Are you saving enough for retirement?
Most people don't fully consider major expenses like taxes and cost of living.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Where wages grow fastest and slowest
Where wages grow fastest and slowest
Recent data on wage growth shows cities where workers are likely to see rising paychecks.
More frustration for Danica at NASCAR
More frustration for Danica at NASCAR
Danica Patrick's third NASCAR race ends early after a collision batters her car.
Photos from the devastating earthquake
Photos from the devastating earthquake
The images emerging from Chile show a country digging out from widespread destruction.
Hawaii 'dodged a bullet' with tsunami
Hawaii 'dodged a bullet' with tsunami
Japan now faces a threat as quake-triggered waves surge across the Pacific.
Man finds game in basement worth $40,000
Man finds game in basement worth $40,000
A Kansas man discovers a rare video game he was going to give away is worth big bucks.
Back away from the Teabagger
Reports are 'coming out' that the wingnuts are now trying to purge the Teabaggers of their most extreme elements, such as birthers and the militia movement:
After months of struggling to harness the energy of newly engaged tea party activists, the wingnut 'establishment' - with critical midterm congressional elections on the horizon - is taking aim for the first time at the movement’s extremist elements.
The move has been cast by some wingnuts as a modern version of the marginalization of the far-right anti-communist John Birch Society during the reorganization of the wingnut cabal spearheaded in the 1960s and 1970s by William F. Buckley Jr.
“A similar effort will be required today of wingnut political and intellectual (now there's a joke), leaders,” former shrub speechwriter Michael Gerson wrote in his column in the Washington Post . “It will not be easy. Sometimes it takes courage to stand before a large crowd and proclaim that two plus two equals four.”
In front of wingnuts, that would be nigh on to impossible.
You see, facts have a liberal bias.
It's the reason a recent study showed that kids who go to college end up more liberal.
Intelligence and knowledge tend to make you more accepting of reality, and other human beings.
That doesn't go over all that well in repugican circle-jerks, where far too many just know that great grandma used to hang out with pterodactyls.
You see, facts have a liberal bias.
It's the reason a recent study showed that kids who go to college end up more liberal.
Intelligence and knowledge tend to make you more accepting of reality, and other human beings.
That doesn't go over all that well in repugican circle-jerks, where far too many just know that great grandma used to hang out with pterodactyls.
Giant Octopus Comes to Smithsonian's National Zoo
From Treehugger:
photo: Meghan Murphy, Smithsonian's National Zoo
While it may seem small now, at only about 3 pounds, this guy will grow to about 13 times its current size. It's the Giant Pacific octopus and the National Zoo welcomed the first one of its kind last month. With an expected arm span of 25 feet, this mega octopus evokes memories of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.
Article continues: Giant Octopus Comes to Smithsonian's National Zoo
Can Animals Foresee Natural Disasters?
From Treehugger:
Earthquakes, like the one that struck today in Chile--which, at the time of this writing, is believed to have claimed 147 lives--are all the more devastating for their unpredictable nature. While geologists have resources available to indicate a probability of when a quake will strike, such as measuring seismic pressures or observing changes in magnetic fields, it is still impossible to provide any short-term notice to threatened communities--a notice that would undoubtedly save countless lives. Although geologists may be incapable of putting communities on alert, however, recent disasters are strengthening theories that some animals may be able to 'sense' impending earthquakes.
Article continues: Can Animals Foresee Natural Disasters?
Chile's Earthquake
Chile's 8.8 earthquake caught on tape.
Tsunami WarningsFrom Treehugger:
From the Map Room
Extraordinary image showing the projected times that a tsunami would hit other parts of the Pacific from the catastrophic Chilean earthquake this morning. Tsunami warnings have been issued as far north as Vancouver and around the pacific. Height of waves projected below.
