11 June 2009: Morning

After modernism and tsarism, Putin plays the hero, channels Chavez's populism, releases piranhas on old allies.

Pakistan hotel attack shows militants are sharpening tactics; UNICEF honors one of its fallen.

Berlusconi meets Qadaffi, who brought 40 female bodyguards, wore a picture of resistance leader against Italian colonialism.

Op: Fiat's overtake of Chrysler could deflate the American male libido.

Sharing an international stage with Obama, Sarkozy's height and stature is amplified.

There's a chance that Earth may collide with Mars or Venus--in a billion years or so.

Audio: Increasing popularity of Everest ascent leads to debauchery and descent into world of prostitution, greed, theft, extortion.

When it comes to money and budgeting, the only thing most people have in common is idiosyncratic behavior.

Spoof paper by the "Center for Research in Applied Phrenology" accepted for publication after "peer-review."

For Gens X, Y, and beyond, the perils of living in a world in which online dating is the norm.

I like a book with a nice, firm back cover. Not too firm. No weightlifters or marathon runners.

Boomers focused more on "their own inner voyage" and less on their obligation to society. Commencement speakers apologize to the class of 2009.

After being sentenced, Phil Spector was not allowed to wear a wig for his booking photo.

Dorothy Gambrell graphs the top 100 Google results for "is destiny."