The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:
Today, if an unexpected cancellation happens, take it as a sign that you need to slow down -- because you definitely do!
What's the rush, anyway?
You've been running at full tilt for quite a while, but what you may not realize is that there's no deadline looming ahead that you need to be worried about.
Don't move according to someone else's schedule.
Instead, go at a pace that enables you to feel relaxed and at ease with yourself.
That's more important than anything else.

Some of our readers today have been in:

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
London, England, United Kingdom
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Birmingham, England, United kingdom
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Hamburg, hamburg, Germany7
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Nancy, Lorraine, France
Stoke On Trent, England, United Kingdom
Gengenbach, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

as well as Slovakia, Malta, Bulgaria, Israel, Finland, Austria, Norway, Georgia, Mexico, Peru, Kuwait, Serbia, Bangladesh, Latvia, Greece, Scotland, Hong Kong, Denmark, Wales, Iran, Singapore, Poland, Taiwan, Sweden, Afghanistan, Belgium, Tibet, Croatia, Pakistan, Romania, Paraguay, Sudan, Vietnam, Argentina, Cambodia, Egypt, France, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Maldives, Qatar, Brazil, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Slovenia, China, Iraq, Ecuador, Nigeria, Colombia, Chile, Honduras, Paupa New Guinea, Moldova, Venezuela, Germany, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Czech Republic, Vietnam, Norway, Finland

and in cities across the United States such as Nashua, Holcombe, Galveston, Herndon and more.

Today is:

Today is Tuesday, May 31, the 151st day of 2011.

There are 214 days left in the year.

Today's unusual holiday or celebrations is:

What You Think Upon Grows Day.

Don't forget to visit our sister blog!

Arlington National Cemetery Scene Of KKK VS Westboro baptist cult

It has been widely reported for years that members of the Westboro baptist cult protest at funerals of military men and women.

However, CNN is reporting that on Memorial Day outside the Arlington National Cemetery, members of Westboro Baptist Church were confronted by a group of counter-protesters, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).

According to CNN, three members of the Westboro baptist cult were met by a small group, claiming to be a branch of the Knights of the Southern Cross out of Virginia.

The news station is reporting that the confrontation happened just hours before President Barack Obama led the annual  Memorial Day observances at the Tomb of the Unknowns.

Dennis LaBonte, of the KKK group, told the CNN reporter, that the soldiers, who the church members are protesting, are the same ones who fought to give them their right to free speech.

In a counter comment, Abigail Phelps, the daughter of the Westboro cult founder, said that the KKK can counter protest, because they have no moral authority on anything. (talk about the kettle calling the pot black!)

Click on CNN to read more on this story.

***

Reportedly, people passing by the incident shouted their thanks to the counter-protesters.

While this Southerner is not the biggest fan of the Klan - in fact, not a fan in any sense of the word - one has to hand it to them for this.
You know you have to be a very special kind of hate group for another hate group to protest you.

Or as one blogger from Down Under put it:

Even the KKK think the Westboro baptist wankers suck 

Awesome Pictures

Last of Laurel and Hardy

This short video is thought to be the last footage of comedians Laurel and Hardy; it was shot in 1956 at the home of Stan Laurel’s daughter, Lois. Also featured in the clip: Stan Laurel’s wife Ida Kitaeva Raphael Laurel, Hardy’s wife Virginia Lucille Jones, Andy Wade (who shot the film), Laurel’s daughter Lois, her husband Rand Brooks and their children, Randy and Laurie.

Full Story

The Optimism Bias

 

Is the glass half empty or half full?

Well, if you’re anything like the average American, then chances are you’re biased toward optimism.
Here’s an interesting article by Tali Sharot of TIME Magazine about science of optimism, and how may just be hardwired by evolution into our brain as a survival mechanism against the knowledge of certain death:

To think positively about our prospects, we must first be able to imagine ourselves in the future. Optimism starts with what may be the most extraordinary of human talents: mental time travel, the ability to move back and forth through time and space in one’s mind. Although most of us take this ability for granted, our capacity to envision a different time and place is in fact critical to our survival.
It is easy to see why cognitive time travel was naturally selected for over the course of evolution. It allows us to plan ahead, to save food and resources for times of scarcity and to endure hard work in anticipation of a future reward. It also lets us forecast how our current behavior may influence future generations. If we were not able to picture the world in a hundred years or more, would we be concerned with global warming? Would we attempt to live healthily? Would we have children?
While mental time travel has clear survival advantages, conscious foresight came to humans at an enormous price — the understanding that somewhere in the future, death awaits. Ajit Varki, a biologist at the University of California, San Diego, argues that the awareness of mortality on its own would have led evolution to a dead end. The despair would have interfered with our daily function, bringing the activities needed for survival to a stop. The only way conscious mental time travel could have arisen over the course of evolution is if it emerged together with irrational optimism. Knowledge of death had to emerge side by side with the persistent ability to picture a bright future.

