The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:
You know that the stuff available at the mall just isn't going to cut it -- you don't want to find something special and then see it walking down the street toward you, or on the wall at a restaurant.
Shopping online feels like delayed gratification, so you might feel frustrated.
It's time to look for unique treasures made by local craftspeople, artists or jewelers -- or to root around at a flea market or antique mall.

Some of our readers today have been in:

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Paris, Ile-De-France, France

Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Coffs Harbor, New South Wales, Australia

Rockingham, Western Australia, Australia

Zurich. Zurich, Switzerland

London, England, United Kingdom

Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia

Annecy, Rhone-Alpes, France

Moscow, Moskva, Russia

Tripoli, Tarabulus, Lybia

Non Buri, Nonthaburi, Thailand

Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Bad Vilbel, Hessen, Germany

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Hull End, England, United Kingdom

Mansfield, England, United Kingdom

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany

Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany

Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Gatineau, Quebec, Canada

Rome, Lazio, Italy

as well as Sweden, Brazil, and the United States in such cities as hercules, Nashua, Racine, Walla Walla and more

Today is Friday, June 25, the 176th day of 2010.

There are 189 days left in the year.

Today In History June 25

Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:

Take Your Dog To Work Day

World Cup Soccer

Landon Donovan's life-changing moment

The U.S. soccer star stands to make millions of dollars after his heroic goal, one writer says.  

Can copy Beckham 

Also: 

• Twist in star's love life
• Best World Cup goals
• U.S. players talk Ghana

New twist in World Cup hero's love life

Landon Donovan reveals that he's not so estranged from actress Bianca Kajlich after all.

An emotional call 

Also: 

• Donovan's big moment
• Bianca Kajlich
• More World Cup coverage

Defending World Cup champions stunned

Italy is booted from the tournament despite a schedule that many thought would be a breeze.

Historic collapse 

Also: 

• Coach takes the blame
• Biggest Cup upsets
• Call for instant replay

Soccer fan living inside giant ball

An Australian man is spending the entire month of the World Cup inside a unique "apartment."  

What he does all day 

Also: 

• World Cup schedule
• Fan's passionate reaction
• Win predicted by octopus

Why players in World Cup trade jerseys

The peculiar tradition that takes place after most soccer games goes back a long ways.  

What they do with them 

Also: 

• Best sports traditions
• Man living in soccer ball
• France returns home

A walk in the park

U.S.-Russia relations now a walk in the park

Obama and Medvedev's burger run and Twitter jokes show how much tensions have eased.  

Shared fries 

Also: 

• Medvedev gets iPhone
• KGB's successor
• Obama's lunch spots

As The World Turns

As The World Turns

Stalin Falls Down

Iconic statue torn down in dead of night

A towering monument to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin vanishes from his hometown in a secretive operation.  

Replacement 

Also: 

• Search: Josef Stalin
• Mao statue crackdown
• U.S. battle flag for sale

*****

In Matters Of Health

In Matters Of Health

Shocking rise in whooping cough

California declares an epidemic after five infant deaths and more than 900 cases are reported.

What parents should do 

Also: 

• Childhood immunizations
• Activities that kids love
• Dealing with picky eaters

Culinary DeLites

Culinary DeLites

Satisfying low-calorie supermarket snacks

Reach for these diet-friendly picks when you get the craving for something sweet, cool, or crunchy.  

100 calories or less 

Also: 

• 8 new food 'rules'
• Foods to fight cellulite
• Low-carb snacks

Restaurants where kids can eat free

Budget-conscious families can score great deals for dining out with the children.

What popular places offer 

Also: 

• Stress-free family dining
• Find restaurant coupons
• Manners tips from a butler

Helpful Hints

Helpful Hints

Insurance policies you don't need

Companies offer protection for many scenarios, but often these policies are unnecessary.  

Extended warranties 

Also: 

• Learn about PMI
• Protect your debit card
• Beat annoying fees

Nine steps to perfect table manners

Don't cool your food by blowing on it or cut a dinner roll with your knife, an expert on manners warns. 

Why not 

Also: 

• Why eateries are so loud
• Handling rude people
• Dress codes for dinner

Ziggy

Man run over by his dog

A bulldog with a penchant for jumping around inside a Ridge Manor man's pickup got a bit too energetic on Sunday when the animal accidentally shifted the car into gear and caused the truck to back up - with his owner underneath.

Christopher Bishop, 43, told deputies that at around 8 p.m. Sunday, he was checking the transmission of his Ford F150 for oil leaks. He placed the car in neutral and left the driver's side door open.

He soon noticed the car moving. The bulldog, named Tassey, had apparently jumped into the pickup, hit the gear shift and run him over, Bishop said. Bishop said he managed to get up and stop the vehicle before it struck a fence next to his single-wide mobile home at 4000 Burwell Road.

Bishop said he waited about six hours before seeking medical attention because he does not like doctors. Bishop was treated at Pasco Regional Hospital for a few non-life threatening injuries

Country ways

An out-of-towner drove his car into a ditch in an isolated area.

Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse named Buddy.

He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!". Buddy didn't move.

