet, you still put your pants on one leg at a time and its still your job--some might consider it one of the few perks of parenting--to torment your children by making them do their homework and chores. That being said, does anyone think the teacher is going to call the President in for a parent teacher conference if Malia or Sasha doesn't turn in that essay on "What my daddy does for a living"?.

Speaking of first families...

Barbara Bush - Former first lady Barbara Bush was resting and in good spirits in a Houston hospital following surgery for a perforated ulcer. Surgeons cleansed her abdominal area and closed a one-centimeter hole caused by the ulcer. Bush went to the hospital as a precaution Tuesday night after experiencing some abdominal pains. Former President George H.W. Bush was with her. This comes from the heart when I say, "Get well soon, Babs." She was one of the classiest first ladies that ever graced the White House. And I'd venture to say that a lot of folks were probably much more nervous about crossing her than her husband--you know, Bush 1.0.

Thailand - What is it with these dudes and their inability to keep airports open? Thai authorities have closed a second airport in the capital after anti-government protesters stormed the terminal. The country's main international airport has been closed since early yesterday because of tens of thousands of protesters laying virtual siege on the terminal in their push for the government's resignation. The city's main domestic airport, Don Muang, was closed early today as authorities feared that protesters might harm passengers and planes. Authorities are considering using an air force base outside Bangkok and have alerted all airports nationwide to be ready to receive more diverted flights. The closure of Don Muang cuts off Bangkok completely to air traffic. After yesterday's mess, I'd be curious to know what idiot would want to fly into Thailand at this point. A call by Thailand's powerful army commander to end the country's deepening political crisis was rebuffed as the prime minister rejected his suggestion to step down, and protesters refused to end their occupation of the country's main airport. While I'm not a big fan of military juntas (like say the one in Myanmar) I'm tempted to agree with the military on this one. Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat justified his stance saying he came to power through elections and has "a job to protect democracy for the people of Thailand." So how is it exactly, that Wongsawat is protecting democracy, when a rather large number of those folks that elected him to power, seem to have changed their minds. It seems to me that if the will of the people put him into his current position, that same will should be able to remove him as well.

Japan - You really have to hand it to the zookeepers in Tokyo. They don't miss a thing. Puzzled Japanese zookeepers have cleared up a mystery over a lack of chemistry between a couple of polar bears as both turn out to be female. Tsuyoshi, a four-year-old "male" polar bear, and his 11-year-old female partner, Kurumi, have been living together since June at the Kushiro Municipal Zoo in Hokkaido, northern Japan. But much to the frustration and puzzlement of zookeepers, the bear couple, on a breeding mission, showed no signs of chemistry, and Tsuyoshi has never gone into rut even during "his" mating period. The zoo put Tsuyoshi under an anesthetic earlier in the month for a gender checkup, and learned he was a she. You would think that zoo officials would have checked this before they tried to make a polar bear love connection. But wait, they did check. Experts say when polar bears are young, it is difficult to determine their gender as their long hair covers reproductive organs. The zoo said it had determined Tsuyoshi was a male three months after his birth. I'm sorry but couldn't they have used a razor to cut the hair back a little or maybe draw a blood sample? I'm no expert (and I'm wondering just how "expert" these so-called experts really are), but this doesn't seem that complicated.

What Caught My Eye Today

Presidential Transition - You may have noticed that I recently added a portlet to keep you up to date on Barack Obama's Cabinet picks. Here's the latest scuttlebutt. Seeking experience in a time of war, President-elect Barack Obama will keep Defense Secretary Robert Gates in that job and he has chosen retired Marine General James Jones to be his National Security Adviser. Gates, who has served as President George W. Bush's defense chief for two years, will remain in the Cabinet for some time, probably a year. Gates, a moderate with long-standing ties to Republican administrations and the Bush family, would fulfill an Obama pledge to include a Republican in his Cabinet. Well now that is convenient, isn't it? Not only does Gates provide stability and continuity at a critical time, but he also serves a political purpose for the opposition party. How often does that sort of thing happen? As Obama's choice for national security adviser, Jones has impeccable military credentials, an ambassador's polish and an imposing physical presence at 6 foot 4 inches. He's highly regarded by Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill, and as the NATO alliance's top commander — his last assignment before retiring from the military in early 2007 — he's a respected figure in capitals across Europe. It never hurts to have a formidable physical presence to assist in the respect department. Sounds like Jones is a pretty smart cookie already, but scaring the piss out of potential adversaries with a towering physique has to be considered a bonus.

On a related note, seems Obama's Cabinet picks have impressed at least one dude in Washington. Joe Lieberman said that Barack Obama's actions since winning the presidency have been "just about perfect." Lieberman, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000, was re-elected to the Senate in 2006 as an independent but continues to caucus with Democrats. He supported Republican John McCain's presidential campaign, going as far as to criticize Obama and make a speech at the Republican National Convention. Democrats threatened to strip him of his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee but instead removed him as head of a smaller environmental subcommittee. Always nice to see that the art of blatantly kissing ass is practiced even at the highest levels of government. I was thinking that this sort of thing was done by slackers like me trying to worm out of having to do any real work.

Venezuela - Speaking of brown-nosers, let's see what our boy Hugo Chavez is up to. Russian warships sailed into port in Venezuela in a show of strength as Moscow seeks to counter U.S. influence in Latin America. Russia's first such deployment in the Caribbean since the Cold War is timed to coincide with President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Venezuela, the first ever by a Russian president. Chavez, basking in the support of a powerful ally and traditional U.S. rival, wants Russian help to build a nuclear reactor, invest in oil and natural gas projects and bolster his leftist opposition to U.S. influence in the region. What a suck-up. He also wants weapons — Venezuela has bought more than $4 billion in Russian arms. Does anyone, besides me of course, think that Chavez is trying to compensate for some shortcomings that he's ashamed of? Russia's ambitions in Latin America, however, may be checked by global events. Both Venezuela and Russia are feeling the pinch of slumping oil prices, and their ability to be major benefactors for like-minded leaders is in doubt given the pressures of the world's financial crisis. Global recessions can be a bitch, can't they? I'm guessing that when oil was trading at a buck fifty ($150) a barrel, neither of these nation's braintrusts (government officials) ever thought that perhaps it might be a good idea to lock in some of those profits on the off chance that oil prices might fall. Incidentally, last time I checked oil closed at just over $50 a barrel.

Thailand - Protesters swarmed Thailand's main international airport forcing the cancellation of departing flights. Riddle me this--how do a bunch of protesters manage to shut down an entire airport, runways and all? It was the boldest move yet by the People's Alliance for Democracy in a months long campaign to topple Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, whom it accuses of being the puppet of a disgraced fugitive predecessor, billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra. This was the first time there was open use of guns by the alliance's so-called guards and the entanglement of foreigners — the thousands of tourists trapped at the international airport. Talk about your exotic holiday from hell. The alliance has staged a number of dramatic actions in recent months. It took over the prime minister's office in late August and twice blockaded Parliament — one time setting off street battles with police that ended with two people dead and hundreds injured. See, things are totally different in America. When we don't like our leaders, what do we do---elect them to serve another term. Wait. That was four years ago. We totally got it right this time around. Anyway, back to the story. Here's an interesting angle. The anti-government protesters are mostly better educated, more affluent, urban Thais demanding that the country move away from a Western-style electoral system, which they say Thaksin exploited to buy votes. They instead favor a system in which some representatives are chosen by certain professions and social groups. Usually anti-government protest are held to move toward Western-style democracies. Apparently, Thai officials have managed to bastardize democracy to suit their purposes. Clearly, these guys have not been given enough credit for their ingenuity.

