The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:
You won't find what you're looking for at a mall, exclusive boutique or big box store.
Shift your focus away from material goods, fancy trips or expensive meals.
What it's all about now is an emotional connection with yourself.
You can find this through other people, or by taking time alone for a period of reflection.
Whichever approach appeals to you most is the right one to take.
So either book a night of boisterous fun with your crew or take a night by yourself.

Some of our readers today have been in:

Montreal, Quebec, Canada
London, England, United Kingdom
Rome, lazio, Italy
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Cordoba, Andalucia. Spain
Doha, Ad Dawhah. Qatar
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Athens, Attiki, Greece
Solingen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Stockholm, Stockholms Lan, Sweden
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Moscow, Moskva, Russia
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Santander, Cantabria, Spain
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Quebec, Quebec, Canada
Bangkok, Krung Thep, Thailand
Paris, Ile-De-France, France

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 Gaithersburg, Wausau, Tomah, Dallas and more.

Today is:

Today is Wednesday, March 9, the 68th day of 2011.

There are 297 days left in the year.

Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:

Learn What Your Name Means Day
and
Panic Day.

Don't forget to visit our sister blog!

What part did the NPR guy get wrong?

The tea party is racist, and too many Americans are uneducated.

The latest hysterical charge from the 'oppressed' wingnuts of the far right is about a former NPR exec (though it's not clear he really was) who they tricked into expressing his political beliefs on camera. The wingnuts areclaiming his comments about the tea party, and America at large, are so bad that NPR should be defunded. Really? What exactly is there to disagree with in these comments?

The two actors clearly goad Schiller into making observations, most of which are made after Schiller explicitly takes off his "NPR hat" to give his personal opinion. For example, Schiller says there aren't enough "educated, so-called elite" Americans, adding that public opinion is driven by "this very large uneducated part of the population."

Of tea partyers, he adds: "I mean, basically they ... believe in sort of white, middle-America, gun-toting. I mean, it's scary. They're seriously racist, racist people."

He's right on both counts. Just look at the polls of how many FAUX News viewers believe we found WMD in Iraq. I'd call that large and uneducated.

And Google "tea party" and "racism" - then sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and do a lot of reading from a lot of mainstream news outfits about the Tea Party's racism problem.

As for this coming at a bad time for NPR, news flash folks. The GOP is going to call you Socialist and try to defund you regardless of what you do. And if they don't have a seriously redacted video to try to frame you, they'll just make something up. Democrats, and NPR, need to realize that regardless of what they do, the Republicans will attack. It's time to fight back.

PS - How much you want to bet the unedited video exonerates the NPR guy?

On The Job

U.S. jobs returning, with a big catch

A new study reveals a sobering fact about the majority of jobs being created by the recovery.  

The problem 

Also: 

• Wealthy air complaints
• Social Security debate
• Gas costs jumping

Common but costly tax errors

Eight of the most common tax mistakes

The IRS says these are some of the most obvious errors made on tax returns.  

One can take a year to correct 

Also: 

• Ultimate tax checklist
• Track down your refund  
• More tax tips, calculators

Say goodbye to the dollar bill?

Is it time to eliminate the $1 bill?

Replacing the paper version with a coin could save the U.S. government $5.5 billion.  

But there's one problem 

Also: 

• Threats to economy
• Soros fears spending cuts  
• Six cash discounts

‘No way out' of U.S. debt trap

'No way out' of America's debt trap

Government borrowing is near a breaking point after years of reckless spending, says an expert.  

Unpleasant options 

Also: 

• Anti-tax pledge debate
• How deficit may shrink  
• Size of 2010 IRS refunds

Priciest gas pump in America

The most expensive gas pump in America

California stations average $3.90 per gallon, but one in another state charges much more.  

$70 won't fill your tank 

Also: 

• Could it hit $7 a gallon?
• Station owners respond  
• Fuel-conserving tips

Ain't it the truth

America's new 'heartland'

America has a new 'heartland'

The census reveals a historic shift in the nation's population center away from the Midwest.  

