The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:
You can set some worries aside when it comes to an important relationship.
There's just no point to worrying, and once you chill out, you can see the situation in a much clearer light -- and, weirdly, it may look much better than you had thought.
If something has been delayed, it might be time to pick up where you left off -- or you could be able to reach a new, stabler understanding.

Some of our readers today have been in:

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

London, England, United Kingdom

As, Akershus, Norway

Roskilde, Roskilde, Denmark

Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany

Bremen, Bremen, Germany

Paris, Ile-De-France, France

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia

Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

Swindon, England, United Kingdom

Brno, Jihomoravsky Kraj, Czech Republic

Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Cottbus, Brandenburg, Germany

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

as well as Thailand and in cities across the United States such as Chatanooga, Villa Park, Owasso, Tomah and more.

Today is:

Today is Friday, August 27, the 239th day of 2010.

There are 126 days left in the year.

Today In History August 27

Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:

There isn't one.

Don't forget to visit our sister blog!

The Romans may have pioneered the 'socks with sandals' look

So that's where the tacky 'fashion' comes from!?

Considering how miserable the British weather can be they very well could have.

During this period many of the Romans, who were often from the sunny parts of modern day France and Italy, struggled to cope with the harsh realities of the British climate, especially those billeted in the North.

Letters have been recovered from a garrison at Hadrian's Wall have revealed officers and their men begging family back home to send them extra subuclae (vests) and abollae (heavy cloaks).

Another soldier urged his loved ones to send him "Paria udonum ab Sattua solearum duo et subligariorum duo" which translates as "socks, two pairs of sandals and two pairs of underpants".

The latest evidence corroborates the socks and sandal theory which first emerged when a Roman copper razor handle was recovered from the Tees near Darlington. It was in the shape of a foot adorned with an open-toed sandal and woollen sock.

Scientists Create 'Dry Water'

It may sound like a contradiction in terms, but scientists have created 'dry water.' The substance resembles powdered sugar and could revolutionise the way chemicals are used. Each particle of dry water contains a water droplet surrounded by a sandy silica coating. In fact, 95 per cent of dry water is 'wet' water.

Scientists from the University of Liverpool, England, believe dry water could be used to combat global warming by soaking up and trapping the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Tests show that dry water is more than three times better at absorbing carbon dioxide than ordinary water.

Awesome Pictures

The courgette that won't stop growing

Novice courgette grower Maria Desimone has made her gardener dad green with envy after cultivating a 5ft 6in whopper at her first attempt. The 43-year-old was shocked to see the massive vegetable growing in her garden – and she hopes it will reach 6ft before she harvests it. She has a second specimen just short of 5ft.

Despite her dad Benito Maio having grown courgettes for several years, his daughter’s efforts at her garden in King’s Hedges, Cambridge, have left his specimens in the shade.

The housewife said: “I have never grown them before, but always wanted to. My dad has always grown them, but never as long and thick as this one. He’s really impressed.

“It’s not reached the floor yet, so I think it can grow another foot, so I’m not going to pick it just yet. When it’s grown as big as it can, I will cut it and cook it up. My aunties are wanting to have some of it too.

Cattle enjoy red wine with their dinner

Western Canadian beef producers have found a novel way of putting the "bar" in barbecue.

Full story

Ugly duckling has own bar stool in local pub

This unloved ‘ugly duckling’ who was abandoned by her family has been given a new home at her local pub – and even has her own bar stool.

Crispy the duck was hand-reared by pub landlady Gail Payne, 43, after becoming separated from her brood.

She was released into the wild two years ago but has stunned pub regulars by waddling back into the Black Lion Inn, in St Albans, Herts., while a football match was on the big screen.

The three-year duck has now decided to stay at the pub and even settled into her own bar stool where she anxiously pecks away at any drinker who dares sit on her seat.

Baby tiger found stuffed in bag at Thai airport

Thai veterinarian Phimchanok Srongmongkul holds a baby tiger cub after feeding at the Wildlife Health Unit at the Department of National Parks in Bngkok Thailand.