Gay Rights - Is it just me or is there a trend developing here? A judge ruled that a strict Florida law that blocks gay people from adopting children is unconstitutional, declaring there was no legal or scientific reason for sexual orientation alone to prohibit anyone from adopting. The judge rejected the state's arguments that there is "a supposed dark cloud hovering over homes of homosexuals and their children." Maybe that's because there is no legal basis to the argument. Attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union said the case was the first in the nation in which numerous experts in child psychology, social work and other fields testified that there is no science to justify a gay adoption ban. Organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association and American Psychiatric Association all support permitting same-sex couples to adopt. I'm too young to have lived through the legal ranglings of the 1960s related to racial discrimination, so maybe the civil rights issue of my generation will be remembered as the fight for equal rights regardless of sexual orientation. Of course, I'm sure the Mormons will want to have their say before this thing is over. So stay tuned.

What Caught My Eye Today

Fred's Note: Given the recent doom and gloom that is the global economy, today's posting is going to feature three stories that will hopeful bring a smile to your day...I tried to find more, but dude, things are really, really bleak these days.

Conception - This one goes out with a special shout out to my number one Obama fan and esteemed colleague, J.E. In the hours and days since Barack Obama won the presidential election, many exhilarated supporters have been in the mood for love. Experts aren't ruling out the possibility of an Obama baby boom--the kind of blip in the national birthrate that often follows a seismic event, whether it is scary (a terrorist attack) or celebratory (the end of World War II). Well why not? I'm obviously prejudiced by the fact that I am a guy, but is there ever a bad time to have a little something-something with a consenting member of whatever persuasion tickles your fancy? Euphoria is a serious aphrodisiac and voters under 30 went with Obama by a 2 to 1 margin. Like young people need any more reason to be horny. Combine those two elements and the likely outcome is what the online Urban Dictionary has already dubbed as an "Obama Baby: a child conceived after Obama was proclaimed President, by way of celebratory sex." I don't what to toot my own horn, but I've been using citing references for Urban Dictionary in my "Say What?" feature for a couple of month now. Seriously, check it out--click here. To achieve an actual Obama boom (tell me they didn't just say that), Americans must make more than 390,000 babies this month; that's how many Americans were born in August 2007, the last year for which August birth figures are available. That's right people...if you what this to happen, go out and shag someone you love...or at least someone who voted the same way you did.

Christmas Shopping - Think of this next item as a public service announcement. http://Badgiftemporium.com -- Finally, a site where you can publicly mock your most horrific holiday gifts, from the ceramic cat figurines your creepy uncle gave you to the Mario Lopez workout video that you are afraid to watch. It's the background music that gets me going. I did a little digging and as far as I can tell, this whole deal is some rather creative--a just a tad bit creepy--stealth marketing for and advertising agency in Missouri. Beat's a boring radio or TV ad, don't you think?

Joke - This one is courtesy of my good friends at Maxim. A cop pulls over a man for running a stop sign. The driver gives the office a lot of grief and starts to argue that he did, indeed, stop. The cop says, "No, sir, you only slowed down." The guy replies, "Stop or slow down, what's the difference?" The cop then pull the guy out of the car, beats him savagely with his nightstick for about a minute, and calmly asks, "Now, would you like me to stop or just slow down?"

And there you have it folks. Hopefully a little something to smile about. Remember, things could always be worse. And tomorrow, they probably will be.

What Caught My Eye Today

Stock Market - Wall Street hit levels not seen since 2003, with the Dow Jones industrial average plunging below the 8,000 mark. The S&P 500, widely considered the broadest snapshot of corporate America, slipped 52.54 points to 806.58; and the Dow gave up 427.47 points to 7,997.28.If you are keeping score at home the Dow closed at an all time high of 14,164.53 just over a year ago on October 9, 2007--that's about a 43.5% drop. Yeah, that stings. But wait there's more. The financial crisis has already wiped out $6.69 trillion of value from the S&P 500 since its October 2007 high. And, of course, it goes without saying that misery loves company. In Asian trading, Japan's Nikkei index fell 0.66%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.77%. In European trading, Britain's FTSE 100 fell 4.82%, Germany's DAX index fell 4.92%, and France's CAC-40 fell 4.03%. In a nutshell, the global economy is basically in the toilet. Just so you know.

Gay Marriage - California's highest court agreed to hear several legal challenges to the state's new ban on same-sex marriage but refused to allow gay couples to resume marrying before it rules. The California Supreme Court accepted three lawsuits seeking to nullify Proposition 8, a voter-approved constitutional amendment that overruled the court's decision in May that legalized gay marriage. All three cases claim the measure abridges the civil rights of a vulnerable minority group. They argue that voters alone did not have the authority to enact such a significant constitutional change. That's an interesting tactic. So who does have the authority, if not the voters? Opponents of the ban argue that voters improperly abrogated the judiciary's authority by stripping same-sex couples of the right to wed after the high court earlier ruled it was discriminatory to prohibit gay men and lesbians from marrying. The lawsuits claim that the measure represents such a sweeping change that it constitutes a constitutional revision as opposed to an amendment. What's the difference? The distinction would have required the ban's backers to obtain approval from two-thirds of both houses of the California Legislature before submitting it to voters. Oh. I see...sort of. For the record, I voted against Proposition 8 because, frankly I fail to see what the big deal is about same sex marriage. It's not like the folks on that side of the fence--so to speak--are going to have much interest in those of us on this side of the fence, and vice versa. The way I see it, there's plenty of room on both sides of the fence.

Juris Prudence - A Texas judge has set a Friday arraignment for Vice President Dick Cheney, former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and others named in indictments accusing them of responsibility for prisoner abuse in a federal detention center. I didn't see this coming. In the latest bizarre development in the case, the lame-duck prosecutor who won the indictments was a no-show in court today. The judge ordered Texas Rangers to go to District Attorney Juan Guerra's house, check on his well-being and order him to court on Friday. I guess I would be a bit concerned about this dude's well being. Seems rather peculiar--suspicious, even--that a prosecutor would miss out on indictments that he had worked so long to get. Half of the eight high-profile indictments returned by the grand jury are tied to privately run federal detention centers in the sparsely populated South Texas county. One indictment charges Cheney and Gonzales with engaging in organized criminal activity. It alleges that the men neglected federal prisoners and are responsible for assaults in the facilities. The grand jury accused Cheney of a conflict of interest because of his influence over the county's federal immigrant detention center and his substantial holdings in the Vanguard Group, which invests in private prison companies. The indictment accuses Gonzales of stopping an investigation into abuses at the federal detention center. Well now, this could be rather entertaining. After all, its not every day that a sitting Vice President gets indicted. Senators? Sure all the time, but a Vice President. This could be huge.

What Caught My Eye Today

2008 Election - You probably thought the election was over after Barack Obama won the presidency two weeks ago. True, but we still have 5 seats in the House and 3 in the Senate that need to be decided. Oops. Scratch that. Make it 2 seats in the Senate. Alaska Senator Ted Stevens has lost his bid for a seventh term. The longest-serving Republican in the history of the Senate trailed Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich by 3,724 votes after today's count. That's an insurmountable lead with only about 2,500 overseas ballots left to be counted. Stevens also revealed that he will not ask President George W. Bush to give him a pardon for his seven felony convictions. If you are keeping score, that guarantees the Senate will start the next session of Congress with at least 58 seats. Minnesota is still too close to call and Georgia is headed for a run off election in early December. But back to this Alaska deal for a moment. If ever the Republican party breathed a sign of relief that it had lost a Senate seat, it had to be this one. Had Stevens won, the GOP faced the very unpleasant possibility of having to kick him out for being a convicted felon. Talk about dodging the proverbial bullet.

