Question: Why do some people take an instant aversion to banjo players?
Answer: It saves time in the long run.
Answer: It saves time in the long run.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Actually, Plymouth Rock is quite tiny
Actually, Plymouth Rock is quite tiny
You may be very surprised by the truth behind some Thanksgiving stories.
Bleak future for the Dead Sea
Bleak future for the Dead Sea
One country's controversial project may not be able to save the world's saltiest body of water.
Thanksgiving side dishes
15-minute Thanksgiving side dishes
These classic recipes will help you spend less time in the kitchen and more time with guests.
Best bets for Black Friday shoppers
Best bets for Black Friday shoppers
Get a sneak peek at Friday's deals on laptops, TVs, gaming systems, and cameras.
Most dangerous day for drivers
Most dangerous day for drivers
Surprisingly, the deadliest time of the year to be on the road isn't New Year's Day.
Tainted drywall investigation expands
Tainted drywall investigation expands
Some U.S.-made drywall is reportedly causing the same problems as the Chinese variety.
Outraged judge erases man's $525K debt
Outraged judge erases man's $525K debt
Greg Horoski's mortgage is reduced to zero after a judge calls his bankers' acts "repulsive."
NC man rams car into stand after vendor refuses to sell him hot dog and drink for $1
Police said a North Carolina man rammed his car into a hot dog stand when the vendor refused to sell him a hot dog and drink for a dollar.
NC man rams car into stand after vendor refuses to sell him hot dog and drink for $1
NC man rams car into stand after vendor refuses to sell him hot dog and drink for $1
After the Hospital, It's Bankruptcy Court for Many
Some of the debtors sitting forlornly in this city’s old stone bankruptcy court have lost a job or gotten divorced. Others have been summoned to face their creditors because they spent mindlessly beyond their means.
But all too often these days, they are there merely because they, or their children, got sick.
Wes and Katie Covington, from Smyrna, Tenn., were already in debt from a round of fertility treatments when complications with her pregnancy and surgery on his knee left them with unmanageable bills.
For Christine L. Phillips of Nashville, it was a $10,000 trip to the emergency room after a car wreck, on the heels of costly operations to remove a cyst and repair a damaged nerve.
But all too often these days, they are there merely because they, or their children, got sick.
Wes and Katie Covington, from Smyrna, Tenn., were already in debt from a round of fertility treatments when complications with her pregnancy and surgery on his knee left them with unmanageable bills.
For Christine L. Phillips of Nashville, it was a $10,000 trip to the emergency room after a car wreck, on the heels of costly operations to remove a cyst and repair a damaged nerve.
Swine flu warning for holiday travelers
Swine flu warning for holiday travelers
As 35 million Americans flock to airports and highways, concerns mount about the unpredictable virus.
Taliban leader rejects peace offer from Afghanistan president
Mullah Omar, leader of the Afghan Taliban, has rejected peace overtures from Hamid Karzai, the country's president, and again demanded that foreign troops leave the country.
Full StoryWild camels terrorize Australian community
Time Names ’00’s ‘The Decade From Hell’
We are about to head into six weeks of non-stop, end-of-decade countdown and highlight lists. Newsweek got a head start on the competition with their much passed-around the decade in seven minutes, but that is no doubt just the tip of the iceberg of what’s to come between now and December 31. Granted it’s been a helluva a decade. Or, according to Time ‘The Decade From Hell,’ which is the moniker they’ve opted to give it.
Full Story
Toyota to replace 4 million gas pedals
Toyota to replace 4 million gas pedals
After a massive recall, the auto giant moves to prevent jammed accelerators.
Pakistan Charges 7 Suspects in Mumbai Attacks
Pakistani prosecutors charged seven men on Wednesday with planning and helping execute last year's Mumbai terror attacks.
Full StoryWorst holiday money-wasters
5 worst holiday money-wasters
Holidays are tough enough on your wallet — avoid falling for these shopping traps.
The sweeter side of volcanoes
There is much more to volcanoes than just fireballs and noxious gas – see a different side of them in this gallery.The sweeter side of volcanoes
What Thanksgiving picks say about you
What Thanksgiving picks say about you
What you like to eat on turkey day offers some revealing tidbits about your personality.
Stonehenge in Animated 3D
The non-profit Wessex Archaeology organization created a virtual fly-over of Stonehenge and vicinity based on LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) data collected from the air.
From the project page:
During production of the animation, we turned the LIDAR data into a solid 3D model of whole landscape surrounding Stonehenge. Aerial tours of the most famous sites and monument groups were animated in HD (720i) resolution. What is exciting is that much of the upstanding archaeology, from well-preserved barrows to the subtle earthworks of prehistoric field systems, are clearly visible.To do this, we had to work out how to use the data at 1:1 for our animations (for this kind of task it is often necessary to reduce the complexity of the data by half or quarter (1:2 or 1:4) due to enormous memory and processing requirements). This we achieved, and using lighting techniques we have been able to show the archaeology of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site as it has never been seen before.
Two US senators demand publication of secret copyright treaty
Two US Senators, Bernie Sanders (I-VI) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), have written to the US Trade Representative demanding that the text of the secret Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement be made public.
This is the treaty that allows for criminal sanctions against noncommercial file-sharers, demands border-searches of laptop hard-drives and personal media players and phones for pirated material, requires ISPs to spy on their users, and gives movie and record companies the right to take whole households off the Internet with unsubstantiated allegations of piracy.
This is the treaty that allows for criminal sanctions against noncommercial file-sharers, demands border-searches of laptop hard-drives and personal media players and phones for pirated material, requires ISPs to spy on their users, and gives movie and record companies the right to take whole households off the Internet with unsubstantiated allegations of piracy.
