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Greg Cantori plans to downsize when he retires. Really, really downsize. His retirement home is 238 square feet - one-tenth the size of the average new American house - and sits in his Anne Arundel County yard. He and wife Renee can hitch it to a truck and take it with them wherever they go. "It's so cheap - that's what's so cool about this," said Cantori, 52, who envisions a surf-and-turf future, alternating between the house and a sailboat. "We bought the house for $19,000.

"I know this sounds racist, but ... " So goes the subject line on last week's email from Bill, a reader. It seems Bill has an idea. Given that "all of the radical terrorists have been Muslims," he wants the government to mount a program to surveil every follower of Islam who immigrates to these shores. We are, claims reader Bill, "faced with a population who swears an oath to God to kill Americans -- not Canadians, not Mexicans, but Americans. " It is, he says, "time we protect ourselves.

On weekday mornings, I'll post the most controversial, shocking and (of course) ridiculous stories for your reading pleasure. That way, when you walk into work, you'll be the master of witty conversation. National  • U.S. investigating Pakistan's connection to bin Laden . (WSJ)  • Obama to visit Ground Zero . (WSJ)  • Will the U.S. release photos of bin Laden's body ? (Perthnow.com)  • Burial at sea video may be released . (ABC News)

The explosion blasted out the windows at Shepherd Electric Supply as pieces of the ceiling rained down and the building groaned. Roger Sampson, an employee, had lived in earthquake-prone Los Angeles for eight years and felt a quake shake Maryland two years ago. But Tuesday afternoon, when a freight train and a truck carrying garbage collided in Rosedale just blocks from the warehouse, was different. Workers in the building in the 7400 block of Pulaski Highway were shaking with fear, Sampson said, and he saw a few of his co-workers bleeding, one from the neck, after being hit by glass.

Confession: We got a bit too excited when we heard the news today that Kate Middleton's expecting a little royal baby. Apparently, so did everyone else. We've rounded up the best (er, funniest) reactions to Will and Kate's big news. "#royalbaby is trending. So soon there will be a new half-blood Prince?" - @Lord_Voldemort7 "I hope Royal Baby and Blue Ivy Carter become best friends" - @BrooklynDecker "God tells me the child is male, will be named Henry IX & the colonies better re-learn how to bend the sodding knee.

An adverse reaction to a beauty product might sound like a story line from a bad sitcom, but it happens in real life too. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants to know about any products that give you rashes, burns your scalp or turns your skin an unexpected or unintended color. You should report a bad experience even if you weren't following the directions precisely. After all, if you make a mistake, chances are other people may do it too. Many beauty products or cosmetics recommend that consumers test the item in an inconspicuous area before applying it everywhere, which is definitely good advice.

Australian mining magnate (apparently, a thing) Clive Palmer has unveiled the blueprints of his replica of the doomed ship that killed Leonardo DiCaprio. What could go wrong? It's set to sail the Atlantic by 2016. Will there be costumes, you ask? Sure! Passengers, dress in your finest! Go downstairs and dance with the poor people if you'd like! As you can probably tell, the ship has garnered mixed reaction on Twitter. Here are some of our favorites: "They are building the Titanic II. Hopefully it works out better than the Death Star II. " - @DepressedDarth "I was so pissed when I saw Titanic II trending, but then I realized it's a remake of the boat and not the movie and then I felt better.

With actress Kristen Stewart's admission that she cheated on boyfriend/co-star Robert Pattinson with her "Snow White and the Huntsman" director Rupert Sanders, we scanned Twitter for the best reactions to the devastating (or something) news. After you read her very public cheating statement , check out our favorite tweet-reactions: " Kristen Stewart admits to cheating on Robert Pattinson. She looks really upset about it, or happy, or maybe sleepy" - @BettyFckinWhite "As Syria spirals into civil war, CNN asks: Should Robert Pattinson forgive Kristen Stewart for cheating?"

Facebook has undergone a redesign. It happens, oh, every five minutes. And yet, people are not, um, enjoying the new "upgrades" to their news ticker and top stories. Let the bitching begin! We looked through the many, many (we repeat: many!) angry/funny/perplexed tweets about Facebook and compiled our favorite reactions. ••• "Facebook done went and blow up people's ugly pics on my newsfeed. " -- @OrinPhillips ••• "Zuckerberg apparently hired the genius behind New Coke to run Facebook.

I can't be the only ones Tebow-ed out right now, but his move from the Broncos to the Jets (in exchange for two draft picks) has elicited much repulsion/happiness/Jesus jokes on Twitter. While I've kept my opinion on the matter to myself (mostly because I don't, well, care), here are some of the best 140-characters-or-fewer reactions to the news I've read. • "Tim Tebow would definitely be a Hufflepuff. "  - Professor Snape, @_Snape_ • "Tim Tebow to New York.

