5 keys to a good real-estate location
"Location, location, location" is the mantra, but many people don't really understand it.
Also: 
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Politicians hungry for tax revenue have become very puritanical about cigarettes, soda and supermarket bags.
How to know when it's smarter to rent
How to know when it's smarter to rent
People who buy a home in these areas will face higher monthly costs than if they rented.
Also: Boredom is a Killer
Please, readers! If you experience disinterest, apathy, ennui, malaise, dysthymia, lassitude, or neurasthenia as you peruse this essay… click away to safety! If you sense your cognition tumbling towards a fetid swamp of brain-paralyzing boredom — abandon me! I don’t want your death on my conscience.Also:
Boredom is a killer, suggests an essay in the April 2010 International Journal of Epidemiology. Researchers Annie Britton and Martin Shipley at University College London examined questionnaires completed by 7,524 civil workers in 1985-1988 that queried the bureaucrats on their interest level regarding work. Multiple-choice options ranged from experiencing boredom “not at all” to “all the time.” In 2009, the surveyors reconnected with their subjects. They discovered that those who expressed severe job boredom were 2.5 times more likely to be dead of cardiovascular disease. Their conclusion: “those who report being bored are more likely to die younger than those who are not bored.”
Why Boredom is exhausting.
By now you’ve probably seen this story floating around about how doodling may improve concentration, but I’m particularly interested in this part of the story:When people are bored they have high levels of brain activity, Andrade says. “When you’re bored, you think nothing much is going on, but actually your brain is looking for something to do.”Which explains why we can feel so tired and burned out after a long, boring but easy day at work or school – or many successive days of boredom.
So we daydream. But daydreaming takes considerable mental effort, particularly when we get stuck in a daydream. “So that sucks mental resources and energy away from the other task we’re meant to be doing,” Andrade says.
Ben Roethlisberger Suspended for Six Games
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be suspended for six games and must undergo “comprehensive behavioral counseling,” the N.F.L. announced on Wednesday after Commissioner Roger Goodell decided Roethlisberger had violated the league’s personal-conduct policy in relation to a sexual assault allegation against him.Goodell met with Roethlisberger last week after a Georgia prosecutor announced that he would not proceed with charges against Roethlisberger. The prosecutor, however, revealed details of Roethlisberger’s behavior on the night of March 4 that were damning to Roethlisberger’s reputation and prompted Goodell to respond.
The league’s ruling came down Wednesday. The suspension could be reduced to four games after Goodell reviews the situation before the season. It could also be extended if Goodell decides Roethlisberger has not cooperated with the program.
“I recognize that the allegations in Georgia were disputed and that they did not result in criminal charges being filed against you,” Goodell said in a statement.
“My decision today is not based on a finding that you violated Georgia law, or on a conclusion that differs from that of the local prosecutor. That said, you are held to a higher standard as an N.F.L. player, and there is nothing about your conduct in Milledgeville that can remotely be described as admirable, responsible or consistent with either the values of the league or the expectations of our fans.”
The allegations stemmed from an allegation by a 20-year-old college student that Roethlisberger assaulted her in a Milledgeville, Ga., bar. The police described a scene where Roethlisberger was buying shots of alcohol for a group of young women in a roped-off V.I.P. section of the bar when the accuser was escorted down a hallway to a small bathroom. The woman accused Roethlisberger of raping her in the bathroom. She underwent a medical exam at a local emergency room, but it was not conclusive that she was assaulted. She later wrote to the police and said she did not want the case prosecuted.
But when Ocmulgee County District Attorney Fred Bright announced that charges would not be brought, he did describe Roethlisberger’s behavior in troubling detail. “We are not condoning Mr. Roethlisberger’s actions that night,” Bright said at the news conference. “But we do not prosecute morals. We prosecute crimes.”
Last week, hundreds of pages of the case file were made public by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, painting an even more complete picture of the evening.
"As the district attorney concluded, the extensive investigatory record shows that you contributed to the irresponsible consumption of alcohol by purchasing (or facilitating the purchase of) alcoholic beverages for under-age college students, at least some of whom were likely already intoxicated,” Goodell said in a letter to Roethlisberger handing down the suspension.
