The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:
The line between flirting and confusing is especially thin today, so make sure you're not toying with anyone you care about!
Even if it all feels innocent and playful, you need to be sure you know what you're dealing with.
Flirting is one thing, but playing with someone you think might be interested when you're absolutely not just isn't fair.
Of course, if you're both single and you may be interested, then have at it and have fun!

Some of our readers today have been in:

Port-Au-Prince, Ouest, Haiti

Sydney, new South Wales, Australia

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Rakasima, Thailand

Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia

Bremen, Bremen, Germany

Seoul, Kyonggi-Do, Korea

Quebec, Quebec, Canada

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia

Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

London, England, United Kingdom

Paris, Ile-De-France, France

New Delhi, Delhi, India

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

as well as Brazil, and the United States in such cities as Eugene, Helen, Alexandria, Charlotte and more cities named for people.

Today is Thursday, April 1, the 91st day of 2010.

There are 274 days left in the year.

This is April Fool's Day.

Today In History April 1

Today's unusual holidays and celebrations are:

National Fun Day,

National Fun At Work Day,

Poetry and Creative Mind Day,

Sorry Charlie Day,

and

Saint Stupid Day

April is ...

International Guitar Month

International TWIT Award Month

National Humor Month

National Garden Month

National Pecan Month

National Poetry Month

All Fools Day

All Fool's Day, also known as April Fool's Day, is celebrated annually on the first day of April. It is a time for the traditional playing of pranks upon unsuspecting people...the victim of such a prank being called an April Fool.

The origins of this custom are somewhat uncertain, but may have initially been related to the arrival of Spring in late March, at which time Mother Nature is said to "fool" the human race with sudden and fickle changes in the weather...showers one minute and sunshine the next. The playing of practical jokes, however, dates back to Ancient Rome and such activities were an integral part of the Hilaria celebrations held on March 25, a celebration which would again appear to be associated with the coming of Spring and the Vernal Equinox, held to honor the resurrection of Attis, Roman God of Vegetation who was linked to the seasonal cycle. In England, an ancient legend states that April Fool's Day commemorates the fruitless mission of the Rook (or European Crow) which was sent out in search of land from Noah's flood-encircled ark.

It is generally accepted that the All Fool's Day tradition began in France during the Sixteenth Century, when the beginning of the New Year was observed on April 1 and was celebrated in much the same way as New Year is today with parties and dancing late into the night. At that time, the festivities ran for a week, beginning on March 25, and included the exchanging of gifts. In 1582, however, during the reign of King Charles IX, Pope Gregory introduced a revised calendar for the Christian world wherein the New Year fell on January 1. Since it took some time, possibly even years, for many people to even hear word of the change (communications being what they were in the Sixteenth Century) and since others obstinately refused to accept such reform or simply forgot, New Year's Day continued to be celebrated on the first day of April in many areas. Individuals who had accepted the dates of the new calendar played tricks on those who had not and referred to the unfortunate victims of such pranks as "April Fools," sending them on a "fool's errand" (an invitation to a non-existent party, for example) or attempting to make them believe that something which was true was actually false. Over time, this practice evolved into an annual tradition of April 1 prank-playing, eventually migrating to England and Scotland during the Eighteenth Century and thus, introduced to the American colonies by British and French settlers.

Some historians maintain that the development of All Fool's Day is linked to the medieval Feast of Asses or Feast of Fools, and the latter certainly was a most popular French festival. It does, however, seem unlikely that such a feast day was associated in any manner with the New Year in this instance, since such celebrations occurred at the time of the Feast of the Circumcision on January 1 which, during medieval times, was not the date of the New Year (under the Julian calendar, the New Year was celebrated in March). With the passage of time, it is far from easy to now distinguish between the Feast of Fools and the Feast of Asses, which may also have been celebrated in January. Many church dignitaries were honored on specific feast days during the Christmas season...the deacons on December 26 (Saint Stephen's Day), the priests on December 27 (Saint John's Day), the choristers and mass-servers on December 28 (Day of the Holy Innocents) and the sub-deacons on January 1 (Feast of the Circumcision). Later, the feast of the sub-deacons was replaced by the Guild of Fools, the customs and buffoonery of which then became associated with the sub-deacons' festivities and most likely had their origins in earlier Pagan customs, such as the Roman Saturnalia (celebrated in December), when slaves were granted temporary equality with their masters. During the Feast of Asses, the preacher impersonated the Hebrew prophets while arguing the Divinity of Christ. This sermon evolved into a drama, including actors and a procession which incorporated the riding of an ass (most probably symbolized by a hobby horse) into the church. This lavish spectacle was greatly appreciated and enjoyed by the parishioners...so much so, that it eventually developed separately until the festival became known as the Feast of Asses and, in its turn, gradually became absorbed into the Feast of Fools. The Feast of Fools was later outlawed by the Church in some areas due to the licentious behavior of the congregation during this time.

