The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:
Now here's a day you can live with.
Everyone will be acting solid, practical and responsible -- the way you are all the time.
This certainly could mean that you'll be moved to make a business decision such as the one you've been putting off for a while now.
If it feels right, go ahead.
If you're doubtful, bring the papers to a seasoned professional before you sign anything at all.

Some of our readers today have been in:

Coffs Harbor, New South Wales, Australia

Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Haarlem, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Paris, Ile-De-France, France

Madrid, Madrid, Spain

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

London, England, United kingdom

Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

Roskilde, Roskilde, Denmark

Bremen, Bremen, Germany

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

as well as Indonesia and in cities across the United States such as Glen Rock, Saint Paul, Strongsville, Tucson and more.

Today is:

Today is Wednesday, September 1, the 244th day of 2010.

There are 121 days left in the year.

Today In History September 1

Today's unusual holidays or celebrations are:

Bison-ten Yell Day

Emma M. Nutt Day

and

National No Rhyme (or Reason) Day

Don't forget to visit our sister blog!

September is ...

Not only is September 'Back To School' Month ... that joyous time in every parent's life.

It is also: Apple Month and National Honey Month

It's all about Earl

Ocracoke Island Evacuated Ahead Of Earl

More evacuations along the Eastern Seaboard could follow, depending on the path taken by the storm, which weakened to a Category 3 hurricane early Wednesday.

North Carolina Coast Prepares For The Effects Of Earl

Even if Earl stays well offshore, it will kick up rough surf and dangerous rip currents up and down the coast through the Labor Day weekend.

And if you haven't seen it yet, here's a picture of Earl taken by Astronaut Douglas H. Wheelock on board the Space Station:

The most useful tools to own

20 of the most useful tools to own

A sledgehammer, center punch, and other devices can be a big help with DIY projects.  

A must-have safety item 

Also: 

• Shop for power tools
• Free DIY project plans
• Choose the perfect paint

Lava lake's glowing light show

African lava lake's glowing light show

One of Africa's most active volcanoes is putting on a dramatic display with churning magma. 

 Spectacular images 

Also: 

• Indonesian villagers return
• Violent Russian volcanoes
• World's active volcanoes

Ghosts of the Forest

A look at the ultra-rare albino redwood trees: "Only a few dozen albino redwood trees are known to exist. They are genetic mutants that lack the chlorophyll needed for photosynthesis. But how and why they survive is a scientific mystery."

Albino Redwoods, Ghosts of the Forest

Alien island here on Earth

When on Socotra Island take a good look around you and you'll think you were transported to another planet - or traveled to another era of Earth's history.

The second would be closer to the truth for this island, which is part of a group of 4 islands, has been geographically isolated from mainland Africa for the last 6 or 7 million years. Like the Galapagos Islands, this island is teeming with 700 extremely rare species of flora and fauna, a full 1/3 of which are endemic, i.e. found nowhere else on Earth.

Full Story

The Mysterious Stone Horseman Of Bulgaria

The Madara Rider sits 246 feet above ground, on a cliff face in the Madara Plateau of northeastern Bulgaria. The relief is inaccessible, adding to its mystery. How were they able to create it? With no ladders. No climbing apparatuses. Either way, the relief is extraordinary.

White tiger cub turns black in southern India

A white tiger cub born in Arignar Anna Zoological Park in India's southern Tamil Nadu state seems to have changed its color, with most of its body and legs now appearing black.

The cub, along with its two siblings and mother, were brought out into the open area of the zoo for public viewing. The cubs were in an enclosure since their birth nearly three months ago. Zoo officials think the change might be due to genetic reasons.

Nevertheless, visitors to the zoo are excited to see the rare cub. "I am really delighted to watch it, and it has three cubs and one cub is really looking different. It has a pink coating on it; looks like some biological change, it seems, and it's really beautiful. I am really excited to watch it," said Syed Ibrahim, a visitor.

The three cubs were born in June, and are active, healthy and playful. The color-changing cub has now become the main visitor attraction.

Denier is a believer

Global-warming critic's reversal

Until recently, Bjorn Lomborg was a vocal and influential critic of many key environmental causes.