"There is no question that the excessive consumption of alcohol that evening put the students and yourself at risk. The Personal Conduct Policy also states that discipline is appropriate for conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the N.F.L., N.F.L. clubs, or N.F.L. players. By any measure, your conduct satisfies that standard."
The Steelers last week said that they were prepared to punish Roethlisberger if the league did not.
The Pennsylvania State Police announced Wednesday that Trooper Ed Joyner, who was with Roethlisberger on the night of the alleged assault, would no longer be allowed to work for Roethlisberger when off duty. Joyner had gotten approval from the state police in 2005 to work as an assistant for Roethlisberger, but they determined Joyner’s work had exceeded that scope and said in a statement, “he is alleged to have demeaned the image of the Department.”
The statement said the police continue to investigate Joyner’s actions in relation to the accusations in Georgia, which could warrant further action.
Roethlisberger, 28, is also facing a civil suit by a woman who accused him of raping her in a Lake Tahoe hotel room in 2008.
The Steelers, expecting a suspension, traded for quarterback Byron Leftwich on Tuesday. He is expected to compete with the current backup quarterback Dennis Dixon to play the games that Roethlisberger misses. Even if Goodell does shorten the suspension, the earliest he could return is for a Week 6 game against Cleveland because the Steelers have a bye in Week 5.
The Steelers’ first four games are against Atlanta, Tennessee, Tampa Bay and Baltimore.
Odds and Sods
Odds and Sods
In Cop News
Missouri Highway Patrol gives high school students educational grenade experienceAlleged investigation concludes it wasn't racial profiling that caused white cop to pull gun on grade-school kids and search their backpacks
Maryland cop is fired after pulling gun in argument at bar
Arizona cop fired for dishonesty, misuse of state property, and "other issues"
Florida cop gets one-day suspension for 31st disciplinary action
Two more police officers suspended over videotaped beating at University of Maryland
New Jersey police officer is accused of altering time sheet to hide $1,800 theft
Mississippi cop pleads guilty in theft of items from people during a traffic stop
Texas police union official indicted in $200,000 theft
Three North Carolina deputies indicted for embezzlement of drug funds
Iowa cop gets prison time for taking money and a gun from sheriff's office
Florida deputy charged with giving confidential information to suspect in drug cartel case
Surfer Rides Shark After Shark Attack
A Kauai surfer had an experience seemingly ripped out of a movie when he literally rode a shark after being attacked.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:There's really not much that can go wrong for you right now, and you ought to take full advantage of the circumstances.
Why not?
You rarely take chances, and this one you're contemplating is as well calculated as a risk could possibly be. Think of the expressions on your friends' faces when they see you in this mood.
It will be well worth a little fatigue at work or school tomorrow.
Some of our readers today have been in:
Offenbach, Hessen, Germany
Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia
Delhi, Delhi, India
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Oldenburg, Niedersachsen, Germany
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
London, England, United Kingdom
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Canberra, Australian, Capital Territory, Australia
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Dongen, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
Sooke, British Columbia, Canada
as well as Scotland, Sweden the United States in such cities such as East Earl, Rhome, Cardington, Dallas and more
Today is Wednesday, April 21, the 111th day of 2010.
There are 254 days left in the year.
The moon is waxing. Today In History April 21
Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:
National Chocolate-covered Cashews Day
As The World Turns
As The World Turns
Two North Korean Spies Arrested for Assassination Plot
Authorities arrested two North Koreans for posing as defectors to South Korea and plotting to assassinate the highest ranking North Korean official ever to defect to Seoul, officials said Wednesday.
The State Of The Nation
The State Of The Nation
Workers missing after La. oil rig explosion
Rescuers search off Louisiana's coast for 11 people after a drilling platform blast.
Also: It's Football time again!
It's Football time again!