With plans to demolish 1,500 vacant houses in the next three years, Baltimore officials and the few remaining residents in largely vacant blocks are beginning the early stages of the most delicate of relationships. About 80 residents - each of them representing the last one or two households living in blocks that are otherwise entirely vacant - are to be uprooted this year, the city to take their homes by eminent domain, demolish the structures and establish community gardens. They bring 80 different opinions that the city must respond to. Norma Green, who lives in the West Baltimore neighborhood of Upton, where the city plans to tear down at least several blocks of vacant homes, spoke at a community meeting Tuesday evening in Druid Heights.

The shooting of Kendra Diggs and the subsequent barricade by her alleged attacker presented a challenge Tuesday for police and emergency responders. Under the threat of further gunfire from the off-duty Baltimore police officer, officials said, they were unable to render medical aid to the dying woman. "When you have a person who is down … what we're trained on is that you don't jeopardize six or seven police officers in your emotional reaction to save that person," Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts said in an interview Wednesday.

A year prior to our daughter's graduation from Tulane University, Ellen DeGeneres spoke during the ceremony, followed by Anderson Cooper, who delivered the commencement address. It was a pleasure to be a member of the audience of this widely respected journalist. We would have been appalled and angry if either of these speakers had been excluded or pressured to relinquish their role based on their outspoken personal beliefs, sexual orientation or alternative lifestyle ("Hopkins looking for replacement for Carson," April 12)

Australian mining magnate (apparently, a thing) Clive Palmer has unveiled the blueprints of his replica of the doomed ship that killed Leonardo DiCaprio. What could go wrong? It's set to sail the Atlantic by 2016. Will there be costumes, you ask? Sure! Passengers, dress in your finest! Go downstairs and dance with the poor people if you'd like! As you can probably tell, the ship has garnered mixed reaction on Twitter. Here are some of our favorites: "They are building the Titanic II. Hopefully it works out better than the Death Star II. " - @DepressedDarth "I was so pissed when I saw Titanic II trending, but then I realized it's a remake of the boat and not the movie and then I felt better.

The murder-suicide that left two University of Maryland students dead provided fresh fodder in Annapolis Wednesday for lawmakers debating whether to tighten Maryland's gun laws, with supporters saying the tragic incident gave them new resolve while opponents cautioned against rash responses. Gun control proponents said they hoped the incident Tuesday - in which police say a graduate engineering student from Baltimore shot his two roommates, one fatally, before killing himself - would spur legislators to approve the sweeping measure put forward last month by Gov. Martin O'Malley.

The U.S. Postal Service last week announced it will stop delivering mail on Saturdays in an effort to curtail losses it has seen in recent years. The changes, set to begin Aug. 5, should save the agency $2 billion annually at a time when the Postal Service lost $15.9 billion in the last fiscal year, according to a statement by Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe posted on the agency's website. Congress has stunted attempts to change the delivery process in the past, and this time lawmakers in Washington confronted this decision with opposition as soon as it was announced.

Station North was abuzz with thousands of cinema addicts and more casual moviegoers this past weekend, for the 14th annual Maryland Film Festival. The Festival brought some 100 films and an even higher number of filmmakers to the neighborhood. As always, the Charles Theatre was the hub for the action, which included favorites such as a screening with devious filmmaker John Waters, and newer fare such as a disturbing flick starring a 12-year-old. Festival director Jed Dietz, who's seen attendance at his annual event grow every year, said he was surprised by the adventurousness of the crowd.

Stories involving race require particular clarity of exposition and even-handedness because the issues inevitably trigger strong reactions from readers. Recent Sun articles - about the disparity between black and white students' performance in statewide achievement tests and about rallies to protest the treatment of six black teens who were charged with attempted murder over a schoolyard brawl in Jena, La. - generated a number of strong reactions. In my view, The Sun's reporting on these stories was well researched, well edited and timely.

Word that the cash-strapped Postal Service would stop delivering mail on Saturdays hit Lakesha Johnson hard. "I think that's terrible," the Baltimore woman said Wednesday outside the city's Main Post Office on East Fayette Street. "When they want to save money, it's always us who suffer. " But Don Seto said it wouldn't make much difference to him. "I pay bills online, I use email," said Seto, a biology professor who also uses the Internet to discuss research with colleagues, during a visit to the downtown Annapolis branch.

Notable Ravens fans react on Twitter to the news that the team will be heading to the Super Bowl: Oriole Adam Jones , @SimplyAJ10: Unreal victory. BMORE STAND UP. Pastor Jamal Bryant, @jamalhbryant: God is with the Ravens......meet me in New Orleans!!! Actor/Baltimore native Josh Charles, @MrJoshCharles: Saw this earlier today walking down my street. Seems appropriate. NOLA bound baby. #Ravens [Twitpic of "We clean UGGs" ad] Gov. Martin O'Malley, @GovernorOMalley: WAY TO GO RAVENS!