Full Story

Shoe

Culinary DeLites

America's best cities for burgers

One locale is known for its pastrami patty, while another get kudos for its triple-decker treat.  

Wide-open race 

Also: 

• Best pizza in the nation
• Most scenic roads in U.S.
• Coolest new attractions

A week's worth of delicious dinners

Get a taste of New Orleans with this full-bodied and flavorful chicken and sausage gumbo.

Plus, tuna fajitas 

Also: 

• Quick chicken recipes
• Low-calorie desserts
• Must-have cookbooks

8 unusual, but delicious grilling ideas

Instead of the same old burgers and hot dogs, try tossing pizza or pineapple on the grill.

Barbecued lettuce? 

Also: 

• Grilled chicken recipes
• Best and worst BBQ foods
• Common grilling mistakes

How a backyard BBQ can cost over $200,000

It starts by throwing some $5,000 burgers on a $164,000 gold-plated grill.  

Don't forget these utensils 

Also: 

• Best grilling recipes
• BBQ cooking contest
• Priciest items ever sold

A kitchen garden circa 79 AD replicated with parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. 

Photos by R.Cruger

Since every home had a kitchen garden in ancient Rome, it's a tradition worth keeping over the centuries. So when given the chance to pick sprigs from the replica of a Mediterranean garden at the Getty Villa, I wondered what ancient plants were growing. The museum's garden is filled with herbs, edible flowers and fruit trees as well as flax for making linen. The co-author of a new book, Gardens and Plants of the Getty Villa, Michael D. Dehart, was one of the guides on the tour and the museum offered recipes for bouquets garnis along with cooking string to wrap up the aromatic selections. While we won't be using them for a roast boar, crane, porpoise or door mouse stew, the same recipes work today for casseroles, soups broths, sauces and infusions:

Article continues: Bouquet Garni Recipes Inspired by a 1st Century Roman Herb Garden

Foods that help you lose weight

11 foods that can help you lose weight

Stock up on these everyday foods to suppress appetite and trim belly fat.

Combo that keeps you full longer 

Also: 

• Foods that cause bloating
• Best post-workout meals
• Hunger-controlling trick

Bait and Switch Report Reveals Rampant Seafood Fraud

Seafood images from Bait and Switch Report

I'm lucky to live on Vancouver Island where you can't walk down the street without tripping over a fisherfolk and his or her boat. It would be tough to pass off a still-twitching catch as something other than what it is, but for eaters further inland that buy their catch from behind glass things are different. Oceana has compiled research from academics, governments and consumers into a report that shows that mislabelling seafood is common practice with serious consequences.

Article continues: Bait and Switch Report Reveals Rampant Seafood Fraud

Food poisoning crisis grows: 14 dead in Germany

Germany held crisis talks amid reports that at least 14 people have died and hundreds are ill in an outbreak of a highly virulent strain of bacteria found on imported cucumbers.

Full Story

Leave it to the Irish

An Irishman arrived at J.F.K. Airport and wandered about the terminal with tears streaming down his cheeks.

An airline employee asked him if he was already homesick.

“No,” replied the Irishman. “I’ve lost all me luggage!”

“How’d that happen?”

“The cork fell out,” said the Irishman.

Check engine light explained

What the check engine light really means

You don't need to rush to a mechanic every time the warning light appears.  

Try the gas cap trick first 

Also: 

• Warning lights to know
• Head off car emergencies
• Browse for new cars

Ways to clean up credit

The best ways to clean up your credit

Change the one payment habit that determines 35% of your credit score. 

What to ask your credit card company 

Also: 

• Financial health checkup
• Credit card user's guide
• Find low mortgage rates

Switch fields to be happier

Switch careers for a happier life

If you want more money or flexible hours, look into one of these professions.  

