The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:
Even though love is important to you, you may be feeling some anti-romance feelings today.
Perhaps a certain cooing couple is getting on your last nerve, or maybe your own romantic adventures have been less than fulfilling lately.
If you want to enjoy some alone time and take a break from hearts and flowers, there's nothing wrong with that!
Even though other people might be feeling lovey-dovey, you don't have to fake schmaltzy sentiment.

Some of our readers today have been in:

 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Florence, Toscana, Italy
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
London, England, United Kingdom
Bamberg, Bayern, Germany
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Cork, Cork, Ireland
Annecy, Rhone-Alpes, France
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan. Malaysia
Johor Baharu, Johor, Malaysia
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland
Stoke On Trent, England, United Kingdom

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 Urbandale, Bettendorf, Dubuque, Council Bluffs and more.

Today is:

Today is Wednesday, July 27, the 208th day of 2011.

There are 157 days left in the year.

Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:

Walk On Stilts Day.
 

Don't forget to visit our sister blog!

Welcome to Reality

Too bad we'll never be able to say that to repugicans.

Reality is ...

Norway police slammed

Norway police ripped for slow response

Campers struggled to get their panicked pleas heard before officers made the 25-mile journey by car.

More mistakes 

Also: 

• Killer's lawyer speaks out
• Beck draws ire for remark
• Victims' names released

Non Sequitur

Markets ignore debt deadlock

Markets shrug off debt deadlock

There are a few reasons why the stalemate hasn't caused a stock crash.

What makes a 2008 repeat unlikely 

Also: 

• Treasuries a safe bet?
• Eliminate debt ceiling
• Write-offs on the block

Shoe

Costs of debt ceiling standoff

Six costs of not raising the debt ceiling

Programs like food stamps and Social Security may be on the line if a compromise isn't made.  

Businesses 

Also: 

• Cantor's pivotal role
• Rival debt plans battle
• Wall Street not panicked

Forgot that one did we?

Graphic shows how the shrub created deficit, not Obama

The repugicans would have you believe that Obama created the debt. 

In fact, it was the shrub who created the lion's share of our debt. 

No one wants to talk about that fact.

Cantor tells teabagger caucus to stop "whining," vote to raise debt ceiling

I guess we'll see just how powerful the teabaggers really are, now that the number two repugican in the House, Eric Cantor, has told them all to stop whining, and support Boehner's bill to raise the debt ceiling.

If Cantor is becoming a teetotaler, and he's supposed to be the hard ass, then the repugican leadership is finally telling the teabaggers to shut up and take a hike.

It'll be interesting to see if the teabaggers accept their new status as legislative pushovers.

The truth be told

Sculptural Houseplants for the Design Enthusiast

Photo: Nostaw21/Creative Commons

Bringing an array of plants into your house has plenty of benefits -- they can brighten up dark spaces, filter the air to keep you healthy, and give you a deeper appreciation for the beauty of nature.
But if fluffy ferns and roving ivys aren't your style, check out one of these sleek, stylish plants instead: From colorful, spiky bromeliads to tall, subtle snake plants, these greens add an effortless elegance to any room.

Article continues: 5 Sculptural Houseplants for the Design Enthusiast

'No kids allowed' gains steam

'No kids allowed' movement gains steam

Hotels, movie theaters, restaurants, and even supermarkets are offering child-free options. 

What's fueling the trend 

Also: 

• Parents-to-be money tips
• Ads on school buses?
• Ways to get kids moving

Better tasting bacon

Bacon to become tastier in the UK

New regulations from the EU aim to make commercially produced bacon taste a lot better.  

How they'll do it

Related links

• Craziest bacon products
• Sharpener grates cheese
• French fry lip balm

The seven biggest supermarket scams

Don't fall for these supermarket tricks

You'll never believe some of the sneaky sales practices supermarkets use to get you to spend more. 

Product placement

Related links

• Avoid being ripped off
• Eat well without big brands
• Do the groceries and save

Healthy Living

5 secrets of happy people

Grocery cart or basket: Which one leads to healthier choices?

Top 7 reasons you're so tired

When to fire your doctor

Nine signs you should fire your doctor

Do you wait an hour to see your physician, only to feel like he's rushing you?  

Dangers of bad office staff 

Also: 

• Odd but true health tips
• What your hands reveal
• Best foods for your brain

Charity shops – false economy or bargain buys?

Does secondhand really mean second rate?

We hit the charity shops to see how much we can save and offer top tips for bagging a bargain. 

Stay focused

Related links

• UK charity shops
• Repair things yourself?
• Eat well for cheaper

Car maintenance that pays off

Easy car maintenance for big payoffs

Little investments of time and money can save you big financial headaches.  

