Thursday, November 19, 2009
High on Xmas
316,000 bongs disguised as ornaments seized in L.A.
Japanese Suicide Forest
Japan's Aokigahara Forest is known as the "suicide forest" because people often go there to take their own lives.
Full Story
Five hot new fitness trends
Five hot new fitness trends
The latest workout crazes include a dance party to Latin beats and a ballet bar routine.
Season's hottest electronic gifts
Season's hottest electronic gifts
Someone on your holiday list is likely wishing for a netbook, a camera, or a Blu-ray player.
New CIA ad focuses on Arab-Americans
New CIA ad focuses on Arab-Americans
In the first TV commercial of its kind, the spy agency reaches out to Arabic speakers.
Tiny "Flores Man" of Indonesia declared a new human species
Nature says "These astonishing little people, nicknamed 'hobbits', made tools, hunted tiny elephants and lived at the same time as modern humans who were colonizing the area."
There has been some debate as to whether or not the Flores Man was just descendants of Homo Sapiens "dwarfed by disease." But that debate has been settled, according to researchers from Stony Brook University Medical Center in New York who claim Homo floresiensis is a "genuine ancient human species."
Using statistical analysis on skeletal remains of a well-preserved female specimen, researchers determined the "hobbit" to be a distinct species and not a genetically flawed version of modern humans. Details of the study appear in the December issue of Significance, the magazine of the Royal Statistical Society, published by Wiley-Blackwell.
In 2003 Australian and Indonesian scientists discovered small-bodied, small-brained, hominin (human-like) fossils on the remote island of Flores in the Indonesian archipelago. This discovery of a new human species called Homo floresiensis has spawned much debate with some researchers claiming that the small creatures are really modern humans whose tiny head and brain are the result of a medical condition called microcephaly.
Invasive Slugs Run Amok in Canada
OK, 'run amok' might be a stretch ...
It's actually quite pretty (alright - pretty is in the eye of the beholder), but this slug is most likely an Arion rufus, a species that's native to Europe, but has been found in British Columbia and is apparently now also at large in Ontario. Hermaphroditic in nature, some slugs can even knock themselves up, so it only takes a single invader to build an army. Once the population is established, the slugs become (and I quote) the "slow moving lions of the vegetable world."
So how do you get rid of them? The story offers two possibilities. First, you can leave out beer for the slugs. They're attracted to fermented yeast, but they're a little dumb and they can't swim, so they'll end up crawling in and drowning themselves. The other option: Collect the slugs when they come out at night and "immerse them in boiling water." The article, unfortunately, does not mention whether you can then eat Arion rufus in a nice butter sauce.
Scuba diving to the depths of human history
Many prehistoric people lived by the sea – but rising sea levels have drowned their settlements. To raise their secrets from the seabed, archaeologists are swapping their boots for flippers.Scuba diving to the depths of human history
Was there a Stone Age apocalypse or not?
Was there a Stone Age apocalypse or not?
Science News
Army fears anti-Obama politics at Palin event
I hope there is so they will finally arrest these traitors ... such 'demonstrations' against the commander-in-chief are forbidden!
Let's see how they really like those military tribunals they are so enamored of - or they say the are at least.
Army fears anti-Obama politics at Palin event
Fossils of dinosaur-eating crocodile discovered
Fossils of dinosaur-eating crocodile discovered
Be thankful this croc is long gone
Scientists discover new species of ancient crocodiles, including one with three sets of fangs.
Also:
It's a butter-duck squash
Gardner Lionel Partridge did a quack double-take when he harvested this marrow — and found it was in the shape of a duck.
The freakish veg came complete with a beak, head, neck, body and tail.
Full StoryBackpack saves man from suicide
FAUX News displays old campaign footage to claim Palin is getting ‘huge crowds’ at her book signings
In something the propaganda arm of the Soviet Union Politburo might have done. (and did one more than one occasion, as, has FAUX News)
I'm sure it was a simple oversight.
Just like when Handjob did the same thing last week.
