Weight-conscious eaters are moving away from the salty fast-food staple.
Also: 
Friday, April 22, 2011
Top 15 Least Contaminated Fruits, Vegetables
When it comes to fruits and vegetables, do you know which ones are safe to eat and which ones should be purchased organic because of heavy pesticides?
The Environmental Working Group has done the work for you by compiling a list of the top 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables, called the "Dirty Dozen," and the top 15 least contaminated, or ...
In New Film, Residents of the Gulf Say Impact of Spill Persists
This post was written by environmental activist and actor Robert Redford.
In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon blowout last year, BP repeatedly misled the public about how much oil was spewing into the Gulf of Mexico. Now, as we mark the one-year anniversary of the blowout, company executives would like us to believe that the spill has been cleaned up and the Gulf of Mexico is back to normal.
The people who actually live along the Gulf Coast tell us something different.
Article continues: In New Film, Residents of the Gulf Say Impact of Spill Persists
Village terrorized by slimy black fungus
A Scottish village is covered in slimy back fungus - and the locals are sick of having to wash it off their homes and cars. Villagers in Tullibody, Clackmannanshire, have had to fork out hundreds of pounds on power hoses and spend hours on end cleaning up the goo.
But every time they get rid of the slime, it comes back. As well as houses, paths and cars, it covers signs, public buildings and anything else in its path. The muck has been blamed on fumes from the local whiskey warehouse, run by booze giants Diageo.
Bosses at the multi-billion pound firm deny being responsible. The fungus is also a pain for Clackmannanshire Council. The road signs in Tullibody need the most cleaning in the county.
But there's no solution in sight. And Diageo and the Scotch Whiskey Association have washed their hands of the problem. The association say the slime is also found in areas with no whiskey industry, and Diageo say research found "no direct link" between whiskey fumes and the fungus.
There's a news video here.
But every time they get rid of the slime, it comes back. As well as houses, paths and cars, it covers signs, public buildings and anything else in its path. The muck has been blamed on fumes from the local whiskey warehouse, run by booze giants Diageo.
Bosses at the multi-billion pound firm deny being responsible. The fungus is also a pain for Clackmannanshire Council. The road signs in Tullibody need the most cleaning in the county.
But there's no solution in sight. And Diageo and the Scotch Whiskey Association have washed their hands of the problem. The association say the slime is also found in areas with no whiskey industry, and Diageo say research found "no direct link" between whiskey fumes and the fungus.
There's a news video here.
What won't save planet
Rather than buying "green" products, you might try simply purchasing less stuff.
Also: Endangered places
Climate changes will dramatically impact well-known landmarks as well as remote locales.
Also: Parhelia
The image embedded above is "Vädersolstavlan" -
...an oil-on-panel painting depicting a halo display, an atmospheric optical phenomenon, observed over Stockholm on April 20, 1535. It is named after the sun dogs (Swedish: Vädersol, "Weather sun") appearing on the upper right part of the painting. While chiefly noted for being the oldest depiction of Stockholm in colour, it is arguably also the oldest Swedish landscape painting and the oldest depiction of sun dogs...More re the painting at Wikipedia. Those interested in parahelia might look at my old posts on sun halos and light pillars.
The painting is divided into an upper part depicting the halo phenomenon viewed vertically and a lower part depicting the city as it must have appeared viewed from Södermalm in the late Middle Ages. The medieval urban conglomeration, today part of the old town Gamla stan, is rendered using a bird's-eye view. The stone and brick buildings are densely packed below the church and castle, which are rendered in a descriptive perspective (i.e., their size relates to their social status, rather than their actual dimensions). Scattered wooden structures appear on the surrounding rural ridges, today part of central Stockholm...
Over time, the painting has become emblematic of the history of Stockholm, and as such appears frequently in various contexts. The 1000 kronor banknote published in 1989 shows a portrait of King Gustav Vasa, based on a painting from the 1620s, in front of details from Vädersolstavlan. In the arcs of the parhelion is the microtext SCRIPTURAM IN PROPRIA HABEANT LINGUA, which roughly translates to "Let them have the Holy Scripture in their own language". This is a quote from a letter written by the king in which he ordered a translation of the Bible into the Swedish language...
Astronomical News
Carbon monoxide has been discovered in Pluto's extended atmosphere and it may even have a comet tail-like shape.
