What Caught My Eye Today

Fred's note: The political environment in North Africa is almost too incredible for words. It's almost easier to pick out those nations that aren't going through some sort of revolution...so that's exactly what I decided to do. I have to say, pretty slim pickings.

Chad - No political uprising has been report here...yet. I wonder why. Due to its distance from the sea and its largely desert climate, Chad sometimes referred to as the "Dead Heart of Africa". While many political parties are active, power lies firmly in the hands of President Déby and his political party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement. Chad remains plagued by political violence and recurrent attempted coups d'état, the latest occurring in 2008. The country is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world; most Chadians live in poverty as subsistence herders and farmers. Well, I guess it isn't for lack of trying. Perhaps, someone might be able to explain to me the merits of taking over Chad. From the sound of things, there isn't much to motivate one to want to go there.

Mauritania - Not much going on here either. Apparently, they had their coup in 2009, so they are good to go for now.

Niger - Niger consistently has one of the lowest ranks of the United Nation's Human Development Index (HDI), currently 167th of 169 countries. Much of the non-desert portions of the country are threatened by periodic drought and desertification. The country remains handicapped by its landlocked position, desert terrain, poor education and poverty of its people, lack of infrastructure, poor health care, and environmental degradation. So basically, starvation keeps the people from causing too much trouble. There's a pleasant thought.

Enough about those countries basking in tranquility...

Libya - Simply put, all hell is breaking loose. Here is a sampling of the headlines for just the past 24 hours:

• Kadhafi loses control of east Libya, mass exodus
  Making a run for Egypt, huh? Sure, things are much better there.
• Obama dispatches Clinton for talks on Libya
  Here's a tip, girlfriend--Libya is not stable.
• U.S. evacuation ferry held up in Libya by high seas
  How about using an airlift?
• Britain defends ill-fated Libyan rescue mission
  Scratch that last comment. Apparently, there are snags with this approach too. Maybe Egypt isn't such a bad idea after all.

Oil - Oil prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange hit $100 per barrel for the first time since 2008, driven by growing concerns about global supplies. Which, in case you were curious, are completely bogus concerns. More on that in a moment. Similar uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt earlier this month already had markets on edge before protests escalated in Libya, which has the biggest oil reserves in Africa. Libya produces about 1.7 million barrels per day of oil and natural gas liquids. The production losses will be felt mostly in Europe. Ireland relies on Libya for 23 percent of its oil imports and 22 percent of Italy's oil imports are from Libya. The U.S. imported only about 51,000 barrels per day from Libya, less than 1 percent of its total crude imports. Analysts say concerns about violence in North Africa and the Middle East have added a "fear premium" of about $10 per barrel of oil. Fear over what. We're talking about 1.7 million barrels. While not a trivial amount, Saudia Arabia probably spills that amount of oil in its daily operations. We are not talking about the end of the world here people. We all need to chill out here, people. I've already used one of my kidneys to replenish my retirement account; I'd rather not have to use the other one to fill my gas tank.

Gay Marriage - President Barack Obama has determined that a federal law that barred gay marriages was unconstitutional and told government lawyers to stop defending it, a major reversal that quickly angered conservatives. What's this I hear-- Conservatives up in arms over something the President said? I'm stunned. A U.S. judge in Boston ruled in 2010 that a key provision of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act banning gay marriages was unconstitutional, but the Obama administration appealed, stating that it was obligated to defend U.S. laws. The decision by Obama to drop support for the law in federal courts came after he received a recommendation from Attorney General Eric Holder, who had conducted a detailed review over the past several weeks. Obama's move drew a rebuke from conservative Republicans who argued that he could not pick and choose the laws to defend and some termed his decision partisan politics. Really? Seems to me that government and politics are all about picking and choosing. Otherwise, we wouldn't really need government would we? I'm quite certain my views on this subject are influenced by the generation that I grew up in, but that aside, I truly do not understand the argument against same-sex marriage. The one I hear the most is that same-sex marriage threatens to destroy the traditional definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Dude, think about it. I'm pretty sure, the folks looking for that "same-sex" option gave the heave-ho to that "opposite sex" option a long time ago.