Article continues: A Picture is Worth: Mapping The Chilean Earthquake's Tsunami
Cop News
In Cop News
Alabama cop claims he was "just playing around" as he choked 15-year-old
Arizona cop again tries to read confidential defense documents in court
Retired New Orleans cop cooperates with investigation, recounts a disturbing pattern of lies and illegal planting of false evidence by NOPD officers after post-Katrina police shooting
Humane Society releases video of Kentucky cop at cockfight
Texas cop charged with selling restricted criminal background information
Court reinstates lawsuit over Minnesota cops' arrest of zombies
Alabama cop claims he was "just playing around" as he choked 15-year-old
Arizona cop again tries to read confidential defense documents in court
Retired New Orleans cop cooperates with investigation, recounts a disturbing pattern of lies and illegal planting of false evidence by NOPD officers after post-Katrina police shooting
Humane Society releases video of Kentucky cop at cockfight
Texas cop charged with selling restricted criminal background information
Court reinstates lawsuit over Minnesota cops' arrest of zombies
John Linder of Georgia announces retirement
One less repugican ...
John Linder has announced he will retire from Congress after 18 years.
Full StoryRepugican Unemployment Roadblock Will Cost States Millions
The latest bit of obstruction being staged by a Senate repugican, done in the name of limiting federal spending, is going to end up costing cash-strapped states millions of dollars as well as potentially causing millions of workers to lose their unemployment benefits.
Chile was ready for quake, Haiti wasn't
The earthquake in Chile was far stronger than the one that struck Haiti last month - yet the death toll in this Caribbean nation is magnitudes higher.
Full storyObama Says U.S. Prepared To Help Chile
The U.S. "will be there" if Chile asks for rescue and recovery help after a powerful earthquake struck the South American nation, President Barack Obama said Saturday.
He also warned people in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the West Coast to heed the instructions of local authorities about evacuations and other measures in advance of a tsunami moving across the Pacific Ocean.
"We can't control nature, but we can and must be prepared for disaster when it strikes," he said in a statement at the White House.
Obama Says U.S. Prepared To Help Chile
He also warned people in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the West Coast to heed the instructions of local authorities about evacuations and other measures in advance of a tsunami moving across the Pacific Ocean.
"We can't control nature, but we can and must be prepared for disaster when it strikes," he said in a statement at the White House.
Obama Says U.S. Prepared To Help Chile
Florida man gets back wallet taken in Ohio in 1949
A man who renovates old homes in Ohio has found and returned the wallet lost by a Florida man more than 60 years ago.
Question and Answer
Question: Why do some people take an instant aversion to banjo players?
Answer: It saves time in the long run.
Answer: It saves time in the long run.
Case To Proceed Against Man Accused On Threatening President
There are new developments in the case against the man the Secret Service said threatened the life of President Barack Obama in his poetry.Criminal clown
This gentleman is Tony Alexander Pete, 43, aka "Happy." Police in Ogden, Utah are seeking Happy who is a suspect in a burglary that took place Wednesday evening.
Happy, a career criminal, is easily identified due to his unique facial tattoos.
Happy, a career criminal, is easily identified due to his unique facial tattoos.
From the Salt Lake Tribune:
The victim told police that he was asleep about 7:30 p.m. when he was awakened to find the pair standing over him. At first, the men yelled that they were cops, then threw the blanket over him.
"The guy said he could still see from under the blanket though, and he described one of them as having 'clown eyes.' "[The victim] said he knew him as 'Happy,' because he had been staying there with him until recently," Sangberg said.
*****
Some people are just stupid and that is that.
Some people are just stupid and that is that.
Alice in Wonderland movie from 1933
Steve Silberman calls it a "Holy Terry Gilliam prototype: The original, trippy 1933 film version of Alice in Wonderland by Norman 'Monkey Business' McLeod, starring Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, and W.C. Fields, now on DVD with a rave from Alice: 'A revolution in cinema history!'"
But only one can boast the endorsement of the original Alice: the 1933 Paramount "Alice in Wonderland," being released to DVD by Universal Studios Home Entertainment ($19.98, not rated), the current rights holder. In a Jan. 7, 1934, article in The New York Times, Alice Liddell, quoted under her married name, Mrs. Reginald Hargreaves, expressed admiration for the film that Hollywood had wrought from the story Carroll had invented for her some seven decades before."I am delighted with the film and am now convinced that only through the medium of the talking picture art could this delicious fantasy be faithfully interpreted," she declared, her words possibly burnished by a Paramount publicist. " 'Alice' is a picture which represents a revolution in cinema history!"
