The Daily Drift

The Daily Drift

Today's horoscope says:

Striking a good balance between your family life and your career is not as difficult as some people may have you believe. 

As long as you understand which is more important, you'll be fine. 

(Here's a hint: It's not your career!) 

Sure, there may be scheduling conflicts from time to time with things like ballet recitals and board meetings, but if you keep lines of communication open and update your calendar frequently, you can stay on top of things.

Some of our readers today have been in:

Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
London, Ontario, Canada
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
London, England, United Kingdom
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Albury, New South Wales, Australia
Kiev, Kyyiv, Ukraine
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
Newbury, England, United Kingdom
Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Cork, Cork, Ireland
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany
Hyvinkaa, Southern Finland, Finland
Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Paris, Ile-De-France, France

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 Huntingdon Valley, Deltona, St. Paul, Redwood City and more.

Today is:

Today is Wednesday, August 17, the 229th day of 2011.

There are 136 days left in the year.

Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:

National Thrift Shop Day.

  

Don't forget to visit our sister blog!

Letter blows up hacking scandal

Explosive letter points to major cover-up

A former News Corp. reporter claims phone hacking was "widely discussed" in the newsrooms.  

Execs implicated 

Also: 

• Timeline of scandal
• Fact vs. fiction in case
• No proof of 9/11 hacking

Geography quiz mistakes

Common geography quiz mistakes

American teens struggle with naming their state capitals — especially these three cities.  

Other stumbling blocks 

Also: 

• Russians know geography
• Students' scores lagging
• Geography questions

Non Sequitur

Hey, America

Let's get rid of every repugican and raise the average Congressional  IQ level to that of an idiot!

Lunatic Fringe

A woman kicked is out of repugican town hall meeting for wearing Sierra Club t-shirt.

repugicans are in desparate need of some serious lessons in reality

This Modern World

BA's effect on lifetime salary

How college affects lifetime salary

People with just a high school diploma average $1.3 million over their careers.  

Total for those with Bachelor's degrees 

Also: 

• Make a career backup plan
• Do nice people earn less?
• What retirement will cost

Is it time to refinance?

Is it time to refinance your mortgage?

One couple will be able to pay off their home two years early with a lower rate.  

How to get the best deal 

Also: 

• Lowest mortgage rates
• Money for homeowners
• Stay out of stocks?

Fallout from a bad credit score

Surprising ways bad credit scores sting

A poor debt rating can be used as leverage against you in a divorce.  

Affects insurance, even your job 

Also: 

• What not to pay for
• Where people hide cash
• When should you retire?

Knee Implants Made Friendlier With Free Radicals

A coating of free radicals could help ensure a person's body does not reject a new implant.  

Read more 

Manage your life

Stop getting so angry!

Low-tech hotel art heist

Authorities recover stolen Rembrandt

While the curator was briefly distracted, a thief swiped the valuable sketch from a hotel display. 

What it's worth 

Also: 

• Da Vinci's 'Codex' launch
• Cities with top museums
• Woman attacks art again

Sword swallower arrested for being in possession of sword

An acclaimed Australian sword-swallower was arrested while busking in New York for "brandishing a sword in public". The Space Cowboy - real name Chayne Hultgren, 33, from Byron Bay, NSW - claims police threw him into a packed cell, saying: "Don't tell these guys you swallow." "After 24 hours locked up I am now released from jail," he said. "All my performance props have been confiscated but I am a free man. They charged me for 'disorderly conduct' and I was locked up with junkies, sexual offenders and four break-dancers."

Mr Hultgren, who claimed the unofficial world record of swallowing 27 swords at the Irish Street Performance Festival and holds the official world record of 18 swallows at once, said an officer approached him as he performed in front of a large street crowd and said: "I don't care if you are a sword swallower, you were holding a sword in public and I have every right to shoot you." Mr Hultgren said he was told to tell the crowd to disperse and he'd be back to finish his show in an hour.

"As soon as most of the crowd dispersed I was cuffed and aggressively guided into the back of a police vehicle," he said. "I spent the next 24 hours handcuffed and locked up in a cell. No bed, no food, no rights. When I was locked in a small cell with 26 other prisoners one of the officers said tauntingly and loudly through the bars 'don't tell these guys you swallow'. The NYPD confirmed Mr Hultgren's arrest on August 2, at 11.30am in Manhattan. "He was disorderly, creating a hazardous condition," a spokesman said. "He was swinging whips and in possession of a sword and had no ... identification."

Mr Hultgren said all his props were in police custody and it was a convoluted process to get them back. "I have a gig this weekend so I have been desperately trying to buy all new props," he wrote. "I ordered a new 4m unicycle, more swords and whips. The only thing they let me keep was my bag. So that turned out to be a very expensive street show for me. I even missed my flight because I was in jail. Total loss for me is in the thousands even though in the end I was not charged or fined. They just let me go."

You can see Mr Hultgren in action here.

Awesome Pictures

Food Prices May Predict Riots

People living during food shortages are often more desperate, and can be more dangerous when they stand up to authority.  

Read more 

Woman admits stealing bacon to fund 28-pint-a-day booze habit

A thief dubbed 'Britain's drunkest woman' has admitted that she stole bacon in order to fund her somewhat excessive habit of downing 28 pints a day. 31-year-old Dawn Marsden has received a six-month conditional discharge in Hartlepool Magistrates' Court after admitting to stealing 10 packs of bacon to help fund her boozy ways.

Jobless Marsden was so drunk when she appeared for sentencing that she had to ask reporters what her punishment was afterwards. "You may have noticed my client has a drink problem," her solicitor told Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court. "It’s something she is seeking advice upon and getting help. She tells me on occasion she will drink up to 16 liters a day.

"She has a long-standing appetite for alcohol. Someone under the influence of alcohol has clouded judgment, and that’s why she expresses regret for her actions.” Marsden, whose two-year-old daughter was taken into foster care over her monstrous appetite for alcohol, admitted the new charge and received a six-month conditional discharge, although she slurred to reporters that the sentencing was a "sham".

Addiction counselor Dr Robert Lefever said that Marsden was an "Olympic athlete" when it came to drinking, although that wasn't quite the compliment that it sounds. She should be dead at those levels. The reason she isn't is that she has trained her body by drinking every day. She is the equivalent of an Olympic athlete when it comes to drinking."

Dangerous Food

Aid for famine victims stolen

Somalia food aid stolen, sold in markets

Thousands of sacks of food meant for famine victims are being stolen and sold on the black market.  

 U.N. investigating 

Also: 

• Guards sought for food aid
• Militants vow guerilla war
• How you can help

Hot dog giants' court fight

Hot dog giants fight in federal court

A bitter squabble between the nation's top two frank makers is being played out before a judge.

What's their beef? 

Also: 

• Analyzing the battle
• What is in your hot dog
• Risk of eating one daily