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


Saturday, October 10, 2009

Calling ...The Shot

Babe ruth shot
Babe Ruth's called shot was the home run hit by Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees in the fifth inning of Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, held on October 1, 1932 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. During the at-bat, Ruth made a pointing gesture, which existing film confirms, but the exact nature of his gesture is ambiguous. Although neither fully confirmed nor refuted, the story goes that Ruth pointed to the center field bleachers during the at-bat. It was supposedly a declaration that he would hit a home run to this part of the park. On the next pitch, Ruth hit a home run to center field ...

Have Banks No Shame?

After bailouts, 'what moral right do [banks] have to oppose' reform?

None, moral or otherwise!

Full Story

Large Hadron Collider Scientist Arrested On Terrorism Charges

Those of you who think the Large Hadron Collider might just bring the world to an end might just have something there. A nuclear physicist working on the LHC was arrested in France on suspicion of advising Al-Qaida of possible terrorist targets.

Full Story

NC Man In Jail A Week For Mistaken Identity

Authorities say a 44-year-old North Carolina man spent a week in jail because he has the same name as a suspect 23 years younger.

NC Man In Jail A Week For Mistaken Identity

Bizarre Dinosaurs

They were among the largest and strongest creatures to inhabit Earth but, as nature would have it, some were also among the strangest.

Why Were Some So Strange?

Health reform benefits still years off

Health reform benefits still years off

If an insurance bill passes this year, many families may have to wait until 2013 to receive tax credits.

Why
Also:

The secrets that surround Nobel Prizes

The secrets that surround Nobel Prizes

We will have to wait 50 years to find out about Barack Obama's competition.

Smart Car squeeze test

Smart Car squeeze test

It may have two seats, but that doesn't mean only two people can fit into this micro-car.

What your car says about you

What your car says about you

The vehicle you drive may reveal your Web savvy-ness, education, or level of sophistication.

Signs you may be overdoing the cardio

Signs you may be overdoing the cardio

The treadmill could be preventing you from getting anywhere with your workout.

Role for the Wii in airport security?

Role for the Wii in airport security?

Researchers think the Wii balance board may help identify dangerous airline passengers.

Highest housing costs in America

Highest housing costs in America

Residents in these cities shell out the most for housing expenses, including taxes and utilities.

Classic keyboard word puzzle

Classic keyboard word puzzle

What is the longest word you can type using only the top letter row of the keyboard?

Turkey and Armenia sign historic pact

Turkey and Armenia sign historic pact

After a century of differences, the two adversaries take a huge step toward new diplomatic ties.

Hillary Clinton's role
Also:

Week of smelly trees and annoying words

Week of smelly trees and annoying words

A common tree that stinks and a most-annoying word contest were Web sensations.

Tips to take the perfect family photo

Tips to take the perfect family photo

Experts share the secrets to getting your kids ready for the next photo shoot.

Lazy person's guide to getting organized

Lazy person's guide to getting organized

An expert offers quick tricks that will help you get a handle on any mess.

Quietest places around the world

Quietest places around the world

Escape civilization in these tranquil yet surprisingly accessible havens.

And I Quote

Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.

~ Albert Einstein

Swine flu striking young people hardest

Swine flu striking young people hardest

So far, at least 76 U.S. children have died from the H1N1 virus.

Science News

From BBC-Science:
Glacier on Svalbard
Refined measurements of past climate suggest some current political targets on CO2 are "playing with fire".

Nasa scientists outline preliminary results after crashing two spacecraft into the Moon in a bid to detect water-ice.

Scientists find out how trillions of individual krill gather together into gigantic "superswarms" in the Southern Ocean.
Computer model of folded genome (Science)
Researchers discover how the DNA double helix folds to fit into each tiny cell nucleus

Where to find $1,000 by the holidays

Where to find $1,000 by the holidays

Make these six simple changes and you could easily have a nice bundle by Christmas.

