The hunt for misshapen and ugly pumpkins has taken some farmers by surprise.
Also: 
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Cafe by the pool
Despite rising prices, java lovers consume enough to fill 31 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Also: Chocolate Is Good For Your Health
Chocolate - and dark chocolate in particular - contains high amounts of flavonoids, a major class of antioxidant plant chemicals called polyphenols. Previous research points to chocolate flavonoids reducing blood pressure and protecting against cardiovascular disease.
Depression can look different than you think
Low energy may signal depression, but so can aches, pains, and working too much.
Also: 
Greatest Global Warming Impact on Life in Tropics
photo: Kevin Walsh/Some Rights Reserved
If you even only casually follow the issue of climate change, you're probably aware that the polar regions are warming significantly faster than the tropics. Now, a new report in Nature shows that even though this is the case, the greatest impact on life will still be in the tropics. It all has to do with metabolic rates.Nature's 'secret kingdom'
The island of Socotra is home to more than 800 species of rare animals and plants.
Also: Over 200 New Species Discovered in Papua New Guinea
Photo: Piotr Naskrecki, Conservation International
When it comes to finding fascinating species previously unknown to science, it turns out that forests of Papua New Guinea are a darn good place to look. Researchers have recently disclosed their discoveries from a two-month long expedition to the country last year, in which they happened upon over two hundred species never before recorded -- like the tube-nosed fruit bat pictured above. Strangely familiar he is, though from where I know not.Article continues: Fascinating New Species Found in Papua New Guinea
Why are killer whales dying at Sea World?
The premature deaths of three orcas in the last four months triggers a heated debate.
Also: New suspect in bees' mysterious die-off
Previously, some had blamed cell phones and pesticides for the sudden population drop.
Also: 
Father and Son Film Outer Space, Do-It-Yourself Style
Article continues: Father and Son Film Outer Space, Do-It-Yourself Style (Video)
Auroras on Saturn
Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona/University of Leicester
In the picture, the ring of green auroras might seem faint, but that curtain of light is shooting up about 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) from the cloud tops of Saturn’s south polar region.
In general, astronomers think auroras on Saturn occur via a process similar to the one that creates Earth’s polar lights.
Charged particles from the sun flow along the planet’s magnetic field lines, hitting the upper atmosphere at the poles. There the particles excite (or transfer energy to) atoms in the atmosphere, and the excited atoms release the excess energy as light.
In Saturn’s case, auroras can also be sparked by electromagnetic waves generated when the planet’s moons move through the charged gas that fills Saturn’s magnetosphere, the bubble around the planet created by its magnetic field.
A Walk Through the Solar System
I've see solar system scale models at several museums and I'm always struck by how far apart some of the planets are, and what an outlier Pluto is (on the models that still include Pluto, of course). Air & Space Magazine posted an interactive map showing more than a dozen solar system models around the country. For example Cumberland, Indiana just installed a three mile, 1:1 billion scale model that's part of a pedestrian/bike path downtown. And according to an article in Air & Space, many more communities are planning solar system models as part of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education's Voyage National Program to help us understand Earth's place in space. From Air & Space:
The original model spans 6.5 football fields between the Air and Space Museum and the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall in Washington, D.C...One of Voyage’s unique features is that its scale can even accommodate the nearest star; if Proxima Centauri were added to the D.C. model, it would be the size of a cherry and would be located on the California coast. The larger Cumberland model wouldn’t be able to fit the star on Earth.
It remains to be seen whether recently demoted Pluto will make the cut in Cumberland. Models built before Pluto got kicked out of the planetary club now face the task of addressing the rock’s new status. For now, patrons wishing to pay their respects to the former planet can hop on their bikes and ride out past Neptune. On the National Mall, signs and cards have showed up at Pluto’s node—where the poor little guy is represented by a speck far smaller than the head of a pin—reading, “Pluto, you rock!” and “Pluto will always be a planet in my heart.”
Madison fines 3 students $86K for party
The city of Madison is fining three University of Wisconsin-Madison students with more than $86,000 for a house party.
Wow, talk about a party-pooper.
Wow, talk about a party-pooper.
Bad Cops
Bad Cops
Arizona cop put his pistol against man's head and told him he didn't need a warrant, before killing him
Feds charge 89 law enforcement officers in Puerto Rico
Wingnut Arizona sheriff's department pays $600K to settle abuse lawsuit
New Jersey cop is arrested for picking fights in bar parking lot
2 Philadelphia cops charged with robbing undercover investigator
"Quiet down", the cop said after threatening to shoot the bewildered driver, "This kind of stuff happens all the time."
