You can't blame this one on McDonald's: Researchers have found signs of heart disease in 3,500-year-old mummies.
Mummies had heart disease
Mummies had heart disease
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Execs exploit tobacco tax loophole
Execs exploit tobacco tax loophole
Tobacco companies find a way to avoid the huge tax increases meant to fund children's health insurance.
Balearic goats could grow slow
A goat that lived on the Balearic Islands until 3000 years ago had bones like a reptile – which could explain how the species survived so long.
Balearic goats could grow slow
Toddlers insensitive to fear go on to commit crimes
Adult criminals tend to be fearless, but whether this quality emerges before or after their crimes wasn't clear until now.Toddlers insensitive to fear go on to commit crimes
Climate change gives ancient trees growth spurt
Rising temperatures are boosting the growth of the oldest trees on Earth, but the adolescent growth spurt may – or may not – benefit the climate, say scientists.Climate change gives ancient trees growth spurt
Repugicans on the Anti-Energy Reform Warpath for 2010
Also from Treehugger:
Photo via the AP, by Pablo Martinez Monsivais
Republicans on the Anti-Energy Reform Warpath for 2010
This unfortunate headline caught my eye in today's GreenWire: Political Fallout of Vote for Climate Bill Tested in House Race in N.M. Turns out a well known Republican politician is preparing to try to take his seat back in the House of Reps--by focusing squarely on the fact that his opponent, Democratic incumbent Harry Teague voted for the climate bill. As per usual, he's falsely casting the bill as nothing but a giant tax. The worrisome thing is that this tactic appears to be spreading across the country.
Massive New US-China Clean Energy Plans Announced
From Treehugger:
Photo via Wind Power Ninja
Obama's in China this week, and green issues are high on the agenda. As Daniel noted earlier, US and China struck a deal on renewable energy information sharing--some pretty good news on the heels of the more depressing announcement that a global climate treaty is officially out of reach at Copenhagen. But that was only the tip of the iceberg--the two giant greenhouse gas spewing nations have agreed on a broader plan for the future of clean energy. Here's what it entails.
Article continues: Massive New US-China Clean Energy Plans Announced
'Star Trek's funny little secret
'Star Trek's funny little secret
It's incredibly tough to spot, but R2-D2 makes a very brief appearance in the recent "Star Trek" film.
Dangerous lead levels found in some toys
Dangerous lead levels found in some toys
Several items carrying the Barbie and Disney logos contain illegal amounts of lead.
Obama's 1st Judicial Nomination Finally Gets Senate OK
Full Story
Tax credit won't rescue housing market
Tax credit won't rescue housing market
U.S. housing won't have the footing to recover once the homebuyer tax credit expires, experts say.
As Senate preps for debate, support for public option remains strong
At FIRE DOG LAKE, Jon Walker examined the numbers from the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll on health care.
The public option is still popular, despite unrelenting attacks:
The public option is still popular, despite unrelenting attacks:
The parts of the health care reform championed by the “political left” and opposed by so-called “centrists” in Congress continue to have very high popular support: the public option and the employer mandate.
53% of Americans support having the “government create a new health insurance plan to compete with private health insurance plans,” while only 43% oppose it. The opposition is much weaker than this one question would indicate. 40% of people who said they opposed the public option would support it if it were restricted almost exactly like it is in the House bill, to “only people who do not receive insurance through an employer, or through the existing Medicare or Medicaid programs.”
The health insurance industry/Republican attack message against the public option does seem to be gaining a lot of traction. A strong majority (60%) do think the public option “would force many private health insurers to go out of business.” However, even with that belief, support for the public option still remains strong. It just might be that Americans don’t really care if many inefficient private health insurance companies go out of business because they can’t compete against a public option.
So, what's perceived as "the left" by many members of Congress (including too many Democrats) is actually the predominate view in America.
Lowell at Blue Virginia also noted a key finding from this poll:
Lowell at Blue Virginia also noted a key finding from this poll:
People who say they understand health reform support it by a 13-point margin, while those who admit they don't understand it also don't support it, by a 19-point margin. Very striking.
Very striking. And, that may explain why so many members of Congress voted against the health care bill in the House. They really didn't understand it -- or want to understand it.
Anti-Defamation League takes on Glenn Beck
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has had enough of the hatred and Nazi imagery being promoted by teabaggers and Glenn Beck.
Today, ADL issued a report, Rage Grows in America: Anti‑Government Conspiracies.
This report has heft coming from ADL. It should cause concern among the wingnuts who are fomenting the rage. (It should, but it won't.)
ADL singles out Glenn Beck from FAUX News for special recognition.
Here's part of what the organization had to say about Beck:
Today, ADL issued a report, Rage Grows in America: Anti‑Government Conspiracies.
This report has heft coming from ADL. It should cause concern among the wingnuts who are fomenting the rage. (It should, but it won't.)
ADL singles out Glenn Beck from FAUX News for special recognition.
