The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:

The frenetic pace of your life is definitely going to slow down starting today.
It is moving away from the rock-and-roll sensibility and starting to resemble a mellow, meandering Chopin piano sonata.
This throttling down of your life is natural, and will be a welcomed relief for you -- especially toward the end of the day when you will seek out a quiet place to recharge your batteries and let the craziness of the world pass by.

 Some of our readers today have been in:
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Basauri, Pais Vasco, Spain
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Munich, Bayern, Germany
Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany
Bilbao, Pais Vasco, Spain
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Woodlands, Singapore, Singapore
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Bangkok, Krung, Thep, Thailand
Manila, Manila, Philippines
London, England, United kingdom
Whitby, Ontario, Canada
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Athens, Attiki, Greece
Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Moscow, Moskva, Russia
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Quezon City, Manila, Philippines
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Reims, Champagne-Ardenne, France
Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Sofia, Sofiya, Bulgaria
Muscat, Masqat, Oman
Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Crawley, England, United Kingdom
Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Lehore, Punjab, India
Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel
Bergen, Hordaland, Norway
Gengenbach, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Cork, Cork, Ireland
Poznan, Wielkopolskie, Poland
Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia
Bristol, England, United Kingdom
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Brighton, England, United Kingdom
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
London, Ontario, Canada
Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Shah Alam, Slangor, Malaysia

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 Gig Harbor, Morro Bay, Destin, Oldsmar, Vista, Vallejo and more!

Today is:

Today is Sunday, November 20, the 324th day of 2011.

There are 41 days left in the year.

Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:

Name Your PC Day.

  

Don't forget to visit our sister blog!

Non Sequitur

Subtle Sunday

CDC Study Notes Decline in Vision Problems from Diabetes

Vision problems in diabetic patients have decreased significantly over the past 15 years, a study from the Center for Disease Control found. When the CDC conducted this study in 1997, 26% of adults suffering from diabetes reported some form of vision impairment. As of last year, that figure dropped to 18.6%. The results of the study were published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

 Full Story

Little tricks to help slim down

Little tricks to help you slim down

If you buy natural peanut butter and pour off the oil on top, each serving will have 20 fewer calories.

  Adds up over time 

Also: 

• Soda's effect on health
• Facts about good, bad fats
• Get fit on a tight budget

A Bit Of Wisdom

Extreme Weather

Climate impact risk 'on the rise'

The risk from extreme weather events is likely to increase if the world continues to warm, say scientists.

• Flood risk 'higher with warming'
• Review backs climate panel report

The truth be told

Who are the top 0.1 percent?

Overlooking America's elite 0.1 percent

Protesters focus on the 1 percent, but another group is more responsible for the income disparity.

Their shrub-era benefits 

Also: 

• Oakland camp cleared
• Money funds at risk
• Pepper spray incident

Did you know ...

From the "No Shit, Sherlock!" Department:

Study finds medical expenses push 10 million more into poverty.

Top 10 Signs The American Dream Is Over

It seems like only yesterday that the American Dream promised you could be anyone, do anything, and go anywhere without fear and with full freedom.

But all that has changed.

Here's a list developed by the US Department of Expectations detailing the Top 10 Signs The American Dream Is Over:

 Top 10 Signs The American Dream Is Over

Down But Not Quite Out

The "Near Poor" in America

Graphic: The New York Times / Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Can you be living on the edge of poverty if you earn more than $50,000 a year? Yes, you can ... if you live in Silicon Valley.
A new and very surprising analysis by The Census Bureau reveals that 100 million people - yes, one in three Americans - live either in poverty or just above it.
Jason DeParle, Robert Gebeloff, and Sabrina Tavernise of The New York Times wrote this intriguing article about America's "near poor":

They drive cars, but seldom new ones. They earn paychecks, but not big ones. Many own homes. Most pay taxes. Half are married, and nearly half live in the suburbs. None are poor, but many describe themselves as barely scraping by.
Down but not quite out, these Americans form a diverse group sometimes called “near poor” and sometimes simply overlooked — and a new count suggests they are far more numerous than previously understood.
When the Census Bureau this month released a new measure of poverty, meant to better count disposable income, it began altering the portrait of national need. Perhaps the most startling differences between the old measure and the new involves data the government has not yet published, showing 51 million people with incomes less than 50 percent above the poverty line. That number of Americans is 76 percent higher than the official account, published in September. All told, that places 100 million people — one in three Americans — either in poverty or in the fretful zone just above it.