The Panthers 2010 scheduleRegular Season
Sunday, September 12 @ Giants 1pm
Sunday, September 19 Buccaneers 1pm
Sunday, September 26 Bengals 1pm
Sunday, October 3 @ Saints 1pm
Sunday, October 10 Bears 1pm
Sunday, October 17 Bye Week
Sunday, October 24 49ers 1pm
Sunday, October 31 @ Rams 1pm
Sunday, November 7 Saints 1pm
Sunday, November 14 @ Buccaneers 1pm
Sunday, November 21 Ravens 1pm
Sunday, November 28 @ Browns 1pm
Sunday, December 5 @ Seahawks 4:15pm
Sunday, December 12 Falcons 1pm
Sunday, December 19 Cardinals 1pm
Thursday, December 23 @ Steelers 8:20pm
Sunday, January 2 @ Falcons 1pm
In Matters Of Health
In Matters Of Health
Americans Get Far Too Much Sodium
Eating sustainably involves much more than purchasing organic food. It’s a concept that encompasses taking care of the world in front of you. By being conscious of all aspects of a healthy lifestyle, we can shift into a more mindful way of selecting, preparing and storing food. Use these tips to create food [...]
Spring is sprung earlier than ever
Spring is sprung earlier than ever
The season is arriving about 10 days earlier in the United States than it did two decades ago.
Also: Jon Stewart: Faux News “Is Truly A Terrible, Cynical News Organization”
Epic!Win!
Stewart summed up by saying “as long as ‘fair and balanced’ is how you sell yourself, what I’m saying is ‘Go F*ck Yourself!’”
Via: Mediaite
Lunatic Fringe
Lunatic Fringe
Liars and Fools
Paul Broun (reptile-Georgia) says "We have a lot of domestic enemies in [Congress]".
Yes we do and they are called repugicans!
Send President Obama back to Kenya, says Tom Tancredo (reject-Colorado).
Actually he's never been to Kenya so he can't 'go back' to someplace he's never been.
The South will "rise again", says Thad McCotter (retard-Michigan).
Well, it never fell per se, so it does not have to rise again and the 'version' of the South he is referring to is only in the minds of the bigoted and uneducated (and mainly from more northerly climes as well)
Michelle Bachmann (Batshit Crazy-Minnesota) says former President Clinton was "celebrating" the anniversary of Oklahoma City bombing.
Here again another wingnut does not know what a word means - the word is commemorate - you idiot.
Faux's Sayruh Palin says America's founding fathers wouldn’t agree with separation of church and state.
Well, I would say read what they wrote but seeing how she has no cognitive skill whatsoever it would be a waste of breath.
Faux News defends over-the-top "gangster government" rhetoric from "tea party" crowd.
Traitors always 'defend' traitors
Washington Post's George Will says Obama "deliberately aggravated" financial crisis.
George get your head out of your ass. The crisis was - is - and will forever be squared the responsibility of the shrub and the cabal who DID DELIBERATELY AGGRAVATE the financial crisis for personal gain and they WILL be made to answer for it.
Factors of the FICO score revealed
5 factors of the FICO score revealed
The inner workings of the credit-scoring system are a closely guarded secret.
Also: How to recover from a toxic boss
How to recover from a toxic boss
A manager who bullies or belittles you can shake your confidence in your abilities.
Also: Two weeks in Hamptons home for $500,000
2 weeks in Hamptons home for $500,000
A palatial estate in Bridgehampton, N.Y., has rented out for more than $35,000 a night.
Also: Boy and deer reunited
A Lakeland boy has been reunited with his best friend - a wild deer. Hunter Brozio, 8, and Bucket, a young male deer, have formed a special friendship. But when the two were separated, Hunter's mother had to spend thousands of dollars to bring them back together.
Bucket also became friends with the family dog, Bear. The two would run around on the property together, but one day they ran too far. Last December, the dog and deer went missing. "I was really sad. I thought I'd just never see him again," Hunter said. After weeks of searching their Lakeland ranch, Hunter's mom, Debbie Brozio, finally tracked down her missing pets.
