US cargo ship evades Somali pirate attack

Defiant Somali pirates fired rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons at another U.S. cargo ship on Tuesday but failed to hijack it, officials said, just days after Navy SEALs rescued an American hostage after an earlier unsuccessful hijacking.

The brazen midday attack on the Liberty Sun in international waters off the African coast is further evidence that Somali pirates were back to business as usual. Pirates have seized four other ships with 60 hostages since sharpshooters killed three gunmen holding American freighter captain Richard Phillips. "No one can deter us," one bandit boasted.

US cargo ship evades Somali pirate attack

"No one can deter us," no more famous last words have ever been spoken.

A very similar utterance was made by another group of pirates who had been stealing from the world and getting away with it until they tried to steal from a nation that had just formed a few years prior.

Haven't you ever wondered where the line in the USMC hymn, '... from the shores of Tripoli ...' came from?

The Barbary pirates based in Tripoli, Tunisia found out they very well could be deterred and 'completely' deterred at that.

The pirates in Somalia were getting away with stealing from the world until they tried stealing from that same nation ...

Parents learning to say 'no' in tight times

Kids are getting fewer toys and music lessons — and a smaller pillow payout from the tooth fairy.

Tight times

Also:

• 6 ways to save on groceries

Nurse called out of surgery and laid off

You want to talk about 'cold and uncaring'!

A Wisconsin nurse was called out of surgery so a health care manager could tell her she was being laid off.

Full Story

There are a few lawsuits waiting to happen over this - the least of which, would be the nurse's!

Man found dead in oven

A young man was found dead by his father in an industrial oven in a macabre incident that the police are treating as the first murder of the year.

Times of Malta

Taliban Executes Teens for Trying to Elope

More evidence that these fools need to be eradicated!

Taliban gunmen in the remote district of Khash Rod in southern Afghanistan executed a young couple for trying to elope, Hashim Noorzai, head of Khash Rud district of Nimroz province said Tuesday.

Full Story

Domino's employees fired over YouTube videos

In Local News:

Two local Domino's Pizza employees have been fired after videos were posted on YouTube showing them inappropriately handling food.

Domino's officials say the company is considering legal action against the employees, identified in the videos as Kristy and Michael.

The videos were quickly were removed from YouTube. One shows Michael putting cheese into his nose, then placing it onto a sandwich.

Kristy narrates the video, saying, "We all have our secret ingredients. ... In about five minutes they'll be sent out on deliveries and somebody will be eating these. ... And little did they know that cheese was in his nose. ... That's how we roll at Domino's."

The employees worked at the Domino's Pizza located on 10th Street in Conover, North Carolina.

Tim McIntyre, vice president of communications for Domino's, released the following statement:

"We are appalled by the actions of these individuals and they do not represent the 125,000 hard-working men and women of Domino's Pizza across the country and in 60 countries around the world. During our investigation last night, we were able to identify these individuals, who have confessed to a "prank" and claimed that they did not serve any food to customers. The franchise owner will be terminating the employment of these individuals today. We are also pursuing criminal and legal action against them."

*****

Normally, I am loath to censor anything, especially when it benefits a corporation over an individual to do so, but in this case I'll make an exception. I am just glad I do not order pizza from Domino's - never have and never will.

Ways to boost energy sapped by statins

Play Video

A drug taken by 13 million Americans to lower cholesterol may also drain energy levels.

5 ways to boost energy sapped by statins

Also:

• Other potential statin side effects
• Many Americans ignore food recalls

Faux News guest's on-air collapse causes stir

Play Video

Glenn Beck (that is pronounced 'Brick' as in 'thick as a ...') joked that the incident would boost ratings.

Faux News guest's on-air collapse

Tornadoes spotted as storms hammer South

Play Video

A strong line of storms spawned at least two tornadoes in Florida in the latest round of bad weather to pound Southern states.

Storms hammer South

Dolphins "Protect" Chinese Vessel From Pirates

From TreeHugger:

China Radio International

Thanks to Brian, we now know how overfishing landed Capt. Phillips (and a band of pirates) in hot water. According to Chinese state media, it seems that we have another feedback effect: marine life in the Gulf of Aden is joining the pirate fight.

The Chinese merchant ships escorted by a China's fleet sailed on the Gulf of Aden when they met some suspected pirate ships. Thousands of dolphins suddenly leaped out of water between pirates and merchants when the pirate ships headed for the China's.

The suspected pirates ships stopped and then turned away. The pirates could only lament their littleness befor the vast number of dolphins. The spectacular scene continued for a while.

Article continues: Dolphins "Protect" Chinese Vessel From Pirates

Science News

On the Sociology front: Personality decided at birth, say scientists.

Our Readers

Each day we list some the cities our readers are in from around the world.
But we do not want to forget our domestic readers.

Some of whom have been in these cities today:

Mobile, Alabama - Juneau, Alaska - Scottsdale, Arizona - Little Rock, Arkansas - Carlsbad, California - Pittsboro, North Carolina - Lexington, South Carolina - Fort Collins, Colorado - New Britain, Connecticut - Wilmington, Delaware - Fargo, North Dakota - Wounded Knee, South Dakota - Orange Park, Florida - Ringgold, Georgia - Pelham, New Hampshire - Honolulu, Hawaii - Boise, Idaho - Elmhurst, Illinois - Bloomington, Indiana - Iowa City, Iowa - Brandywine, New Jersey - Paducah, Kentucky - Leavenworth, Kansas - La Place, Louisiana - Bangor, Maine - Halethorpe, Maryland - Brockton, Massachusetts - Roswell, New Mexico - Saugatuck, Michigan - Zimmerman, Minnesota - Hattiesburg, Mississippi - Ballwin, Missouri - Billings, Montana - Omaha, Nebraska - Las Vegas, Nevada - Elkins Park, Pennsylvania - Portsmouth, Ohio - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Corvallis, Oregon - Providence, Rhode Island - Cordova, Tennessee - Duncanville, Texas - Provo, Utah - Montpelier, Vermont - Arlington, Virginia - Parkersburg, West Virginia - Summer, Washington - Ladysmith, Wisconsin - Worland, Wyoming - Bratavia, New York

Learn To Fly

Foo Fighters

Cry me a river, why don't you

Faux News's Swill O'Really is miffed at the Chicago Sun-Times, because that venerable paper dumped O'Really's syndicated column.

The Sun-Times' Roger Ebert is delighted to have his paper blasted by O'Really.

More here.

Cramer is a buffoon

See, we're not the only ones to say so ...
CNBC's Jim Cramer is "a buffoon", says economist Nouriel Roubini.

More here.

You believe this crap?

From the "Screw your religious sensibilities, asshole" Department:

Oklahoma City bomber Terry Nichols is suing for $4.5-million, over prison food that offends his religious sensibilities.

Find out more at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Beds Are Burning

Midnight Oil

Senator Franken wins again

Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota) has pulled a little further ahead in the Minnesota Senate recount, and 'sore loser' Norm Coleman (r) has lost his court challenge, but plans to appeal.

How much longer will the people of Minnesota be denied their Senator?

More at ThinkProgess.

Boycott Faux Lies

Here's a new website that's doing some really good work: foxnewsboycott.com.

Don't boycott Faux News just by changing the channel -- you should boycott the companies that sponsor a network where all the news is slanted to favor the uber-rich and to con the brain-dead.
They've got a list of Faux News sponsors.
You know it would be immoral and downright un-American to give a dime to any of them.

Check out foxnewsboycott, for more details.

Health News

Health News today:

How to heal an infection that defies antibiotics? Another infection.

Too much protein, eaten along with fat, may lead to insulin resistance.