| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2010 11:55 pm |
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• Hard at work, I see March 14 • Porno domain? What about one for cute kittens and puppies? March 13 • What? No Peggy? March 12 • Food for thought March 11 • Your credit card bill's still in vivid 2-D March 10 |
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Hard at work, I see Jetson! Looking for a way to conceal your use of Facebook or Solitaire at work? StealthSwitch II, which includes a foot-operated switch, allows you to instantly bring up a legitimate-looking document to hide your FarmVille activities from your boss. Then all you have to do is convince the boss to wear a bell around his neck so you'll know when he's coming. An Apple share a day keeps the doctor away: Researchers at Duke University believe they've found a link between the performance of the Nasdaq stock market and the incidence of heart attacks: When the Nasdaq's up, heart attacks go down. And the reverse is true. So, along with a daily baby aspirin, quitting smoking and losing 10 pounds, your doctor also recommends selling high and buying low in a Nasdaq index fund. Just press play: Seniors brought their MP3 players, cell phones and digital cameras. And high school students brought their high-tech know-how to the Mountlake Terrace Library to tutor their elders on getting the most out of their gadgets. Thankful for the help, the seniors volunteered to return the favor; next weekend they'll show kids how to use a vacuum cleaner, a lawn mower and a washing machine. ...
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Porno domain? What about one for cute kittens and puppies? Hands-free: People on both sides of the issue say they're unhappy with the bill that cracks down on holding cell phones while driving. Some say the measure goes too far; others contend it doesn't go far enough. One thing is certain: Once we're all driving around in our Bluetooth headsets, Washington will surpass Delaware as the dorkiest state in the union. What's in a name: Internet pornography sites may soon get a new suffix, “.xxx." A few other suffixes under consideration: “.qte”: Cute-cat-photo sites. “.nut”: Sites promoting claims that Barack Obama was born in Kenya or George W. Bush masterminded the 9/11 attacks. “.sap”: Sites that sell snake-oil remedies or get-rich-quick schemes. Planet punch line: On this day in 1781, the seventh planet of the solar system, Uranus, was discovered by Sir William Herschel. Interestingly, on this day in 1938 the first “Uranus” joke was made by an eighth- grader in Hackensack, N.J. ... [Read More]
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What? No Peggy? Gin and cigarettes not included: Mattel, the maker of Barbie dolls, plans to sell a line of dolls based on characters from AMC's 1960s-era drama “Mad Men.” Dolled up as Don and Betty Draper, Roger Sterling and Joan Holloway, the dolls will be sold for $75 each. Just keep the Roger Sterling doll away from the rest of your Barbies, or he's liable to grab a date and take Barbie's 1962 Austin Healey to the Hamptons for the weekend. Got Bluetooth? Once the bill is signed by the governor, traffic cops will be able to pull over drivers they see talking or texting on cell phones. Currently, police can cite drivers for illegal cell phone use only after pulling them over for another offense, such as speeding (Page B1). Drivers will be allowed to use cell phones in emergencies, but, no, calling 911 on a cell phone to tattle on another driver using a cell phone won't count. Rolling (dice) in his grave: Tim Holland, a world backgammon champion and author of several books on the classic board game that saw a resurgence in popularity in the 1960s and '70s, died Wednesday at his home in South Florida (Page A2). As a tribute to his pastime, the underside of his casket will be printed with a checkerboard pattern. ...