Full story

Record Year for Sea Turtles Follows Off-Road Vehicle Restrictions

Image credit: Audubon NC

Whether or not BP was burning sea turtles alive, the Gulf oil spill did kill a lot of these endangered creatures. But the news hasn't been quite so grim elsewhere. In fact on Cape Hatteras, North Carolina—where there has been an ongoing feud between off-road enthusiasts and conservationists over beach access—it's been a record breaking year for nesting birds and sea turtles. Activists are claiming this is one more sign that the restriction of Off Road Vehicles (ORV) in nesting areas is working. No doubt, some ORV enthusiasts will disagree.

Article continues: Record Year for Sea Turtles Follows Off-Road Vehicle Restrictions

How Dog Breeds Got Their Names

Every dog owner knows why they gave their dog its name, but how well do you know the story behind their breed names? For example, poodle comes from 'pudeln,' a German word that meant 'to splash,' so these brave retrievers were known as pudelhund, or 'water dogs.' The word eventually evolved into the English poodle.

Let's see how a handful of common breeds found their monikers.

Man trying to rescue puppy from abandoned home arrested

An animal rights advocate is under arrest after trying to help a dog locked inside of a foreclosed Los Angeles home. Neighbors say when the owners left the home they took everything but the dogs. Taz was in the garage. A puppy was in the house.

Next door neighbor Elisa Woods says she worried they were getting hungrier. She called for help. L.A. Animal Services came with food and water, but they didn't enter the home.

"Possibility the people could come back and then they could turn this around and sue the city," explained Animal Services Officer Hoang Dinh. The city is required to give a written warning to the owners before entering the home or removing the dogs.

That wasn't good enough for animal rescuer Hans Petersen. He entered the home, then came out with a six-month-old puppy. The LAPD arrived moments later and Hans was arrested for interfering with Animal Services as they conducted their duties. The puppy was taken to to the South LA Animal Shelter, but Taz, the dog in the garage, was left behind.

Woman blames failed urine test on raisins

A Pennsylvania woman who failed a court-ordered urine test said the blame lies with the gin-soaked raisins she uses to treat her arthritis.

Judy Russo, 59, of Forks Township, who pleaded no contest in February to stalking charges for sending threatening messages to her former landlords, failed an April 27 drug and alcohol test mandated by the court as part of her 3-year probation sentence.

Russo was sentenced by Northampton County Judge Leonard Zito to 3 to 23 months in prison for violating the terms of her probation. However, Jason Jenkins, Russo's lawyer, filed court papers on Monday claiming his client has to eat gin-soaked raisins to treat her severe, migrating arthritis. He said the condition is resistant to conventional medication.

"Having spent several days in prison, Ms. Russo has come to appreciate the criminality of the actions, which resulted in this situation," Jenkins wrote. He also wrote Russo has been diagnosed with lung cancer and cannot be properly treated in jail. Jenkins is asking the court to reduce the sentence to more probation.

Saudi couple hammered 24 nails into Sri Lankan maid, say officials

A Saudi couple tortured their Sri Lankan maid by hammering 24 nails into her hands, legs and forehead, after she complained of a too heavy workload, officials said yesterday.

Nearly 2 million Sri Lankans sought employment overseas last year and around 1.4 million, mostly maids, were employed in the Middle East. Many have complained of physical abuse or harassment. LT Ariyawathi, a 49-year old mother of three, returned home on Friday after five months in Saudi Arabia.

Her family only realised what had happened to her when she complained of pain and they took her to see the doctor, Foreign Employment Bureau officials said.

"The landlord and the wife of the landlord hammered 24 nails into her when she complained of the heavy workload," Kalyana Priya Ramanayake, media secretary of the Foreign Employment Bureau, said.

Ariyawathi has been taken to hospital for surgery to remove the nails, which according to the maid were hammered in when they were hot.