There is even speculation that All Fool's Day originated in the Hindu festival of Huli or Holi, celebrated in March to commemorate the defeat of evil. Originally lasting for five days, the modern version of this festival covers two days only. On the first day, a bonfire is lit and, on the second, people throw colored powder and water over each other. Holi celebrations are associated with the Hindu Demoness, Holika.

In many cultures, tradition dictates that the pranking period must expire at noon on April 1 and any jokes attempted after that hour will bring back luck to the perpetrator. In addition, any who fail to respond with a good humor to tricks played upon them are said to attract bad luck unto themselves. Such victims are, however, entitled to "turn the tables" after the hour of noon with the retort: "April Fool's gone past...and you're the biggest fool at last!" It should be noted that not all April Fool superstitions are negative. Males who are fooled by a pretty female, for example, are said to be fated to marry the girl...or at least enjoy a healthy friendship with her.

The style of April Fool's pranks has changed over the years. Sending unsuspecting parties on pointless errands was a particularly prized practical joke in the early history of the celebrations. Today, however, it is often a time of initiation rites into a club or group, especially by the adult population, and it is the children who appear to truly celebrate the day complete with its original sense of abandon. Otherwise, modern pranks tend to center more around bogus telephone calls and media-driven foolery. In sum, All Fool's Day is a "for fun only" observance...a time when nobody is expected to buy gifts, receive cards or spend money and there are no vacations from work or school. The primary force behind April Fool's Day jokes and pranks are that they should not be harmful but able to be enjoyed by everyone...especially the person upon whom the joke is played.

[More]

April is Confederate History Month

April is Confederate History Month

Stay ahead of April Fools' pranksters

Stay ahead of April Fools' pranksters

The Web is searching for jokes, pranks, tricks, and even the history of the day filled with deceit.

Dates back to 1564? 

Also: 

• Office Fools' pranks
• Computer pranks
• Laughter is no joke

As The World Turns

As The World Turns

Beheading Planned in Saudi Sorcery Case

Full Story

A Lebanese man charged with sorcery and sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia is scheduled to be beheaded on Friday, the man's lawyer said Wednesday..
May El Khansa, the attorney for Ali Hussain Sibat, said that she and Sibat's family were informed about the upcoming execution.
She said she heard from a source in Saudi Arabia with knowledge of the case and the proceedings that Saudi authorities "will carry out the execution."
Sibat is the former host of a popular call-in show that aired on Beirut-based satellite TV channel "Sheherazade."
According to his lawyer, Sibat would predict the future on his show and give out advice to his audience.
El Khansa said her client was arrested by Saudi Arabia's religious police (known as the Mutawa'een) and charged with sorcery while visiting the country in May 2008.

Let me get this straight. So, a guy tells loads of lies on a TV program, suckering in idiots. He then goes to another country in order conform to another lot of lies. He is then arrested and sentenced to death by another lot of liars, on the basis of yet more lies.

OK. Got it.

Caning reprieve for beer drinker

Malaysian Muslim model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, 33, who has been given a reprieve after being sentenced to a caning enlarge A Malaysian mother-of-two sentenced to be caned for drinking beer under Islamic law has had her punishment commuted.

18 Killed In Attacks On Mexican Army Bases

Full Story

Dozens of gunmen mounted rare and apparently coordinated attacks targeting two army garrisons in northern Mexico, touching off firefights that killed 18 attackers.

Who could be the next Greece?

Despite worries about America's debts, emerging economies are more troublesome.

'The next crisis' 

Also: 

• Should U.S. be worried?
• Manufacturing revs up
• Emerging markets

The State Of The Nation

The State Of The Nation

Iran nuclear scientist defects to U.S.

A prize-winning physicist is helping the CIA confirm suspicions about Iran's nuclear program.