Then the farmer hollered, "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy didn't respond.

Once more the farmer commanded, "Pull, Coco, pull!" Nothing.

Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" and the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch.

The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times. The farmer said, "Oh, Buddy is blind but he ain't stupid, and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn't even try!"

The Seven Seas future Kings

Image credit: the_tahoe_guy/Flickr

They're commonly known as "jellyfish" but the name is a bit of a misnomer: In fact "jellies," or "gelatinous zooplankton," are not fish at all.
What they are, is amazing. Without bones, brains, or blood, they manage to thrive in all of the worlds oceans, in an astonishing range of depths. This versatility, however, is becoming a problem as other species are strained by steadily collapsing ecosystems.

Diving with sharks risking lives

From the "No shit, Sherlock" Department:

New fears over island's shark encounters

Cage-diving adventures off Mexico's Pacific coast may be risking tourists' lives, critics contend.   

'Arms race' 

Also: 

• Mexican island's sharks
• Solo sailor headed home
• Fish prize that got away

Broom Hilda

Paranoia Strikes Deep

Paranoia Strikes Deep 

Tiny turtle causes plane to return to gate

Ten-year-old Carley Helm's caged, two-inch pet causes a big disturbance at Atlanta's airport.  

Airline's response 

Also: 

• Problem grounds 787s
• Amputee cat's bionic feet
• Pets on airplanes

The truth about teabaggers

Let the truth be told.

NC State Trooper Charged With Drunken Driving, Hit And Run

An off-duty North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper has been arrested on charges of drunken driving and felony hit and run.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported Master Trooper Timothy Scott Stiwinter Hendersonville was arrested after a wreck Thursday night in which a vehicle ran a red light and hit a car.

Investigators say Stiwinter was stopped by an Asheville police officer a couple hours after the wreck. An officer said she detected the smell of alcohol on Stiwinter's breath and that he was unsteady. He refused to take a field sobriety test or a breath-alcohol test.
A search warrant has been filed to test Stiwinter's blood. It was unclear if he has an attorney.
Stiwinter was released on an involuntary commitment order, which means he was taken to a hospital because there was reason to believe he was a danger to himself or others, according to court papers.
Stiwinter has been with the Highway Patrol since 1999. A patrol spokesman was not immediately available to discuss Stiwinter's status.

Bad Cops

Bad Cops

Lawsuit claims Oklahoma cops Tasered an 86-year-old disabled grandma in her bed and stepped on her oxygen hose until she couldn't breathe

Georgia deputy charged with bringing marijuana to jail

Nevada cop who quit after telling tale of heroics is arrested as tale proves false

Texas man arrested for taking picture of a cop in his own home

Florida police chief suspends detective with long history of brutality complaints

Georgia police chief fired for lying about her discipline of an officer who had sex with a prostitute

Pennsylvania trooper held for trial in arson case

Georgia cop busted for child pornography

Drug dealer's to do list includes 'go on the rob' and 'sell weed'

An unemployed teenager arrested for drug dealing was found carrying a handwritten self-help note. Thomas Franks, who was in desperate need of money, had made himself a list that read: Sell push bike, go on the rob; Sell weed, get a job.

Franks, of Tennyson Close, Pound Hill, pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates' Court on Friday to possessing herbal cannabis with intent to supply. Prosecuting, Richard Lynn said police investigating an unrelated matter at a hostel for the homeless in Southgate found Franks there carrying a bag of cannabis.

They carried out a search and discovered further amounts of the drug totaling 21 grams, during the May 7 visit. The 19-year-old denied all the cannabis belonged to him but admitted he was selling it to friends. Mr Lynn described it as a "small-scale retail operation".

The defendant told officers who found his self-help list that he was in desperate need of money to pay for expensive repairs to his computer games console. Magistrates bailed Franks while probation and medical reports are prepared. He will be sentenced on June 28.

Man found dead four years after bedtime

Relatives followed the instructions of a Dutch man who asked not to be disturbed when he went to his bedroom: they left him alone and his body was found in bed four years later, police say.

The man, 50 at the time of his death, lived with four siblings aged between 44 and 71 in the northern village of Minnertsga. "He was used to being obeyed and very quick to anger," police spokesman Wouter De Vries said.

"Four years ago he told his brothers and sisters he didn't want to be disturbed and went to his bedroom." Though they frequently passed by the bedroom door, no one dared to open it and look in, Mr de Vries said.

The body was only discovered when the landlords decided some work needed to be done in the room. "A decomposing body produces a very strong smell, and it's really remarkable that his brothers and sisters don't seem to have noticed anything," the police spokesman said.

They don't call it 'DOPE' for nothing you know

A California couple found to be high on methamphetamine face child endangerment charges after police say they tried to sell their 6-month-old baby for $25 outside a Walmart store.

Creationism is not science

Bad news for the idiot wing

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit by a creationism think tank and school that attempted to force the state of Texas to allow it to offer master's degrees in science education.

In 2008, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board rejected the Dallas-based Institute for Creation Research's application to offer master's degrees, which taught science from a biblical perspective. The institute's graduate school sued in 2009, claiming the board violated its constitutional right to free speech and religion.