Alan Grayson was correct
They really do want Americans to just die.
And to die quickly.
And to die quickly.
'Emergency rooms should be able to turn patients away to cut costs', Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty (reptile) said last night.
A quiet sun won't save us from global warming
Even if there's a "grand minimum" in the sun's output over the next century, it won't be enough to counter rising temperatures caused by humans.A quiet sun won't save us from global warming
No Punishment For Killer Whale After Trainer Attack
There will be no punishment for Tillikum, the killer whale who grabbed veteran SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau on Wednesday, dragging her underwater and killing her, SeaWorld has said. Additionally, they announced that their killer whale shows will restart on Saturday.
Wrong decisions fellas
Colombia court blocks Uribe from seeking 3rd term
Colombia's Constitutional Court shut the door Friday on President Alvaro Uribe's aspirations for a third straight term, ruling unconstitutional a law that would have let voters decide in a referendum whether he could run again.
Diet pitfalls and how to avoid them
Diet pitfalls and how to avoid them
A few easy minutes of preparation can keep you from sabotaging your diet.
Ancient Skull Found Behind New Mexico Business
Police in New Mexico said an employee at a recycling business discovered a human skull, believed to be hundreds of years old, behind the facility.
Ancient Skull Found
Ancient Skull Found
Japan temple flushes away troubles
Tired of bad relationships or even extra weight, Japanese are trying a divine remedy for what ails them, flushing it away.
Japan temple flushes away troubles
Japan temple flushes away troubles
Who you should tip and how much
Just remember despite this 'guide' to tipping - tipping IS NOT required at any time!
Who you should tip and how much
Etiquette experts clear up the confusion about which services deserve gratuities.
Most vulnerable homeless costing city millions
Survey shows “chronically homeless” people more numerous than thought, and often ill
Charlotte has nearly double the national average of homeless people visiting hospitals more than three times a year – and it’s costing the community millions of dollars.
That startling fact is one of many revelations that came from a ground-breaking homeless survey held this week, using a $10,000 grant from the Charlotte Housing Authority.
Specifically, the effort sought out the “chronically homeless” – those who live on the streets for years because of mental instability or addictions that keep them from leading a normal life.
It has long been estimated that Charlotte had about 500 such people among its estimated 6,500 homeless.
But the survey found 741, and the number will likely climb to 850, based on survey sheets yet to be calculated.
Of the 741, nearly half are vulnerable to dying on the streets due to health problems ranging from Hepatitis C to emphysema.
“I’m stunned,” she said. “We as a community weren’t addressing the problem of chronic homelessness when we thought we had just 500. Now, we realize it’s even bigger than we thought. We should be alarmed.”
There’s no way to judge the accuracy of the survey responses, but here are the findings:
The most vulnerable among the 741 had spent an average of 6.1 years living on the streets.
521 hospitalizations were reported among the respondents in the past year.
540 had no insurance.
252 reported being a victim of a violent attack since becoming homeless.
The results of the study were released Friday by Becky Kanis of Common Ground, a New York-based organization that has guided similar surveys in 21 other communities.
It’s Kanis who noticed Charlotte’s rate for homeless hospital visits is double the national average. In all, 189 respondents had been to the emergency room or hospitalized more than three times in the past year.
“With ER and inpatient hospital visits, you have more than $2 million spent on health care,” said Kanis, noting $2 million is a low estimate. “That is based on one night in the hospital. The average number of days spent in the hospital by the homeless is four.”
The solution to that problem, she said, is to determine who is footing the bill for those hospital stays, and show them alternatives.
15 percent of the respondents were veterans of the armed forces, and most had been honorably discharged, making them candidates for housing vouchers from the Veterans Administration.