'A major coup' 

Also: 

• Shahram Amiri
• Progress of sanctions
• Iran shipping arms

A federal judge today ruled that the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program was illegal. In doing so, the judge rejects the Obama administration's attempts to maintain the secrecy around the widely criticized program introduced by Bush after the 9/11 attacks:

In a 45-page opinion, Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled that the government had violated a 1978 federal statute requiring court approval for domestic surveillance when it intercepted phone calls of Al Haramain, a now-defunct Islamic charity in Oregon, and of two lawyers who were representing it in 2004. Declaring that the plaintiffs had been "subjected to unlawful surveillance," the judge said that the government was liable to pay them damages. The ruling delivered a blow to the Bush administration's claims that its warrantless surveillance program, which Mr. Bush secretly authorized shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, was lawful. Under the program, the National Security Agency monitored Americans' e-mail messages and phone calls without court approval, even though the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, required warrants.

Federal Judge Finds N.S.A. Wiretapping Program Illegal

North Korean defector calls for US-South Korea trade accord

Full Story

The highest-ranking North Korean official ever to defect to South Korea said Wednesday that Washington and Seoul should settle a stalled free trade accord as a way to thwart the North's efforts to weaken their alliance.

Missouri lawmaker gets protection order against her husband

An eastern Missouri lawmaker is facing an election challenge from her own husband, whom she accuses him of physical violence.

Full Story

Cities and states turn to debt collectors

Collectors are recouping unpaid fees and parking tickets "with whatever means they can."  

Even libraries using them 

Also: 

• State debt woes grow
• Sales taxes at record high
• Most ticketed cars

Local Hospitality

Local Hospitality

Crook with a hook: Man comes up empty fishing for cash in SC's bank night deposit box

South Carolina authorities said a fishing crook never had a chance to land the big one.

Greenpeace uncovers massive anti-climate change payouts to wingnut think tanks

Surprise, surprise, surprise.
This obscure company, Koch Industries, has spent over $73 million to help fund the deniers.
As always, follow the money.

Greenpeace says that Koch Industries donated nearly $48m (£31.8m) to climate opposition groups between 1997-2008. From 2005-2008, it donated $25m to groups opposed to climate change, nearly three times as much as higher-profile funders that time such as oil company ExxonMobil. Koch also spent $5.7m on political campaigns and $37m on direct lobbying to support fossil fuels.

In a hard-hitting report, which appears to confirm environmentalists' suspicions that there is a well-funded opposition to the science of climate change, Greenpeace accuses the funded groups of "spreading inaccurate and misleading information" about climate science and clean energy companies.

"The company's network of lobbyists, former executives and organisations has created a forceful stream of misinformation that Koch-funded entities produce and disseminate. The propaganda is then replicated, repackaged and echoed many times throughout the Koch-funded web of political front groups and think tanks," said Greenpeace.

Lunatic Fringe

Lunatic Fringe 

Typical Wingnut

The repugicans have now given up Patriotism  

For 8 years, the repugicans waved their flags and passed laws with names like the "Patriot Act". 

Now that they are no longer in power repugicans are openly wishing for the president to fail. 

Repugicans are talking about states seceding from the country. Where is all that patriotic talk now? 

Like fiscal responsibility, the repugicans have now abandoned patriotism.

The reason we are in this crisis is because the repugicans went on a drunken spending binge. 

Now that the party is over the repugicans are running out of the bar without paying their tab. 

Repugicans need to take responsibility instead of heckling Obama while he cleans up their mess.

"There's something ugly in the air...For the first time in history the barbarians have breached the citadel; to have Barack Obama in the White House is the cultural equivalent of electing Madonna to the papacy."

    ~ David P. Goldman,     

Details

 

 Did David P. Goldman just say "No niggers in the White House?"

 Methinks he did.

Repugicans try to deflect attention from bondage-themed, lesbian sex story

It's not working!

Liars and Fools

christian cabal says Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Michigan) is a traitor just like Benedict Arnold and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. 

They're idiots who think some disembodied sky fairy is real so who cares what they say.

Un-American anti-Family Assholes' Bryan Fischer hopes Americans will violently revolt against the "tyranny of a repressive central government". 

Ain't gonna happen ...  violently throwing off the tyranny of a repressive group like yours, however ...

Faux News asks "What's next for radical White House?".

It's Faux News - Nuff Said.

*****

The religio-wingnuts are boycotting the rnc over Michael Steele's lesbian bondage scandal

From CNN:

The head of an influential social conservative organization urged members and supporters Wednesday to stop donating to the Republican National Committee and instead contribute to its own coffers or to candidates with like-minded goals.

