'Secret' painting uncovered in chapel
Ultraviolet light reveals "astonishing" details of Italian paintings that influenced Michelangelo.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Social Security checks may get smaller
Social Security checks may get smaller
A little-noticed law allows the U.S. to withhold payments to collect old debts.
U.S. sits on mother lode of rare minerals
U.S. sits on mother lode of rare minerals
A shortage of key elements threatens to hobble the tech sector, but there's a huge supply under the U.S.
Soldier’s gutsy move under Taliban attack
Soldier’s gutsy move under Taliban attack
When a grenade landed near British soldier James McKie, he thought, "I've really only got one chance."
Also:
India Backs Copenhagen Accord - Last Major Emitter To Do So
From Treehugger:
photo: Kartikeya Kaul via flickr.
India the world's last major emitter to formally back the Copenhagen Accord has done so. Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said the decision reflected India's contributions in shaping the Accord. Ramesh went on to list the three conditions under which India will participate:
Article continues: India Backs Copenhagen Accord - Last Major Emitter To Do So
Stupid Question - Simple Answer
From the "Simple Answers to Stupid Questions" Department:
No!
Skippy over at Skippy the Bush Kangaroo put it rather well don't you think?!
Jeremy Shockey Files Lawsuit Against Former Teammate in Film Tax Credit Scam
Recently released Saints defensive end Charles Gran and current Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey(pictured) have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against their former teammate, Kevin Houser, alleging Houser duped them and other current and former Saints players and coaches into investing more than a million dollars in a film tax credit scam, the Times-Picayune reports.Houser, the Saints’ former long-snapper, was cut prior to the 2009 season.
Grant and Shockey say Houser, who was a licensed securities broker, convinced them they were buying state tax credits for Louisiana Film Studios, but later it turned out LFS had never applied for the state tax credits, according to the newspaper.
Nearly two dozen former or current Saints players and coaches, including quarterback Drew Brees, Coach Sean Payton and Saints legend Archie Manning, invested $1.7 million to buy what they thought were tax credits for the film studio project in Elmwood, the Times-Picayune reports. Grant and Shockey’s lawsuit is labeled a class action on behalf of the rest of the investors.
Houser’s attorney, Jimmy Castex, told the newspaper Monday his client and his wife were themselves victims of a scam by the film studio’s former CEO, Wayne Read.
Child neglect is never funny, but sometimes it is kind of ironic.
South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported a five-month-old baby in Seoul died of malnutrition and dehydration because the parents were spending up to 12 hours a day in an internet cafe caring for a virtual baby online.
Full Story
Full Story
Can a magnet really destroy your card?
Can a magnet really destroy your card?
It's a common belief that putting a magnet to the back of your credit card makes it unusable.
Also:
Jobs with excellent starting salaries
Jobs with excellent starting salaries
Several fields offer a sizable paycheck without having to wait years to move up.
Also:
Secrets to feeling happier every day
Four secrets to feeling happier every day
You can improve your mood just by making simple adjustments to the way you think.
Pipeline probe reveals a dozen shipwrecks
Pipeline probe reveals a dozen shipwrecks
Some of the ships are believed to be nearly 1,000 years old yet have their hulls completely intact.
Relampago de Catatumbo
Electrical storms produced by a unique meteorological phenomenon have lit up nights in this corner of Venezuela for thousands of years.
Francis Drake abandoned a sneak attack on the city of Maracaibo in 1595 when lightning betrayed his ships to the Spanish garrison.
But now the lightning has vanished.
A phenomenon that once unleashed up to 20,000 bolts a night stopped in late January.
Not a single bolt has been seen since.
"This is unprecedented. In recorded history we have not had such a long stretch without lightning," said Erik Quiroga, an environmentalist and leading authority on the Relampago de Catatumbo, or Catatumbo Lightning.
Francis Drake abandoned a sneak attack on the city of Maracaibo in 1595 when lightning betrayed his ships to the Spanish garrison.
But now the lightning has vanished.
A phenomenon that once unleashed up to 20,000 bolts a night stopped in late January.
Not a single bolt has been seen since.
"This is unprecedented. In recorded history we have not had such a long stretch without lightning," said Erik Quiroga, an environmentalist and leading authority on the Relampago de Catatumbo, or Catatumbo Lightning.
