The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:

You've been trying hard to get the attention of another person -- and your efforts are finally showing real signs of working today. 

But you'll have to keep going! 

It would be a major mistake to assume that you can relax now. 

You're making excellent progress, but you're not finished yet! 

This isn't time to let go and rest on your laurels. 

Your plan is a good one, and you should follow it through to its completion.

Some of our readers today have been in: 

Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
London, England, United Kingdom
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Albury, New South Wales, Australia
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Scarborough, 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 Medford, Salem, Bend, Portland and more.

Today is:

Today is Saturday, September 3, the 246th day of 2011.

There are 119 days left in the year.

Today's unusual holidays or celebrations are:

There are none.

  

Don't forget to visit our sister blog!

Super Saturday

Adults revel in life-sized Vegas sandbox

Thrill-seeking visitors get an opportunity to man bulldozers in a one-of-a-kind playground.

Just two requirements 

Also: 

• Odd roadside attractions
• Casino chain's changes
• Nevada makes woeful list

President Obama's Weekly Address

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
September 3, 2011

At the end of September, if Congress doesn’t act, funding for our roads and bridges will expire.  This would put a stop to highway construction, bridge repair, mass transit systems and other important projects that keep our country moving quickly and safely.  And it would affect thousands of construction workers and their families who depend on the jobs created by these projects to make ends meet.
Usually, renewing this transportation bill is a no-brainer.  In fact, Congress has renewed it seven times over the last two years.  But thanks to political posturing in Washington, they haven’t been able to extend it this time – and the clock is running out.
Allowing this bill to expire would be a disaster for our infrastructure and our economy.  Right away, over 4,000 workers would be furloughed without pay.  If it’s delayed for just 10 days, we will lose nearly $1 billion in highway funding that we can never get back.  And if we wait even longer, almost 1 million workers could be in danger of losing their jobs over the next year.
Those are serious consequences, and the pain will be felt all across the country.  In Virginia, 19,000 jobs are at risk.  In Minnesota, more than 12,000.  And in Florida, over 35,000 people could be out of work if Congress doesn’t act.
That makes no sense – and it’s completely avoidable.  There’s no reason to put more jobs at risk in an industry that has been one of the hardest-hit in this recession. There’s no reason to cut off funding for transportation projects at a time when so many of our roads are congested; so many of our bridges are in need of repair; and so many businesses are feeling the cost of delays.
This isn’t a Democratic or a Republican issue – it’s an American issue.  That’s why, last week, I was joined at the White House by representatives from the AFL-CIO and the Chamber of Commerce – two groups who don’t always see eye-to-eye, but who agree that it’s critically important for our economy that Congress act now.
That’s also why 128 mayors from both parties wrote to Congress asking them to come together and pass a clean extension.  These are the local leaders who are on the ground every day, and who know what would happen to their communities if Congress fails to act.
So I’m calling on Congress, as soon as they come back, to pass a clean extension of the transportation bill to keep workers on the job, keep critical projects moving forward, and to give folks a sense of security.
There’s a lot of talk in Washington these days about creating jobs.  But it doesn’t help when those same folks turn around and risk losing hundreds of thousands of jobs just because of political gamesmanship.  We need to pass this transportation bill and put people to work rebuilding America.  We need to put our differences aside and do the right thing for our economy.  And now is the time to act.

How Washington is hurting jobs growth

How Washington is hurting jobs growth

The current mix of policies isn't working, as seen by the latest dismal figures, an analyst says.

Where consumers fit in 

Also: 

• Global economy fears
• Slower recovery ahead
• Retailers report gains

The repugican War On Voting

War On Voting

Despicable: The repugican War on Voting.

As the nation gears up for the 2012 presidential election, repugican officials have launched an unprecedented, centrally coordinated campaign to suppress the elements of the Democratic vote that elected Barack Obama in 2008.

Just as Dixiecrats once used poll taxes and literacy tests to bar black Southerners from voting, a new crop of repugican governors and state legislators has passed a series of seemingly disconnected measures that could prevent millions of students, minorities, immigrants, ex-convicts and the elderly from casting ballots.

