What Caught My Eye Today

Economy - Shortly after Congress passed the $787 billion economic stimulus plan, the folks at the research firm Strategas Research Partners decided to have a little fun--or so I presume--and come up with a list of what else one could buy with that same amount of money. Here's what they came up with:

• 3.9 million homes at the median U.S. price of roughly $200,000
• 300 million checks for $2,623--one issued to nearly every American
• 7.7 million scholarships to private 4-year universities or approximately 30 million scholarships to public universities
• 27.7 million cars at the average U.S. price of $28,400
• 4 months of federal tax holiday
• 10 most valuable sports franchises--with $773 billion left over

I've got a few more for you. Using Gross Domestic Product derived from purchasing power parity (it's and economic thing; don't worry about it), you could take your pick from Australia, Iran or Taiwan, and pretty buy one of them.

Budget Deficits - I can understand the need for some belt tightened in tough economic times, but me things this is going a bit too far. Faced with a $1.7 million budget deficit, Des Moines County, Iowa, is considering charging prison inmates for toilet paper. The county hopes to raise $2,300 by charging inmates $1 for toilet paper. That just ain't right, especially since we're only talking about a rather paltry savings. A spokesperson for the Sheriffs and Deputies Association, said he appreciates the budget problems facing the state, "but what do you do for the guy who hasn't got the dollar for the toilet paper?" For starters, I'd stay down wind of him.

Osama bin Laden - A University of California geographer announced that he has calculated the likely location of the world's most wanted man, based on satellite photos, the most recent sighting, and the terrorist's need for high ceilings to accommodate his 6-foot-4 frame. Bin Laden is in one of three walled compounds in the Pakistani town of Parachinar. Let's say this assertion is true--and how could it not be based on these rock solid assumptions--that should make it a lot easier for the U.S. to capture the dude, wouldn't you say. It has occurred to me that this whole saga of trying to capture bin Laden is sort of a real life "Where's Waldo?" Now I'm sure this means nothing, but this story broke last week. Now I haven't kept track of all the news headlines since then, but I'm pretty sure I would heard something if our boy was indeed shacked up in Parachinar, so you'll forgive me if I remain a bit skeptical of these findings.

France - I know that I've said this before, but as much fun as it is to hate the French, they do make you laugh. Straight couples in France are increasingly forgoing marriage and opting instead for civil unions meant for gay couples. France legalized civil unions in 1999 as a way to give gay partnerships official status, but it did not stipulate that only gays could qualify. And that, my friends, is what you call a loophole. Over the years, more and more straight couples have registered as civil partners; civil unions grant partners the financial and legal protections of marriage, but are easier to dissolve. Fully 92% of couples entering civil unions were straight. So what do you holier than thou blowhards trying to protect the sanctity of marriage have to say about that? There are same sex couples begging to get married, but you won't let them; meanwhile those couples that you are trying to protect are running in droves for civil unions. Don't you just love the irony?

Cycling - The 4th Tour of California is in the books.With a boost from Lance Armstrong and a tough mountain to climb, Levi Leipheimer won his third straight Tour of California. Leipheimer was ninth in the final stage and finished with an overall time of 31 hours, 28 minutes, 21 seconds. His winning margin was 36 seconds over David Zabriskie of Garmin-Slipstream, and 45 seconds over third place Michael Rogers of Team Columbia-High Road. Armstrong, who began a comeback last month, spent this race in support of Leipheimer, his Astana teammate finishing seventh overall, 1 minute, 46 seconds behind Leipheimer. Say good bye to Armstrong and the rest of the peleton. They're packing their bags and headed for Europe for pretty much the rest of the season. The first grand tour will be the Giro de Italia in May, followed by the Tour de France in July.