Workers using bare hands and buckets frantically look for victims of Italy's earthquake, which killed more than 150 and injured 1,500.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Wastewater spill in Lake Norman
In local news:
Lincoln County authorities launched an investigation today after discovering a wastewater spill of about 300 gallons into Lake Norman.
The untreated sewage came from a broken line caused by a private contractor, according to the county department of public works. The spill entered Lake Norman at 8191 Bay Pointe Drive.
While the broken line has been repaired and the spill stopped, a swimming advisory notice has been posted in the area until the amount of contamination has been determined.
County officials advised residents to avoid coming in contact with water in the area until the ban is lifted because of the possibility of e-coli in the water. E-coli is a bacteria that occurs naturally in small quantities but can be harmful to humans and wildlife at elevated levels.
Authorities said the lake water is being tested and when it has been determined to be safe, the notices will be removed. Residents can receive updates through the county's Web site www.lincolncounty.org by clicking on “alerts.”
Residents of the immediate area where the spill took place are being notified through written notices and the reverse 911 system.
For information call the county department of environmental health at 704-736-8426 or Lincoln County Public Works at 704-736-8497.
Public Flogging of Woman by Taliban Raises Outrage
A video of 17-year-old woman being flogged thirty-four times by Taliban militants in the Swat Valley has raised public outrage.
However, while President Asif Ali Zardari ordered the arrest of the perpetrators, the teenage woman was flogged in Kabbal, a remote district where Taliban rule is the law.
However, while President Asif Ali Zardari ordered the arrest of the perpetrators, the teenage woman was flogged in Kabbal, a remote district where Taliban rule is the law.
News akimbo
More News that is slightly off center:
Man charged with using fish as deadly weapon
For instance, if you use one as a missile, you can land yourself a whopper of a felony charge.
Father tried to rid son of spirits
A Houston man who allegedly thought demons invaded his home and family is jailed on charges he beat his 3-year-old son.
Italian authorities dismissed quake warning
The earthquake that has killed at least 90 people in Italy was predicted for the end of March, but the warning was not heeded.
Italian authorities dismissed quake warning
Two for the brain
It seems a scraping the skin suppresses "itch" signals emanating from the spinal cord that would otherwise be sent to the brain.
Why a good scratch quells an itch
The brain can re-accommodate transplanted hands into regions taken over by other parts of the body – surprisingly, the left hand gets accepted fastest in right-handed people.
Hand transplants seize back lost brain territory
The five ages of the brain: Old age
Part 5: Not everyone ages in the same way, but what's the difference between a jolly, intelligent oldie and a forgetful, grumpy one? And can we improve our chances of becoming the former?
Old age
Overweight galaxies
Some massive early galaxies seem to have bulked up too quickly to be explained by a diet of neighbouring galaxies alone.
And I Quote
Be careful how you make those statements, gentlemen.
The public isn’t buying that.
My administration is the only thing between you and the pitchforks.
~President Obama
And just want prompted the statement above?
Details here.
The public isn’t buying that.
My administration is the only thing between you and the pitchforks.
~President Obama
And just want prompted the statement above?
Details here.
The Pope is a Public Enemy
Finally someone has done it ... declared the Pope a public enemy!
Dr. Marty Klein over at Sexual Intelligence puts it like this:
Dr. Marty Klein over at Sexual Intelligence puts it like this:
Belgium Declares Pope Public Enemy
By Dr. Marty Klein
You’ve probably heard about Pope Benedict’s announcement three weeks ago that AIDS “cannot be overcome by the distribution of condoms. On the contrary, they increase the problem.”
The comment was especially brutal and uncivilized given the timing—on a trip to Africa, which has 137 million Catholics and 60% of the world’s HIV population.
In response, the Belgian parliament passed a law ordering the government to “react strongly against any state or organization that in the future brings into doubt the benefit of using condoms to prevent transmission of the AIDS virus.” The government then lodged a formal, diplomatic protest with the Vatican over the Pope’s “unacceptable” comments.
Belgium is hardly alone in its condemnation; here are other comments on the Pope’s bizarre and self-serving belief:
* The New York Times: “The Pope deserves no credence when he distorts scientific findings about the value of condoms in slowing the spread of the AIDS virus.”
* The medical journal Lancet: This is “an outrageous and wildly inaccurate statement.”
* Former French Prime Minister Alain Juppe: Pope Benedict seems to be “living in a situation of total autism.” France’s Education Minister Xavier Darcos condemned the remarks as “criminal”.
* Portuguese bishop Ilidio Leandro: People with AIDS are “morally obliged” to use condoms if they have sex.