Saturday Jam

Today's Saturday Jam is all Lita - Lita Ford that is (with a little Ozzy thrown in for good measure).

Kiss Me Deadly
Falling In and Out of Love
Close My Eyes Forever

President Obama's Weekly Address

Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address Washington, DC October 10, 2009

The historic movement to bring real, meaningful health insurance reform to the American people gathered momentum this week as we approach the final days of this debate. Having worked on this issue for the better part of a year, the Senate Finance Committee is finishing deliberations on their version of a health insurance reform bill that will soon be merged with other reform bills produced by other Congressional committees.

After evaluating the Finance Committee’s bill, the Congressional Budget Office – an office that provides independent, nonpartisan analysis – concluded that the legislation would make coverage affordable for millions of Americans who don’t have it today. It will bring greater security to Americans who have coverage, with new insurance protections. And, by attacking waste and fraud within the system, it will slow the growth in health care costs, without adding a dime to our deficits.

This is another milestone on what has been a long, hard road toward health insurance reform. In recent months, we’ve heard every side of every argument from both sides of the aisle. And rightly so – health insurance reform is a complex and critical issue that deserves a vigorous national debate, and we’ve had one. The approach that is emerging includes the best ideas from Republicans and Democrats, and people across the political spectrum.

In fact, what’s remarkable is not that we’ve had a spirited debate about health insurance reform, but the unprecedented consensus that has come together behind it. This consensus encompasses everyone from doctors and nurses to hospitals and drug manufacturers.

And earlier this week, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg came out in support of reform, joining two former Republican Senate Majority Leaders: Bob Dole and Dr. Bill Frist, himself a cardiac surgeon. Dr. Louis Sullivan, Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George H.W. Bush, supports reform. As does Republican Tommy Thompson, a former Wisconsin governor and Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush. These distinguished leaders understand that health insurance reform isn’t a Democratic issue or a Republican issue, but an American issue that demands a solution.

Still, there are some in Washington today who seem determined to play the same old partisan politics, working to score political points, even if it means burdening this country with an unsustainable status quo. A status quo of rising health care costs that are crushing our families, our businesses, and our government. A status quo of diminishing coverage that is denying millions of hardworking Americans the insurance they need. A status quo that gives big insurance companies the power to make arbitrary decisions about your health care. That is a status quo I reject. And that is a status quo the American people reject.

The distinguished former Congressional leaders who urged us to act on health insurance reform spoke of the historic moment at hand and reminded us that this moment will not soon come again. They called on members of both parties seize this opportunity to finally confront a problem that has plagued us for far too long.

That is what we are called to do at this moment. That is the spirit of national purpose that we must summon right now. Now is the time to rise above the politics of the moment. Now is the time to come together as Americans. Now is the time to meet our responsibilities to ourselves and to our children, and secure a better, healthier future for generations to come. That future is within our grasp. So, let’s go finish the job.

Unusual Holidays and Celebrations

Today is Universal Music Day.

Daily Almanac

Today is Saturday, Oct. 10, the 283rd day of 2009.

There are 82 days left in the year.

Today In History October 10, 2009

Our Readers

Some of our readers today have been in:

Veracruz, Veracruz-Llave, Mexico
London, England, United Kingdom
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Leeds, England, United Kingdom
Quezon City, Manila, Philippines
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
Timisoara, Timis, Romania
Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
Chandigarh, Chandigarh, India

as well as France, Brazil, and the United States

Daily Horoscope

Today's horoscope says:

Today, you'll get some extremely good news that will send your mood skyrocketing to the heavens!
You should enjoy the buoyancy, but don't make any big decisions based on it.
There is a slight chance things could dramatically change in the coming days, so try to keep your enthusiasm in check -- you don't want your extreme happiness to plummet to extreme regret, do you?
You are capable of some amazing wins today, but first you have to show the universe that you are grounded in reality.

How grounded?