7 percent of those surveyed were over 60, qualifying them for aid to seniors.
“What we’ve done with the survey is shine a light on the problem in a systematic way, to craft better policies." “Hopefully, folks in the VA will see it and say ‘Oh, there’s my portion.’ Folks who work with seniors will say ‘Oh, there is mine.’ And folks who work with those who’ve aged out of foster care will see it and say ‘there is mine.’”
A far greater challenge, is to convince the community that it needs to rethink who among the homeless should get help first. The tendency is to help those who can get back on their feet the fastest.
“Everybody likes to rally around the guys on the five yard line, who is looking into the end zone, because we all love a victory story." “It’s the ones at the other end of the field we need to worry about: The ones who are going to die on the street.”
More Information
-
The homeless survey conducted this week involved more than 100 volunteers who sought out the chronically homeless, a subgroup of the city’s estimated homeless population of 6,500.
They found 741, nearly half of whom were deemed “vulnerable,” because their health problems make them at risk of dying in the streets.
Here are some of the findings among the 741:
54 (7%) are over 60 years old.
The oldest respondent was 68 years old.
12 individuals reported being homeless longer than 20 years
The longest reported length of homelessness was 35 years
The average years homeless for the vulnerable population is 6.1 years.
The average years homeless for the von-vulnerable population is 4.3 years.
100 (14%) respondents report having a history of foster care.
42 respondents were under 25 years old.
The youngest respondent was 18 years old.
Mastering Farmville
Insider tips and tricks to master FarmVille
Fans of the hit online game can quickly get ahead if they follow some simple advice.
Scientists unravel mysteries of intelligence
Scientists unravel mysteries of intelligence
Research sheds new light on why some people seem to be able to master any subject.
Incredible period carries U.S. hockey
Incredible period carries U.S. hockey
The Americans stun Finland with goal after goal to secure a spot in Sunday's gold medal game.
Liberalism, atheism, male sexual exclusivity linked to IQ
Political, religious and sexual behaviors may be reflections of intelligence, a new study finds. Evolutionary psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa at the the London School of Economics and Political Science correlated data on these behaviors with IQ from a large national U.S. sample and found that, on average, people who identified as liberal and atheist had higher IQs. This applied also to sexual exclusivity in men, but not in women. The findings will be published in the March 2010 issue of Social Psychology Quarterly.
*****
Liberal atheists are smarter ... well what do you know.
Tsunami fears after massive Chile quake
A massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake has struck near the coast of south-central Chile shaking buildings and causing blackouts in parts of the capital Santiago, 320 kilometers away.
A tsunami warning was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center ... Soon after, the center said the quake had generated a tsunami
Full Story
President Obama's Weekly Address
Remarks of President Barack Obama
As Prepared for Delivery
Weekly Address
February 27, 2010
As the Winter Olympics draw to a close this weekend, I just want to take a minute to congratulate all the athletes who competed in these games. And I especially want to say how proud I am of all the American men and women have achieved over the last few weeks.
Whether it was the men’s hockey team’s stunning upset of the Canadians on their way to the gold-medal game, Lindsey Vonn’s heroic gold-medal comeback from a shin injury, or Apolo Ohno becoming the most decorated American winter Olympian of all time, you can’t help but be inspired by the sheer grit and athletic prowess on display in Vancouver.
And it’s not just the medal count that’s inspiring – though we’ve certainly done great on that score. What’s truly inspiring is the character of the men and women who have won those medals. The sacrifices they’ve made. The integrity they’ve shown. The indomitable Olympic spirit that says no matter who you are or where you come from or what difficulties you may face, you can work hard and train hard and still triumph in the end. That is why we watch. That is why we cheer. That is why in the middle of an extremely challenging time for America, we’ve been able to come together as one nation for a few weeks in February and swell with pride at what our citizens have achieved.
Now, when it comes to meeting the larger challenges we face as a nation, I realize that finding this unity is easier said than done – especially in Washington. But if we want to compete on the world stage as well as we’ve competed in the world’s games, we need to find common ground. We need to move past the bickering and the game-playing that holds us back and blocks progress for the American people.