* The Philadelphia Inquirer: A cartoon showing the Pope praising a throng of sick and dying Africans: “Blessed are the sick, for they have not used condoms.”
It’s one thing for the Church to say “we don’t believe in using contraception.” That would be quirky, poignant, and pathetic. But when the Church lies and says condoms don’t work—when every scientific study in the world says they do—they go beyond religion to superstition. That puts them right alongside those in Africa and Asia who believe that sex with a virgin can cure AIDS.
Meanwhile, where are the moderate Catholics when their Pope says this dangerous stuff? We expect moderate Muslims to speak out and denounce virulent strains of Islam. I challenge moderate Catholics to do the same: It just isn’t enough to be reasonable, shaking your head in private. This is your Church. All Americans fund it via your tax exemptions, and our government gives it way too much attention when making healthcare, education, diplomatic, and communications policy. It’s time for you to step up and openly criticize your Church’s policy.
Belgium stood up—and they’re 75% Catholic.
Isn’t there a 9th Commandment against bearing false witness? At least when this same Church burned the (accurate) books of Copernicus and Galileo, the Pope could honestly say he didn’t know any better, that astronomy was a new science. Not now. When the Pope simply demands the suffering of people for no good reason—millions dying of AIDS in Africa, a raped 9-year-old in Brazil who needed an abortion to live—he just looks like a foolish old man with fancy clothes.
*****
Way to go Belgium!
Infrared cops find 10,000 cannabis plants
Almost 10,000 cannabis plants have been destroyed by New South Wales Police in a series of aerial drug raids across the state over the past five months.
Mosques, and Thus Prayers, Misaligned
From the "OOPS!" Department:
A slight directional miscue affects some 200 mosques in Mecca.
These mosques are supposed to have a niche showing the direction of the Kaaba, an ancient cube-like building in Mecca's Grand Mosque and the most sacred Islamic site, but are apparently misaligned.
A slight directional miscue affects some 200 mosques in Mecca.
These mosques are supposed to have a niche showing the direction of the Kaaba, an ancient cube-like building in Mecca's Grand Mosque and the most sacred Islamic site, but are apparently misaligned.
Headlines
Headlines for April 6, 2009
- Italy: More than 70 dead, 1,500 injured in quake
- Obama declares US not at war with Islam
- Series of bombings in Baghdad Shiite areas kill 34
- South African prosecutors dropping Zuma case
- Analysts say N. Korean rocket not a total failure
- Khmer Rouge defendant says US helped rise to power
- Australian library finds copy of Schindler's list
- World leaders condemn N. Korea launch, but have few options
- Series of Baghdad bombings in Shiite neighborhoods kill 33
- Media allowed to cover return of U.S. war dead after 18-year ban
- Sallie Mae plans to bring 2,000 jobs back to U.S. in 18 months
- Study: Twitter, YouTube at work improves job performance
- Detroit cops ruffle feathers with pillow fight crackdown
- 'Charlies Angels' star Farrah Fawcett hospitalized in Calif.
Office blunders to avoid
A little common sense and courtesy go a long way, so avoid attracting negative attention with these behavior no-no's.
Office blunders
Also:
Things worth buying before the economy improves
Shoppers can score bargains on big-ticket items like laptops and furniture, but when the economy rebounds, the deals may vanish.
Before the economy improves
Also:
Obama embraces Muslim world with speech
"Let me say this as clearly as I can," Obama says in his first trip to a Muslim nation as president, "the United States... will never be at war with Islam."
Obama embraces Muslim world with speech
More:
Deadly earthquake rocks Italy
At least 70 die when an earthquake knocks down entire blocks of buildings as residents slept inside.
Deadly earthquake rocks Italy
More:
News a bit off kilter
The Law and Order edition.
Art Framed with Marijuana
It wasn't the beauty of the paintings that caught of the eye of Customs agents.
It was their drug-sniffing dog turning up his nose at the art that stopped the show.
Judge Orders Parrot To Appear In Court
An African Grey parrot must appear in a Florida court as part of a civil lawsuit over its rightful owner, a judge says.
Elderly woman rescued on runaway scooter
An elderly Cornish woman had to be rescued by police yesterday after her motorized scooter sped out of control.
Dimbulb leaving town
Dimbulb spews about leaving town ...
... and Jon wishes him "well" (and even offers him, his ez-pass to speed him on his way).
The only trouble is ... the rest of us don't want him in our towns, either.
And he can't go to Hell, they have already said they were more refined and sophisticated there and they won't have 'his kind' ruining the place.