Cricket - The Cricket World Cup, the third-biggest sporting event in the world has now been underway for nearly a week. Who knew? The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup is the tenth Cricket World Cup and is being played in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. It is Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup. The tournament will be watched by an estimated 2.2 billion people in more than 200 countries kicked off last Saturday and will continue for the next six weeks. For purposes of comparison for my American compatriots, this year's Super Bowl was watched by 111 million viewers, 110 million of those happen to live in the U.S.Group A consists of hosts Sri Lanka and along with them, Pakistan, Canada, Kenya, New Zealand, Australia and Zimbabwe. Group B consists of hosts India and Bangladesh, along with England, Ireland, Netherlands, West Indies and South Africa. the top for teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. I'm going to go way out on a limb and pick England to win over India in the final. England beat in Australia on their home turf last month to retain the Ashes. Might as well go for a clean sweep of all the top shelf silverware.

What Caught My Eye Today

Colombia - The Colombian government has announced that it is partnering with China to build a railway that will link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans as a "dry canal" to rival the Panama Canal. The railway would facilitate both Colombia's exports of raw materials and China's imports to Latin America. It could also provide an alternative route for Chinese companies that ship through the Panama Canal or transport goods overland from California ports to the U.S. East Coast. Sounds like a pretty ambitious project, doesn't it? Just one question. How big are they planning to make those flat cars? I mean, really, have you seen how big some of those next generation cargo ships are? They are so big, that the Panamanian government is spending billions of dollars to widen the existing canal, just so these new ships can squeeze through. Can you imagine trying to fit one of these bad boys onto a flat car? And don't even get me started on how big those tunnels are going to have to be.

Armageddon - I'm know it is not the most cheerful topic on the face of the planet, but it fascinates me nonetheless.. Russian scientists are warning that a 25 million ton asteroid, called Apophis might crash into the Earth on April13, 2036, causing giant tsunamis, global chaos, and the deaths of tens of millions of people. Other than the tens of millions of people, those sorts of things are kind of happening all time. Just as those poor slobs who live anywhere near the Ring of Fire. NASA scientists say their calculations indicate that Apophis's path will be a near miss, with its chances of of hitting the Earth at 250,000 to 1. Well now, this does create quite the little quandary for me. I just got dinner reservations for that new restaurant on that very same night. It took me forever to get into that joint. I'd hate to think that I might have to cancel over a little thing like the end of civilizations. Too heck with it. I'm putting my faith in NASA and keeping my 6:30 reservation.

Potpourri - More submissions for the"I did not know that" file

• Farming - Farming is more dangerous than fighting fires. According to recently released statistics from the U.S. Labor Department of every 100,000 farm and ranch workers, 38.5 suffer fatal work injuries annually, compared with 4.4 fatalities per 100,000 firefighters.
  I keep reading about how there are fewer people in farming than there used to be. I had assumed that they had found more appealing job opportunities. I never gave much thought to the notion that farmers might literally be a dying breed.
• Cars - According to a USA Today poll, 60% of consumers say they will consider purchasing a gas-electric hybrid vehicle. Yet only 4.3% of cars sold in the U.S. last year were hybrids.
  And I will consider becoming a billionaire next year. See, it's easy to "consider" doing something as opposed to, oh, I don't know... actually DOING it.
• Air Travel - The number of consumer complaints against airlines rose 25% in 2010 to nearly 11,000. Consumer activists attribute the increase to frustration over proliferating airline fees.
  11,000 complaints? Really, that's it? Frankly, I'm stunned the number is so low. That said, if consumers want to direct their anger at the real culprit behind all these fees, they would be well served to search out the closest mirror. As shocking of a revelation as this might be to some people, it turns out that airplanes don't operate on magic pixie dust, but jet fuel made out of $90 a barrel crude oil. And let's not forget about those unreasonable airline employees who have the temerity to demand to get paid for the work that they do.
• Scientology - Despite claiming to have 8 million members, only about 25,000 Americans say they belong to the Church of Scientology.
  25,000 members? Really, that many?

Motor Sports - I appreciate that many people do not share the same view of stock car racing that I do, so I will try to be a succinct as possible. NASCAR is friggin' AWESOME!!! Yesterday's running of the season opening Daytona 500 was unbelievable. And I'm not just saying that because Martina McBride got all the words to the national anthem right (yes, another reference to the Christina Aguilera fiasco at the Super Bowl...I can't help myself). Dude, who just turned 20 and was driving in just his second Cup race ever, goes out and wins the whole damn race. He was so excited he drove right past Victory Lane.

