Lili's Drawing Blog

Accused T Groper: 'I Did It, And I Liked It'

2009-11-03T22:49:00.001-05:00

Unfortunately, some people don't get it until it happens to their wife , mother, daughter or sister

When a female rider on the T was eastbound from Copley Station on Monday, someone from behind grabbed her buttocks. She turned to her female friend, and said incredulously, "Did you grab my a**?"

But when her friend said "no," a male's voice from behind said, "I did it! And I liked it! But you'll never see me again."

Well, the groper was wrong. The victim found T police, and when she spotted the man, she pointed him out. Now, 52-year-old William Carlisle of Boston is under arrest, charged with indecent assault and battery -- a 5-year felony.

In the past 18 months, the T Police have stepped up their program against riders who grope female riders. So far, they've had nearly 100 reports of riders being groped

William Carlisle is the latest to be arrested. "This is a serious issue," said T Police Chief Paul MacMillan. "It's sexual assault, pure and simple. How would you like it if it was your wife, or sister, or mother? We want to make the T safe and comfortable for everyone."

Cops To Citizens: Don't Like The Crime- Then Move

2009-11-02T12:47:00.001-05:00

clipped from news.yahoo.com

Residents of Ohio's capital city are complaining that police officers are telling them to move out if they're fed up with neighborhood crime.

At least two Columbus city council members have heard the complaint

An aide to Councilwoman Charleta Tavares says she has received more than 20 calls. Councilman Andrew Ginther says if police are making the comments, they're neither acceptable nor appropriate, though he says he believes most officers want to be helpful.

A police spokesman says the department addresses the complaints when it's given the name of an officer

A police union official says he understands if officers are frustrated with crime. Fraternal Order of Police President Jim Gilbert says: "It's like the OK Corral out there."

Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com

Evicted for Reporting Domestic Abuse

2009-10-23T07:37:00.001-05:00

To add insult to injury, this past July Cleaves-Milan received a call from a collection agency seeking nearly $3,800 they claimed she owed for the early termination of her lease. She returned home a day after telling police her boyfriend threatened to kill her to find a 10-day eviction notice taped to her door. She didn't terminate her lease early – she was given no choice in the matter. Luckily Aimco dropped this fee, but only after the Chicago Tribune inquired.

This story is horrific and unfortunately not uncommon. While the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 protects domestic abuse victims who live in public or subsidized housing from eviction, the law concerning private landlords is unclear. This lack of protection for women who rent in the private market creates a disincentive for women to report abuse, trapping women, and often their children, in violent relationships with no legal recourse.

clipped from www.care2.com

When Kathy Cleaves-Milan's boyfriend brandished a gun and promised to end both of their lives is she left him she knew it was time to involve the police, if not for herself for the sake of her daughter.
She made the call to police and got help, but a day later she received some surprising news: She was being evicted.

Why? According to the managers of the complex, she had violated the terms of her lease by reporting criminal activity to the police – that is for reporting her boyfriend's death threats.

"I was punished for protecting myself and my daughter," Cleaves-Milan, 36, said.

Did they expect her to choose between staying with her abusive boyfriend or keeping a roof over her families head?

So while the company admits that Cleaves-Milan's status as a domestic violence victim certainly influenced their decision to serve her with eviction papers, they also assumed that a single woman would be unable to make rent without a man by her side.

"Fat Talk" Not Spoken Here

2009-10-23T07:28:00.001-05:00

Fat Talk Free Week encourages women to strive for a healthy ideal and take care of their bodies by focusing on health – not weight or size. The campaign encourages women to let go of the fat talk that plagues our every day conversations and promotes a celebration of things about ourselves that have nothing to do with the way we look.

Breaking free from the unrealistic thin ideal of beauty has never been more urgent.

Did you know that:

* 1 out of 8 adolescent girls reported starving themselves to lose weight
* 40% of moms tell their adolescent daughters to diet and 45% of these girls are of average weight
* 81% of 10 year old girls are afraid of being fat
* 51% of 9 and 10 year old girls feel better about themselves if they are on a diet
* More than 2/3 of women ages 18-25 would rather be mean or stupid than be fat
* Over 50% of women ages 18-25 would rather be hit by a truck than be fat
* 70 million people worldwide struggle with eating disord

clipped from www.care2.com

We hear women in dressing rooms, locker rooms, and bedrooms around the world complain about one thing over and over again – their bodies.

To many she never seems thin enough, not like the ultra slender women that strut down fashion runways, are splashed across glossy magazine pages, and star in today's biggest blockbusters.

We are told these women are beautiful. We are told that if we are thin we will be beautiful too. So we strive to attain this thin ideal and along the way destroy our self-esteem and berate ourselves for not measuring up to these unrealistic, not to mention unhealthy, bodies.

Well, it's high time that women break the thin ideal and start embracing a wider (no pun intended) definition of what it means to be beautiful.

We can start by celebrating Fat Talk Free Week, an international 5-day body activism campaign that raises awareness of body image issues and the damaging impact of the thin ideal on women in society.

by focusing on health – not weight or size

Pretty Pink Taxis-Avoiding "Leering Drivers"

2009-10-23T07:09:00.001-05:00

safe ride or avoiding the real problem?

clipped from www.care2.com

Following what seems to be something of an international trend, the Mexican city of Puebla has offered a new service to women plagued by "leering drivers": a fleet of taxis, driven by women and catering exclusively to women. This comes on the heels of women-only train cars in Japan and Brazil, all-female transportation in Tehran, and "ladies' specials" in India, all designed to free women from the sexual harassment that public transportation seems inevitably to bring

The planners of the taxi project in Puebla also tout the benefits for female drivers, saying that having women-only taxis opens up a traditionally male-dominated profession.

Many point out that simply providing women with a way to avoid harassment does not address the root of the problem

shouldn't we be targeting the gropers and the harassers, not just getting women away from them? Why do women have to change their routines - and find special taxis - because these men refuse to respect them?

ZoomSafer-App to stop Texting And Driving

2009-10-22T18:41:00.001-05:00

Don't Text And Drive

clipped from wbztv.com

For some, looking down at their phone was the last thing they did. The federal government says last year, 6,000 people were killed and 500,000 were injured using their phones.

"A little bit over a year ago, I was heading into work and got a text. I looked down, then up and hit a 9-year-old boy on his bike."

The boy lived, but for Matt Howard, it changed everything. "I thought to myself there has to be a better way for me to make decisions while I was driving.

So the software entrepreneur came up with "ZoomSafer."

The program is free and works on smart phones that have GPS.

Here's how it works: When your phone is traveling 10 mph, the keyboard shuts down so you can't text

If someone were to send you an e-mail or test, the service will send a reply on your behalf letting the person know that you are driving and focused on the road and you'll get back to them when you get to your destination safely

Sen. Mark Montigny has tried making texting behind the wheel illegal. Fellow lawmakers have resist

Prosthetic That Can Sense Touch

2009-10-22T18:24:00.001-05:00

clipped from wbztv.com

There is a breakthrough for people who've lost limbs. Swedish scientists say they've developed a robotic hand that can actually sense touch

Amputee Robin af Ekenstam can pick up a water bottle without dropping or crushing it. He gives it just the right amount of pressure because for the first time in years, he can actually FEEL the bottle. "It's a feeling I have not had for a long time," he says.

Robin is the first to try out what's called the Smarthand, a new prosthetic limb dotted with 40 sensors that stimulate nerves in the arm and shoot touch signals back into the brain instantaneously.

The prosthetic hands available now allow patients to perform many tasks but the Smarthand is the first to offer movement control that only comes through feeling.

"It could allow a patient who's married who'd like to hold their spouse's hand again," explains Dr. Heckman. "It could allow someone who could pick up their son and feel that they are holding on."

hope to have it on the market within two years.

