The US continues to lead the world in the growth of the internet.
79% or 168 million Americans are hooked up.

However trend watchers say that Spain and Brazil are outstripping the 3% of Americans that go online each year.

580 million people world wide are hooked up. Internet useage growth is declining in Australia and Hong Kong.

Belleville, Canada
Residents east of Belleville have been evacuated after a train derailed and exploded this morning. Two propane cars have exploded so far and there are cars involved carrying anhydrous ammonia. Two crew members have been injured.
I have friends in that area and all I can say to you right now is stay safe.
Let us know that you’re alright when you can, ok?

UPDATE:The evacuation zone has been expanded.

Staten Island
An explosion this morning at an oil refinery at the edge of the borough of Staten Island in New York City left one worker injured and two currently unaccounted for. No oil tanks ignited. The explosion could be felt several miles away.

Rhode Island
26 people are dead and over 160 hurt after a night club fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island.

The fire started at about 11 p.m. during a pyrotechnics display at a performance of ’80s heavy metal band Great White at The Station nightclub.

UPDATE: The death toll has risen to 95 making this the deadliest nightclub fire in the US since 1977.

Badger Newfoundland
This article focuses on the current state of Badger Newfoundland and it’s displaced residents after an ice jam and flood buried the town. Daimnation is taking donations from people outside Canada who wish to help.

Canada’s Anti-Semitism
Canada has a sad and sorry history of Anti-Semitism and it is on the rise again in this multi-cultural country. HourEleven links up to this article in the Washington Post examining our blindness.

Pakistan
17 people are dead after a plane crash in northeast Pakistan, incluing the head of the Pakistan Air Force.

Air force chief Mushaf Ali Mir, 57, was on his way to inspect the Kohat air base when the plane went down, said Ahmad.

Also on the plane were Mir’s wife, seven other air force officials and the plane’s crew of eight.

The pilot had asked for permission to land at the air base. The plane crashed about 25 kilometres away.

Officials are saying it was an accident.

Korea
An investigation into the deadly subway fire in South Korea is focusing on the railway staff. 130 people were killed and families have begun to bury their dead.

But police have said they intend to question all railway staff involved in the incident, in which the second train was allowed into the station after the fire started.

Questions have also been raised about a delay in opening train doors and the general level of safety precautions at the station.

Angry relatives of the dead confronted President-elect Roh Moo-hyun, demanding answers, on Thursday.

The investigation will focus on negligence.

Congo
The World Health Organization has confirmed an outbreak of Ebola in the Congo with 80 ill and 59 dead. Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF) is one of the most virulent viral diseases known to humankind.

Blog Awareness
Ernie the Attorney got an email from a friend with the three stages of ‘blog awareness. Sounds about right. Have you ever tried to explain blogging to a friend? As fast as blogging is growing it’s still just a speck in the big internet sky.

I want to thank all of you that stopped by to read my three day story about working for a christian organization. What surprises me is that I didn’t get comments jumping to the defense of professional christianity, or much comment about our expectations in and for these groups.
As for the troll that stopped by….use a throw away email account next time instead of a real one that doesn’t belong to you. Immaturity inconviences others.

Sand in the Gears evaluates his time as a blogger and decides to make some changes.

Jordon Cooper has something profound to say about re-installing Windows.

Blog Quiz!

Take the test, by Emily.

you are Bob. the leader. the responsible one. most everbody likes you.

via: Ian’s Messy Desk