Flashes of suspected al-Qaida activity create a thorny dilemma for the U.S. — and the rebels themselves.
Also: 
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Have you seen these thieves?
Barry Wisebram caught thieves on camera and found a new way to ask for help.
Also: Baby blown away by tornado survives
Jonathan Robinson was babysitting when winds ripped 3-month-old Ayden from his arms.
Also: Things They Won't Tell You
Some jewelers have been caught selling "composite rubies," which are up to 50% glass.
Also: Culinary DeLites
Don't expect olive oil and sun-dried tomatoes from this top-ranked hot spot, chef warns.
Also: Axe Guns
It’s hard to find much information about this type of firearm. Steve of The Firearm Blog suspects that these weapons were decorative rather than practical. There are apparently a couple examples on display in the armory at Castle Eltz in western Germany.
Rednecks
A man was on holiday in the depths of Louisiana, where he tried to buy some Alligator shoes. However he was not prepared to pay the high prices, and after having failed to haggle the vendor down to a reasonable price level, ended up shouting. "I don't give two hoots for your shoes man, I'll go and kill my own gator!" to which the shopkeeper replied,"By all means, just watch out for those two good ole boys who are doing the same!"
So the man went out into the Bayou, and after a while saw two men with spears, standing still in the water. 'They must be the good ole boys,' he thought. Just at that point he noticed an alligator moving in the water towards one of them. The guy stood completely passive, even as the gator came ever closer.
Just as the beast was about to swallow the him, he struck home with his spear and wrestled the gator up onto the beach, where several gators were already laying. Together the two guys threw the gator onto its back, whereupon one exclaimed "Darn! This one doesn't have any shoes either!"
Positively Negative
A linguistics professor was lecturing to his class one day.
"In English," he said, "A double negative forms a positive. In some languages, though, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative. However, there is no language wherein a double positive can form a negative."
A voice from the back of the room piped up, "Yeah, right."
"In English," he said, "A double negative forms a positive. In some languages, though, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative. However, there is no language wherein a double positive can form a negative."
A voice from the back of the room piped up, "Yeah, right."
Why men should see a doctor
Despite some frightening statistics, a large percentage of guys steer clear of physicians.
Also:
Uh and Um May Help Children Learn Language
These disfluencies may help youngsters pick up key words.
Student Yawned in Class
... And Couldn't Close Her Mouth!
Got a boring class? Whatever you do, suppress that irresistible urge to yawn, just in case. Here’s what happened to a British teen after she yawned in one particularly boring class:Holly Thompson, 17, of Kingsthorpe, Northampton, was in the middle of a particularly enthralling class on politics when she reacted to the subject matter like many other students would — she yawned.
But what happened next wasn’t so typical. Her trap wouldn’t shut, making her look like an anime character in a state of shock. [...]
"I was so shocked, my expression probably said it all," she said. "I nudged my friend to show her what had happened but I was so embarrassed. When we realized we couldn’t close it, she had to tell the teacher."
Peppermint earns respect in mainstream medicine
University of Adelaide researchers have shown for the first time how peppermint helps to relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which affects up to 20% of the population.
In a paper published this week in the international journal Pain ...
Best-liked pharmacies
A Consumer Reports survey finds that drugstore chains have real competition.
Also: A catholic has a heart attack
A man suffered a serious heart attack and had open heart bypass surgery.
He awakened from the surgery to find himself in the care of nuns at a Catholic Hospital.
As he was recovering, a nun asked him how he was going to pay for his treatment.
She asked, 'Do you have health insurance?'
He replied in a raspy voice , 'No health insurance.'
The nun asked, 'Do you have money in the bank?'
He replied, 'No money in the bank.'
The nun asked, 'Do you have a relative who could help you?'
He said, 'I only have a spinster sister, who is a nun.'
The nun became agitated and announced loudly,
'Nuns are not spinsters! Nuns are married to God.'
The patient replied,
'Perfect. Send the bill to my brother-in-law.'
He awakened from the surgery to find himself in the care of nuns at a Catholic Hospital.
As he was recovering, a nun asked him how he was going to pay for his treatment.
She asked, 'Do you have health insurance?'
He replied in a raspy voice , 'No health insurance.'
The nun asked, 'Do you have money in the bank?'
He replied, 'No money in the bank.'
The nun asked, 'Do you have a relative who could help you?'