Pay Cuts Coming For Bailed-Out Executives

2009-10-21T18:47:00.001-05:00

clipped from wbztv.com

The seven companies that received the most assistance will have to cut the annual salaries of their 25 highest-paid executive by an average of about 90 percent from last year,

Kenneth Feinberg, the special master at Treasury appointed by Obama to handle compensation issues at the seven firms getting exceptional assistance from the government's $700 billion financial bailout package, is making the pay decisions.

The seven companies are: Bank of America Corp., American International Group Inc., Citigroup Inc., General Motors, GMAC, Chrysler and Chrysler Financial

Total compensation for the top executives at the seven firms will decline, on average, by about 50 percent,

The pay restrictions for all seven companies will require any executive seeking more than $25,000 in special benefits - things such as country club memberships, private planes and company cars - to get permission for those perks from the government

teetering on the brink

taxpayers came to their defense

Missing 7 Year Old Girl

2009-10-21T14:29:00.001-05:00

clipped from wbztv.com

It's been three days since the disappearance of a 7-year-old girl in North Florida and investigators still have no clues.

The mother of Somer Thompson went on all three network national morning news shows Wednesday with a tearful appeal for the child's return.

"Somer, you're not in trouble - if you're scared, just come home," Dina Thompson said on NBC's "Today" show. "And if somebody has her, please, please bring her back to us. She belongs with her family."

"She's got a twin and he's lost without her," Thompson said in a later news conference.

"The likelihood she has been taken by someone is high," the sheriff said.

The girl vanished on her mile-long walk home from school Monday in Orange Park, near Jacksonville.

The second-grader is white, 3-foot-5 and 65 pounds. She had brown hair tied in a pony tail with a red bow and was carrying a purple Hannah Montana backpack and lunch box.

Lady Bug Photos

2009-10-21T13:25:00.001-05:00

I have actually seen an all black ladybug. pretty.

clipped from www.geocities.com

Fifteen-spotted
Lady Beetle

Two-spotted Lady
Beetle

Eye-spotted Lady
Beetle

Twice-stabbed Lady
Beetle

Seven-spotted Lady
Beetle

Nine-spotted Lady
Beetle

clipped from www.geocities.com

Parenthesis Lady Beetle

Three-Banded Lady
Beetle

Thirteen-spotted Lady Beetle

Cream spotted Lady
Beetle

Asian Lady Beetle

Transverse Lady
Beetle

clipped from www.geocities.com

Hippodamia Glacialis

Spotless Lady Beetle

Convergent Lady
Beetles

Spotted Lady Beetle

Operation Yellow Blitz

2009-10-21T13:04:00.001-05:00

clipped from wbztv.com

Police in over 100 Massachusetts communities teamed up with the Registry of Motor Vehicles for what's called "Operation Yellow Blitz."

Officers and inspectors are patrolling school bus stops on Wednesday and ticketing drivers who do not stop at the flashing red lights.

This is the fifth year the RMV has held the day-long operation.

"It is a zero tolerance policy," said Rachel Kaprielian, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. "You see those lights, you stop."

By noon, 57 tickets had been handed out in half the communities that reported to the RMV. Thirty did not encounter any violators.

The RMV says efforts like this one raise awareness about school bus safety.

"If you're behind or approaching, you stop for a school bus because the cargo inside is too precious," said Kaprielian.

The first violation is a $250 fine. The second ticket will cost drivers $500 and a hearing which could lead to the loss of their license.

LadyBug Invasion

2009-10-21T12:59:00.001-05:00

I was one of those getting dive-bombed yesterday. Awesome! They kept playing buzz the tower.

It was great being able to show the kiddos. They thought it was neat when a few landed on us.

I counted about 7 different species on the front of our home. I couldn't couldn't keep count of how many there were total, but there was a lot.

clipped from wbztv.com

Have you noticed what seems like an explosion of ladybugs lately?

"Where are all the ladybugs coming from? I was "attacked" today while hanging my laundry."

"Why am I being invaded by hundreds of ladybugs today?"

Well, the answer is pretty simple.

An expert told WBZ the bugs may sense that winter is coming. Because it was warm Tuesday, they were looking for a place, such as a home, to spend the winter.

WBZ Executive Weather Producer Terry Eliasen said the influx of ladybugs happens any year that there are a bunch of really cold fall days, followed by a warm-up... like two years ago.

They may be a nuisance, but the ladybugs are harmless - and can even be good for your garden.

US In Worst Top 3 For Income Inequality

2009-10-19T08:06:00.001-05:00

clipped from finance.yahoo.com

The U.N. Development Program recently came out with a report looking, among other things, at income inequality worldwide.

The UNDP ranked countries and regions based on a number of factors, including their Gini coefficient, named for Italian statistician Corrado Gini.

We have listed the world's most advanced economies based on their Gini score, with zero marking absolute equality and 100 absolute inequality. Scandinavian countries, Japan, and the Czech Republic have the least amount of inequality. The U.S. is among the most unequal, but it's not No. 1.

No. 1 Hong Kong

No. 2 Singapore

No. 3 U.S.

No. 4 Israel

No. 5 Portugal

No. 6 New Zealand

No. 7 (tie) Italy

No. 7 (tie) Britain

No. 9 Australia

No. 10 (tie) Ireland

No. 10 (tie) Greece

Creative Bus Stops

2009-10-18T23:49:00.001-05:00

clipped from green.yahoo.com

Taking the bus can be a cheaper commute than driving a car. No fluctuating gas prices or expensive
vehicle maintenance to deal with. Leave the driving to someone else, and you
can read a book, talk on the phone, or listen to your iPod for a more relaxing
route to work or school.

But waiting for the bus can be a chore ... unless you get to
hang out in one of these unusual bus stops around the world. Some communities
celebrate their heritage, others places make use of creative materials, and a few towns let
artists express themselves with a bus stop as the canvas.

Maybe if more transit systems had attractive bus stops like
these, more people would enjoy a car-free commute!

Tom Fun Orchestra: Bottom of the River

2009-10-18T21:23:00.001-05:00

clipped from drawn.ca

Superb music video for the Tom Fun Orchestra, directed by Alasdair Brotherson and Jock Mooney of Trunk Animation.

It Has The Stench Of Opportunity

2009-10-18T20:42:00.001-05:00

By reducing the amount of the potent greenhouse gas released into the air, the projects also potentially could turn cow dung into dollars, if a climate bill before Congress becomes law.

"Agriculture and agribusiness is what Greeley is all about," Biggi said. "We needed to take that strong traditional economic base and ... merge it with emerging renewable energy and technology."

Waste may be the new energy crop in these parts. But elsewhere, communities are looking anew at power sources such as the sun and wind that may exist in their own backyards.

clipped from news.yahoo.com

Climate concerns turn city's smell into cash cow

GREELEY, Colo. – The smell of manure hangs over Greeley as it has for half a century.

These days it's more than just a potent reminder of the region's agricultural roots and the hundreds of thousands of cattle raised on the city's outskirts.

The stench smells like an opportunity.

Investors are lining up to support a planned clean energy park that eventually will convert some of the methane gas released from the manure piles into power for a cheese factory and other businesses. JBS, which runs two of the largest feed yards and the local slaughterhouse, is testing a new technology that heats the cattle excrement and turns it into energy.

The idea is to lure new business to the area with what Biggi likes to call its renewable natural gas — the endless supply of methane from cheap manure

The shift is being driven partly by legislation in Congress that would reduce the gases linked to global warming.

An Octuplet Of Opticle Illusions

2009-10-18T20:33:00.001-05:00

sorry couldn't resist the alliteration

clipped from health.yahoo.com

If you’ve ever felt like you go a little cross-eyed after taking a peek at an optical illusion, then you know they can be a pretty intense phenomenon. What your eyes perceive when looking at one of these images is actually a visual illusion; you see the image as something different than what it is because the different cells and receptors in your eyes distinguish images and colors at dissimilar speeds. The eye can only receive a limited amount of visual stimuli, but as your brain constantly processes the visual information, it gives you the illusion of continuous sight. Whether it’s an optical, physiological or cognitive illusion, the design plays a trick on your eyes (and mind). Check out some of the interesting illusions below—but beware, you may not be able to absorb them all in one sitting.