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Food for thought Hey, I was going to make a smoothie with that: Martha Stewart has some tips for how to give new clay pots a weathered look. One technique she suggests for a natural-looking patina is to slather the pots with plain yogurt and let them sit for at least a month. Martha offers no suggestions on how to keep the neighborhood cats away from your pots for the month. The lefse's a little soggy: A gas company building an underwater pipeline in the Baltic Sea has discovered a dozen shipwrecks, possibly dating between the 17th and 19th centuries. Divers have yet to explore the wrecks, but Scandinavians are already in a bidding frenzy for any ancient shipments of lutefisk that may be aboard. With enough wasabi, maybe: Federal charges have been filed against a high-end sushi restaurant owner in California who marine mammal activists claim was serving slices of Sei whale, an endangered species, in a $600 chef's special. Month-old yogurt, 300-year-old lutefisk and $600 whale sushi. Nothing for us, thanks; we're fine with a cup of coffee. — ... E-mail | Print | Comment
Your credit card bill's still in vivid 2-D The bill's in 2-D Where's my IRS refund? They'll set you back about $3,000, but 3-D TVs will start selling this week. The drawback? There are only a handful of 3-D Blu-ray discs available and ESPN won't launch its 3-D channel until June. Until then, put on the 3-D glasses and entertain yourself by reading the programming instructions. Hilarity ensues: Two glass vials said to contain the ghosts of an old man and a disruptive little girl were sold in an online auction in New Zealand for about $2,000. We predict that in about a year, Disney will release a movie starring Abigail Breslin and Ed Asner as the ghosts and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as a harried single father who welcomes the spirits into his family after his precocious children find the glass vials in the attic and unwittingly open them. In 3-D. Survey says: A Harvard institute poll found that 6 of 10 young adults said they're worried they won't be able to meet their current bills and obligations. Ten out of 10 older adults said they'll get used to it. Dept. of Corrections: Complaints to the Better Business Bureau about banks increased by 42 percent in 2009. The Buzz got the number wrong in Tuesday's edition. Lodge your complaint at thebuzz@heraldnet.com. ...
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Quota system "OK, that's your third one": A child psychologist offers some tips for dealing with children ages 4 through 7 who constantly demand attention from their parents. Allot kids no more than three “watch-mes” a day, he says. The Buzz suggests a similar quota for parents: only three instances per day of doing for a kid what the kid can do himself. Bad banks: Complaints about banks to the Better Business Bureau increased nearly 10 percent in 2009. Customers complained about getting turned down for car loans, paying excessive overdraft fees and receiving defective free toasters for opening new accounts. Town vs. world: People in the Japanese fishing village where wholesale slaughter of dolphins was captured on film in the documentary “The Cove” lashed out at Hollywood on Monday for giving the movie an Oscar . The residents of Taijicho are now the odds-on favorite for an award of their own: “Most Tone-Deaf Performance by an Entire Town.” — Mark Carlson, Herald staff ... [Read More]
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Did Na'vi actors forget to vote? The Iraq War drama “The Hurt Locker” surprised more than a few Academy Award watchers by winning Oscars for best picture and best director for Kathryn Bigelow. Bigelow, prior to her film's showing Sunday night, was usually introduced as the ex-wife of “Avatar” director James Cameron. Cameron, when he removes his 3-D glasses, can now expect to be recognized with: “Hey, you're that dude who used to be married to Kathryn Bigelow.” Ya sure: The Northwest Nordic Ladies Chorus, which includes members from Snohomish and Island counties and practices in Everett, is promoting Scandinavian culture by singing traditional folk songs in Norwegian and Swedish. The women promise that the lyrics are authentic and are not just the instructions for building a computer desk from Ikea. Every little bit hurts: With a $2.8 billion hole to plug in Washington state's budget, the state Senate approved Sunday an $890 million tax increase package that, among other boosts, adds three-tenths of a cent to the state sales tax rate. We also have information and a graphic that outlines where each dollar of your property tax goes. We know it's tempting, but it would not be a good idea to tear up every dollar of your property tax as shown and send the corresponding little bits to each of the taxing districts. ... [Read More]