One worker profiled by The New York Times summarizes her situation with crystal clear clarity:

“Living paycheck to paycheck,” is how she describes her survival strategy. “One bad bill will wipe you out.”

Full Story

Cluelessness

Some just don't get it

Stand out in job search

How to stand out in the job hunt

Honing in on ways you can solve an employer's problems can set you apart.

  'Company of 1' approach 

Also: 

• 12 overrated careers
• Bad workplace habits
• Plan ahead for switch

Smart tax moves to make now

12 tax moves to make before the year ends

"Take all the deductions you can this year because next year is up in the air," one expert warns. 

  The average refund 

Also: 

• Some tax breaks expiring
• Should you raid 401(k)?
• Five retirement killers

Car Insurance Blunders

This mistake could void your insurance

Most people know how their job affects their car insurance rate, but the rules on voluntary work are foggy. Disclosure 

Also: 

• Compare car insurance
• Insurance falls at last
• Get personalised plates

Ziggy

Probe into pepper-spraying

Investigation launched into pepper-spraying

The chancellor of U.C. Davis says the police action on campus "raises many questions."

  Police chief's comments 

Also: 

• Watch the raw footage
• Occupy protests spread
• L.A.'s Occupy problem

Big Obama security blunder

Obama's Australia security blunder probed

Officials want to know how a secret dossier on the president's movements ended up in the street.  

 Other contents 

Also: 

• Pacific tour's impact
• Reason for Asia focus
• China rebuffs U.S.

Arrest in bomb plot

Suspect in New York bomb plot arrested

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other officials announce a foiled terror plan involving a single individual.

  Details 

Also: 

• Man rejects al-Qaida tie
• Four face terror charges
• Germans arrest suspect

Man admits Loch Lomond 'drink-boating' offense

A man was so drunk behind the wheel of a boat on Loch Lomond he almost fell off the pier when police went to speak to him, a court has heard. Andrew Kelly, 38, is believed to be the first Loch Lomond boater to be convicted under "drink-boating" rules. Police approached him after his boat was towed to shore by concerned park rangers when he ran out of fuel.

Kelly, of Castlemilk, Glasgow, admitted refusing to provide a breath specimen. He was fined £450. Stirling Sheriff Court heard Kelly was on the loch in his father's 18-foot cabin cruiser, with a young child and dog also aboard, on 17 July 2011. A witness contacted police at about 20:20 because he considered the motor cruiser's behavior suspicious. Park rangers also received a call from a member of the public about the boat. Brent Bissett, prosecuting, said: "They [park rangers] noticed the boat meandering in the middle of the loch, and approached the boat in question.

"They observed the accused driving the boat, and he was stationed at the wheel. There were two adults on board, and one juvenile along with a dog. The accused stated he hadn't been driving. A few minutes later the accused's boat ran out of fuel. It was towed back to a boat yard, where police were waiting." Mr Bissett told the court that police questioned the accused and noticed he smelled strongly of alcohol and his speech was slurred. "They said he was so unsteady on his feet that he almost fell off the pier into the loch," he added.

Kelly tested positive in a breath test at the lochside, but refused to provide a second breath specimen "without reasonable excuse" after he was arrested and taken to Central Scotland Police's headquarters in Stirling. Defense agent Philip Cohen said his client did not "take issue with the narration of the Crown". Sheriff Iain Fleming said: "I regard this as a serious matter and failing to provide a specimen of breath while trying to navigate a vehicle is unacceptable."

