more serious stuff condolences to the family of the columbia's crew. We woke up to the bad news on the radio early on Saturday, as I got up to take my wife to the airport. It is hard to imagine what the crew must have gone through -- it probably was quick, but long enough to be terrified. The strange thing was, I'd considered getting up to see it go across the sky. First time in a long time I'd actually paid any attention to a shuttle. It was all cloudy though, so I did not make the effort, but it was already on my mind as I woke up that morning.

My paranoid side immediately thought -- what a great distraction for Bush to have at his hands -- but I can't believe it. Still it has been an evil few years for large losses like that.