What Caught My Eye Today

Presidential Transition - I suppose it wasn't reasonable to think that Barack Obama would have completely smooth sailing heading into Inauguration Day, but still, this one has to sting a little bit. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson announced that he was withdrawing his nomination to be President-elect Barack Obama's commerce secretary amid a grand jury investigation into how some of his political donors won a lucrative state contract. A federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson's political activities won a New Mexico transportation contract worth more than $1 million. Richardson said the investigation could take weeks or months but expressed confidence it will show he and his administration acted properly. That may be true, but unfortunately that doesn't help his cause--or Obama's. In the court of public opinion, sometimes you are guilty until proven innocent, and even then you might still be screwed.

Gaza - Thousands of Israeli troops backed by tanks and helicopter gunships pushed deeper into Gaza, fighting militants at close range and surrounding the coastal territory's largest city in the first full day of an overwhelming ground offensive. Israel said it has inflicted a heavy blow against Hamas as it expands a week long offensive meant to stop rocket fire on southern Israel. But spiraling civilian casualties fueled an international outcry, even as the U.S. blocked approval of a U.N. Security Council statement Saturday night calling for an immediate cease-fire. Gimme a second while I pick myself up off the floor. Imagine that. The U.S. blocking a statement calling for a cease-fire. Why on earth would we want to stop the ass-whooping that Israel is laying down on Hamas. So a few civilians are getting caught in the crossfire. Big deal. Israeli soldiers continued to fight primarily in open areas in the launching zones used by Gaza's militants to send rockets raining down on Israeli cities. Israel's military chief said Hamas fighters were trying to draw soldiers deeper into Gaza's sprawling, densely packed urban areas, where the military said Hamas was shielding itself behind civilians.The ground invasion risks turning into intense urban combat, with house-to-house fighting, sniper fire and booby-traps. Hamas is believed to have some 20,000 gunmen and has had time to prepare. The death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to at least 512 since hostilities began on December 27. I have no problem with the Israelis and Hamas duking it out with each out to sort out their differences. Heaven knows both sides are far from being without fault. But seriously, if the cause is so honorable (regardless of which side of the conflict you happen to be on), do what is honorable and leave the civilian populations out of it. This is your fight not theirs. Man up and do the right thing.

Indonesia - Is it just me or does Mother Nature sometimes behave like a broken record? A series of powerful earthquakes killed at least four people and injured dozens in remote eastern Indonesia Sunday and briefly triggered fears of another tsunami in a country still recovering from 2004's deadly waves. One of the quakes — a 7.3-magnitude tremor — was felt as far away as Australia and sent small tsunamis into Japan's southeastern coast. 'Small tsunamis?' Sounds like the classic definition of an oxymoron. Japan reported tsunamis between 4 inches and 16 inches high hitting its shores following the temblors. Well that certainly qualifies as small. So how exactly does one distinguish between a 4 inch regular wave and a 4 inch tsunami?

Ghana - This next item is noteworthy primarily for its lack of news. Ghana's largely peaceful and credible presidential election was a rare example of a functioning democracy in Africa and should be a model for the continent. Opposition candidate John Atta Mills was declared the winner after the closely fought election was settled by a run-off. While some violence was reported, international observers say the vote was mostly peaceful, in contrast with many other African countries. More than 1,000 people were killed in post-election violence in Kenya last year and in Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have been deadlocked for months over a power-sharing agreement after disputed elections. Mauritania's first freely elected leader was overthrown in a military coup in August and army officers in Guinea took power after the death of President Lansana Conte in December. South Africa, is likely to go to the polls in March in what analysts expect will be its most tense vote since the end of apartheid in 1994, after a power struggle split the ruling African National Congress last year. The Ivory Coast again postponed presidential elections last year and analysts say they are unlikely to be held before the end of 2009 due to delays in disarmament and voter registration. I gather you get the general idea. So let's take pause and give a shout out to the Ghanaian people, who somehow manage to elect themselves a new leader without starting a bloodbath. You go, Ghana.

Love - Believe it or not, love still exists. Skeptical? Well fear not, now we have scientific proof showing that true love can last a lifetime. Using brain scans, researchers at Stony Brook University in New York have discovered a small number of couples respond with as much passion after 20 years together as most people only do during the early throes of romance. About 10% of the mature couples had the same chemical reactions when shown photographs of their loved ones as those just starting out. Previous research has suggested that the first stages of romantic love fade within 15 months and after 10 years it has gone completely. That is welcome news. Just think, one in ten couples has a chance at everlasting love. That almost brings a tear to my eye. Of course, it the fate of the other 90% of us that really gets my tear ducts kicked into overdrive, but perhaps we'll just focus on that fortunate 10%. Glass half full, you know...or a tenth at any rate.