If You Can't Beat Em, Don't Count Them

2009-10-18T14:42:00.001-05:00

They hope to not only push the undocumented further into the shadows, but erase from the rolls a whole community of people, immigrant or otherwise, who are shaping the largest population shift this country has ever seen.

The Republicans are not seeing past the idea that these people are "other" or that they are "foreigners" because if they did, they would realize they have the potential for attracting scores of first generation immigrants, who typically have conservative, Christian ideals and come from center-right countries.

clipped from news.yahoo.com

The amendment to the fiscal 2010 Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill (HR 2847) being proposed in the senate right now to stop funding the 2010 Census until they change their survey to include questions about citizenship may be the final nail in the coffin of the GOP/Latino relationship.

proposed to require all those who fill out the surveys to affirm their citizenship status, and then attempt to discount millions of people who peacefully live, work and contribute to America. The justification is that the undocumented should not be counted because they can't vote. However, there is no question of whether people are ex-cons, another population of people who do not have voting rights in many states, but are counted within the census numbers.

gets even narrower as they consider making the choice "citizen" or "non-citizen" seeking to discount even further those who are "legal" residents or have visas but haven't yet become full citizens.

Racist Undertones Of The 'Socialist' Epithet

2009-10-18T14:23:00.001-05:00

More From The Article:
Take another black leader, another society fraught by racial division. In 1956, Nelson Mandela and 155 other antiapartheid activists were arrested by the South African government under the infamous Suppression of Communism Act of 1950, a law that was used gratuitously to incarcerate anyone who was critical of the government.

The treason trial that followed resulted in a 1961 acquittal for all those involved, the government unable to prove any "socialist" intentions. But the political equation of black activists as "communists" would continue up through the 1980s.

The Reagan administration egregiously soft-pedaled the issue of apartheid on the basis of the South African government's purported anticommunist stance. Indeed, the South African government itself viewed its policies not as racist, but as anticommunist. Only popular pressure through a global antiapartheid movement persuaded the US to isolate South Africa.

It takes the cry of "socialism!" liter

clipped from news.yahoo.com

Americans are famously reluctant to talk about race and racism,

Yet, as seen at various town hall meetings and the Tea Party rally in Washington Sept. 12, a deeper sign of racial tension has emerged with the reappearance of a different inflammatory expression: socialism.

n the context of American politics, socialism has seldom been about the economy or state power alone, despite its political-economic roots. Instead, it has been a slur, synonymous with the charge of communism, but with meaning extending beyond this term as well.

Black leaders in particular have faced this accusation. In 1964, amid the momentous occasion of congressional approval for the Civil Rights Act, Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina declared its passage the result of "Negro agitators, spurred on by Communist enticements to promote racial strife."

Martin Luther King Jr. was not an exception to this allegation, but a direct target.

Profile Of A Cyber Stalker

2009-10-17T20:01:00.001-05:00

Cyberstalkers may research individuals to feed their obsessions and curiosity. Conversely, the acts of cyberstalkers may become more intense, such as repeatedly instant messaging their targets. [8]

More commonly they will post defamatory or derogatory statements about their stalking target on web pages, message boards and in guest books designed to get a reaction or response from their victim, thereby initiating contact. [7] In some cases, they have been known to create fake blogs in the name of the victim containing defamatory or pornographic content.

When prosecuted, many stalkers have unsuccessfully attempted to justify their behavior based on their use of public forums, as opposed to direct contact. Once they get a reaction from the victim, they will typically attempt to track or follow the victim's internet activity. Classic cyberstalking behavior includes the tracing of the victim's IP address in an attempt to verify their home or place of employment.

A 2007 study, led

clipped from en.wikipedia.org

CyberAngels has written about how to identify cyberstalking:

When identifying cyberstalking "in the field," and particularly when considering whether to report it to any kind of legal authority, the following features or combination of features can be considered to characterize a true stalking situation: malice, premeditation, repetition, distress, obsession, vendetta, no legitimate purpose, personally directed, disregarded warnings to stop, harassment, and threats.

False accusations

Attempts to gather information about the victim

Encouraging others to harass the victim

False victimization

The cyberstalker will claim that the victim is harassing him/her. Bocij writes that this phenomenon has been noted in a number of well-known cases.

Attacks on data and equipment

Ordering goods and services

Arranging to meet

They may engage in live chat harassment or flaming or they may send electronic viruses and unsolicited e-mails.

Stalkers Beware:Cyberstalking Laws By State

2009-10-17T19:48:00.001-05:00

Cyberstalkers Beware

clipped from www.ncsl.org

State Electronic Harassment or "Cyberstalking" Laws

Law enforcement agencies estimate that electronic communications are a factor in from 20 percent to 40 percent of all stalking cases. Forty-six states now have laws that explicitly include electronic forms of communication within stalking or harassment laws. State laws that do not include specific references to electronic communication may still apply to those who threaten or harass others online, but specific language may make the laws easier to enforce. Two reports from the U.S. Department of Justice provide detailed information on cyberstalking: Stalking and Domestic Violence: Report to Congress and Cyberstalking: A New Challenge for Law Enforcement and Industry. Other related NCSL resources: Enacted Cyberbullying Legislation. Last update: March 12, 2009

Anyone Wear Glasses As A Child

2009-10-17T18:49:00.001-05:00

Does anyone have any advice that might help or things that you wish your parents had understood better?

I just found out my 6 year old son has a vision problem and will need eyeglasses. I wear glasses on occasion for eyestrain but never had glasses as a child.

clipped from www.allaboutvision.com

If you're a parent in search of the right pair of eyeglasses for your kid, you probably know that walking into an optical store can be confusing. You'll see plenty of children's eyeglass frames, but that's the problem! How do you figure out which ones: a) your child is willing to wear and b) will last longer than the ride home?

To begin with, most children who need eyeglasses are either nearsighted or farsighted. Depending on the degree of visual correction necessary, your eye doctor will prescribe glasses for full- or part-time wear. Some kids will be instructed to take their eyeglasses off for schoolwork, while others need to have them on every waking moment.

Here are 10 items to consider to make your trip to the optical shop as painless as possible and to ensure that you get children's glasses that will last a long time.

1. Lens Thickness

2. Fashion Forward

3. Plastic Vs. Metal

4. Proper Bridge Fit

5. The Right Temple Style

6. Spring Hinges

7. Lens Material

9. Warranties

10. Backup Pair

Weird Foods Around The World

2009-10-17T09:35:00.001-05:00

clipped from www.bootsnall.com

10 Weird Food Delicacies From Around the World

1 – Birds Nest Soup, China

You wouldn’t necessarily think a birds nest would be edible, but the Chinese use Swifts’ nests to make this soup, known as the ‘Caviar of the East’. Right now you’re probably imagining a nest made out of twigs and leaves, but Swiftlets make their nests predominantly out of saliva.

2 – Fried tarantulas, Cambodia

Eensy weensy spider, climbing up the spout…if you suffer from arachnophobia you probably don’t want to try eating these eight legged monsters

3 – Puffer fish, Japan

4 – Balut, Phillipines

5 – Casu Marzu, Sardinia

it’s riddled with insect larvae

6 – Surstromming, Sweden

fermented Baltic herring

7 – Live Octopus, Korea

8 – Kopi Luwak, Indonesia

want to think twice if someone offers you a cup of this coffee

made from the excrements of an Indonesian cat-like creature called the Luwak.

