Welcome to ...

The place where the world comes together in honesty and mirth.
Windmills Tilted, Scared Cows Butchered, Lies Skewered on the Lance of Reality ... or something to that effect.


Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:
Your secret of success -- one you often share with others -- is to take your work seriously, but never yourself. So while you are enjoying your well-deserved success right now, remember that it's important not to get a swelled head. Not only could that alienate you from potential allies for your next venture, but it might cloud that remarkably sharp mind that's been the key to so much of your good work.
Some of our readers today have been in:
Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia
Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Seoul, Kyonggi-Do, Korea
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmatk
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Colchester, England, United Kingdom
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Hyeres, Provence-Alpes-Cote D'Azur, France
Kabul, Kabol, Afghanistan
Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal, Argentina
Galway, Galway, Ireland
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany
Turin, Piemonte, Italy
Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Sheffield, England, United Kingdom
Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Bilbao, Pais Vasco, Spain
Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia

as well as Singapore, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the United States in such cities as Jefferson, Bethalto, Bronx, Fargo, Chattanooga, Topeka and more

Today is Tuesday, April 6, the 96th day of 2010.
There are 269 days left in the year.

Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:
Teflon Day

Today is Tartan Day


Americans of Scottish descent have played a vibrant and influential role in the development of the United States. From the framers of the Declaration of Independence to the first man on the moon, Scottish-Americans have contributed mightily to the fields of the arts, science, politics, law, and more. Today, over eleven million Americans claim Scottish and Scotch-Irish roots -- making them the eighth largest ethnic group in the United States. These are the people and accomplishments that are honored on National Tartan Day, April 6th.
http://www.thetartanlady.com/images/Tartans/100.jpg
And of course the clan Tartan:
http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/imageCreation.aspx?ref=3951&Width=750&Height=750
And you see our personal Tartan everyday in the upper left hand corner of Carolina Naturally.

It's official ... Baseball season has begun

Obama confuses crowd during first pitch

A surprise gets the crowd buzzing before the president tosses the season's first pitch.  
Also: 

Interesting In General

Interesting In General

Chinese lady embroiders with her feet

When it comes to being a clever sew and sew Chinese seamstress Liu Jianming is the clear winner.

Born without any arms she has learned to sew with her feet, and since she was a teenager has worked as a seamstress creating beautifully embroidered pictures.


Unable to afford a shop, every day she turns up on a street corner in the Chinese city of Kunming Yunnan in southwest in China and works on creating embroidered designs as well as any other seamstress work that she can get.

Kunming is the capital of Yunnan, an area recently affected by a severe drought.


She said: "I'm quite proud of my work - people are always skeptical that the creations are all my own work when they first see them - but once they've seen me threading a needle then they lose all doubt."

But she added that now she was getting older it was getting harder, saying: "I still don't have any problem using my feet to sew - the problem is my eyesight is not as good as it used to be and it's hard to see the thread."

Burning Bridges

The Mike Curb Congregation
The theme from the best anti-war movie ever made ... Kelly's Heroes

Old wives' tales

Old wives' tales: Which are true?

Find out if ginger is good for upset stomachs and if honey speeds up healing.  
Also: 

Local Hospitality

Local Hospitality
At a time when everyone seems to be looking for a job, at least one industry is valiantly looking for workers.

A South Carolina woman was struck by a rock thrown into a car from an overpass.

As The World Turns

As The World Turns
Bungling thieves bury safe below high tide mark
Two Polish men were arrested while frantically trying to retrieve a safe they had buried on a beach underneath the high tide mark.

Children Slain for Rituals in Uganda
The practice of human sacrifice is on the rise in Uganda, as measured by ritual killings where body parts, often facial features or genitals, are cut off for use in ceremonies. The number of people killed in ritual murders last year rose to a new high of at least 15 children and 14 adults, up from just three cases in 2007, according to police.

Talk about being cheap!
Women tried to smuggle corpse onto plane
Two women were arrested at a British airport on suspicion of trying to smuggle a dead relative onto a flight bound for Germany, police said on Tuesday.

Dozens of Police Dead After Maoist Ambush
Seventy-two police officers were killed in an attack early Tuesday by suspected Maoists in eastern India, authorities said.

The State Of The Nation

The State Of The Nation

U.S. states that might have been

A new book chronicles proposals for states that didn't pass muster. 
Also:

10,000 cameras keep watch over city

Chicago has developed a surveillance system hailed as one of the most sophisticated. 
Also: 

Father's mystery helper in child rescue

Father's mystery helper in child rescue

A still-unknown Frenchman jumps into the East River to help a father save his 2-year-old girl.  
Also: 

Daily Comic Relief

Garfield

Stranded ship a 'ticking ... time bomb'

Stranded ship a 'ticking ... time bomb'

Crews scramble to stop a vessel spilling heavy fuel oil from breaking apart in the Great Barrier Reef. Fears, outrage 
Also: 

Fast-food joints axed at Afghan bases

Fast-food joints axed at Afghan bases

The military wants soldiers to remember they are at war, not in "an amusement park." 
Also: 

The Karnival Kid

Mickey Mouse from 1929

Exxonmobile paid no federal income tax in 2009

Let this headline sink in

and then get angry...very, very angry.

