The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:

When discussing a conflict today (with a friend, a romantic partner, a coworker or a relative), do yourself a favor and just cut to the chase.
Beating around the bush will simply delay the inevitable and give everyone involved way too many chances to avoid dealing with what's really going on.
Treat today's problems the same way you'd treat an adhesive bandage.
Ripping it off quickly might seem scary, but it's actually a lot less painful than a slow peel!

 Some of our readers today have been in:
Morini, Morini, Comoros
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
London, England, United Kingdom
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Bilbao, Pais Vasco, Spain
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Annecy, Rhone-Alpes, France
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Pietermaritzburg, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Kiev, Kyyiv, Ukraine
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Woodlands, Singapore, Singapore
Tomsk, Tomsk, Russia
Opava, Moravskoslezsky Kraj, Czech Republic
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Hanover, Niedersachsen, 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 Charlotte, Charleston, Portland, Seattle and more!

Today is:

Today is Wednesday, November 9, the 313th day of 2011.

There are 52 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

Wondrous Wednesday

Experts in use of force shocked by video of Oakland police shooting photographer

A story in the San Jose Mercury News today on the video which shows an Oakland Police officer shooting a photographer with a projectile, for no apparent reason.

Geoffrey Alpert, a University of South Carolina criminal justice professor who's an expert in police decision-making and use of force, said the video left him "astonished, amazed and embarrassed."
"Unless there's something we don't know, that's one of the most outrageous uses of a firearm that I've ever seen," he said. "Unless there's a threat that you can't see in the video, that just looks like absolute punishment, which is the worst type of excessive force."

Read the rest here.

Occupy Atlanta encamps on lawn of house under foreclosure threat

An Atlanta police officer sent an email to Occupy Atlanta protesters asking for help with his house, which is under threat of foreclosure (when the family tried to refinance their mortgage, the bank responded with a foreclosure notice). Dozens of Atlanta occupiers shifted their camp to the house's lawn, erecting "This home is occupied" signs and promising to put their bodies between the house and the sheriff's deputies when the eviction comes. The neighbors are highly supportive.

Last week, Tawanna Rorey’s husband, a police officer based in Gwinnett County, e-mailed Occupy Atlanta to explain that his home was going to be foreclosed on and his family was in danger of being evicted on Monday. So within a few hours Occupy Atlanta developed an action plan to move to Snellville, Georgia on Monday to stop the foreclosure. At least two dozen protesters encamped on the family’s lawn, to the applause of neighbors and bystanders.

Occupy Atlanta Encamps In Neighborhood To Save Police Officer’s Home From Foreclosure

Seniors join Occupy Chicago protest

It will be interesting to see how the two groups can join together, though nobody in Washington is probably thrilled with the idea.

Huffington Post:

More than 1,000 senior citizens and their supporters marched from Chicago's Federal Plaza to the intersection of Jackson and Clark Street Monday morning to protest proposed cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and Housing and Urban Development (HUD). At the intersection, more than 40 protesters, 15 of them seniors affiliated with the Jane Addams Senior Caucus, stood or sat in the street, arms linked, blocking traffic.

Amid chants demanding that the cuts be forestalled -- with suggestions for alternatives, including tax hikes -- 43 demonstrators were escorted from the intersection (see video, above) by police and issued citations for pedestrian failure to "exercise due care," or for blocking traffic. Those cited included four protesters using assisted mobility devices and at least one centenarian.

The truth be told

Election cheers Democrats, unions

A banner night for Democrats, unions

State ballot measures aimed at banning abortion and curbing union power are defeated.

  Split in gubernatorial races 

Also: 

• Big city mayoral results
• Unions show political clout
• Candidate delivers baby

Ohio voters repeal the repugican’s anti-union law

Honey, the unions shrunk the repugicans.  In fact, they lost 2-1.  Is this a harbinger for good things to come?  Perhaps.  But it's clear the repugicans are having an awfully bad week.

Ohioans overturned a divisive anti-union law on Tuesday, delivering a significant defeat to repugican Gov. John Kasich and a victory to labor unions.

Ohio voters rejected Issue 2, a ballot referendum on Senate Bill 5, a measure that restricts collective bargaining rights for more than 360,000 public employees, among other provisions. Opposition to the legislation inspired large protests from residents around the state this year.