9 – Puffin Heart, Iceland

10 – Snake Wine, Vietnam

Argument Over

2009-10-17T08:08:00.001-05:00

The Argument About Women Working Is Over

clipped from www.time.com

The Argument About Women Working Is Over

Forty years ago, one-third of all workers were women; now nearly half are. Rather than increasing conflict or competition between the sexes, more than three-quarters of Americans (76% of men, 80% of women) view this as positive for society; only 19% say it's negative. And that view holds regardless of age, race or political ideology: 81% of African Americans view it as a positive change, along with 84% of Latinos, 88% of Democrats and 68% of Republicans.

The Abt SRBI poll of 3,413 adults (1,599 men and 1,814 women) was conducted by telephone between Aug. 31 - Sept. 15

7 Routines That Can Cost You Big

2009-10-16T07:34:00.001-05:00

clipped from finance.yahoo.com

What dark corruption might be lurking behind your daily money routines, imperiling your road to wealth? What every day activities may be threatening your financial health? Here are seven:

1. Tossing out the "junk mail" from your credit card company

The Credit Card Holders Bill of Rights Act goes into full effect in February. Ahead of that deadline, companies are changing the terms of customer agreements

To skirt that provision, firms are notifying customers that their cards are now "variable rate." (Translation: We can jack up your rate whenever we please.)

So watch those benign notices, and be ready to call and demand a fixed-rate card or take your business elsewhere.

2. Using a debit card without writing down the transactions in your account register.

3. Ignoring new bank charges.

4. Investing time in the wrong things.

5. Spending with no goals to guide you.

6. Failing to track spending

7. Failing to exercise.

A Harvard study found medical bills are behind 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies

Tylenol May Blunt Vaccines Effectiveness

2009-10-15T19:34:00.001-05:00

clipped from news.yahoo.com

Giving babies Tylenol to prevent fever when they get childhood vaccinations may backfire and make the shots a little less effective, surprising new research suggests

It is the first major study to tie reduced immunity to the use of fever-lowering medicines. Although the effect was small and the vast majority of kids still got enough protection from vaccines, the results make "a compelling case" against routinely giving Tylenol right after vaccination, say doctors from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study only looked at preventive use of Tylenol — not whether it is OK to use after a fever develops.

However, fever after a vaccine isn't necessarily bad — it's a natural part of the body's response. Curbing fever, especially the first time a baby gets a vaccine, also seems to curb the immune response and the amount of protective antibodies that are made, the new study found.

Woman Told To Get Sterilized Or Lose Your Insurance

2009-10-15T19:12:00.001-05:00

After having a c-section, Peggy Robertson received a letter. It was from her insurance company, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, and it basically said this: get sterilized, or you won't receive coverage.

clipped from action.seiu.org

Stand with Peggy Robertson

Today, at Sen. Mikulski’s HELP committee hearing “What Women Want: Equal Benefits for Equal Premiums,” we met Peggy Robertson. Peggy is a mother of two young boys, and lives in Colorado with her husband. Her story is shocking, and one that every member of Congress needs to know about.

When Peggy had a doctor-ordered c-section several years ago, her insurance company told her to get sterilized if she wanted to keep her coverage.

Peggy shared her story with the members of the HELP committee, but we need to make sure that every member of Congress hears her story and takes swift action to pass health insurance reform.

Toxic Drywall Leaving Homeowners in Limbo

2009-10-15T18:51:00.001-05:00

"This is like the small wave that's out on the horizon that's going to continue to grow and grow until it becomes a tsunami," said Florida attorney David Durkee, who represents hundreds of homeowners who are suing builders, suppliers and manufacturers over the drywall. "This is going to become critical mass very shortly."

During the height of the U.S. housing boom, with building materials in short supply, American construction companies imported millions of pounds of Chinese-made drywall because it was abundant and cheap. An Associated Press analysis of shipping records found that more than 500 million pounds of Chinese gypsum board was imported between 2004 and 2008 " enough to have built tens of thousands of homes. They are heavily concentrated in the Southeast, especially Florida.

clipped from news.yahoo.com

ames and Maria Ivory's dreams of a relaxing retirement on Florida's Gulf Coast were put on hold when they discovered their new home had been built with Chinese drywall that emits sulfuric fumes and corrodes pipes. It got worse when they asked their insurer for help — and not only was their claim denied, but they've been told their entire policy won't be renewed.

Thousands of homeowners nationwide who bought new houses constructed from the defective building materials are finding their hopes dashed, their lives in limbo. And experts warn that cases like the Ivorys', in which insurers drop policies or send notices of non-renewal based on the presence of the Chinese drywall, will become rampant as insurance companies process the hundreds of claims currently in the pipeline.

Because mortgage companies require homeowners to insure their properties, they are then at risk of foreclosure, yet no law prevents the cancellations.

Louisiana Justice Of Peace Refuses To Wed Mixed Couples

2009-10-15T18:10:00.001-05:00

"It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzmann. "The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."

clipped from news.yahoo.com

A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have. Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.

"I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."

Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said.

There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."

f he did an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.

"I try to treat everyone equally," he said

Cash For Seniors

2009-10-15T17:58:00.001-05:00

clipped from news.yahoo.com

Obama calls for $250 payments to seniors

President Barack Obama called on Congress Wednesday to approve $250 payments to more than 50 million seniors to make up for no increase in Social Security next year. The Social Security Administration is scheduled to announce Thursday that there will be no cost of living increase next year. By law, increases are pegged to inflation, which has been negative this year.

It would mark the first year without an increase in Social Security payments since automatic adjustments were adopted in 1975.

"This additional assistance will be especially important in the coming months, as countless seniors and others have seen their retirement accounts and home values decline as a result of this economic crisis."

he $250 payments would also go to those receiving veterans benefits, disability benefits, railroad retirees and retired public employees who don't receive Social Security.

would be limited to one payment,

Solar Skins

2009-10-15T17:22:00.001-05:00

I have always had a thing for solar power. When I was a kid I heard about the a yearly race where participants would invent their own solar powered race car. I've been waiting since for solar power to really take off. I was beginning to think it would never happen.
Thanks again to Socratoad for this find

But it's here now and it rocks!

clipped from www.treehugger.com

Taiwan's new Taichung Convention Center will be covered in solar-powered skin that naturally ventilates the structure reducing energy consumption.

The skin--a pleated smocking-esque envelope--provides a natural air flow to the building minimizing air conditioning usage. It also uses a high-tech double photovoltaic glass to reduce the remaining energy consumption. Part of the pleat is also transparent so that natural light can permeate the interior.

Commissioned by the Taiwanese government, the design was completed by Beijing-based MAD Architects. The structure--which looks like volcanoes wrapped in venetian blinds--is intended to blur the line between landscape and topology. They hope the center will become a new local landmark inspiring future sustainable development.

More Solar to Get Under Your Skin:
Inflatable Solar Panels Zip Together To Power Most Anything
Solar Powered Skins for iPhones and iPod Touch
Solar Powered Car to Hit Streets in Taiwan

Blog 09 Part 3 Solar Shingles

2009-10-15T17:11:00.001-05:00

Sustainability- Help stop climate change and get rid of that electric bill.
Thank you Socratoad of Clipmarks.com for finding this one!

clipped from blog.cleantechies.com

Dow Chemical has developed a roof shingle that contains thin-film solar power cells and can be integrated into asphalt roofs, which are used in 90 percent of American homes.

Dow executives said the solar shingles can be handled like a regular asphalt shingle and can be nailed right onto a roof and walked on by roofers.

By 2015, Dow estimates that the market for the solar shingles could be $5 billion a year as builders increasingly make the solar roofs standard on new construction.

The thin-film solar cells, made by Global Solar of Tucson, are less efficient than traditional photovoltaic arrays, but a Dow researcher that with the solar shingles covering large portions of a roof they could meet 40 to 80 percent of a homeowner’s electricity demand.

Electricians are not needed to install the solar shingles but do have to connect the completed array to the home’s electrical system.

