Monday, October 18, 2010
Weak tea and Constitutional errors
Newsweek on how the tea baggers get the constitution wrong:
The list goes on.
Over the years critics have lodged dozens of objections to originalism—the disagreements among the founders; the preservation of slavery in the final product; the inclusion of an amendment process—and they apply to the tea party’s interpretation of the constitution, too. but at least originalism is a rational, consistent philosophy.
The real problem with the tea party’s brand of Constitution worship isn’t that it’s too dogmatic. it’s that it isn’t dogmatic enough. in recent months, tea party candidates have behaved in ways that belie their public commitment to combating progressivism.
They’ve backed measures that blatantly contradict their originalist mission. and they’ve frequently misunderstood or misrepresented the Constitution itself.
They’ve backed measures that blatantly contradict their originalist mission. and they’ve frequently misunderstood or misrepresented the Constitution itself.
In May, for example, Paul told a Russian television station that America “should stop” automatically granting citizenship to the native-born children of illegal immigrants.
Turns out his suggestion would be unconstitutional, at least according to the 14th amendment (1868) and a pair of subsequent supreme court decisions.
A few weeks later, Paul said he’d like to prevent federal contractors from lobbying congress—a likely violation of their first amendment right to redress.
In July, Alaska’s Miller told ABC news that unemployment benefits are not “constitutionally authorized.” reports later revealed that his wife claimed unemployment in 2002.
The list goes on.
Most tea partiers claim that the 10th amendment, which says “the powers not delegated” to the federal government are “reserved to the states,” is proof that the framers would’ve balked at today’s bureaucracy.
What they don’t mention is that James Madison refused a motion to add the word “expressly” before “delegated” because “there must necessarily be admitted powers by implication.”
In last week’s Delaware Senate debate, O’Donnell was asked to name a recent supreme court case she disagreed with.
“Oh, gosh,” she stammered, unable to cite a single piece of evidence to support her Constitution in exile talking points. “I know that there are a lot, but, uh, I’ll put it up on my web site, I promise you.”
Angle has said that “government isn’t what our founding fathers put into the Constitution”—even though establishing a federal government with the “power to lay and collect taxes” to “provide for the common defense and general welfare” is one of the main reasons the founders created a Constitution to replace the weak, decentralized Articles of Confederation.
In 2008 Palin told Katie Couric that the Constitution does, in fact, guarantee “an inherent right to privacy,” à la Roe v. Wade, but added that “individual states…can handle an issue like that.”
Unfortunately, Palin’s hypothesis would only be viable in a world without the Fourteenth Amendment, which gave Washington sole responsibility for safeguarding all Constitutional rights.
Then there are the proposed amendments.
In the current congress, conservatives like Michele Bachmann have suggested more than 40 additions to the constitution: a flag-desecration amendment; a balanced-budget amendment; a “parental rights” amendment; a supermajority-to-raise-taxes amendment; anti-abortion amendment; an anti-gay-marriage amendment; and so on.
None of these revisions has anything to do with the document’s original meaning.
'Decomposing corpse' wakes up
An elderly woman police found "dead" on the bathroom floor of her Maryland home woke up several hours later as an employee from the State Anatomy Board went to collect her remains. The woman, 89-year-old Ruth Shillinglaw Johnson, lay on the floor for three hours while officers notified her family, doctor and the medical examiner of her death.
According to the police report, they noticed an odor "similar to a decomposition smell" in the house on October 1 after being called by a neighbor who had not seen the woman for a few days.
When they found Ms Johnson she was reportedly blue and not breathing. The officers did not check for a pulse because they believed she had been dead for a number of days.
Police learned from her son that Ms Johnson had made arrangements with the State Anatomy Board to donate her body for science - and it was when the board's employee came to collect her that she woke up. Ms Johnson was taken to the Baltimore Washington Medical Center for medical treatment and was discharged on Wednesday.
According to the police report, they noticed an odor "similar to a decomposition smell" in the house on October 1 after being called by a neighbor who had not seen the woman for a few days.
When they found Ms Johnson she was reportedly blue and not breathing. The officers did not check for a pulse because they believed she had been dead for a number of days.
Police learned from her son that Ms Johnson had made arrangements with the State Anatomy Board to donate her body for science - and it was when the board's employee came to collect her that she woke up. Ms Johnson was taken to the Baltimore Washington Medical Center for medical treatment and was discharged on Wednesday.
Iranian chocolate thief faces hand amputation
An Iranian judge has sentenced a man convicted of robbing a confectionery shop to have one of his hands cut off, Iranian media report.
The judge also sentenced the man to one year in prison.
Police arrested the man in May after finding $900 (£560), three pairs of gloves and a large amount of chocolate in his car.
Under Iran's Islamic law, amputations are usually reserved for habitual thieves.
The judge also sentenced the man to one year in prison.