High-satisfaction jobs 

Also: 

• Get the career you want
• Choosing the right degree
• Salary-negotiating tips

The Difference Between You and Your Boss

1 When you take a long time, you're slow.
When your boss takes a long time, he's thorough.

2 When you don't do it, you're lazy.
When your boss doesn't do it, he's too busy.

3 When you make a mistake, you're an idiot.
When your boss makes a mistake, he's only human.

4 When doing something without being told, you're overstepping your authority.
When your boss does the same thing, that's initiative.

5 When you take a stand, you're being pig-headed.
When your boss does it, he's being firm.

6 When you overlooked a rule of ettiquette, you're being rude.
When your boss skips a few rules, he's being original.

7 When you please your boss, you're arse-creeping.
When your boss pleases his boss, he's being co-operative.

8 When you're out of the office, you're wandering around.
When your boss is out of the office, he's on business.

9 When you're on a day off sick, you're always sick.
When your boss has a day off sick, he must be very ill.

10 When you apply for leave, you must be going for an interview.
When your boss applies for leave, it's because he's overworked.

Ziggy

The most well-read cities in the U.S.

The most well-read cities in the U.S.

Parts of vacation can be free

How parts of your vacation can be free

From flights to rooms to ground transportation, you can get away with minimal expense.

Must plan ahead 

Also: 

• Shop for travel deals
• Cool new tourist spots
• Ten animal excursions

Best affordable places in U.S.

Great, affordable places to live

You’ll find bargain homes, low crime, and strong economies in these 10 locales. 

Top-rated schools, too 

Also: 

• Home contracts slide
• Low-cost kitchen remodel
• 'I cut my grocery bill in half'

Home prices hit post-bubble low

Housing hits new lows in downturn

American attitudes shift as a 20-city home index falls for the eighth straight month. 

Expected turnaround date 

Also: 

• Worries about economy
• 'Enormous' bank risks
• The coming tax hike

Odds and Sods

Man discovers peacock hiding in house

Imagine walking into your home and finding a peacock lurking inside. That's what happened to one Las Vegas homeowner over the weekend.

Bad Cops

Virginia sheriff's deputy goes on bloody rampage, killing ex-wife

Jonathan Agee will be charged with murder after he shot his ex-wife Jennifer Agee.
An off-duty county sheriff's deputy killed his ex-wife and shot a state trooper before he was wounded during a bloody Memorial Day rampage in Roanoke, Virginia.

Full Story

'Flipping the Bird' at Trooper Not a Crime:

State Patrol Drops Charges

Shane Boor, 35, had been charged with criminal harassment after flipping off a Colorado state trooper who had pulled another driver over to the shoulder of the road, but the charges have now been dropped, after the police decided the gesture wasn't a crime.

Full Story

More Bad Cops:
Las Vegas police officer arrested for strangling ex-wife

New Orleans cop is finally fired for his involvement in cover-up of 2005 murder

Philadelphia police harass, threaten to shoot man legally carrying gun; then charge him with disorderly conduct for recording them

California drug cop charged with marijuana crime

New Jersey police officer charged after allegedly pulling gun in bar confrontation

Florida deputy arrested for producing child porn

Video shows California police officers on tape possibly stealing property

Oregon woman wins $82K, after asking cop for ID and getting arrested

San Antonio police officer fatally shoots unarmed teen who scared him

Oregon deputy arrested on assault, mistreatment charges

Scandals plague "controversial" wingnut Arizona sheriff

Florida deputy gets plea deal on domestic violence charges

Texas deputy sentenced to 6 years in prison for his role in a plan to smuggle contraband into county jail

L.A. County to pay nearly $5 million in deputy's drunk driving crash

Illinois police officer charged with stealing drugs

Michigan police officer gets five years in sex assault case

New York cop arrested for assault

California deputy arrested, suspended on domestic violence charges

New York cop gets one year in jail for bribery, coercion

Immigration officer gets 5½ years in prison for accepting bribes

Georgia ex-cop charged in bookstore threat

New revelations of unchecked misconduct among LA traffic cops

Mother and son Louisiana police officers arrested after nightclub fight

Massachusetts K-9 officer starved dog to death

North Carolina police officer on leave after arrest on assault charge

Cult fined $100 per branch for improper tree pruning

Should be $1,000,000.00 per branch

Every two to three years, Eddie Sales trims and prunes the crape myrtles at his church, Albemarle Road presbyterian cult.

But this year, the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, cited the church for improperly pruning its trees. "We always keep our trees trimmed back because you don't want to worry about them hanging down in the way," said Sales, a church member.