Florida cop is charged with money laundering, grand theft and destroying evidence
California police officer is arrested on charges of assaulting two women
West Virginia cop gets home confinement on federal gun charges
California cop pleads no contest to trying to arrange a murder for hire
Michigan cop who quit while under investigation for sexual assault in 2003, and was never prosecuted, is charged over 2009 sexual assault
Four 9-year-old drug dealers suspended for selling cannabis in school playground
Four nine-year-old boys have been suspended from school after being found with cannabis in the playground. Police said they were called to Cherry Fold Community Primary School, in Cog Lane, Burnley, following reports the children had been discovered with the class B drug. Officers spoke to the boys and their parents and issued each of the youngsters with a youth referral order. The school’s head confirmed four pupils had been suspended while an investigation into the incident, which happened just after noon on Friday (1), is carried out.
Yesterday parents outside the school expressed their shock at the incident, describing it as ‘disgraceful’. But the mother of one of the suspended boys said it was a reflection of how bad the area had become and vowed to move her family to another town in an attempt to distance her children from illegal activity. The mum said her son had told her the drugs had been sold in the school playground in an operation headed by another boy. The drug was sold for as little as 50p.
She said: “I’ve questioned my son and he’s told me that he felt like he was being pressured to collect money and hand out drugs. He’s told me there was an operation where one child would take the money and another would hand out the drugs. It’s shocking and unbelievable. People I’ve spoken to over the weekend cannot believe it. It’s scandalous. My feelings are mixed because my son says he felt like he was pushed into it, but at the same time I teach my children right and wrong. They know about the dangers of drugs and stealing and they know where the dealers live and to stay away from them. In my eyes I know he was doing wrong, so I can’t defend him. I’m disappointed in him.”
Deanne Marsh, acting headteacher at Cherry Fold Community Primary School, said: "I can confirm that four pupils are currently not at school while investigations are carried out into an incident at the school. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further as we take our pupils' confidentiality and safety very seriously and we are still looking into all the circumstances." A police spokeswoman said: “We were called to the school following reports that four children had been found in possession of cannabis. Officers spoke to the children and their parents and issued youth referral orders.”
Yesterday parents outside the school expressed their shock at the incident, describing it as ‘disgraceful’. But the mother of one of the suspended boys said it was a reflection of how bad the area had become and vowed to move her family to another town in an attempt to distance her children from illegal activity. The mum said her son had told her the drugs had been sold in the school playground in an operation headed by another boy. The drug was sold for as little as 50p.
She said: “I’ve questioned my son and he’s told me that he felt like he was being pressured to collect money and hand out drugs. He’s told me there was an operation where one child would take the money and another would hand out the drugs. It’s shocking and unbelievable. People I’ve spoken to over the weekend cannot believe it. It’s scandalous. My feelings are mixed because my son says he felt like he was pushed into it, but at the same time I teach my children right and wrong. They know about the dangers of drugs and stealing and they know where the dealers live and to stay away from them. In my eyes I know he was doing wrong, so I can’t defend him. I’m disappointed in him.”
Deanne Marsh, acting headteacher at Cherry Fold Community Primary School, said: "I can confirm that four pupils are currently not at school while investigations are carried out into an incident at the school. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further as we take our pupils' confidentiality and safety very seriously and we are still looking into all the circumstances." A police spokeswoman said: “We were called to the school following reports that four children had been found in possession of cannabis. Officers spoke to the children and their parents and issued youth referral orders.”
Mom behind apartment drug shop pleads guilty
A Nevada mother who papered her neighborhood with signs directing marijuana seekers to her apartment has plead guilty to drug and child endangerment charges
Meth lab found in buried school bus
Mobile County Sheriff's Deputies say a buried school bus was the disguised home for a meth lab.
Discipline
A school teacher injured his back and had to wear a plaster cast around the upper part of his body. It fit under his shirt and was not noticeable at all.On the first day of the term, still with the cast under his shirt, he found himself assigned to the toughest students in school. Walking confidently into the rowdy classroom, he opened the window as wide as possible and then busied himself with desk work.
When a strong breeze made his tie flap, he took the desk stapler and stapled the tie to his chest.
Discipline was not a problem from that day forth!
Midnight grocery runs capture desperation
Long store lines at the beginning of each month offer a stark picture of the nation's poverty.
Also: 'Live mortgage-free'
To this couple, the benefits of renting a home far outweigh the downsides.
Also: Times not to use your credit card
Charging some purchases could hurt your credit score or sock you with steep fees.
Also: Money Crises Action Plans
It's possible to survive the toughest of financial situations, if you know what to do.
Also: IRS tax scams flood the Web
Identity thieves are emailing under the guise of the IRS, but the messages are a phishing fraud.
Also: On The Job
Protect your job by knowing the new rules for cubicle visits, email, and voicemail.