Biggest star of 'Elephants'
Tai's lengthy career has included films, a music video, even a celebrity wedding.
Also: Amazing sea critter images
This eagle-eye shot of a hidden creature nabs a coveted underwater photo award.
Also: Termites eat millions of Indian rupees in bank
Guide Goose Helps Blind Dog Chase the Postman
Not everything is bad in the world today. Here’s the story of a pet goose taking a blind dog under its wings:Buttons the four-year-old goose leads her pal around everywhere either by hanging onto him with her neck, or by honking to tell him which way to go.
Owner Renata Kursa, 47, of Lublin, Poland, was heartbroken when Bak was left blind after an accident last year.
‘But gradually Buttons got him up on his feet and starting walking him around. They’re inseparable now – they even chase the postman together,’ she said.
Washed-up feline mystery
A soaked, seaweed-covered cat shows up on a New York island and ignites a media frenzy.
Also: Iran proposes ban on keeping 'unclean' dogs
Pampered dogs may not be everyone's idea of "man's best friend", but a bill proposed by politicians in Iran could take this sentiment to a new extreme by criminalizing dog ownership.
The draft legislation is the first time MPs in Tehran have outlined specific punishments for "the walking and keeping" of "impure and dangerous animals", which many believe directly targets Iran's canine population. If the bill were passed, the illegal animal would be confiscated and the owner fined up to £300, but the bill does not clarify what fate would await the seized animals.
Islamic tradition considers dogs, like pigs, to be "unclean" animals. Despite this, keeping dogs as pets has become an increasingly popular pastime among the Iranian middle class in recent years – a trend which the new bill describes as "a cultural problem, a blind imitation of the vulgar culture of the West".
There is no official estimate of Iran's canine population, but Iranian vets estimate that thousands of dogs are kept as pets in Tehran alone. The proposed bill builds on another motion tabled last week, which plans to ban dogs from public places and private flats. Current laws already forbid dog owners from allowing their pets to ride with them in their cars, and from walking their dogs in public places, but these are rarely enforced.
The draft legislation is the first time MPs in Tehran have outlined specific punishments for "the walking and keeping" of "impure and dangerous animals", which many believe directly targets Iran's canine population. If the bill were passed, the illegal animal would be confiscated and the owner fined up to £300, but the bill does not clarify what fate would await the seized animals.
Islamic tradition considers dogs, like pigs, to be "unclean" animals. Despite this, keeping dogs as pets has become an increasingly popular pastime among the Iranian middle class in recent years – a trend which the new bill describes as "a cultural problem, a blind imitation of the vulgar culture of the West".
There is no official estimate of Iran's canine population, but Iranian vets estimate that thousands of dogs are kept as pets in Tehran alone. The proposed bill builds on another motion tabled last week, which plans to ban dogs from public places and private flats. Current laws already forbid dog owners from allowing their pets to ride with them in their cars, and from walking their dogs in public places, but these are rarely enforced.
Invasive Species Attacking Antarctica, Saving Asian Unicorns, and More
We also have protected "unicorns," squids bothered by noisy oceans, thriving sardines, gorillas in war-torn Congo, rare river dolphins killed for bate, and and more in the Week in Animal News.
Animal News
'Immortal' Animals Reveal Anti-Aging Secrets
Crabs Use Stats to Dodge Predators
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:Everyone has two sides to their personality (at least), so today if someone is getting on your nerves, focus on the part of their personality that you can get along with much more peacefully.
Separating the good parts of people from the bad parts will enable you to make stronger alliances and not get caught up in petty emotional soap operas.
If you are forced into intense collaborations with some of these annoying folks today, make sure you keep a level head.
Some of our readers today have been in:
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
London, England, United Kingdom
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
Bangkok, Krung Thep, Thailand
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
London, England, United Kingdom
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
Bangkok, Krung Thep, Thailand
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
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 New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Olympia and more.
and in cities across the United States such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Olympia and more.
Today is:
Today is Thursday, April 21, the 112th day of 2011.
There are 243 days left in the year.
Today's unusual holidays or celebrations are:
High Five Day
and
National Chocolate-Covered Cashews Day.
and
National Chocolate-Covered Cashews Day.
Don't forget to visit our sister blog!
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