The church was fined $100 per branch cut for excessive pruning, bringing the violation to $4,000. "I just couldn't believe it when I heard about it," Sales said. "We trim our trees back every three years all over our property, and this is the first time we have been fined."

The fine will be dropped if the church replaces each of the improperly pruned trees, said Tom Johnson, senior urban forester for city of Charlotte Land Development Division. Charlotte has had a tree ordinance since 1978, and when trees are incorrectly pruned or topped, people can be subject to fines, Johnson said.

Self Reflection

How do you see yourself?

Brain-tickling optical illusions

Brain-tickling optical illusions

If you look closely enough, you'll catch a glimpse of what is making this fox so nervous.  

More fun tricks of the eye 

Also: 

• More brainteasers
• Top game accessories
• Nintendo: Hit or miss?

Land Speed Record Bid Could Make Space Flight Safer

By developing new rocket technology on the land scientists hope to help aid in safer space travel. It sounds counter intuitive, however the group making the bid for the land speed record thinks it could lead to a breakthrough in safer space travel.

So says Daniel Jubb, who is the founder of military rocket motor company Falcon Project Limited (FPL), based in Mojave, California, and chief rocket engineer for the Bloodhound SuperSonic Car, which aims to reach a speed of 1600 kilometres per hour (1000 miles per hour) on the salt flats in Hakskeen Pan, South Africa, sometime in 2013. The current record is 1227 km/h, and was set in 1997 by the Bloodhound team’s driver Andy Green, in a car called Thrust SSC.

Full Story

Daily Comic Relief

Hong Kong Phooey

Mubarak to face trial for death of protesters

Finishing his years in a miserable prison may be more appropriate but that's not likely to happen. He will be very lucky to avoid the death penalty for what happened during his rule.

Egypt's prosecutor general ordered Tuesday former President Hosni Mubarak put on trial on charges of corruption and conspiring in the deadly shootings of protesters during the uprising that ousted him, a stunning step against a leader whose power was nearly unquestioned for three decades.

The announcement that Mubarak would face a criminal court grants a major demand of Egyptians who have threatened a second revolution amid growing worries about the slow pace of change under the country's new military rulers. The charges could carry the death sentence, said the prosecutor-general spokesman Adel el-Said.

It would be the first time an Arab leader is sent to trial solely by his own people in modern history. Iraq's leader Saddam Hussein was toppled during the U.S. invasion in 2003 and sentenced three years later to death for killing 140 Shiites.

Cracks in the regime and boots on the ground

Over 100 Libyan army members defect

"What is happening to our people has frightened us," one of the officers said.

'Gadhafi's days are numbered' 

Also: 

• NATO eyes endgame
• Rebel resolve strong
• Camp opens for refugees

Al-Jazeera Footage Shows Western Boots on the Ground in Libya

In what could be boots on the ground in advance of a Western invasion, or could simply be spotters to help aircraft in ground attack missions, Western forces have been spotted on the ground in Libya in Al-Jazeera video footage.

Full Story

Iran to disconnect from the internet

Iran may soon take Internet censorship to a level so ridiculous one can’t help but laugh. Unfortunately, it’s not a joke. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Middle Eastern country will disconnect its citizens from the Internet we all know and love, and replace it with its own nationally-run Internet, which would, of course, be tightly restricted.

The project, initiated by the country’s communications ministry, is part of the repressive Iranian government’s plans to limit exposure of Western cultures and ideas — something pulling the plug on the Internet would do in a massive way. According to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatolla Ali Khamenei, this plan is part of the country’s “soft war” on the West, and will help further instill Islamic moral values on Iran’s people.

Full Story

Filtering in ...

One of the Most Ancient Cave Towns of Georgia

Uplistsikhe is an ancient cave town located in eastern Georgia. In 2003 it was in quite a poor condition – the old road was all in pits and ruts, and even though the entrance was free, there were barely any visitors. Not long ago it was renovated. Cafes and toilets were built there, the road was restored and admission became 3 GEL (slightly more than 50 rubles – $ 1.7).

Read More

An ancient city under Jerusalem

Beneath Jerusalem, an ancient city

Excavations of the biblical-aged tunnels are as controversial as the region's politics.  

Underground discoveries 

Also: 

• Flotilla organizers mark raid
• Clashes in West Bank
• Egypt talks peace

Greenland cold snap linked to Viking disappearance

A cold snap in Greenland in the 12th century may help explain why Viking settlers vanished from the island, scientists said on Monday.