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Oscar Buzz That's why the audience is blue: With Oscar Night upon us, Herald film critic Robert Horton makes his predictions for likely winners. Horton notes that the best picture nominees have been expanded to 10 to lure in more TV viewers. If that doesn't work, “Avatar” director James Cameron said he will create an appreciative 3-D digital audience to boost the ratings. Can it take notes? A new iPhone app, iStanford, has made the paper campus map obsolete and allows Stanford University students not only to find their way around the California college but connect with a campus directory, find class schedules and add and drop classes. Other apps aimed at other universities are sure to follow; iWSU will display the morning farm report; iGeoduck will show Evergreen students the location of current Hacky-Sack games; and iUW will provide a list of the next five Husky football coaches. Are you experienced? Sure, it's taken about 40 years to release, but a new Jimi Hendrix album, “Valleys of Neptune,” with 12 tracks recorded in 1969 and unreleased until now will go on sale Tuesday. We have a question for those under 25: Honestly, 40 years from now, will you be eagerly awaiting the latest album of unreleased material from Lady Gaga? ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Gaggle haggles for Google Are they Googlonians or Googlites? Several U.S. cities are competing to be the first to land Google's experimental but coveted fiber-optic network, which promises Internet connection speeds 100 times faster than what's currently available. Topeka, Kan., even went so far as to rename itself Google, Kan., for the month of March. That's caused some problems for those traveling to Kansas' capital. When people stop and ask for directions to Topeka, they're given a long list of options, most of which are of little use. And you thought we were done with Canadian jokes: Beginning in 2011, Canada will replace its cotton-paper currency with cash made of plastic, making it virtually waterproof. The innovation will be a boon for Canadians, who will now be able to quickly rinse their cash to clean off the spilled gravy from their poutine. Paper or plastic? Meanwhile, the U.S. government says it will unveil changes to the $100 bill in its continuing effort to thwart counterfeiters. While the bill's design will change, it won't be made of plastic. It's just as well; we're already using plastic too often to pay for stuff. ...
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There's an app for that Hoping to reach millions, the Vatican will launch an iPhone app in April. The app will offer daily inspirational videos delivered by a California priest. Technology industry analysts predict the nations' Catholics will feel guilty every time they visit the iTunes store and fail to download the app. Chow time: The culinary staff aboard the USS John C. Stennis serves the best food of any aircraft carrier in the fleet, the Navy says. The flattops cooks were singled out for their vibrant, flavorful take on (bleep) on a shingle, and for their creative use of condensed milk for recipes gone awry. Amazing stories: A new documentary, "Prodigal Sons," follows a transgendered filmmaker as she returns to her hometown, where as a male she was the captain of the high school football team, and attempts to reconcile with her estranged brother, who is the biological grandson of Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth. For moviegoers who prefer a more commonplace storyline, there's Tim Burtons new version of "Alice in Wonderland." ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Mild, mild West I can't get along little dogie: Wyoming has made a list of 10 “cowboy ethics” part of its state law. Based on a book written not by a cowboy but by a retired Wall Street investor, the code recommends: taking pride in your work, being tough but fair, and talking less and saying more. Cowboy ethics that didn't make the cut for the state law included: No harmonica playing after midnight. Remove your spurs before getting into bed. And stand downwind after eating beans. Not my hat! Washington's state House passed a bill that would make it illegal to send a text message while driving and would allow police to pull over drivers under 18 for any use of a cell phone. Facing similar problems, Wyoming made it illegal to text from the saddle, punishable by forfeiture of cowboy hat, hot-iron branding or both. Put Your Son to Work Day: An air traffic controller at New York's JFK Airport was suspended after he allowed his son to try his hand at pushing tin and issue instructions over the radio to pilots. Actually, the kid handled his air traffic directing duties just fine, until he told pilots to divert to Tickle Me Elmo Regional Airport and Transformers International. ...