I heard there was an old outhouse down in the Hollow a ways that might be just the place, though.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | M - Th 11p / 10c | |||
| Rush Limbaugh Leaves New York | ||||
| ||||
... and Jon wishes him "well" (and even offers him, his ez-pass to speed him on his way).
The only trouble is ... the rest of us don't want him in our towns, either.
And he can't go to Hell, they have already said they were more refined and sophisticated there and they won't have 'his kind' ruining the place.
I heard there was an old outhouse down in the Hollow a ways that might be just the place, though.
Aspartame and Pandas
The red panda turns out to be very fond of aspartame – something only certain primates were thought to be able to taste.
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
Seoul, Seoul T'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
Siauliai, Siauliu Apskritis, Lithuania
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Blackburn, England, United Kingdom
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Selfoss, Arnessysla, Iceland
Lyngby, Kobenhavn, Denmark
Roubaix, Nord-Pas-De-Calais, France
Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco
as well as Kuwait and the United States
Seoul, Seoul T'ukpyolsi, Republic of Korea
Siauliai, Siauliu Apskritis, Lithuania
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Blackburn, England, United Kingdom
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Selfoss, Arnessysla, Iceland
Lyngby, Kobenhavn, Denmark
Roubaix, Nord-Pas-De-Calais, France
Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco
as well as Kuwait and the United States
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
Watch yourself in flirtatious situations and make sure that you don't start seeing connections as being deeper than they really are.
I always do, I always do!
Watch yourself in flirtatious situations and make sure that you don't start seeing connections as being deeper than they really are.
I always do, I always do!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
HIV-resistant Ugandans found
A small fraction of Ugandans have been able to naturally knock off HIV from their body, a development that could lead to an HIV vaccine, scientists have said.
Secrets to saving $50 a day
Three super-saver families share the changes they made — and the deals they found — to pinch more pennies.
Secrets to saving $50 a day
Also:
Shooter Video Games ‘Sharpen Vision’
Interesting:
Far from being harmful to eyesight, as some had feared, action games such as Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, or Left 4 Dead provide excellent training for what eye doctors call contrast sensitivity, the study found.
Contrast sensitivity is the ability to notice tiny changes in shades of grey against a uniform background, and is critical to everyday activities such as night driving and reading. It often degrades with age.
Read more from Shooter Video Games ‘Sharpen Vision’
It's Tartan Day tomorrow
Since tomorrow is TARTAN DAY ...
Tartan clan: Grant Bell's sheep
A farmer has bred the first ever tartan sheep – creating a minor tourist attraction at his farm in Scotland.
Grant Bell has taken to parading the colorful flock across his East Lothian property to the sound of bagpipes.
'The sheep are a great attraction for the public and are the talking point of the area,' Mr Bell said.Sick turtle checks herself into hospital
Also found this over at TreeHugger:
Photo: Corvette Diver via Flickr
A 73-pound loggerhead turtle materialized in the waters near the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida on March 29. Loggerhead turtles are not common in the harbor. When hospital personnel first spied the turtle, they assumed it had gotten lost. After further examination, the staff observed that the sea-bound reptile had large barnacles on its shell and appeared to be emaciated, both signs of poor health. Hospital workers sprang into action. Dinghies were deployed and nets were wielded. For nearly an hour, there was no sign of the turtle.
The Seasick (Septic) Sea Turtle
When the turtle finally surfaced after 45 minutes, it was dragged into the boat and taken to the hospital. The turtle, a female, was dubbed Kincaid. Her blood work revealed that she was septic. After a few weeks of antibiotics and treatment, Kincaid should make a full recovery. You can check for updates on her status at the Turtle Hospital's blog.
From Turtle Hospital blog:
This was by far the easiest rescue to date! If there was ever a case for evolution… this would seem to be evidence like no other – a sick animal arriving at the hospital on its own! Of course, we could only wish this were true.
Loggerheads are a Threatened Species
Loggerhead turtles are listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. Commercial fishing, specifically artisanal fishing has had a hefty impact on loggerhead turtles. Environmental contamination is also listed among the top threats to marine turtles. Find out how you can help the sea turtles.
Kincaid "the Sick Sea Turtle's" Fate
Once her treatment is at an end, Kincaid will be released back into the harbor where she was found, just fifty feet from the hospital. The Turtle Hospital allows visitors, so if you're in the neighborhood, you can pay Kincaid a visit. She's certainly not shy.
*****
Cute story with a happy ending in the offing - a rarity these days it seems.