Full Story

B.C.

Bigfoot Sighting!

Bigfoot was (probably not) caught again on video. A group of young people were recording absolutely nothing with an iPhone camera as they traversed the undergrowth near the Spokane River. According to the woman in the video, YouTube user samantha13950:

While hiking, we accidentally caught an image of bigfoot walking through the woods. I didn’t even notice until I got home and saw it on the computer! This scarred [sic] the crap out of us!

While I commend the cinematographer for keeping Bigfoot out of center-frame, I’m going to request that the next sighting include some dialogue and/or a group of people talking directly to the camera as Sasquatch Himself walks by unnoticed over their shoulders.

Full Story

Jellyfish Mob Stings Hundreds In Florida

An enormous gang of jellyfish has stung hundreds of beach-goers in Florida.
CNN reports that 800 people have been stung so far.
Thankfully, the jellyfish are easy to detect due to their looking like blobs of unappetizing grape jello.

Jellyfish Mob Stings Hundreds In Florida

Passengers flee as dozens of deadly cobras spotted on train

Hundreds of rail passengers fled in terror when dozens of deadly snakes were found on a train traveling from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi in Vietnam. A guard and conductor were checking tickets as passengers got on in the central city of Quang Ngai on Thursday evening and spotted the live king cobras and cobras under a seat.

People fled the carriage as panic broke out, and the smuggler was able to escape in the chaos. The reptiles, which are extremely venomous and can kill a human within just 30 minutes, were being carried in four see-through cloth bags.

One passenger, Pham Van An, 20, said: "Some of the snakes were very big, and looked terrifying. Most people ran away. But some people went to look at them and the cobras rose up. Then police took the snakes off the train." Officers handed the snakes over to Quang Ngai province's wildlife protection officers for release into the wild.

Nguyen Van Han, chief of the Quang Ngai Forest Protection Department, was unable to say how many snakes were in the bags, but said they weighed a total of 45kg (99lb). Authorities believe the endangered creatures, which are protected under Vietnamese law, were to be sold to restaurants in Hanoi.

Dog survives being trapped under 45 tons of rock for a week

Meet Jessie the miracle Jack Russell that spent a week trapped under 45 tonnes of rock while chasing a stray cat. For seven days, four-year-old Jessie was wedged meters underground at Mt Beckworth, Victoria, Australia, between enormous rocks only able to wiggle her front paws and move her head. But the devotion of her owner, Steve Porter, never wavered as he moved the earth ­- literally ­– to save his dog.

State Emergency Service units from Maryborough were able to move a rock thought to weigh about 20 tonnes, but still Jessie was unreachable. With his dog surviving on liver that was attached to a wire and sent down into the rocks, Mr Porter set about bringing in machinery that could separate the enormous rocks. His son Tom had already started drilling through the solid granite rock, but time was running out.

A massive hydraulic ram, capable of lifting 95 tonnes, was hired from Melbourne, and Mr Porter and a team of men set about shifting the rocks. The team of four worked tirelessly, sometimes until 2am, to move the rock, inch by inch. But still Jessie could not move. Mr Porter said there were times when he considered euthanasing the dog to put her out of her misery, a decision he weighed up every night. But such was his love for the dog he continued to battle the freezing elements.

Eventually, after seven days underground, Jessie was pulled free using a dog-catcher loop that had been borrowed from a local animal welfare group. She ran straight towards Mr Porter and leapt into his arms. “I couldn’t believe she was in such good condition,” he said. “Neither could the vet.” After spending the night under observation at Eastwood Veterinary Clinic, Jessie was released in surprisingly good condition.

There's a large photo gallery here.

Animal Pictures

The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:
Unenthusiastic people might test your endurance, but today your creativity is at an all-time high, and you are up for the challenge!
You can make this day a blast, even if you're stuck in a boring situation with a bunch of folks who think talking about the weather is scintillating conversation.
Use your imagination -- it's your ticket out of boredom every time.
Toss a lifeline to other bored folks and suggest alternative places for your minds to wander.

