What Caught My Eye Today - Cycling, Texas, New Hampshire, Air Travel

Cycling - The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency erased 14 years of Lance Armstrong's career, including his record seven Tour de France titles, and banned him for life from the sport that made him a hero to millions of cancer survivors after concluding he used banned substances. Seeing as Armstrong retired from competition in 2011, I'm not sure this will sting as much as being stripped of all of his titles. USADA said it expected cycling's governing body to take similar action, but the International Cycling Union was measured in its response, saying it first wanted a full explanation on why Armstrong should relinquish Tour titles he won from 1999 through 2005. Armstrong said that he would no longer challenge USADA and declined to exercise his last option by entering arbitration. He denied again that he ever took banned substances in his career, calling USADA's investigation a "witch hunt" without a shred of physical evidence. There was a quote from Armstrong's former manager Johan Brunyeel that said Armstrong never backed away from a fair fight, but one cannot help but wonder if Armstrong had truth on his side, how is it that this became such an unfair fight in the first place. The other aspect of this story that I just cannot wrap my head around is this turf war between the USADA and cycling's governing body (UCI). You would think that the UCI would have a much more evested interest in dealing with Armstrong than the USADA, yet it's investigations concluded with no finding of guilt on Armstrong's part. It's sort of hard to believe that the USADA had a personal vendetta against Armstrong that led to it rigorous pursuit of Armstrong. But knows. One thing that is beyond dispute is the $500 million that the Livestrong Foundation has raised for cancer research and the tremendous support Armstong has given to cancer patients and survivors all the world over.

Texas - As if the negative political ads aren't enough, now a county judge in Lubbock, Texas, predicts possible "civil war" if President Obama is re-elected. How telling is it that stories like this don't even surprise me anymore? The judge was on a local TV news show making his case for a tax increase, when he said hiring extra sheriff's deputies would especially be needed if Obama wins in November. "He's going to try to hand over the sovereignty of the United States to the U.N., and what is going to happen when that happens? I'm thinking the worst. Civil unrest, civil disobedience, civil war maybe. And we're not just talking a few riots here and demonstrations, we're talking Lexington, Concord, take up arms and get rid of the guy. Now what's going to happen if we do that, if the public decides to do that? He's going to send in U.N. troops. I don't want 'em in Lubbock County. OK. So I'm going to stand in front of their armored personnel carrier and say 'you're not coming in here'." Wow. This dude total live on a different plane of existence than the rest of us. Do us all a favor, will you? Stay there. Later, the judge said his original comments were taken out of context. But as the county's emergency management director, he said he has to keep a "worst case scenario" in mind if Obama returns to the White House and Democrats control the Senate. Yes, yes. By all means. Lock up the women and children. The Democrats are coming! The Democrats are coming! Honestly, is civilized discourse completed dead in this country?

New Hampshire - A Republican candidate for sherriff of Hillsborough County in New Hampshire backed down from a suggestion he would use "deadly force" to stop doctors from performing abortions, saying he "let his imagination get out of control." Do you think? The heated rhetoric came at a time when the Republican Party is already dealing with fallout from comments by Todd Akin, candidate for the U.S. Senate from Missouri, suggesting that women rarely get pregnant from "legitimate" rape. I love this last part. The candidate has made it clear in earlier campaign releases that he "decidedly" does not have law enforcement or legal experience. In the past he owned and operated a limousine service. Who needs actual job experience when you can rely on outrageous hyperbole and have just a good of a chance (perhaps even better) of getting yourself elected to public office. It's almost enough to make one feel ashamed to be part of such an electorate.

Air Travel - A Frenchwoman endured an 18-hour journey from the Pakistani city of Lahore to Paris and back again after sleeping through her plane's stop in the French capital. Good for her. As for me, I can never get comfortable enough to catch even the shortest of naps on a flight of any length. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) are investigating how ground crew failed to notice the woman during the plane's two-hour stopover at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Forget about the ground crew, what about the freaking flight crew on the original flight or the one on the return flight. One has to believe that making sure getting all the passengers off the plane is listed on a checklist somewhere. The woman left Lahore to fly to Paris via Milan, but did not wake up to get off the plane. The woman did not mention her mistake to cabin crew and the matter only came to light when she was stopped by immigration officials on arrival back in Lahore. An airline spokesperson said PIA were investigating the incident and the French subcontractor responsible for passenger handling in Paris. "We have put questions to this French firm also about the incident but it is also the responsibility of the passenger to check about the destination and disembark when the plane arrives at the particular airport." Yeah, yeah. Blame the passenger. Seriously, no one noticed this broad was still on the plane?