We know it’s possible to do this. And we were reminded of that last week when Democrats and Republicans in the Senate came together to pass a jobs bill that will give small businesses tax credits to hire more workers. We also saw it when Democrats and Republicans in the House came together to pass a bill that will force insurance companies to abide by common-sense rules that prevent price-fixing and other practices that drive up health care costs.
We need that same spirit of cooperation and bipartisanship when it comes to finally passing reform that will bring down the cost of health care and give Americans more control over their insurance. On Thursday, we brought both parties together for a frank and productive discussion about this issue. In that discussion, we heard many areas of agreement. Both sides agreed that the rising cost of health care is a serious problem that plagues families, small businesses, and our federal budget. Many on both sides agreed that we should give small businesses and individuals the ability to participate in a new insurance marketplace – which members of Congress would also use – that would allow them to pool their purchasing power and get a better deal from insurance companies. And I heard some ideas from our Republican friends that I believe are very worthy of consideration.
But still, there were differences. We disagreed over whether insurance companies should be held accountable when they deny people care or arbitrarily raise premiums. I believe they should. We disagreed over giving tax credits to small businesses and individuals that would make health care affordable for those who don’t have it. This would be the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history, and I believe we should do it. And while we agreed that Americans with pre-existing conditions should be able to get coverage, we disagreed on how to do that.
Some of these disagreements we may be able to resolve. Some we may not. And no final bill will include everything that everyone wants. That’s what compromise is. I said at the end of Thursday’s summit that I am eager and willing to move forward with members of both parties on health care if the other side is serious about coming together to resolve our differences and get this done. But I also believe that we cannot lose the opportunity to meet this challenge. The tens of millions of men and women who cannot afford their health insurance cannot wait another generation for us to act. Small businesses cannot wait. Americans with pre-existing conditions cannot wait. State and federal budgets cannot sustain these rising costs.
It is time for us to come together. It is time for us to act. It is time for those of us in Washington to live up to our responsibilities to the American people and to future generations. So let’s get this done.
Thanks for listening.
Today is ...
Today is Saturday, February 27, the 58th day of 2010.
There are 307 days left in the year.
There are 307 days left in the year.
Today In History February 27
Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:
(Actually it's a night)
Open That Bottle Night
(Actually it's a night)
Open That Bottle Night
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bangkok, Krung Thep, Thailand
London, England, United Kingdom
Nieuwegein, Utrecht, Netherlands
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador
Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
Leeuwarden, Freisland, Netherlands
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
as well as Brazil, Scotland, Wales, Iran, and the United States in such cities as Willingboro, Fuquay Varina, Euless, Piscataway, Elgin, Kenosha, Waterloo, Visalia, Rolla, Clovis, Laredo, Tavares and many, many more
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bangkok, Krung Thep, Thailand
London, England, United Kingdom
Nieuwegein, Utrecht, Netherlands
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador
Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
Leeuwarden, Freisland, Netherlands
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
as well as Brazil, Scotland, Wales, Iran, and the United States in such cities as Willingboro, Fuquay Varina, Euless, Piscataway, Elgin, Kenosha, Waterloo, Visalia, Rolla, Clovis, Laredo, Tavares and many, many more
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
Those bright lights in the sky?
The stars are glowing, and they're turning up the intensity on all our emotions.
In your case, it's adding fire and passion to your disposition, as well.
Now, you're already quite the fireball to start with, so you don't need any help in this department.
But should anyone challenge you, even playfully, you'll not only accept the challenge -- you'll outdo yourself to prove to them you're bulletproof.
Just call me Superman.
Those bright lights in the sky?
The stars are glowing, and they're turning up the intensity on all our emotions.
In your case, it's adding fire and passion to your disposition, as well.
Now, you're already quite the fireball to start with, so you don't need any help in this department.
But should anyone challenge you, even playfully, you'll not only accept the challenge -- you'll outdo yourself to prove to them you're bulletproof.
Just call me Superman.
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