The new mainstream 

Also: 

• Economy recovering
• Alamo tone changes
• U.K. census begins

Odds and Sods

Woman trying to pet moose in Alaska park kicked

Don't mess with the moose.

That's the warning police in Anchorage, Alaska, are repeating after one of the animals kicked a woman in the chest and shoulder at a city park.

Full Story

Awesome Pictures

A cool $25 million in jewels found in Paris sewer

The Guardian:

The items were stolen during a 2008 heist from luxury jeweler Harry Winston's boutique in the capital.

Nineteen rings and three sets of earrings, including one pair valued at £14m, were dug up from a drain at a house in the working-class suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis, according to police. The house belonged to one of the nine people charged over the robbery. The jewels were hidden in a plastic container set in a cement mold inside the sewer.

The robbery netted the thieves, some of whom were dressed as women, bejeweled watches worth about £61m.

The Year 2000, As Predicted in 1910

In 1910, a French illustrator named Villemard created a series of postcards which imagined life in the year 2000. He speculated that we would use motorized roller skates, firefighters would fly on batwings, and machines would dress and powder ladies automatically. As for school, as you can see, information will be simply downloaded into our heads.

Full Story

The difference 50 years makes – 1960 – 2010

1960: Long hair
2010: Longing for hair

1960: KEG
2010: EKG

1960: Acid rock
2010: Acid reflux

1960: Moving to California because it’s  cool
2010: Moving to Arizona because it’s  warm

1960: Trying to look like Marlon Brando  or Liz Taylor
2010: Trying NOT to look like  Marlon Brando or Liz Taylor

1960: Seeds and  stems
2010: Roughage

1960: Hoping for a  BMW
2010: Hoping for a BM

1960: Going to a new, hip  joint
2010: Receiving a new hip joint

1960: Rolling Stones
2010: Kidney Stones

1960: Screw the  system
2010: Upgrade the system

1960: Disco
2010: Costco

1960: Parents begging you to get your  hair cut
2010: Children begging you to get their  heads shaved

1960: Passing the drivers’  test
2010: Passing the vision  test

1960: Whatever
2010: Depends

Just in case you weren’t feeling too old today, this will certainly change things.   Each year the staff at Beloit College in Wisconsin puts together a list to try to give the faculty a sense of the mindset of this year’s incoming freshmen.

Here’s this year’s list:

The people who are starting college this fall across the nation were born in 1992.

They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.

Their lifetime has always included AIDS.

Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic.

The CD was introduced 2 years before they were born.

They have always had an answering machine.

They have always had cable.

They cannot fathom not having a remote control..

Jay Leno has always been on the Tonight Show.

Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave.

They never took a swim and thought about Jaws.

They can’t imagine what hard contact lenses are.

They don’t know who Mork was or where he was from.

They never heard: “Where’s the Beef?”, “I’d walk a mile for a Camel”, or “de plane, Boss, de plane..”

They do not care who shot J. R. and have no idea who J. R. even is.

Mc Donald’s never came in Styrofoam containers.

The Jigsaw puzzle

A little silver-haired lady calls her neighbor and says, “Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can’t figure out how to get started.”

Her neighbor asks, “What is it supposed to be when it’s finished?”

The little silver haired lady says, “According to the picture on the box, it’s a rooster.”

Her neighbor decides to go over and help with the puzzle.

She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table.

He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, then turns to her and says,
“First of all, no matter what we do, we’re not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster.”

He takes her hand and says, “Secondly, I want you to relax. Let’s have a nice cup of tea , and then,” he said with a deep sigh …………  
“Let’s put all the Corn Flakes back in the box.”

Seven-year itch now down to three: Why?

Seven-year itch? These days, couples' passion starts to cool after only three years, according to a new survey.

Full Story

Wizard of Id

A 10-year-old joins U.S. Army

10-year-old gets big wish, joins Army

Brennan Daigle had one dream when his cancer worsened, but didn't expect what happened next.  