Secret Formulas - Full disclosure: I am an avid listener and supporter of National Public Radio, but have never tuned into this particular program...I may have to re-think that. It might be one of the most closely guarded secrets in the soft drink industry. On a recent broadcast of "This American Life", Ira Glass broadcast what he believes to be the original recipe to "merchandise 7X," the super secret ingredient in Coca-Cola. One of the world's most closely guarded trade secrets, many myths surround the ingredient, including the idea that only two people at any given time actually know the formula. Glass claims that "This American Live" found the recipe published in a newspaper in Coke's very own hometown -- on page 2B of the February 18, 1979, Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Apparently, a local columnist had stumbled across it in an old book of recipes, which was handwritten by a pharmacist decades earlier. Coca-Cola was invented by a pharmacist, and was initially sold at pharmacies and soda fountains. Okay, boys and girls, here it is:

The recipe: Fluid extract of Coca: 3 drams USP, Citric acid: 3 oz, Caffeine: 1 oz, Sugar: 30 (unclear quantity), Water: 2.5 gal, Lime juice: 2 pints, 1 quart, Vanilla: 1 oz, Caramel: 1.5 oz or more for color.

The secret 7X flavor (use 2 oz of flavor to 5 gals syrup):
Alcohol: 8 oz
Orange oil: 20 drops
Lemon oil: 30 drops
Nutmeg oil: 10 drops
Coriander: 5 drops
Neroli: 10 drops
Cinnamon: 10 drops

What Caught My Eye Today

Belgium - What would be a humiliation for many turned into a party for Belgium today as the country's citizens marked 249 days without a government, a figure that they are treating as a world record in political waffling. Good for them. This certainly sounds much more appealing that what's been going on in Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, Jordan, Algeria... At the heart of the political deadlock is an attempt to broker a new constitution with increased regional autonomy to reflect that the two language communities have increasingly grown apart. Richer Flanders wants as much autonomy as possible, while the poorer Francophone region wants to hold on to a much larger sense of national unity which also guarantees more financial solidarity. Nevertheless, Belgium remains one of the wealthiest nations in the world, giving people the luxury to take things with a chuckle. My pappy always said that laughter was the best medicine, but it certainly appears that having money doesn't hurt either.

Australia - Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard rejected a fresh call to ditch the national anthem, "Advance Australia Fair", in favor of the more uplifting "I Am Australian". "Advance Australia Fair", whose hymn-like words talk of a country "girt by sea", has been hotly debated since being adopted as the national anthem in 1984, with many people favouring familiar Outback ditty "Waltzing Matilda". "I Am Australian" written by The Seekers in 1987, describes Aboriginal life, the arrival of British convicts and the outlaw Ned Kelly, among other cultural touchstones. Note to the Australian people: Whatever anthem you did on is fine...just don't ask Christina Aguilera to sing it (if you saw the Superbowl pre-game, this will make sense; otherwise, just move on to the next story).

Sun - A series of massive solar flares that have erupted from the sun in recent days could trigger a dazzling show of the northern lights for stargazers in the northern United States, but they could also have far more serious consequences, including the disruption of power grids and communication systems across the globe. According to China's official Xinhua News Agency, electromagnetic activity from the solar flares have already jammed shortwave radio communications in the southern part of the country. Fascinating how only China seems to have been impacted by this phenomenon. I bet some of those regime's in the Middle East and North Africa wish they could have had the same "bad luck" that China did.

Potpourri - Let's file this edition under the category of "I did not know that"

• Weight - It is estimated that roughly 10% of the global population, around 500 million adults, is considered obese as measured by body mass index
  And on a completely unrelated note, another study concluded that 90% of the global population was suffering from malnutrition.
• Super Bowl - 111 million viewers watched the Green Bay Packers defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in this year's game, the largest TV audience in U.S. history.
  I'm curious. How many of those 500 million obese adults reside in the U.S.?
• India - The Indian government is trying to give each of its 1.2 billion citizens a "universal identity number" that will have biometric markers, such as an iris scan. Fingerprint markers may not work because many Indians' fingerprints are worn off by years of manual labor.
  I suppose it is all a matter of perspective, but if it was me, I'd be investment my resources into finding ways for my citizens to keep their fingerprints.

What Caught My Eye Today

Fred's Note: Under normal circumstances, I would be celebrating my 14,245th day of existence with a bit more zeal (divide this by 365, and you'll figure it out). The sudden passing of a dear friend and co-worker has instead made me reflect a bit more closely on what I've done with that first 14,245 days and what I still want to accomplish with the days ahead. I think it is worth reminding oneself from time to time that life is precious and short. Use it wisely. As for my friend, Nigel...You will be missed.

