Most economists agree the end is near, but debate continues on how fast, strong, and long-lasting the recovery will be.
When the recession will end
Also:
Monday, August 10, 2009
In America, it is increasingly illegal to be poor.
From an op-ed by Barbara Ehrenreich (!) in the New York Times, which examines the moral and social impact of ordinances against the publicly poor.
The op-ed is based on a new study from the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty which found that the number of ordinances against the "publicly poor" are rising. More American cities, according to the report, are enacting and enforcing laws against "the indigent."
How do you know when someone is indigent? As a Las Vegas statute puts it, "An indigent person is a person whom a reasonable ordinary person would believe to be entitled to apply for or receive" public assistance.That could be me before the blow-drying and eyeliner, and it's definitely Al Szekely at any time of day. A grizzled 62-year-old, he inhabits a wheelchair and is often found on G Street in Washington -- the city that is ultimately responsible for the bullet he took in the spine in Fu Bai, Vietnam, in 1972. He had been enjoying the luxury of an indoor bed until last December, when the police swept through the shelter in the middle of the night looking for men with outstanding warrants.
It turned out that Mr. Szekely, who is an ordained minister and does not drink, do drugs or curse in front of ladies, did indeed have a warrant -- for not appearing in court to face a charge of "criminal trespassing" (for sleeping on a sidewalk in a Washington suburb). So he was dragged out of the shelter and put in jail. "Can you imagine?" asked Eric Sheptock, the homeless advocate (himself a shelter resident) who introduced me to Mr. Szekely. "They arrested a homeless man in a shelter for being homeless."
Read the report that was the inspiration for this op-ed, produced by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP) and the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH): Homes Not Handcuffs - List Of "Meanest Cities" Released, and a direct link is here.
Are red-headed people more sensitive to pain?
...or are they just big ol' wimps?
"Well," an item about new research showing that redheads require larger doses of anesthesia and are often resistant to local pain blockers like Novocaine.
A new study from The Journal of the American Dental Association says people with red hair tend to look forward to dental procedures even less than the rest of us, and are "twice as likely to avoid going to the dentist as people with other hair colors." Not because they're wimps, but because of mutant genes.
From the New York Times health blog:
Researchers believe redheads are more sensitive to pain because of a mutation in a gene that affects hair color. In people with brown, black and blond hair, the gene, for the melanocortin-1 receptor, produces melanin. But a mutation in the MC1R gene results in the production of a substance called pheomelanin that results in red hair and fair skin.The MC1R gene belongs to a family of receptors that include pain receptors in the brain, and as a result, a mutation in the gene appears to influence the body's sensitivity to pain. A 2004 study showed that redheads require, on average, about 20 percent more general anesthesia than people with dark hair or blond coloring. And in 2005, researchers found that redheads are more resistant to the effects of local anesthesia, such as the numbing drugs used by dentists.
Woman books entire jetliner business class so her dog can fly with her
An Israeli woman spent $38,000 to book the entire business-class cabin of an El Al jet from Paris to Tel Aviv so that her beloved dog could fly with her and be spared the trauma of the cargo hold.
Woman flies business class with pooch
Woman flies business class with pooch
Banks make $38bn from overdraft fees
And you wonder why your ass is sore?!
US banks stand to collect a record $38.5bn in fees for customer overdrafts this year, with the bulk of the revenue coming from the most financially stretched consumers amid the deepest recession since the 1930s, according to research.
The fees are nearly double those reported in 2000.
US banks stand to collect a record $38.5bn in fees for customer overdrafts this year, with the bulk of the revenue coming from the most financially stretched consumers amid the deepest recession since the 1930s, according to research.The fees are nearly double those reported in 2000.
'Great Depression 2.0' avoided
The world has avoided a “Great Depression 2.0″ but it will take at least two years for the global economy to make a full recovery, Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman said on Monday.
Microscopic nanobees 'sting cancer tumors to death'
Scientists unleashed swarms of the tiny artificial particles on human breast and skin tumors in mice.
