CAROLINA NATURALLY: Oct 20, 2009

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

College tuition up sharply amid recession

The cost of higher education continues to rise despite massive cutbacks by colleges.

But 2 states freeze tuition

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Calorie limit coming to school menus?

A new report advises federal lunch programs to limit calories based on grade levels.

Fruits vs. juice

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Make store-bought pie taste homemade

A scoop of cinnamon ice cream can make that apple pie taste like you made it from scratch.

More simple tricks

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A trick to make homes fancy for cheap

There's a simple, sneaky way to give your couch or floor a luxury look.

How the pros get massive discounts

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Pay bills on time, get hit with fee

If you never carry a balance or don't charge that much on your cards, watch out for new fees.

Tips

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FOX News caught cropping Dunn quote to falsely claim she said Mao was "the man she turns to most"

Good Stuff:

By John Aravosis

Well now color me confused. I thought FOX News was Fair and Balanced? But today we learn from Media Matters that in fact FOX has been peddling a "quote" from White House communications director Anita Dunn, supposing claiming that she turns to Mao and Mother Teresa "the most" in her life, and in fact, that's not what she said at all.

Dunn said that she turns to them most "to basically deliver a simple point, which is, you're going to make choices." The difference isn't insignificant. The FOX quote says that Dunn turns to Mao the most in her life, on any and every issue - that there is no one in the world (other than Mother Teresa) who Dunn looks to for guidance on everything in her life than Mao. What Dunn actually said is that, on the singular lesson of "having to make choices" in life, her favorite quotes are from Mao and Mother Teresa. A rather huge difference, especially since FOX News is now claiming that Dunn is a Maoist who endorsed the murders of countless Chinese during the Cultural Revolution.

It's really rather sick what FOX is doing. And, ironically, FOX has now proven Dunn's point she made last week, that FOX is nothing more than a political operation of the Republican party.

FOX also needs to answer the question of whether their own "news" host Chris Wallace was the secret "concerned parent" they had on Glenn Beck's show yesterday to, again, slur Anita Dunn. Newsweek's Richard Wolffe was on Olbermann last night asking what ties Chris Wallace may have had to this entire smear. If Wallace was truly involved, then any lingering questions about his status as a GOP activist, rather than a real journalist, will be resolved.

At some point, someone needs to ask Democratic members of Congress why they keep going on FOX. Someone needs to ask them whose side they're on - the White House's, or FOX's.

*****

And they wonder why we refer to them as Faux News?!

Fossil Fuels' Hidden Cost Is in Billions, Study Says

Burning fossil fuels costs the United States about $120 billion a year in health costs, mostly because of thousands of premature deaths from air pollution, the National Academy of Sciences reported in a study issued Monday.

Full Story

Make your Social Security choice wisely

Many Americans take Social Security early, at age 62, because they really need it. They're in poor health or unemployed or both. Others take benefits early because they're worried they'll lose out on what's rightfully theirs if benefits are reduced. But few people try to figure out the best age to take Social Security - and that's a serious mistake.

Full Story

Baby Denied Health Insurance Because Underweight

People should ask why this doesn't happen to fashion models, as they are frequently underweight. Recently, a baby was denied insurance because it was overweight, according to the insurance company, anyway. Here's an example in the other direction: a baby denied insurance because it is underweight.

Full Story

Farmville: An addiction worth cultivating?

For weeks now, Farmville the popular and excessively addictive Facebook game everyone's talking about has been demanding my attention.

An addiction worth cultivating?

Amelia Earhart's hair in museum just a thread

Cleveland museum has learned that what it thought was a lock of hair from Amelia Earhart is just thread.

Full Story

Hundreds line up to apply for a job at In-N-Out Burger

Hundreds of Utahans lined up Monday hoping to get a job flipping burgers as a fast-food restaurant makes its debut in northern Utah.

Full Story

Dinosaurs wiped out a by algae, not asteroids, claim scientists

Dinosaurs may have been wiped out by toxic algae - rather than asteroids, scientists claim.

Full Story

And I Quote

Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people.

~ W. C. Fields

Leech provides the evidence to convict robber

Eight years ago, police investigating the robbery of a 71-year-old Tasmian woman found a leech at the home. They took a blood sample from the leech and now have used DNA gleaned from the sample to convict Peter Alec Cannon of the crime. He has since admitted guilt.

From the BBC-News:

When police came to investigate the robbery, officers found a leech near the safe, and the resulting DNA sample was recorded in the Tasmania Police DNA offender database.

Cannon would probably have got away with the crime had he not been charged with drug offenses late last year, and asked to give a DNA sample - which matched that from the crime scene.