Police arrested the man in May after finding $900 (£560), three pairs of gloves and a large amount of chocolate in his car.
Under Iran's Islamic law, amputations are usually reserved for habitual thieves.
Bad Cops
Probation for Iowa cop who stole meth from evidence room and crashed squad car while high
Tennessee cop is arrested for assault, a year and a day later
Washington cop is arrested for taking bribes, allowing contraband in jail
Arizona police officer is charged with murder
New Mexico cop is charged with off-duty bar brawling
New Jersey cop is charged with filing false report
Ohio cop steals thousands of bullets from police department, isn't charged
Tennessee cop is arrested for assault, a year and a day later
Washington cop is arrested for taking bribes, allowing contraband in jail
Arizona police officer is charged with murder
New Mexico cop is charged with off-duty bar brawling
New Jersey cop is charged with filing false report
Ohio cop steals thousands of bullets from police department, isn't charged
Toronto's 'Officer Bubbles' sues YouTube
The Toronto policeman dubbed "Officer Bubbles" over an incident during the G20 summit has launched a million-dollar lawsuit against website YouTube. Const. Adam Josephs filed a $1.2-million lawsuit over cartoons that have surfaced since the incident.
Josephs received the nickname after a video showed him telling a young female protester that she could be arrested for blowing bubbles. “If the bubble touches me, you're going to be arrested for assault," he told her. “It's a deliberate act on your behalf, I'm going to arrest you.”
The officer is suing the website over cartoons which he claims depict an officer resembling him abusing police power. Cartoons have surfaced showing a policeman arresting such people as Santa Claus and Barack Obama. Josephs said in a statement of claim the cartoons have subjected him to ridicule and resulted in threats against him and his family.
"This level of ridicule goes beyond what is reasonable," James Zibarras, the officer's lawyer, said. "The reason we brought the lawsuit is that people have the right to protect themselves against this kind of harassment." Josephs also wants YouTube to reveal the identity of the person behind the account where the cartoons originated. The cartoons no longer appear on the site.
Josephs received the nickname after a video showed him telling a young female protester that she could be arrested for blowing bubbles. “If the bubble touches me, you're going to be arrested for assault," he told her. “It's a deliberate act on your behalf, I'm going to arrest you.”
The officer is suing the website over cartoons which he claims depict an officer resembling him abusing police power. Cartoons have surfaced showing a policeman arresting such people as Santa Claus and Barack Obama. Josephs said in a statement of claim the cartoons have subjected him to ridicule and resulted in threats against him and his family.
"This level of ridicule goes beyond what is reasonable," James Zibarras, the officer's lawyer, said. "The reason we brought the lawsuit is that people have the right to protect themselves against this kind of harassment." Josephs also wants YouTube to reveal the identity of the person behind the account where the cartoons originated. The cartoons no longer appear on the site.
***
So, let me get this straight - you can abuse your position and not be called for it ... is that correct, then?
Three Sisters
Three sisters ages 92, 94 and 96 live in a house together. One night the 96 year old draws a bath. She puts her foot in and pauses. She yells to the other sisters, "Was I getting in or out of the bath?"The 94 year old yells back, "I don't know. I'll come up and see."
She starts up the stairs and pauses. "Was I going up the stairs or down?"
The 92 year old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea listening to her sisters. She shakes her head and says," I sure hope I never get that forgetful," as she knocked on her wooden table for good measure.
She then yells, "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door."
Who's Not Washing Their Hands?
New CPR first-aid guideline
The American Heart Association updates its long-standing "ABC" first-aid method.
Also: 
How Many Big Mac Sandwiches Does It Take To Win In McDonald's 2010 Monopoly Game?
Every year McDonald's runs its Monopoly game where you get a Monopoly property sticker/game piece with selected items. If you get all the properties in a color group, you get to win that cash prize. In addition to these properties, you can get instant win stickers as well for free Wi-Fi time, Wal-Mart gift cards, McDonald's food, and even a 2011 Shelby.
Now you can find out how much money you'd have to spend and what you'd have to do to your body to instantly win the prize of your dreams in 2010. I wanted the 2011 Shelby GT 500.
In your quest to win 2011 Shelby GT500 you: ingested 5,400,000,000 calories, consumed 290,000,000 grams of fat, inhaled 10,400,000,000 milligrams of sodium, took in 450,000,000 grams of carbohydrates, packed on 1,542,857.14 pounds, and you spent $37,300,000.00 trying to win a $48,645 prize.
Why Boomerangs Come Back
A boomerang is a flat, curved, usually wooden missile configured so that when hurled it returns to the thrower.Physics say that it's all due to those two rotating arms.
They're joined at an angle of 105-110 degrees, and one side of them is slightly rounded like an airplane's wing.