'That's awesome' 

Also: 

• Teen's good-deed pact
• 'Slumdog' star's tragedy
• Children's charities

Mom miffed at teacher's note

Mother miffed by teacher's note delivery

An angry mom claims her son's teacher chose the most humiliating way to tell her about his behavior.

'Totally wrong' 

Also: 

• Student calls 911
• College kid sues FBI  
• Student love rekindled

Linguistics

A linguistics professor was lecturing to his class one day.

"In English," he said, "A double negative forms a positive. In some languages, though, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative. However, there is no language wherein a double positive can form a negative."

A voice from the back of the room piped up, "Yeah, right."

Judge Halts $18 Billion Fine Against Chevron for Pollution in the Amazon

Image: Chevron in Ecuador

Remember that $9 billion fine that was Chevron was slapped with last month for the 18 billion gallons of pollution in Ecuador that were never cleaned up? A judge in New York has granted Chevron the preliminary injunction it requested, ruling that plaintiffs in Ecuador cannot seek damages in the U.S. or essentially anywhere outside Ecuador.

Article continues: Judge Halts $18 Billion Fine Against Chevron for Pollution in the Amazon

Truly dumb warning labels

From the "Courtesy of the Society for the Prevention of Stupid People from killing themselves" Department:

Truly dumb product-warning labels

When you a buy a washing machine, do you need a reminder not to put a person in it?

Blow torch 'may catch fire' 

Also: 

• Electronics buying guide
• Web hurting intelligence?  
• Spiders lead to car recall

Is weight-loss surgery for you?

Is weight-loss surgery right for you?

Millions more Americans are now candidates for LAP-BAND surgery.  

How it compares to gastric bypass 

Also: 

• Pros of bariatric surgery
• A new obesity measure?  
• What 'losers' do best

Ziggy

Wyoming plagued by smog

Rural Wyoming plagued by big-city smog

The state famous for its clean mountain air has experienced ozone levels that put L.A. to shame. 

Cause of pollution 

Also: 

• Coal power-plant dangers
• E.U.'s energy plan
• GM's pollution settlement

The Danger of a Solar Storm

A rather large solar flare occurred on February 14th, which signals the beginning of cycle of flares that will reach its peak, called a solar maximum, in about two years. How bad can they get? The worst solar flare on record occurred in 1859 and was named the Carrington Event, after the scientist who studied it.

The flares were so powerful that “people in the northeastern U.S. could read newspaper print just from the light of the aurora,” Daniel Baker, of the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, said at a geophysics meeting last December.
In addition, the geomagnetic disturbances were strong enough that U.S. telegraph operators reported sparks leaping from their equipment—some bad enough to set fires, said Ed Cliver, a space physicist at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory in Bedford, Massachusetts.
In 1859, such reports were mostly curiosities. But if something similar happened today, the world’s high-tech infrastructure could grind to a halt.

Such a flare today could disrupt our cellular signals, internet, GPS system, satellite transmissions, and even our electrical grid.

Read all about it at National Geographic.

Random Celebrity Photo

Elizabeth Montgomery

Bewitching isn't she?

In Matters Of Health

How empathic is your doctor?

Does it matter if you have an empathic physician? According to the results of a recently published study, physicians' empathy may actually improve patient outcomes for chronic diseases such as diabetes [1]. Researchers from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia recently tested the hypothesis that physicians' empathy is associated with positive ...

Full Story

FDA Approves First New Drug For Lupus In 56 Years

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the first new drug to treat lupus in more than 50 years, a milestone that medical experts say could prompt development of other drugs that are even more effective in treating the debilitating immune system disorder.

Full Story

Odd home remedies that really work

Eat a few olives the next time you feel a bout of motion sickness coming on. 

Tips for eczema, bad breath, hiccups 

Also: 

• Ease pain naturally
• Natural headache relief  
• Six ways to stop colds

A dangerous drug alternative

Drug popular with athletes stirs alarm

Athletes are using K2, for which there is no test, as an alternative to marijuana.  