Deadly typhoon brings chaos to east Asia
A mudslide triggered by torrential rains may have buried up to 800 villagers in southern Taiwan, media reports said Monday, as the country counted the cost of its worst flooding in decades.
The death toll so far in Taiwan stands at 15, with 55 missing and 32 hurt, since Typhoon Morakot struck the island Friday and remained in the area over the weekend before crashing into eastern China, state-run China Daily reported.
Tsunami watch ends after Indian Ocean quake
A tsunami watch issued for five nations after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in the Indian Ocean was canceled about two hours later.
14-year-old girl spends 10 days in jail
Police said a 14-year-old girl spent 10 days in the Dallas County Jail alongside adult offenders after lying to officers about her age.
10 days in jail
10 days in jail
Road rage leads to shooting and suicide
A 17-year-old is recovering from gunshot wounds to the leg after being attacked by an angry motorist who later killed himself.
Elderly Alzheimer's Patient Bodyslammed by Police
First, it should be noted that Virginia Dodson, 84, was indeed wielding a knife when confronted by police.
However, the frail Alzheimer's patient was doing so because she had an Alzheimer's-related dementia attack and used a knife to cut herself out of her seatbelt.
However, the frail Alzheimer's patient was doing so because she had an Alzheimer's-related dementia attack and used a knife to cut herself out of her seatbelt.
Health care's worst money-wasting problems
Six costly mistakes add up to a huge financial drain on the system.Health care's worst money-wasting problems
Also:
Continental imprisons passengers overnight in grounded plane with no food, overflowing toilets
Continental Airlines diverted a Twin-Cities-bound plane to Rochester due to a storm, and then locked the entire planeload of passengers in the plane overnight for nine hours.
The TSA had gone home, so the passengers couldn't clear security if they got off and left the airport, and the ground crew wouldn't let them get off and stay in the airport.
So 47 people -- including babies -- were locked into the plane with no food and overflowing toilets, held prisoner until the airline could get its act together.
The TSA had gone home, so the passengers couldn't clear security if they got off and left the airport, and the ground crew wouldn't let them get off and stay in the airport.
So 47 people -- including babies -- were locked into the plane with no food and overflowing toilets, held prisoner until the airline could get its act together.
"It's not like you're on a [Boeing] 747 and you can walk around,'' said Christin, a professor at William Mitchell College of Law. "This was a sardine can, with a single row of seats on one side of the plane and two rows of seats on the other. And they've got about 50 people inside, including babies, for the whole night. It was a nightmare...''The airline crew on the plane reached their maximum work hours in the air, so another crew had to be flown in. The alternative of chartering a bus didn't work out. And letting the passengers into the Rochester airport was not possible because they would have to go through security screening again, and the screeners had gone home for the day.
What about just letting the passengers sleep in the airport terminal? "That was not provided as an option by ground services personnel at the airport,'' said Nicholas...
As light began to fill the cabin around 6 a.m., the plane doors opened and passengers were allowed into the airport terminal, Christin said. The airlines gave them one free beverage, he said. By about 9:30 a.m., the passengers were sent back on the same plane they had spent the night in -- which by this time had no functioning restroom. They landed in the Twin Cities about 11 a.m.
Astronomical News
Fast-spinning black holes might reveal all
If a black hole is spun by surrounding matter in just the right way, it could shed its event horizon, exposing a naked singularity.
Starry cocoons and double moons
This week, astronomers found a rare triple asteroid and uncovered images of Neptune and one of its moons that had gone unnoticed for 20 years.
Perseid shower to produce 'shooting stars'
A bright moon may obscure the faintest meteors, but the annual Perseid shower should still put on a show
New species of the Himalayas
Over 350 new species have been discovered in the Eastern Himalayas in the last decade, and all of them are under threat from climate change.