The Astonishing City Of Sciences And Arts
There are not many places you can visit on Earth that enable you to imagine that you have been transported to a city of the future or, indeed, to an alien culture many light years away from our third rock from the sun. However, the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain, is just that sort of place.
The Science Of Optical Illusions
Without us realizing it, they are instantly processing the information they receive to make sense of the world around us. And that has been crucial to our evolution.
This 90-Year-Old Newspaper House Still Standing Strong
Photo: mikenan1
If you think that using creatively recycled materials to build a house is something new, think again. Almost 90 years ago, inventor and engineer Ellis Stenman of Rockport, Massachusetts set out to construct a summer home with thousands of recycled newspapers. Nowadays, his Paper House is not only a popular tourist attraction, but a monument to the eco-friendly lifestyle long before the term was even coined.Article continues: 90-Year-Old Newspaper House Still Standing Strong
Understanding Alphanumeric Phone Numbers
Remember the Glenn Miller song “Pennsylvania 6-5000″? That was a phone number, using a system set up to help callers find and remember ever-longer strings of numbers as the newfangled “telephones” became popular.The amount of letters at the start of the exchange-name which stood for the exchange’s ID-number, varied from country to country, and even from city to city within a country! The number of letters was usually the first two or first three in any given exchange-name. In the United Kingdom, three letters followed by four numbers (3L-4N) was the rule. So ‘Whitehall 1212? would be “WHItehall 1212?, or 944-1212.In the United States, by comparison, phone-numbers followed the 2L-5N (two letters, five numbers) rule. This meant that the first two letters of the exchange-name stood for numbers. Notable exceptions to this rule were cities of New York, Philidelphia, Boston and Chicago, which followed the British example of 3L-4N. This brought up exchange-names like ‘PENnsylvania’, ‘TREmont’ and ‘ELDorado’. Since the rest of the country did 2L-5N, this could create some understandable confusion to people who weren’t from the US. East Coast. Eventually, these cities conformed with the rest of the nation, altering their phone-numbers so that instead of the above, they had numbers like: ‘PEnnsylvania 65000? or ‘ELdorado 51234, to avoid confusion.
By the way, PEnnsylvania 65000 is STILL the phone number of the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York, as it has been for over 90 years!
Why does a narwhal have such an immense and elaborate tusk?
Ten killed after drunken fight over goats sparks stampede
An argument over sacrificing goats during a Hindu festival has triggered a stampede that killed 10 people in a packed temple in northern India, officials said. More than 40,000 people, many inebriated, had taken their goats to the Tildiha village temple in Bihar state to offer sacrifice and prayers to the goddess Durga on the last day of the Navratri festival.
As the worshipers lined up before the butcher, a scuffle broke out and some people were trampled, Banka district spokesman Gupdeshwar Kumar said. first"People were vying with each other to get their goats sacrificed , and they had a verbal duel with the butcher," Mr Kumar said.
Four women and six men died in the stampede, and another 11 were injured, three of them critically, a Banka district police spokesman said. The injured were being treated in hospitals. Villager Umesh Kumar, 35, said the temple was so full, "people didn't have any place to walk around ... and there was a commotion when people tried to have their goats sacrificed."
The district spokesman said some 30,000 goats were sacrificed at the temple on Saturday. The 10-day Navratri festival honors Durga, the Mother Goddess in the Hindu religion. The village in Banka district is about 120 miles south-east of Bihar's state capital, Patna.
As the worshipers lined up before the butcher, a scuffle broke out and some people were trampled, Banka district spokesman Gupdeshwar Kumar said. first"People were vying with each other to get their goats sacrificed , and they had a verbal duel with the butcher," Mr Kumar said.
Four women and six men died in the stampede, and another 11 were injured, three of them critically, a Banka district police spokesman said. The injured were being treated in hospitals. Villager Umesh Kumar, 35, said the temple was so full, "people didn't have any place to walk around ... and there was a commotion when people tried to have their goats sacrificed."
The district spokesman said some 30,000 goats were sacrificed at the temple on Saturday. The 10-day Navratri festival honors Durga, the Mother Goddess in the Hindu religion. The village in Banka district is about 120 miles south-east of Bihar's state capital, Patna.
Hiker gored to death by angry mountain goat
In a rare and gruesome attack, an angry mountain goat mauled a hiker to death this weekend in Olympic National Park in the US state of Washington. Robert Boardman, 63, had stopped for lunch during a day hike with his wife, Susan Chadd, and their friend, Pat Willits, when an aggressive mountain goat approached the group.
According to Jessica Baccus, a hiker and longtime friend of Willits who arrived on the scene shortly after the attack, Boardman had instructed the two women to get away from the goat while he tried to wave it off. But when Boardman himself tried to escape, the animal attacked, goring him in the thigh. "Nobody saw what actually happened. They heard Bob yell," Baccus said. The angry goat then stood guard over Boardman as he lay bleeding on the ground.
