The Daily Drift

Welcome to Today's Edition of Carolina Naturally.

Yes, it also happens to be Groundhog Day ..! 

 

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Today is - Imbolc

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Today in History

962		Otto I invades Italy and is crowned Holy Roman Emperor.
1032		Conrad II claims the throne of France.
1494		Columbus begins the practice using Indians as slaves.
1571		All eight members of a Jesuit mission in Virginia are murdered by Indians who pretended to be their friends.
1626		Charles I is crowned King of England. Fierce internal struggles between the monarchy and Parliament characterized 17th century English politics.
1848		The Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo formally ends the Mexican War.
1865		Confederate raider William Quantrill and his bushwackers rob citizens, burn a railroad depot and steal horses from Midway, Kentucky.
1870		The press agencies Havas, Reuter and Wolff sign an agreement whereby between them they can cover the whole world.
1876		The National Baseball League is founded with eight teams.
1900		Six cities, Boston, Detroit, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Chicago and St. Louis agree to form baseball‘s American League.
1901		Mexican government troops are badly beaten by Yaqui Indians.
1916		U.S. Senate votes independence for Philippines, effective in 1921.
1921		Airmail service opens between New York and San Francisco. Airmail’s First Day.
1934		Alfred Rosenberg is made philosophical chief of the Nazi Party.
1939		Hungary breaks relations with the Soviet Union.
1943		Last of the German strongholds at Stalingrad surrender to the Red Army.
1944		The Germans stop an Allied attack at Anzio, Italy.
1945		Some 1,200 Royal Air Force planes blast Wiesbaden and Karlsruhe.
1948		The United States and Italy sign a pact of friendship, commerce and navigation.
1959		Arlington and Norfolk, Va., peacefully desegregate public schools.
1960		The U.S. Senate approves 23rd Amendment calling for a ban on the poll tax.
1972		The Winter Olympics begin in Sapporo, Japan.
1978		U.S. Jewish leaders bar a meeting with Egypt’s Anwar Sadat.
1987		Largest steel strike in American history, in progress since August, ends.

No One Knows Why Lost Phones Are Leading To This House

Last February, the very month that Atlanta couple Michael Saba and Christina Lee moved in together, they received a visit from a disturbing group of visitors. A furious family of people arrived at their house and demanded the couple return their lost smart phone.Since then, a dozen more people have showed up to Lee and Saba's suburban home looking for their lost phones, despite the fact that the couple -- nor anyone else -- can explain the multiple signals from smartphone tracking apps leading them to that particular location. Adding to the mystery, the phones have been of all different makes and carriers. The angry visitors have shown up at all hours of the day and night, and sometimes with the police. Said a concerned Sada,

“My biggest fear is that someone dangerous or violent is going to visit our house because of this.” (Such as this man, in a separate incident.) “If or when that happens, I doubt our polite explanations are gonna go very far.”

See additional photos and read more about this tech mystery here.

Could Body Mass Index Predict How Long You'll Live?

Could Body Mass Index Predict How Long You'll Live?

Having a BMI in the overweight range may be linked with the lowest risk of dying, new research suggests.

Why Snow Makes Us Feel Serene

Why Snow Makes Us Feel Serene

Snow is a pretty good natural sound absorber.

Lost Beatrix Potter Children's Story Uncovered

Lost Beatrix Potter Children's Story Uncovered

The story, written more than a century ago, is about a black cat that leads a double life.

Airline offers to serve food and drinks to dolls as long as they've bought a ticket

A Thai airline has offered to serve food and drinks to dolls as long as they've purchased a ticket. The unusual moves follows a craze in Thailand for ultra-realistic dolls, known as Luk Thep or "Child Angels", with some owners believing they have supernatural powers.

While on a Thai Smile Airways (part of national carrier Thai Airways) flight, the dolls are expected to abide by the same rules as human passengers. They must wear a seat-belt when instructed and will be offered food and drink throughout the flight.
Without a ticket, they are treated merely as carry-on luggage. A memo has been sent out to Thai Smile Airways staff, which explained the dolls can be treated as children, as they undergo a "spiritualization" process, which is believed to breathe life into them.
The dolls are thought to contain the spirits of child angels and are pampered with fancy clothes and accessories in the hope it will bring good luck. Recently, a Bangkok buffet also opened service to Luk Thep - with the condition that all food purchased must be consumed.

Two-Thirds Of Mayors In America Support Raising The Minimum Wage

Two-Thirds Of Mayors In America Support Raising The Minimum Wage

Republicans in Congress may not support raising the minimum wage, but most mayors in America say they want to do exactly that.