Egypt - As if Egypt didn't have enough to deal with trying to cobble together a new democratic government. Egypt's new military rulers faced their first unwelcome diplomatic exposure as Israel reported that two Iranian warships were approaching the Suez Canal to pass through for the first time since 1979. The two navy vessels plan to sail through the canal en route to Syria. I'm sure the timing is purely coincidental on Iran's part. And that timing is pretty lousy. Rebuilding a country is complicated enough with out having to manage an international incident at the same time. On the domestic front, Egypt's ruling military command was trying to get their country back to normal after the 18-day revolution that rewrote modern Egyptian history. Some Egyptian workers ignored a call by the military to return to work and a committee hammered out constitutional changes to pave the way for democracy after 30 years of President Hosni Mubarak's rule. The Higher Military Council had urged Egyptians to put aside the revolutionary ardor in the interest of national unity and restarting the damaged economy. The way I see it, after 30 years, a little R and R is to be expected, don't you think? Heck, even I get 18 vacation days a year. Motivated by uprisings in Egypt and in Tunisia, hundreds of people, angry at the arrest of a rights campaigner, clashed with police and government supporters in the Libyan city of Benghazi. There have also been clashes in Iran, Bahrain and Yemen. I know we are only mid way through February, but my vote for person of the year is Mohamed Bouazizi. I continue to be amazed by the fact this all started with a single unemployed Tunisian man setting himself ablaze to protest a government that he felt was failing to look after the needs of its people.

Dogs - I think it goes without saying, but just in case you forgot...dogs rule. A 5-year-old Scottish deerhound named Hickory took home the top prize at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. It marks the first time that a Scottish deerhound has won the the most prestigious event of its type for purebreds dogs in the nation. Among the other contenders were a Pekingese (Toy), a Chinese Shar-Pei (Non-sporting), a Bearded Collie (Herding), a Cocker Spaniel (Sporting), a Portuguese Water Dog (Working), and a Fox Terrier (Terrier). Props to Hickory, but I have the sneaking suspicion that results were rigged. No way a cocker spaniel doesn't win if the judging was straight up...no way.

Peace - Wikileaks has been nominated for the 2011 Nobel Peace prize. Seriously? A Norwegian parliamentarian, said Wikileaks was "one of the most important contributors to freedom of speech and transparency" in the 21st century." By disclosing information about corruption, human rights abuses and war crimes, Wikileaks is a natural contender for the Nobel Peace Prize." Wikileaks released tens of thousands of secret documents and diplomatic cables, which it says have harmed U.S. interests abroad, including peace efforts. Awarding Wikileaks the prize would most likely provoke criticism of the Nobel Committee, which chose jailed Chinese pro-democracy activist Liu Xiaobo and President Barack Obama a few months after his election. I'm a pretty big fan of way the Nobel Prize represents, but it does seem like these guys go out of their way to make political statements with the awarding of the Peace Prize. Being a whistle blower does not necessarily mean you have any interest in peace. The truth...sure, but not necessarily peace.

Sarah Palin - Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's bid to trademark both her name and that of her daughter Bristol ran into trouble at the Patent and Trademark Office because the application forms were not signed, government records show. Applications to trademark the names Sarah Palin and Bristol Palin were filed in November but were quickly slapped down by a trademark examiner. The office also said Palin's application failed to show that her name had been used in commerce and could also be rejected on those grounds. Here's what has me scratching my head. Why does Palin feel the need to trademark her name? Does she really think anyone is going to forget who she is? If it were only that easy. Palin seems completely incapable of keeping her big mouth shut long enough for us to forget any of her pearls of wisdom.

What Caught My Eye Today

Egypt - As much as I like to poke fun at world events, sometimes there is nothing funny about a situation. Sadly, such is the case in Egypt. Protesters and government supporters fought in a second day of rock-throwing battles at a central Cairo square while more lawlessness spread around the city. New looting and arson erupted, and gangs of thugs supporting President Hosni Mubarak attacked reporters, foreigners and rights workers while the army rounded up foreign journalists. What does it say about the current regime when the best way to describe its supporters is as "thugs"? The government is increasingly spread an image that foreigners, specifically journalists, were fueling the turmoil and supporting the unprecedented wave of demonstrations demanding the ouster of Mubarak. Just out of curiosity, what does the Egyptian government think the motivation is behind these alleged seditious remarks. I'm not sure there are that many journalists willing to risk their lives to the extent that they would make up lies to create headlines. Reputations...sure, but not lives. Now if all this isn't enough, we have Mubarak offering up his latest pearls of wisdom. Mubarak said today he wanted to quit but that he feared his resignation would bring chaos to Egypt. Good call, bro. Staying in office has worked out so much better.