"What has happened this year is the most significant setback to voting rights in this country in a century," says Judith Browne-Dianis, who monitors barriers to voting as co-director of the Advancement Project, a civil rights organization based in Washington, D.C.

An American Vacationing in Libya

Chris Jeon is a 21-year-old college student from Los Angeles. On a whim, he decided to go on vacation by himself -to Libya.

“I just go and see what happens,” he said. “At spring break I told my friends a ’sick’ vacation would be to come here and fight with the rebels.”
He spent $800 on a one-way ticket from L.A. to Cairo, then traveled by land across the border into Libya, where he has now been for nearly two weeks. His parents do not know he is here. He speaks no Arabic, and has been staying with fighters and families in the area.
“I haven’t spent a dollar in weeks,” he says, because the people of Libya have extended such hospitality.

Jeon plans to be back in L.A. before school starts later this month.

Full Story

Libyan rebel accuses CIA

Libyan rebel's startling accusation

The top military commander in Tripoli says the CIA tortured him when he was a jihadist leader.  

Ties to al-Qaida 

Also: 

• Focus on rebuilding
• Gadhafi's murky future
• Canada's weapons fear

Non Sequitur

Photos of Irene

Billy Stinson comforts his daughter, Erin, as they sit on the steps where their cottage once stood in Nags Head, North Carolina. The home, built in 1903 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was destroyed by Hurricane Irene.

25 Frightening Photos Of Hurricane Irene’s Destruction

Councilman Accused Of Threatening Repairman During Irene Outages

An Elizabeth City councilman is accused of threatening an electricity repair worker because the councilman was angry about which neighborhoods were being restored first.

Full Story

Feds sue big U.S. banks

Feds sue big banks over bad mortgages

The U.S. government targets the nation's largest banks over risky home mortgage-backed securities.

BofA, Chase, more 

Also: 

• Buffett bets big on BofA
• Fed: Goldman to pay fine
• Mortgage rates stay flat

Random Celebrity Photo

Fears over Iran's nuclear program

Nuclear watchdog raises fears about Iran

The IAEA says it’s “increasingly concerned” about possible work there to develop payload for a missile. Report

Also:

• China curbs Iran work
• EU bans Syrian oil imports
• More WikiLeaks cables

Dope in the News

Massive pot farm found in New Mexico

The largest wildfire in New Mexico history has now led to the discovery of one of the biggest marijuana plantation the state has ever seen.

Full Story

California professor wanted for leading gang, drug ring

A university professor suspected of leading a motorcycle gang and methamphetamine drug ring is wanted for arrest in California.

Full Story

Gonna have a good day?

 

The Big Lebowski says no.

Fact: 1 In 10 Dead Bosses Are Murdered

image credit

The American Bureau of Labor Statistics has its fascinatingly morbid fatality census report out. Are you a manager of some sort? Watch your back, because the study says if you die on the job, there's a 10% chance it's murder. Out of the 4,547 workplace deaths in 2010, 10% of the kaput management was a direct result of homicide.

On The Job

How Twitter helped 5 people find jobs

Big payoff, isolated living

Oil field 'man camp' not for everyone

It's a spartan existence for those who trek to North Dakota for a modern-day gold rush.  

'Jobs everywhere' 

Also: 

• More on camp hardships
• Shocking six-figure jobs
• Happiest states in U.S.

I don't want to know ...

Lightning photo wins prize

Paris lightning picture wins prize

A chance photo taken from the window of an apartment captures an amazing moment.  

 Week's best photos

Also:

• Sandbox for adults
• High surf in California
• Tomato fight in Spain

The International Tide Watching Festival

Millions of tourists from China and overseas are drawn to the city of Haining in Zhejiang province every year to witness one of China's most unusual and spectacular sights - the amazing surging tides of the Qiantang River. Running from the west to the Hangzhou Bay, the river is known for its tidal bore, caused by the tide rushing into the river from the bay.

The bore creates a marvelous spectacle. Annually, lots of people watch this natural wonder, and in Hangzhou, citizens living aroud the Qiantang River hold various activities to celebrate the International Tide Watching Festival.