Also: Private sector employment stumbles
The employment numbers are not looking good at all. Can you imagine how bad they would look without the stimulus?
CNBC:
CNBC:
Private-sector job growth tumbled by 39,000 from August to September, a considerably worse number than analysts had expected and indicative that the employment market is far from recovery, according to ADP.
The ADP National Employment report, compiled with Marcoeconomic Advisors, was projected to show a gain of 20,000 for the month.
"It's a disappointing number but it's not unexpected," Joel Prakken, chairman of Macroeconomic Advisors, told CNBC. "GDP growth has slowed to below the growth rate of productivity and it's inevitable that you'd have this deceleration in jobs."
Revenge
A successful businessman flew to Vegas for the weekend to gamble. He lost the shirt off his back, and had nothing left but a quarter and the second half of his round trip ticket. If he could just get to the airport he could get himself home. So he went out to the front of the casino where there was a cab waiting.He got in and explained his situation to the cabbie. He promised to send the driver money from home, he offered him his credit card numbers, his drivers license number, his address, etc., but to no avail.
The cabbie said, "If you don't have fifteen dollars, get the hell out of my cab!" So the businessman was forced to hitch-hike to the airport and was barely in time to catch his flight.
One year later the businessman, having worked long and hard to regain his financial success, returned to Vegas and this time he won big. Feeling pretty good about himself, he went out to the front of the casino to get a cab ride back to the airport.
Well who should he see out there, at the end of a long line of cabs, but his old buddy who had refused to give him a ride when he was down on his luck.
The businessman thought for a moment about how he could make the guy pay for his lack of charity, and he hit on a plan.
The businessman got in the first cab in the line, "How much for a ride to the airport?" he asked.
"Fifteen bucks," came the reply.
"And how much for you to give me oral sex on the way?"
"What? Get the hell out of my cab."
The businessman got into the back of each cab in the long line and asked the same questions, with the same result. When he got to his old friend at the back of the line, he got in and asked "How much for a ride to the airport?"
The cabbie replied "fifteen bucks."
The businessman said "ok", and off they went.
Culinary DeLites
A little cinnamon every day helps reduce blood sugar and "bad" cholesterol.
Also: 
Mix crisp Granny Smiths with softer McIntosh apples for the perfect pie.
Also: 
Skipping one of these steps could prevent your sandwich from being as good as it could be.
Also: Why Kids want 'Spaghetti Tacos'
The creator of "iCarly" didn't expect the joke to make it to people's dinner tables.
Also: Trickiest household items to get rid of
Some can cause a plumbing disaster or even get you in trouble with the law.
Also: Things They Won't Tell You
Things They Won't Tell You
If you don't find a hotel or restaurant in a guide, a bad review may be why.
Also: City Housing
Metro areas in two big states dominate in this list of places with the most real estate stress.
Also: Speed Racer Mach 5
Look at this awesome Speed Racer Mach 5! It’s authentic down to the last detail, but this is no cartoon, it’s a full-size licensed replica from custom car wizard Mark Towle.
Our Speed Racer Mach 5 has it all, from the rotating front saw blades and push button chrome steering wheel to the custom M5 logo and red leather interior. Our Mach 5 is built for SHOW & GO implementing a California RUST FREE CORVETTE C-4 chassis to provide sports enthusiasts with the proformance, and handling only an American Made Corvette can deliver.Oh yeah, you can buy it!
Mystery island for sale
An island where the government studied dangerous pathogens for decades has many likely buyers.
Also: Play that sends the audience to sleep - and then wakes them up for breakfast
It is probably the first show in stage history where the audience is actually supposed to fall asleep. Theater company Duckie is to stage an all-night sleepover where ticket-holders arrive, change into their pajamas and clamber into a single, double or even triple bed for a 90-minute show of "soothing storytelling and choral cradle song".
Less than eight hours later, the audience will be woken in time for breakfast. And at £42 a ticket, organizers stress it is cheaper than most budget hotels in central London. The members of Duckie, which received £152,171 of Arts Council funding this year, describe themselves as "purveyors of progressive working-class entertainment". The company won an Olivier Award for best entertainment six years ago for its edgy cabaret show, C'est Duckie, at the Barbican.
Simon Casson, the producer, said: "Every time I go to theatre I fall asleep. So I thought why don't we embrace that idea and make a show that deliberately sends people to sleep." The Barbican Pit theater will be turned into a bedroom complete with beds and separate bathrooms for the ladies and the gents to brush their teeth. Then the performance, called Lullaby, will begin.
"It will reassure the audience, comfort the audience and be very, very cozy. It is the opposite of challenging," said Mr Casson. There has been a trend towards all-night culture with 24-hour booking for blockbuster shows such as Monet at the Royal Academy. However, Mr Casson thinks that is too exhausting. "I'm 42, I don't want to stay up all night," he said. Lullaby runs from June 24 to July 24 next year.