Full Story

Good news for normal people

Social Security broke? That's Bullshit!

That's Bullshit" with Sam Seder

It's The Economy Stupid

It's The Economy Stupid

Mortgage rates reach an all-time low

Record-breaking lending rates give consumers added incentive to buy a home or refinance.  

Current trend 

Also: 

• Find mortgage rate
• Real estate CEO upbeat
• Do homework to refinance

Cities that are skipping the recession

These metro areas boast stable housing markets and robust economies, a new report reveals.

Bucking the downturn 

Also: 

• Companies boost spending
• Another dip for housing
• High-paying green jobs

On The Job

On The Job

Stymied by repugicans, Democrats at a loss on jobs

The demise of a massive aid bill means 200,000 people a week will lose jobless benefits.

Standoff puts states in a bind 

Also: 

• Unemployment benefits
• Banking bill breakthrough
• Companies spending again

Tricks to get the highest salary possible

When a company makes an offer, you should always counter with at least this much more.  

Good rule of thumb 

Also: 

• Top-paying entry-level jobs
• Get recruiters to call you
• Find real salaries

Harsh truths every job seeker should know

Most resumés sent online are never seen, and many "required" qualifications aren't necessarily so.  

 'Shocking' 

Also: 

• When not to take the job
• Pointless tactics to avoid
• Big companies hiring

The repugicans are deliberately trying to sabotage the economy

Hundreds of thousands of unemployed Americans will lose their benefits because of the repugicans in the Senate. The Senate repugicans held together to block cloture on the jobs bill.

The vote was 57 - 41. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins sided with Mitch McConnell's over their constituents in Maine. Of course they did. All the other repugicans voted no, too. As did Ben Nelson.

The repugicans created the economic crisis. Families across the country are suffering. Really suffering. But, the repugicans have decided those families don't matter.

That really is how the repugicans govern. Sell out to Big Oil and Wall Street. Screw over the unemployed.

repugicans - this is how they would govern

Hell, would nothing! It is how they tried to govern and all but destroyed the nation!

Jack Off making pizza

From the "It's better than he deserves" Department:

Disgraced lobbyist takes gig at pizza joint

Jack Abramoff's first job out of prison is a big departure from his $750-per-hour power player days.  

» Employer's motive 

Also: 

• Abramoff scandal

Free 'Prosecute' BP Stickers

From stickerobot.com.

B.C.

It's Only The Environment After All

It's Only The Environment After All

Puddinglike tar washes up on Florida coast

White sand beaches in the Sunshine State are being stained by Gulf spill sludge.

See the images 

Also: 

• Shoddy waste disposal
• BP spoof video a hit
• Cleaning up beaches

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

News from the Great Lakes

First Asian carp found near Great Lakes

A 20-lb. fish captured beyond the Army Corps' last line of defense sparks alarm and debate.

'Time is running short' 

Also: 

• Types of Asian carp
• Threat from sunken tug
• Clue to evolutionary leap

Shipwreck discovered in Lake Michigan

Divers say the 112-year-old wooden vessel is so well preserved that its cargo is still intact.  

Fisherman's tip 

Also: 

• See the L.R. Doty wreck
• Concerns over sunken tug
• Shipwreck hunters

Toxic whales prompt widespread warning

Toxic whales prompt widespread warning

Lead, chromium, and other metals could affect the health of millions of seafood eaters.

'Absolute shocker' 

Also: 

• Whaling talks collapse
• Ailing whale captured
• Metals in seafood

A city on the move

Earthquake moves California city

NASA images show April's powerful Baja quake nudged the city of Calexico.

Not the first time a town was moved 

Also: 

• NASA captures quake
• City of Calexico
• Latest border temblor

Mystical Places That Ruled Over Human Imagination

15 Mystical Places

Shoe

Little-known history of the Korean War

Little-known history of the Korean War

U.S. soldiers helped save the lives of 10,000 children orphaned by the war.  

Former corporal keeps in touch 

Also: 

• 60th-anniversary reunion
• General remembered
• More on the Korean War

Be Careful What You Pray For ...

A preacher said, "Anyone with 'special needs' who wants to be prayed over, please come forward to the front by the altar."

With that, Leroy got in line, and when it was his turn, the Preacher asked, "Leroy, what do you want me to pray about for you?"

Leroy replied, "Preacher, I need you to pray for help with my hearing."

The preacher put one finger of one hand in Leroy's ear, placed his other hand on top of Leroy's head, and then prayed and prayed and prayed.

He "prayed up a storm" and a "blue streak" for Leroy, and the whole congregation joined in with great enthusiasm.

After a few minutes, the preacher removed his hands, stood back and asked, "Leroy, how is your hearing now?"

Leroy was silent a moment then answered, "I don't know. I ain't in court 'til next week..."

Odds and Sods

Odds and Sods

Tourist swims into $12M cocaine stash

Full story

It wasn't the white sandy beaches off Italy's town of Alghero that made a young female tourist's holiday interesting, but the nearly 53 pounds of cocaine she swam into while splashing in the water.