Get the wolves back on
From TreeHugger:
photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Over 100 Northern Rocky Mountain Wolves have been killed since the shrub cabal removed the wolves from the federal list of endangered species last year. The State of Idaho recently proposed killing another 120 in the Clearwater region alone and may destroy an additional 26 packs statewide. In response, the National Resources Defense Council and numerous other conservation groups are suing the US Fish and Wildlife Service to stop the slaughter.
Kelebek-Türk
From TreeHugger:
Just a few of the 400 butterfly species in Turkey.
Photo via Kelebek-Türk Gözlemciler Grubu
Lepidopterists are few and far between in Turkey, with just a few dozen butterfly-watchers, compared to 10,000 in England, for example. But the objects of their attention are present in abundance. Some 400 butterfly species are found in the country, and 253 of them are featured in a colorful new report, the Kelebek-Türk 2008 Almanac. (Kelebek is Turkish for butterfly.)
Article continues: Turkey's Butterfly Bounty Documented in New Report
Lie of "Liberal Media" Exposed
The 'liberal media' is AWOL completely on the issue of UNION SIGN UP;...The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA;) as being waged in congress.
For a true picture of the leanings on your favorite media, look at their position on this issue.
For a true picture of the leanings on your favorite media, look at their position on this issue.
Man Robs Disabled Woman, Makes Strange Request
It was bad enough that a disabled North Texas woman had to make a trip to the doctor's office; then the appointment was delayed by a knife wielding robber.
Tipped off, Police break up pillow fight
Police in Detroit have ruffled some feathers after they cracked down on an organized pillow fight at a downtown park.
In the path of the storm
The speed at which a hurricane progresses across the ocean may help forecasters predict which areas are at risk from flooding by storm surges.
Unusual source for Bio-Gas
With the help of a novel bacterial trick, electricity from power plants can be used to turn CO2 into methane – it could help solve reliability problems with wind and solar power.
Bacterium eats electricity, farts Bio-Gas
The five ages of the brain: Adulthood
Part 4: The peak of your brain's powers comes at around age 22 and lasts for just half a decade – but there is an upside to the aging brain.
Adulthood
Antarctic ice shelf half the size of Scotland on verge of collapse
The Wilkins ice shelf in the antarctic is in the last stages of collapse and could break up within days in the latest sign of how global warming is changing the face of the planet.
White-nose syndrome
White-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal infection that has devastated bat populations in New York and New England in the past two years, has now spread to three states on Maryland's borders - and seems poised to strike there next, biologists say.
Taliban threaten two attacks per week in Pakistan
A suicide bombing at a crowded Shiite mosque south of Pakistan's capital killed 22 people Sunday, the latest evidence of how security in the U.S.-allied nation is crumbling well beyond the Afghan border region where al-Qaida and Taliban fighters thrive.
The violence came as a senior Pakistani Taliban commander said his group was behind a deadly suicide bombing Saturday night in Islamabad and promised two more attacks per week in the country if the U.S. does not stop missile strikes on Pakistani territory.
Relatives of victims killed by a suicide bomber in a mosque, react in a hospital in Chakwal city in Punjab.
Read the rest here.
*****
If this is how these nutcases are going to act then we should INCREASE the number of missiles targeting them and wipe them off the planet once and for all.
There is no place on this planet for this type of idiotic behavior and insane antics and any who engage in such shall be summarily and utterly destroyed by whatever means works the swiftest.
The people of Pakistan are tired of this crap as much as the rest of us - it is their government's responsibility to eradicate these felons ... something they have yet failed in.
Now is the time to stamp out these blights on the world because Mother Gaia will if we do not ... and one does not fool around with Mother Gaia - it is akin to grabbing a tiger by the tail, pointless for the business end of the tiger will come back upon you when you do.
And these insane fools have tugged at the Tiger's tale once too often.
Dog Urine, A Fight and Three Dead Police Officers ...
... what do these three things have in common?!
A 911 call that brought two city police officers to a home where they were ambushed, and where a third was later killed during a four-hour siege, was precipitated by a fight between the gunman and his mother over a dog urinating in the house.
North Korean rocket launch
The rocket appears to have fizzled in the Pacific Ocean, while world leaders criticize defiant North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
Outcry over North Korean rocket launch
Also read:
Do dogs really look like their owners?
An experiment matches certain breeds of dogs with particular kinds of people.
Do dogs really look like their owners?
Welcome to Tone-Deaf Bureaucracy
Now, starring Corey Surrency
A seldom-used regulation cuts short the college career of Florida State's Corey Surrency.
