It's a dead TV night, so I'm going to test out new Apps for my iPad. I take it everywhere now. It's so much faster and easier to read and use than my iPhone, both on wi-fi and 3G. And the screen display is so awesome. Netflix movies and TV shows look incredible and reading is more enjoyable than on the Kindle. The Kindle syncs with the iPad, so I can pick up either one and access all my books. The battery lasts hours and hours.

For those of you online, here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

Actor Charlie Sheen and the Aspen DA's office have reached a plea agreement in his domestic assault case.

According to TMZ, Sheen will plead no contest to misdemeanor assault, the felony menacing charge will be dismissed and Sheen will avoid probation by serving 30 days in the Pitkin County Jail.

With good time, Sheen will serve 17 days. Smart choice by Sheen. Probation could be risky for him and this way he avoids it. The jail in Aspen is pretty nice -- as far as jails go.

He still could have lingering problems as a result of the plea, since it was charged as a domestic violence crime. I don't think it's sealable. And he's likely to be put on the national and state domestic violence dataabases, which will turn up his name even during a routine traffic stop.

Attorney General Eric Holder announced today the Department of Justice is opening both civil and criminal probes into the Gulf Oil Spill.

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said in New Orleans that he planned to “prosecute to the fullest extent of the law” any person or entity that the Justice Department determines has broken the law in connection with the oil spill.

His announcement caused energy stocks to tumble. And
"BP lost 15 percent of its market value during the day’s trading. "

What crimes are being investigated? [More...]

The Supreme Court today ruled that suspects must affirmatively state their intent to remain silent and request a lawyer when being questioned by police in order for statements they make to be suppressed. The court was divided 5 to 4. Justice Sotomayor, in a dissent, wrote:

"Criminal suspects must now unambiguously invoke their right to remain silent - which counterintuitively, requires them to speak," she said. "At the same time, suspects will be legally presumed to have waived their rights even if they have given no clear expression of their intent to do so. Those results, in my view, find no basis in Miranda or our subsequent cases and are inconsistent with the fair-trial principles on which those precedents are grounded."

The case is The case is Berghuis v. Thompkins, 08-1470 and the opinion is here.

Al and Tipper Gore confirmed today they are separating. They've been married 40 years.

They announced the decision in an e-mail to friends and supporters. Gore's office has confirmed it.

Hearing tomorrow. No time.

Hope your weekend was good.

Open Thread.

The greatest tragedy is being forgotten.

Today is Memorial Day, and whether you support or oppose the war, it's a day to proudly remember and be grateful to those who gave their lives for our country.

What will you do to remember the fallen members of our military today?

This is an open thread for topics related to Memorial Day.

The New York Times has an AP profile of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose corruption trial begins Thursday.

Some things I didn't know about his accomplishments as Governor:

He raised the minimum wage (angering some business groups), provided state-subsidized health insurance to every child in Illinois, banned discrimination of gays and lesbians, increased education spending, won approval to expand preschool and increased mammogram and cervical cancer screening for uninsured women.

He also opened a prison solely for drug offenders that stressed prevention and re-entry programs. [More...]

Atrocities continue in Afghanistan, here's an awful report of child brides forced to marry older men. Two run away, are caught, returned to the home village where they are publicly flogged with 40 lashes. It was videotaped, and the videos were released today by human rights groups.

A video going viral on You Tube tells the story of a two year old in Indonesia who smokes 40 cigarettes a day. His parents say he's addicted and won't stop. Story here.

Here's an interesting report on why the Vietnamese resist drug treatment.

The Gulf oil spill is likely to continue until August.

The damage to the shorelines of Gulf states such as Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida is literally only the surface of the problem: The damage to the sea floor could be extensive, and oil could also devastate marine life between the Gulf floor and its surface, as well as in coastal areas far from the leaking wellhead.

There's a new "Breaking Bad" tonight on AMC.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Travel day for me.

Open Thread.

Update (TL): Who's barbecuing today? What are you cooking? I'm making something called Margharita Flank Steak with Enchiladas and tomatillo guacamole. The marinade is equal parts fresh lime juice, orange juice, tequila and brown sugar with a half teaspoon of salt. The "enchiladas" are flour tortillas filled with black beans, goat cheese, chicken broth, chopped red onion and garlic, topped with shredded monterey jack and baked. (I would think that makes them more like a quesedilla but whatever.) How its served: the guacamole goes on the plate first, topped by the enchilada, then topped by slices of the flank steak, and finally topped with sour cream. Hope this isn't a big failure. What are you cooking?

Another threat to our right to privacy is looming, courtesy of Sen. Charles Schumer who has teamed up with Republican John Cornyn.

What's it this time? He thinks people who buy pre-paid phones are either terrorists or drug dealers and has introduced a bill to prevent you from buying one without providing ID. And, the seller would have to keep your info for 18 months.

There are a lot of reasons to buy pre-paid phones. Reporters talking to sources, spouses who want some privacy, people with bad credit who can't get a contract.

Does anonymity have a legitimate social value? “There has to be a little bit of a safety valve for whistle-blowers and battered spouses who want to get off the grid,” said Jim Dempsey of the Center for Democracy and Technology, a civil liberties organization.

What's next? We can't pay for things in cash without providing our names? I won't even answer a question about my zip code, let alone give my name, if I'm buying something with cash. Stores just want to get you in their database anyway they can.

And if you think law enforcement isn't looking at you, think again. [More...]

BP has announced "Top Kill" has failed to stop the oil leak:

BP is expected to announce that it will move on to its next option, known as LMRP. The procedure involves cutting off the failed, leaking riser at the top of the Lower Marine Riser Package on the blowout preventer to get a clean-cut surface on the pipe.

Then the company will install a cap with a sealing grommet that would be connected to a new riser from the Discoverer Enterprise drillship, with the hopes of capturing most of the oil and gas flowing from the well.

More here.

Update 4:00 pm MT : News conference is minutes away.