Significant potential side effects 

Also: 

• Dangers of K2 use
• Stopping fake pot is tough 
• Bonds on trial March 21

Ancient Nubians consumed tetracycline-laced beer

From eScienceCommons at Emory University:

A chemical analysis of the bones of ancient Nubians shows that they were regularly consuming tetracycline, most likely in their beer. The finding is the strongest evidence yet that the art of making antibiotics, which officially dates to the discovery of penicillin in 1928, was common practice nearly 2,000 years ago.

The research, led by Emory anthropologist George Armelagos and medicinal chemist Mark Nelson of Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology...

Armelagos is a bioarcheologist and an expert on prehistoric and ancient diets. In 1980, he discovered what appeared to be traces of tetracycline in human bones from Nubia dated between A.D. 350 and 550, populations that left no written record. The ancient Nubian kingdom was located in present-day Sudan, south of ancient Egypt...

“The bones of these ancient people were saturated with tetracycline, showing that they had been taking it for a long time,” he says. “I’m convinced that they had the science of fermentation under control and were purposely producing the drug.”..


Even the tibia and skull belonging to a 4-year-old were full of tetracycline, suggesting that they were giving high doses to the child to try and cure him of illness, Nelson says.

The first of the modern day tetracyclines was discovered in 1948. It was given the name auereomycin, after the Latin word “aerous,” which means containing gold. “Streptomyces produce a golden colony of bacteria, and if it was floating on a batch of beer, it must have look pretty impressive to ancient people who revered gold,” Nelson theorizes.

Lopsided waterbuck

 

From The Telegraph:

Amateur photographer Ingrid Bunse snapped this photograph of a waterbuck with lop-sided horns while on safari in the Ongava Wilderness Reserve, Namibia. She said: "When I spotted this animal I knew I had to get a picture because it was so unusual - I've never seen anything like it. I don't know what caused the horn to curl like this but it didn't seem to be too bothered by it."

It must have been that way a long time, judging by the way the tip of the horn has been burnished during grazing.

A 1,000-year-old dugout canoe discovered in Florida

News from St. Petersburg Times:

The find, a 40-foot canoe, has been buried in an undisclosed  location at the Weedon Island Preserve since it was first discovered in  2001 by a resident searching for old bottles.

It represents the first prehistoric seagoing vessel discovered in  Florida, possibly the Southeast, and helps show the seafaring culture of  a people long past...

A Good One

A statistician, a physicist and a biologist were asked, "If you had 10,000 monkeys writing nonstop on 10,000 typewriters, would they write the bible?" 

The statistician said "The chance is almost impossible."

The physicist said "Given infinite time, they eventually will write the bible."

The biologist said "Ah, but one already did."

B.C.

Colony of Penguins Disappears From Antarctic Island

 

Photo: elisfanclub / CC

When Emperor Island was first discovered off the coast of Antarctica back in 1948, it was so named for the thriving colony of around 300 penguins that met there each year to breed. Just over sixty years later, however, there's not a single penguin in sight -- and researchers suspect that melting off from global warming may be to blame for the colony's disappearance.

Article continues: Colony of Penguins Disappears From Antarctic Island

Mysterious shark swarm

Mystery surrounds giant shark swarm

A spectacular gathering of the world's largest sharks offers rare clues about an elusive species.  

Feeding frenzy 

Also: 

• Sharks show stunning skill
• Great white shark estimate
• Penguin colony vanishes

Elephants are 'good problem solvers'

Elephants quickly learn to work together to solve problems, according to researchers.

Full Story

Millions of dead fish found

Millions of dead fish overwhelm marina

Boaters in Redondo Beach, Calif., are stunned by the sight — and the smell — of sardines.  

Police theory 

Also: 

• More marina photos
• Most expensive fish
• Oldest bird gives birth

Wall E. Gator

California Pot Growers Use Alligator to Protect Stash

California narcotics investigators found a $1.5 million marijuana growing operation at a house and an unusual security guard - a 4-foot-long alligator named Wally.

Full Story

Animal Pictures