CAROLINA NATURALLY: Feb 9, 2010

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Boudreaux and the Devil

Boudreaux died and was on his way down to Hell.

In anticipation, the Devil turned up the thermostat to make it extra warm for Boudreaux. When Boudreaux arrived, the Devil asked, "Hey Boudreaux, how do you like the heat down here?"

Boudreaux says, "Mais, it's just fine. It reminds me of Bayou PonPon in July."

That made the Devil mad. That night, he turned the thermostat up all the way it could go. Man it was hot! When Boudreaux woke up, the Devil asked him, "NOW how do you like it down here?"

Boudreaux says, "Mais, it's fine. It reminds me of August on Bayou Lafourche."

As you might expect, that made the Devil all the more mad. Well, that night, he turned the thermostat down all the way it could go! The whole place frosted over. Icicles started forming from the rafters. When Boudreaux woke up, the Devil asked him, "How you like it NOW, Boudreaux?"

Boudreaux, shivering, through blue lips, says, "Mais cher, I'm one happy Cajun!"

The Devil was infuriated! He yelled, "What do you mean you're one happy Cajun?!!"

Boudreaux, still shivering says, "The Saints done won the Super Bowl!"

Health crisis in Haiti enters a deadly new phase

Fourteen-month-old Abigail Charlot survived Haiti's cataclysmic earthquake but not its miserable aftermath.

Full Story

'Alien' fish found in cave lake

Villagers in China have caught some alien-looking fish from a lake in a mountain cave 1,000m below the ground.

Full Story

Harlem Globetrotters take to the ice

The Harlem Globetrotters have a new way to beat the Washington Generals: on ice.

Full story

Can repugicans win?

Daniel Larison has been writing a a series of withering posts on repugican self-delusions about this November, and beyond.

Can repugicans win?

How drivers react when panic sets in

Intensely fearful situations make simple emergency decision making nearly impossible.

Cars ill-equipped as well

Also:

Eight ways to fix the Senate

Actually, there are 41 ways to fix the Senate and just by eliminating those 41 ways the Senate would be fixed!

Eight ways to fix the Senate

Critics say the filibuster and "holds" are outdated, misused mechanisms.

Serious obstacles to reform
(they're called repugicans)

Also:

How to make remodeling projects pay off

Smart upgrade choices can still boost a home's value, despite the weak housing market.

Six rules before you start

Also:

Biggest battle of Afghan war tests Obama

As 20,000 troops prepare to storm the city of Marja, the president's war plan is scrutinized.

Why town is important

Also:

New health worry: Third-hand smoke

You don't have to inhale smoke to be exposed to its carcinogens, researchers find.

Dangers in tobacco residue

Also:

Why olive oil is bad for your stir-fry

Using the oil in the wrong way can destroy healthy nutrients and change its flavor.

Avoid the 'smoke point'

Also:

Ways to slash spending in retirement

15 ways to slash spending in retirement

Little things like adjusting your car insurance can make your savings last longer.

But don't wait to sell your home

Also:

From robber to unmatched jailhouse lawyer

Behind bars, Shon Hopwood found the law library and became a rare Supreme Court expert.

His feats

Also:

Avocados full of healthful benefits

These gems are full of good cholesterol and abundant this time of year, making them a great buy.

Fruit or veggie?

Also:

More households doing the 'unthinkable'

Consumers used to skip the monthly mortgage bill only as a last resort.

They're paying these bills first

Also:

Government shut down, but effect minimal

A major snowstorm closes most federal offices in D.C., but key services are still up and running.

How it's getting done

Also:

McDonald's meal sparks outcry in Italy

A new menu item designed to stoke national pride stirs up controversy instead.

McItaly backlash

Also:

Is it worth it to unplug your electronics?

It can lower your power bill, but there are easier ways, like a tweak to TVs that can save $43 a year.

Smart changes

Also:

The least-trusted banks in America

Consumers say these banks are more concerned with their bottom lines than what's best for customers.

The 7 worst

Also:

Girl is a real-life 'Sleeping Beauty'

Teenagers have a reputation for sleeping late, but Louisa Ball often won't wake up for 13 days.

Her rare condition

Also:

China's Water Pollution Twice the Officially Listed Levels

From Treehugger:

china-water dead-fish photo
Photo via Guardian

A recent report from Reuters reveals some disturbing news about China: the water pollution levels recorded in the official reports were found to be merely half the actual levels. Meaning that China's water pollution is literally twice as bad as its government claimed it was in 2007.

Article continues: China's Water Pollution Twice the Officially Listed Levels

Atheists ‘just as ethical as churchgoers’

there's probably no God

People who have no religion know right from wrong just as well as regular worshipers, according to the study.

The team behind the research found that most religions were similar and had a moral code which helped to organize society.

But people who did not have a religious background still appeared to have intuitive judgments of right and wrong in common with believers, according to the findings, published in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences.

Dr Marc Hauser, from Harvard University, one of the co-authors of the research, said that he and his colleagues were interested in the roots of religion and morality.

Atheists ‘just as ethical as churchgoers’

Got to disagree with this one ... Atheists are MORE ethical than churchgoers by far!

Catch The Wind

Donovan

Checkers announcement could change local hockey

The Charlotte Checkers will hold a news conference today to announce a significant development about the "future of hockey" in Charlotte, said the team.

Although the Checkers would not comment specifically on what the news conference would be about, there has been speculation that the American Hockey League's Albany (N.Y.) River Rats - the top minor league affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes - will relocate to Charlotte.

That leaves the status of the ECHL's Checkers, who have played in Charlotte since 1956, in doubt.

Man Rescued After 3 Days In Snow-covered SUV In Colorado

A 31-year-old Indiana man says he had no food but kept himself hydrated with Mountain Dew and snow while he was stuck in his snow-covered SUV in southwestern Colorado for three days.

Man Rescued After 3 Days

More cows than kiwis

New Zealanders who for decades have endured jokes about being outnumbered 20-to-1 by sheep have a new farm animal majority to worry about: cows.

Full Story

Today is ...

Today is Tuesday, February 9, the 40th day of 2010.

There are 325 days left in the year.

Today In History February 9

Today's unusual holiday and celebration is:

Read In The Bathtub Day

Our Readers

Some of our readers today have been in:

Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania
Bangkok, Krung Thep, Thailand
Moscow, Moskva, Russia
Munich, Bayern, Germany
Dar Es Salamm, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Karlsruhe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Wangarratta, Victoria, Australia
London, England, United Kingdom
Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia

as well as Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Sweden, and the United States

Daily Horoscope

Today's horoscope says:

Stop glaring at that higher-up from across the office!
The person you suspect who is trying to give you the boot is most likely innocent.
Just for a second, sit and think about this: What could anyone possibly gain by deliberately getting rid of someone with limitless energy who's always willing to better their last best effort -- which is who you clearly are.
See?
Breathe.

Just breathe.