Mustache comb

IKEA launches the man crèche

You've probably seen the "boyfriend chair" in clothing stores for bored shopping companions.

Now IKEA has taken the concept one step further by creating a “crèche” for retail-weary men, complete with Xbox consoles, pinball machines, continuous televised sport and free hot dogs.

MÄNLAND is being billed as a male-only play space to hang out in while wives and girlfriends peruse the aisles.

This is a brilliant idea. Good move IKEA.

Full Story

KISS's Gene Simmons to wed

From the "OK, it's official - Hell has most definitely frozen over" Department:

Gene Simmons, Shannon Tweed to wed

An invitation for the KISS bassist's upcoming ceremony surfaces online.  

 'Rock star attire will be worn' 

Also: 

• How he proposed
• Their past drama
• More on the rocker

Jailed for living together?

In Florida, cohabitation of unmarried people is considered a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail.

The state law dates back to the 1800s, but is getting renewed attention.

Here's why.

Read More

Parents Only As Happy As Least Happy Child

The emotional well-being of parents remains linked to the successes and struggles of their grown children, a new study finds. Researchers expected parents would suffer if their grown children incurred crises such as divorce or unemployment, but that having children who were successful would bring parents' joy and improved emotional well-being.

In fact, they assumed having other successful children would completely mitigate the effects of problem children. However, researchers were surprised to find mothers and fathers were only as happy as their least happy child, says study leader Karen Fingerman, a professor in human development and family sciences at University of Texas at Austin.

Ziggy

Can Your Skin Change Color By Eating Certain Foods Or Chemicals?

image credit

You often hear stories or reports of people having their skin change color after ingesting large quantities of certain foods or chemicals. One popular food in these stories is carrots, or rather, the carotene in carrots. Is there any truth to these claims? And if so, are there any other chemicals that have a similar affect on our skin?

How to spot skin cancer

How to recognize skin cancer

A mole that changes color or shape demands a doctor's visit, but other danger signs are less obvious.

Photos 

Also: 

• More info on skin cancer
• Odd medical trivia
• Skin cancer scares

Healthy Living

10 fitness myths you're wrong about

Eat pasta to lose weight? Really?

5 stress-relieving yoga poses

Culinary DeLites

One dish recipes for every meal

Essential barbecue techniques from the pros

How to create the ultimate cheese board

4 reasons to avoid pre-cut veggies

Restaurant freebies to skip

Eight frightening restaurant freebies

The breadsticks will load you full of carbs, but there's a reason to avoid the salad bowls, too.  

 A solution 

Also: 

• Benefits of tomatoes
• Chocolate and your heart
• More Americans have gout

Life used to be more interesting

Mars samples unlike any other

New Mars samples unlike any others

Initial tests show that a previously unexplored site seems more favorable for life.

  The Opportunity's mission 

Also: 

• NASA preps moon probes
• Dangerous space junk
• Desert planet alien life?

Scientists Want to Capture Asteroid

When most people think of asteroids or other objects coming near the Earth, they panic.

Full Story

B.C.

Playing with Joey

How iPads could save apes

How iPads could help save wild orangutans

A Milwaukee zoo encourages apes to play with apps, but it's not all fun and games.  

Important connection 

Also: 

• Very curious monkeys
• Secret dolphin preserve
• Lizard scares reporter

The Rude Parrot

A lady is walking down the street to work and sees a parrot in a pet store. She stops to admire the bird. The parrot says to her, "Hey lady, you are really ugly."

Well, the lady is furious! She storms past the store to her work.

On the way home she saw the same parrot in the window and the parrot upon seeing her says, "Hey lady, you are really ugly."

She was incredibly ticked now. The next day on the way to work she saw the same parrot and once again it said, "Hey lady, you are really ugly."

The lady was so furious that she stormed into the store and threatened to sue the store and have the bird killed. The store manager apologized profusely and promised the bird wouldn't say it again.

When the lady walked past the store after work the parrot said to her, "Hey lady."

She paused and said, "Yes?"

The bird said, "You know."

Animal Pictures