Lunatic Fringe

Lunatic Fringe
The media wants you to believe that teabaggers are toothless hillbillies.
  This is a very sophisticated crowd.
~ Michelle Bachmann (retard-batshit crazy)    
  
Yes, a very 'Sophisticated Crowd' indeed!

More evidence that NAZIs don't like to be called NAZIs

 My gawd, don't let the truth out, the wingnuts will go crazy ... wait, they already are - never mind, let the truth be proclaimed from the mountaintop!

True Dat!

OK, the Thorazine shots begin immediately, enough is enough!

Liars and Fools
WingNutDaily hack on Faux's Handjob says "We're looking at an attempted socialist coup d'etat in Washington, DC".
Again a moron doesn't know what 'socialist' means and the coup d'etat was aborted in November 2008 with the ouster of the cabal.

Faux's Glen Brick says Obama administration wants network "silenced".
No, we (the entire world) want it silenced.

Wingnuts dismiss wingnut 'Patriot' group's threats to governors as harmless hyperbole.
Just what the NAZIs said in 1929 about their threats to the German government - how'd that turn out?

Alan Grayson does it again

If you voted for Obama...seek urologic care elsewhere. 
   ~ Sign posted on the office door of Florida urologist Dr. Jack Cassell, (retarded-crybaby)   


  Maybe he thinks the Hippocratic Oath says, 'Do no good'. 
  If this is the face of the right wing in America, it's the face of cruelty. 
  Why don't they change the name of the Republican Party to the Sore Loser Party? 
  ~ Representative Alan Grayson, telling it like it is!

In case you were wondering ...



We've just come through the fifth warmest winter on record.

Relativity

It's all relative, I guess.

Seven easy dinners

Seven easy dinners

Don't worry about what to make for dinner with these quick menus for every day of the week.  
Also: 

Major risks to a secure retirement

7 major risks to a secure retirement

There are many things that can go wrong, even with a carefully planned retirement.  
Also: 

Sweetie Come From America

Well Please and Satisfied

Bring on the Pelicans!

From Treehugger:
photo pelicans eat carp 
Credit: Bill Rudden.
It seems pretty likely that Asian carp are bound to make it into the Great Lakes, some day, some way. A six-week search for the monster fish recently failed to turn up any of the despised carp, despite DNA evidence of their presence. But the fish are already in Illinois rivers that lead to the lakes. And even with an upgraded electronic barrier, or the closing of Chicago-area locks, the fish are bound to get into Lake Michigan sooner or later, possibly with human intervention. Maybe that's pessimism. But here's some optimism: We could always turn to pelicans if the lakes become crowded with carp. The big-billed birds seem to love 'em.
Article continues: Asian Carp Solution for the Great Lakes? Bring on the Pelicans!

Nearly 1/4 of Rocky Gray Wolves Killed in First Hunting Season in Decades

From Treehugger:
gray-wolf-hunt-500-dead.jpg
Photo via KSAX
The first hunting season for the once-endangered Rocky gray wolves in decades has ended, leaving an estimated total of 500 dead. According to Earth Justice, some 250 of those were killed by hunters with permits, and another 250 were killed by federal and state agents protecting livestock. There were 1,700 gray wolves counted at the end of the year, after 500 were killed--which means nearly a quarter of the entire population was wiped out.

Article continues: Nearly 1/4 of Rocky Gray Wolves Killed in First Hunting Season in Decades

It's The Economy Stupid

It's The Economy Stupid

Stocks may have room to climb higher

Many billions may pour into the market as bonds fall out of favor, says one analyst.
Also: 

In-demand jobs that are here to stay

These professions require highly skilled workers who can't be easily outsourced. 
Also: 

Grim job outlook for college grads

Companies have cut back recruiting at some universities by half.  
Also: 

A town's staggering price for phone service

A town's staggering price for phone service

The federal government subsidizes remote Stehekin, Washington's few links to the outside world.  
Also: 

Careers that actually pay you to play

Careers that actually pay you to play

Jobs that let you have fun, like leading cruise ship activities, can provide seriously good pay.
Also: 

In Matters Of Health

In Matters Of Health

Study: Breast-feeding could save lives

Following guidelines could save billions of dollars and hundreds of babies' lives.   
Also: 
Looking at photos of sick people boosts your immune system
It turns out that looking at images of sick people actually boosts your immune system, according to researchers at the University of British Columbia.
Screen Shot
 2010-04-05 At 11.32.49 Am The researchers asked young adults to watch a 10-minute slide show containing a series of unpleasant photographs. Some of these participants looked at pictures of people who looked obviously sick in some way (people with pox and rashes, people coughing and sneezing and blowing mucus out of their noses). The participants gave blood samples both before and after each slideshow. Next the researchers exposed these blood samples to a bacterial infection, and measured the extent to which white blood cells produced interleukin-6 (IL-6). IL-6 is a proinflammatory cytokine that white blood cells make when they detect microbial intruders. More IL-6 indicates a more aggressive immune response to infection. So, by measuring IL-6 before and after the slide show, the researchers were able to determine whether seeing pictures of disease-y people actually stimulated the immune system to fight infection more aggressively. And it did.