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Neither rain nor sleet, but weekdays only Facing a $7 billion shortfall this year, the Postal Service once again proposes to drop Saturday mail delivery. The idea is unpopular with some members of Congress and anyone who uses Netflix, but America's debtors applauded the prospect of an extra day without a wad of past-due notices in the mailbox. Oscar-tails: Mixologists from around the country prepared cocktails inspired by the 10 Oscar-nominated Best Picture movies. For example, the drink inspired by “Avatar” will make you see 9-foot-tall blue people. Just don't try all 10 on Sunday night. You don't want to weep uncontrollably during the presentation of the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. Thank bleep for that: The California Senate has shelved a measure encouraging Golden Staters to refrain from cursing for a week. Lawmakers sidelined the measure after hearing an urgent plea from notoriously foul-mouthed celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who said the cursing ban would force him to shut down taping of “Hell's Kitchen.” ... [Read More]
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Hoisted on his own Picard: As personal computers become more powerful and film-editing software advances, more home movie-makers are creating special effects not far removed from what Hollywood turns out. An Illinois man used his home computer to make a film mashing up the worlds of “Star Trek” and “Star Wars." Unfortunately for the amateur filmmaker, the producers of “Star Trek” and “Star Wars” are using their home computers and do-it-yourself legal software to sue him for copyright infringement. It's here somewhere: If your house is anything like the Buzz Household, you've got stacks of papers, statements and records covering the dining room table or teetering next to the computer. Sno-Isle Libraries' Marysville branch offers a workshop on Preventing Paper Chaos on Saturday. We have one question: Will there be handouts? A salute to freedom: An Oregon man has filed a federal lawsuit claiming he has a First Amendment right to give the finger to sheriff's deputies. He's been stopped twice for exercising that right. In fact, the Founding Fathers considered the extended middle finger so crucial to our inalienable rights that Benjamin Franklin wanted to replace the bald eagle with “flipping the bird” as our national symbol. ...
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The many uses of heavy medal Power play:Canada defeated the U.S. Olympic hockey team, 3-2, in overtime Sunday afternoon to win its 14th gold medal as a capper to the Vancouver Olympics. Players on the U.S. and Canadian teams now return to their respective NHL teams. But league officials have already warned players that use of medals to bludgeon during on-ice brawls will result in an additional minute in the penalty box. Stand back: Scientists in Richland are working with a charcoallike material, called biochar, that could serve as a substitute for heating oil and even be used as a soil amendment that would lock up greenhouse gases. Using it in a garden would then provide homeowners with a carbon offset for the gallons of lighter fluid used to start the family barbecue grill. The song will go on: The recent wave of 3-D films, including the Oscar-nominated “Avatar,” are a hit with movie-goers now, but some optometrists warn that prolonged viewing of 3-D movies can cause vision fatigue and nausea. Those who experience eye strain during a movie are advised to remove the glasses for a few minutes. Likewise, if, during Sunday's Oscars presentation, you experience nausea and dizziness, doctors recommend turning down the volume to limit the number of times you hear the “Avatar” theme song. ...
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Second place is first hoser, eh? All that glitters: Prior to the start of Vancouver, B.C.'s Winter Olympics, Canadians boasted of “Owning the Podium,” uncharacteristically bragging that they'd win the most medals. While the U.S. won the overall medal count, Canadians earned the most gold. Canada already has plans to fix that the next time they host the Olympics: They're just going to cut the second- and third-place platforms off the podium. Coming soon to eBay: The cash-strapped state may sell two airplanes used by Gov. Chris Gregoire and other state agencies. But first, state officials must figure out what would bring in the most money: selling the planes or collecting insurance money after they're stolen by Colton Harris-Moore. And the Oscar for most chutzpah goes to: A producer for the movie, “The Hurt Locker,” is in trouble with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences after he e-mailed Oscar voters pleading with them to vote for his movie over “Avatar” for best picture, a clear violation of academy rules. In response the academy could publicly censure the producer, take away his Oscar tickets or impose its heaviest punishment: seating him next to Joan Rivers for four hours. ...