Half of all life is in 'Earth's basement'
Half of all life is in 'Earth's basement'
Scientists estimate half of all living material is beneath the ocean or buried in the ground.
How to Tell a repugican from a libertarian
Found this over at Bartcop:
Posted by Beat Raven
Solutions in politics should be derived from answering the fundamental question:
What should the purpose of government be?
I asked about 50 people (mostly college graduates and all repugicans) that question,
and not a single one could answer. Try it, it’s amazing. You can just smell the ozone as their two wits short out.
Now, if they’re actually Libertarians, they’ll eventually say something like,“Government ought to just provide defense and infrastructure”, which really means “Leave business alone to loot, pollute, and steal”.
What the Constitution (supposedly sacred to the Right) says is: "We the people of the United States, (1) in Order to form a more perfect Union, (2) establish Justice, (3) insure domestic Tranquility, (4) provide for the common Defense, (5) promote the general Welfare, and (6) secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity..." (Numeration my addition)
That's not a big stretch from my Leftist friends to answer to my question: A government ought to provide for the welfare, health, safety, and education of its citizens.
The Lunatic Fringe: the terror within
A new report by the Southern Poverty Law Center has unearthed shocking data about the rise of militias, anti-government groups, and other right-wing extremist groups.
The report, titled “Rage on the Right,” has found that there has been an increase of 244 percent in the number of these extremist groups in 2009.
And if that wasn't enough ...
John McCain (reptile-Arizona) has introduced legislation that would allow the American military to detain American citizens, without trial, for as long as military officials wish.
The report, titled “Rage on the Right,” has found that there has been an increase of 244 percent in the number of these extremist groups in 2009.
And if that wasn't enough ...
John McCain (reptile-Arizona) has introduced legislation that would allow the American military to detain American citizens, without trial, for as long as military officials wish.
Phony repugican (is there any other kind) outrage
In this installment of fake repugican outrage, we find the wingnuts taking massive umbrage over members of the Obama administration actually having a cup of coffee and a chat with the Secular Coalition of America, an advocacy group made up of atheists, agnostics and humanists.
Oh, horror of it all, how dare they!
The knowledge that a large number of Americans don't practice religion and thus don't want religion packaged inside the government's laws and spending policies had their heads exploding.
Wonder what the next installment of fake repugican outrage will be about?
Oh, horror of it all, how dare they!
The knowledge that a large number of Americans don't practice religion and thus don't want religion packaged inside the government's laws and spending policies had their heads exploding.
Wonder what the next installment of fake repugican outrage will be about?
Our man Grayson
Alan Grayson, the liberal first-term Congressman who has been tagged as crazy in the mainstream (read ... right-wing leaning) media, is a Democrat, of course.
But he has won a poll of repugican voters in his district.
There's a lesson to be learned in Grayson's rising popularity.
Voters like politicians who actually believe something and stand up for what they believe.
The lesson here is stand up for something and you'll earn respect even from people who disagree with your positions.
Speaking from the gut and meaning what you say wins elections.
But he has won a poll of repugican voters in his district.
There's a lesson to be learned in Grayson's rising popularity.
Voters like politicians who actually believe something and stand up for what they believe.
The lesson here is stand up for something and you'll earn respect even from people who disagree with your positions.
Speaking from the gut and meaning what you say wins elections.
All the best ...
Long-time anti-rights activist Donald Wildmon has stepped down from leading his unAmerican Family cabal, to deal with his ongoing battles against encephalitis and eyeball cancer.
We wish the encephalitis and the cancer well.
We wish the encephalitis and the cancer well.
Grrr… what's 'Step away from the bone' in dog?
Dogs understand the meaning of different growls, from a rumble that says "back off" to playful snarls made in a tug-of-war game.Grrr… what's 'Step away from the bone' in dog?
Two Ghosts In A Bottle Sold Online
The rare spirits that went under the gavel at a recent online auction in New Zealand weren't aged brandies or hard-to-find liqueurs. Two supposed captured ghosts have been sold in an online auction in New Zealand.City wants to save itself by shrinking
City wants to save itself by shrinking
Detroit officials consider a "politically explosive" plan to bulldoze a quarter of the city.
State helps jobless pay their mortgages
State helps jobless pay their mortgages
A program that saves thousands of families from foreclosure each year gets the nation's attention.
