RIP President Kaczynski

This is really sad:

MOSCOW — A plane carrying the Polish president, Lech Kaczynski, his wife and other high-ranking officials crashed in a heavy fog in western Russia on Saturday morning, killing all aboard, Polish officials said.

The crash will not help to heal the wounds from the past, especially considering that's what his trip to Russia was all about.

When Will Next See The Greatness?

After the Masters, where might we next see The Tiger?

MINEr Problem

Dangerous gases have prevented rescue teams from searching for four miners missing since an explosion killed 25 of their colleagues:

Here's some more background from the NYTimes:

MONTCOAL, W.Va. — Rescue teams at the Upper Big Branch mine, where at least 25 people were killed in a deadly blast this week, were abruptly pulled out Thursday morning because methane levels were dangerously high and further explosions were possible, state officials said.

Obviously, this is a concerning situation for the large mining population in West Virginia. Mining has always been central to the state's economy, and explosions and tragedies like these are haunting reminders of the dangerous involved with such a perilous trade.

US and Russia sign Nuclear Disarmament Treaty

Assessing the Treaty:

New Tiger Woods Commercial

Toyota in Trouble

The US government is going to seek the maximum civil penalty against automotive giants, Toyota:

"We now have proof that Toyota failed to live up to its legal obligations," LaHood said. "Worse yet, they knowingly hid a dangerous defect for months from U.S. officials and did not take action to protect millions of drivers and their families. For those reasons, we are seeking the maximum penalty possible under current laws."

Not a pleasant situation for Toyota.

Anothing Car Bombing in Baghdad

Hash Bash

Today is Hash Bash in Ann Arbor. There are a bunch of hippies infesting the city. Is shooting hippies decriminalized in Ann Arbor? Should it be? I would gladly pay the same $25 fine that one has to pay for possessing weed to shoot hippies.

Volcano Eruption

Some raw footage of a volcano eruption. Some of you might know that volcano activity is vital to producing valuable minerals. At the same time, volcano eruptions also emit sulfur into the atmosphere, which helps deflect sun light and cool the earth. Of course, the sulfur is not good for the environment. This a natural process and is quite a beautiful sight.

Chechen's Condemn Moscow Bombings

Another Catholic Abuse Scandal

The pope is under pressure after troubles from another scandal have arisen:

Pope Benedict has been beset by allegations he covered up child abuse before he became the Pope - claims vehemently denied by the Vatican.

Not really a pleasant situation. You would think the Vatican would learn from previous attempts to cover up allegations.

I'm Getting an iPhone!!!

NEW IPHONE!

One would be based on GSM/UMTS standard that powers AT&T’s network, while another would be compatible with CDMA, the standard used by Verizon. The announcement would come in June or July, when Apple normally announces new iPhone models.

I really hope this is true because I will get an iPhone within seconds of its release on the Verizon Network.

Suicide Blast in Moscow

A series of blasts rocked Moscow this morning:

Bin Laden Threat

If Bin Laden was actually dead, then he has become more an idea than a person, in the big brother Orwellian sense. I don't think his threat should be taken lightly because there are clearly people who have bought into his beliefs, but I do think this Khalid Sheikh Mohammed should be executed.

Legalize It!

In California:

A California voter initiative that would legalize possession and sale of marijuana has qualified for the November ballot, state election officials said on Wednesday, in what supporters called a "watershed moment" for their cause.

This would be a huge victory for supporters of the legalization of marijuana. With medical marijuana already legal, legalization is the next step. However, it would be a huge step for supporters nationwide and would provide a new benchmark for marijuana reform.