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Uninhibited one-stop shopping First it was the in-store bakery. Next came the in-store deli. Now we have the in-store pub (Page A6). Among the supermarkets getting a pub is a Pennsylvania Whole Foods, and a bar in that store actually makes a lot of sense. A couple of drinks before you shop will degrade your judgment and allow you to go for that $99-a-pound Caciocavallo cheese. After you’re done shopping, a couple of belts should numb the shock of paying $486.81 for a single bag of groceries. What the… The California Assembly voted Thursday to declare a statewide “Curse-Free Week,” beginning Monday (Page A2). Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Ned Flanders to spearhead the effort. As dismal as the anti-cursing effort’s chances of success appeared to be, political analysts rated them higher than California’s hopes to avoid complete budgetary chaos. Live feed: The Pentagon has decided that military personnel can use social networking sites such as Facebook on the military’s nonclassified computer network (Page A3). Commanders can cut off access to safeguard a mission, or if they’re unfriended by someone of inferior rank. — Mark Carlson, Herald staff ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
Potpourri with your smelt? The jig's up: The 45th annual La Conner Smelt Derby happens Saturday in the Skagit County town. If you're not familiar with smelt, they're those little fish that your Norwegian Grandpa Einar enjoyed eating whole — head, fins and all. And since the event takes place in La Conner, derby-goers can stash the smelt they catch in one of those fancy shopping bags with handles, next to the lavender-scented soap. Fewer meetings, too: Workers who are paid by the hour are happier than salaried folks, new research suggests. Specifically, the Stanford University team discovered that hourly workers are exactly 1½ times happier than salaried employees — 2½ times on legal holidays. Download this: Apple has now sold 10 billion songs on iTunes, making it the world's No. 1 music retailer. For the nation's brick-and-mortar music retailers, all is not completely lost. They can market themselves (accurately) this way: “We Actually Sell Beatles Music.” ... [Read More]
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D'oh, Canada — Part Deux: U.S. figure skater and goth heartthrob Johnny Weir isn't demanding an apology, but he wants two French-language broadcasters to think twice before they make derogatory comments about athletes. One broadcaster for the French Canadian sports channel RDS said Weir hurt skating's image, and the other said Weir should submit to a gender test. We've seen the tape of the broadcast and suggest that their comments might carry more weight if they removed their berets and didn't hold their pinkies out while holding their microphones. Clip and save: At the suggestion of local innkeepers, Snohomish County is considering the creation of a tourism promotion program that would be funded by a $1-a-night surcharge for each hotel visitor to the county. The program's first promotional effort? For every night you stay at a hotel in Snohomish County, you get a dollar off. Oh, baby: Nadya Suleman, also known as “Octomom” for the octuplets she gave birth to a year ago this January, told the ABC talk show “The View” she was open to having another child. But with six other kids in addition to the eight toddlers she's not going to rush into anything and will wait until she meets the right test tube. ... E-mail | Print | Comment
It's Bowling, Shuffleboard, Darts and Tiddlywinks on Ice! Like darts, but you can't poke an eye out: Herald sports writer Aaron Swaney attempted to gain an appreciation for the Olympic sport of curling, in which the skip slides a granite stone down an icy lane toward a bull's-eyelike target. We can see its appeal for a few amateur athletes; with practice one should be able to guide one's rock down the sheet while still holding onto a beer. Thankfully, The Who kept their clothes on: A federal appeals court will re-examine the FCC fine it threw out against CBS for Janet Jackson's “wardrobe malfunction,” a case that's been kicking around the courts and the FCC since the 2004 Super Bowl. But the case could be thrown out on a technicality because the original breast that Jackson bared for a half-second during the halftime show has since been replaced. What if I have a receipt? A poll commissioned by the Internal Revenue Service showed that while 13 percent of Americans said it was acceptable to cheat on their taxes, 81 percent said “personal integrity” kept them from cheating. When respondents were told that “personal integrity” was not tax-deductible, 53 percent changed their reason for not cheating to “abject fear of a tax audit.” ...
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Sure, he can make his own diamonds, but it's not the same: A 1938 edition of Action Comics No. 1, featuring the debut of Superman, sold at auction Monday for a record $1 million. The comic book was sold by an unnamed but “well-known individual” in New York. Clark Kent will now be able to buy Lois Lane that swell engagement ring he's been looking at. Wall of fame: A wall recently excavated in Jerusalem and dated to the time of Hebrew kings Solomon and David supports the biblical history of the era, some scholars are claiming. Also adding weight to the claims was the discovery of a sign on the wall that reads: “Unauthorized chariots will be towed at owner's expense. Call King Solomon Towing, ALabaster 2-2737.” Just in case you're, you know, a little hungry: As the baby boomer generation ages, a growing number of those who grew up in the '60s and '70s are smoking marijuana, with the greatest rise in use among those ages 55 to 59 (Page A3). We aren't implying anything when we also tell our readers in that age bracket that the International House of Pancakes, in recognition of National Pancake Day, is offering free short stacks of pancakes this morning for a donation to the Children's Miracle Network. ...