Douglas Kenrick of Psychology Today interviewed one of the researchers in the study, social psychologist Mark Schaller.
In case you didn't know ...
A Princeton University research team has demonstrated that all sweeteners are not equal when it comes to weight gain: Rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than those with access to table sugar, even when their overall caloric intake was the same.

Not the first bad news I've seen for high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), and not even in the first 200. The stuff is why America's getting terminally obese. HFCS will kill you and ought to be avoided period
Oh, but wait, there's more: High fructose corn syrup, which some studies have linked to obesity, may also be harmful to the liver, according to Duke University Medical Center research.

How long the big-money interests can keep the accumulating evidence against HFCS under the radar. Within five years or so, don't be surprised if HFCS gets a thalidomide-like reputation.

Sometimes the spark of genius burns too brightly

Health care reform adds tax hikes, breaks

Here are 13 changes in the massive overhaul that will affect your tax bill.  
Also: 

It's Allergy Season ... with a vengeance

Since early March, this year's oak pollen count has been twice as high as last year, a Charlotte allergist said, and cedar pollen has been even higher.

Scientific Minds Want To Know

Scientific Minds Want To Know

NASA counts down the end of an era

With Discovery's launch, the U.S. space program moves closer to an uncertain future filled with risk.
Also: 

Night skies suited dino-bird's eyes

The eye sockets of the flying dinosaur Archaeopteryx were similar to those of today's nocturnal birds
Fossil fragments reveal a predatory Velociraptor caught in the act of eating another larger plant-eating dinosaur.

Earth struck by most powerful space storm in three years

The most powerful geomagnetic storm to hit Earth since December 2006 arrived on Monday, a day earlier than expected.
zackenberg greenland photo
Sites in Canada, Norway, and Greenland (here) were examined. Photo: Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, Trondheim via flickr.
Most of the time when the words 'thawing permafrost' and 'greenhouse gas' appear in a headline together it naturally leads to talking about methane, but not this time. Reuters reports that new research shows how another greenhouse gas is getting released as the Arctic warms: Nitrous oxide.
Article continues: Thawing Permafrost Releasing Another Overlooked Greenhouse Gas

"Oriental Yeti" has been captured

 Multimedia Archive 00704 Bear 585X350 704962A-1
According to The Times, this unusual animal was captured in the Sichuan province in remote central China. Nicknamed "the oriental yeti," the unidentified animal is on its way to Beijing for DNA tests. "There are local legends of a bear that used to be a man and some people think that's what we caught," one of the hunters said.

Ayurveda out of balance

Dhanvantari
Traditional Ayurvedic medicine could face an uncertain future as 93 percent of the wild plants used in the practice are threatened with extinction due to overexploitation, the Times of India reports. [...]
Of course, other traditional Asian medicines have been attacked for their use of parts from endangered animals, such as tiger bones and rhino horns, but Ayurveda has so far avoided such criticisms.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Upping the cute factor some more ...
Hippo and Dog

Police crime lab goes to the cats

Police crime lab goes to the cats

San Francisco police used felines to handle a rat problem. Now they have a cat problem.  
Also:

Erykah Badu Fined $500 for Stripping in Window Seat Video

Erykah Badu has been fined $500 for her controversial nude video shoot for her new song “Window Seat.” Dallas police have issued Badu a disorderly conduct citation for filming the nude portion at Dealey Plaza, where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

In the video, Badu strips off all her clothes and pretends to be shot in the head.

The citation comes after a witness told police she was offended by Badu stripping in public.

Odds and Sods

Odds and Sods
Cash Facts
For example:
  • When he was a child working in the cotton fields, Cash used to eat young cotton buds, despite his mother's warnings that they would give him bellyaches.
  • After being arrested for trespassing in Starkville, Mississippi, Cash broke his toe trying to kick out the bars of his jail cell.
  • Cash's advice on living life on the road: "Back in 1957, there was no Extra Crispy. Other than that, it's the same."
  • An ostrich attack left Cash with five broken ribs and internal bleeding.
  • When Cash was 5 years old, his dad shot his dog for eating the table scraps meant for the hogs.
  • The tune for "I Walk the Line" was inspired by a recording of Bavarian guitar music Cash had accidentally played backwards.
In Cop News
These 'cops' are totally wrong in everything they did and said in this video and should be fired and imprisoned.

Surveillance video shows Vermont cop repeatedly shooting jailed man with pepperball gun for 40 minutes

Louisiana cop arrested for wife-beating

New Jersey cop is arrested for arson and insurance fraud

Texas cop gets eleven years for bribery, cocaine trafficking and smuggling undocumented immigrants

Indiana police defend use of Taser on 11-year-old