Crabby Road

Culinary DeLites

How to make mini Mac 'n' cheese muffins

This easy recipe offers a fun twist on the classic comfort food and is great for holiday parties.

  More bite-size ideas 

Also: 

• Is dark meat healthier?
• Holiday horror stories
• Thanksgiving cookie ideas

Make a perfect roast turkey

How to make the perfect roast turkey

The best seasonings are the ones from the classic 1960s song: parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.

  Temperature 

Also: 

• Holiday feast on a budget
• Strange way to eat turkey
• Basic tips about brining

Source of insect buzz around beer identified

Why do insects buzz around beer -- because flies can sense glycerol, a sweet-tasting compound used in yeast fermentation.

 Full Story

Daily Comic Relief

Fake White Houses

Fake White Houses across America

This $4.25 million replica includes its own Oval Office and Lincoln Bedroom.  

 One in Obama's hometown 

Also: 

• One-of-a-kind houses
• Worst home upgrades

The world's top hotel spas

Amazing hotel spas around the world

The best spots let you unwind while actually deepening your connection to a destination.

From Italy to New Zealand 

Also: 

• The most on-time airlines
• Immersive roller coasters
• Winter trips for any budget

The Maharajas' Express

 

image credit

Launched in January 2010, the Maharajas' Express is the most luxurious train of the Indian Railways and one of the most expensive in Asia. The train has all the modern amenities of a 5-star hotel combined with the ageless charms of classic Indian culture.

For eight days this luxury train will carry you across the country by the most famous attractions of India. Cost of the trip per person ranges from $800 for deluxe coupe to $2,500 for the presidential suite per day.

Smile

Ghost towns in dry lakes

Dried-up lakes expose ghost towns

A yearlong drought in Texas exposes towns that had vanished under 30 feet of water.

  Graves of freed slaves 

Also: 

• Photos of artifacts
• Whale fossils in desert
• Sunken Australia islands

The Mysterious Ghost Fleet Of Truk Lagoon

 

image credit

Truk Lagoon - a group of tropical paradise islands in the Federal States of Micronesia - offers adrenaline-junky scuba divers a cool yet creepy underwater adventure in shark-infested Pacific waters while wreck diving the mysterious Ghost Fleet of Truk Lagoon.

More than 50 major shipwrecks from WWII litter the seabed, making the undersea wonder of the world the best shipwreck diving destination on the globe. Many of the shipwrecks in the scuba diving paradise have full cargo holds full of fighter aircraft, tanks, bulldozers, railroad cars, motorcycles, torpedoes, mines, bombs, boxes of munitions, radios, thousands of various weapons, human remains, and other artifacts.

Magma Chambers: Magma Mushes

The long-lived nature of large, silicic magma chambers has been confirmed by looking at the age of zircons found in the erupted products. 

 Full Story

Awesome Pictures

"Ocular Prosthesis" found in the Burnt City

The skeleton was discovered in 2006

It has a hemispherical form and a diameter of just over 2.5 cm (1 inch). It consists of very light material, probably bitumen paste. The surface of the artificial eye is covered with a thin layer of gold, engraved with a central circle (representing the iris) and gold lines patterned like sun rays. The female remains found with the artificial eye was 1.82 m tall (6 feet), much taller than ordinary women of her time. On both sides of the eye are drilled tiny holes, through which a golden thread could hold the eyeball in place. Since microscopic research has shown that the eye socket showed clear imprints of the golden thread, the eyeball must have been worn during her lifetime. The woman's skeleton has been dated to between 2900 and 2800 BCE.

Cave Paintings: Behind the Artists

Exactly who were the Stone-Age artists whose hands painted, molded or carved prehistoric art? Here's a look at what we know about them.  

Read more 

B.C.

 

Better late than never they say ...

Here is yesterday's B.C.

Whales in the desert

 Fossil bonanza poses mystery

More than 2 million years ago, scores of whales congregating off the Pacific Coast of South America mysteriously met their end.

 Full Story

Honored into extinction

Honored into extinction

Ancient Egypt's animal mummy industry

Animal Pictures