Saturday, June 20, 2009
Daily Funny
The first says, "I'm so tough, once I ate a whole bagful of rat poison!"
The second says, "Well I'm so tough, once I was caught in a rat trap and I bit it apart!"
Then the third rat gets up and says, "Later guys, I'm off home to harass the cat."
Science News
- Vinegar Might Fight Fat Vinegar may live up to its age-old reputation in folk medicine as a health promoter.
- Pesticides Found on Floors of Most U.S. Homes The popularity and availability of insecticides have transitioned over the last 30 years.
- Subterranean Creature Has Surprisingly Colorful Skin Caecilians are not entirely subterranean, it turns out.
- Sunday: The Longest Day of the Year The 2009 solstice occurs at 1:45 a.m. EST
Defiant Tehran protesters battle police
Defiant Tehran protesters battle police
Worst million-dollar blunders
A musician falling on his rare violin and an art collector ripping his Picasso are two cringe-worthy flubs that make this list.
Million-dollar blunders
Also:
Kidnapped reporter escapes from Taliban
A New York Times reporter makes a daring escape from his captors after being held for seven months.
Reporter escapes from Taliban
Tehran protester: 'In the middle of our own epic'
As Iran prepares for potentially violent protests, an anonymous author shares an eyewitness account of Thursday's march.
'In the middle of our own epic'
Also:
Tobacco advocates fuming over Canadian legislation
Canadian legislation
And this is a bad thing, how?
McManiac Cop Flashes Gun at McDonald's Drive-Thru
Is there something about McDonald's that brings out the worst in people? (YES)
Is there something about being a cop that brings out megalomania? (YES)
A Denver police officer has been suspended after allegedly pulling his gun at a McDonald's restaurant in Aurora when he felt his order was taking too long.
Daylight robbery
Flat-belly foods for a skinnier summer
These six bulge battlers can help keep your abs flat during the skin-baring season.
Flat-belly foods
Also:
Tips for holding a lucrative yard sale
Clear your clutter and make money, too, with some easy prep work to ensure a successful sale.
Yard sale tips
Also:
DNA proves Michigan man not kidnapped kid
The whereabouts of a child kidnapped in 1955 remains a mystery after tests debunk a man's hunch that he was the boy.
DNA proves Michigan man not kidnapped kid
Also:
Someone took out the trash
Indiana lawyer found asleep in trash can
Unusual Holidays and celebrations
Vinegar Day,
World Juggling Day
and
World Refugee Day
Daily Almanac
There are 194 days left in the year.
Today In History June 20
"Magic Fingers" Bed Inventor Dies at 92
You might remember those beds which gave users 15 minutes of "tingling relaxation and ease" for a quarter in hotel and motel rooms across America in the 1960s and '70s.
He died Wednesday at his home in Fort Pierce, Florida.
Full Story
Dads Are Key to Making Us Human
For humans, this differs.
Dads Are Key to Making Us Human
CNBC Sets Its Sights On Porn
CNBC, continuing its documentary strategy of examining esoteric topics, has found its next target: porn.CNBC will air the special Porn: Business of Pleasure July 15 at 9 p.m.
Melissa Lee will report on the multibillion dollar business for the network.
According to a CNBC press release it will look at the problems facing porn “[F]rom the threats to its profitability to exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews with the industry's biggest stars to the one issue that could bring the adult industry to it's knees.”
The network has had success exploring unusual subject matter in its primetime documentaries. Its special Marijuana Inc. was, at the time, the most-watched documentary in network history. Other specials have explored topics as varied as the business of high end prostitution, the super wealthy, the Kentucky Derby and cruise ships.
Worst Father's Day gifts
Stay away from these cringe-worthy presents that dad will never need or use.
Worst Father's Day gifts
Also:
Nestle recalls cookie dough products
The company pulls its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough items after a number of illnesses are reported.
Nestle recalls cookie dough products
Also:
It's getting hot out there
Rising ocean temperatures near worst-case predictions.
Pixar Grants Dying Kid's Last Wish to See "Up"
Colby Curtin, a 10-year-old with a rare form of cancer, was staying alive for one thing - a movie. From the minute Colby saw the previews to the Disney-Pixar movie Up, she was desperate to see it. Colby had been diagnosed with vascular cancer about three years ago, said her mother, Lisa Curtin, and at the beginning of this month it became apparent that she would die soon and was too ill to be moved to a theater to see the film. After a family friend made frantic calls to Pixar to help grant Colby her dying wish, Pixar came to the rescue.
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Credit & Copyright: Jean-Marc Audrin
Explanation: This surprising view of the Full Moon rising on June 7 was captured with a telephoto lens from a seaside balcony near Nice, France. The orange Moon's dark markings and odd shape put the photographer in mind of an alien creature's face staring down at the passing ship. Of course, the Moon's distorted appearance is due to the unusual bending (refraction) of light rays creating multiple images or mirages, similar to sunset and sunrise mirages. The effects are most pronounced when temperature layers in the atmosphere produce sharp changes in air density and refractive index. Acting over long sight-lines to the rising and setting Sun or Moon, the refraction significantly alters the path of light rays creating merged, distorted images. Such mirages are also associated with the Green Flash.
China Tells Google: No porn, or else
The New York Times reported Friday that Chinese government officials ordered Google to remove the search feature--known as Google Suggest--that displays related search terms based on the original query typed into the search bar or face unspecified punishment. Apparently some queries brought up related results with suggestive implications, leading to criticism from China's state-run media and government officials prior to Friday's move.
Google has long faced a difficult dilemma in China, reconciling the Chinese government's insistence that Internet companies censor their products with the company's desire to improve the world's access to information; not to mention the demands of shareholders for profits.