New species of the Himalayas
Liars and Fools
Liars and Fools: the Wing Nuts edition
Faux News, the Wing Nut radio mouths, and more than a few allegedly mainstream conservative leaders continue their incitements to violence, and make no mistake, that's what it is.
Faux's Brick says he wants poison Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
Do we need any more proof this nut is seriously unhinged?
Todd Akin (reptile - Missouri) 'Jokes' about Democrats getting lynched
Don't forget the white hood, there, Todd.
Lush Dimbulb spewing on and on (Two days in a row!) about "the similarities between the Democrat Party of today and the Nazi Party in Germany"
This moron can't tell the difference between his asshole and his mouth ... oh, wait, there isn't a difference - never mind.
Say-ruh Pale-lyn 'worrying' that Trig will be judged by Obama's "death panel"
This lying bitch needs serious mental help - it might not be that Trig is the 'handicapped one' here.
Faux News, the Wing Nut radio mouths, and more than a few allegedly mainstream conservative leaders continue their incitements to violence, and make no mistake, that's what it is.
Faux's Brick says he wants poison Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
Do we need any more proof this nut is seriously unhinged?
Todd Akin (reptile - Missouri) 'Jokes' about Democrats getting lynched
Don't forget the white hood, there, Todd.
Lush Dimbulb spewing on and on (Two days in a row!) about "the similarities between the Democrat Party of today and the Nazi Party in Germany"
This moron can't tell the difference between his asshole and his mouth ... oh, wait, there isn't a difference - never mind.
Say-ruh Pale-lyn 'worrying' that Trig will be judged by Obama's "death panel"
This lying bitch needs serious mental help - it might not be that Trig is the 'handicapped one' here.
Two still missing after mid-air collision above Hudson
The deadly accident killed nine, the worst air disaster in New York City in nearly eight years.
Mid-air collision above Hudson
Also:
10 Attributes of Really Lazy People
1. Inability to put forth the effort required to complete any task.
Kansas man wins lottery twice in a year
Edward Williams won $75,000 his first time.His latest jackpot is much bigger.
Kansas man wins lottery twice in a year
Also:
Imagine this ...
Imagine this:
You're out for a day of fun with your family.
The fishing trip is going well ...
Dogs as smart as 2-year-old kids
Canine IQ tests have revealed that the average dog is as smart as a 2-year-old child.
NATO wants Azerbaijan in the alliance
A senior source within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Joint Force Command has told EurasiaNet that Azerbaijan stands a better chance of gaining NATO membership in the near future than either Georgia or Ukraine.
"Earlier, the perception in both Brussels [North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] headquarters] and Baku was that Georgia should integrate into NATO first and Azerbaijan should follow," the source said. "However, the situation has changed and it might be that in the year to come Azerbaijan will become the frontrunner. Baku may enter NATO earlier than Ukraine and Georgia."
Cities where the job market is picking up
One area has added nearly 20,000 new jobs since the first of the year.Cities where the job market is picking up
Also:
Daily Almanac
Today is Monday, Aug. 10, the 222nd day of 2009.
There are 143 days left in the year.
Today In History August 10
There are 143 days left in the year.
Today In History August 10
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Delhi, Delhi, India
London, England, United Kingdom
Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia
Davao, Davao City, Philippines
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Delhi, Delhi, India
London, England, United Kingdom
Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia
Davao, Davao City, Philippines
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
Ready to let loose and have some real fun?
Good, because the universe is willing to help.
Right now the stars are anything but short on creative ways to enjoy the company of others -- and they just so happen to have set up shop in your house of entertaining.
How about having the whole crew over to your place for pizza, videos and games?
Break out the Twister and stay up late laughing.
You owe it to yourself.
Party!
Ready to let loose and have some real fun?
Good, because the universe is willing to help.
Right now the stars are anything but short on creative ways to enjoy the company of others -- and they just so happen to have set up shop in your house of entertaining.
How about having the whole crew over to your place for pizza, videos and games?
Break out the Twister and stay up late laughing.
You owe it to yourself.
Party!
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