What Caught My Eye Today

Iceland - The more I read about this country the more I like it. Iceland is basically the first nation to go bankrupt, and now another first. Johanna Sigurdardotir has become the world's first openly gay prime minister. You go, girl. She was appointed as interim prime minister after the government collapsed in acrimony over the nation's financial crisis. She will serve until elections are held in May. Good for you, Prime Minister. Now if the opportunity presents itself, maybe you can find a way to bring your country out of insolvency. Here's a bit of free advice: Don't count on the financial resources of Bjork to help you out of this mess. The previous government tried that already, and well, you know how well that worked out for them.

Africa - Libyan leader Muannar al-Qaddafi was elected to head the 53-member African Union. The long-time dictator said he would use his one-year term to try to establish a "United States of Africa" with a single currency, army and passport for the entire continent. Um, yeah. Good luck with that, spark plug. While you're at it, maybe you could squeeze in world peace as well. Other African leaders seemed dubious about Qaddafi's appointment, which came about largely because the union was required to pick someone from North Africa as its leader this year. Talk about a glowing endorsement. Qaddafi is going to transform Africa based on a mandate predicated on the fact that the rest of the continent chose him for lack of any other option. Pity.

Russia - Passengers rose up in revolt to prevent their Aeroflot slight from taking off after their seemingly drunk pilot greeted them with slurred words and bloodshot eyes. Wait, it gets better. Flight attendants told the 300 alarmed passengers on the flight from Moscow to New York to stop "making trouble." Apparently Aeroflot flight attendants have no fear of death; either that or their lives suck so much, maybe death would be a welcome escape. Here's the best part. Aeroflot relented and proved a new flight crew, but insisted that its pilot was not intoxicated and that the passengers may have experienced a "mass psychosis." Sure they did.

Cancer - Yet another reason why "choking the chicken" may be hazardous to your health. A study has found that among men who developed prostate cancer after middle age, 34% had reported masturbating or having sex with a partner an average of five times a week during their 20s and 30s. Researchers speculate that hormones appear to play a key role in prostate cancer, with high levels of male hormones serving to stimulate cancer cells. You have got to be kidding me? Sex may cause cancer? Dude, kill me now. The good news: When men reach their 50s, increased levels of sexual activity actually reduce prostate cancer, probably because at that point, regular use of the organ is good for it. Perfect. When you want to do it, you can't; and when you are too old to want to do it, you should do it more. That's just plain cruel.