X-rays showed one-to two-inch nails in her hands and legs, with one over her eyes, officials said. The Foreign Employment Bureau is consulting the attorney-general while the Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry is to take the matter up with the Saudi government, officials said.

Non Sequitur

President Carter secures release of U.S. prisoner

Carter secures release of U.S. prisoner

Former President Jimmy Carter returns from North Korea with a man jailed for illegally entering the country.

Amnesty 

Also: 

• Aijalon Mahli Gomes
• See photos
• China mum on Kim visit

Heat-ray device sparks 'torture' claims

Jail's heat-ray device sparks 'torture' claims

Plans to use a stripped-down version of a military gadget to control L.A. inmates have critics crying foul.

How it works 

Also:

• Device's official name
• 90,000 inmates victimized
• Secretive Tokyo gallows

First glimpse of trapped miners offers clues

First glimpse of trapped miners offers clues

In grainy footage, the 33 men show off their strategies for coping with the underground nightmare.  

State of mind 

Also: 

• See their living space
• Plan to boost men's morale
• Facts about amazing story

Two if by sea ...

Agents struggle to stop illegal sea entries

A 400-square-mile expanse of ocean is the new frontier for immigrants entering the U.S.

'A needle in a haystack' 

Also: 

• Secretive Texas Rangers
• Immigration reform
• 72 massacred in Mexico

Ziggy

Projects that boost a home's value fast

Projects that boost a home's value fast

These eight home improvements won't break the bank, and each can be done in under a day.  

Best kitchen upgrade 

Also: 

• Lower your energy bill
• Amazing glass house
• McMansion fad is fading

How some people make money off the IRS

How some people make money off the IRS

About 10% of Americans receive more cash back from the IRS than they contribute in taxes.

Credits 

Also: 

• End-of-year tax tips
• Sneaky ways to save
• 15 things to get for free

Family Togetherness

Germany considers law banning employers from checking social networking sites

What's posted to Facebook doesn't necessarily stay hidden in Facebook, and thus it's been said that you should watch what you post there.

Full story

On The Job

On The Job

Cities see major shift in job growth

In metro areas, jobs are moving from manufacturing to service industries. 

Careers that pay $90,000 or more 

Also: 

• How to survive job market
• 10 key interview questions
• High-paying green jobs

*****

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The truth be told

The American home is shrinking

The American home is shrinking

After years of getting bigger and bigger, the median new home shrank in 2009. 

Loading up on appliances instead 

Also: 

• Era of McMansions ending
• 1 in 10 risk foreclosure
• Calculate sq. footage

Shoe

Bad Cops

Bad Cops

Oklahoma deputy is charged with sexual assaults of three women

ACLU urges Los Angeles Sheriff's Department not to equip jailers with torture device

Georgia cops are indicted in tazing of autistic teen

New York county pays $25K to settle police brutality claim

Ohio sheriff's deputy faces kidnapping, menacing charges

Wisconsin cop gets prison time for years of sexually abusing girl

Lunatic Fringe

Lunatic Fringe

Otherwise known as the Seditionists

When dealing with wingnuts ... Remember the rule: 

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

Liars and Fools

Senate candidate Sharron Angle (retard-Nevada) says America has "domestic enemies" within Congress.
Yes we do and they are called repugicans just like she is.

John Fleming (reptile-Louisiana) lies: midterm election will be a choice between "Godless society" and "Christian nation".
Wrong it is a choice between what is correct and the insanity of christianity.

Rick Santorum (replusive-Pennsylvania) lies that leader of proposed Manhattan Muslim center is "a Jihadist".
Does he really think we give a damn what a diaper wearing dog loving pervert has to say about anything?

It's Obama's fault that people think he's a Muslim, say the guys who keep telling people that Obama is a Muslim.
Oh, and the fact you keep repeating that lie to those mindless drones who haven't got enough wit to change to channel has nothing to do with it, eh?