The rule in question:
The rule is No. 14.2.3.5 in the NCAA Division I Manuel [sic]. It is titled, "Participation After 21st Birthday," and it mandates the following: If an individual participates in an organized sport after his 21st birthday, but before enrolling in college, that participation "shall count as one year of varsity competition in that sport.Welcome to Tone-Deaf Bureaucracy indeed.
Surrency played with the (Tampa, Florida) Kings after he had turned 21. Had he not, he might never have had the chance to go to college. Regardless, though, his time with the Kings has cost him his final year of eligibility — at least for now. Florida State is appealing on Surrency's behalf.As if the bureaucracy cared.If FSU loses the appeal, Surrency's college football career would be over. It's likely, too, that [with the loss of his athletic scholarship] his pursuit of earning a degree in criminal justice — Surrency would become the first member of his family to earn a college degree — would also be over.
Obscure rule thwarts rising NCAA football star
America's most livable cities
These towns are the easiest places to live in, according to a survey that measures quality-of-life factors.
America's most livable cities
Check out:
Police issue traffic ticket for over $37,000
A police captain in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley said it's the highest fine he's ever seen on a traffic ticket: $37,554.54.
Bethlehem Police Capt. David Kravatz said the major violation was not getting the "super load" permit that was needed because the truck was hauling a 213,000-pound steel cylinder. Police cited the driver and truck owner.
Bethlehem Police Capt. David Kravatz said the major violation was not getting the "super load" permit that was needed because the truck was hauling a 213,000-pound steel cylinder. Police cited the driver and truck owner.
Kravatz said the truck sat idle for almost three weeks after it tipped on March 12 because a new route, proper permits and a police escort took so long to plan.
It was removed Wednesday.
Man arrested just before grand opening at store
Just as a Massachusetts man was about to open his new urban clothing store in Newport, New Hampshire, police arrested him on a federal warrant.
The 26-year-old man was arrested in front of his store, Mr. G's Fashions, shortly before its grand opening Wednesday.
The New Hampshire Union Leader reported the man was arrested on a federal warrant for a charge of felon in possession of a firearm.
The 26-year-old man was arrested in front of his store, Mr. G's Fashions, shortly before its grand opening Wednesday.
The New Hampshire Union Leader reported the man was arrested on a federal warrant for a charge of felon in possession of a firearm.
Police also said they found heroin and cocaine in the car he arrived in.
It was unclear whether the store, which would have started selling clothing, music and other items, would open in the future.
Making Crystal Meth Religiously
Crystal Meth makers wrote recipe in Bible
Police investigators in Elkhart, Indiana say they found the recipe for making methamphetamine in an odd place: in a Bible on the last page of the Book of Revelation.
Officers made discovery as they searched an apartment after arresting two people on methamphetamine possession and manufacturing charges Tuesday night.
Police Lt. Ed Windbigler said the recipe was handwritten on the bottom of the page.
Because there was an active Meth lab in the apartment, officers evacuated the building's other 18 residents.
It was the second time in the past six months a Meth lab was discovered in the building.
A meth lab exploded there in October, sending two to the hospital.
*****
Might just be a 'revelation' is going on it that building. No telling what they're 'seeing' there.
Man pleads guilty to serial shrimp shoplifting
A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty to being a serial shrimp shoplifter at a New Hampshire supermarket, but hasn't explained why he couldn't stay away from the frozen fish.
John Silvera, 46, pleaded guilty to charges of shoplifting and simple assault in connection with his arrest last month. Police said he stole about $500 worth of shrimp in four separate trips to the Salem Market Basket.
John Silvera, 46, pleaded guilty to charges of shoplifting and simple assault in connection with his arrest last month. Police said he stole about $500 worth of shrimp in four separate trips to the Salem Market Basket.
The Eagle-Tribune reported his plea deal required him to waive extradition so he can answer to another shoplifting charge from Methuen, where he is accused of making off with a jacket full of frozen shrimp at a Market Basket there.
Silvera was expected to spend several months in jail before being sent to Oklahoma to face drug trafficking charges there.
*****
Doesn't he know shrimp are BAD for your health - they have the highest level you can eat for cholesterol ... the LDL kind, you know the badass cholesterol (with the exception of maybe pure unrefined lard - then again Oleo/Margerine is like injecting liquified plastic directly into you arteries).
W.Va. retiree aces consecutive holes
A Boone County golfer has two reasons to celebrate a hole-in-one at Charleston's Coonskin Park. Retiree Carl Smith, 70, aced consecutive holes on the executive par 3 course Tuesday. Starting his round on the back nine, Smith used a pitching wedge to ace the 70-yard 18th hole. He said it never entered his mind to try for another.
