What Caught My Eye Today

Space Shuttle - If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. An admirable sentiment to be sure, but the dudes at NASA have to be getting a bit frustrated at this point. NASA has finished fueling the space shuttle for a sixth attempt to launch Endeavour on a mission to the international space station. Thunderstorms have delayed the mission three times and hydrogen gas leaks have caused two delays. Endeavour holds the final piece of Japan's space lab, which should have flown last month. NASA could also launch Endeavour tomorrow, if managers agree to shorten the flight. Otherwise, the shuttle will have to step aside for a Russian supply run to the space station. That would bump the shuttle launch to July 26. This is a first--a traffic jam in space. Who would have thought that would happen so quickly. I've got like what, one whole space station, and we're already dealing with traffic congestion. If you ask me, that doesn't bode too well for the future.

Sarah Palin - Outgoing Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is facing yet another ethics complaint — the 18th against her and the very thing that helped to prompt her resignation. Eighteen? That seems rather high, doesn't it? The latest complaint alleges she abused her office by accepting a salary and using state staff while campaigning outside Alaska for the vice presidency. It's the third complaint filed against the Republican since she announced July 3 that she was stepping down. Palin said at the time of her resignation that her administration had become hamstrung by frivolous ethics complaints that also put her more than $500,000 in legal debt and set the state back about $2 million dealing with them.Given that there are 18 complaints so far, I cannot say that I blame her. Still, 18 complaints? I have a hard time believing that all of them are frivolous.

Air Travel - The first-ever all-pet airline conducted its first flight, one day after the new airline became operational. Pet Airways services five major cities—New York, Washington, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles. Flights for the next two months are already booked. The company hopes to expand their service to 25 locations in the next three years. The animals on Pet Airways travel in their own carriers in the main cabin, not in the cargo hold as with most airlines. The $250 one-way fare is comparable to pet fees at the largest U.S. airlines. As a pet owner I applaud this business venture and hope it succeeds. Though I do have one question. If I can shove myself into a pet carrier can I get in on this action. $250 is a pretty sweet deal, not to mention the fact that I'd probably have more leg room than I would on a human only flight.

Cycling - We're over halfway done with this year's Tour de France and my main man, Lance Armstrong is still in third place, just 8 seconds out of the lead. Not much is likely to change in the overall standings until the mountain stages in the Alps in a few days time. While I'm partial to Armstrong's performance, I would be remiss if I did not give some props to some other Tour related headlines. First, Armstrong's team, Astana, occupies 4 of the top 6 places in the overall classification (Contador, 2nd, Armstrong, 3rd, Leipheimer, 4th and Kloden, 6th), yet somehow, Astana is second in the team classification. How is that possible? Second, Team Columbia rider, Mark Kavendish has won 4 of the 5 sprint stages so far. Dude knows how to close the deal in these group sprints.