War on Terror - Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon is developing plans to get troops quickly out of Iraq and into Afghanistan to battle a more confident and successful Taliban making the changes President-elect Barack Obama wants in both wars. I guess there is something to be said for that adage, "serving at the pleasure of the president." Still, it is comforting to see that the military is at lease attempting to stay ahead of the curve.. The Pentagon has already identified and practiced travel routes out of Iraq along exit routes through Turkey and Jordan. The governments in those two bordering countries are U.S. allies and support the withdrawal planning effort. Go figure. Who would have thought that anyone in that neck of the woods would be interested in facilitating the departure of the U.S. military.

Piracy - We're talking the real deal here--the stuff that happens on the high seas. Pirates have seized dozens of ships off Somalia's coast in the last year, generally releasing them after ransoms were paid. The Gulf of Aden, off Somalia, connects to the Red Sea, which in turn is linked to the Mediterranean by the Suez Canal. The route is thousands of miles and many days shorter than going around the Cape of Good Hope off the southern tip of Africa. A major Norwegian shipping group on ordered its more than 90 tankers to sail around Africa rather than use the Suez Canal after Somali pirates seized a Saudi supertanker carrying $100 million in crude. The U.S. and other naval forces decided against intervening in the seizure of the supertanker. You would think that with cargo as precious and valuable as oil that nations like the U.S. would have a bit more interest in protecting these shipping routes. Saudi Arabia, which is the world's leading oil producer, said it will join the international fight against piracy. Now that's what I'm talking about. Saudi Arabia's French-equipped navy has 18,000-20,000 personnel, but has never taken part in any high-seas fighting. Bummer. But onto bigger issues. Any idea who's going to star in the new "Pirates of the Gulf of Aden" flick? I hear Disney is already working on designs for a new amusement park water ride.

Space Station - Uh-oh. Somebody's got butter fingers. And when you are floating around in the vacuum of space, that's not a good thing. An astronaut accidentally let go of her tool bag after a grease gun inside it exploded, and helplessly watched as the tote and everything inside floated away. It was one of the largest items ever to be lost by a spacewalker, and occurred during an unprecedented attempt to clean and lube a gummed-up joint on a solar panel on the International Space Station. In her defense, the gun did explode. How could she possibly have known that was going to happen? The spacewalk continued as planned, with the two astronauts sharing tools to repair a jammed joint which has been unable to automatically point the right-side solar wings toward the sun for maximum energy production. Astronauts inside the shuttle-station complex started unloading the gear inside a huge trunk that was brought up by Endeavour. The big-ticket item is a recycling system that will convert astronauts' urine and sweat into drinking water. No matter how many times I read about this thing, I have the same reaction--eww. Endeavour also delivered an extra bathroom, kitchenette, two bedrooms, an exercise machine and refrigerator that will allow space station residents to enjoy cold drinks for the first time. Mark my words. With refrigeration having been introduced, it is just a matter of time before the first interplanetary kegger takes place. The additions — coming exactly 10 years after the first space station piece was launched — will transform the place into a two-bath, two-kitchen, five-bedroom home. And with real estate prices tanking in recent months, I bet you could get that joint for a song.

Vietnam - I heard about this item on the radio today, though the story broke a couple of weeks ago. Vietnam has suspended a much-criticized plan to ban very short, thin and flat-chested people from driving. Wouldn't that affect most of the Vietnamese population? Under the 83-point plan, people shorter than 1.5 meters (4.9 feet), lighter than 40 kilograms (88 pounds) or with a chest circumference of less than 72 centimeters would no longer qualify for new drivers' licences. Okay, so I count 3 points there. I wonder what the other 80 points cover. The proposal worried many in this nation of slender people and spurned jokes about traffic police with tape measures enthusiastically flagging down female motorcyclists, and predictions of a run on padded bras. The justice ministry has asked the health ministry to temporarily suspend and review the plan. I just pray this isn't too tall an order for them to handle (Oh come on, that's a little funny).

What Caught My Eye Today

Space - Here is a rare two-fer on the U.S. space program. First up Mars.

NASA reported that the Phoenix Mars Lander final fell silent. The solar-powered rover touched down in May for a scheduled 3-month mission and held on for an extra 2 months before its solar panels succumbed to a dust storm. The rover accomplished nearly all of its objectives, including confirmation of a layer of water ice under the planet's surface. Rumor has it that the indigenous Martian population plans to form an Olympic Committee in order to bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics. They figure that global warming will have progressed to the point where it will no longer be possible to conduct the games on the planet Earth.

And now onto the International Space Station.

Astronauts aboard NASA's shuttle Endeavour arrived at the International Space Station to deliver a portable room packed with new home additions for the orbiting laboratory. Using the space station's robotic arm, astronauts will pluck the Italian-built cargo module, Leonardo from Endeavour's payload bay and attach it to an Earth-facing port on the orbiting lab's Harmony connecting node so its vital contents of space bedroom, bathroom and kitchen hardware can be moved in later this week. While the 12-ton Leonardo module is filled with more than 14,000 pounds (6,350 kg) of cargo, the focus of Endeavour's crew is on delivering new gear so the station can jump to larger, six-person crews next year. The outpost needs to double its current three-astronaut population to handle the orbital maintenance and scientific research required for the growing laboratory. Chief among the new life support gear to be delivered are a spare $19 million bathroom, second kitchen, two new bedrooms, an exercise machine that offers more than 29 different workouts and a $250 million recycling system that filters urine, sweat and other wastewater through a seven-step process to turn it back into drinkable water. A repurposed space cooler will serve as a space station fridge to give expedition astronauts constant access to cool drinks for the first time in eight years aboard the orbiting lab. Converting urine to water? I'm skeptical. Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt that the process works. My problem is that my brain will still know that I'm drinking a glass of piss water...literally. In all seriousness, This is a positive development and with the space shuttle program scheduled to end in 2010, NASA needs everything to go right from here on out.

Somalia - For the most part, I like to poke fun at the news of the world because that's what I do. Call it a defense mechanism for dealing with the doom and gloom that seems to always dominate the headlines. However, there are occasions when the news is so heinous, that you cannot find anything amusing about it. This is one of those stories. Islamic fundamentalists in Somalia brutally executed a 13-year-old girl who was convicted of adultery for being raped by three men. No, no. You read that correctly. The girl was reportedly dragged screaming into a soccer stadium in front of a crowd of 1,000 people, buried up to her neck, and stoned for more than 10 minutes by 50 executioners. Militia members fired on a few people who tried to intervene, killing an 8 year-old boy. The rapists were not arrested. Not for a second do I believe this sort of atrocity is sanctioned by Islam. That being said, this is why religion has no place in government or judicial process. By its very nature, religion is subject to interpretation and provoke rather emotional behavior from practitioners. I find in impossible to conceive how this act of cruelty by these fundamentalists could be justified in any way, shape or form regardless of the religion that they practice.

Peru - Peru is offering President-elect Barack Obama a Peruvian hairless puppy, the only dog breed native to South America. Viringos, date back 3,000 years and were bred by Incan kings. They are hypoallergenic, a trait the Obamas are looking for in a dog, since one of their daughters is allergic to dog dander. The four-month old male is nicknamed "Ears" but will be renamed "Machu Picchu" after the ancient Incan citadel if it is sent to the United States. I like "Ears" better. It certain reflects this dog's most prominent feature, after the hairless bit (click here).