Jessica's husband Bill Baccus, an off-duty park ranger, tried to scare the goat away by throwing rocks and waving a blanket, and was finally able to get the animal to move a short distance, though it remained nearby. Jessica attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation as the group waited for the Coast Guard, which arrived by helicopter and first tried administering electric shock to Boardman to revive him. He had no pulse.
Boardman was taken to a local hospital by helicopter, but his injuries proved fatal. "I am deeply saddened by this tragedy," Karen Gustin, Olympic National Park superintendent, said. "My thoughts are with his family and friends." Rangers have found and killed the animal, which will be studied by a veterinary pathologist. This is the only known fatal attack by a mountain goat in the park's history, according to officials.
According to Jessica Baccus, a hiker and longtime friend of Willits who arrived on the scene shortly after the attack, Boardman had instructed the two women to get away from the goat while he tried to wave it off. But when Boardman himself tried to escape, the animal attacked, goring him in the thigh. "Nobody saw what actually happened. They heard Bob yell," Baccus said. The angry goat then stood guard over Boardman as he lay bleeding on the ground.
Jessica's husband Bill Baccus, an off-duty park ranger, tried to scare the goat away by throwing rocks and waving a blanket, and was finally able to get the animal to move a short distance, though it remained nearby. Jessica attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation as the group waited for the Coast Guard, which arrived by helicopter and first tried administering electric shock to Boardman to revive him. He had no pulse.
Boardman was taken to a local hospital by helicopter, but his injuries proved fatal. "I am deeply saddened by this tragedy," Karen Gustin, Olympic National Park superintendent, said. "My thoughts are with his family and friends." Rangers have found and killed the animal, which will be studied by a veterinary pathologist. This is the only known fatal attack by a mountain goat in the park's history, according to officials.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:Keep focusing on alone time -- do not let social expectations drive you out into the world if you're not feeling it.
Your charm doesn't react well to pressure, anyway.
If you really want to have fun, make social decisions based on what would make you happiest.
It sounds simple, of course -- but it's only simple if you remember to do it.
Work pressures will ease, so expect a lot of free weekday nights.
Enjoy them alone or with your favorite person (which could be you too).
Some of our readers today have been in:
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Sheffield, England, United Kingdom
Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany
Odense, Fyn, Denmark
Edithvale, Victoria, Australia
Moscow, Moskva, Russia
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Kuwait, Al Kuwayt, Kuwait
Vienna, Wien, Austria
Stockholm, Stockholms Lan, Sweden
Taipei. Taipei, Taiwan
London, England, United Kingdom
as well as Italy, France, Israel and in cities across the United States such as Reno, Oakland, Charlotte, Taho and more.
Today is:
Today is Sunday, October 17, the 290th day of 2010.
There are 75 days left in the year.
Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:
Mulligan Day
Don't forget to visit our sister blog!
The Statue of Liberty Under Construction
There is always a point in time when famous landmarks weren’t there. One image of America which is fixed in the minds of millions is the Statue of Liberty and the history of its construction is fascinating. Take a trip back in time and see extraordinary behind the scenes images of the creation of this superlative structure.
Man with Kermit puppets rocks the Web
A street performer and his green pals deliver a musical tribute to people living "Under Pressure."
Also: Pentagon Going Green?
Military brass see fossil fuels as a liability, but not because of the cost of gas.
Also: Great places to retire in the U.S.
Unique selling qualities like affordability put these towns on various "Top 10" lists.
Also: Peak time for meteor shower
The best time to view the Orionids will be earlier than some stargazers might think.
Also: Culinary DeLites
The breakfast meat inspires as many classic combinations as it does unconventional creations.
Also: 
Celery goes red, just in time for the holidays, and farmers hope customers will bite.
Also: Is America ready for red celery?
A Florida produce company thinks so and has bet consumers will bite on the colorful crunch of its new product.
The bacon maple bar at Voodoo's and the ice-cream sandwich donut at Peter Pan's are to die for.
Also: Food-label buzzword reality
Terms such as "natural," "organic," and "local" don't always jibe with shoppers' perceptions.
Also: Make a small kitchen stylish
A mirrored backsplash is a simple fix to give the illusion of more space.
Also: Snowmen in Phoenix
An investment company wants to build a Phoenix theme park where children can build snowmen, have snowball fights and sled down a hill - even when Arizona desert temperatures top 100 degrees.
Mexican Borough Makes World's Biggest Enchilada
A Mexico City borough went for the whole enchilada - and got it!
Residents of Iztapalapa cooked up a 230-foot-long , almost 1yy-ton enchilada Sunday.
Residents of Iztapalapa cooked up a 230-foot-long , almost 1yy-ton enchilada Sunday.
El Paso sees its own 'Manhattan-style' UFOs
Although most don't believe in UFOs, the spate of UFO sightings of late, including the recent ones in China and New York City have some people nervous.