Was there ever a time when so few people controlled so much wealth?

Was there ever a time when so few people controlled so much wealth?

Charter School Insiders Now Admit Public Education Can't Be Remade In Wall St.'s Image

Charter School Insiders Now Admit Public Education Can't Be Remade In Wall St.'s Image 

No, Duh!

Nazi Begged for Life After Helping Kill Millions

Nazi Begged for Life After Helping Kill Millions

Israel released the handwritten letter by the Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in which he denies guilt.

How Hate, Extremism Were Baked Into The 'Patriot' Militia Pie

It's been a slow-cooking recipe.

Parents arrested after 10-year-old boy caught driving family car on busy street during rush hour

Police in Ceuta, Spain, were astounded to discover a ten-year-old boy at the wheel of a family car during rush hour on a busy city street.
The father was in the passenger seat chatting on his phone, while the boy’s mother and sister were in the back seat when a Guardia Civil patrol car came across the under-age driver.
He was in the driving seat of the family’s BMW X6 cruising down a boulevard of Spain’s north African enclave on Friday evening when he was spotted by Guardia Civil. “His father was casually chatting on his mobile phone while his mother was filming her son at the wheel,” said a statement from the Guardia Civil.
The father, who holds an Italian passport, has been charged as an "accomplice to the crime of reckless driving" for which he faces a two-year jail term and six years suspended driving licence. The boy's mother, a 35-year-old Moroccan was initially arrested but later released without charge.

Six Cops Who Shot 137 Rounds Into Unarmed Couple, Fired — but Can Still Be Cops

Six Cops Who Shot 137 Rounds Into Unarmed Couple, Fired — but Can Still Be Cops

Pittsburgh man guns down mother of three outside a bar after she rejects his advances

Pittsburgh man guns down mother of three outside a bar after she rejects his advances

Talton-Jackson’s murder bears resemblance to a similar homicide in Detroit over a year ago. Mary Spears, also a mother of three, was shot and killed by a stranger after she declined his advances.

Santa Claus fined for reckless driving

Santa Claus has been arrested in North Idaho. Officers in Post Falls arrested a Washington man, legally named Santa Claus, late on Thursday night after he was spotted driving the wrong way. An officer activated his lights and Mr Claus pulled over.

“It should be noted that the vehicle was still in the wrong lane of travel,” wrote the officer who pulled over 67-year-old Mr Claus. Police said they informed Mr Claus why they pulled him over. Mr Claus stated he was not from around there and unfamiliar with the streets according to court records.
Police said they could smell alcohol coming from the vehicle when they spoke to Mr Claus. Officers at the scene conducted a field evaluation of Mr Claus and said he had difficulty maintaining his balance. He later agreed to submit a breath test. Court records stated the two samples read .130 and .119.

Police arrested Mr Claus for DUI but noted he was “cooperative throughout.” Court records showed Mr Claus admitted to having three or four beers at Moon Dollars Bistro in Post Falls. The charge was reduced to misdemeanor reckless driving when Mr Claus appeared in court on Friday. He pleaded guilty and paid a $700 fine.
There's a news video here.

Top 10 Fastest Dinosaurs

Top 10 Fastest Dinosaurs

The Usain Bolt of the dinosaur era has been identified, along with nine of the other fastest dinosaurs that ever lived.

Two Tough Lizards Take Their Scrap To The Street

Lizard gangs like to take their rumbles right to the middle of the street, so all the wimpy humans watching the fight will see how tough they are and leave them alone.

But only one lizard gang lord can rule the block, and as this video shows it can take quite a while for the king lizard to come out on top!

Sadly, this epic battle was ignored by virtually every human who passed by, but the guy who decided to capture the whole thing on video is now under the protection of the South Side Saurians.

Animal News

Elephants Protect Calf from Wild Dogs in Stunning Footage

A South African reserve provides the backdrop for a fascinating standoff in nature.

Hound Dog Nabs Top-10 Finish in Half-Marathon

A dog named Ludivine really represented for canines, taking 7th in the race.

The Amazing Survival of a Diabolical Fish

The impish little Devils Hole pupfish has pulled a fast one -- evolutionarily speaking.

It's Trout vs. Chub in Oregon Lake Smackdown

Oregon’s Diamond Lake is preparing to fight a kind of lake war II with a fish that almost destroyed the body of water just nine years ago.

Extremely Rare White Giraffe Spotted in Tanzania

The distinctive animal has a condition called leucism that results in loss of pigmentation.

Animals Choose Their Tunes: Photos

If a gorilla, dog, fish, cat or bird could control the radio dial, which music would it select? Research has the answers.

Animal Pictures