Welcome to ...

The place where the world comes together in honesty and mirth.
Windmills Tilted, Scared Cows Butchered, Lies Skewered on the Lance of Reality ... or something to that effect.


Saturday, January 2, 2010

Bowling Alley Shakes Stigma With Smoking Ban

Saturday marks the start of the new state smoking ban.
It's not just restaurants and bars that have to change.
Bowling alleys must clear out the ashtrays too.

Bowling Alley Shakes Stigma With Smoking Ban

Loud TV ads to get get hushed

Loud TV ads to get get hushed

Congress wants to turn down the volume on noisy television commercials.

Recession gives way to hope in one county

Recession gives way to hope in one county

This hard-hit region was the poster child for the recession but now shows signs of recovery.

Things auto insurers won't tell you

10 things auto insurers won't tell you

Save money by learning what your car insurance company doesn’t want you to know.

Things to know about real estate

10 things to know about real estate

While 2010 looks like a good time to buy a house, there's one major catch.

Crush cravings and melt away pounds

Crush cravings and melt away pounds

Start the new year right with a week-long diet to get you feeling healthier and happier.

New year brings a slew of new laws

New year brings a slew of new laws

Thousands of new laws just went into effect, regulating everything from tanning to texting to trans fat.

Watch
Also:

The lost decade for American workers

The American workers getting screwed isn't anything new ... but the past decade - I mean, come on!
There has been zero net job creation since December 1999. No previous decade going back to the 1940s had job growth of less than 20 percent. Economic output rose at its slowest rate of any decade since the 1930s as well.

Middle-income households made less in 2008, when adjusted for inflation, than they did in 1999 -- and the number is sure to have declined further during a difficult 2009. The Aughts were the first decade of falling median incomes since figures were first compiled in the 1960s.

And the net worth of American households -- the value of their houses, retirement funds and other assets minus debts -- has also declined when adjusted for inflation, compared with sharp gains in every previous decade since data were initially collected in the 1950s.

OK, guys, just how big is yours?

Ever heard of a "big lie" contest?
And no, I'm not talking about Congress.
I'm trying to be serious here.

OK, guys, just how big is yours?

Dimbulb's health hypocrisy on display

Dimbulb is a multimillionaire and can afford the best health care money can buy, no matter where he is.

Across the United States, some 46 million people are unable to afford health insurance, making visits to the doctor a luxury most typically out of reach.

What Dimbulb doesn't tell you is that Hawaii already instituted many of the reforms that are included in the health care reform bill before Congress.

So what Dimbulb is really saying is that health care reform works.

Mega Giant Corporations Are Very Bad for America

Wal-Mart delivers at least 30% and sometimes more than 50% of the entire U.S. consumption of products.

Why the monopolization of our economy should scare you.

Full Story

Clemson takes no prisoners fighting squirrels

Clemson University is fighting back against an invasion of squirrels on its South Carolina campus.

Clemson takes no prisoners fighting squirrels

Frog Bites Off More Than It Can Chew

From Treehugger:

australian frog eats snake photo
Ian Hamilton

Just about every newspaper in Australia appears to be showing these photographs of a frog eating a snake, photographed by Ian Hamilton near North Mackay in Queensland. Earthfirst calls it a "bizarre food chain twist"; Ian Hamilton told the Sunshine Coast Daily:

"We have seen snakes eating frogs here but not the other way around. We have actually saved frogs a couple of times because they make quite a noise when the snakes are getting them. But don't ask me how on earth that frog swallowed that snake."

He said took about fifteen minutes to eat the whole thing.

Amazing B&W photos of African Wildlife

These photos are great!
Elephant Drinking

Amazing Color photos of African Wildlife in the Womb

These amazing embryonic animal photographs of dolphins, sharks, dogs, penguins, cats and elephants are from a new National Geographic Documentary called "Extraordinary Animals in the Womb". The show's producer, Peter Chinn, used a combination of three-dimensional ultrasound scans, computer graphics and tiny cameras to capture the process from conception to birth. They are the most detailed embryonic animal pictures ever seen...

Airport Security Solution

From the "Someone had to say it" Department:

The Only Solution to Airport Security--Fly Naked!

Somali charged in attack on Danish cartoonist

A Somali man was under heavy guard at a Danish hospital Saturday after police stopped him from killing an artist whose cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad outraged the Muslim world, the country's intelligence chief said.

The 28 year-old man was charged with two counts of attempted murder on Saturday for an attack on a Danish artist.

Somali charged in attack on Danish cartoonist

Sweden culls its resurgent wolves

Grey wolves have made a comeback since hunting was banned
Swedish hunters begin culling wolves for the first time in 45 years after parliament calls for numbers to be controlled.

Cop News

Century-old plane uncovered in Antarctica

Century-old plane uncovered in Antarctica

A relic of the first plane brought to the frozen continent by explorer Douglas Mawson is found.

14-year-old becomes the first murder victim of the new year

Concord police are looking for the man who gunned down and killed 14-year-old Oscar Martinez Friday afternoon.

He was walking in front of Dover's Supermarket on Cabarrus Avenue West when he was shot.

"I don’t have a suspect or a motive at this point," said deputy chief Guy Smith of the Concord Police Department.

Officers received a 911 call around 3:42 in the afternoon and found Martinez in the parking lot. It does not appear that the store had any connection to this crime. "We're interviewing witnesses at this time," said Smith.

