What Caught My Eye Today

Sarah Palin - This caught my eye last week, so I'm running a bit behind on this one. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has flummoxed the political world with her abrupt resignation. Even Rush Limbaugh is stumped. "As far as I know, nobody in Palin's camp or Palin herself has said what the hell this is about and why she's doing this." Honestly, what was this broad thinking. Palin of all people should know that she should have vetted this sort of decision with Limbaugh before making any public announcement. What a dunce. in her resignation speech, she spoke vaguely about hoping to "effect positive change outside of government." Neither she nor her aides have spelled out her future plans. Maybe--and I know this is way out there--but maybe Palin is being vague because she's got no clue what she's going to do next. It's been known to happen. Still if you thought girlfriend was going to go quietly, think again. She sent out a Twitter message and posted a combative note on Facebook.

"The response in the main stream media has been most predictable, ironic, and as always, detached from the lives of ordinary Americans who are sick of the "politics of personal destruction." How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it's about country. And though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make. But every American understands what it takes to make a decision because it's right for all, including your family."

You tell 'em, Sarah! If you want my two cents worth (and I bet you do), I think you should point the finger at Tina Fey. The nerve of her mocking your good name. I bet if she could see Russia from her house (like you), she'd be singing a different tune.

Russia - This story caught my attention if for no other reason than you don't hear about two nuclear super powers talking about reducing their arsenals very frequently. Rarer still, they are in agreement. Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev confidently committed to a year-end deal to slash nuclear stockpiles by about a third. The planned START replacement pact — the centerpiece summit agreement — calls for each side to reduce strategic warheads to a range of 1,500 to 1,675, and strategic delivery vehicles to a range of 500 to 1,100. Current limits allow a maximum of 2,200 warheads and 1,600 launch vehicles. The new treaty, as conceived, would run for 10 years. Sounds like a pretty good start to me. Both men renewed pledges to pull U.S.-Russian relations out of the dismal state into which they had descended during the eight years of the Bush administration. That can't be right. I remember distinctly when Bush said he looked then-President Vladimir Putin in the eye and found that he had a good soul. You cannot do better than that, can you?

Trash - I preface this next item by giving you advance notice that whether it rates as a "newsworthy" story is a matter of opinion. A father and son are facing almost $20,000 in fees and fines after New York authorities said they removed about 42 tons of trash from their property. Brookhaven Town officials said they took away tires, car parts, hoses and other trash — about 85,000 pounds in all — piled up on a residential lot in Mastic Beach on eastern Long Island. Should you be curious, that's enough garbage to fill 10 garbage trucks. Seriously, 85,000 pounds of crap? I bet you guys were the toast of your neighborhood.

Sports - I'll make this as brief as I can for you non-sports fans...

Tennis - Roger Federer is official the man--at least in the tennis world. He won his 15th grand slam title (sorry Pete Sampras, you're second banana now) by beating Andy Roddick in 5 sets. Roger, apparently wanted to recapture some of the magic from last year's duel with Rafael Nadal which was also a 5 set affair, which some call the greatest tennis match of all time. This year, Roger decided to team up with Roddick to produce a 77 game match with the fifth set going to Federer, 16 to 14. As for Roddick, dude didn't win, but sure as heck announced to the rest of the tennis establishment that he's got game.

Golf - Well if Federer is going to win, then I guess Tiger best do so as well. Which he did in the PGA tournament that he hosts, the AT&T National. That makes 68 career wins. If you are wondering when #69 might happen, the British Open takes place in two weeks.

Cycling - Lance isn't leading after 3 stages, but sure is making his presence felt. In a rather surprise break away late in the third stage, most Tour favorites were caught be surprise, but not Mr. Armstrong. And for his efforts, Lance now finds himself in third place overall, ahead of teammates, Levi Leipheimer and Alberto Contador. Of course, if you don't follow bike racing, then everything I just said won't mean a lick to you. Suffice it to say, Lance doesn't enter races that he doesn't think he can win. Dude is in it to win it. Or to put it another way, what Federer is to tennis and Woods is to golf, Armstrong is to cycling.