The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:
No matter who you know or how long you've actually known them, you just can't seem to avoid being put in charge of them from time to time.
Right now, what you're being asked to do by a friend amounts to them putting you in a position in which you are giving far more than you are likely to get back.
Just say no -- with confidence -- and tell them why you're refusing.

Some of our readers today have been in:

Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Bremen, Bremen, Germany

London, England, United Kingdom

Rauma, Western Finland, Finland

Seoul, Kyonggi-Do, Korea

Quebec, Quebec, Canada

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Melbourne, Victoria,Australia

Coffs Harbor, New South Wales, Australia

Vienna, Wein, Austria

Kiev, Kyyiv, Ukraine

Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia

Paris, Ile-De-France, France

Sheffield, England, United Kingdom

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Cairo, Al Qahirah, Egypt

as well as Singapore, and the United States in such cities as Totowa, Tallahassee, Tuscumbia, Tomah, Tacoma and more

Today is Thursday, June 24, the 175th day of 2010.

There are 190 days left in the year.

Today In History June 24

Today's unusual holidays or celebrations are:

International Fairy Day

National Bomb Pop Day

and

National Handshake Day

It is also the Celebration Of The Senses

World Cup Soccer

U.S. hero blows kiss to ex-wife Bianca

After scoring the biggest goal of his life, soccer star Landon Donovan makes a mysterious tribute.  

Special meaning 

Also: 

• Donovan's ex-wife
• Hollywood ending for U.S.
• More World Cup coverage

What's next for U.S. World Cup team

After a thrilling victory, Tim Howard and Co. will be looking for some revenge Saturday in South Africa.

Familiar foe 

Also: 

• Emotions running high
• Biggest win ever?
• More on Ghana's team

It's The Economy Stupid

It's The Economy Stupid

Shaky future for middle-class tax cuts

The growing federal deficit might spell the end for some long-standing financial breaks. 

Democrat drops a hint 

Also: 

• Average salary by state
• Fixed-income survival tips
• Warning to health insurers

Four simple ways to boost your nest egg

More workers are saying it's becoming harder to save for their retirement.  

Strategies for getting back on track 

Also: 

• Threats to your retirement
• Be defensive with savings
• Smart to buy & hold?

How to cut your auto insurance rates

Of course, your driving record is a big factor, but insurers also look at credit ratings and other signs.  

Tricks & tips 

Also: 

• Gas prices peaking
• Time to buy a home?
• The worst drivers

Company Recalls Bagged Spinach After Bad Sample In NC

Tests by a state agency have prompted the voluntary recall of spinach sold in North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said in a statement Wednesday that Lancaster Foods of Jessup, Md. is recalling its Krisp-Pak Ready to Eat Hydro-Cooled Fresh Spinach.
Routine tests found Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious ailments in pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
The agency's Food and Drug Protection Division found the bacteria in a sample from an Elizabeth City store.
Director Dan Ragan says no illnesses linked to the spinach have been reported.
The company is asking people who bought the product to throw out the spinach, save the package and call 800-247-8125.

Court throws out Viacom's copyright suit against YouTube

One for the good guys

We'll have to wait for the copyright experts to weigh in, but I suspect that this is good news for YouTube fans.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York has just granted YouTube’s motion for summary judgment against Viacom, meaning that the site is off the hook in Viacom’s billion-dollar copyright infringement case.

Both sides had filed motions for summary judgment in March, which is essentially a way to expedite the court case without going to a jury. YouTube had once again invoked protection under the DMCA’s Safe Harbor provisions in its filing, and the court apparently agreed.

*****

Held on the Tarmac ... again

Miserable scene for stranded passengers

After waiting nearly five hours on a hot, dark plane, passengers are finally put on a bus. 

Loophole in tarmac law 

Also: 

• Passenger interviews
• View related photos
• Airline tarmac rule

Shoe

Woman from iconic WWII photo dies

Woman from iconic WWII photo dies

Edith Shain was etched into America's psyche after a chance meeting with a sailor in Times Square.

91 years old 

Also: 

• More on Edith Shain
• Remembering Korean War
• Iconic war images

Historic auction's prices stun collectors

Historic auction's prices stun collectors

A work by Ansel Adams was expected to fetch as little as $300,000 – but sells for far more.

14 record prices set 

Also: 

• Slave photo controversy
• Financier's toys auctioned
• Search: Ansel Adams

Keeping a keen edge on the brain

Easy ways to keep your brain sharp

Research shows there is a lot you can do to avoid those worrisome forgetful moments.  

Techniques worth trying 

Also: 

• 4 brain exercises
• Anti-aging brain foods
• Free Sudoku puzzles

Helpful Hints

Helpful Hints

Tips to keep your diet on track

Find how to avoid common stumbling blocks that can foil a weight-loss plan's success.  

The No. 1 diet derailer 

Also: 

• Summer calorie burner
• Fun moves for flat abs
• Diet calorie-counter

Best unknown travel spots

Best travel spots you've never heard of

These overlooked destinations feature everything from striking mountains to picturesque islands.  

11 hidden gems 

Also: 

• Pics of the locations
• Top summer destinations
• Airports you should avoid

B.C.

