Here's how to decide whether it pays to repair your electronics, appliances, and clothes.
Also: 
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Careers that you can enjoy
One of these seven positions could make you eager to go to work every day.
Also: 
Norway suspect eyed other government targets
The anti-Muslim extremist who confessed to a bombing and youth camp massacre that killed 77 people in Norway has told investigators he also considered attacking other targets linked to the government or the prime minister's Labor Party, police said Saturday.
Murdoch’s staff at NY Post told to "preserve and maintain" info. on phone hacking
Well, well, well:
Is the same memo being sent to FAUX News?
News Corp. has told staffers at its New York Post tabloid to "preserve and maintain" any information related to phone hacking or government payoffs in exchange for scoops.Uh-hum.
The memo comes in response to an ongoing probe in Britain about phone hacking done by News Corp.'s now-shuttered News of the World tabloid. That paper was found to have hacked into the voice mail messages of celebrities, members of the Royal Family and even victims of crime and terrorism.
"All New York Post employees have been asked to do this in light of what has gone on in London at News of the World, and not because any recipient has done anything improper or unlawful," said the paper's Editor Col Allen in a memo to his staff.
Is the same memo being sent to FAUX News?
Passengers survive jet crash
All 163 people on board Flight 523 from N.Y. live to tell the tale after their plane breaks in half.
Also: Blood clot killed Xbox addict
Chris Staniforth, 20, died after sitting in the same position for several hours.
Also: Will Closing Food Banks Help End Hunger?
Image: Walmart Stores via flickr CC
Food banks first rose to prominence in the 1980's as an emergency measure to stave off hunger during a time of recession and high unemployment. While often very prominent in the community, these institutions are increasingly coming under fire from food activists. Some go so far as to say that if we are truly going to end hunger in North America, food banks should be closed. Article continues: Will Closing Food Banks Help End Hunger?
Dancing With The Ponch!
And the Father of the Year Award goes to ...
Louisiana state police say an 8-year-old boy was driving a pickup truck down an interstate while his drunken father slept in the passenger seat.
Woman dresses as man, draws on beard in robbery
Authorities say a woman who dressed like a man and drew a beard on her face has robbed an Alabama bank.
Mayor Won't Step Down After 3-Day Drinking Binge
Mayor Bob Ryan of Seboygan, Wisconsin, was found passed out at a local bar over the weekend.
Chemistry
A female student wished to make some potassium hydroxide solution (aqueous) and decided to throw a large lump of potassium into a bucket of water.
Her professor observed what she was about to do, out of the corner of his eye and hurried towards her, and after confirming this was what she was intending to do, asked her first to stir the water in the bucket for five minutes before adding the potassium.
She was puzzled and ran after him to ask the purpose of this action.
"It will give me time to get away' said the professor.
Her professor observed what she was about to do, out of the corner of his eye and hurried towards her, and after confirming this was what she was intending to do, asked her first to stir the water in the bucket for five minutes before adding the potassium.
She was puzzled and ran after him to ask the purpose of this action.
"It will give me time to get away' said the professor.
Thieves Steal 22 Restroom Doors
German motorists were forced to take their restroom breaks in public after thieves made off with 22 stainless steel cubicle doors from highway service stops, news website The Local reported Saturday.
The Biggest Locks On Earth
Today we have to deploy increasingly sophisticated measures to secure our possessions and deter would-be thieves. Past decades have introduced key cards, number pads and Total Recall style biometric scanning.
As these more advanced security measures become further integrated into our everyday lives, remember that sometimes the best form of protection is a great big lump of reinforced steel.
Amateur Archeologists Invited to Decipher Papyri
Hundreds of thousands of fragments of ancient papyri have been put online in a bid to crowd source translations.
People from Polar Regions Have Bigger Brains
Russia Rapidly Loosing Permafrost
Baby hippo's water dance
There are many words that describe a hippopotamus, but "graceful" has never been one of them.
Also: Golden Textile Made From Spiders Silk
There’s an amazing collaboration between man and insect on display at the Art Institute of Chicago, a cloth woven purely from the silk of over a million Golden Orb spiders. This magnificent textile, naturally golden in color and seemingly imbued with it’s own luminescence, took over four years to make after eighty gatherers spent five years gathering the silk. Such a feat has not been attempted since 1900, when a spider silk textile that disintegrated over time was created for the Paris Exposition Universelle, and it’s not surprising that such a feat is almost never attempted, for the spiders with the best silk can only be found in Madagascar. But is all the effort really worth it for a piece of cloth that isn’t long for this world?
Dolphin Blubber Holds Secrets to Healing
Studying dolphin blubber may yield insights into better treatments for skin injuries in the future.
Cancers Might Be Newly Evolved Species
Cancerous tumors are parasitic organisms, new species, that depend on their host for food, says a new study.
Facebook Page Lists Sitka, Alaska, Bear Sightings
Residents of Sitka, Alaska, are using social media to share reports about bear activity in the area.
