What a crappy couple of days it's been.

[PKRWUD]

Multi NASCAR team owner Jack Rousch, one of the biggest names in Ford performance, is in an ICU bed in an induced coma after his plane crashed in a body of water in Alabama. Reportedly, the plane was completely submerged under water for 5 minutes before rescuers got him out.

A "100 year" earthquake hits upstate N.Y., causing concerns for bridge and dam safety for hundreds of miles. No serious damage, that I'm aware of, but dozens of families having to repair broken chimneys, foundations and windows isn't great for an area's local economy.

The lead singer for Alice in Chains is found dead in his home, but the body is so decomposed, he had to be identified by an autopsy.

The worst crash in NASCAR history happened at Talladega, and involved 27 cars. So many cars were taken out, that only three finished the race on the lead lap, a record that was previously ten. For a track that's over two and a half miles long, that's unheard of. Fortunately, the only injury was a bit tongue that required a few stitches. If you get the chance to see the crash on the news, pay particular attention to the speed at which the parts fly off of the #2 AC Delco Chevy when it returns to Earth and hits the track. It almost seemed to be floating in mid air, but as soon as it hit the ground, it was obvious that it was travelling at close to 180 mph.

Then this afternoon, about 8 miles from here, a Navy QF-4 Phantom II crashed during an air show, killing both airmen. The video I saw made it look as though one of them ejected out, but his momentum carried him straight into the fireball that erupted when the plane crashed.

What gets me is a story I saw a few days ago that claimed the unusual alignment of the moon and several planets that is occuring in the western sky at sunset this week was supposed to create peaceful, quiet times.

Take care,
-Chris