What Caught My Eye Today

Fred's Note: We start today's posting with a question. Who is Herman Van Rompuy? The answer appears below in the last story.

Golf - I don't usually start with sports stories--okay, so like yesterday was special--but I haven't seen one of these headlines in over a year. Tiger Woods is starting to look like his old self at the Chevron World Challenge. Woods got off to a blazing start Friday and played bogey-free in the second round for a 6-under 66 to take a four-shot lead into the weekend of his final tournament of the year. He was at 13-under 131, his best 36-hole start to the year by six shots. This is only the second time Woods has been atop the leader board after any round this year, and the first time by himself. One would be hard pressed to imagine 2011 being much worse for Tiger than 2010 was.

Speaking of Mr. Woods, here's a segue way you don't see everyday.

Genetics - Researchers analyzing the DNA of 181 young adults who provided a complete history of their sexual activity and intimate partnerships have concluded that the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene might help explain why some people are more prone to infidelity and promiscuity. Anyone want to place bets on whether or not Boy Wonder was part of that study? Individuals with a certain variant of the DRD4 gene were more likely to have a history of uncommitted sex, including one-night stands and acts of infidelity. The researchers were quick to point out that their findings shouldn't be viewed as an excuse for cheating or promiscuity. My bias tends toward science, but I find myself leaning toward the more traditional explanation of infidelity--the offending part is (depending on gender) a "douche bag" / "slut".

Astronomy - A new study suggests there are a mind-blowing 300 sextillion stars, or three times as many as scientists previously calculated. That is a 3 followed by 23 zeros. Or 3 trillion times 100 billion. The estimate is based on findings that there are many more red dwarf stars,the most common star in the universe, than once thought. How could our estimates be that far off, you ask? I know I did. When scientists previously estimated the total number of stars, they assumed that all galaxies had the same ratio of dwarf stars as the Milky Way, which is spiral-shaped. But about one-third of the galaxies in the universe are elliptical and aren't really made up the same way as spiral-shaped galaxies. Scientists believe there are 100 billion to a trillion galaxies in the universe. Way to narrow that range down, guys. And each galaxy — the Milky Way included — was thought to have 100 billion to a trillion stars. The elliptical galaxies, which account for about a third of all galaxies, have as many as 1 trillion to 10 trillion stars, not a measly 100 billion. This finding tripled the estimate of stars in the universe from 100 sextillion to 300 sextillion. Whew, mystery solved. I'll sleep better tonight finding comfort in the knowledge that I have a much larger number of stars to make a wish upon.

Potpourri - Today's edition highlights statistics that no one really wants to be a part of...

• Poverty - The poverty rate in the U.S. rose to 14.3% last year, the highest level in more than 50 years.
  Interestingly, the unemployment rate is just 9.8%. Does that mean that for 4.5% of the population, they might be better off quitting their jobs and taking unemployment?
• Congress - Nancy Pelosi, recently chosen by Democrats to be House Minority leader in the next term of Congress, is the most unpopular active politician in the U.S. Pelosi's net favorability ratings of -25 (55% unfavorable; 30% favorable) is worse than Dick Cheney's (-17), Sarah Palin's (-14) and George W. Bush's (-9).
  Figures that this would be the one area where Pelosi managed to beat the Republican party. Atta girl.
• Crime - St. Louis, Missouri had the highest violent crime rate in 2009, replacing Camden, New Jersey as the most dangerous U.S. city. Detroit, Michigan, Flint, Michigan and Oakland, California round out the top 5.
  I'd watch my back if I were you, St. Louis. Tony Soprano doesn't take kindly to coming in second to no body. Capiche, paisano?

European Union: The European Union has had a president for a whole year now, yet average Europeans rarely hear of him. Diplomats credit the president, former Belgian Prime Minister, Herman Van Rompuy (there's your answer), with saving the euro during the financial crisis last year by convincing French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to accept a deal. Much of his work has been behind the scenes, forging links among various intergovernmental institutions and making the vast bureaucracy of the European Union run smoothly. However, Van Rompuy was conspicuously silent when a volcanic eruption in Iceland buried much of Europe under ash and when Haiti needed European assistance to help dig out from its earthquake. I think dude's problem is all about image. Herman appears to be under the delusion that results speak louder than words. That rarely is the case, unless of course the results involve an illicit affair with some young eye candy, a la Silvio Berlusconi, current Prime Minister of Italy.