But despite acknowledging direct government intervention over pornography, Google is still unwilling to say whether or not the Chinese government ordered a temporary muzzle on its search engine around June 4, the 20th anniversary of the Chinese government's violent crackdown on student protesters in Tiananmen Square.
For several days, Google.cn blocked all results for searches on Tiananmen Square, including ones that were entirely unrelated to the events of that day in 1989. Those results, such as travel-related sites, were restored last week.
In this case, however, Google was quite willing to state that it met with Chinese government officials to "discuss problems with the Google.cn service and its serving of pornographic images and content based on foreign language searches," a Google representative said in a statement.
The company is also putting some serious effort into making sure it complies with China's antipornography drive. "We are undertaking a thorough review of our service and taking all necessary steps to fix any problems with our results. This has been a substantial engineering effort, and we believe we have addressed the large majority of the problem results," Google said.
Just in case those efforts don't work, China still plans to require PC companies to install desktop monitoring software later this year, according to a separate report in The New York Times debunking claims earlier in the week that China was reconsidering the requirement in the wake of security problems with its Green Dam software.
Woman on trial for raping 10 men
A Russian woman, dubbed the Black Widow for her love of horror films and spiders, is on trial for drugging and raping 10 men.
Ways to save on gas
These easy tips can help you fight the recent spike in fuel prices and save more money.
7 ways to save on gas
Also:
Marcus T. Bailey Arrested Mid Haircut
Arrested Mid Haircut
North Carolina Governor Warns Texters: "Hope u r not driving now"
North Carolina Governor Warns Texters: "Hope u r not driving now"
WWI vet becomes world's oldest man
Henry Allingham's life has spanned three centuries and six monarchs.
WWI vet becomes world's oldest man
Also:
Ayatollah declares vote 'absolute victory'
Iran's supreme leader says the presidential vote had not been rigged and issues a stern warning to protesters demanding a new election.
Ayatollah
Saturday Jam
Wicked GameChris Isaak
People Are Strange
Black DogLed Zeppelin
I Love Rock And Roll
Rock and Roll All Nite
President Obama's Weekly Address
Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
June 20, 2009
As we continue to recover from an historic economic crisis, it is clear to everyone that one of its major causes was a breakdown in oversight that led to widespread abuses in the financial system. An epidemic of irresponsibility took hold from Wall Street to Washington to Main Street. And the consequences have been disastrous. Millions of Americans have seen their life savings erode; families have been devastated by job losses; businesses large and small have closed their doors.
In response, this week, my administration proposed a set of major reforms to the rules that govern our financial system; to attack the causes of this crisis and to prevent future crises from taking place; to ensure that our markets can work fairly and freely for businesses and consumers alike.
We are going to promote markets that work for those who play by the rules. We’re going to stand up for a system in which fair dealing and honest competition are the only way to win. We’re going to level the playing field for consumers. And we’re going to have the kinds of rules that encourage innovations that make our economy stronger – not those that allow insiders to exploit its weaknesses for their own gain.
And one of the most important proposals is a new oversight agency called the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. It’s charged with just one job: looking out for the interests of ordinary Americans in the financial system. This is essential, for this crisis may have started on Wall Street. But its impacts have been felt by ordinary Americans who rely on credit cards, home loans, and other financial instruments.
It is true that this crisis was caused in part by Americans who took on too much debt and took out loans they simply could not afford. But there are also millions of Americans who signed contracts they did not always understand offered by lenders who did not always tell the truth. Today, folks signing up for a mortgage, student loan, or credit card face a bewildering array of incomprehensible options. Companies compete not by offering better products, but more complicated ones – with more fine print and hidden terms. It’s no coincidence that the lack of strong consumer protections led to abuses against consumers; the lack of rules to stop deceptive lending practices led to abuses against borrowers.
This new agency will have the responsibility to change that. It will have the power to set tough new rules so that companies compete by offering innovative products that consumers actually want – and actually understand. Those ridiculous contracts – pages of fine print that no one can figure out – will be a thing of the past. You’ll be able to compare products – with descriptions in plain language – to see what is best for you. The most unfair practices will be banned. The rules will be enforced.
Some argue that these changes – and the many others we’ve called for – go too far. And I welcome a debate about how we can make sure our regulations work for businesses and consumers. But what I will not accept – what I will vigorously oppose – are those who do not argue in good faith. Those who would defend the status quo at any cost. Those who put their narrow interests ahead of the interests of ordinary Americans. We’ve already begun to see special interests mobilizing against change.
That’s not surprising. That’s Washington.
For these are interests that have benefited from a system which allowed ordinary Americans to be exploited. These interests argue against reform even as millions of people are facing the consequences of this crisis in their own lives. These interests defend business-as-usual even though we know that it was business-as-usual that allowed this crisis to take place.
Well, the American people did not send me to Washington to give in to the special interests; the American people sent me to Washington to stand up for their interests. And while I’m not spoiling for a fight, I’m ready for one. The most important thing we can do to put this era of irresponsibility in the past is to take responsibility now. That is why my administration will accept no less than real and lasting change to the way business is done – on Wall Street and in Washington. We will do what is necessary to end this crisis – and we will do what it takes to prevent this kind of crisis from ever happening again.
Thank you.
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Daily Horoscope
You have a thousand things to do and very little time to get it all accomplished.
You can manage it if anyone can, but it won't be easy.
You'll have to divide yourself into several people -- or at least allow yourself to perform like it.
Of course, this type of thing has already been invented, and most likely by one of your sign: it's called multitasking, and if anyone can pull it off, especially now, it's you.
Get busy.
Only a thousand? Today is going to be easier than I thought, whew.
