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?