Underwear - A Cleveland woman is suing Victoria's Secret, charging that its bra gave her and hundreds of other women an itchy blistering rash. So I guess that means the secret is out, huh? The plaintiff says the bras caused a rash that was "red-hot to the touch, burning and itching." Her lawyer says 200 other women also got a rash, and has filed for class-action status. Now there is a court case that should be fascinating to watch. Victoria's Secret conceded that there had been "a small number" of complaints. Translation: "Oh crap, we're busted."

What Caught My Eye Today

Presidential Transition - Hillary Clinton is among the candidates that President-elect Barack Obama is considering for Secretary of State, according to two Democratic officials in close contact with the Obama transition team. So is this for real or just another rumor? The two Democratic officials who spoke did so on the condition of anonymity to avoid angering Obama and his staff. A Clinton spokesman referred questions to the Obama transition team, which said it had no comment. Other people frequently mentioned for the State Department job are Senator Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., Senator John Kerry, D-Mass., and New Mexico's Democratic governor, Bill Richardson. In my experience stuff like this doesn't come out without reason. These officials spilled the beans because someone told them to. The real question here is who? If Obama picks someone other than Clinton for Secretary of State, there is going to be some explaining to do by somebody. Looking at this from a slightly different angle, did you happen to notice that Obama's short list to head the State Department includes candidates from both major political parties?

Nebraska - Here's an update on the safe-haven law that has been causing nothing be headaches for Nebraskan lawmakers. To Nebraska's surprise and embarrassment, more than half of the 33 children legally abandoned under the safe-haven law since it took effect in mid-July have been teenagers. But state officials may have inadvertently made things worse with their hesitant response to the problem: The number of drop-offs has almost tripled to about three a week since the governor announced that lawmakers would rewrite the law. When it rains, it pours. The safe-haven law was intended to save "Dumpster babies" by allowing desperate young mothers to abandon their newborns at a hospital without fear of prosecution. But lawmakers could not agree on an age limit, and the law as passed uses only the word "child." Perhaps I'm speaking out of turn here (big surprise, huh?), but how stupid are these legislators that they would pass a law with such an obvious loophole in it because they couldn't agree on an age limit for a freaking "baby"? Seriously, what's wrong with looking at what all 49 other states did when they passed their safe haven laws? My goodness these people are dense.

Catholicism - I'm all for sticking by one's morals but this is starting to get out of hand. A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for Barack Obama because the Democratic president-elect supports abortion, and supporting him "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil." The pastor said in a letter distributed to parishioners that they are putting their souls at risk if they take Holy Communion before doing penance for their vote. Here is an excerpt from the letter: "Voting for a pro-abortion politician when a plausible pro-life alternative exists constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil, and those Catholics who do so place themselves outside of the full communion of Christ's Church and under the judgment of divine law. Persons in this condition should not receive Holy Communion until and unless they are reconciled to God in the Sacrament of Penance, lest they eat and drink their own condemnation." See that's just plain wrong. I appreciate the edicts of the Catholic faith, what with being Catholic myself, but what purpose does threatening people with eternal damnation serve. Whatever happened to those virtues of tolerance and forgiveness?

British Empire - By the time he turns 60 on Friday, Prince Charles will have spent a lifetime in line to become king. The longest-waiting heir in British history only ascends to the throne when his beloved mother dies or decides to step down. The queen won't be giving Charles the present many believe he craves most — the crown. The queen has indicated informally that she plans to keep the job for life and some people think the 82-year-old monarch intends to live forever, or at least as long as her mother, who died at 101. What is it about mother-daughter rivalries? If the queen remains in good health, Charles may be nearing 80 — or past it — when he fulfills the unique destiny that was his at birth. There is no doubt that Charles is less popular than the queen, who commands wide respect throughout Britain for her unswerving devotion to duty for more than half a century. She became queen on the death of her father George VI in 1952. Charles, the eldest of her four children, was not yet 4 years old. In the old days, things were so much simpler. If a royal in waiting got tired of waiting, he (or she) merely removed the current occupant. Usually there was a death involved, followed by a rather awkward funeral, but none of this 60 year waiting nonsense.

What Caught My Eye Today

Iran - Iran said it successfully test-fired a new generation of long range surface-to-surface missile — one that could easily strike as far away as southeastern Europe with greater precision than earlier models. The solid fuel high-speed missile with a range of about 1,200 miles could easily strike Iran's arch-foe Israel and go as far as southeastern Europe. That's got to send a chill down few spines in Europe and Israel. Iran's Defense Minister said the missile was a defensive weapon and not a response to threats against Iran. Right. Guess how the U.S. reacted to this news. The U.S. State Department said the missile tests were not good for the stability of the region and were another sign that U.S. plans to construct a missile shield in Europe are critical to international security. And check out the spin on this. Washington hoped Russia, which has criticized the proposed shield, would recognize the threat posed by Iran and realize the system is not aimed at Russia. Every once and awhile, the State Department surprises everyone and says something that almost passes as logical.

Gay Rights - Connecticut, here I come, right back where I started from (someone out there will surely get that...I hope). Same-sex couples exchanged vows for the first time in Connecticut amid cheers and tears of joy, while gay activists planned protests across the country over the vote that took away their right to marry in California. The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled 4-3 last month that same-sex couples have the right to wed rather than accept a 2005 civil union law designed to give them the same rights as married couples. Like the highest courts in Connecticut and Massachusetts, the California Supreme Court ruled this spring that same-sex marriage is legal. After about 18,000 thousand such unions were conducted in California, however, its voters last week approved Proposition 8, a referendum banning the practice. Gay rights groups said they plan to ask California voters to overturn the ban if legal challenges to Proposition 8 are unsuccessful. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it those same California voters that voted for the ban in the first place? Constitutional amendments to ban gay marriage also passed last week in Arizona and Florida, and Arkansas voters approved a measure banning unmarried couples from serving as adoptive or foster parents. Despite suggestions to the contrary, it seems to me that conservatism is alive and thriving. Just one question, since when does one have to be married and of opposite sexes to be capable of providing a loving, nurturing environment to raise a needy child? Okay, I lied, one more question. What exactly does it mean to say, "one isn't voting against gays, but for marriage"? How does that reconcile with the fact that by passing Proposition 8, we are denying the right to marry to tens of thousands of couples?

Sarah Palin - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said she would consider serving in the Senate if God gave her the opportunity and Alaskans wanted her to take the job. Seriously, don't you think God has more pressing matters to deal with? The state's senior senator, Republican Ted Stevens, held a dwindling lead as the count resumed in his re-election bid. Stevens, who has been in the Senate for 40 years, led by just over 3,000 votes when the Election Day count ended last week. His lead narrowed to less than 1,000 votes as Alaska election officials counted the first 28,000 of an estimated 90,000 absentee and provisional ballots. Even if he is re-elected, Stevens could be ousted by the Senate for his conviction on seven felony counts of failing to report more than $250,000 in gifts, mostly renovations on his home. If Stevens loses his seat, Palin could run for it in a special election. You have to feel for Alaskans. On one hand, if their incumbent Senator wins reelection, he's likely to get booted from the Senate for being a convicted felon. On the other hand, they have to hold their collective breaths waiting for the Almighty to decide if Palin should run to represent their interests in Washington. Poor bastards.

Lindsay Lohan - Girlfriend, what up? We haven't heard from you in ages. What pearls of wisdom do you have for us today/ Lindsay Lohan referred to President-elect Barack Obama as the country's "first colored president" in an interview on "Access Hollywood." Describing her experience on Election Day, Lohan said: "It was really exciting. It's an amazing feeling. It's our first colored president." I thinking that probably didn't come out the way Lohan had intended. Technically, all our presidents have been colored--it's called skin pigmentation. Secondly, maybe we should cut Lindsay some slack on this one. After all, she could have picked a much worse adjective than "colored."