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Go cart, go I brake for bogeys: Residents of a Whidbey Island community are seeking a change to state law that would allow them to drive golf carts on neighborhood streets to run errands and visit friends, thus saving gas by avoiding unnecessary car trips (above). Lawmakers appear agreeable to the change but want some limits put in place in the interest of public safety: No plaid pants that could distract other drivers. And turn signals left on for the duration of a trip will count as one penalty stroke. You gotta leave there: Businesses and officials in Washington state hoping to snag a few tourists on their way to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C., aren’t seeing the numbers of visitors they expected. But maybe by emulating Vancouver, state communities might attract visitors as they head back. The Buzz recommends canceling events because of bad weather, overcharging for hotel rooms and surrounding cultural landmarks with chain-link fencing. Don’t know much about history: On this day in 1940, Tenzin Gyatso, a 4-year-old Tibetan boy, took the throne as Tibetan Buddhism’s 14th Dalai Lama. Only 24 years later, the first “Hello, Dalai” joke would be made. The lama smiled politely. ... [Read More]
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Friending your city? ‘Like' Snohomish? Poke it: Although city officials had to figure out a few legal issues and spend $1,000 in design fees, the city of Snohomish has joined Facebook with a “fan” page. But things have gotten a little awkward: Snohomish can't resist posting its latest achievements in FarmVille, and Arlington, Sultan and Edmonds are ignoring its Friend requests. Oh, mother dear, see here, see here, for we have found our mittens: The big seller in Winter Olympic souvenirs in Vancouver, B.C., is a $10 pair of red mittens with a white maple leaf on the palm and the Olympic rings on the back. Only problem is that most sizes are hard to find. Olympic tourists who can't find a pair of mittens and are desperate to bring home something for less than $10 with a maple leaf and five rings can buy an incomplete six-pack of Molson Canadian. Lost in translation: Google is working on a cell phone app that would allow tourists to take a picture of a foreign word or phase, such as on a menu, and get an English translation sent to the phone. Unfortunately, a test run in Vancouver failed to translate the following phrase: Eh, check your joggers; I need a couple Toonies for some Timbits and a double-double. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
It's a snack. And a soothing salve Behold the power of cheese: U.S. women's downhill skier Lindsey Vonn, gutting through a painfully bruised shin at the Winter Olympics, has won at least one gold medal thanks in part to cheese curd that she slathered on her shin. The cheese is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties. We just wonder how long it will be before the International Olympic Committee starts busting athletes for use of performance-enhancing dairy products. Pitchers, catchers and Junior report: Three days before position players are required to report to the Seattle Mariner's spring training camp, Ken Griffey Jr. was in the Peoria, Ariz., clubhouse holding court and cracking wise on Friday. The M's coaching staff has raised some concern about Griffey's weight and conditioning. M's head trainer Rick Griffin has specifically told Griffey: The cheese is for external use only. Java jive-talking: The Yakima City Council has voted down proposed restrictions for the Eastern Washington city's bikini barista coffee stands. Sorry, guys, but your wives and girlfriends now know what's up when you tell them you're going to Yakima for a cup of coffee. ...