(Blog 09 Part 2)Artic Ice Will Melt In Ten Years

2009-10-15T16:59:00.001-05:00

Some people want to ignore climate change. Every time there's a cold day or the weather predicts snow they loudly proclaim "See, it's cold out, there's no Global Warming!
Sadly, these people are not going to except the very real crisis that is happening, right now. At least not until Global warming literally walks up the drive way and bangs on the door and growls I'm Here.
World wide we are getting some pretty weird weather changes and as the Arctic ice melts it's going to get weirder, until some real changes are made.
Be the change , we may not get a second chance.

clipped from wbztv.com

The North Pole will turn into an open sea during summer within a decade, according to data released by a team of explorers who trekked through the Arctic for three months.

The Catlin Arctic Survey team, led by explorer Pen Hadow, measured the thickness of the ice as it sledged and hiked through the northern part of the Beaufort Sea in the north Pole earlier this year during a research project. Their findings show that most of the ice in the region is first-year ice that is only around six feet deep and will melt next summer. The region has traditionally contained, thicker multiyear ice which does not melt as rapidly.

the Arctic sea holds a central position in the earth's climate system. "Such a loss of Arctic sea ice cover has recently been assessed to set in motion powerful climate feedbacks which will have an impact far beyond the Arctic itself,"

"This could lead to flooding affecting one-quarter of the world's population,

and extreme global weather changes."

(Blog 09 Part 1!)The Earth Was Not Given To You By Your Parents, It Was Loaned To You By Your Children

2009-10-15T16:49:00.001-05:00

Treat the Earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children --Ancient Indian Proverb

It's Blog 09 ! This year the subject is Climate Change and I will be doing a series of posts on climate change. Here's to saving the world , one blog at a time!

clipped from www.youtube.com

AAAS Climate Change

Sisters Seperated As Babies Find Each Other On Facebook

2009-10-15T16:01:00.001-05:00

clipped from wbztv.com

A popular online social site is being credited for reuniting two sisters who were separated at birth.

Thanks to Facebook, a Philadelphia woman will be reunited with a sister she never knew existed, reports CBS station KYW-TV.

Vanessa Sabb has struggled with a certain loneliness her entire life. At a young age, her mother abandoned her.

"I just couldn't understand how my mother would do this to me," Vanessa explained.

On September 29, something truly remarkable happened. Vanessa logged onto her new Facebook account.

And that's when I knew that this is a new beginning in my life," Vanessa explained.

Her sister is Betty Sabb Williams who is now living in South Carolina.

Betty too lost contact with their mom, but unlike Vanessa, Betty knew she had a little sister out there somewhere.

After a quick rundown of their lives, the women knew that this was a once in a lifetime match.

The big reunion for the sisters who are six years apart in age is set to take place Thursday.

Awesome Hockey Goal By 9 Year Old

2009-10-15T15:23:00.001-05:00

video wouldn't clip but you have to see it. Hit "The Goal" link in the clip. Awesome.

clipped from wbztv.com

A nine-year-old hockey player from Maine is becoming an Internet sensation.

He scored one of the most incredible goals you'll ever see.

Watch: The Goal

Oliver Wahlstrom picked a puck up on the blade of his stick, swirled around and flipped a wicked backhander past the goalie.

It happened during a taping of the latest edition of TD Bank's Mini 1-on-1 challenge at the Garden.

Oliver is a forward for the Portland Junior Pirates.

Artic Ice Will Melt In Ten Years

2009-10-15T07:15:00.001-05:00

clipped from wbztv.com

The North Pole will turn into an open sea during summer within a decade, according to data released by a team of explorers who trekked through the Arctic for three months.

The Catlin Arctic Survey team, led by explorer Pen Hadow, measured the thickness of the ice as it sledged and hiked through the northern part of the Beaufort Sea in the north Pole earlier this year during a research project. Their findings show that most of the ice in the region is first-year ice that is only around six feet deep and will melt next summer. The region has traditionally contained, thicker multiyear ice which does not melt as rapidly.

the Arctic sea holds a central position in the earth's climate system. "Such a loss of Arctic sea ice cover has recently been assessed to set in motion powerful climate feedbacks which will have an impact far beyond the Arctic itself,"

"This could lead to flooding affecting one-quarter of the world's population,

and extreme global weather changes."

Have a Seizure Get Arrested For Assault

2009-10-15T07:05:00.001-05:00

Fire Department records indicate Kourtney refused treatment from paramedics. But a fire department spokesman says he's checking to find out more about what happened.
Paramedics have a perilous job and do come under attack. What is unclear in this case is how a patient having a seizure can also be a willful assailant

clipped from wbztv.com

Imagine calling 911 for medical assistance and winding up in jail.

Kourtney Wilson, 23, was charged with assaulting three paramedics. But Kourtney says that's impossible because she was in the midst of a seizure. And she says, what she deserved was treatment, not a trip to jail.

Kourtney has a history of lupus, and around 12:30 Monday afternoon, she had a seizure at her Woodlawn home.

That's when Tiffini called 911and paramedics responded.

But Tiffini repeatedly confronted the paramedics about what she saw as heavy-handed tactics, telling them, "'I called you all to help her but you're being too rough with her. It's almost like you're assaulting her.' As soon as I said that, one of the EMT guys pointed to Kourtney and says, 'you're going to jail.'"

In other words, she received treatment about nine hours after her arrest. And her release papers confirm her diagnosis as "seizure disorder."

"They come to the hood, see a girl on the floor, and they think she's on drugs,"

Was the photoshopped Ralph Lauren model fired for being overweight?

2009-10-14T18:07:00.001-05:00

Most of us know that a tall, young woman who weighs 120 pounds is not overweight. But Hamilton claims Ralph Lauren was dissatisfied with her body, and therefore fired her six months ago. However, the company continued to use her image, whittling down her arms, waist, thighs, and possibly several other body parts in the above ad. If they were so unhappy with how she looked, why not get another model for the campaign? Why use the photos and alter and distort them?

Today, Ralph Lauren himself is distancing himself from the ad, claiming, "The image in question was mistakenly released and used in a department store in Japan and was not the approved image which ran in the U.S." So we're confused. They say the photoshopping was an error, that Hamilton is "beautiful and healthy," yet they allegedly fired her for her size? With all these apologies and statements it sounds like the brand still has yet to accept responsibility for their actions.

clipped from shine.yahoo.com

Last week
Ralph Lauren came under fire for (what looked to be) an extremely
altered photo of a model in one of its ads.

public interest
and outrage over the dangerously thin looking model and,
eventually, the clothing company released this apology:

For over 42 years we have built a brand based on quality and
integrity. After further investigation, we have learned that we are
responsible for the poor imaging and retouching that resulted in a
very distorted image of a woman's body. We have addressed the
problem and going forward will take every precaution to ensure that
the caliber of our artwork represents our brand
appropriately.

Unfortunately,"addressing the problem" may have included
firing the model, 23-year-old Filippa Hamilton. She is
5'10" and weighs 120 pounds--clearly more full-bodied than
the photoshopped girl we see in the advertisement.

"They fired me because they said I was overweight and I
couldn't fit in their clothes anymore," she explained

Barbie Too Fat!!! -What The......

2009-10-14T09:15:00.001-05:00

Girls don't need anymore self image problems nor any more anorexic role models.

clipped from wbztv.com

A French shoe designer is being called on the carpet for a comment he made calling Barbie fat - specifically her ankles.

The iconic, incredible Barbie is now a bigger fashion symbol than ever. In fact, some in the fashion world seem to think she's too big.

Stiletto maker Christian Louboutin is re-designing a fashion Barbie set to come out next year, and according to Women's Wear Daily, found her ankles a bit too fat for his taste, so he re-shaped the doll's feet.

"Are you serious? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," Brooklyn resident Depelsha McGruder said.

And though most people seemed to take this as a big joke, child psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Gardere doesn't.