Here's part of what the organization had to say about Beck:
The most important mainstream media figure who has repeatedly helped to stoke the fires of anti-government anger is right-wing media host Glenn Beck, who has a TV show on FOX News and a popular syndicated radio show. While other conservative media hosts, such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, routinely attack Obama and his administration, typically on partisan grounds, they have usually dismissed or refused to give a platform to the conspiracy theorists and anti-government extremists. This has not been the case with Glenn Beck. Beck and his guests have made a habit of demonizing President Obama and promoting conspiracy theories about his administration.
On a number of his TV and radio programs, Beck has even gone so far as to make comparisons between Hitler and Obama and to promote the idea that the president is dangerous.
That's Glenn Beck in a nutshell all right -- a radical, extremist nutshell.
US banks fighting against change, again
Too big to fail?
Last year was so last year so it's best that we all forget about the worst banking crisis since the Great Depression.
The bankers feel terrible and they've done nothing but drink themselves blind with champagne thanks to the obscenely generous bonuses.
Sure they would have gone bankrupt without the bailout and no bonuses would have been handed out, but that was so long ago.
Can't we all just get along?
Last year was so last year so it's best that we all forget about the worst banking crisis since the Great Depression.
The bankers feel terrible and they've done nothing but drink themselves blind with champagne thanks to the obscenely generous bonuses.
Sure they would have gone bankrupt without the bailout and no bonuses would have been handed out, but that was so long ago.
Can't we all just get along?
Some of the world's largest financial firms on Monday urged a top U.S. lawmaker not to pursue big bank break-up legislation, an idea attracting interest in Congress and causing alarm on Wall Street.
The Financial Services Forum, a lobbying group for CEOs of firms including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, said empowering regulators to break up "too-big-to-fail" banks "could lead to long-term damage to the U.S. economy."
One-Third of Teens Aged 16, 17 Text While Driving
What seems to be a plethora of studies and research prove that text messaging while driving is dangerous.
Despite this, a new Pew Research study shows that 1/3 of teens aged 16 and 17 text while driving.
Full Story
Hotel offers guests night as hamster
Ever wonder what it would feel like to be a hamster?
Now you can find out.
A hotel in Nantes, France, is offering people the chance to live like a rodent.
For $158 a night, you can eat hamster grain, run in a giant wheel and sleep in hay stacks.
London Museum Asks Public What to Pitch
If you're the type of person who has trouble throwing anything out, then the job of collections reviewer at the University College London's museums might not be for you. The college is embarking upon a purge of its assorted collections, some 250,000 items in total, only 2% of which are currently on display. A gargantuan task, surely, but the college is not doing it on its own — officials have taken the unusual step of opening the process up to the public. They're asking visitors what they should keep, what they should give away to other museums — one institution's trash is another's treasure — or, as a last resort, what they should just throw away.
Full StoryScientists Discover Gene That Prevents Aging
Researchers studying a group of people with an average age of 97 found they had all inherited a gene that appears to prevent cells aging.
Rich should pay for health reform
Poll: Rich should pay for health reform
When it comes to funding a health care overhaul, most Americans see just one way to go.
Huge response to tax amnesty program
Huge response to tax amnesty program
An IRS program offering lower penalties for tax cheats has seen "unprecedented" participation.
Billions of dollars
Billions of dollars
Ways to reuse old T-shirts
10 ways to reuse old T-shirts
Old cotton shirts can be more than just cleaning rags — here are novel ways to re-purpose them.
Common credit myths debunked
10 common credit myths debunked
Closing a credit card might seem smart, but it can negatively impact your credit profile.
Scientists witness birth of new species
Scientists witness birth of new species
Biologists in the Galapagos catch the elusive moment when a single species splits in two.
Costco refuses to carry Coke products
Costco refuses to carry Coke products
A spat between the warehouse club and the world's largest soda maker goes public.
Man spots 30-foot 'monster' in canal
Man spots 30-foot 'monster' in canal
Florida residents report seeing a strange "huge-looking creature" swimming in the water.
America's healthiest, unhealthiest states
America's healthiest, unhealthiest states
The state ranked first has low obesity and child poverty rates, and a high number of doctors.
Moving on up
We the staff here at Carolina Naturally are pleased to find out we have the 19,919th highest ranked blog.
We might have to reconsider our position on the time it will take to be the number one blog.
Instead of sometime early in the year 3001 at this pace we may have to revise that to the year 2501, maybe in the fall of that year.
We might have to reconsider our position on the time it will take to be the number one blog.
Instead of sometime early in the year 3001 at this pace we may have to revise that to the year 2501, maybe in the fall of that year.
Record high for mortgage delinquencies ... again
The good news is that the pace is at least slowing.
The fact that another record high has been hit is the disturbing news.
The fact that another record high has been hit is the disturbing news.
The good news is that the pace at which people fell behind on their mortgages slowed during the summer for the third quarter in a row. The bad news is the overall delinquency rate hit another record.
For the three months ended Sept. 30, 6.25 percent of U.S. mortgage loans were 60 or more days past due, according to credit reporting agency TransUnion. That's up 58 percent, from 3.96 percent, a year ago.
