Saturday, May 23, 2009
And in Britain: Twitter’s Oldest Brit User Blogs Casseroles…
“Just having a cuppa,” Ivy Bean wrote in one of her first posts on the micro-blogging site Twitter. At age 104, Bean, who lives in an elderly care residence, is thought to be the oldest Tweeter in the United Kingdom. Other posts from Bean, who goes by the moniker IvyBean1o4, have included “Looking...
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Thursday, May 21, 2009
And in Saudi Arabia: The ‘Miss Beautiful Morals’ Pageant…
In Saudi Arabia, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Instead of swimsuit and cocktail gowns, the 200 women clamoring to be crowned Miss Saudi Arabia are being judged on their Islamic values. The second annual contest, dubbed ‘Miss Beautiful Morals,’ includes workshops such as respect for one’s...
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Wednesday, May 20, 2009
And in Atlanta: The Problem with Expert Advice…
Expert advice inhibited parts of the brain important for decision-making in a financial game as participants shifted responsibility to the expert, a brain imaging study by economists and psychiatrists at Emory University found. (Discovery, June 2009) The results of this study have led to a general...
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Sunday, May 17, 2009
And in England: No Underwire Bras for Female Cops…
For their own safety, female police officers in England and Wales are being told to reserve Wonderbras for off-duty hours. The concern, according to a police federation representative, is that if an officer is shot, close-fitting body armor will stop the bullet, but the metal in underwire bras “can...
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Thursday, May 14, 2009
And in America: KFC and Oprah - a Bad Mix…
Last week, Oprah Winfrey teamed up with KFC to offer financially strapped Americans a free lunch in honour of KFC’s new healthier grilled chicken. But what sounded like it might be too good to be true – two pieces of chicken, two sides and a biscuit for every person who printed out the coupon –...
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Monday, May 11, 2009
And Everywhere but Singapore – The Benefits of Recession…
From The Silver Linings Department comes news that the recession has helped airport baggage handlers reduce the amount of baggage they lose. Ten million fewer bags were ‘mishandled’ in 2008 than the year before, the world’s airports report, as declines in passenger and cargo traffic are relieving...
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Thursday, May 7, 2009
And in Germany: Angela Merkel’s Underpants…
Berliners strolling along the city’s main Ku’damm shopping drag got an eyeful this week when they were greeted with a 1000 sq.ft image of Chancellor Angela Merkel, 54, in a purple bra and panties. The colossal mock-up of the half-naked leader is part of a nation-wide campaign for an underwear...
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Sunday, May 3, 2009
And in Canada: With Swine Flu, What Goes Around Comes Around…
“While the new virus strain in the recent outbreak has affected humans, Canadian officials said it has shown up at a pig farm in Alberta. Officials said the pigs may have been infected by a Canadian farmer who recently returned from a trip to Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak. The pigs have...
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Thursday, April 30, 2009
And in Germany: Toad Singing…
The second international annual toad song contest begins May 10 in Germany, when fire-bellied toads from Denmark, Germany, Latvia and Sweden will compete for best voice. Last years inaugural competition, organized by a nature conservancy in Schleswig-Holstein, was won by a Swedish amphibian....
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
And in England: How Potholes Can be Useful…
The village council in Navestock has decided not to report the emergence of spring potholes to the county roads officials for repairs. In its regular newsletter to parishioners, the council urged people to think outside the box. Accordingly, potholes will no longer be filled and are to be deemed...
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