"A friend told me to go on the Animal Control Polk County web site to see if Bear was there and there was Bear's mug shot, the chocolate lab's mug shot," said Brozio. "And so then I was able to trace the deer to Florida Fish and Game." Brozio says Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission's attempt to release Bucket into the wild wasn't going well. "I don't think that Bucket was ready for the wild. I think he wanted to be back here with Hunter," Brozio said.
To reunite her son with Bucket, Brozio says she spent $3,000 and months battling government red tape. "We became a licenced with the State of Florida game preserve. And so we followed their guidelines and built a pen to their specifications," Brozio said. "I was so happy when I found out that we got him back," Hunter said. Now the unlikely friends are back to sharing food on the porch.
Bucket also became friends with the family dog, Bear. The two would run around on the property together, but one day they ran too far. Last December, the dog and deer went missing. "I was really sad. I thought I'd just never see him again," Hunter said. After weeks of searching their Lakeland ranch, Hunter's mom, Debbie Brozio, finally tracked down her missing pets.
"A friend told me to go on the Animal Control Polk County web site to see if Bear was there and there was Bear's mug shot, the chocolate lab's mug shot," said Brozio. "And so then I was able to trace the deer to Florida Fish and Game." Brozio says Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission's attempt to release Bucket into the wild wasn't going well. "I don't think that Bucket was ready for the wild. I think he wanted to be back here with Hunter," Brozio said.
To reunite her son with Bucket, Brozio says she spent $3,000 and months battling government red tape. "We became a licenced with the State of Florida game preserve. And so we followed their guidelines and built a pen to their specifications," Brozio said. "I was so happy when I found out that we got him back," Hunter said. Now the unlikely friends are back to sharing food on the porch.
Scientific Minds Want To Know
Scientific Minds Want To Know
 |  | New Caledonian crows have been observed using three tools in succession in order to obtain a treat, scientists say. |
The secrets of orchids that trick male insects into pollinating them by mimicking females are revealed by scientists.
 | | Is Iceland's volcanic outburst big enough to have an impact on the weather or climate? |
|
Catalan researchers have discovered in the rubbish dump of Can Mata in the Vallès-Penedès basin (Catalonia) a new species of Pliopithecus primate, considered an extinct family of primitive Catarrhini primates (or "Old World monkeys"). The fragments of jaw and molars found in this large site demonstrate that Pliopithecus canmatensis belongs to this group, which includes the first Catarrhini that dispersed from Africa to Eurasia.
The disaster that inspired Earth Day
The disaster that inspired Earth Day
A 1969 incident on this polluted river transformed an environmental concern into a movement.
Also: Early humans may have bred with other species
New genetic evidence suggests that early humans mated with other species, but was it the Neanderthals or someone else entirely, asks Ewen Callaway.
Ocean Saltiness Shows Global Warming Is Intensifying Our Water Cycle
Photo via CSIRO
After pulling data from 1.6 million salinity profiles and data from the international Argo Program - a massive fleet of small oceanic robotic probes that gather information used by 50 research and operational agencies from 26 countries - scientists have found that the ocean has changed salinity levels over the past 50 years. The areas of the ocean that get the most rainfall are less salty, while the areas that get the least is getting more salty, revealing that our water cycle is getting more defined. The study, co-authored by CSIRO scientists Paul Durack and Dr Susan Wijffels, also confirms simulations by the IPCC that showed global warming impacting our water cycle. Those predictions of an intensified water cycle are playing out. Article continues: Ocean Saltiness Shows Global Warming Is Intensifying Our Water Cycle
Threat of new, larger eruption still looms
Threat of new, larger eruption still looms
For all the global chaos Eyjafjallajokull has caused, scientists fear it may just be the opening act.
Also: Attorneys sue LA, Mexico City cardinals over abuse
A Mexican citizen filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Tuesday accusing Roman Catholic cardinals in Mexico City and Los Angeles of conspiring to shelter a Mexican pedophile priest in both countries.
The 'casino wagers' of Wall Street
The 'casino wagers' of Wall Street
Experts are raising questions about an invention of Wall Street that may have no social value.