Jobs 'Saved or Created' in Congressional Districts That Don't Exist
Here's a stimulus success story:
In Arizona's 15th congressional district, 30 jobs have been saved or created with just $761,420 in federal stimulus spending.
At least that's what the Web site set up by the Obama administration to track the $787 billion stimulus says.
There's one problem, though: There is no 15th congressional district in Arizona; the state has only eight districts.
And ABC News has found many more entries for projects like this in places that are incorrectly identified.
Indian deer fights off tigers and crocodiles in 24 hour battle
Tourists to an Indian wildlife park witnessed two tigers eventually bring down the deer, known as a sambar, but not before it had managed to escape from their clutches at least three times.
Women banned from wearing trousers in Paris
A decree banning women from wearing trousers in Paris is still technically in force, it emerged on Monday, making the laissez-faire French capital theoretically stricter than hardline Sudan in the fashion stakes.
Mexican woman tries to enter U.S. in suitcase
Texas customs inspectors caught a 31-year-old Mexican woman trying to enter the U.S. hidden inside a suitcase.
Teabaggers are stupid ... then again, you knew that
"Let’s send these European immigrants back where they came from! I don’t care if they are Polish, Irish, English, Italian, or Norwegian!" "Columbus Go Home!"
Teabaggers are so clueless they don't know when they've been had!
Teabaggers are so clueless they don't know when they've been had!
Liars and Fools
The Liars and Fools for the day are:
Chuck Norris' delusional rant at length about strangling Democrats.
Wet paper bags stop this moron so Democrats have no worries.
Mark Levin lies: Obama "has aggressively undertaken to destroy this society like no president in my lifetime".
That was the shrub you idiot.
Chuck Norris' delusional rant at length about strangling Democrats.
Wet paper bags stop this moron so Democrats have no worries.
Mark Levin lies: Obama "has aggressively undertaken to destroy this society like no president in my lifetime".
That was the shrub you idiot.
Employees may have upper hand again
Employees may have upper hand again
With the job market improving, firms that don't offer more to their workers risk losing them.
World's most and least corrupt countries
World's most and least corrupt countries
New Zealand is among the most principled, while Somalia remains the most lawless.
Airport Guard Pleads Guilty Over Threat to Obama
A New Jersey airport security guard who allegedly threatened to shoot President Barack Obama has pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment in a deal with prosecutors.
Airport Guard Pleads Guilty Over Threat to Obama
Airport Guard Pleads Guilty Over Threat to Obama
Chinese censors block Obama's call to free the Web
President Barack Obama prodded China about Internet censorship and free speech, but the message was not widely heard in China where his words were blocked online and shown on only one regional television channel.
Chinese censors block Obama's call to free the Web
Chinese censors block Obama's call to free the Web
One In Seven Americans Short Of Food
More than 49 million Americans -- one in seven -- struggled to get enough to eat in 2008, the highest total in 14 years of a federal survey on "food insecurity," the U.S. government said Monday.
14 pct of Americans short of food
14 pct of Americans short of food
Uninsured ER patients twice as likely to die
Uninsured patients with traumatic injuries were almost twice as likely to die in the hospital as similarly injured patients with health insurance, according to a troubling new study.
Oxford dictionary's word of the year
Oxford dictionary's word of the year
The list of finalists included "freemium" and "birther," but the winner had something special.
Paul McCartney Wins The Gershwin Prize
The Library of Congress will bestow its Gershwin Prize upon Paul McCartney.
The prize is given to a musician whose lifetime contributions to popular music exemplify the standards associated with composers George and Ira Gershwin.
Paul McCartney Wins The Gershwin Prize
The prize is given to a musician whose lifetime contributions to popular music exemplify the standards associated with composers George and Ira Gershwin.
Paul McCartney Wins The Gershwin Prize
Daily Almanac
Today is Tuesday, Nov. 17, the 321st day of 2009.
There are 44 days left in the year.
Today In History November 17
There are 44 days left in the year.
Today In History November 17
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia
Wien, Wien, Austria
Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
London, England, United Kingdom
Siegen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland
Swindon, England, United Kingdom
Johor Baharu, Johor, Malaysia
Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia
Wien, Wien, Austria
Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
London, England, United Kingdom
Siegen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland
Swindon, England, United Kingdom
Johor Baharu, Johor, Malaysia
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
Too much is going on, and you'll miss out on some exciting stuff if you're not careful!
You've been cruising along in the fast lane lately, but today you might want to put on the blinker and ease over to slower traffic.
Sometimes it's nice to downshift, get off the main highway and take a more leisurely route to your destination.
The landscape is lovely in your life right now -- why not take a longer look and invite a passenger along for the ride?
Back roads here I come!
Too much is going on, and you'll miss out on some exciting stuff if you're not careful!
You've been cruising along in the fast lane lately, but today you might want to put on the blinker and ease over to slower traffic.
Sometimes it's nice to downshift, get off the main highway and take a more leisurely route to your destination.
The landscape is lovely in your life right now -- why not take a longer look and invite a passenger along for the ride?
Back roads here I come!