We are surprised and unpersuaded by assertions that disclosures of basic information about the negotiation would present a risk to the national security of the United States, particularly as regards documents that are shared with all countries in the negotiations, and with dozens of representatives of large corporations. We are concerned that the secrecy of such information reflects a desire to avoid potential criticism of substantive provisions in ACTA by the public, the group who will be most affected by the agreement. Such secrecy has already undermined public confidence in the ACTA process, a point made recently by Dan Glickman, the CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) - a group highly supportive of the ACTA negotiation, as well as by the members of the TransAtlantic Consumer Dialogue -- a group more critical of the negotiations.We firmly believe that the public has a right to know the contents of the proposals being considered under ACTA, just as they have the right to read the text of bills pending before Congress.
Way to go, Sanders and Brown!
Americans, call your senators and get them on this bandwagon.
Citizens of other countries, find out why your elected reps aren't asking their governments to publish ACTA!
Senators Sanders and Brown ask White House to make ACTA text public
Americans, call your senators and get them on this bandwagon.
Citizens of other countries, find out why your elected reps aren't asking their governments to publish ACTA!
Senators Sanders and Brown ask White House to make ACTA text public
Climate and Health
Cutting back on the amount of animal produce we consume would help us meet our emissions reduction targets, and make us healthier into the bargain.
Airlines fined for stranding passengers
Airlines fined for stranding passengers
Three airlines involved in forcing passengers to stay on a grounded plane overnight are fined.
Strategies for avoiding colds and flu
Strategies for avoiding colds and flu
Much of what you can do to prevent getting sick doesn't require getting a shot or taking medicine.
Using a dog trainer's ideas to tame kids
Using a dog trainer's ideas to tame kids
Some parents are replacing a shelf full of child-rearing books with Dog Whisperer techniques.
RNC mulls 'purity test' for candidates
What a bunch of losers!
RNC mulls 'purity test' for candidates
Repugican hopefuls may have to answer for their beliefs if a new proposal takes effect.
Turkey Do's and Do Not's
Don't defrost turkey in kid's bath
Over 12,000 Thanksgiving callers swamp the Turkey-Talk Line with their cooking challenges.
How to find the holiday's hottest toys
How to find the holiday's hottest toys
Learn why so many popular playthings are scarce this year, and where to pay less for them.
Justice at last for Nazi-era athlete
Justice at last for Nazi-era athlete
In 1936, Gretel Bergmann matched a German high-jump record — and was kicked off the Olympic team.
Black Friday survival guide
Black Friday survival guide
Here are 11 ways to shop, save, and stay sane as you navigate the sales.
The dark side of Darwin's legacy
The dark side of Darwin's legacy
Darwin is a hero to scientists, but his ideas have also inspired some disturbing behaviors.
'Destroyed' painting surprises scholars
'Destroyed' painting surprises scholars
A major work of art thought to be ruined during World War II is examined for the first time in nearly 70 years.
The 12 online scams of Christmas
The 12 online scams of Christmas
Beware of these common tricks used by cyber thieves to steal your money or your identity.
After 23 years, 'coma' patient feels reborn
After 23 years, 'coma' patient feels reborn
Rom Houben describes the decades he spent misdiagnosed as being in a vegetative state.
Wal-Mart and Amazon heat up price war
Wal-Mart and Amazon heat up price war
To win over shoppers, the retailers are slashing prices on DVDs, toys, and electronics.
Cities with most 'underwater' mortgages
Cities with most 'underwater' mortgages
In the worst-hit city, a whopping 81.8% of borrowers owe more than their homes are worth.
Illusion fools adults, but not kids
Illusion fools adults, but not kids
A new study discovers "adults literally see the world less accurately than they did as children."
Which one of these is a yam, anyhow?
Which one of these is a yam, anyhow?
The classic Thanksgiving confusion between yams and sweet potatoes is finally put to rest.
Jobs that pay at least $60,000 a year
Jobs that pay at least $60,000 a year
These workers are not only in demand, but they make about $20,000 more than the average employee.
Daily Almanac
Today is Wednesday, Nov. 25, the 329th day of 2009.
There are 36 days left in the year.
There are 36 days left in the year.
Today In History November 25
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
Mooroolbark, Victoria, Australia
Timmins, Ontario, Canada
Comox, British Columbia, Canada
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
London, England, United Kingdom
Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland
Agana, Agana, Guam
Kuwait, Al Kuwayt, Kuwait
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
Aabenram, Sonderjylland, Denmark
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Beunos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina
as well as Belgium, and the United States
Mooroolbark, Victoria, Australia
Timmins, Ontario, Canada
Comox, British Columbia, Canada
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
London, England, United Kingdom
Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland
Agana, Agana, Guam
Kuwait, Al Kuwayt, Kuwait
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
Aabenram, Sonderjylland, Denmark
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Beunos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina
as well as Belgium, and the United States
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
It might not be the end of the week yet, but it's definitely the end of the month -- and isn't that a great reason to celebrate?
Sure it is.
Especially for someone who's had the kind of week you've had.
Bet you can easily talk someone into taking the day off with you.
When was the last time you took a nice, long drive with a friend with absolutely no destination in mind?
Road Trip!
It might not be the end of the week yet, but it's definitely the end of the month -- and isn't that a great reason to celebrate?
Sure it is.
Especially for someone who's had the kind of week you've had.
Bet you can easily talk someone into taking the day off with you.
When was the last time you took a nice, long drive with a friend with absolutely no destination in mind?
Road Trip!