Karma is a bitch ...
But it wasn't Police Chief Richard Perez's abusive emails that cost him his job.
He was fired over vacation time.
Karma is a real bitch, ain't she.
A New Study Shows that Americans are Idiots
By Jill
"Brilliant at Breakfast" - - Remember how Democrats always refuse to fight back against smears because "The American people are too smart to fall for that"?
No, they aren't. In fact, Americans are no longer capable of arriving at opinions through actual thought:
Take this woman, for example:
Or how about this nitwit:
We are a profoundly ignorant. People don't know anything about their own religions. We know little of our own history, let alone our history in context with the rest of the world. We worship sports heroes who torture dogs, but we point at scientists and laugh. A profoundly messed-up woman like Christine O'Donnell can run on a platform of "See? I can't manage my finances either. I'm you." We had eight years of a dry drunk as president because people thought he was the guy they'd want to have a beer with -- as if that were ever going to happen. Now there are people who would vote to give the nuclear codes to an aging high school mean girl because they'd like to fuck her -- as if that's ever going to happen. Smart people are regarded with scorn as "elites." Ignorance is regarded as a virtue.
This is how an empire dies. And we are going to be around to see it.
"Brilliant at Breakfast" - - Remember how Democrats always refuse to fight back against smears because "The American people are too smart to fall for that"?
No, they aren't. In fact, Americans are no longer capable of arriving at opinions through actual thought:
Americans have a more negative view of government today than they did a decade ago, or even a few years ago. Most say it focuses on the wrong things and lack confidence that it can solve big domestic problems; this general anti-Washington sentiment is helping to fuel a potential Republican takeover of Congress next month.So let's see...they like Social Security and Medicare, but they want spending cut to the bone. They want Washington to be involved in schools, but they want Washington out of their schools. They want Washington to help reduce poverty, but they don't want social programs for "Those People."
But ask people what they expect the government to do for themselves and their families, and a more complicated picture emerges.
A new study by The Washington Post, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University shows that most Americans who say they want more limited government also call Social Security and Medicare "very important." They want Washington to be involved in schools and to help reduce poverty. Nearly half want the government to maintain a role in regulating health care.
Take this woman, for example:
"I think the less the government governs us, the better we do," Norma Osuna, 48, said in a follow-up interview to the survey. A stay-at-home mother, she sees the country as going in a "socialistic" direction.Did anyone think to ask her what her evidence was for her view that the country is going in a "socialistic" direction? Has she thought about it, or is she just parroting Glenn Beck? Do any of the journalists who talk to these people actually ask them to explain their views or how they got there?
Or how about this nitwit:
For Scottie Church, 39, of Winder, Ga., the answer is simple: "It's time to get back to basics. It's time for [the federal government] to get out of the way and let the private sector do its job."And what, pray tell, is the private sector's job? Does Scottie Church even know? Has anyone thought to ask? If Scottie Church is talking about "capitalism", well, capitalism's job is to maximize profit. Not create jobs, maximize profit. And if maximizing profit means poisoning an entire community with toxic sludge or crude oil or benzene; if it means sending all the jobs to Asia in a never-ending chase for the most exploitable workers; if it means screwing over every man, woman and child in America, well, that's immaterial to the goals of capitalism. Capitalism is about profit, and ONLY profit. So I'd like someone to ask Scottie Church if that's what he/she means.
We are a profoundly ignorant. People don't know anything about their own religions. We know little of our own history, let alone our history in context with the rest of the world. We worship sports heroes who torture dogs, but we point at scientists and laugh. A profoundly messed-up woman like Christine O'Donnell can run on a platform of "See? I can't manage my finances either. I'm you." We had eight years of a dry drunk as president because people thought he was the guy they'd want to have a beer with -- as if that were ever going to happen. Now there are people who would vote to give the nuclear codes to an aging high school mean girl because they'd like to fuck her -- as if that's ever going to happen. Smart people are regarded with scorn as "elites." Ignorance is regarded as a virtue.
This is how an empire dies. And we are going to be around to see it.
Say NO to Stupid!
Marc Perkel had this to say ...
The news media is pushing stupidity. Campaigns are running ads trying to make you stupid.
There are even those who are trying to convince you that stupid is the new smart.
They need you to be stupid because it's easier to take advantage of stupid people.
Don't listen to them! Say NO to stupid! Vote SMART!
I say that we should think things through. I say YES to using good judgment.
America is in a time of crisis and we can no longer afford stupidity when it comes to
making our important decisions. If we vote stupid then politicians in all parties are going
to have to cater to the stupid voter by saying stupid things, promoting stupid ideas, and
voting stupid. That's not what is going to turn this country around.
We need to elect the smart people. Thinking is a good thing!
Think before you vote.
Gold Monopoly set
A jeweler created the 18-karat board — which also boasts 165 gems — for a single tournament.