Leech convicts Australian robber

Six diseases you never knew you could catch

Bacteria or viruses could cause illnesses from diabetes to schizophrenia that are usually blamed on genes or unhealthy lifestyles.

Six diseases you never knew you could catch

Eagles filmed hunting reindeer

Extraordinary camera footage taken by a BBC crew proves that golden eagles do hunt and kill reindeer.

Rebel Rouser

Duane Eddy

The 809 Area Code Scam

And just when I was beginning to believe that I was getting $30 million when a UK barrister contacted me last week via email telling me that I was a recipient of some dead millionaire's largess. Now we have this one:

Please pass along....Don't let this happen to you or anyone you know.

809 Area Code

We actually received a call last week from the 809 area code. The woman said 'Hey,this is Karen . Sorry I missed you--get back to us quickly. I have something important to tell you.' Then she repeated a phone number beginning with 809 We didn't respond.

Then this week, we received the following e-mail:

Do Not DIAL AREA CODE 809, 284, AND 876

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US BY AT&T. DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809

This one is being distributed all over the US. This is pretty scary, especially given the way they try to get you to call.

Be sure you read this and pass it on.

They get you to call by telling you that it is information about a family member who has been ill or to tell you someone has been arrested, died, or to let you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc..

In each case, you are told to call the 809 number right away. Since there are so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return these calls.

If you call from the U.S. , you will apparently be charged $2425 per-minute.

Or, you'll get a long recorded message.. The point is, they will try to keep you on the phone as long as possible to increase the charges.

WHY IT WORKS:

The 809 area code is located in the Dominican Republic .. The charges afterward can become a real nightmare. That's because you did actually make the call. If you complain, both your local phone company and your long distance carrier will not want to get involved and will most likely tell you that they are simply providing the billing for the foreign company. You'll end up dealing with a foreign company that argues they have done nothing wrong.

U.S. scientist faces spying charge

Stewart Nozette thought he was selling U.S. secrets to Israel, officials say.

Credited with major space discovery

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Software confirms Shakespeare play

Anti-plagiarism software may prove that a play was co-written by the Bard.

Telltale signs

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Original 'Balloon Boy' from 1964

Eleven-year-old Dan Nowell made headlines when a hot-air balloon hoisted him 3,000 feet up.

Story

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Pyramid renovation called a fiasco

Changes to a South American ruin are called inauthentic — and may even cause a collapse.

What was done

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Game-changing scientific leaps

Any of these five technologies could radically change how the world uses energy.

Tapping power from space

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Pop-psychology myths busted

5 common pop-psychology myths busted

Does a full moon really spark weird behavior, and do opposites truly attract?

Separating fact from fiction

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Prevent weight gain at the office

Keep off the extra pounds by adding these practices into your workday.

Reply to emails in person

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Former nurse's aide crowned king

For years, Charles Wesley Mumbere cared for sick patients in the U.S. — keeping his royal roots secret.

Story

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Bird leads charge on NFL kickoff

Oakland has a pigeon on its side in the Raiders' game against the Eagles.

» Watch a hilarious play

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Headlines

In the Headlines:

More gloomy news for U.S. housing

A new report says the national median home price will drop another 11.3%.

Worst-hit city to see 30% decline

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Poverty in U.S. worse than first thought

From the "No, Shit! Sherlock!" Department:

Poverty in U.S. worse than first thought

A revised formula shows that even the gloomy count released last month is off by millions.

Hardest-hit groups

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The secret history of Monopoly

Ralph Anspach has personal reasons for sharing the little-known origins of the classic game.

» His battle

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Chance to see dozens of 'shooting stars'

The sky will light up overnight as Earth passes through debris left by Halley's Comet.

Best time to watch

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Unusual Holidays and Celebrations

Today is Miss American Rose Day and the Birth Of The Bab.

Daily Almanac

Today is Tuesday, Oct. 20, the 293rd day of 2009.

There are 72 days left in the year.

Today In History October 20

Our Readers

Some of our readers today have been in:

London, England, United Kingdom
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Pforzheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom
Wawa, Ontario, Canada
Waldkirchen, Bayern, Germany
Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark
Bremen, Bremen, Germany

as well as Scotland, and the United States

Daily Horoscope

Today's horoscope says:

Get a load of you!
Today you're at level 10 of everything: brains, wit, energy and organization!
This would be a great day to work on a major cleaning or restructuring ... it's high time you got rid of that dead weight or those unused resources weighing you down.
Your clarity on what's valuable and what isn't can't be beat, so trust yourself.
Get a fresh start in an old routine, and you'll be primed for success.

Darn, I thought I was an eleven today at least.