His new opinion 

Also: 

• More on Lomborg
• Climate reform urged
• Record-breaking summer

Archaeological study shows human activity may have boosted shellfish size

In a counter-intuitive finding, new research from North Carolina State University shows that a species of shellfish widely consumed in the Pacific over the past 3,000 years has actually increased in size, despite — and possibly because of — human activity …

Full story

The Gael

 

Albannach

Heroic Vietnam war tale almost lost to time

Heroic Vietnam war tale almost lost to time

Kent Chipman and Ba Nguyen crossed paths for just a moment in April 1975. 

Reunited decades later  

Also:

• Agent Orange's legacy
• War's deadly remnants
• Search: Military heroes

The Top 10 Most Bad-Ass Soldiers of All Time

The bravest among the brave, some soldiers stand head and shoulders above the rest for war exploits that will make your jaw drop. For example, Audie Murphy’s actions in World War II that won him a Medal of Honor:

Murphy’s unit was down to 19 men out of 128. They couldn’t fight, they needed to rearm, and they needed somebody to hold the line. So Murphy stayed behind, shooting Germans until he ran out of ammo. Then, deciding he wasn’t done killing Germans, he jumped onto a burning tank and starting using its .50 caliber machine gun. He even killed an entire squad of Germans trying to sneak up on him. Oh, and he did this for almost an hour, while wounded in the leg. And then his men showed up, and Murphy led them on a forward action. Translation: after spending an hour in the freezing cold on a burning tank spraying Germans with machine gun fire, he decided that wasn’t enough and decided to get close and personal.

And he is just one of ten soldiers from all over the world listed as the most badass.

Full Story

Early Acupuncture

Bureaucracy or as it truly is called ... Hell

Chinese villagers made to change name

China's bureaucracy forces families to alter their unusual surname because it cannot be typed.  

'We have no choice' 

Also: 

• China's new mobile rules
• Most popular last names
• Gay couples' name hurdle

Police kill suspect in Discovery standoff

Police kill suspect in Discovery standoff

Three hostages are safe after being held by the gunman at the TV channel's headquarters.  

Device detonated 

Also: 

• Photos from the scene
• More about the network
• Ariz. shooting survivor

Man arrested has $50,000 in duffel bag

Full story

Austin police stopped a man for a traffic violation on Thursday, and when he did not produce a driver's license nor proof that he owned the vehicle, events led officers to find a duffel bag with more than $50,000 in it.

Bad Cops

Bad Cops

Veteran Wisconsin cop, on paid leave for 14 months, remains "under investigation" for misconduct

Florida deputies are demoted for sloppy police work that resulted in improper charges against two suspects

More than $70,000 missing from Tennessee police department's bank account

DC police officer pleads guilty in fatal robbery gone awry

Cincinnati detective convicted of falsely arresting, jailing teen

Emotional ad challenges Muslim perception

Emotional ad challenges Muslim perception

As mosque tensions grow and 9/11 nears, members of a worried community launch a TV campaign. 

See the clip 

Also: 

• Obama-Islam poll
• Taxi driver hate crime
• History of Islam

A personal story of a national tragedy

Today, a personal story of a national tragedy.

Five years ago, hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans.

Abdulrahman Zeitoun, a Syrian-born New Orleans building contractor, stayed in the city while his wife and children left to Baton Rouge.

He paddled the flooded streets in his canoe and helped rescue many of his stranded neighbors.

Days later, armed police and national guardsmen arrested him and accused him of being a terrorist.

He was held for nearly a month, most of which he was not allowed to call his wife, Kathy.

Today, in a rare broadcast interview, Abdulrahman and Kathy Zeitoun join us to tell their story, along with the man who chronicles it in the book Zeitoun, Dave Eggers.

Full Story

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

Faux's Glenn Beck issues correction a year later: Obama's not a racist, he just believes in an "evil" theology.
And we don't believe him now either. Nurse where's that Thorazine!

Steve King (reptile-Iowa) lies: President Obama has "nationalized your skin and everything inside it".
Come again? You're making less sense than the no sense you normally make.