Paranoia - Paranoia, once assumed to afflict only schizophrenics, may be a lot more common than previously thought. I knew it! Experts say there is a wide spectrum of paranoia, from the dangerous delusions that drive schizophrenics to violence, to the irrational fears many people have daily. Paranoia is defined as the exaggerated or unfounded fear that others are trying to hurt you. That includes thoughts that other people are trying to upset or annoy you, for example, by staring, laughing, or making unfriendly gestures. Interesting. Too bad that doesn't apply to me. I've found that the real reason people do all that stuff to me boils down to simple jealousy. Frankly, I pity them and the pettiness that dominates their pathetic little lives. But enough about me. Surveys of several thousands of people in Britain, the United States and elsewhere have found that rates of paranoia are slowly rising, although researchers' estimates of how many of us have paranoid thoughts varies widely, from 5% to 50%. Experts say not everyone with paranoid thoughts needs professional help. It all depends on how disturbing the thoughts are and if they disrupt your life. I find this whole study disturbing. Where does that leave me?

What Caught My Eye Today

Abortion - Here is another constituency--besides Republicans--that isn't likely to be participating in the ticker tape parade when Barack Obama takes office in January. The nation's Roman Catholic bishops vowed to forcefully confront the Obama administration over its support for abortion rights, saying the church and religious freedom could be under attack in the new presidential administration. Not if he abides by a little thing called the Constitution. You know that document that defined the whole concept of "separation of church and state." Several bishops said they would accept no compromise on abortion policy. Many condemned Catholics who had argued it was morally acceptable to back President-elect Obama because he pledged to reduce abortion rates. so much for "turning the other cheek." Several prelates promised to call out Catholic policy makers on their failures to follow church teaching including vice president elect, Joe Biden. During the campaign, many bishops had spoken out on abortion more boldly than they had in 2004, telling Catholic politicians and voters that the issue should be the most important consideration in setting policy and deciding which candidate to back. Yet, according to exit polls, 54 percent of Catholics chose Obama, who is Protestant. Is it possible that this is merely an expression of sour grapes driven by the fact that the Catholic Church keeps talking, but no one seems to be listening?

Economy - It looks as if people are taking Barack Obama up on his exhortations for hope and change. 72% voice confidence the president-elect will make the changes needed to revive the stalling economy. Underscoring how widely the public is counting on its new leader, 44% of Republicans joined nearly all Democrats and most independents in expressing that belief. Trust in Obama's ability to succeed is even broader, at least for now. 68% said they think when he takes office in January, the new president will be able to enact the policies he pushed during his presidential campaign. I don't want to rain on any one's parade, but wouldn't it be a bit more prudent to let Obama get his feet wet before putting all these expectations on his shoulders? Don't get me wrong, I voted for the dude based on the hope he could make things better as well. All I'm saying is let's not set Obama up to fail to deliver before he even takes office?

Oil - Oil prices neared $60 a barrel, their lowest point in about a year and a half, as a growing number of economic reports point to a long and painful recession. When the economy slows, the demand for energy fades. One side effect: the price of gasoline has tumbled from summer highs, when a gallon cost more than $4. Experts say gasoline could cost half that by year's end. Oil prices have now fallen nearly 60%since peaking at $147.27 a barrel in mid-July. This is one of those good news bad news stories. The good news, obviously is that gas prices have come down. The bad news is that the main reason that gas prices have plummeted is that people no longer have jobs or home to drive to anymore--hence the lower demand.

Egypt - Archaeologists have discovered a new pyramid under the sands of Saqqara, an ancient burial site that has yielded a string of unearthed pyramids in recent years but remains largely unexplored. The 4,300-year-old monument most likely belonged to the queen mother of the founder of Egypt's 6th Dynasty, and was built several hundred years after the famed Great Pyramids of Giza. The discovery is part of the sprawling necropolis and burial site of the rulers of ancient Memphis, the capital of Egypt's Old Kingdom, about 12 miles south of Giza. The find is important because it adds to the understanding of the 6th Dynasty, which reigned from 2,322 B.C. to 2,151 B.C. It was the last dynasty of the Old Kingdom, which spanned the third millennium B.C. and whose achievements are considered the first peak of pharaonic civilization. Saqqara is most famous for the Step Pyramid of King Djoser, built in the 27th century B.C. Why you make ask, do I find this story so fascinating? think about this for a moment. The United States is one of the longest running democracies in modern times, and we've been at it a whopping 232 years. Big deal. Egypt had single dynasties that lasted long than that with a lot less going for it than we did.

Armageddon - On the off chance that you've had it with...well, you know, Earth as we know it, here are some ways that we could "pull the plug" so to speak on the third rock from the Sun.

• Total existence failure -- Simply sit back and twiddle your thumbs as, completely by chance, all 200,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 atoms making up the planet Earth suddenly, simultaneously and spontaneously cease to exist.
  Yeah, I won't hold my breath for that to happen.
• Gobbled up by strangelets -- Hijack control of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider in Brookhaven National Laboratory, Long Island, New York. Use the RHIC to create and maintain a stable strangelet. Keep it stable for as long as it takes to absorb the entire Earth into a mass of strange quarks.
  Huh?
• Sucked into a microscopic black hole -- Create a microscopic black hole and place it on the surface of the Earth. The black hole will plummet through the ground, eating its way to the center of the Earth and all the way through to the other side.
  Sounds rather simple when you put it that way.
• Blown up by matter/antimatter reaction -- Create a 2,500,000,000,000 ton antimatter bomb, then detonate it.
  Poof, no more planet.
• Destroyed by vacuum energy detonation -- The volume of space enclosed by a light bulb contains enough vacuum energy to boil every ocean in the world. All you need to do is figure out how to extract this energy and harness it to annihilate all of planet Earth and probably the Sun too.
  So simple, a baby could do it, right?
• Sucked into a giant black hole -- The nearest black hole to our planet is 1600 light years from Earth. You need get it and the Earth together.
  Right. What's next?
• Meticulously and systematically deconstructed -- Basically, what we're going to do here is dig up the Earth, a big chunk at a time, and boost the whole lot of it into orbit. All six sextillion tons of it.
  Again, I just don't see it.
• Pulverized by impact with blunt instrument -- find a really, really big asteroid or planet, accelerate it up to some dazzling speed, and smash it into Earth, preferably head-on.
  You have to love the sense of humor of the scientists who came up with these ideas.
• Eaten by von Neumann machines -- A von Neumann machine is any device that is capable of creating an exact copy of itself given nothing but the necessary raw materials. Create one of these that subsists almost entirely on iron, magnesium, aluminum and silicon. As the population of machines doubles repeatedly, the planet Earth will, terrifyingly soon, be entirely eaten up and turned into a swarm of potentially sextillions of machines.
  Sounds like a a nasty sci-fi flick, doesn't it?
• Hurled into the Sun -- Send the Earth near enough to the Sun and tidal forces will tear it apart.
  Finally, an option even I can understand.

What Caught My Eye Today

2008 Presidential Election - Here are some international reactions to Barack Obama's win in last week's presidential election. You may notice a trend.

• Germany's Suddeutsche Zeitung: "The election of Barack Obama was an act of liberation, indeed, of cleansing for America."
• Italy's La Repubblica: "This is not just a breakthrough on race, it is also the triumph of the intellectual."
• Austria's Die Presse: "He is a man who can make us like the U.S. once again."
• Spain's El Pias: "It's a good thing Obama is so exceptional. Bush has left an enormous legacy of bitterness, and unenviable challenges await the next president."
• France's Liberation: "Let the world take this moment to rejoice the promise of hope. For the first time in a long time, the New World deserves its name."