"They idolize their dolls. They get ideas as to body image, self esteem, self perception by playing with the dolls," Dr. Gardere said.

Backpedaling from his original comment

The Louboutin spokesperson also pointed out the language barrier could account for a misunderstood comment

Russian Gays Disappointed In Clinton

2009-10-14T08:35:00.001-05:00

So am I.

clipped from wbztv.com

Russia's leading gay activist said Wednesday that he was disappointed that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with an outspoken foe of gay rights during her two-day trip to Russia and did not decry homophobia in the country.

Clinton attended a ceremony unveiling a statue of Walt Whitman at Moscow State University with Russian officials including Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov. Luzhkov has blocked all attempts to hold gay pride marches in Moscow, once saying they "can be described in no other way than as satanic."

Some biographers have described Whitman as homosexual and U.S. gay activists have claimed him as symbol of their movement.

t was not clear whether Luzhkov was aware of Whitman's status as a gay icon, and sponsors of the statue said they were honoring Whitman strictly for his contributions to literature

Homosexuality was only decriminalized in Russia in 1993 and homophobic attitudes remain widespread.

Maria Shriver Busted Breaking Husband's Own Law

2009-10-14T00:32:00.001-05:00

Bet that's embarrassing.

clipped from wbztv.com

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is calling out his wife, Maria Shriver, for apparently violating a state law he signed — holding her cell phone while driving

The celebrity Web site TMZ.com posted two photographs Tuesday showing Shriver holding a phone to her ear while she's behind the wheel. It says one was snapped Sunday and the other in July. The Web site claimed that this was not the first time California's first lady was caught chatting on her cell while driving.

On his Twitter feed Tuesday, Schwarzenegger wrote to TMZ.com founder Harvey Levin: "Thanks for bringing her violations to my attention. There's going to be swift action."

by "swift action," the governor means he'll ask his wife not to hold the phone while driving. A law that took effect in 2008 requires California drivers to use a handsfree device.

The first lady's office said it would have no comment.

Former (Male) Marine Fighting Breast Cancer

2009-10-14T00:23:00.001-05:00

The Marine Corps is asking anyone who lived at Camp LeJeune before 1985 to register with them. Their toll free number is: 877-261-9782.

clipped from wbztv.com

A North Andover man, who served our country for four years, is now fighting for his life, and the lives of other fellow Marines.

47-year-old Peter Devereaux found a lump on his chest in January 2008

He never imagined it could be breast cancer. It was in an advanced stage, and Devereaux immediately started 14 months of treatment, including a mastectomy

Several months after being diagnosed, Devereaux received a letter from the Marines saying that he may have come in contact with contaminated water while he was stationed at Camp LeJeune. He served there for 14 months starting in 1980

Then he began to hear about other Marines who were diagnosed with breast cancer, and realized he was not alone. So far, 42 Marines who were at Camp LeJeune have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and that number continues to grow every week.

water was contaminated by the chemicals TCE and PCE, both considered poisons

Missing Person--Mom Wants Her Son Home For Holidays

2009-10-14T00:08:00.001-05:00

It's a long shot posting this but anything that might help . Please pass it on. Thank You.

clipped from wbztv.com

A mother is making a desperate plea to help find her son who's been missing since Thursday, October 8, vanishing without a trace on Nashua St. where he attended a Bruins game at the Garden.

"I'm worried about where he is, is he warm, is he hungry, where is he?", said Lynn Martin about her 24 year old son William Hurley.

He had called his girlfriend Claire Mahoney asking for a ride after leaving the game and saying he was tired. They were talking on the cell phone just minutes before she arrived to pick him up.

I was right there, I was right around the corner, I don't know how we missed each other," said Mahoney.

The navy veteran, who's lived in the Boston area for the past eight months, often texted his mother back home in North Carolina, but they spoke last Wednesday

He was really happy, talking about coming home for Thanksgiving, having a big to-do at home and making plans," she said

so far police have no new leads

Halo Appears Over Moscow

2009-10-13T21:32:00.001-05:00

If one appears over D.C. I'm outta here

clipped from buzz.yahoo.com

And you thought rainbows were cool. A few days ago, a mysterious cloud shaped like a halo appeared over Moscow, and the buzz has yet to break.

We're the first to admit that a photograph of the heavenly cloud appears to be photoshopped. It's just so...perfect. But meterologists have spoken up and said the cloud wasn't digitally altered. However, it wasn't exactly what it appeared to be, either.

When the cloud initially formed, some UFO enthusiasts declared it to be a "true mystery." Some even compared it to the giant spaceship hovering over Earth in the movie "Independence Day." Reality quickly dashed any predictions of an alien invasion. An article from the Daily Mail explains that the "luminous ring-shaped cloud" was simply an optical effect.

An official spokesperson for Moscow's weather department said, "Several fronts have been passing through Moscow recently, there was an intrusion of the Arctic air too, the sun was shining from the west — this is how the effect was produced."

Twitter Thwarts Attempt To Gag Uk Media

2009-10-13T12:18:00.001-05:00

read the whole article

clipped from wbztv.com

Bloggers and Twitter users thwarted a legal attempt Tuesday to stop Britain's media from reporting the questions posed by a lawmaker in a parliamentary debate, spotlighting the power of new media to influence public policy.

The case involving lawmaker Paul Farrelly had threatened the rights of journalists to report anything debated in Parliament. British law allows the media to report any comments made in Parliament without fear of running afoul of Britain's often draconian privacy and libel laws.

The legal attempt began Monday in debate about a European company accused of dumping waste in west Africa.

obtained an injunction from Britain's High Court that prevented The Guardian newspaper from reporting questions

The blogosphere erupted in outrage. Bloggers and users of the social networking site Twitter exchanged data on who the case may involve.

Sen. Snow Says She Will Vote For Reform

2009-10-13T12:10:00.001-05:00

clipped from wbztv.com

Baccus Says Health Care Plan Can Pass To Senate

Sen. Olympia Snowe says she will vote for health care bill, the only Republican to back the legislation

Divided along partisan lines, a key Senate committee moved Tuesday toward a milestone vote on sweeping health care legislation that would fulfill President Barack Obama's top domestic priority. Its ultimate fate remained far from certain.

"Ours is a balanced plan that can pass the Senate," declared Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont. Health care legislation is expected to be on the Senate floor the week after next, said a spokesman for Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who must combine the Finance version with a more liberal proposal from the health committee.

President Obama's plan to remake the nation's health care system is about to take its biggest step yet toward becoming reality.

A major question mark is whether Reid will include some version of a so-called public plan in the merged bill.

Signing Off On Sex Ed

2009-10-13T11:49:00.001-05:00

Sex ed came into being because kids weren't getting the necessary information to protect themselves. If parents treat sex as a taboo subject at home they are likely not to have their children attend a sex ed class.

clipped from cbslocalblogs.prospero.com

As parents, we're used to signing permission slips for a range of activities. But if a new bill passes on Beacon Hill, we will also sign permission slips for sex education.

Kids would not be required to take it if parents don't "opt in" and sex ed would be offered only on an elective basis. Right now, parents write notes if they want their kids to "opt out" of sex ed.

Would requiring parents to sign permission slips for sex ed get parents more involved? Would it lead to better communication between parents and kids about what is -eh- a delicate subject? Are kids whose parents don't sign the permission slip in danger of missing out on lessons about pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other diseases?

We want to know what YOU think...