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, made the plea in his "Washington Update" column posted on the organization's Web site following the revelation that the RNC paid for a night out at a risque Hollywood nightclub.

"I've hinted at this before, but now I am saying it -- don't give money to the RNC," Perkins said in his column. "If you want to put money into the political process, and I encourage you to do so, give directly to candidates who you know reflect your values.

"Better yet, become a member of FRC Action and learn about the benefits it offers, including participating in the FRC Action PAC which can support candidates who will advance faith, family and freedom," he said.

Perkins is the latest social conservative leader to openly criticize RNC Chairman Michael Steele for allowing the controversial expenditure to happen under his watch.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pennsylvania, and Penny Nance, the head of Conservative Women for America, both publicly questioned Steele's leadership this week.

My, my what a surprise - when there's bondage up pops Santorum.

Repugican 'Family Values' In Action

                           http://whatnowtoons.com/

How FBI agent infiltrated Hutaree militia

How FBI agent infiltrated Hutaree militia

The undercover agent built explosives under the direction of the accused militia leader, feds say.  

What they witnessed 

Also: 

• Copycat plots unlikely
• More about Hutaree
• Final suspect arraigned

Palin's show drops LL Cool J after he complains

An upcoming Faux News Channel special hosted by Sarah Palin is titled "Real American Stories." But rapper-actor LL Cool J says his participation in the show was bogus.

Full Story

Teabonics

The Teabaggers command of the English language is shall we say well, ... unique

Lots more.

Scientific Minds Want To Know

Scientific Minds Want To Know

The ability to delay gratification allows humans to accomplish such goals as saving for retirement, going to the gym regularly and choosing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In a paper published March 28 in the journal Nature Neuroscience, a team of researchers for the first time causally shows that this ability is rooted in a part of the frontal lobe of the brain: the prefrontal cortex.

New Paper Pinpoints a Seat of Self-Control in the Brain

Pictish art may have actually been written language

 

How do you tell the difference between art and written language?

Oh, yeah. It's math.

[Rob Lee] and colleagues Philip Jonathan and Pauline Ziman analyzed the engravings, found on the few hundred known Pictish Stones. The researchers used a mathematical process known as Shannon entropy to study the order, direction, randomness and other characteristics of each engraving.
The resulting data was compared with that for numerous written languages, such as Egyptian hieroglyphs, Chinese texts and written Latin, Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, Ancient Irish, Old Irish and Old Welsh. While the Pictish Stone engravings did not match any of these, they displayed characteristics of writing based on a spoken language.

Shannon entropy is a measure of the amount of information that we get from knowing one English letter. It's kind of the Entropy of Wheel of Fortune—how many guesses does it take to figure out all the letters of a sentence using only the information provided by the letters previously guessed. Besides identifying ancient scripts, it makes for a fun, time-wasting applet game.

Full Story  

From Treehuger:

photo: Martin Male via flickr.

A couple days ago we learned that, at least for now, it doesn't appear that the Gulf Stream is slowing down because of our changing climate. But now, new research has discovered more about how 13,000 years ago a mega-flood of fresh water poured into the Atlantic and trigged the millennia-long mini ice age known as the Younger Dryas.

Article continues: Route of 13,000 Year Old Mini Ice Age Inducing Mega-Flood Determined

Surveillance planes tasked with new job

Surveillance planes tasked with new job

NASA has retrofitted remote-controlled Global Hawk aircraft for a new mission.  

Maiden voyage over Pacific Ocean 

Also: 

• Unmanned aircraft
• NASA joins Toyota probe
• Soyuz space launch prep

Interesting In General

Interesting In General

Why the speeding 'cushion' is disappearing

The 5-10 mph buffer drivers get to go over the speed limit is becoming a thing of the past.  

More  

Also: 

• Haunted by paid-off fines
• 'Idol' cited for speeding
• Highest speed limits

Navy frigate captures pirate 'mother ship'

Navy frigate captures pirate 'mother ship'

A band of pirates targets the USS Nicholas — and ends up losing a lot more than just the firefight.  

Details 

Also: 

• Rash of recent attacks
• Captain talks double-cross
• New pirate-fighting ships

Rescued from Haiti, but then put in jail

Rescued from Haiti, but then put in jail

Thirty quake survivors whisked away from the rubble remain locked up in Florida. 

What happened  

Also:

• More on Haiti refugees
• Dilemma for many lost kids
• Donors pledge $10 billion

It's The Economy Stupid

It's The Economy Stupid

Items not worth buying in bulk

Paper towels may not be perishable, but buying the jumbo pack can still be a mistake. 