Yemen - Things don't look much better here. Tens of thousands of protesters Thursday staged unprecedented demonstrations against Yemen's autocratic president, a key U.S. ally in battling Islamic militants, as unrest inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia spread further in the Arab world. Fascinating dilemma for U.S. policy markers, don't you think. On one hand, the U.S. is supposed to be the gold standard for democracy and freedom of the people. On the other, you have a bunch of authoritarian governments doing a pretty good job of putting a serious "beat down" on terrorist organizations.Who do they think they are, putting the interests of their own people ahead of that of the United States? And they wonder why we are so suspicious of them. I think the answer is pretty obvious. President Ali Abdullah Saleh, in office for more than three decades, announced Wednesday he would not seek re-election in 2013. One last thing, is it just me or is it sort of creepy how similar the government situation in Yemen is to that in Egypt. It's like Yemen is reading from the same script as Egypt but is behind by a couple of acts.

Algeria - Okay, it took some effort, but if I read this correctly, there is some actual good news coming out of Africa. Algeria will lift the state of emergency that has been in effect since 1992 in the "very near future." The state of emergency was declared as Algeria spiraled into a civil war between Islamists and government forces, a years long battle that killed up to 200,000 people. Violence has tapered off and attacks by militants are now only sporadic. The government has insisted the state of emergency was a necessary tool in the fight against terrorism, but critics charge that recently it has been used to muzzle the political opposition by banning marches. Far be it from me to be a nay-sayer, but one questions when the "very near future" might actually be. I'm all for the government doing the right thing, but they probably could not have picked a worse time to allow people to freely speak their minds. Clearly, they are "mad as hell" and do not appear interested in "taking it anymore" (to paraphrase Howard Beale from the cinematic masterpiece "Network").

Fred's Note: Given of all seriousness of events gripping the world today, I wanted to end today's posting with some lighter items (though, in my humble opinion, equally as newsworthy).

Popular Culture - The red swimsuit that helped make "Charlie's Angels" actress Farrah Fawcett a 1970s icon is going to the Smithsonian in Washington. You mean it wasn't already there? That just ain't right. Fawcett's longtime companion Ryan O'Neal donated the swimsuit and other items to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. A 1976 poster of Fawcett in the dampened one-piece swimsuit sold millions of copies. Also donated to the Smithsonian were Fawcett's copies of scripts for the first season of "Charlie's Angels" and a 1977 Farrah Fawcett doll. The items will be part of the museum's popular culture history collection. Anyone care to hazard a guess as to whether David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson aren't waiting with baited breath for the Smithsonian to call about getting its hands on some of that "Baywatch" wardrobe?

Art - An Italian researcher has suggested that Gian Giacomo Caprotti, known as Salai, longtime companion and possible lover of Leonardo da Vinci was the main influence and a model for the "Mona Lisa" painting. This is one of many theories that have circulated over the decades about the identity of "Mona Lisa" and the meaning for her famously enigmatic smile. Others have said the painting was a self-portrait in disguise, or the depiction of a Florentine merchant's wife — the latter drawing a consensus among scholars. I think the real genius in this painting or any artistic masterpiece is its ability to inspire debate over several generations or, in this case, hundreds of years. It is what makes these unique creations timeless. Of course, there is the other side of me that reads this and thinks, "Dude, the Mona Lisa was a guy?"

PETA - I love Superbowl season. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) A charity which lobbies for the rights of animals has caused a stir by producing a 30-second spot deemed too risque to be aired on television during the Super Bowl. Bear in mind that this is the FOX network we're talking about here, so it must really be pushing the envelope.You can decide for yourselves if you think this is too racy for network television. You should know that the fine folks at YouTube will ask you to verify your age before you can view the clip (click here). If you ask me, this is about as racy as one of those over-hyped web only versions of a GoDaddy.com ad.

What Caught My Eye Today

Middle East - Too borrow from an old adage, "when it rains it pours." Tough times, indeed, for heads of state. Let's begin with the place that started all this turmoil in the first place.