ThinkProgress has the whole delicious story.
John Amato is filing an FCC complaint.
Media Matters offers us two photos to compare:
Citigroup increases executive salaries
Under no circumstances should the Obama administration accept this.
The Citi management may have issues today with "motivating" personnel but let's not forget about the massive amounts they all made during the peak years of the credit bubble.
The last time anyone checked, nobody paid that back yet. If they want to hand it all over now and restart, fine. Otherwise, let Citi and the rest pound salt and go away. If they don't like it, nobody is stopping them from creating their own business without any government handouts. Let's see what kind of capitalists they really are.
The disclosures attach names to some of the 25 pay packages that Kenneth Feinberg, special master for Troubled Asset Relief Program executive compensation, approved last month. Feinberg disclosed the packages, but did not indicate the names of the recipients.
CFO John Gerspach's annual base salary will increase to $500,000 effective Nov. 1 from $400,000 prior to November, while James Forese is receiving $475,000, compared with $225,000.
Gerspach is also receiving $2.92 million of stock salary for 2009, while Forese will get $5.4 million.
Wall Street on target to beat 2007 bonus numbers
Is there anyone in Washington who cares to step up and side with the American public here? This is a sham and everyone knows it. If Congress or the White House had any sense of fairness or decency they would shut this down immediately.
Fueling the gains were extraordinary profits from the firms’ own securities trading accounts as they borrowed at near-zero interest rates and put the money to work in the securities markets. Member firms on the New York Stock Exchange earned a record $35.7 billion for their broker-dealer operations in the first six months, $8.9 billion more that the previous high in 2000, the state comptroller said.
In turn, the profits are contributing to a resurgence of bonuses on Wall Street. Six of the top American bank holding companies set aside $112 billion for salaries and bonuses, including deferred payments, in the first nine months, Mr. DiNapoli reported. The six banks are Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo.
If the profits continue, bonuses at the six banks could exceed the $162 billion paid 2007 — the year before the financial crisis hit stock markets. Though compensation has rebounded at the four largest banks, Merrill Lynch, now part of Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley reported a decline in overall compensation.
'Monumental negligence' in Katrina floods
'Monumental negligence' in Katrina floods
The federal government may face billions of dollars in claims after a long-awaited court ruling.
Sneaky marketing tricks to know
Sneaky marketing tricks to know
They may sound high-end, but labels like "premium" and "award-winning" have no actual merit.
Radical measures don't stop swine flu
Radical measures don't stop swine flu
China claims mass quarantines and closures have slowed the disease — but experts disagree.
Test your produce smarts
Test your produce smarts
See how well you know these quirky fruits and veggies, and learn easy ways to prepare them.
Soldier's family takes fight to Congress
Soldier's family takes fight to Congress
Six years after Dominic Baragona was killed on his way out of Iraq, his family is still seeking justice.
Skinny pants banned at Texas schools
Skinny pants banned at Texas schools
Students in Mesquite aren't allowed to wear skinnies, stovepipes, or jeggings.
What never to say when firing an employee
What never to say when firing an employee
These kinds of comments can make workers on the wrong side of the ax feel even worse.
Ice cream treats you should avoid
Ice cream treats you should avoid
Beware of these high-calorie bombs at restaurants and the supermarket.
Plastic surgery tax may fund health plan
Plastic surgery tax may fund health plan
A proposal to levy a 5 percent surcharge on cosmetic procedures could help pay for the health overhaul.
Couple arrested for refusing to leave tip
Couple arrested for refusing to leave tip
After a night of "terrible service," patrons end up in handcuffs for not paying an 18% gratuity.
This is total bullshit! Terrible service means NO GRATUITY period. It does not matter if the restaurant says it is 'mandatory' ... here's a clue for all you restaurants and restaurant personnel - tipping aka 'a gratuity' is never nor ever will be mandatory even for great service, much less for terrible service and trying to put it on the 'regular' bill will not wash either.