The 20 Greatest Sharks in Pop Culture History
Shark Week starts this Sunday! Who’s your favorite pop culture shark? I have several, and they’re all here in a list of the greatest sharks from movies, TV, and even viral news. I bet you’ll see some you’d forgotten about -like SNL’s Land Shark.One of the most classic recurring sketches in Saturday Night Live history, Chevy Chase’s Land Shark character was basically a shark who would coerce its victims into opening their doors by pretending to be plumbers, repairmen or, in this clip, a member of Unicef.
Once the unsuspecting people opened their doors, the Land Shark would eat them whole, making a comment on the ridiculousness of the hysteria over sharks after the release of Jaws.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:You have two choices today: Either focus your energy on communicating more clearly, or suffer through a series of time-consuming misunderstandings.
Being the smart person you are, you will likely choose to work harder on conveying your ideas to others and -- more importantly -- listening more completely to what other people say.
Remember, communication is a two-way street and it's impossible for you to listen while you are talking.
Opt to say less and hear more today.
Some of our readers today have been in:
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Pyrmont, New South Wales, Australia
Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark
Brtaislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
London, England, United Kingdom
Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia
Barcelona, Catalonia, Australia
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Nizhniy Novgorod, Nizhegorod, Russia
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Moscow, Moskva, Russia
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Pyrmont, New South Wales, Australia
Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark
Brtaislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
London, England, United Kingdom
Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia
Barcelona, Catalonia, Australia
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Nizhniy Novgorod, Nizhegorod, Russia
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Moscow, Moskva, Russia
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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 Greenville, Charleston, Columbia, Rock Hill and more.
and in cities across the United States such as Greenville, Charleston, Columbia, Rock Hill and more.
Today is:
Today is Saturday, July 30, the 211th day of 2011.
There are 154 days left in the year.
Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:
Cheesecake Day.
Don't forget to visit our sister blog!
President Obama's Weekly Address
Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Washington, DC
Today, I’d like to speak with you about the ongoing and urgent efforts to avoid a first-ever default and get our fiscal house in order.Weekly Address
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Washington, DC
Republicans in the House of Representatives just spent precious days trying to pass a plan that a majority of Republicans and Democrats in the Senate had already said they wouldn’t vote for. It’s a plan that wouldn’t solve our fiscal problems, but would force us to re-live this crisis in just a few short months. It would hold our economy captive to Washington politics once again. If anything, the past few weeks have demonstrated that’s unacceptable.
Any solution to avoid default must be bipartisan. It must have the support of both parties that were sent here to represent the American people – not just one faction of one party. There are multiple ways to resolve this problem. Congress must find common ground on a plan that can get support from both parties in the House. And it’s got to be a plan that I can sign by Tuesday.
Look, the parties are not that far apart here. We’re in rough agreement on how much spending we need to cut to reduce our deficit. We agree on a process to tackle tax reform and entitlement reform. There are plenty of ways out of this mess. But there is very little time.
We need to reach a compromise by Tuesday so that our country will have the ability to pay its bills on time – bills like Social Security checks, veterans’ benefits, and contracts we’ve signed with thousands of American businesses. If we don’t, for the first time ever, we could lose our country’s Triple A credit rating. Not because we didn’t have the capacity to pay our bills – we do – but because we didn’t have a Triple A political system to match it. And make no mistake – for those who reflexively oppose tax increases on anyone, a lower credit rating would be a tax increase on everyone – we’d pay higher interest rates on mortgages, car loans, and credit cards.
That would be inexcusable, and entirely self-inflicted by Washington. The power to solve this is in our hands. All that’s needed is a simple vote that Democrats and Republicans have taken for decades, including all of the leaders in Congress today. It was done 18 times under President Reagan. 7 times under George W. Bush. And it must be done again now. It’s not a vote that allows Congress to spend more money. Raising the debt ceiling simply gives our country the ability to pay the bills Congress has already racked up. It gives the United States of America the ability to keep its word. And it will let businesses and our economy breathe a sigh of relief.
On Monday night, I asked you to make your voice heard in this debate. And the response was overwhelming. One of the emails we received was from a woman named Kelly Smith, who wanted to send this message to Washington:
“I keep my home clean, work hard at a full time job, give my parents any monies I can so they can afford their medications, I pay my bills and by all appearances I am a responsible person. All I’m asking is that you be responsible. I have my house in order and all I’m asking is that you get yours the same way.”
Here in Washington, we need to get our house in order. And I have to say, Democrats in Congress and some Senate Republicans have been listening and have shown themselves willing to make compromises to solve this crisis. Now all of us – including Republicans in the House of Representatives – need to demonstrate the same kind of responsibility that the American people show every day. The time for putting party first is over. The time for compromise on behalf of the American people is now. Thank you.
House passes repugican debt plan
repugicans finally close ranks and support the plan backed by John Boehner.
