What Caught My Eye Today

South Africa - Here's a head scratcher... An eclectic mix of Nobel laureates, Hollywood celebrities and other dignitaries are gathering in South Africa to discuss issues ranging from combating racism to how sports can unite people and nations. South Africa barred the Dalai Lama from the peace conference in Johannesburg hoping to keep good relations with trading partner China but instead generating a storm of criticism. Riddle me this. You decide to hold a peace conference and invite all living Nobel Peace Prize winners, except for arguably the most well known of all. Why do you do that? Because the Dalai Lama isn't being allowed to attend, it is now being boycotted by fellow Nobel Peace prize winners retired Cape Town Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former president F.W. de Klerk as well as members of the Nobel Committee. South Africa is China's largest trading partner on a continent in which China is heavily and increasingly involved. If you think about it, do you really think China gives two shakes about this? I'm sure they would have preferred this conference to run its course, rather than get all this negative publicity. I'll bet you that had the Dalai Lama been allowed to attend this conference, the vast majority of us probably would never have known this conference was taking place at all.

Venezuela - It took just about two months for Hugo Chavez to criticize President Barack Obama. I wonder what took him so long. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called President Obama "ignorant," saying he has a lot to learn about Latin America. The socialist leader said he had been ready to name a new ambassador in Washington when Mr. Obama took office, but put that on hold after the new U.S. president accused him of "exporting terrorism" and being an obstacle to progress in the region. He may not know everything there is to know about Latin American, but it seems to me that Obama knows plenty enough about Venezuela. Chavez's relations with Washington grew increasingly strained under former President George W. Bush. The Venezuelan president expelled the U.S. ambassador and withdrew his envoy from Washington in September. Top diplomats have yet to be restored at either embassy. Chavez and Obama plan to attend a summit of leaders from across the Americas next month in Trinidad and Tobago. How wouldn't want to be a fly on the wall for that awkward social moment. I'm thinking 'rumble in the jungle" Caribbean style. And for my money, I'll go with Obama. Of course, it probably won't be much of a fight. I doubt that Chavez will have the first clue what Obama is talking about. What with Obama having a full grasp of the English language, he's likely to use sophisticated language (and by that I mean words with more than one syllable) that Chavez has never heard before.

Alaska - Alaska's Mount Redoubt volcano erupted five times overnight, sending an ash plume more than 9 miles into the air in the volcano's first emissions in nearly 20 years. The 10,200-foot Redoubt Volcano, roughly 100 miles southwest of Anchorage, last erupted during a four-month period from 1989-90. The volcano became restless earlier this year. The observatory had warned in late January that an eruption could occur at any time. Increased earthquake activity over the past 48 hours prompted scientists to raise the alert level for Mount Redoubt on Sunday. On Sunday morning, 40 to 50 earthquakes were being recorded every hour. I swear that I had nothing to do with the timing of this story (if I could predict stuff like this, I wouldn't be wasting that talent on a volcano). Still, I find it eerily coincidentally, that just a few short weeks ago, President Obama was being criticized for spending $140 million on volcano monitoring. Actually, the amount is only $15 million, and right about now, that is looking like money well spent.

Cycling - You all better sit down for this one. This is serious business. American cycling legend Lance Armstrong suffered a broken collarbone during an event in Spain, an injury that threatens to disrupt his bid to win a record eighth Tour de France title this summer. Not Lance! For the love of all that is holy, not Lance! Armstrong fell along with several other riders about 20 kilometers from the finish line of the first stage of the Tour of Castilla y Leon in central Spain. He declared his goal this year is to win an eighth Tour de France title in July, and had hoped to use the Castilla y Leon race as part of his preparations. This next bit is for you conspiracy theorists. Armstrong's return to the sport has sparked rumours of friction between him and teammate Alberto Contador of Spain over who will be chosen to lead the Astana's team's challenge in the Tour de France. The Tour of Castilla y Leon was the first time the two have raced alongside each other with Astana. Contador, the 2007 Tour de France champion, won the last two editions of the event. Any takers for the possibility that Contador arranged to have Armstrong taken down? I'm just putting it out there.

Basketball - The first two rounds of March Madness are in the books. I'm 38 for 48, with all of my Final Four Picks still alive (Louisville, Memphis, Pittsburgh and North Carolina). That's the good news. The bad news (at least from my perspective) is that the missus still has bragging rights (39 out of 48).

Baseball - Should anyone actually be paying attention, the United States lost to Japan in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic. The final game pits Japan against South Korea. Just the matchup I was looking forward to. Still, the U.S. improved tremendously over its eighth place finish last time round.