Tunisia - Tunisia's interim government moved to take back control of the country's security forces and approved wage rises for the country's beleaguered police service. Never underestimate the power of a well-placed bribe. In related developments, the new director of national security is moving forward with removing stalwarts of ousted dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's regime from key positions. Despite continuing opposition, the interim government pledged to stand firm and agreed to sign up to international conventions including the Rome statutes on the International Criminal Court and the optional protocol to the UN Convention to Combat Torture. Positive developments to be sure, though one wonders what the people actually want. Seems to be a popular theme. I wonder, if Tunisians had any idea of the wave of upheaval they started?

Egypt - Supporters of Hosni Mubarak clashed in Cairo with opposition protesters as the government spurned calls for the embattled president to immediately begin the process of handing over power. Quick question...to who? supporters of the president staged a number of rallies around Cairo, saying Mubarak represented stability amid growing insecurity, and calling those who want his departure "traitors." It would seem that bribery is also a recurring theme. A witness said organisers were paying people 100 Egyptian pounds to take part in the pro-Mubarak rally. The latest violence comes after Mubarak addressed the nation pledging not to run for re-election in September after 29 years in power. But Mubarak did not offer to step down immediately, the key demand of protesters who have flooded the streets of Egypt's cities since January 25.

And now it looks as if Tunisia and Egypt are going to get some more company...

Yemen - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, also facing demands that he quit, said he will freeze constitutional changes that would have allowed him to be president for life. There is something about the notion of "constitutional change" and "president for life" that just doesn't sound right?

Jordan - In Jordan, King Abdullah II sacked his government after weeks of demands for change. Bear in mind that boyfriend pretty much has free reign to appoint or fire anyone he wants whenever he wants. It's good the king.

Syria - A Facebook group of Syrian youth called for a peaceful revolution to start on later this week. "Peaceful revolution." Sounds like a candidate for oxymoron of the year.

Is it just me or does the convoluted mess that is the American political system suddenly seem much more appealing then it did a few weeks ago?

Internet - The spread of Internet use in Asia and the proliferation of Internet-connected phones worldwide are causing the Internet to run out of numerical addresses, which act as "phone numbers" to ensure that surfers reach websites and e-mails find their destination. In other words, the Internet is running out of space. Is that even possible?. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, said its last five "blocks" of Internet Protocol, or IP, addresses are about to be distributed. These blocks, each with 16.8 million addresses, will be distributed to the regional registries which will distribute further to Internet service providers, websites and others. These addresses are predicted to be depleted in six to nine months. The current Internet address system, Internet Protocol version 4, has been in place since the 1980s. It allows for a theoretical maximum of 4.3 billion addresses in use, far beyond what was thought necessary for what was then mainly a network for academic use. Dude, this totally sucks. I was just about finished reading what was already there. What am I supposed to do now? Engineers have known for years that the pool of these IP addresses would one day run out and have been experimenting with a new technology that allows for many more addresses — an infinite number, for all practical purposes. The new system is called Internet Protocol version 6, or IPv6, but only about 2% of websites support it, including Google and Facebook. Whew. That's a relief. As long as I have Facebook, I'm cool. I don't know what I would have done I wasn't able to let my friends know what I was doing or thinking every waking moment. Talk about dodging a bullet.

Sports - According to a recently released Harris Interactive poll, nearly 3 in 10 Americans who follow at least one sport said that pro football is their favorite sport. Seventeen percent chose baseball as their favorite sport. Twelve percent of respondents said college football was their favorite sport, while 7% chose auto racing. Other sports mentioned in the poll include: Men's pro basketball, 6%; Hockey, 5%; Men's soccer, 4%; Men's college basketball, 4%; Men's golf, 2%; Track & field, 2%; Bowling, 2%; Men's tennis, 2%; Boxing, 1%; Horse racing, 1%; Men's tennis, 1%; Swimming, 1%; Women's pro basketball, 0%; Women's soccer, 0%; Women's college basketball, 0% ; Women's golf, 0%. Here's another classic case of the numbers not necessarily telling the whole story. I'm not saying that the American definition of football isn't popular, but the fact that this survey was conducted during the middle of the playoffs might have some bearing on the responses. If you conducted that survey at the end of March, I'm betting college basketball would rank a lot higher on that list (hello, March Madness). And another thing. How does swimming rank higher than women's tennis (which doesn't even make the list)? I love swimming but outside Michael Phelps how many people could name another active competitive swimmer?