Cities where the recession is easing
Cities where the recession is easing
These metro areas are surviving the economic downturn better than most others.
Road signs warn drivers of crawling drunks in the road
In an effort to reduce accidents involving nightclub revelers, one Romanian town has put up traffic signs warning motorists to be aware of drunks in the road.
How secret millionaire got lucky
How secret millionaire got lucky
A frugal secretary, Grace Groner ended up with $7 million, but she didn't use the smartest strategy.
Tiger Cubs Found Dead in Indian National Park
From Treehugger:
Image credit: tibchris/Flickr
Two tiger cubs were found dead in the Ranthambhore national park in India this weekend. Though an investigation is still under way, officials reported that early evidence suggests the cubs were poisoned.
Article continues: Tiger Cubs Found Dead in Indian National Park
Science News
From BBC-Science:
 |  | A plant-eating predator that preys on aggressive superweed Japanese knotweed is to be given a trial release in England. |
Superweed's astonishing growthIn the 'war' on drugs ...
Guatemala's chief of national police and the country's top anti-drugs official have been arrested over links to drug trafficking.
The Mexican government has issued the maximum fines allowed under law to Eli Lilly and Co and two other conglomerates for conspiring to fix the prices of insulin, the life-saving drug for diabetes. Of course, American regulations are so stringent that Lilly et al would never try such shenanigans in the United States, right?!
The Mexican government has issued the maximum fines allowed under law to Eli Lilly and Co and two other conglomerates for conspiring to fix the prices of insulin, the life-saving drug for diabetes. Of course, American regulations are so stringent that Lilly et al would never try such shenanigans in the United States, right?!
Sleepless nights plague America
Americans of all races toss and turn in bed each night, and sleeplessness is affecting their jobs, social lives and even their sexual habits, the latest poll on U.S. sleep habits finds.
Captain Holly Graf ‘maltreated’ staff says US navy report
Even Captain Bligh might have blushed. The first woman captain of a US navy guided-missile destroyer was relieved of her command for using language so foul that it amounted to “cruelty and maltreatment”, it emerged yesterday.
Captain Holly Graf, commander of 400 sailors aboard USS Cowpens, was dubbed “Horrible Holly” by those who felt the lash of her tongue. Officers complained to navy investigators that she humiliated them in front of the crew by showering them with obscenities and calling them “idiots” and “stupid”.
Graf’s behavior, detailed in a navy report, came to light last week when it emerged she had engaged the Cowpens in a maritime “drag race” with a smaller destroyer, the USS John McCain, near Okinawa, Japan, last year.
The report dismissed allegations that the racing ships had nearly collided but investigators upheld charges that Graf had abused her position for personal gain by forcing sailors to walk her dogs and by ordering a piano-playing junior officer to perform at a Christmas party at her home.
As one of the navy’s most successful sea-going women officers Graf was in line for promotion to rear admiral, but became the target of an internet campaign by former crew members and male former officers contemptuous of what they see as preferential treatment of women at the Pentagon.
Hundreds of posts to internet sites likened Graf to Bligh, the villainous captain ousted by his crew in Mutiny on the Bounty. Graf has not made a public comment, but defended her behavior to navy investigators.
*****
The wingnuts love that she was relieved simply because she is a she - and as such had "no business being in a man's world". Internet messageboards used by the wingnuts have been lighting up with glee for the past few days.
The fact she was abusive and all that escaped their notice - that is what she was relived for just as any man who did as she has done would have been.
The fact she was abusive and all that escaped their notice - that is what she was relived for just as any man who did as she has done would have been.
Worrying about strange things has become an accepted way of life
Worrying is an art.
Oh, I don't mean the common, now and then, rational type of worrying about your 401k or your appointment with the dentist for a root canal.
Worrying about strange things has become an accepted way of life
Worrying about strange things has become an accepted way of life
Teabggers impotent at the ballot box
In Tuesday’s Texas repugican primary, tea party-inspired contenders found themselves blown out in races across the state. Gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina, who closely aligned herself with the lunatic fringe, picked up just 19 percent of the vote. And while a host of House repugican incumbents faced challenges from tea party opponents, the only one who faced anything remotely close to a scare was Ralph Hall — who dispatched his nearest competitor by nearly 30 percentage points.