Gerry Barrett- Stand Up Comedy

2009-10-13T09:46:00.001-05:00

clipped from www.youtube.com

Gerry Barrett

The Story Your About To See Is A Fib, But It's Short

2009-10-13T08:42:00.001-05:00

When PBS was funded , Square One was one of my favorite math shows.

clipped from www.youtube.com

Square One TV: Mathnet - Case of the Great Car Robbery pt.3

Sharpton/Jackson Ask NFL To Block Limbaugh Bid

2009-10-13T08:27:00.001-05:00

The latest complaints came a day after executive director of the NFL Players Association, DeMaurice Smith, urged players to speak out against Limbaugh's bid.
"I have asked our players to embrace their roles not only in the game of football but also as players and partners in the business of the NFL," Smith said in a statement Sunday. "They risk everything to play this game, they understand that risk and they live with that risk and its consequences for the rest of their life.
"We also know that there is an ugly part of history and we will not risk going backwards, giving up giving in or lying down to it.

clipped from wbztv.com

The Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson attacked the bid by Rush Limbaugh to buy the St. Louis Rams on Monday, saying the conservative radio host's track record on race should exclude him from owning an NFL team. Sharpton sent a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, arguing that Limbaugh has been divisive and "anti-NFL" in some of his comments

"appealing to the fears of whites" with an unending line of insults against blacks and other minorities.

In 2003, Limbaugh worked briefly on ESPN's NFL pregame show. He resigned after saying Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.

January 2007 show, Limbaugh commented: "The NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it."

"We also know that there is an ugly part of history and we will not risk going backwards, giving up giving in or lying down to it."

Toxins Still In Toys Due To Lack Of Enforcement

2009-10-13T08:14:00.001-05:00

clipped from wbztv.com

In February a new federal law banned the sale of children's products with more than 600 parts per million of lead. In August the limit dropped to 300 parts per million. That's still higher than the 40 parts per million the American Academy of Pediatrics believes is safe.

The law requires manufacturers to have a third-party lab test toys before they can be sold, but that part of the law was put on hold until next year, sparking criticism over enforcement.

"They don't really know if lead or phthalates are in their products, so we don't know either," said Spark. Her daughters have a playroom full of toys that she can only hope are free from lead and other toxic chemicals.

It's hard to know what's in products," said Spark. "In fact, I think it's impossible to know."

The environmental watchdog group Healthystuff.org recently tested hundreds of consumer products and found unsafe levels of lead and other toxic chemicals in everything from tennis balls to pet supplies.

Swastika, Obama Carved Into Golf Course

2009-10-13T08:01:00.001-05:00

clipped from wbztv.com

LAKEVILLE (WBZ) ―

The Secret Service is investigating a possible threat to President Obama made at a local golf course

Someone carved the letter "I" then a swastika and the word "Obama" on the 18th hole at the Lakeville Country Club.

t was discovered early Monday morning by greens keepers

The Secret Service confirms it is working closely with Lakeville police on the case.

"It's just so insulting to the human race and it just shouldn't be part of our doings by anybody. I just can't understand it. It's unforgivable," course owner Gary Mosca told WBZ

Mosca says he's going to have to call in turf experts to repair the damage.

He doesn't expect it to be completely fixed until next spring.

Meet The Owners Of CNS News

2009-10-12T18:15:00.001-05:00

Another Unfair And Unbalanced "News" Source.
Notice that they also champion the corporate agenda.
And look who praises it

What Others Say About the MRC. Read what Rush Limbaugh, Bill Bennett, Bob Novak and other leading conservatives say about the Media Research Center.

clipped from www.mrc.org

The mission of the Media Research Center, "America's Media Watchdog," is to bring balance to the news media.

Leaders of America's conservative movement have long believed that within the national news media a strident liberal bias existed that influenced the public's understanding of critical issues.

that liberal bias in the media does exist and undermines traditional American values, but also to neutralize its impact on the American political scene. What they launched that fall is the now acclaimed — Media Research Center (MRC)

The Business & Media Institute
(BMI) is dedicated to "Advancing the Culture of Free Enterprise in America." Formerly the Free Market Project, BMI is the business and economics division of the MRC and is the only organization dedicated to correcting the media's anti-free enterprise biased reports and to promoting a fair portrayal of the business community in the news and entertainment media.

Cybercast News Service
(CNSNews.com), "The Right News. Right Now"

Faux News Exposed

2009-10-11T20:01:00.001-05:00

I wish I could put all the blame On FOX news. There are many people who want only that which will reinforce their own opinions and avoid anything that challenges it.
Where there is a demand there will always be someone who will sink low enough (for enough money ,of course) to supply.
Thank You Socratoad of ClipMarks for finding this.

clipped from www.onlinedocumentaries4u.com

Outfoxed - Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism Documentary

Media experts, including Jeff Cohen (FAIR) Bob McChesney (Free Press), Chellie Pingree (Common Cause), Jeff Chester (Center for Digital Democracy) and David Brock (Media Matters) provide context and guidance for the story of Fox News and its effect on society.

This documentary also reveals the secrets of Former Fox News producers, reporters, bookers and writers who expose what it's like to work for Fox News. These former Fox employees talk about how they were forced to push a "right-wing" point of view or risk their jobs. Some have even chosen to remain anonymous in order to protect their current livelihoods. As one employee said "There's no sense of integrity as far as having a line that can't be crossed."

Flying Cars Could Change The Military

2009-10-10T12:50:00.001-05:00

For 1.5 Million each of taxpayers money.

clipped from wbztv.com

Flying cars may actually get off the ground. A local company is behind the futuristic ride that could change the future of the U.S. military, reports CBS station KOVR/KMAX-TV.

"It's so fast that you take full advantage of it," said Paul Moller, president of Moller International.

They're not just for the future anymore. Sky cars are here

"Since it's a vertical take-off aircraft, which is a key element, you can fly and sit there and hover," said Paul.

Moller International's flying vehicle could save lives in the warzone in Afghanistan

"They have huge potholes and they can't really drive and it's very easy to take a pothole throw a mine in it and cover a little dirt over it," said Paul.

The U.S. Army wants a $5 million grant to test out the invention. Paul says the military model would seat six, have camouflage colors and be decked out in safety gear

Each flying car would cost the army around $1.5 million.

Rush Limbaugh Judging Miss America Pageant

2009-10-10T12:45:00.001-05:00

I suppose contestants this year will do an essay on how vacuum cleaners liberated women more than self determination and how sexism is God's way of keeping women in their place.

clipped from wbztv.com

The Miss America Organization says Rush Limbaugh will be a judge for the 2010 Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas.

The pageant will be held at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Jan. 30. It will be broadcast live on TLC.

Limbaugh will be on the panel of seven judges that will help decide who will be crowned Miss America 2010.

The Miss America Organization said Friday when making the announcement that Limbaugh's radio program is in its 22nd year and is on nearly 600 radio stations with an audience of 20 million.

Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

2009-10-09T06:55:00.001-05:00

clipped from news.yahoo.com

President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in a stunning decision designed to encourage his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama woke up to the news a little before 6 a.m. EDT. The White House had no immediate comment on the announcement, which took the administration by surprise

The award appeared to be a slap at President George W. Bush from a committee that harshly criticized Obama's predecessor for his largely unilateral military action in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. The Nobel committee praised Obama's creation of "a new climate in international politics" and said he had returned multilateral diplomacy and institutions like the U.N. to the center of the world stage.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, who won the prize in 1984, said Obama's award shows great things are expected from him

Dead Deer Dressed Up As Clown And Left On Porch

2009-10-08T18:13:00.001-05:00

clipped from news.yahoo.com

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – You'll never see this clown in the circus. Animal control officers in Sioux City, Iowa, say someone dressed a dead deer in a clown suit and wig and put it on a family's porch. Officers suspect it was a prank, considering Halloween is approaching, but they say it's not funny, safe or acceptable

The deer was discovered Wednesday morning.

Animal Control Officer Jake Appel says leaving a dead animal is immature and illegal. He says officers will dispose of the deer properly.

Sioux City police have not opened an investigation.

UK College Tells Teachers How To Dress

2009-10-08T17:32:00.001-05:00

clipped from news.yahoo.com

LONDON (Reuters) It is normally students who are sent home for inappropriate attire, but one English college is threatening to send lecturers home for violating a dress code, which includes a ban on jeans.