'Superstar Billy Graham' Speaks Out Against the Linda McMahon Senatorial Campaign
Former Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon, a candidate for the repugican nomination to run against Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), is now facing some strong attacks from a Mr. Eldridge Wayne Coleman -- a.k.a. "Superstar Billy Graham," a former pro-wrestler who worked for McMahon."She may look like a Sunday school teacher," said Graham, who described himself a repugnican, and who supports one of McMahon's repugican rivals, Rob Simmons. "Linda McMahon's hands are as bloody as her husband's [Vince McMahon] because she is aware of every move in the ring."
Graham said that the McMahons condoned steroid use that damaged wrestlers' health (including himself), didn't provide health care or pensions to those same wrestlers, and have quickly shifted from all manner of inappropriate TV programming -- ranging from wrestlers being told to cut themselves with razors in order to bleed on stage, to "bra and panty" wrestling matches between scantily-clad female performers -- to cleaner content in the run-up to her campaign.
The WWE and the McMahon campaign characterized Graham as a disgruntled ex-employee -- and he's not denying it. "I am disgruntled," he said. "I am bitter. I am mad at Vince McMahon for not having health care. Absolutely print that. Absolutely, I'm bitter to the core."
Who knows, McMahon could soon face attacks from the Swift Boat Wrestlers For Truth, and their startling revelation about her career: Wrestling is fake.
Mark Sanford to face ethics panel
Also:
In what has been one of the biggest years for any woman who has made their profession in the adult industry and successfully “crossed-over” into the mainstream, Sasha Grey has accomplished more than anyone in her time.As 2009 draws to a close, Grey was chosen among a select group of people chosen by Newsweek to provide analysis for the magazine’s “20/10: The Decade in Rewind,” a project undertaken in conjunction with online social networking titan Facebook.com.
“I want to thank Newsweek for giving me the opportunity to participate in the magazine’s look at the past decade, and hopefully readers will appreciate my serious undertones in a lighthearted fashion.” Grey said.
Grey goes into detail, putting her thoughts to print on the recent scandal involving South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, as part of the decade’s 10 biggest sex scandals, posted Friday, November 20. The sex scandal list, along with several previous lists covering a variety of topics, is available online at www.2010.newsweek.com/
Read Sasha’s work here: www.2010.newsweek.com/top-10/sex-scandal-details/mark-sanford-appalachian-adventure.html
For more information about “20/10: The Decade in Rewind,” and to read the top ten lists and essays posted thus far, visit www.2010.newsweek.com/
'Admonish' is 2009 Word of the Year
'Admonish' is 2009 Word of the Year
Experts give gloomy outlook for housing
Experts give gloomy outlook for housing
U.S. home sales will grow through this year, but 2010 might not be so rosy, some analysts believe.
Fortune stashed in an unusual spot
Fortune stashed in an unusual spot
A woman recovers $40,000 in rare coins — her life savings — after storing them in a public place.
Expert: Economic optimists are wrong
Expert: Economic optimists are wrong
The U.S. is facing a "truly extraordinary slump," says a well-known economist.
Misleading Palin footage raises questions
Misleading Palin footage raises questions
Just a week after admitting to spliced protest scenes, Faux News faces another controversy.
U.S. cities with the most smokers
U.S. cities with the most smokers
More than 27% of residents in Louisville, KY smoke, but one southern city claims the top spot.
No more replies from 'North Pole' Santa
No more replies from 'North Pole' Santa
After 55 years, Alaska volunteers must end the tradition of writing back to kids.
Also:
Daily Almanac
There are 42 days left in the year.
Today In History November 19
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Daily Horoscope
Everything you're thinking, feeling and even remotely wondering will emerge immediately from your lips.
No, that's not your usual style, and yes, you'll definitely be shocking and amazing the masses -- not to mention your inner circle.
That doesn't mean you should stop yourself, though.
Not for a second.
Say every word just the way you want to.
It's your turn to be unceremoniously blunt.
Enjoy it.
Oh, I will.