It wasn’t the first electoral blow for tea party faithful. In last month’s Illinois primary, tea party favorite Patrick Hughes won just 19 percent against repugican Mark Kirk in the Senate primary, while gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski, who aggressively sought the support of tea party activists and won high praise from lunatic fringe outlets like RedState.com, finished a distant fifth place in the repugican contest.
And in November, Doug Hoffman, whose wingnut campaign for an upstate New York House seat was the beneficiary of support from grass-roots activists across the country, fell short to Democrat Bill Owens.
It wasn’t the first electoral blow for tea party faithful. In last month’s Illinois primary, tea party favorite Patrick Hughes won just 19 percent against repugican Mark Kirk in the Senate primary, while gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski, who aggressively sought the support of tea party activists and won high praise from lunatic fringe outlets like RedState.com, finished a distant fifth place in the repugican contest.
And in November, Doug Hoffman, whose wingnut campaign for an upstate New York House seat was the beneficiary of support from grass-roots activists across the country, fell short to Democrat Bill Owens.
Calling a liar, a liar to his face
There was a great exchange between Orrin Hatch and E.J. Dionne on "Meet the Press" Sunday. Well, it was great for Dionne, not Hatch. Last week, Dionne wrote a column challenging the lies in Hatch's op-ed about reconciliation.
Then, Dionne did it right to Hatch's face:
Way to go Dionne!
Cop News
In Cop News
Florida policemen wearing protective gear weren’t able to bring down a crippled man without using assault rifles
Three Rhode Island cops charged in cocaine-dealing operation
Wisconsin cop arrested for domestic violence-related disorderly conduct
Michigan cop gets 30 months for using seized drugs as evidence to falsify search warrants, fake drug deals, embezzle money, and present false evidence
Minnesota prison guard gets one year for for smuggling contraband to inmate
Colorado deputy gets 90 days for attempting to smuggle narcotics into jail
Cops won't comment on video which shows Minnesota cops lied about reason for pulling over black motorist whose Tasering was not mentioned in official reports
Two New York City police officers charged in $1 million perfume heist
New York cops stopped and searched 2,798,461 people, of whom just 287,218 were white
UK police 'got teenager drunk' for confession
Florida policemen wearing protective gear weren’t able to bring down a crippled man without using assault rifles
Three Rhode Island cops charged in cocaine-dealing operation
Wisconsin cop arrested for domestic violence-related disorderly conduct
Michigan cop gets 30 months for using seized drugs as evidence to falsify search warrants, fake drug deals, embezzle money, and present false evidence
Minnesota prison guard gets one year for for smuggling contraband to inmate
Colorado deputy gets 90 days for attempting to smuggle narcotics into jail
Cops won't comment on video which shows Minnesota cops lied about reason for pulling over black motorist whose Tasering was not mentioned in official reports
Two New York City police officers charged in $1 million perfume heist
New York cops stopped and searched 2,798,461 people, of whom just 287,218 were white
UK police 'got teenager drunk' for confession
School fundraiser sold porn DVDs
Officials with a California school district said they have addressed parent complaints about racist and pornographic DVDs and books sold by a booster club.Moreno Valley Unified School District Superintendent Rowena Lagrosa (pictured) said all items have been removed from the empty Box Springs Elementary School classroom where the booster club held a sale that some parents said featured pirated DVDs and books with pornographic and racist content, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported Monday.
"We've investigated and taken appropriate action," Lagrosa said. She said the school's principal, teachers and booster club members were unaware of the inappropriate items until a concerned parent brought them to the attention of officials.
Parent Christina O'Donnell said she bought several of the offending items at the Feb. 26 sale. She said they included pornographic and R-rated films as well as a book titled "Aryan Nation Brotherhood" with a swastika on the cover.
Lagrosa said the items came from donations. She said future donations would be subject to the approval of the school board.
Ohio inmate ODs on pills hours before execution
There's no cheating the hangman ...
Governor Ted Strickland on Monday postponed the execution of a convicted killer who managed to take an overdose of pills in his death row cell and was found unconscious just hours before he was to be driven to his execution.
News Blurbs
News Blurbs:
AIG's bonus getters are angry that you're angry about their humongous bonuses.
Fuck you and the horse you rode in on - how's that for angry, AIG?!