He said, 'I only have a spinster sister, who is a nun.'
The nun became agitated and announced loudly,
'Nuns are not spinsters! Nuns are married to God.'
The patient replied,
'Perfect. Send the bill to my brother-in-law.'
Cincinnati Reds Pitcher Mike Leake Arrested for Shoplifting $59 Worth of Merchandise
I think the strangest thing arising out of the Mike Leake shoplifting arrest yesterday is not the fact that a man who makes over $400,000 a year and recently got a $2 million signing bonus felt it necessary to steal. Rather, the strangest thing is that he somehow got caught stealing “six shirts worth $59.88.” Upon seeing this, some people suggested that it was an elaborate ploy by Macy’s to publicize just how affordable their merchandise truly is.
Thankfully today we have clarity on this important point: they were American Rag pocket t-shirts. They normally retail for $14.50, but were apparently on sale for $9.98. Macy’s was virtually giving them away! Any less and you’d practically be stealing from them! Wait. Bad choice of words.
Anyway, as Hal McCoy notes this morning, Leake got a paycheck for $40K on Friday and the Reds’ clubhouse manager probably would have given Leake six shirts for free if he had asked.
All of which makes me wonder what the hell was going on here. Leake isn’t an actor so he can’t play the “I was researching a role” card. He’s not as cute as Winona Ryder, so there likely won’t be any “Free Mike” t-shirts printed up.
It all just makes me wonder if there isn’t some sort of mental issue or impulse control problem or existential crisis or something like which explains this. Remember Jeff Reardon’s thing? Not all property crime is about greed or possessions. Sometimes it’s just an outlet.
As for the more pedestrian explanations, the Reds and Leake issues the following statements last night. Via Mark Sheldon at MLB.com, here’s the Reds:
“On behalf of the Cincinnati Reds organization, at this time we are advised to not publicly address this matter because of the pending legal proceedings. However, we do not condone behavior of the type alleged, which is wholly inconsistent with the principles of this organization and our community and is detrimental to the positive direction we seek to follow. When the legal process has been completed, we will handle this matter internally.”
And Leake’s statement:
“Today, Mike Leake was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of theft from the Macy’s store downtown. Right now, he has been advised by his attorney to offer no further statements on this matter. This case will proceed in the justice system, where Mike’s story will be told. Until that time, there will be nothing further from Mike on this episode until the court proceedings have concluded. However, Mike wishes to apologize to his family, the fans, Mr. Castellini, Walt, Dusty, his teammates and the entire Reds organization for this distraction.”
Man in electric wheelchair rammed cyclist after chasing her around for three days
Police arrested a 67-year-old man after a woman said he "charged" her in his electric wheelchair, crashing into her bicycle after chasing her around a parking lot for three days. The victim told Fort Pierce police she was on her bicycle when Harry Lee Gray "charged her in his electric wheelchair".
She said Gray purposely crashed into her leg and bicycle, knocking her off. Further, she said he picked up the bike, which her late father had given her, and "slammed" it down, causing the front tire to come off.
"(The victim) stated that Gray has chased her for the last three days around the parking lot, but she never called the police," an affidavit states. Gray, who police said appeared "very intoxicated," denied doing anything. He then offered the woman money to repair the bike.
Witnesses said they saw Gray knock the victim from the bicycle before picking it up and slamming it down. "It should be noted that Gray is not wheelchair bound, and he can walk for a short distance," the affidavit states. Gray, of the 600 block of Avenue B in Fort Pierce, was arrested on misdemeanor battery and criminal mischief charges.
She said Gray purposely crashed into her leg and bicycle, knocking her off. Further, she said he picked up the bike, which her late father had given her, and "slammed" it down, causing the front tire to come off.
"(The victim) stated that Gray has chased her for the last three days around the parking lot, but she never called the police," an affidavit states. Gray, who police said appeared "very intoxicated," denied doing anything. He then offered the woman money to repair the bike.
Witnesses said they saw Gray knock the victim from the bicycle before picking it up and slamming it down. "It should be noted that Gray is not wheelchair bound, and he can walk for a short distance," the affidavit states. Gray, of the 600 block of Avenue B in Fort Pierce, was arrested on misdemeanor battery and criminal mischief charges.
Refugee's coins returned to family
A German refugee's hoard of gold coins discovered in a garden will be returned to his descendants, a coroner has ruled.