Leave it to the France to lay it on so thick. So I guess all that needs to happen now is for the Pope to declare sainthood for Obama.

Infidelity - Depending on your perspective, I suppose this next item could be perceived as either good news or bad news. For decades, surveys of sexual behavior found that married men are far more likely to cheat than married women. My personal belief is that married men are far more likely to get caught cheating. New research suggests that the "adultery gap" is narrowing. Everyone is cheating more than they used to. Studies should that the lifetime rate of infidelity for men has risen from 20% to 28% over the past two decades, and for women from 5% to 15%. Several factors have been suggested to explain this dramatic increase among women including working longer hours, travel for business, the Internet and cell phones. However, researchers are wondering if the increase is explained simply by increased candor in responding to sex surveys. Men want to thin women don't cheat, and women want men to think they don't cheat. That way everyone is happy; delusional, but happy nonetheless. Now back to that perspective angle. The bad news (mostly for women) is that men are still pigs and now it appears that we're dragging women down with us. The good news (mostly for men) is that us male pigs now have female pigs to keep us company.

Adolescence - To be honest, I had to read this item twice. I thought the dude who wrote it was kidding. First, the editorial, then I'll let you know who the author is. It's time to declare the end of adolescence. Seriously? Prolonging the transition from childhood to adulthood helps no one, least of all our young people. My teenage years were no picnic, but I'm not sure I'd get rid of them altogether. There were a few good memories. Adolescence was always an artificial construct. It was invented in the 19th century to enable middle-class families to keep their children out of sweatshops. Sounds like a pretty good reason to me. Before then, there was virtually universal acceptance that puberty marked the transition from childhood to young adulthood. to me that is a physical distinction, not necessarily a mental one. We must return to that direct transition from play to work, by forging tight links between learning and financial reward. We can pay teenagers to study and get good grades. In doing so, young people with learn responsibility and the value of hard work. Seems to me that this guy had a pretty lousy experience being a teenager. Who hasn't? At any rate, who is the author of this manifesto? None other than former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (appearing in Newsweek magazine).

Self-help Psychology - It's been awhile since I reporting on fascinating web sites out there. In this edition, we bring you an assortment of online psychology sites. Perhaps these can help explain why your crappy adolescence led you to cheat on your spouse.

• Youjustgetme.com - Rates your personality in categories such as outgoingness and empathy and lets you find out how others see you.
  My results suggest that I'm disciplined (anal retentive I believe is how they put it), open to creative thought but more comfortable with the plain and simple, somewhat neurotic, tend more toward cooperation than competitiveness and am fairly reserved (or introverted as these guys prefer to say). All things considered, they are not too far off the mark...bummer.
• Implicit.harvard.edu/implicit - Harvard's Project Implicit tries to show how unconscious biases can effect our decisions.
  This study definitely smacks of academia not to mention a need to have pretty good hand eye coordination. Bottom line for me--I have an automatic preference toward Cautious compared to Risky...yup.
• Sanityscore.com - Provides a simplet test that assess aspects of mental health, including your risk of depression, anxiety and other emotional disorders.
  Good news. I appear to be in generally good mental health...one less thing to worry about. Though oddly enough I exhibit some issues related to general coping, depression and self-esteem. Who doesn't?

What Caught My Eye Today

Antigua - Antigua's prime minister wants to rename the island's highest mountain peak "Mount Obama" in honor of the U.S. president-elect. Suck up. "Boggy Peak," as it is currently known, soars more than 1,300 feet (396 meters) over the island's southern point and serves as a transmission site for broadcast and telecommunication providers. It also is a popular hiking spot. Officials say the name change could draw more tourists to the island. I'm thinking the fact that it is an island paradise in the middle of the Caribbean might be a slightly bigger draw, but what do I know. The Attorney General said he will research if parliament needs to approve the name change. How about researching if it's worth wasting parliament's time on this in the first place.

Iran - Speaking of suck ups, here's a rather surprising brown-noser. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad congratulated Barack Obama on his election win — the first time an Iranian leader has offered such wishes to a U.S. president-elect since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. An analyst said Ahmadinejad's message was a gesture from the hard-line president that he is open to some sort of reconciliation with the U.S. It's called kissing up, people. Ahmadinejad congratulated the Democrat on "attracting the majority of voters in the election." Maybe it sounds better in Farsi. Iran sees Obama's victory as a triumph over the policies of President Bush, who repeatedly clashed with Iranian leaders while in office over Iran's nuclear program and its opposition to the U.S.-led military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. That policy, Ahmadinejad claimed, was "based on warmongering, occupation, bullying, deception and humiliation, as well as discrimination and unfair relations" and has led to "hatred of all nations and majority of governments toward the U.S. leaders." Seriously, Mahmoud, if this is your way of congratulating Obama, you need to work on your people skills, because dude, you suck at it.

Senate - The problem with being an independent is that you never know who your friends are. In Joe Lieberman's it is pretty clear who his friends aren't. Joe Lieberman's affiliation with Democrats was in question after a meeting with Majority Leader Harry Reid, steamed over the Lieberman's high-profile support of John McCain for president. Reid is leaning toward removing Lieberman as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. He switched to an independent after he failed to win the Democratic Senate primary in Connecticut in 2006. Lieberman won the general election as an independent but is still registered as a Democrat. Although he aligns himself with Senate Democrats, Lieberman angered many Democrats for when he used a prime-time speech at the Republican convention this summer to criticize Barack Obama as an untested candidate beholden to Democratic interest groups. Democrats in the past had tolerated Lieberman's political straddling because he held their slim 51-49 majority in his hands. Now that Democrats have strengthened their hold in the Senate to at least 55 seats as a result of the election, Lieberman no longer is vital to their majority control. And so, the the victors go the spoils. Of course, being an independent, Joe could find himself a whole new bunch of friends in the Republican caucus. They need all the numbers they can scrounge up.

Prostitution - Under the watchful eye of law enforcement in 40 states, Craigslist pledged to crack down on ads for prostitution on its Web sites. I gather that common sense is not as effective as the 'watchful eye of law enforcement' in abiding by the law. As part of Craigslist's agreement with attorneys general around the country, anyone who posts an "erotic services" ad will be required to provide a working phone number and pay a fee with a valid credit card. The web site will provide that information to law enforcement if subpoenaed. Craigslist said the deal will allow legitimate escort services to continue advertising, while providing a strong disincentive to companies that are conducting illegal business. In defense of Craigslist, it is not like they can tell beforehand if an advertisement on its web site is for legitimate purposes or otherwise. I applaud them for working with law enforcement on this...even if they had to be 'nudged a bit' to do it.

Georgia - I don't know if this dude is in the running for a Darwin Award; if he isn't, he should be. Would-be cleaners take note: A blowtorch is not a good substitute for a broom. You learn something new everyday. Coweta County authorities said a man set fire to his west Georgia home as he cleaned cobwebs from exterior eaves with a blowtorch. The man noticed the blaze when he saw smoke pouring from the attic. The Coweta Fire Investigator said the fire was contained to one part of the house, but the entire home had smoke and water damage. No one was hurt. Should you not be familiar with Darwin Awards and are wondering why I think this brain trust should be considered for nomination, click here.