And now the blind can see

Blinded eyes restored to sight by stem cells

The treatment brings hope to people with eyes blinded by chemical and heat burns

Man hadn't seen for 50 years

Brain origins of 'blindsight' revealed 
The spooky phenomenon that allows some blind people to navigate around objects has been pinned down to connections in the thalamus

Scientific Minds Want To Know

Scientific Minds Want To Know

Fin to limb evolution clue found A study has shed light on a key genetic step in the evolution of animals' limbs from the fins of fish, scientists say. Arctic fossils mark move to land

'Superstorm' rages on exoplanet

Astronomers measure high-speed winds in the atmosphere of a gas giant planet which orbits a distant star.

Sunspots' mysterious disappearance

Sunspots' mysterious disappearance

Diminishing magnetic activity hints that something profound is happening inside the sun.

Scrutiny

Also:

• More on the solar cycle
• Alien world's superstorm
• John Glenn's shuttle plea

Strange Watery Desert in Brazil

The rippling desert dunes of Brazil's Lencois Maranhenses National Park trap water.

Bumblebee may be endangered species

Bumblebee may be endangered species

A conservation group is seeking protected status for the California and Oregon insects.  

A rapid decline 

Also: 

• Why they are important
• Bees assess pesticide risk
• Behind U.S. hive collapse

It's Only The Environment After All

It's Only The Environment After All

Floating nurseries hit by Deepwater Horizon spill

The spawning grounds of 120 species of fish, including the endangered bluefin tuna, are under threat as oil makes it way towards them

It's Not Like We Don't Have Another One

Ziggy

Prisoners involved in home-buying scam

Inmates involved in home-buying scam

Much of nearly $30 million in stolen tax credits went to prison inmates, including 241 serving life sentences.  

Details 

Also: 

• Gulf home sales slide
• Modified-mortgage defaults
• Tips on home buying

Bad Cops

Bad Cops

Florida cop gets ten years for shooting man in the back, paralyzing him for life

Canadian prosecutors consider criminal charges against four police officers in Taser death

California cop convicted for dismissing a speeding ticket against a woman in exchange for sex

Atlanta expected to pay $20,000 to 62-year-old woman arrested for asking a police officer a question

North Carolina cop is charged with assault and battery for allegedly punching a man

Deputy Suspended For Breaking Suspect's Nose

A deputy is back on duty now but earlier this month he spent three days in "time-out."

According to the Sheriff, he suspended the deputy for hitting a suspect while arresting him.
Chesterfield County Sheriff Sam Parker told the Morning News of Florence the incident happened in early June.

The report says the deputy arrested the man for disorderly conduct, being underage in possession of alcohol and resisting arrest. While he was booking the suspect, the deputy says the suspect made a sexual comment about his daughter.

Sheriff Parker says that's when the deputy hit him, breaking the suspect's nose.
The incident was caught on tape and Parker says it shows that the suspect and the deputy were out of control.

Sheriff Parker would not release the name of the deputy or suspect.

Woman Jailed For Starting Office Fire To Leave Work Early

A Florida woman was sentenced to nine months in jail, followed by five years of probation, for starting an office fire so she could get out of work early.

From the article: "Pasco sheriff's investigators said Michelle Perrino, 40, started a fire at Bayonet Point Oxygen on May 12, 2009.

Perrino drew suspicion when she mentioned the fire's origin — a filing cabinet — during an employee meeting.

Employees had not been told where the fire started." I hope she had the good sense to start the fire on Friday so she could have a long weekend.

Full Story

Lunatic Fringe

Lunatic Fringe

When dealing with wingnuts ... Remember the rule: 

If they accuse someone of something, then they're already guilty of it.

Liars and Fools

Wingnut Thomas Sowell lies Obama is dismantling democracy, just like Hitler did.
Wrong. That was the shrub and the cabal who attempted to do that - we stopped them.

Faux's Glenn Beck lies: government is going to take control of the internet, tells listeners to "buy a short-wave radio".
Full onset of paranoid dementia ... but that is SOP (standard operating procedure) for Faux.

Faux's Glenn Beck suggests that George Soros is going to try to kill him.
Nurse, where's that Thorazine, Stat?!

Faux's Glenn Beck tells military veterans to come out of retirement to fight "the same damn hippies" who "have our country by the throat".
First off the idiot doesn't 'tell' us anything ... much less telling us who to fight - if anyone, it will be he and those of his ilk we will fight and for the record: we would win

Non Sequitur

Australians shoot each other in backside 'to see if it would hurt'

From the "These guys are idiots" Department:

Two Australian men have been treated in hospital after they decided to shoot each other with an air rifle "to see if it would hurt".

The men, both aged 34, underwent surgery to remove slug pellets from their bums and legs.

They had been drinking for several hours when they hit upon the plan to shoot each other for fun. They then took turns firing the air rifle at each others' body parts.

The following day, both men found themselves in severe pain, and went to hospital, where doctors had to remove several slug pellets from their buttocks and thighs.

''Basically it was two mates in a shed having a drink,'' Sergeant Brendan Khan from Horsham Police in the southern state of Victoria said.

''They have admitted that it was just stupidity and they wanted to see if it was painful or not.'' The friends could face criminal charges over the incident and one of the men involved has had his firearms license confiscated.