A common myth about oil changes 

Also: 

• Automobile repair tips
• Research green vehicles
• Best days to buy things

Self-sabotaging habits

Five habits that are holding you back

Always being late might be a passive-aggressive way of showing resentment.  

What's behind procrastination 

Also: 

• Become a morning person
• Six worldly health tips
• A new caveman diet

Amazing lottery win streak

Family's amazing run of lottery luck

A North Carolina woman and her mother have snagged millions in random cash since 1991.  

Other repeat winners 

Also: 

• Luckiest woman in world?
• Credit card use is up
• Record Europe lottery win

Colleges with top paybacks

Colleges with the biggest paybacks

Graduates of these schools earn the highest midcareer salaries, a report says.

$130K pay after attending No. 1 

Also: 

• College debt overload
• What holds back careers
• The $200 dorm room

Cities for young go-getters

Best cities for young professionals

You won't find huge metropolises like New York or Los Angeles in the top five.

But Warren Buffett's hometown is there 

Also: 

• 25 jobs in demand now
• Opportunity for new grads
• Vanishing work perks

Postal service eyes closures

Thousands of post offices could be shut

The cash-strapped Postal Service is considering closing up to 3,600 local post offices.  

Agency losing billions 

Also: 

• Postal Service cutbacks
• 3 days-per-week delivery?
• Preview of new stamps

Priciest U.S. home for sale

Why is this the priciest U.S. home for sale?

It may not look like much, but this Wyoming ranch lists for a cool $175 million.

See the property's big draw 

Also: 

• Mansions of CEOs
• Pocket-sized homes
• Find houses for sale

Wizard of Id

Saluda River artifacts going on display

Fans of the Saluda River now have a new place to learn about the area's Native American history.

Full Story

Japan To Drill Seabed for 'Burning Ice'

Japan will seek to extract natural gas from seabed deposits of methane hydrate, also known as "burning ice," in the world's first such offshore experiment

Read more 

Hotspot Found on Moon's Far Side

Scientists have found evidence of volcanoes on the far side of the moon.

Read more 

Mysterious Statue Once Featured at Machu Picchu

The stone statue likely represented the great Inca emperor, Pachacuti, say archaeologists.

Read more 

Brain shrinkage is uniquely human

Brain shrinkage is 'uniquely human'

Chimpanzee brains do not suffer age-related brain shrinkage as humans do, indicating that old age has evolved to "pay for" our bigger brains.

• Are we destined for a frail old age?
• Genes reveal 'biological ageing'

Ziggy

Tiger Hunting In Maharaja's Rolls Royce

If you’ve ever wanted to own a car that was both stylish and armed to the teeth, then this vintage Rolls Royce might be the car of your dreams. Built to aid an Indian Maharaja in hunting tigers, this classy coup has built in double-barrel shotguns, a rifle stand, Lantaka cannon mounted to the bumper and a trailer mounted machine gun. This classy yet deadly ride is expected to bring in around a million dollars at auction, so this is probably yet another one-of-a-kind automobile that will end up in Jay Leno’s collection.

Full Story

Crocodiles Can't Chew

Yes, it’s true. Despite their fearsome reputation, crocodiles can’t chew. But that’s not to say they won’t kill you—in fact, death by crocodile is probably more agonizing precisely because they’re unable to masticate.

 Full Story

Mice Are Evolving An Immunity To Poison!

The rodents of the future will eat poison pellets like candy, according to new research conducted on mice found in a German bakery. The baker called in an exterminator to rid his business of the pests and discovered, to his horror, that the little buggers weren’t even fazed by bromadiolone, which is a very concentrated and deadly version of the common rat poison warfarin. This defensive immunity comes from interbreeding with Algerian mice, which had already developed an immunity to the poison. Looks like these unwelcome visitors are determined to stick around, no matter what we throw at them!

Full Story

Deadly Horse Virus Found in Dog

Authorities fear that the lethal Hendravvirus has jumped species.

Read more 

Battle over gray wolves

Court battle over gray wolves begins

Environmentalists claim Congress exceeded its authority in the endangered species case.

Unprecedented act 

Also: 

• One ton of ivory seized
• Alabama snail's comeback
• Whales stuck in Calif. river

Six Gorillas Orphaned by Poachers Get Airlifted Home

 

Photo: heatherlyone / cc

In their few short years of life, six young mountain gorillas from the Congo have experienced humanity at both its worst and at its best. When these threatened animals were just infants, poachers killed their parents and smuggled them across the border into Rwanda, likely to be sold as pets on the illegal wildlife market, or killed for the bushmeat trade. But thanks to a collaborative effort between the two nations and conservation organizations, the endangered gorillas were rescued from the grip of traffickers -- and now they're readying for a return to their native forests.

Article continues: Six Gorillas Orphaned by Poachers Get Airlifted Home

Animal Pictures