More from the Washington Post.

Clinton defends taxing the rich

How Bill Clinton defends taxing the rich

The former president says his income "went up a lot," but his taxes dropped.  

 'People like me should pay' 

Also: 

• Old-young gap grows
• Anger over super-rich
• Return of culture wars

Did you know ...

Here are 5 places where the rich got richer - on the government's dime.

#occupywallst is a movement too big to fail.

Shouldn't Americans Repair America's Infrastructure?

Listening at last to his inner FDR, President Barack Obama is going straight at the Know-Nothing/Do-Nothing repugicans in Congress.

Full Story

The repugican scrooges try to kill the Christmas tree

The repugicans are very upset that President Obama is trying to save a Christmas tradition, the real Christmas tree.  It's kind of a neat idea the President has, and one the tree growers asked him to do.

From the Miami Herald:

Following an extended debate that pit one region against another, the Agriculture Department on Tuesday gave the green light to a new industry-funded Christmas tree promotion program.

By taxing themselves, growers will raise $2 million a year for ads promoting the merits of real, live trees. Or, at least, trees that once were living, as opposed to the artificial kind that have seized an increasing share of the holiday market.

"As demographics and buying habits have changed we have watched the market for real trees shrink drastically, requiring us to spend much more time and money on promotion," said Don Cameron, past president of the California Christmas Tree Association.

The fee is a whopping 15 cents per tree.

As part of their ongoing effort to label everything a "tax," and every tax a bad thing (since government, to the repugicans, is per se bad, except of course when government is providing repugican members of Congress their own cushy socialist subsidized health care, and absurdly lush retirement benefits even if they spend only a microsecond in Congress), the repugicans are simply apoplectic that the White House would try to help American Christmas tree growers in a manner in which the growers themselves asked for.

Yes, god forbid President Obama actually do something that business is asking him to do to save their livelihood. Then again, the repugicans oppose every move the President makes to save jobs.  They're invested in torpedoing the economy to help their election chances next November, to hell with what it does to the rest of us.

The real question isn't why President Obama is trying to save an American Christmas tradition dating back to the time of the American Revolution, but rather, why the repugicans aren't trying to save it too?

Candidates flunk Econ 101

repugican candidates would flunk Econ 101

Professors say the repugicans' policy ideas wouldn't pass muster in their classes.

  'Grossly irresponsible' 

Also: 

• Fed chief's message
• Banner night for Democrats
• Obama's cost-cutting order

Money lessons from recession

Six money lessons from the recession

This woman now runs her household budget and small business in new ways.  

 The two-day rule she uses 

Also: 

• Five money mistakes
• Peer-pressure spending
• Saving $1,200 a year

Ways to stay sane at work

Seven tips to stay sane at work

Here's how to cope with annoying co-workers, office politics, and other nuttiness.

  Your iPod can help 

Also: 

• Job interview myths
• Ramp up a career change
• Practical online degrees

It ain't honey, Honey

Surprise! Grocery Store Honey is Not Actually Honey  

That honey that lines the shelves of your local grocery store probably isn't honey at all.

Science News

'Smallest fossil' scanned in 3-D

An X-ray scan of Baltic amber at the University of Manchester reveals what scientists say is the "smallest arthropod fossil ever".

• BBC Nature - Amber
• Tiny spider 'digitally dissected'

World's first 'earth scraper'

World's first 'earth scraper' proposed

An architect envisions an ambitious workaround to a law that bans skyscrapers.  

» Questions raised 

Also: 

• China's new skyscraper
• Largest bamboo building
• Stunning converted homes

'Epic' storm nears Alaska

Alaska braces for 'epic' storm

Officials warn it could be one of the worst on record with 100 mph winds, heavy snow, and floods.

Evacuations 

Also: 

• More drilling off Alaska
• 'Deadliest Catch' rescue
• Huge crack in glacier

Surfer claims biggest ride yet

Stunning video of record-challenging ride

A top surfer rides what he believes is a world-record shattering 90-foot wave off Portugal's coast.