Less than eight hours later, the audience will be woken in time for breakfast. And at £42 a ticket, organizers stress it is cheaper than most budget hotels in central London. The members of Duckie, which received £152,171 of Arts Council funding this year, describe themselves as "purveyors of progressive working-class entertainment". The company won an Olivier Award for best entertainment six years ago for its edgy cabaret show, C'est Duckie, at the Barbican.
Simon Casson, the producer, said: "Every time I go to theatre I fall asleep. So I thought why don't we embrace that idea and make a show that deliberately sends people to sleep." The Barbican Pit theater will be turned into a bedroom complete with beds and separate bathrooms for the ladies and the gents to brush their teeth. Then the performance, called Lullaby, will begin.
"It will reassure the audience, comfort the audience and be very, very cozy. It is the opposite of challenging," said Mr Casson. There has been a trend towards all-night culture with 24-hour booking for blockbuster shows such as Monet at the Royal Academy. However, Mr Casson thinks that is too exhausting. "I'm 42, I don't want to stay up all night," he said. Lullaby runs from June 24 to July 24 next year.
Inventors seldom get rich
The Topsy Turvy plant grower and Side Sleeper Pro pillow both made it into stores.
Also: Foo Closes Airport
Officials closed a runway at an airport in Inner Mongolia due to mysterious bright lights.
Also: Longest train tunnel
When completed, the Alps-splitting Gotthard Tunnel will connect the cities of Zurich and Milan.
Also: It's all in the cards ...
Card games have been around for ages, but many popular innovations are relatively new.
Also Wednesday, October 6, 2010
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:An elder relative or authority figure who's had their eye on you for awhile now is just about ready to let you know how well you've done, especially based on stressful situations you've solved recently, with an ease they've found impressive.
Just don't ignore someone new and interesting who's due to come along basically as a 'bonus prize' from the heavens, to entirely take your mind off of this situation -- and any other situation that's even remotely unpleasant.
Some of our readers today have been in:
London, England, United Kingdom
Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Edithvale, Victoria, Australia
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Swindon, England, United Kingdom
Coffs Harbor, New South Wales, Australia
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Uberlandia, Minas Gerias, Brazil
as well as Sweden, Spain, Bosnia & Herzegovina, China, Switzerland, Russia, France, Namibia, Kuwait and in cities across the United States such as Gaylord, Valdosta, Salt Lake City, Mountain View and more.
Today is:
Today is Wednesday, October 6, the 279th day of 2010.
There are 86 days left in the year.
Today's unusual holidays or celebrations are:
Balloons Around The World Day
and
Mad Hatter Day
Don't forget to visit our sister blog!
Seal The Deal
The president gets big laughs after his remarks are upstaged by a prop malfunction.
Also: 
Art riches revealed in apartment that was abandoned for 70 years
Opening that door must have been an amazing experience. Even more incredible is that a Parisian flat - in the 9th no less, not the 7th or 8th - was not burgled over that period of time.
Entering the untouched, cobweb-filled flat in Paris' 9th arrondissement, one expert said it was like stumbling into the castle of Sleeping Beauty, where time had stood still since 1900.
"There was a smell of old dust," said Olivier Choppin-Janvry, who made the discovery. Walking under high wooden ceilings, past an old wood stove and stone sink in the kitchen, he spotted a stuffed ostrich and a Mickey Mouse toy dating from before the war, as well as an exquisite dressing table.
But he said his heart missed a beat when he caught sight of a stunning tableau of a woman in a pink muslin evening dress.
The painting was by Boldini and the subject a beautiful Frenchwoman who turned out to be the artist's former muse and whose granddaughter it was who had left the flat uninhabited for more than half a century.
Disoriented superhero arrested
Police who responded to a report of a prowler at a motorhome in Washington state found a "superhero" inside.
Grunting in Tennis Improves Your Game
Researchers have found that it may be advantageous for tennis players to grunt as they swing because the grunt may confuse opposing players about in which direction the ball is moving:For those clips that included a grunt, respondents had a slower response and were less accurate about the location of the forthcoming shot. The authors, while concluding that future on-court study needs to be conducted, posit one possible explanation, that “the interfering auditory stimulus masks the sound of the ball being struck by the racket or it distracts an opponent’s attention away from the sound of the ball.”
Concussions in the NFL
More players are leaving the field with head injuries despite wearing new high-tech helmets.
Also: 
Large sinkhole at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is dealing with an unusual problem just 10 days before a big race.
Also: Toxic Mud
Triggered by an industrial accident, a flood of sludge overwhelms a town in rural Hungary.
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