Their union has accused Birmingham Metropolitan College of "acting like the fashion police."

The newly re-issued dress code requires lecturers to wear a "business suit; smart jacket and co-ordinating trousers or skirt; smart shirt/top/blouse or smart dress."

/blouse or smart dress."

Scruffy trousers, jeans, ostentatious jewelry and outrageous hair styles and colors are strictly banned.

Earrings must not be excessive and are the only form of jewelry allowed in visible piercings. The policy also states that tattoos must be covered.

Nick Varney of the local University and College Union (UCU) branch said the policy "harks back to Victorian times." He told Reuters he has never seen staff so angry.

"Has diversity and the celebration of cultural differences totally passed them by?"

Police StopAnd Frisk More Than 1Million People On the Street

2009-10-08T17:24:00.001-05:00

And the more people are searched, the more innocent people are hassled.

clipped from news.yahoo.com

A teenager trying to get into his apartment after school is confronted by police. A man leaving his workplace chooses a different route back home to avoid officers who roam a particular street.

These and hundreds of thousands of other Americans in big cities have been stopped on the street by police using a law-enforcement practice called stop-and-frisk that alarms civil libertarians but is credited by authorities with helping reduce crime.

Police in major U.S. cities stop and question more than a million people each year — a sharply higher number than just a few years ago. Most are black and Hispanic men. Many are frisked, and nearly all are innocent of any crime, according to figures gathered by The Associated Press.

Civil liberties groups say the practice is racist and fails to deter crime. Police departments maintain it is a necessary tool that turns up illegal weapons and drugs and prevents more serious crime.

Gun Show Undercover

2009-10-08T13:20:00.001-05:00

This is how criminals get guns without background checks.

clipped from www.huffingtonpost.com

Ever wonder how criminals are able to get guns so easily? It's depressingly simple. On any given weekend, at dozens of gun shows held in states across the country -- criminals can buy guns from "private sellers" who are not required to perform background checks.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has identified gun shows as the source of more than 30% of all illegally trafficked guns in the country. Those are the guns most likely to be used in crimes -- and to kill innocent people, including police officers.

Today, New York City is releasing the results of a multi-state investigation into this activity: "Gun Show Undercover." We sent investigators with hidden cameras to seven gun shows across Ohio, Tennessee and Nevada, and we found out just how easy it is for criminals and the mentally ill to walk in and buy guns -- no questions asked.

Our investigator tells a seller that he "probably couldn't pass" a background check and tests a gun.

Republicans Oppose Al Franken's Law on Protecting Victims of Gang Rape

2009-10-08T13:16:00.001-05:00

I'm speechless

clipped from www.youtube.com

1/3 of ParentsSay No To H1N1 Shot

2009-10-08T12:34:00.001-05:00

It's one of those things where you're almost damned if you do, damned if you don't
I thought they weren't using Thermerosol in vaccines anymore.
The preservative is not in the FluMist nasal spray, which can be given to healthy kids age 2 and older. But it's in many injectable doses, which are packaged in multi-dose vials that require thimerosal to prevent bacterial contamination

clipped from wbztv.com

As the first wave of swine flu vaccine crosses the country, more than a third of parents don't want their kids vaccinated, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll.

Some parents say they are concerned about side effects from the new vaccine

while others say swine flu doesn't amount to any greater health threat than seasonal flu.

The AP poll, conducted Oct. 1-5, found 72 percent of those surveyed are worried about side effects,

recall the 1976 swine flu immunization campaign that vaccinated 40 million Americans against an epidemic that never materialized.

many who got the shots back then filed injury claims blaming health problems on the vaccine, with some reporting a paralyzing condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome.

fears are compounded by worries about thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative that will be in roughly 60 percent of the 225 million swine flu doses ordered for Americans.

But it's in many injectable doses,

Where Did All The Seasonal Flu Vaccines Go?

2009-10-08T07:35:00.001-05:00

Even the flu vaccines are not immune to market forces.
You would think that doctors offices would be the priority when it comes to any vaccine.

clipped from wbztv.com

"How come my family doctor's office does not have any more seasonal flu vaccine while the large pharmacies have plenty? The supplies are going to the places where you have to pay $24.95 to receive it."

Well, as we found out, the health care industry is not immune to market forces.

It happened to us here at WBZ-TV. Every year the company schedules a flu clinic for us, but just a few days ago a memo came out saying "The flu shots are postponed due to lack of vaccines." We're out of luck and not sure when, or if, it will be rescheduled

We did our own admittedly unscientific survey, checking with 20 doctors' offices in greater Boston. Nine of them have run out of the seasonal flu vaccine.

But that's not the story at many pharmacies.

Go to Walgreens, CVS, Stop and Shop, Target, and Wal-Mart, pay between $25 and $30 and get a shot

"I think the market forces are definitely part of it,"

Penalized At Work For Being A Mom

2009-10-07T22:18:00.001-05:00

Here's one piece of irony to consider. Research has shown that employers actually prefer fathers to childless men. Unlike working mothers, they are perceived to be more stable.

clipped from wbztv.com

You can get penalized at work for being late, or missing a deadline. But how about just for being a mom? Research shows that's happening and the impact is often financial.

Apparently that is pretty common for working moms, who are often viewed as second class citizens according to a study called "Getting a Job: Is there a Motherhood Penalty?

it found working mothers are paid 5% less, per child, than a childless woman.

A recent ruling handed down the First Circuit of Appeals in Boston, could have an impact on the way working mothers are treated. The case involves a mother from Maine who says she was denied a promotion and told "You have the kids, and you just have enough on your plate right now."

The ruling stated: ". . . the assumption that a woman will do her job less well due to her personal family obligations is a form of sex stereotyping . . . and that adverse job actions on that basis constitute sex discrimination."

Lawmakers Mull Proposed School Prayer Legislation

2009-10-07T20:41:00.001-05:00

This isn't just for the Christians, but Pagans,Muslims,Jews,Budhists...etc.

clipped from www.sentinelandenterprise.com

BOSTON -- Some area lawmakers are supporting legislation on Beacon Hill that would allow students to openly engage in prayer and other religious activities during the school day by defining the students' rights and protecting school districts from potential lawsuits

The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony Tuesday on a bill confirming students' rights to express religious sentiments during school ceremonies such as commencement or sporting events

Such expressions have happened in the past

students have referenced their religion in speeches

This year, we've also tried to reach out more to our Jewish community by putting the High Holy Days on our school calendar."

The bill would not permit students to proselytize their beliefs to others , and the schools would issue a disclaimer that all views expressed were the students' alone. The intent of the bill is to protect schools from lawsuits if their students choose to pray.

Father Of Palin's Granchild Posing For PlayGirl

2009-10-07T20:29:00.001-05:00

She must love this.

clipped from wbztv.com

Levi Johnston is going for the ultimate exposure — his bare body.

Posing nude for Playgirl is next for the 19-year-old father of Sarah Palin's grandchild. Johnston's attorney, Rex Butler, said Wednesday that a formal agreement has not been reached with the online magazine but adds it's a "foregone conclusion" it will happen.

Johnston fathered a child with Bristol, the 18-year-old daughter of Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice presidential candidate and former Alaska governor.

To get ready for his close-up, Johnston is training three hours a day, six nights a week at an Anchorage gym with a local body builder, Marvin Jones, a former Mr. Alaska competitor.

GOP Caucus Theme Song - "I'm Against It"

2009-10-07T19:11:00.001-05:00

Only Groucho! Hilarious.

clipped from www.washingtonmonthly.com

The "Party of No" theme has always been pretty descriptive when applied to congressional Republicans, but wouldn't it be even better if their governing philosophy could be put to music?

Groucho Marx first sang this in 1932, but it's certainly applicable eight decades later.

It might as well have been custom made for the Republican National Committee.