Also: Senate swiftly rejects repugican plan
The standoff continues as Democrats kill the measure adopted earlier by the House.
Also: Apple has more cash than U.S.
While the U.S. government struggles to find a way to pay its bills, Apple is thriving.
Also: Recession risks up amid slow growth, debt standoff
The economy is at risk of slipping into another recession.It nearly stalled in the first six months of the year, the government reported Friday.
That Time in 1979 When the U.S. Government Defaulted
The August deadline for lifting the debt ceiling is looming. Will the US government default on its loans? Has that ever happened before? Yes it has -in 1979.In the spring of 1979, Congress was in the midst of a similarly heated debate about raising the debt ceiling, Legislators eventually reached a last-minute deal to raise the debt ceiling and (they thought) save the day, but something went wrong. The Treasury didn’t redeem $120 million worth of securities that matured in April and May.Here’s the short answer: When all else fails, blame the computers.
In other words, the U.S. Treasury defaulted on its securities even though Congress settled the debt-ceiling issue. What happened? It’s not totally clear.
And as a result we got ronny raygun and the entire world went to shit.
Judge orders release of grand jury testimony of President Richard Nixon
The secret grand jury testimony of President Richard Nixon in the Watergate scandal was ordered to be released on Friday by a federal judge because of its significance in American history.
Why teachers would cheat
Amid a national scandal, one instructor reveals why she helped her students' test scores.
Also: Food that helps keep you cool
Ice cream won't do the trick, but a leafy garnish placed on some desserts can work wonders.
Also: 'Best' restaurant is closing
A world-renowned eatery in Spain is undergoing a radical transformation led by the head chef.
Also: 
America's best campgrounds
You won't believe the sights you can see for less than $50 a night if you don't mind roughing it a bit.
Also: Denver bets on a county fair, aiming at hipsters
Denver has an ambitious plan to revive the county fair: blend throwback chic with urban grit to draw crowds celebrating everything weird and crafty.
Optical illusion you'll 'heart'
The background colors have an odd effect on these heart-shaped objects.
Also: 
Who's the most stressed in U.S.?
It's no surprise that Americans are ultra-stressed these days—but new research shows one group is suffering the most: women age 45 to 64.
Here's why.
Here's why.
Four Back pain myths – debunked!
No, you didn't accidentally log onto an AARP site.Back pain is not limited to your twilight years and can, in fact, happen even in your 20s or 30s.
Lifting groceries or just trying a new Zumba class can trigger muscle spasms from your body being tweaked the wrong way.…
Tylenol's lower maximum dose
Concerns about overdoses from the active ingredient in Extra Strength Tylenol fuel the move.
Also: Southern distillery to legally sell Moonshine
Two entrepreneurs are taking advantage of new micro-distillery laws in South Carolina to make and sell traditional moonshine whiskey legally for the first time in the southern state. Cop Pulling D.A.R.E. Trailer Charged with DUI
Scott and Tina Robbins called 911 after hearing a crash in the street outside their home in Salem, Indiana. A truck had hit a tree so hard that the vehicle appeared to be wrapped around it. The truck was driven by John Newcomb, a Seymour, Indiana police officer.“He was sitting on the wall out of the vehicle, holding his head,” said Mrs. Robbins. But that wasn’t the only thing that stood out to the Robbins, it was the trailer Newcomb was pulling.Newcomb said he crashed because a dog in the vehicle distracted him. He was taken to the Washington County Jail.
“It said DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and Seymour Police Department- which made me think he was a police officer,” said Mr. Robbins.
Not only a police officer, but according to the Seymour Police Department website, he is the School Resource Officer, responsible for seven schools, acting as a mentor and providing students with a role model. It even states that he conducts lectures on narcotics and alcohol and their effects on driving.
“He’s not setting a good example for kids that see this,” said Mr. Robbins.
Two men indicted on murder charge in killing of man returning lost cell phone
Two Shaker Heights men were charged with killing a man who was trying to return a missing cell phone.
Why Are There Hundreds of Ancient Tunnels in Bavaria?
Why are there secret ancient underground chambers and tunnels connecting old farmhouses, churches and even cemeteries and forests in Bavaria, Germany? Nobody knows - even the experts are baffled:The vaults could not have served a practical purpose, as dwellings or to store food, for example, if only because the tunnels are so inconveniently narrow in places. Besides, some fill up with water in the winter. Also, the lack of evidence of feces indicates that they were not used to house livestock.There's one thing they do know: there are hundreds of these secret underground mazes all over Germany and Austria.
There is not a single written record of the construction of an Erdstall dating from the medieval period. "The tunnels were completely hushed up," says Ahlborn.
Archeologists have also been surprised to find that the tunnels are almost completely empty and appear to be swept clean, as if they were abodes for the spirits. One gallery contained an iron plowshare, while heavy millstones were found in three others. Virtually nothing else has turned up in the vaults.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