Life Under a Binary Star
Many science fiction scenarios have planets with two or even more stars. How would life evolve differently under such a system?In a new study, researchers have assessed the potential for photosynthetic life in multi-star systems with different combinations of sunlike stars and red dwarfs to figure out what plants might be like. The team has speculated that on an Earth-like planet with two or three suns, the vegetation may appear black or grey.If a life form evolved to use two different colors of light for energy, the vegetation would appear black to our eyes. They might even develop the ability to use infrared or ultraviolet light that we can’t see at all to power photosynthesis.
“If a planet were found in a system with two or more stars, there would potentially be multiple sources of energy available to drive photosynthesis,” said PhD student Jack O’Malley-James from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
“The temperature of a star determines its colour and, hence, the colour of light used for photosynthesis. Depending on the colours of their star-light, plants would evolve very differently.”
Why Humans Are All Much More Related Than You Think
Let's say you were born in 1975, your parents were both born in 1950, your four grandparents were born in 1925, your eight great-grandparents in 1900, and so on. In other words, your number of ancestors doubles every 25 years the further back in time you go. If you take this back just 1,000 years, you'll find that you have well over 500 billion ancestors in a single generation.
Considering there's fewer than seven billion people on this planet there's something seriously wrong here. The solution, of course, is that you don't have 500 billion distinct ancestors, but rather a much, much smaller number of ancestors reappear over and over and over again in your family tree.
This Tree Has Far Too Much Pollen
This tree in Lewisburg, Tennessee has a lot of pollen. A gentle shake reveals how much.
Astronomical News
A Surprisingly Ancient Galaxy
What Will the Universe Look Like in One Trillion Years?
A trillion years from now the universe will be a much simpler place for far-future astronomers to ponder. Read more
Do Aliens Speak Particle-Tongue?
Instead of using radio waves or optical beams, ET may encode information on neutrinos.
Did Supernova Herald the Birth of a King?
Blobs In Space Yield Mystery and Wonder
Some of the most extraordinary things in the universe can only be seen as fuzzy blobs by our most powerful telescopes.
Austria on lookout for frog-leg loving Italians
Austrian Wildlife authorities are hopping mad that efforts to save the local frog population are being hampered by Italian poachers.
Gone Fishing, Orangutan-Style
These primates aren't very good swimmers, but they can still catch fish with their long limbs.
Oldest Toothache Found in Reptile
As the teeth of a 275 million-year-old reptile from the Paleozoic era wore away, dental pulp got infected.
Sea Urchins Turning into Cannibals
Sea urchins have become a trendy food, and because of our feeding and overcrowding them, they're even starting to eat each other.
Einstein turns one
A tiny stallion named Einstein is full grown but barely bigger than the average dog.
Also: 
Monday, April 18, 2011
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:The toughest lesson for you to learn today is that there's a big difference between acting mature and actually growing up.
Anyone can act the part of an adult -- and today, someone in your life does a darned good job of it.
But don't let yourself be fooled.
This someone (or someone else) needs to step up and be the mature one in a tense situation, and you must make sure they're genuine before you give them any responsibilities.
They might just be telling you what you want to hear.
Some of our readers today have been in:
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Pakanbaru, Riau, Indonesia
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Pakanbaru, Riau, Indonesia
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
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 Kirkland, Barrington, Elmhurst, Old Greenwich and more.
and in cities across the United States such as Kirkland, Barrington, Elmhurst, Old Greenwich and more.
Today is:
Today is Monday, April 18, the 109th day of 2011.
There are 246 days left in the year.
Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:
Pet Owners Independence Day
National Stress Awareness Day
and
National Wear Your Pajamas To Work Day.
National Stress Awareness Day
and
National Wear Your Pajamas To Work Day.
Don't forget to visit our sister blog!
Discounts for Tax Day
Now that you’ve filed your 1040, treat yourself to a free Tax Day sundae or massage.
Also: Tornadoes Rip Through
AT least 45 people have been killed as a powerful storm whipped up tornadoes in its third day across parts of the southern, central and eastern United States, local media reported.
The tornadoes left a trail of destruction in North Carolina Saturday, leveling homes and businesses and knocking out power, the NBC television network reported today.
The fast-moving storm toppled trees and power lines, tore roofs off houses and scattered tractor-trailers across highways.
Some two dozen tornadoes were reported in the southern states of Mississippi and Alabama on Friday, a day after 15 twisters struck in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, the National Weather Service said.