  Must-see footage 

Also: 

• Surf encyclopedia online
• Slater wins 11th title
• More surfing news

The World's First Non-Alcoholic Whiskey

You know what you never hear people say? “I really love the taste of whiskey, but I sure wish it didn’t get me drunk.” Yet, from the annals of incredibly stupid ideas comes ArKay, the O’Douls of whiskey.

OK, if you say so.

Culinary DeLites

Make midweek meals in minutes

Try our suggestions for tasty, affordable and nutritious meals that you can easily make in minutes.

  Thai-spiced soup 

Also: 

• Simple recipes
• Cut price not taste
• Cheap nutritious food

Extra Virgin olive Oil

What extra virgin olive oil isn't for

Chef Fabio sets us straight about oil types and shares a tasty salad recipe.

  The color is a clue 

Also: 

• Caprese salad recipe
• Top pasta tricks
• Easy tomato sauce

Eat to lower blood pressure

8 foods to fight high blood pressure

Adding certain fish, grains, and veggies to your diet can help prevent hypertension.  

 Dandelions? 

Also: 

• More on blood pressure
• Lies we tell doctors
• Dangers of loneliness

Ziggy

Awesome Pictures

Jaw-dropping northern lights

This amazing shot was taken in Norway by Ole Christian Salomonsen. It's one of the many photos featured in National Geographic's upcoming photo book, Visions of Earth. You can check out a video preview of some of the other photos on YouTube.

Best views in America

The most dramatic vistas in the U.S.

A hike along this scenic trail in Kauai gives you 11 miles of postcard-perfect views.  

 Most-photographed city 

Also: 

• Places for fried chicken
• Controversial monuments
• 10 great mountain towns

The UK's top Night Gardens

Take an enchanting walk in a night garden

Visit one of the UK's stunning night gardens for a romantic stroll or enchanted Xmas treat. 

'Glowing magic' 

Also: 

• Buy gardening products
• Ten autumn gardens
• Book a holiday online

This Painting Was Made without a Paintbrush

Not one.
Amy Shackleton applies wet paint to a canvas and then elevates and turns it so that the paint runs in the direction that she wants. After many carefully staged pourings over one or two weeks, she’s made a complete, coherent image. Her technique seems to work particularly well for nighttime scenes. You can view more images and a time-lapse video of Shackleton at work at the link.

Read More | Artist’s Website

Today's English Lesson

Return To Levittown: America's First Suburb Reaches 60

 

Levittown is a community in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Levittown was planned and built by Levitt & Sons. The majority of the land on which it is built was purchased in 1951. The homes were moderately priced and required only a low down payment.

Construction of Levittown began in February 1952, soon after completion of Levittown, New York, located on Long Island. Levittown, Pennsylvania was the second Levittown built by William J. Levitt, who is often credited as the creator of the modern American suburb.

Traffic Makes Us Dumber

Traffic Makes Us Dumber: Scientists Say Car Exhaust Causes Brain Damage 

Scientists find evidence that vehicle pollution in congested areas causes brain damage. It's yet another pressing reason we need to start moving beyond the automobile.

Philosoraptor says ...

Surviving Stress

How to thrive under stress

Emotionally Vague: A Graphical Survey Of Feelings

 

Just what do our emotions look like? It's a simple question with extremely complex answers. Emotionally Vague, an interesting and extensive project to graphically display how our emotions look and feel in our body, surveyed 35 different countries to get to the bottom of the question.

The team researched how people experienced the feelings of anger, joy, fear, sadness and love. Given a piece of paper with human silhouettes, each participant was asked to graphically represent each of these emotions in 3 ways - as a point, as directional arrows and with complete expressive freedom. The drawings were then compiled in Photoshop to create a visual 'DNA-like frequency pattern.'

Day of Skulls: Bolivians take skulls to cemetery

Bolivia's annual version of the Day of the Dead is a macabre mixture of Andean prehispanic beliefs and Roman catholicism.

 Full Story

B.C.

Stone Age Cave Painters Were Realists

Spotted horses actually existed tens of thousands of years ago, a study shows, proving cavemen painted them realistically.

Read more 

Mite Fossilized While Sucking on Spider's Head

About 49 million years ago, a mite decided to hitch a ride on a spider's head; then a blop of tree resin fell on them.

Read more 

Animal Pictures