Also: Top U.S. charities lose billions in donations
The top 400 organizations experience the worst decline in giving in 20 years.
Also: Easy way to get more income
Oddly, 39% of people who could make this no-brainer money move don't do it.
Also: Man to give $1,000 for each jobless worker hired
A 71-year-old philanthropist from suburban Philadelphia thinks he can solve the country's unemployment woes one charitable donation at a time.
Wells Fargo also using robo-signers to foreclose
Wells Fargo contends that unlike everyone else in the industry with robo-signing problems, their internal checks and balances are fine. It's possible, but at this point, it's not convincing. The banks are always very casual with details when it's someone else's money and life on the line.
The San Francisco-based bank said on Tuesday it was reviewing some pending cases, but it has maintained that it has checks and balances designed to prevent serious procedural lapses.
In a sworn deposition on March 9 seen by the FT, Xee Moua, identified in court documents as a vice-president of loan documentation for Wells, said she signed as many as 500 foreclosure-related papers a day on behalf of the bank.
Ms Moua, who was deposed as part of a foreclosure lawsuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, said that the only information she verified was whether her name and title appeared correctly, according to the document.
Aetna denied insurance for newborn due to 'pre-existing condition'
Only in the American insurance industry could this be possible. It's wonderful that GMA helped resolve this "clerical error" but you have to wonder how widespread these errors are across the country.
She's heartbroken because she has endured what no mother should have to endure. While pregnant with twins, she lost one of them at 30 weeks. The other baby, Kinsleigh, was born with serious heart problems.
But Barnes is angry because her insurance company, Aetna, held up paying thousands of dollars in medical charges. The reason? The insurance company said the newborn might have been suffering from a pre-existing condition.
"I don't know how something could be pre-existing in a baby, so it was very shocking to me to see something like that," Barnes told "Good Morning America." "It's a slap in the face. Her medical bills are the last thing I should be worrying about. I should know that my baby is being taken care of."
Hip Replacement
Two patients limp into two different medical clinics with the same complaint. Both have trouble walking and appear to require a hip replacement.The first patient is examined within the hour, is X-rayed the same day and has a time booked for surgery the following week.
The second patient sees his family doctor after waiting three weeks for an appointment. Then he waits eight weeks to see a specialist. Then he gets an X-ray, which isn't read for another week. And finally has his surgery scheduled for a month from then.
Why the different treatment for the two patients?
The FIRST is a Golden Retriever.
The SECOND is a Senior Citizen.
Learn Pharmacy at Home
Really, what could possibly go wrong with learning at home?
An alarm clock louder than a chain saw
From the "Just what we all really need (no, seriously)" Department:
For notoriously deep sleepers, some of these new gadgets can shake the bed.
Also: German "heatball" wheeze outwits EU light bulb ban
A German entrepreneur is bypassing a European Union ban on light bulbs of more than 60 watts by marketing his own brand as mini heaters. Siegfried Rotthaeuser and his brother-in-law have come up with a legal way of importing and distributing 75 and 100 watt light bulbs - by producing them in China, importing them as "small heating devices" and selling them as "heatballs."
To improve energy efficiency, the EU has banned the sale of bulbs of over 60 watts - to the annoyance of the mechanical engineer from the western city of Essen. Rotthaeuser studied EU legislation and realized that because the inefficient old bulbs produce more warmth than light - he calculated heat makes up 95 percent of their output, and light just 5 percent - they could be sold legally as heaters.
On their website, the two engineers describe the heatballs as "action art" and as "resistance against legislation which is implemented without recourse to democratic and parliamentary processes." Costing 1.69 euros each (£1.49), the heatballs are going down well - the first batch of 4,000 sold out in three days.
Rotthaeuser has pledged to donate 30 cents of every heatball sold to saving the rainforest, which the 49-year-old sees as a better way of protecting the environment than investing in energy-saving lamps, which contain toxic mercury.
To improve energy efficiency, the EU has banned the sale of bulbs of over 60 watts - to the annoyance of the mechanical engineer from the western city of Essen. Rotthaeuser studied EU legislation and realized that because the inefficient old bulbs produce more warmth than light - he calculated heat makes up 95 percent of their output, and light just 5 percent - they could be sold legally as heaters.
On their website, the two engineers describe the heatballs as "action art" and as "resistance against legislation which is implemented without recourse to democratic and parliamentary processes." Costing 1.69 euros each (£1.49), the heatballs are going down well - the first batch of 4,000 sold out in three days.
Rotthaeuser has pledged to donate 30 cents of every heatball sold to saving the rainforest, which the 49-year-old sees as a better way of protecting the environment than investing in energy-saving lamps, which contain toxic mercury.