Governor Perdue says tornado death toll N.C.'s worst ever
North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue says she's never seen anything like the destruction caused by a storm system that claimed at least 21 lives statewide.
Hero emerges in tornado's wake
Just seconds before a twister shredded a Lowe's store, staff sprang into action.
Also: Anti-government, anti-tax Texas governor asks for federal funding
So the same person who complained about the stimulus yet kept his state afloat because of the stimulus money is now asking for federal tax dollars to help with wildfires. If Perry had his way, there would be even less federal tax dollars. Where does he think this money is going to come from? It always seems to be the states that complain the most about taxes who are always grumbling for more tax dollars. It's not that their requests are unreasonable, but when they make it their mission to attack the system and then come forward with hands out, then there's a big issue.
What a complete fraud.
What a complete fraud.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry sought additional federal help in battling wildfires across his drought-parched state as a woodland blaze gutted at least six homes on Sunday and threatened hundreds more in Austin, the state capital.
An estimated 1.5 million acres of tinder-like brush and grasslands have gone up in flames in Texas since January 1, about half of that during the past week alone under some of the driest conditions in Texas history.
Some 220 homes in all have been lost, according to a letter released on Sunday from Perry to President Barack Obama requesting a federal disaster declaration.
Algerian leader: Morocco is our brother, not enemy
Ten weight-loss vacations
These 10 leading destinations each put their own spin on diet and fitness.
Also: Culinary DeLites
This flavorful pineapple-rosemary glazed ham is a special treat for Easter dinner.
Also: 
Ladies and gentlemen, the (new) Beetle
In its 73-year history, the Beetle has evolved from the hippie ride of choice to a cute chick car.
Most valuable college degrees
One degree comes out on top in terms of opportunities and compensation.
Also: Data From NASA's Sky-Mapping Telescope Released
NASA has released a trove of data from its sky-mapping mission, allowing scientists and anyone with access to the Internet to peruse millions of galaxies, stars, asteroids and other hard-to-see objects.
Armenia Makes Chess A Mandatory Subject in School
Chess is very popular in Armenia.
In a move to become globally known for prowess in the game, the government of Armenia has made the study of it mandatory for school children:
In a move to become globally known for prowess in the game, the government of Armenia has made the study of it mandatory for school children:The authorities led by President Serzh Sarkisian, an enthusiastic supporter of the game, have committed around $1.43 million to the scheme – a large sum in the impoverished but chess-mad country.
Children from the age of six will learn chess as a separate subject on the curriculum for two hours a week.
Aivazian said the lessons, which start later this year, would “foster schoolchildren’s intellectual development” and teach them to “think flexibly and wisely”.
Bad Cops
Georgia police officer arrested for battery
North Carolina deputy charged with embezzlement
New York cop who killed college student in disputed shooting is named "Officer of the Year"
Mississippi police officer fired after arrest on drug charge in Texas
Hawaii prison guard sentenced to 18 months for sexually assaulting an inmate
Video shows Florida jail guard attacking school employee
Pennsylvania corrections guard accused of beating
Florida sheriff's sergeant charged with trafficking oxycodone and withholding information from a doctor
California deputy gets 20 years for seeking bribes
Former Pennsylvania police officer arrested, charged with assault
North Carolina cop is arrested for kidnapping and sexual assault
New York corrections officer busted in cocaine deal, prosecutors say
Repugican budget includes overhaul of food stamps
House repugicans resurrected a 1990s-era fight over food stamps in their budget approved last week, arguing that any serious attempt to cut spending must include an overhaul of government programs that help needy families pay for food.Congress already has started cutting some food programs, including reducing the Women, Infants and Children ...
Owe no U.S. income tax?
Many of them earn more than $1 million, but they won't get off tax-free.
Also: Retire for under $500 a month
These intriguing spots offer beaches, charm, low taxes, and bargain rents.
Also: 
Teenage Girl Survives Plunge From Golden Gate Bridge
A teenage girl was rescued from San Francisco Bay this morning after jumping or falling from the Golden Gate Bridge, a fire department dispatcher said.
Illnesses plague oil spill crews
Sick workers fear there is a connection between cleaning chemicals and severe health problems.
Also: FAA gives tired controllers an extra hour to rest
The government said Sunday it is giving air traffic controllers an extra hour off between shifts so they don't doze off at work, a problem that stretches back decades.
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