After a short snack break, Smith used a sand wedge on the 100-yard first hole and saw his tee shot bounce twice before disappearing into the cup. His friend, Bob Roy, witnessed the feats.
Smith took up golf after retiring in 1999 and finding a full set of clubs at a discount store for $4.95. His first hole-in-one came three years ago.
Smith was busy with other matters Wednesday - he's in a weekly bowling league.
Live grenade found by Texas roofers
Texas City, Texas workers removing a roof in Texas nearly had the job done for them ...
... by accident.
... by accident.
Police in Texas City said a construction crew found a live World War II-era hand grenade in the attic of a home Thursday.
Police say an FBI bomb technician was called and the grenade was detonated at a shooting range with no injuries.
Doug Johnson says he bought the house in 1992. It's more than 50 years old.
The roof was being replaced because of damage from Hurricane Ike last year.
Liars and Fools
Today's Liars and Fools ...
You guessed it's Faux News.Check out this moron.
This is a recording of Steve Bierfeldt, a US citizen who tried to board a domestic airplane while carrying $4700 in cash, and was detained by the TSA and subjected to abusive language and threats when he said that he would only answer the TSA's inquiries ("Where do you work?" "Why are you carrying cash?") if he was required to by law.
The TSA agents threatened to turn him over to the DEA.
He was returning from a Ron Paul event in St Louis, MO, having worked for the campaign.
The cash was from sales of t-shirts and stickers at the event.
The transport cops in the audio recording of his interrogation actually tell him if he's not guilty he has nothing to fear.
So, exactly what security threat does cash pose to an airplane?
Now, wait for it ...
Here comes the clueless commenter chiming in who opines, "Well what did he expect when he told the law enforcement person that he expected to be informed of his rights and legal obligations before he would answer his questions?"
You mean our constitutional liberties are only there to be admired, not exercised, right?!
Everyone, let's countdown, 2, 1, ... 'you fu(king moron!'
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Kaiserslauten, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Rimbo, Stockholms Lan, Sweden
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Haar, Bayern, Germany
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Nepean, Ontario, Canada
San Jose, San Jose, Costa Rica
Kiev, Kyyiv, Ukraine
Moscow, Moscow City, Russian Federation
as well as Washington, District of Columbia, United States and all fifty states in the United States
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Kaiserslauten, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Rimbo, Stockholms Lan, Sweden
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Haar, Bayern, Germany
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Nepean, Ontario, Canada
San Jose, San Jose, Costa Rica
Kiev, Kyyiv, Ukraine
Moscow, Moscow City, Russian Federation
as well as Washington, District of Columbia, United States and all fifty states in the United States
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
Just use your imagination to come up with ideas or choices that will fill in the blanks and keep you going!
You got it.
Just use your imagination to come up with ideas or choices that will fill in the blanks and keep you going!
You got it.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Walgreen's Pulls Chia Obama Products
For once, some sort of Obama-related stuff that's not obviously racist or meant to degrade his image (such as Obama waffles).
On the other hand, it is just plain silly.
Spilled milk prompts assault at Pennsylvania juvey school
State police say the girl faces aggravated assault and other charges in Fayette County Juvenile Court for the assault Tuesday at the Adelphi Village alternative school in Fairchance.
Suicide Bones Found 29 Years Later
Authorities in Germany said they have discovered the skeleton of a man who shot himself while atop a tree 29 years ago.
An Agatha Christie Mystery - Alzheimer's?
Canadian researchers have found signs of Alzheimer's disease in later works of Agatha Christie, one of the most prolific and popular British mystery writers.
California Woman Gets 6 Years for Fatal Texting Crash
A woman who crashed into a line of stopped vehicles while text-messaging on her cell phone has been sentenced to six years in a California prison for killing a woman in one of the vehicles.
Lemon Creme
A Dessert for any occasion.
What you need:
2 slightly beaten eggs
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/3 cup lemon juice
Lemon peel strips (optional)
1-1/2 cups water
1/2 of an 8-ounce container frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed
1/4 cup Splenda
1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon peel
How to:
1. In a medium saucepan combine the Splenda and gelatin; stir in water. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture bubbles and gelatin is dissolved. Gradually stir about half of the gelatin mixture into the slightly beaten eggs. Return the mixture to the saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until slightly thickened.
2. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in the shredded lemon peel and lemon juice. Chill in ice water about 20 minutes or just until the mixture thickens slightly, stirring occasionally.