Spain Holds National Siesta Competition
Hundreds of people in Spain are participating in championship matches in the grueling sport of competitive napping. The National Association of Friends of the Siesta is hosting the event in order to promote the practice of the siesta. Here’s how the event is judged:Ruz then went to the competition area. A doctor attached a pulse meter to her chest so the judge, sitting in a lifeguard-type chair overlooking the five sofas, could tell whether she’s really asleep.
In this competition, the siesta is limited to 20 minutes, a duration which the organizers and some doctors say is optimal; a quick nap after lunch to get refreshed, without entering a deep sleep cycle.[...]
The intricate rules award points to contestants depending on how long they sleep during the 20-minute competition time, any unusual positions they sleep in, eye-catching pajamas they might be wearing, and yes, a lot of extra points for snoring.
Thief steals laptop, sends victim backup files
A professor at Umea University in northern Sweden had his laptop stolen but was completely surprised when the thief mailed him back the computer's contents on a memory stick.
Police call off man-hunt after tracking down car-wrecking squirrels
Red-faced police in north Swindon have called off their hunt for car-wrecking vandals after tracking down the real culprits – a pack of hungry squirrels. A man-hunt was launched after seven cars had their ABS brake cables cut or damaged and several homes had their phone cables severed. Officers issued a public appeal on October 1 and made house-to-house inquiries urging residents to report anyone seen ”acting suspiciously” in a bid to capture the saboteurs.
But they were forced to abandon the operation after ‘fur-ensic’ tests revealed the culprits were in fact – mischievous squirrels. Police have now admitted the crime was more ”whodun-nut” than a ”whodunit”. A force spokesman said: ”It is now apparent that the damage to the ABS cables and the domestic telephone wires was caused by squirrels and not as the result of deliberate criminal damage.
”High visibility police patrols were carried out, and many local residents spoken to, and those residents have confirmed a recent increase in squirrel activity in those areas.” Officers were also forced to urge angry car drivers not to take matters into their own hands against the ravenous rodents. Insp Pete Chamberlain, from Swindon Police, said: ”We are looking to work with Swindon Borough Council’s Pest Control officers to try and deal with this issue.
”It is not only ABS cables that the Rodents have attacked but several telephone wires in the area so people’s lives have been affected in many ways.” A spokesman for the RSPCA added: ”Squirrels do have a tendency to chew through wires of all sorts. It is important however that members of the public do not try to catch the squirrels and take the law into their own hands. Squirrels may well bite if cornered which may result in a hospital visit or at least a tetanus jab.”
But they were forced to abandon the operation after ‘fur-ensic’ tests revealed the culprits were in fact – mischievous squirrels. Police have now admitted the crime was more ”whodun-nut” than a ”whodunit”. A force spokesman said: ”It is now apparent that the damage to the ABS cables and the domestic telephone wires was caused by squirrels and not as the result of deliberate criminal damage.
”High visibility police patrols were carried out, and many local residents spoken to, and those residents have confirmed a recent increase in squirrel activity in those areas.” Officers were also forced to urge angry car drivers not to take matters into their own hands against the ravenous rodents. Insp Pete Chamberlain, from Swindon Police, said: ”We are looking to work with Swindon Borough Council’s Pest Control officers to try and deal with this issue.
”It is not only ABS cables that the Rodents have attacked but several telephone wires in the area so people’s lives have been affected in many ways.” A spokesman for the RSPCA added: ”Squirrels do have a tendency to chew through wires of all sorts. It is important however that members of the public do not try to catch the squirrels and take the law into their own hands. Squirrels may well bite if cornered which may result in a hospital visit or at least a tetanus jab.”
Japanese Banking Crisis
Uncertainty has now hit the Japanese banking sector:In the last 7 days Origami Bank has folded.
Sumo Bank has gone belly up.
Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some branches.
Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song.
Today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived.
Samurai Bank has had to cut its staff in half.
Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black.
Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop.
And analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal!
Multicultural society 'has failed, totally'
German chancellor Angela Merkel says immigrants without christian values have no place in her country.
Also: 
What Can Squid Hear?
Article continues: What Can Squid Hear?
Blind dog has sight restored by facelift
A blind dog has had her sight miraculously restored - after getting an incredible facelift. Molly, a pedigree Shar Pei, can now see for the first time since she was born a year ago. The poor pup has been blind from birth as a result of entropion. The horrific condition is caused by severe inbreeding where folds of skin rub against the eye causing pain and lead to permanent disability.
But brilliant vet Richard Marks carried out two crucial operations on Molly last week to give her the priceless gift of sight. Thrilled owner Louise Walsh, 30, said he had given her beloved pet a whole new lease of life. Mr Marks, of the Goddard Veterinary Group in Gidea Park, Romford, Essex, said: “What I essentially did was give her an extreme facelift. I removed a large piece of skin and stitched the remaining skin to the back of her head.”
He added: “It may sound extreme but if it had been left much longer she would have been totally blinded.” Louise said she was delighted now that her pet can see for the first time in her short life. When I first got her all she did was sleep because she was in so much pain.