Candy and nuts, too 

Also: 

• Insider car-buying tips
• Find cheaper airfares
• Online coupons

How bargain vacation homes can cost you

Low prices may tempt you, but steer clear unless you fall into one of these three categories.  

Hidden risks 

Also: 

• Getaways of the ultrarich
• Rent out your home
• Best budget beaches

7 steps to get your finances on track

Many Americans are still spooked about their financial situation — these tips can ease the anxiety.

What to focus on 

Also: 

• Playing retirement catchup
• Trick yourself into saving
• Saving on groceries

Some states hurt more by gas prices

Drivers in one southern state spend the largest percentage of their income fueling up their cars. 

The 10 worst 

Also: 

• Gas saving tips
• Toyota sales spike
• Offshore drilling anger

Big businesses hiring right now

These companies are expanding their workforces aggressively despite the economy.  

One added 15,000 workers 

Also: 

• End to job losses nearing
• 5 recession-resistant jobs
• Why resumés get tossed

In Matters Of Health

In Matters Of Health

Having recently lost a good friend to this and his mother shortly thereafter we've been checking up on this closely:

Giant Colon Is New Tool In Cancer Education

Colon cancer is one of the deadliest, yet most preventable of all cancers

How to detect counterfeit money

How to detect counterfeit money

Some of the new security features found on U.S. bills can hardly be seen.  

What's written on Grant's collar? 

Also:

• Who is on $10,000 bill?
• 5 ways to fix your credit
• How to save successfully

Cyber Warrior Makeup May Hide Your Face From Surveillance

Gathering info from a variety of different face-tracking programs (all based on the rudimentary, yet effective Viola-Jones Method, Harvey alters and experiments with images to make them undetectable. His most recent run used women’s faces from “Figure Drawing for Fashion Design” and smeared each visage with, erm, Lady Gaga-esque weirdness. As one may suspect, the stranger, more asymmetrical designs evading the detecting software more readily. Identifying ‘Haar-like features’ for identification — or the pixels that cameras detect as belonging to face — Harvey attempted to confuse and contort the software, by confusing and contorting the face.

Switched: Abstract, Cyber Warrior Makeup May Hide Your Face From Surveillance

Beauty products already in your kitchen

Beauty products already in your kitchen

Avocados have long been used for face masks, but other products can boost your look.  

Soda cans, coffee grounds 

Also:

• Items for a comfy place
• Home beauty products
• Six spring accessories

Odds and Sods

Odds and Sods

The EU's trademarks authority has permitted a German firm to brew beer and produce clothing under the name "Fucking Hell".

Coming soon to a pub near you: Fucking Hell

It is likely to heighten Fucking's fame, which is something Meindl, the town's mayor, isn't happy about, given the trouble the name has caused it over the years. "Twelve or 13 town signs have been stolen. We've taken to fixing them with concrete, welding and rivets."

Fucking: a town in Austria, notorious for busloads of American tourists lining up next to the town sign to get their pictures taken.
Hell: German for a light ale.

Combining the two: Hilarity. Plus marketing genius.

More.

Find this Man. Take him to the track, let him pick the Ponies...

A Chinese army recruit somehow managed to escape unhurt after throwing a badly aimed grenade.

The grenade hit a wall, ricocheting back to explode in the recruit's training bunker.

Nobody was hurt

Officer Material for sure!

Full Story

Jesse James Nazi Pics Hit the Web as Bullock Decides to Divorce

Full story

A new picture has arisen of Sandra Bullock's husband, Jesse James, wearing a Nazi visor and standing in a mock Nazi salute, just about a week-and-a-half after modeling pictures of Michelle "Bombshell" McGee wearing a Swastika armband showed up.

 In Cop News

Ohio mother suspects racial profiling as her three sons, age 7, 9, and 10, are held at gunpoint by un-named cop while walking home from school

Lawsuit claims New Jersey police department imposes a quota system

South Carolina cop who quit now faces civil rights charges

Arizona man sues cops over jailhouse attack while cop who beat him remains on paid leave

Did a racist coup in a northern Louisiana town overthrow its black mayor and police chief?

Florida jailer quits after drawing gun in rage at Taco Bell

New York police officer charged in car theft ring

Fired Texas cop gets probation for misusing credit

Illinois cop arrested for official misconduct and theft

Dozens allege brutality by Detroit cops' gang squad