Some of our readers today have been in:

Annecy, Rhone-Alpes, France
Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Canberra, Australian, Capital Territory, Australia
Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
London, England, United Kingdom
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

as well as Slovakia, Malta, Bulgaria, Israel, Finland, Austria, Norway, Georgia, Mexico, Peru, Kuwait, Serbia, Bangladesh, Latvia, Greece, Scotland, Hong Kong, Denmark, Wales, Iran, Singapore, Poland, Taiwan, Sweden, Afghanistan, Belgium, Tibet, Croatia, Pakistan, Romania, Paraguay, Sudan, Vietnam, Argentina, Cambodia, Egypt, France, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Maldives, Qatar, Brazil, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Slovenia, China, Iraq, Ecuador, Nigeria, Colombia, Chile, Honduras, Paupa New Guinea, Moldova, Venezuela, Germany, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Czech Republic, Vietnam, Norway, Finland

and in cities across the United States such as Cranston, New Castle, Sunset, Utica and more.

Today is:

Today is Monday, May 30, the 150th day of 2011.

There are 216 days left in the year.

Today's unusual holiday or celebrations is:

There isn't one today.

Don't forget to visit our sister blog!

Today is Memorial Day

Iconic shots of Arlington National Cemetery

Iconic shots of Arlington National Cemetery

America's most hallowed ground is the ultimate memorial to our nation's fallen soldiers.  

See the best photos 

Also: 

• More about the cemetery
• Memorial Day photos
• Meaning of the holiday

Wizard of Id

Russian and American Soldiers Shot Together

Rare photos of Russian and American soldiers photographed together during World War II. 

Read more.

Nowhere Man

The Beatles

Duff Beer: Yes, It Does Exist!

 

If you’re in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia or Chile anytime soon, you can pick up a bottle of Duff, Homer Simpson’s lager of choice. Though the product is probably in violation of licensing agreements–or more specifically, being produced without one–it’s a hot seller in South American markets.

Fox has never licensed the beverage in the United States. According to several reports, Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening fears that bringing Duff into the real world would be tantamount to pushing alcohol on minors.
The Duff dearth north of the border has only made fans more desperate. Online message boards buzz about where to find Duff. On eBay, an empty bottle of Duff beer from Argentina sells for $14.99; a decal off the Colombian product is being offered for $8.99.
At Rock Garden, a bar in Bogotá, Duff commands import prices — about $5.50 a bottle — even though it’s brewed in the nearby city of Medellin.

Duff Sudamerica, the Chilean producer, expects to sell $750,000 worth of Duff beer this year, but personally I think they’ll surpass that once Simpsons superfans get in on it.

 

Full Story

Odds and Sods

NYC Central Park musicians told to shut up

No more impromptu open-air concerts near Central Park's Bethesda Fountain. New York City officials are muzzling musicians who perform near the fountain by slapping them with nuisance summonses.

Definition of an optimist?

Somebody who buys a 64 oz. soda before driving across Kansas.

Random Celebrity Photo

Or as you may best recognize her ...

Melting wrecking ice roads

Melting will destroy Arctic trucking routes

The famous ice roads are built on land for a fraction of what permanent roads cost.  

Resources would be cut off 

Also: 

• Russia's next Arctic move
• Heavy snows slam West
• Amazing Dutch 'Iceman'

In China: 34 million impacted by drought

It's like Europe will start talking about drought as well sometime soon.

But remember, climate change doesn't exist.

A debilitating drought along China's Yangtze river has affected more than 34 million people, leaving farmers and livestock without water and parching a major grain belt, according to the government.

More than 4.23 million people are having difficulty finding adequate drinking supplies, while more than five million are in need of assistance to overcome the drought, the Civil Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

"The special characteristics of this drought disaster is that it has persisted a long time," the ministry said.

"Secondly the losses to the agricultural and breeding industries have been severe... while drinking water for people and livestock have been seriously impacted."

Epic Fail

Jaywalking numbskull.

Son defends Ratko Mladic

War crime suspect's son: He didn't do it

Ratko Mladic, indicted for mass murder almost 16 years ago, maintains his innocence.  

Worst genocide since WWII 

Also: 

• Ethnic tensions continue
• How hideout was found
• Photos of Mladic

Saudi Prince Worries We Might Find Alternatives to Oil

 

Photo: L.C.Nøttaasen / cc

As the price of oil continues to rise amid political and social unrest in the Middle East, there's one unlikely advocate for making fossil fuels cheaper -- someone who stands to profit from the world's addiction to oil -- Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. In a revealing interview with CNN, the grandson of the current king of the energy rich nation outlines the urgent need to make oil prices dramatically less expensive: to avoid the rise of a more viable alternative.

Article continues: Saudi Prince Worries We Might Find Alternatives to Oil