Right now there is no suggestion of a fight or a struggle before the shooting. Officers believe that Martinez was shot at least one time.

Investigators spent Friday evening following up on leads and trying to determine the number of suspects.

"Probably more than one. I haven’t got with my investigators, we're going to get together here shortly," said Smith.

Martinez just celebrated his 14th birthday December 1st. He became Concord’s first murder victim of the year, and now police want to know why.

Savvy ways to stretch your dining dollars

Savvy ways to stretch your dining dollars

You can still enjoy eating out, even on a budget, with these money-saving strategies.

NC Cold Snap Could Last For Several Weeks

While temperatures won't be falling to record lows, the National Weather Service says the duration of the cold weather is unusual.

NC Cold Snap Could Last For Several Weeks

Identical Twins Born In Different Decades

In what's probably happened before, but never in the age of the Internet and rapid media reporting, identical twin boys in Florida were born not just in different years, but in different decades.

Full Story

Get 2010 off to a good financial start

Get 2010 off to a good financial start

A new year, a new decade — now is the time to plan for retirement and rainy days.

President Obama's Weekly Address


Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
January 2, 2010

It has now been more than a week since the attempted act of terrorism aboard that flight to Detroit on Christmas Day. On Thursday, I received the preliminary findings of the reviews that I ordered into our terrorist watchlist system and air travel screening. I've directed my counterterrorism and homeland security advisor at the White House, John Brennan, to lead these reviews going forward and to present the final results and recommendations to me in the days to come.

As I said this week, I will do everything in my power to make sure our hard-working men and women in our intelligence, law enforcement and homeland security communities have the tools and resources they need to keep America safe. This includes making sure these communities-and the people in them-are coordinating effectively and are held accountable at every level. And as President, that is what I will do.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the Christmas Day incident continues, and we're learning more about the suspect. We know that he traveled to Yemen, a country grappling with crushing poverty and deadly insurgencies. It appears that he joined an affiliate of al Qaeda, and that this group-al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula-trained him, equipped him with those explosives and directed him to attack that plane headed for America.

This is not the first time this group has targeted us. In recent years, they have bombed Yemeni government facilities and Western hotels, restaurants and embassies-including our embassy in 2008, killing one American. So, as President, I've made it a priority to strengthen our partnership with the Yemeni government-training and equipping their security forces, sharing intelligence and working with them to strike al Qaeda terrorists.

And even before Christmas Day, we had seen the results. Training camps have been struck; leaders eliminated; plots disrupted. And all those involved in the attempted act of terrorism on Christmas must know-you too will be held to account.

But these efforts are only part of a wider cause. It's been nearly a year since I stood on the steps of the U.S. Capitol and took the oath of office as your President. And with that oath came the solemn responsibility that I carry with me every moment of every day-the responsibility to protect the safety and security of the American people.

On that day I also made it very clear-our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred, and that we will do whatever it takes to defeat them and defend our country, even as we uphold the values that have always distinguished America among nations.

And make no mistake, that's exactly what we've been doing. It's why I refocused the fight-bringing to a responsible end the war in Iraq, which had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks, and dramatically increasing our resources in the region where al Qaeda is actually based, in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It's why I've set a clear and achievable mission-to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies and prevent their return to either country.

And it's why we've forged new partnerships, as in Yemen, and put unrelenting pressure on these extremists wherever they plot and train-from East Africa to Southeast Asia, from Europe to the Persian Gulf. And though often out of sight, our progress has been unmistakable. Along with our partners, we've disrupted terrorist financing, cut off recruiting chains, inflicted major losses on al Qaeda's leadership, thwarted plots here in the United States, and saved countless American lives.

Yet as the Christmas Day attempt illustrates, and as we were reminded this week by the sacrifices of more brave Americans in Afghanistan-including those seven dedicated men and women of the CIA-the hard work of protecting our nation is never done. So as our reviews continue, let us ask the questions that need to be asked. Let us make the changes that need to be made. Let us debate the best way to protect the country we all love. That is the right and responsibility of every American and every elected official.

But as we go forward, let us remember this-our adversaries are those who would attack our country, not our fellow Americans, not each other. Let's never forget what has always carried us through times of trial, including those attacks eight Septembers ago.

Instead of giving in to fear and cynicism, let's renew that timeless American spirit of resolve and confidence and optimism. Instead of succumbing to partisanship and division, let's summon the unity that this moment demands. Let's work together, with a seriousness of purpose, to do what must be done to keep our country safe.

As we begin this New Year, I cannot imagine a more fitting resolution to guide us-as a people and as a nation.

Today is ...

Today is Saturday, Jan. 2, the 2nd day of 2010.

There are 363 days left in the year.

Today In History January 2

There are no unusual holidays or celebrations today.

However the Earth is at Perihelion today.

Our Readers

Some of our readers today have been in:

Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Sandefjord, Vestfold, Norway
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
Bensheim, Hessen, Germany

as well as Singapore, and the United States

Daily Horoscope

Today's horoscope says:

Creature comforts are particularly satisfying, and you're in just the mood to appreciate them.
But in the mood you're in, just about everything pleases you.
As an added bonus, it seems as if others are bending over backwards trying to make things even better than they are.
Examine your situation carefully.
These moments are what life is all about.

All right!