The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:

On the road of life, there's always a perfect time for you to pull over to the side of the road, turn off your engine and get out and walk for a while. 

Right now you should keep moving forward, but you need to do it slowly. 

It's time for you to feel like you're a bigger part of the journey. 

If you go too fast, you'll whisk right by some beautiful, enriching people and places. 

Plus, going slowly will enable you to feel more content with where you're going.

Some of our readers today have been in: 

Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Yogykarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Newbury, England, United Kingdom
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
London, England, United Kingdom
Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Basauri, Pais Vasco, Spain
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Selayang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Guetersloh, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Morini, Morini, Comoros
Berne, Bern, Switzerland
Munich, Bayern, Germany
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Albury, New South Wales, Australia
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Port Louis, Port Louis, Mauritius
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Metz, Lorraine, France
Ankara, Ankara, Turkey
Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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 Sedalia, Kailua, Caledonia, Atlanta and more.

Today is:

Today is Tuesday, September 20, the 263rd day of 2011.

There are 102 days left in the year.

Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:

There isn't one.

  

Don't forget to visit our sister blog!

Non Sequitur

Tuneful Tuesday

Novices solve AIDS mystery

Scientific novices solve AIDS mystery

Online gamers succeed in unraveling a puzzle that has stumped scientists for a decade.

  Experts astonished 

Also: 

• Shark molecule discovery
• Dinosaur feathers found
• Planet orbits two suns

And this is surprising ... how?

From the "Tell us something we didn't know" Department:

The U.S. has he 25th slowest internet speeds in the world.

Awesome Pictures

Top 10 U.S. cities to live in

America's top 10 cities to live in

These enticing locations offer a mix of low crime, good schools, and plenty of fun. 

But some can be pretty pricey 

Also: 

• Great places to retire
• Find homes for sale
• Decoding home appraisals

Bioclimatic No Walls House In Northern Colombia Is Caribbean Paradise

Photos: Sergio Gomez.

World renewed for their work in Medellin, especially with the Orchid House at the Botanical Garden, Colombian firm Plan B Architects is busy and keeps coming up with great projects.
One of their latest is this wall-less house in Rio Cedro, a city located by the Caribbean Sea, 200 miles north from Medellin.

Article continues: Bioclimatic No Walls House In Northern Colombia Is Caribbean Paradise

Most beautiful ferry rides

World's most beautiful ferry rides

These voyages offer unobstructed views of natural and man-made wonders.

Canada's stunning Inside Passage 

Also: 

• Most scenic rivers
• Best cities for foodies
• Look for cheap fares

Patagonia Converts Sheep Factory to Luxury Adventure Hotel

After nearly a century, the landmarked post-Victorian circa 1915 Bories Cold Storage Plant will breathe new life with the December debut of The Singular Patagonia , the Chilean region's newest luxury retreat, the result of a meticulous 10-year restoration and renovation.

Full Story

Ancient Swedish Fishers Put Human Heads On Stakes

Swedish archaeologists have pulled a trove of 8,000-year-old human skulls from a peat bog that was formerly a lake near Motala, Sweden.

The rituals at Kanaljorden were conducted on a massive stone pavement constructed on the bottom of a shallow lake (currently a peat fen). Some crania were fairly intact while others were found as isolated fragments. The more intact ones represent eleven individuals, both men and women, ranging in age between infants and middle age. Two of the skulls have had wooden stakes inserted all the way from the base to the top. In another case a woman’s temple bone was found inside the skull of another woman. Besides human skulls, the finds also include a small number of post-cranial human bones and bones from animals, as well as artefacts of stone, wood, bone and antler.
The skull depositions at Kanaljorden are clearly ritual in character. The next step is to find out if the human bones are relics of dearly departed that were handled in a complex secondary burial ritual, or trophies of defeated enemies. The archaeologists hope that the ongoing laboratory analysis [stable isotopes] will give clues as to whether the bones are the remains of locals or people with a distant geographic origin, and if they represent a family group or persons unrelated to each other.

Read more at Aadvarchaeology.

Daily Comic Relief

Two outcomes in air crashes

Stark differences in air show crashes

Experts are perplexed by the lack of explosion or fire in the Reno plane accident.  

West Virginia tragedy 

Also: 

• Reno death toll now at 10
• Photos from the crashes
• ‘Radical’ plane changes

Volcanoes seen from space

Amazing volcanic activity seen from space

Astronauts and satellites capture images of some of the world's most violent eruptions.  

 Massive ash plumes 

Also: 

• Deadliest volcano rumbles
• Alaska eruption questions
• Dead satellite to fall

Cold War space secrets

Secret Cold War space programs revealed

Newly declassified centerpieces of a clandestine satellite spy network go on display for a day. 

  'Big Bird's' mission 

Also: 

• Hunt for lost module
• Spaceship factory done
• Predicting satellite crash

Eerie pic sparks Cage buzz

Eerie photo sparks chatter about Cage

One person's claims about a mysterious image prompt outrageous questions about Nicolas Cage. 

  Doctored shot? 