Also: Wingnut anti-immigrant group says Lindsey Graham may be being blackmailed because he's gay
We've poked fun before at repugican Lindsey Graham's unclear (ahem) sexual orientation, but this is getting downright nasty. This comes on the heels of the Teabaggers outing, and attacking, Graham this weekend.
The national border security organization known as Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC) is officially calling for US Senator Lindsey Graham (r-SC) to make his homosexual lifestyle public knowledge in the interest of political integrity and national security...
"US Senator Lindsey Graham is gay and while many people in South Carolina and Washington DC know that, the general public and Graham's constituents do not," said William Gheen President of ALIPAC. "I personally do not care about Graham's private life, but in this situation his desire to keep this a secret may explain why he is doing a lot of political dirty work for others who have the power to reveal his secrets. Senator Graham needs to come out of the closet inside that log cabin so the public can rest assured he is not being manipulated with his secret."
An American prison staple disappears
An American prison staple disappears
In a cost-cutting measure, prison towers and guards are being replaced by cameras.
Also: Brain games don’t make you any smarter
Brain games don’t make you any smarter
Some online games designed to improve cognitive skills don't boost brainpower, a new study says.
Also: Most dangerous foods to eat while driving
Most dangerous foods to eat while driving
These 10 sloppy fast-food items could mess up more than the inside of your car.
Also: Where the world's fastest Internet is found
Where the world's fastest Internet is found
Three U.S. locations top the list ahead of anywhere in Japan or South Korea.
Also: Snazzy new look for $100 bill
Snazzy new look for $100 bill
The C-note gets a high-tech makeover in an effort to thwart counterfeiters.
Also: Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:This is one of those times that absolutely everyone wishes for -- especially since it's happening at a good in-between point.
You're endowed with all the right energy to have a warm, sweet, romantic adventure with the one you love. And whether you choose to take off to somewhere wild or just turn your living room into a love den doesn't matter.
You should truly enjoy each other's company.
Some of our readers today have been in:
Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Rapperswil, Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark
Leer, Niedersachsen, Germany
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
London, England, United Kingdom
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Port-Au-Prince, Oest, Haiti
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Piove De Sacco, Veneto, Italy
Sheffield, England, United Kingdom
as well as the United States in such cities such as Deerfield, San Diego, Beaumont, Vidalia, Severna Park, Natchitoches and more
Today is Tuesday, April 20, the 110th day of 2010.
There are 255 days left in the year.
There are no unusual holidays or celebrations today
As The World Turns
As The World Turns
Top al-Qaida leaders killed in Iraq
The U.S. and Iraq claimed a major victory against al-Qaida on Monday, saying their forces killed the terror group's two top figures in this country in an air and ground assault on their safehouse near Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced the killings of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and Abu Ayyub al-Masri at a news conference and showed photographs of their bloody corpses. U.S. military officials later confirmed the deaths, which Vice President Joe Biden called a "potentially devastating blow" to al-Qaida in Iraq.Threat Of New, Larger Icelandic Eruption Looms
For all the worldwide chaos that Iceland's volcano has already created, it may just be the opening act.
Local Hospitality
Local Hospitality
Amazon refuses to turn over customers' reading records to North Carolina tax department
North Carolina's tax department wants to ding NC residents for sales tax on purchases from out-of-state retailers like Amazon.com, so they've asked Amazon to cough up a list of everything its NC customers have bought -- books, sex-toys, steaks, CDs, whatever. Amazon's taken the high-road, and has gone to court to protect its customers' privacy. The lawsuit says the demand violates the privacy and First Amendment rights of Amazon's customers. North Carolina's Department of Revenue had ordered the online retailer to provide full details on nearly 50 million purchases made by state residents between 2003 and 2010. Amazon is asking a federal judge in Seattle to rule that the demand is illegal, and left open the possibility of requesting a preliminary injunction against North Carolina's tax collectors.
"The best-case scenario for customers would be where the North Carolina Department of Revenue withdraws their demand because they recognize that it violates the privacy rights of North Carolina residents," Amazon spokesperson Mary Osako told CNET.
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