3. Fold the whipped topping into the lemon mixture. Chill again in ice water about 15 minutes or just until mixture mounds, stirring occasionally.
4. Spoon into individual dessert dishes or souffli dishes. Cover and chill at least 2 hours or until set. If desired, garnish with lemon peel strips. Makes six 1/2-cup servings.
What you need:
2 slightly beaten eggs
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/3 cup lemon juice
Lemon peel strips (optional)
1-1/2 cups water
1/2 of an 8-ounce container frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed
1/4 cup Splenda
1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon peel
How to:
1. In a medium saucepan combine the Splenda and gelatin; stir in water. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture bubbles and gelatin is dissolved. Gradually stir about half of the gelatin mixture into the slightly beaten eggs. Return the mixture to the saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until slightly thickened.
2. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in the shredded lemon peel and lemon juice. Chill in ice water about 20 minutes or just until the mixture thickens slightly, stirring occasionally.
3. Fold the whipped topping into the lemon mixture. Chill again in ice water about 15 minutes or just until mixture mounds, stirring occasionally.
4. Spoon into individual dessert dishes or souffli dishes. Cover and chill at least 2 hours or until set. If desired, garnish with lemon peel strips. Makes six 1/2-cup servings.
Surprising credit card advice
Suze Orman offers shocking words for some Americans: Pay only the minimum due on your credit card balance.
Surprising credit card advice from top expert
Also of interest:
As West warms, some fear for tiny mountain dweller
The American pika — a short-legged, hamster-sized fur ball that huddles in high mountain slopes — isn't built for long-distance travel.
So as the West's climate warms, the tiny pika has little choice but to scurry a little farther upslope to beat the heat.
Problem is, in some places, they've run out of room to run, according to scientists. Without cool rocky refuges, the finicky pika can't survive.
This undated photo released by the U.S. Geological Survey, shows a mountain-dwelling American pika.
Read the rest here.
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat
April is Poetry Month so here goes ...
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!"
Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl!
How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose,
His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.
"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will."
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.
*****
Edward Lear (1812–1888)
The five ages of the brain: Adolescence
Part 3: Teenagers are selfish, reckless, irrational and irritable, but given the cacophony of construction going on inside the adolescent brain, is it any wonder?
Adolescence
Dark matter 'pancake'
Our galaxies disc of stars and gas capture dark matter from colliding galaxies, new calculations suggest, which would form a massive pancake of the mysterious substance.
On the trail of mythical beasts
Why are stories of unicorns and wild-men like Bigfoot so enduringly popular?
Two new books suggest they meet deep-rooted human needs.
On the trail
Things to do while you have a job
If you are worried about losing your job, prepare yourself by getting these things done now.
4 things to do while you have a job
Saturday Jam
Today's Saturday Jam includes:
Jazz
Arturo Sandoval
It Don't Come Easy
Ringo Starr
Rock Around The Clock
Bill Haley and The Comets
Just Like A Pill
Pink
South's Gonna Do It Again
Charlie Daniels
President Obama's Weekly Address
Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Saturday, April 4, 2009
In this new century, we live in a world that has grown smaller and more interconnected than at any time in history. Threats to our nation’s security and economy can no longer be kept at bay by oceans or by borders drawn on maps. The terrorists who struck our country on 9/11 plotted in Hamburg, trained in Kandahar and Karachi, and threaten countries across the globe. Cars in Boston and Beijing are melting ice caps in the Arctic that disrupt weather patterns everywhere. The theft of nuclear material from the former Soviet Union could lead to the extermination of any city on earth. And reckless speculation by bankers in New York and London has fueled a global recession that is inflicting pain on workers and families around the world and across America.
The challenges of our time threaten the peace and prosperity of every single nation, and no one nation can meet them alone. That is why it is sometimes necessary for a President to travel abroad in order to protect and strengthen our nation here at home. That is what I have done this week.
I began my trip by attending a summit of the G20 – the countries that represent the world’s largest economies – because we know that the success of America’s economy is inextricably linked to that of the global economy. If people in other countries cannot spend, that means they cannot buy the goods we produce here in America, which means more lost jobs and more families hurting. Just yesterday, we learned that we lost hundreds of thousands more jobs last month, adding to the millions we’ve lost since this recession began. And if we continue to let banks and other financial institutions around the world act recklessly and irresponsibly, that affects institutions here at home as credit dries up, and people can’t get loans to buy a home or car, to run a small business or pay for college.