Also: 

• More on Nicolas Cage
• 'Ghost Rider' sequel
• Star designs own dress

One Tin Soldier

The original version by Original Caste

People Really Hate Banks Right Now

Plenty of people are irritated with the banking system right now, but you know people are angry when people are willing to pay $25,000 for a painting of a Chase bank burning up:

Tapping into popular sentiment, Alex Schaefer’s painting of a Chase bank on fire just sold on eBay for $25,200. Part of what drove up the price was online buzz after police questioned him while he was painting it, asking him if he planned to do what the painting depicted.

While I wouldn’t pay that much for one of these paintings, I certainly support the sentiment Mr. Schaefer is expressing.

Full Story

Trouble for American dream

Clinton's harsh words on American dream

The former president says the iconic notion has been "under assault" for the last 30 years.  

Two bad ideas 

Also: 

• Learn more about CGI
• Lady Gaga, Bono's honor
• Cheney causing mischief?

Here teabaggers debate

Are you aware ...

... that the FBI is investigating Wisconsin governor Scott Walker?

The repugican mis-led states change voting rules ahead of 2012

After years of expanding when and how people can vote, state legislatures now under new repugican juntas are moving to trim early voting days, beef up identification requirements and put new restrictions on how voters are notified about absentee ballots.
Democrats assert that repugicans are using midterm election wins to enforce changes ...

Full Story

Typical repugicans - the more people that vote ... the less chance they can steal elections - so they try and limit voters (they do it every time they think they have a shot at it, this time it will fail just as miserably as it always has before).

Real Class Warfare

Companies that look shaky

Well-known businesses that look shaky

Employees may be losing hope at troubled companies such as Best Buy and Kodak.  

Other names you know 

Also: 

• 10 doomed industries
• Builder outlook worsens
• Planning for recession

It's in the numbers

Worst things to hear at work

10 of the worst things to hear at work

If any of these phrases are said to you, odds are you'll be in for some trouble. 

What the words really mean 

Also: 

• Preparing for interviews
• Why big firms are firing
• What can ruin retirement

Amazon under fire

Amazon under fire for hot warehouse

The heat inside a company warehouse reached 102 degrees, and 15 workers collapsed, an exposé reveals.

  Details 

Also: 

• What not to buy at Amazon
• The real price of goods
• Warehouse buys to avoid

Layoff pain strikes twice

Laid off not once, but twice

Machinist Terrance Myricks struggles with losing his job for the second time in three years.  

Wife Briana laid off, too 

Also: 

• Housing still depressed
• 10 top-paying jobs
• Lower your tax bill

Ziggy

Healthy Living

Mind tricks to lose weight

The natural pain reliever we all need

Is your fall routine making you unhealthy?

How to build stronger bones

America's hardest workout classes

New law could clear out the vitamin aisle

Wine cellar

Natural heartburn tips

Natural ways to prevent heartburn

The speed at which you eat can have a big effect on whether that burning feeling follows.  

'Trigger' foods to watch for 

Also: 

• Odd state-fair foods
• Peptic ulcer definition
• Riskier weight-loss option

Culinary DeLites

Scrumptious dinners all week long

Seafood fans will love this savory crab cake sandwich that comes together in a flash. 

  More easy recipes 

Also: 

• More crab recipes
• Low-sugar desserts
• Coca-Cola taste test

10 most outrageous restaurant foods

8 biggest red-flag words on packaged foods

20 best fall apple recipes

 

Healthier chocolate chip cookies: It can be done!

How to make flawless fried chicken

5 things to eat before the end of September

Eat according to your food personality

Customs Tries to Take Aussie Diplomat's Vegemite

Australia's foreign minister said American authorities tried to confiscate his supply of Vegemite as he entered the U.S. Men at Work sang about it, and it's Australia's favorite sandwich spread, but U.S. Customs agents had no idea what Vegemite was when a Down Under diplomat had a jar in his carry on bag.

Full Story

How To Make American Cheese

 

What exactly is American cheese? The American cheese that you find on supermarket shelves isn't cheese made in the traditional way. Instead, it's either a blend of cheese and additives, or it's a highly processed mixture of ingredients such as water, milk, milkfat, milk protein, whey, food coloring, flavorings, and emulsifiers.

By making your own American cheese, not only will you know exactly what went into it, but also you can add in flavorings such as black pepper, roasted red peppers... you name it.

Here's how to make American cheese.

Food-labeling red flags

Biggest food-labeling red flags

You may be unpleasantly surprised to find out where some "natural" flavorings come from.  

 'Fat-free' myth 

Also: 

• Foods that keep you full
• Scary restaurant meals
• The new normal weight?

B.C.

Dinosaur Used Sharp Claw in Combat

A fossil of the feathered raptor reveals it damaged its clawed foot -- most likely during a fight.  

Read more 

Real-life Moby Dick spotted

Real-life Moby Dick spotted

Migaloo, an extremely rare albino humpback whale, has his own Twitter feed.  

 Pigment-deficient peacock, too 

Also: 

• More on Migaloo
• Rare whale's odd behavior
• Albino ostrich escapes

Animal Pictures