What Caught My Eye Today

Presidential Transition - So much for enjoying the moment. Barack Obama is wasting no time in getting ready for his next job. Then again, the 76 days will fly by in no time at all. President-elect Barack Obama pivoted quickly to begin filling out his new administration selecting Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel as White House chief of staff. In offering the post of White House chief of staff to Emanuel, Obama turned to a fellow Chicago politician with a far different style from his own, a man known for his bluntness as well as his single-minded determination. Emanuel was a political and policy aide in Bill Clinton's White House. Leaving that, he turned to investment banking, then won a Chicago-area House seat six years ago. In Congress, he moved quickly into the leadership. As chairman of the Democratic campaign committee in 2006, he played an instrumental role in restoring his party to power after 12 years in the minority. At first glance this seems to be a wise move. Obama won in part because of his claim to be able to reach across the aisle. I'm thinking that will mean that he's going to have to rely on others in his Administration to 'turn the screws' when the situation calls for it. Enter Rahm Emanuel.

Potpourri - Today's version focuses on the finally concluded 2008 presidential election.

• Barack Obama spent a record $250 million on local, cable and network television commercials over the past five months. That's more than Burger King, Apple and Gap.
  Well, it's not like he was going to be able to take the money with him to the White House. Plus, with the economic downturn and the dramatic decrease in advertising dollars from traditional sources, Obama was viewed as a white knight by most media outlets.
• 194 newspapers endorsed the Obama-Biden ticket versus the 82 that endorsed McCain-Palin.
  All 276 newspapers should send gift baskets to both tickets for the increased readership that the election coverage brought. Maybe kick in a bottle of bubbly for Palin, seeing as she generated some of the juiciest headlines all by herself.
• 70% of Americans said most journalists wanted to see Obama win the election, versus just 9% rooting for McCain.
  Yeah, that sounds about right. What, you were expected an unbiased press? What country do you live in?
• Sarah Palin is currently third choice among Republicans looking ahead to 2012. 35% favor Mitt Romney, 26% favor Mike Huckabee and 20% back Palin.
  And so it begins. Mark your calendars, boys and girls. Only 1461 days until the next presidential election. God help us all.
• The Bush White House is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on official portraits of Cabinet secretaries, military brass, and other appointees. Among the portraits commissioned is one of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld for $46,790.
  And that, my friends, is how a President gives the proverbial finger to all those people who contributed to his historically dismal approval rating.

Rwanda - Rwanda is giving up the language of its former Belgian colonizers. The government announced that schools will now begin teaching in English rather than French, and that all government employees will have to learn English. Officials insist that the decision was not meant as a slam against France, a country that Rwanda accuses of arming Hutu militias during the 1994 genocide. And yet, that's exactly how this comes off. Here's the official rational given for the decision to switch from French to English. "When you look at the French-speaking countries--it's really just France, and a small part of Belgium and a small part of Switzerland." There is the obvious omission of Quebec on that list, but that aside, clearly there is some animosity behind this, despite what the Rwandan government may say to the contrary.

Iran - Uh-oh. Someone's getting tired. I guess being a raving lunatic can be exhausting work. Iranian President Mahmound Ahmadinejad canceled several planned appearances recently saying he was exhausted from overwork. His political opponents claim the matter is a political ploy aimed at making Ahmadinejad appear to be a selfless leader just as his re-election campaign is set to open. His approval ratings have been plummeting recently, as the Iranian economy has been battered by falling oil prices. Now where have we heard this tale before--a presidential figure suffering low approval ratings because the economy tanking on his watch? Ring any bells?

Belgium - A Belgian public television station canceled its planned airing this week of a show about Adolf Hilter's favorite meal? Say what? The broadcaster was going to feature Hitler on an episode of its popular show "Favorite Dish," which profiles the food choices of notable public figures. And Hitler was the best they could come up with? If you were curious, the episode was going to feature trout in butter sauce.

What Caught My Eye Today - Election Day Edition

Fred's Note: Honestly, if you are getting your election day coverage from this site, something is seriously wrong with you. That being said, today's posting will consist of a rough timeline of election results as they come in...at least as long as I'm awake this evening.

4:27pm PST -- McCain wins Kentucky; Obama wins Vermont.
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 8; Obama - 3
4:46pm PST -- McCain wins South Carolina
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 16; Obama - 3
5:00pm PST -- McCain wins Oklahoma and Tennessee; Obama wins Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachuetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C.
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 34; Obama - 103
Pennsylvania was a pretty big hit to McCain's bid for the presidency, though so far, the results mirror the Bush-Kerry election map from 2004.
5:36pm PST -- McCain wins Alabama and Georgia
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 58; Obama - 103
6:03pm PST -- McCain wins Kansas, North Dakota and Wyoming; Obama wins Michigan, Minnesota, Rhode Island, New York and Wisconsin
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 70; Obama - 175
Still no big surprises. North Dakota was considered to be one of 8 toss-up states that McCain had to win...which he did.
6:17pm PST -- McCain wins Arkansas and Texas; Obama wins New Mexico
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 110; Obama - 180
New Mexico is the first state to be flipped from 2004 and it goes to Obama
6:23pm PST -- Obama wins Ohio
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 115; Obama - 200
This is the second of the toss-up states that needed to go to McCain...and it didn't
6:47pm PST -- McCain wins Louisiana
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 124; Obama - 200
7:02pm PST -- McCain wins Utah; Obama wins Iowa
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 129; Obama - 207
Iowa is the second red state from 2004 to go to Obama.
7:17pm PST -- McCain wins Mississippi
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 135; Obama - 207
7:57pm PST -- McCain wins Nebraska and South Dakota
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 142; Obama - 207
The polls on the West Coast close momentarily. We should have a new president shortly...
8:02pm PST -- McCain wins Idaho; Obama wins California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 146; Obama - 284
Congratulations to the 44th President of the United States--Barack Obama
8:10pm PST -- Obama wins Virginia
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 146; Obama - 297
A bit anticlimactic bit still noteworthy. And this just in...McCain called to congratulate Obama.
8:15pm PST -- Obama wins Colorado and Florida
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 146; Obama - 327
8:18pm PST -- Obama wins Nevada
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 146; Obama - 333
8:19pm PST -- McCain just took the stage to deliver his concession speech.
8:23pm PST -- McCain wins Arizona
Electoral Votes (270 needed to win): McCain - 156; Obama - 333
8:45pm PST -- Democrats guaranteed at least a 55-45 majority in the Senate and are projected to increase their majority in the House to 261-174.
A very good night indeed for the Democrats and they have reason to celebrate. But let's not get cocky folks. We voted you in, and we can vote you out. You have an opportunity to do some real good here. Try not to screw it up.
8:47pm PST -- Obama scheduled to take the stage at the top of the hour.
I'll be watching to be sure. However, this does conclude my coverage of the 2008 Presidential Race. See you tomorrow with our regularly scheduled programming.

What Caught My Eye Today

2008 Presidential Race - Not sure if you heard or not, but tomorrow is election day. Barack Obama radiated confidence and John McCain displayed the grit of an underdog as the presidential rivals reached for the finish line of a two-year marathon with a burst of campaigning across battlegrounds from the Atlantic Coast to Arizona. I just love hyperbole, don't you? While the overall number of early votes was unknown, statistics showed more than 29 million ballots cast in 30 states and suggested an advantage for Obama. Democrats voted in larger numbers than Republicans in North Carolina, Colorado, Florida and Iowa, all of which went for President Bush in 2004. Democrats also anticipated gains in the House and in the Senate, although Republicans battled to hold their losses to a minimum and a significant number of races were rated as tossups in the campaign's final hours. Unwilling to concede anything, McCain's campaign filed a lawsuit in Richmond seeking to force election officials to count late-arriving ballots from members of the armed forces overseas. No hearing was immediately scheduled. No desperation in that move. I'm not saying that McCain's campaign is not entitled to due process, but maybe they could wait until an actual impropriety takes place before bringing the judicial process into the election. Of course, they got the courts to give them the 2000 election, so maybe they are onto something here. Who needs votes when you have judges?