Ultimately, the only way out of a recession that is global in scope is with a response that is global in coordination. That is why I’m pleased that after two days of careful negotiation, the G20 nations have agreed on a series of unprecedented steps that I believe will be a turning point in our pursuit of a global economic recovery. All of us are now moving aggressively to get our banks lending again. All of us are working to spur growth and create jobs. And all of us have agreed on the most sweeping reform of our financial regulatory framework in a generation – reform that will help end the risky speculation and market abuses that have cost so many people so much.
I also met this past week with the leaders of China and Russia, working to forge constructive relationships to address issues of common concern, while being frank with each other about where we disagree. President Hu and I agreed that the link between China’s economy and ours is of great mutual benefit, and we established a new Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the U.S. and China. President Medvedev and I discussed our shared commitment to a world without nuclear weapons, and we signed a declaration putting America and Russia on the path to a new treaty to further reduce our nuclear arsenals. Tomorrow, I will lay out additional steps we must take to secure the world’s loose nuclear materials and stop the spread of these deadly weapons.
Finally, I met yesterday with our NATO allies and asked them for additional civilian support and assistance for our efforts in Afghanistan. That is where al Qaeda trains, plots, and threatens to launch their next attack. And that attack could occur in any nation, which means that every nation has a stake in ensuring that our mission in Afghanistan succeeds.
As we have worked this week to find common ground and strengthen our alliances, we have not solved all of our problems. And we have not agreed on every point or every issue in every meeting. But we have made real and unprecedented progress – and will continue to do so in the weeks and months ahead.
Because in the end, we recognize that no corner of the globe can wall itself off from the threats of the twenty-first century, or from the needs and concerns of fellow nations. The only way forward is through shared and persistent efforts to combat fear and want wherever they exist. That is the challenge of our time. And if we move forward with courage and resolve, I am confident that we will meet this challenge.
Thank you.
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
Bristol, England, United Kingdom
London, England, United Kingdom
Brno, Jihomoravsky Kraj, Czech Republic
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Moulineaux, Haute-Normandie, France
Granada, Andalucia, Spain
Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Nuenen, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
as well as Brazil and the United States
(Including Carrboro, Huntersville, Gastonia, Charlotte, Rocky Mount, Durham, North Carolina and Gilbert and Gaffney, South Carolina)
Bristol, England, United Kingdom
London, England, United Kingdom
Brno, Jihomoravsky Kraj, Czech Republic
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Moulineaux, Haute-Normandie, France
Granada, Andalucia, Spain
Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Nuenen, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
as well as Brazil and the United States
(Including Carrboro, Huntersville, Gastonia, Charlotte, Rocky Mount, Durham, North Carolina and Gilbert and Gaffney, South Carolina)
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
You deserve to get more respect, and luckily you are about to get some.
Age has it's benefits.
You deserve to get more respect, and luckily you are about to get some.
Age has it's benefits.
Friday, April 3, 2009
How we did it
Speaking of numbers:
We are averaging over 600 visitors a day this year.
63,084 visitors in the month of March alone.
Our technorati authority is 12 now.
We are still the number one blog on four different search engines.
Thanks to all of our readers we are getting better and better.
We are averaging over 600 visitors a day this year.
63,084 visitors in the month of March alone.
Our technorati authority is 12 now.
We are still the number one blog on four different search engines.
Thanks to all of our readers we are getting better and better.
We did it!
We did it!
Carolina Naturally cracked the top 500,000 today!
We sit at 469,402nd place, woo-woo!
(About Time!)
We sat at 501,008th place for sooooo long!
Carolina Naturally cracked the top 500,000 today!
We sit at 469,402nd place, woo-woo!
(About Time!)
We sat at 501,008th place for sooooo long!
Man Takes Nine-Year Old Daughter with Him During Robbery
Shades of Curly Sue.
Or perhaps he just couldn't find a sitter.
A Washington state man held up a convenience store as his young daughter watched.
The robber told the clerk he is unemployed and needs money to support his daughter.
Or perhaps he just couldn't find a sitter.
A Washington state man held up a convenience store as his young daughter watched.
The robber told the clerk he is unemployed and needs money to support his daughter.
Jury in diet-drug case convicts attorneys
A federal jury on Friday convicted two disbarred lawyers of scamming their clients out of nearly $95 million in a diet-drug settlement.
Judge rejects Vick's plan to emerge from bankruptcy
From the "It couldn't have happened to a 'nicer' guy" Department:
A federal bankruptcy judge has rejected suspended NFL star Michael Vick's plan to emerge from bankruptcy.
The five ages of the brain: Childhood
Part 2: Life experiences in these early years help shape our emotional well-being, but neglect or harsh parenting may change the brain for good.
Childhood
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