Faux's Glenn Beck lies: "Those churches that believe in collective salvation," "social justice," "are dangerous to the constitutional republic".
Well there goes all the churches - they're a danger according to the beckster.
*****

Need we say more?

Catholic school teacher filmed caning students in Thailand

A teacher at a Thai school has been sacked after a concealed camera caught him beating children with a cane wrapped in electrical wire. Somchai Limthanmaporn is accused of abusing at least 40 pupils at a Catholic boarding school in northeast Thailand.

A pupil secretly filmed the abuse on a mobile phone, and it caused uproar when it was broadcast on Thai television. Nongkran Prathumtri, an administrator at St Mary's School in Nakhon Ratchasima province, confirmed the art teacher had been fired.

In the footage, Somchai is seen aiming baseball-like swings at the childrens' back-sides, and leaves at least one of his victims in tears. Pictures of scarred buttocks were widely shown in the Thai media.

Somchai is said to have carried out the punishment on students who failed to tidy their rooms. "He must be responsible for his wrongdoing," Mr Nongkran said. "There will be no protection from the school." Thailand's Education Ministry bans teachers from using force against children, but corporal punishment is not unusual in the country. Police are deciding whether to take action against the teacher.

Shoe

On The Job

On The Job

Jobs that desperately need filling

With unemployment near double digits, it's hard to believe some high-earning jobs stay open.  

One pays about $85K 

Also: 

• 'New normal' job market
• Worst resumé phrases
• Career-boosting degrees

Hourly workforce carries burden during recession

The United States workforce, battered by an economic slowdown, now includes a record number of workers who are involuntarily working part-time due to reduced hours or the inability to find a full-time job.

Full story

Debunking 5 common retirement myths

Debunking 5 common retirement myths

Many people assume that a $1 million nest egg will provide for a pretty lavish retirement. 

The reality is less sweet 

Also: 

• Best places to retire
• Retire for $1,600 a month
• How to earn more interest

Ziggy

Culinary DeLites

Culinary DeLites

How to make restaurant-quality burgers

Perfect patties start with mixing cuts of beef and getting the burger-to-bun ratio right. 

Most important seasoning 

Also: 

• 5 French-fry alternatives
• 93 ideas for hamburgers
• Best barbecue

Food Phobias

Do you have a food phobia?

Even if you've outgrown a picky-eater phase, there may be foods you still can't stand.  

Five of the most hated 

Also: 

• New ideas for dinner
• Secrets about Trader Joe's
• Most common phobias

Vinegar

Unusual health benefits from vinegar

The pantry staple fights dandruff, soothes bee stings, and helps suppress appetite.  

Mixture that covers gray hair 

Also: 

• Cleaning with vinegar
• Do nutrients expire?
• Daily skin care tips

Flu Shots

Who should get this year's flu shot

The Centers for Disease Control says nearly everyone should be vaccinated.

Common questions answered 

Also: 

• 6 ways to boost immunity
• Teach kids hand washing
• What is the H3N2 flu?

Scientists discover new protein that gets to the roots of obesity and osteoporosis

Here’s good news for anyone trying to lose weight or has osteoporosis: Scientists from Maine are on the trail of a weight loss drug that may revolutionize how we treat these two conditions.

Full story

Non Sequitur

Sink Made from Recycled Tires

The architecture firm Minarc designed and built a kitchen sink that’s made from old rubber tires. It’s called RUBBiSH and is made in the following manner:

The rubber from the tires is melted down and cleansed of debris, and the tiny inherent metal fibers that give a tire its road resistance are then formed into a sheet. This sheet is stretched over a base frame—made of wood, metal, or any other material out of which bathroom furniture can be fashioned—and anchored down by the drain collar. This creates a shallow-sloped surface for water to be siphoned away, but not a clunky profile; in fact, the material used is so minimal that, the manufacturer claims, the sinks use less than one pound of rubber.

Full Story

Hiker accidentally shoots himself in the arse

Full story

A hiker on Blewett Pass shot himself in the butt when he put a handgun in his back pocket.

Bad day on the Golf course

Golfer's swing has unusual consequences

A golf shot out of the rough at a Southern California course sends firefighters into action.  

What happened