The SEC Loves Porn Too

This story is too funny:

All 33 employees cited in an investigation that found Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) employees surfing pornography at work have been disciplined or are in the process of being disciplined, including some who already have been fired or suspended, the SEC said.

Obviously, there's been talk about how this all started around the same time that the economy began to stumble. I don't know if this kept them from doing their jobs. It's just funny.

Louisiana Oil Rig Blows

Supreme Court Says No

To no animal cruelty.

The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that a U.S. law that makes it a crime to sell videos of animals being tortured or killed violated constitutional free-speech rights.

May be it violates free speech, but doesn't child pornography as well? Are we going to overturn laws against child pornography? The reason it was banned is because it's bad. Torturing and killing animals are bad. I don't think I can argue against it from a legal perspective though.

While the volcanic ash looms over Europe, the airlines are finally being allowed to fly again. However there is some serious concern over the skeptic and hesitant decision to start flying. There is worry that not all the channels of safety have been tested and that there is a great deal of risk in flying so soon. We'll see what happens as the week goes on. Not only could the airlines be putting passengers at risk, they could also be doing severe damage to their airplanes.

Oklahoma City Bombing Remembered

Today is the 15th anniversary of the bombings.

Will Pope Benedict Resign?

The guy has been rubbing me the wrong way since he took up the post.

When Can We Fly Again?

Millions of people are stranded in Europe waiting to fly home, but the airlines are still stranded. However, it seems that a few airports will be allowed to open with limited traffic:

Carry-On...

...Nothing to fee here.

The top five airlines in the US have agreed to not charge for carry-on bags:

ATLANTA -- Five major U.S. airlines agreed Sunday not to follow the lead of a small Florida carrier that plans to charge for carry-on bags. Their commitment comes just in time to cool traveler outrage before the peak summer flying season, but it is doubtful that it marks a change in strategy.

It still doesn't make up for the outrageous fees charged for checked bags.

Poland buries Kaczynski

The nation buried its president Sunday:

The leaders of Poland and Russia attending the state funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski said on Sunday his death in a plane crash in Russia must serve as a catalyst for reconciliation between the two Slavic nations.

Many leaders could not attend because of the flight bans, but Medvedev made it a point to go, flying despite the bans. Other leaders, like Barack Obama, could not make it despite previously committing to attending.. As unfortunate as the circumstances might be, it's always interesting to see how different countries bury their leaders.

Grounded

European Airlines and Airports are growing frustrated with the continued air ban:

The flight bans came amid fears that the ash - a mixture of glass, sand and rock particles - can seriously damage aircraft engines. Airlines are estimated to be losing some £130m ($200m) a day.
The two airline bodies, ACI Europe and AEA, said: "The eruption of the Icelandic volcano is not an unprecedented event and the procedures applied in other parts of the world for volcanic eruptions do not appear to require the kind of restrictions that are presently being imposed in Europe."

A few airlines have done tests:

Germany's two biggest airlines, Lufthansa and Air Berlin, also said they had carried out test flights without apparent damage, as did Air France.

While the airlines are losing an obscene amount of money because of the flight bans, it's important to keep its passengers safe. Perhaps there should be an independent group that tests the skies. It's about time they started flying again.