A new report out of Finland suggests that the country's corporate poster child, Nokia Siemens, has been involved in some pretty tawdry dealings with Iran, dealings that go beyond the company's admitted involvement with the Iranian regime.
Business is business, you know!
Weight Watchers, which is a for-profit scam on fat people, has now endorsed McDonald's.
Nice to see their hypocrisy out in the open for a change.
New customers and customers who bring in new customers both get screwed by DirecTV.
What did you expect from one of Murdoch's vile companies?
Why does a salad cost more than a Big Mac?
Because the main ingredients in the Big Mac are government-subsidized, and the salad isn't, that's why.
AIG's bonus getters are angry that you're angry about their humongous bonuses.
Fuck you and the horse you rode in on - how's that for angry, AIG?!
A new report out of Finland suggests that the country's corporate poster child, Nokia Siemens, has been involved in some pretty tawdry dealings with Iran, dealings that go beyond the company's admitted involvement with the Iranian regime.
Business is business, you know!
Weight Watchers, which is a for-profit scam on fat people, has now endorsed McDonald's.
Nice to see their hypocrisy out in the open for a change.
New customers and customers who bring in new customers both get screwed by DirecTV.
What did you expect from one of Murdoch's vile companies?
Why does a salad cost more than a Big Mac?
Because the main ingredients in the Big Mac are government-subsidized, and the salad isn't, that's why.
Sarah Palin Loves Socialized Health Care (When She's Paying For It)
From Jezebel:
Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin told an audience of Canadians this weekend that she used to "hustle" over the border to get her some of that cheap socialized medicine she now decries.
Palin, who called "nationalized" health care "evil" and suggested that, instead of reforms to lower costs, the government ought to just cut taxes, admitted that her family used to avail themselves of the cheap, high-quality health care Canada offers its citizens.
According to Dave Weigel at the Washington Independent, she said:
We used to hustle over the border for health care we received in Canada. And I think now, isn't that ironic.
Weigel notes that the closest Canadian city to Wasilla, Alaska — where Palin grew up after infancy — is more than 15 hours away, whereas Anchorage is less than an hour.
Sarah Palin Loves Socialized Health Care (When She's Paying For It)
What is the real shocker is that she can define irony correctly!
Program pays homeowners to walk away
Program pays homeowners to walk away
A new effort to fix the housing crisis helps owners sell their homes at a loss.
Many Americans risking their retirement
Many Americans risking their retirement
The number of U.S. workers who have saved virtually nothing for retirement is growing.
Where to get a bargain on higher education
Where to get a bargain on higher education
Many schools still offer great deals, and at one college, students don't pay tuition at all.
Today is ...
Today is Tuesday, March 9, the 68th day of 2010.
Today In History March 9, 2010
Today's unusual holidays and celebrations are:
Barbie Day,
Joe Franklin Day,
Unique Names Day,
Organize Your Home Office Day,
as well as
Panic Day
and
Get Over It Day
Barbie Day,
Joe Franklin Day,
Unique Names Day,
Organize Your Home Office Day,
as well as
Panic Day
and
Get Over It Day
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have been in:
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Goderich, Ontario, Canada
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
London, England, United Kingdom
Manchester England, United Kingdom
Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
as well as the United States in such cities as Warroad, San Luis Obispo, Cerritos, Menifee, Foley, Coral Gables, Wylie, Drexel Hill and more
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Goderich, Ontario, Canada
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
London, England, United Kingdom
Manchester England, United Kingdom
Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
as well as the United States in such cities as Warroad, San Luis Obispo, Cerritos, Menifee, Foley, Coral Gables, Wylie, Drexel Hill and more
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
Sensitive?
You?
No way.
Well, maybe a little.
It started when you realized you were sniffling at sappy commercials.
You'd never, ever admit to it, of course -- but if you're going to be spending any time with that certain someone, you might want to think about it ahead of time.
Forget being the alpha person.
Let them know you have a great big heart.
If one thing's clear, it's that you have nothing else to prove.
Hey, I don't watch commercials!
Sensitive?
You?
No way.
Well, maybe a little.
It started when you realized you were sniffling at sappy commercials.
You'd never, ever admit to it, of course -- but if you're going to be spending any time with that certain someone, you might want to think about it ahead of time.
Forget being the alpha person.
Let them know you have a great big heart.
If one thing's clear, it's that you have nothing else to prove.
Hey, I don't watch commercials!
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