“Now she is so happy all the time - playing and exploring and she loves chasing crows! Molly’s such a wonderful dog - she loves people and is very affectionate. She’s got a whole new life in front of her now thanks to Richard.” The Kennel Club announced new regulations to prevent close family mating last year.
But brilliant vet Richard Marks carried out two crucial operations on Molly last week to give her the priceless gift of sight. Thrilled owner Louise Walsh, 30, said he had given her beloved pet a whole new lease of life. Mr Marks, of the Goddard Veterinary Group in Gidea Park, Romford, Essex, said: “What I essentially did was give her an extreme facelift. I removed a large piece of skin and stitched the remaining skin to the back of her head.”
He added: “It may sound extreme but if it had been left much longer she would have been totally blinded.” Louise said she was delighted now that her pet can see for the first time in her short life. When I first got her all she did was sleep because she was in so much pain.
“Now she is so happy all the time - playing and exploring and she loves chasing crows! Molly’s such a wonderful dog - she loves people and is very affectionate. She’s got a whole new life in front of her now thanks to Richard.” The Kennel Club announced new regulations to prevent close family mating last year.
Bird of prey snatches puppy from Lancashire garden
Pet owners in Nelson were warned to be on their guard this week after a young puppy was snatched from the garden of a house in Barkerhouse Road by a bird of prey.
The bird – as yet unidentifed, but with names such as a buzzard, eagle owl or harris hawk being suggested – swooped on the weeks-old dog earlier this week, but dropped it from a few feet off the ground, leaving it with a broken leg. It is thought that it may have been scared by the noise made by poultry also kept in the garden by the householder.
Veterinary examinations in Manchester revealed scratch marks on its back, consistent with it having been held in a bird’s talons, and residents living at the top end of Barkerhouse Road near the golf course have reported seeing the bird.
Eagle owls have been nesting in the Forest of Bowland for the last few years, and harris hawks are the most popular bird used in falconry in western Europe. The diet of all three suggested bird types includes small mammals.
The bird – as yet unidentifed, but with names such as a buzzard, eagle owl or harris hawk being suggested – swooped on the weeks-old dog earlier this week, but dropped it from a few feet off the ground, leaving it with a broken leg. It is thought that it may have been scared by the noise made by poultry also kept in the garden by the householder.
Veterinary examinations in Manchester revealed scratch marks on its back, consistent with it having been held in a bird’s talons, and residents living at the top end of Barkerhouse Road near the golf course have reported seeing the bird.
Eagle owls have been nesting in the Forest of Bowland for the last few years, and harris hawks are the most popular bird used in falconry in western Europe. The diet of all three suggested bird types includes small mammals.
Ireland's homeless horses face mass cull
They are the four-legged victims of Ireland's recession whose plight animal welfare organisations say can only be solved now by a mass national cull.
Bought as trophy-pets during the Celtic Tiger boom years, homeless horses now run wild in their thousands across the Republic, most abandoned by owners who have no money for their upkeep.
Ireland has the highest horse population per capita in the whole of Europe. Although there are no official figures, animal charities estimate that up to 20,000 horses could be owner-less and fending for themselves.
And with the prospect of a harsh winter and no let up in the economic gloom, the Dublin Society for the Protection of Animals now says the only solution to the problem is to cull those animals left to forage for themselves.
Bought as trophy-pets during the Celtic Tiger boom years, homeless horses now run wild in their thousands across the Republic, most abandoned by owners who have no money for their upkeep.
Ireland has the highest horse population per capita in the whole of Europe. Although there are no official figures, animal charities estimate that up to 20,000 horses could be owner-less and fending for themselves.
And with the prospect of a harsh winter and no let up in the economic gloom, the Dublin Society for the Protection of Animals now says the only solution to the problem is to cull those animals left to forage for themselves.
Indian leopard rescued from tight spot
A leopard trapped near a private tea estate in southern India's Coimbatore city was rescued by forest officials.
The leopard was struggling for more than four hours; but thanks to rangers and other staff the Leopard was eventually freed.
The manager of the estate was arrested for trapping and keeping the unassuming animal illegally. Rajeev Sreevastava, the chief conservator of forest (CCF) assured the public that there would be strict action against those who are involved in the matter.
Authorities were informed that this was not the first time the tea estate manager had been involved in such acts, he had also trapped many wild pigs.
The leopard was struggling for more than four hours; but thanks to rangers and other staff the Leopard was eventually freed.
The manager of the estate was arrested for trapping and keeping the unassuming animal illegally. Rajeev Sreevastava, the chief conservator of forest (CCF) assured the public that there would be strict action against those who are involved in the matter.
Authorities were informed that this was not the first time the tea estate manager had been involved in such acts, he had also trapped many wild pigs.
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