Sarah Palin - Nothing off the news wires of particular interest, but have you ever noticed that 'Palin' is an anagram? If you re-arrange the letters P-A-L-I-N, you get 'plain'. Coincidence? I think not.

Auto Industry - The auto industry is one of the few things that can make the economy seem not so bad. That can't be good. General Motors' October U.S. sales plunged 45%, and Ford's and Chrysler's weren't far behind, as low consumer confidence and tight credit combined to bring the industry's sales to an "unsustainably weak level" that is the worst in 25 years. If GM's sales were adjusted for population growth, October would be the worst month of the post-World War II era. See what I mean. Automakers sold 838,156 vehicles in October, 32% fewer than the same month last year and the worst performance since January 1991. Chrysler's sales tumbled 35% and Ford's dropped 30%. Toyota's sales fell 23% despite its zero-percent financing offer, and Nissan and Honda posted 33% and 25% declines, respectively. They say misery likes company, but this is ridiculous. And what exactly does "unsustainably weak" mean? Don't get me wrong, I love my truck, but at some point I'm going to need a new vehicle. I'd like to think that there will still be a few automakers left after this economic meltdown concludes.

Mexico - I know things in Mexico have been pretty rough, but this next item is almost beyond the limits of human comprehension. Kidnappers grabbed a 5-year-old boy from a gritty Mexico City street market, then killed him by injecting acid into his heart. Mexico has one of the world's highest kidnapping rates. Kidnappings are up 9% this year and average 65 per month nationwide, according to the federal Attorney General's Office, which blames a growing web of drug cartels, current and former police officers and informants who point out potentially lucrative victims. The nonprofit Citizens' Institute for Crime Studies estimates the real kidnapping rate to be more than 500 per month. For you math buffs out there, let's assume that 500 figure is more accurate than the 65 kidnappings claimed by the government. If 65 represents a 9% increase, we're talking about a base number of approximately 60, which means if 500 is closer to reality, the increase in kidnappings is slightly higher--roughly 833%. Most kidnappings go unreported for fear of police involvement. Ordinarily, you would expect police involvement to be a good thing.

President Bush - Despite the fact that we have a presidential election coming up, we still the dude who currently occupies the office to deal with for a few more months. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd denied a report alleging that US President George W. Bush had asked him what the G20 was, amid mounting political tensions over the embarrassing story. A newspaper report alleged that Rudd had pushed Bush for a summit of G20 nations during a telephone call about the global financial crisis on October 10 and had been stunned when the US president had asked: "What's the G20?" Considering its Bush we're talking about, this doesn't crack the top ten (maybe even the top 100) for political gaffes. Rudd said he had phoned Bush to discuss the role of the G20, which brings together the world's largest industrialised and emerging economies, in the crisis and stressed that the US leader had not been ignorant of the body. Now that is the first thing about this story that I do find hard to believe. The G20 will meet in Washington on November 15 at Bush's invitation to discuss the financial crisis and Rudd is expected to attend. Call me crazy, but I'm thinking Bush is just looking for a good reason to throw one last kegger before he leaves office.

What Caught My Eye Today

Sarah Palin - It'll be a real shame if once this election is over, if Governor Palin fades into the background. She provides such a wide range of material for the media and comedians everywhere. Sarah Palin unwittingly took a prank call from a Canadian comedian posing as French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The call was made by a well-known Montreal comedy duo Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastien Trudel. Known as the Masked Avengers, the two are notorious for prank calls to celebrities and heads of state. Audette, posing as Sarkozy, speaks in an exaggerated French accent and drops ample hints that the conversation is a joke. But Palin seemingly does not pick up on them. Go figure. Of course, before I jump to any conclusions let's see just how easy those hints are to pick up on. He tells Palin one of his favorite pastimes is hunting, also a passion of the 44-year-old Alaska governor. "I just love killing those animals. Mmm, mmm, take away life, that is so fun," the fake Sarkozy says. Well, this is hunting we're talking about. I don't imagine you would do it if you didn't like the idea of killing something. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt on that one. When Audette refers to Canadian singer Steph Carse as Canada's prime minister, Palin replies: "Well, he's doing fine and yeah, when you come into a position underestimated it gives you an opportunity to prove the pundits and the critics wrong. You work that much harder." Canada's prime minister is Stephen Harper. In fairness, how many Americans know who the Canada Prime Minister is? Then again, girlfriend is running for Vice President. I'm thinking that she should know who the head of state is for arguably our most important trade partner. So yeah, maybe she should have picked up on that one, but I'm still not convinced that she's a complete moron just yet. Playing off the governor's much-mocked comment in an early television interview that she had insights into foreign policy because "you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska," the caller tells her: "You know we have a lot in common also, because ... from my house I can see Belgium." At this point, I'm thinking she should have recognized something weird was going on. He also tells the Alaska governor that he loved the "documentary" made about her and referred to a pornographic film with a Palin look-alike made by Hustler founder Larry Flynt. She answers tentatively, "Ohh, good, thank you, yes." Okay, I give up. Palin is a moron. You may be wondering how her campaign dealt with this, so here you go... A Palin campaign spokeswoman confirmed she had received the prank call. "Governor Palin was mildly amused to learn that she had joined the ranks of heads of state, including President Sarkozy and other celebrities, in being targeted by these pranksters." High praise indeed.

Congo - Tutsi-led rebels tightened their hold on newly seized swaths of eastern Congo, forcing tens of thousands of frightened, rain-soaked civilians out of makeshift refugee camps and stopping some from fleeing to government-held territory. European officials offered sympathy but no concrete promise of military reinforcements for the Congolese troops and U.N. peacekeepers routed by rebel forces in the sudden and dramatic escalation of eastern Congo's civil war in the past week. That's nice. I'm sure those refugees will take a great deal of comfort from the fact that Europe feels bad for them but has no plans to do anything to help. The conflict is fueled by festering ethnic hatred from Rwanda's 1994 genocide and Congo's unrelenting civil wars. Nkunda claims Congo's government has not protected Tutsis from the Rwandan Hutu militia that escaped to Congo after helping slaughter a half-million Rwandan Tutsis. All sides are believed to fund the conflict by illegally mining Congo's vast mineral riches, giving them no financial interest in stopping the fighting. I used to read stories like this and wonder why this sort of thing always seems to happen in Africa. But then I got to thinking, it isn't just happening in Africa. The same ethnic conflicts have occurred in Bosnia, Turkey and even Iraq. Perhaps the difference is that the U.S. has taken more active roles in those conflicts than in Africa. Admittedly, we cannot fix every conflict the world over, but isn't it interesting how time and time again, the U.S. seems absent from the Africa scene?

Mexico - Mexico's drug wars are fueling a boom in the funeral industry near the U.S. border as undertakers capitalize on soaring murder rates and gruesome killings. The spike in drug violence means more bodies are bound for funeral parlors. How thoroughly depressing. Then again, can you really fault the funeral industry from doing its job? About 4,000 people have been killed in Mexico this year as gangs vie for control of the cocaine trade amid a crackdown that has thousands of army troops battling drug cartels on their home turf. Gun battles and gangland mutilations are also boosting demand for facial reconstructions. Funeral parlors can charge more than $1,000 to make the dead presentable for their wakes. And because of the rise in decapitations in the city, undertakers offer to hold the body and wait for the head to be found before proceeding with the funeral. Is anyone else getting a case of the heebie-jeebies here? I appreciate that a service is being provided by these ghouls...I mean funeral parlors...and that appropriate compensation is warranted, but I'm not sure I'd want to risk my karma with even the slightest hint of impropriety by taking advantage of a deluge of mutilated and headless corpses. That just ain't right.