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Clean-air act Seattle will severely limit smoking in city parks, effective April 1. The city backpedaled on a ban on all smoking in parks, which had inflamed the city's smokers, who noted that trees were their only source of protection from the rain after the statewide indoor smoking ban pushed them outside. Legalize it: In other smoke-related news, backers of an initiative to allow marijuana use by adults in Washington state began collecting signatures Thursday. To get the measure on the November ballot, they need to gather 241,153 valid signatures of registered voters by July 2. Ironically, if voters legalize pot and Seattle's new rules on smoking in parks hold, the 2011 Hempfest could be ruined because attendees would be obliged to walk out to the nearest sidewalk for a toke. A long, fraudulent finish: A French court issued stiff fines this week to the perpetrators of a scheme to label merlot and syrah wine as more expensive pinot noir and export the bogus vino to the United States. Attempting to justify their actions, the miscreants pointed out that in the U.S., it is perfectly legal to label and sell Natural Light as “beer.” — Mark Carlson, Herald writer ... [Read More]
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The Slurpee tax Oh, thank heaven: Looking to close a $2.8 billion hole in the state budget, Gov. Chris Gregoire, D-Nanny State, proposed new and increased taxes for cigarettes, candy, bottled water and soda. The taxes, she said, wouldn't have a significant effect on the state economy and were on items that people could choose to give up. The move would leave Slim Jims and cans of Beanie-Weenies as the only untaxed items in your neighborhood 7-Eleven. C'mon baby, light my fire: After complaints over the chain-link fence that separated tourists from the Olympic cauldron in downtown Vancouver, organizers made a few changes to give visitors an unobstructed view of the giant torch. Now if they can just figure out a way to keep it lit in the next rainstorm. Cat on a hot tin plate: The host of a cooking show in Italy has been suspended after he claimed a stew made of cats is a Tuscan delicacy that he has enjoyed many times. Fair warning if you're invited to dinner with Beppe Bigazzi: Pass on the catfish, catsup and Catalina dressing. ...
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Which toy will be the story? The toy industry has placed its bets on what will be a smash hit with shoppers this year — the Zhu Zhu Pets of 2010. If we were the wagering kind, we’d lay odds on whichever toy seems most likely to drive parents insane. Candidates include a dancing Mickey Mouse and a new Fisher-Price toy for toddlers that strongly resembles the Apple iPad, except in one way: there seems to be a reason for its existence. Bummer, dude: A bill legalizing marijuana has died in the state Legislature. Lawmakers cited two reasons for killing the measure: to prevent young people from becoming habitual marijuana smokers, and to discourage actor Woody Harrelson from moving here. At least the bloodlines were pure: Egypt’s King Tut had a club foot and a cleft palate, suffered from various congenital diseases, and his parents were probably brother and sister, new DNA testing and CT scans show. In other words, the Egyptian pharaoh who lived 3,300 years ago had a lot in common with Europe’s royal families. ... [Read More] E-mail | Print | Comment
It's not a man cave; it's a man igloo But the pipes keep freezing: An unemployed Ohio man has kept himself busy this winter by building a supersized igloo in the front yard of his home. The four-room igloo has 6-foot ceilings and an entertainment room wired for cable television. Conditions in the igloo are cold enough that the man has prepared a bid for the 2016 Winter Olympics. To your health: Recent research from around the globe shows that drinking beer in moderation can provide health benefits including a boost to immunity, increased bone density and important dietary needs such as antioxidants and fiber. Take the quiz. Why, then, does our doctor look at us skeptically when she pokes the storehouse of antioxidants above our belt? ‘Cuz I'm the taxman: If you're looking for a way out of filing a tax return, better check the list of debunked myths and failed justifications for not filing. For example, claiming that the U.S. tax system is “voluntary” is a myth. On second thought: Paying taxes is voluntary; it's prison that's mandatory. ...
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Hail to the chiefs In recognition of Presidents Day, Herald reporter Eric Stevick has run down the list of U.S. presidents who've visited Everett, including Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Harry Truman. The Everett Herald, in reporting on Taft's visit in 1911, compared Everett's giddiness to “a telephone girl fishing olives from a long bottle with a hairpin." And we thought the political reporting on cable news channels was garbled and foolish. Snow job: Cities in the Deep South could get hit with another 2 to 4 inches of snow by this morning, while our neighbors to the north are struggling to run a Winter Olympics in sleet. So what anthem is played when Mother Nature stands on the podium to accept the gold medal in the 3,200-meter irony? Four magic words: Pitchers and catchers report Wednesday for the Seattle Mariners in preparation for Arizona's Cactus League season. Kirby Arnold runs through the big questions as spring training begins. It's been a successful winter for M's GM Jack Zduriencik, who sealed deals that improved the M's at key positions and in its starting rotation. About the only deal he couldn't make was a trade of overly enthusiastic broadcaster Rick Rizzs for a case of baseballs and a grounds keeper to be named later. ...
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D'oh, Canada Swifter, higher, stronger: Police in riot gear confronted a mob of anti-Olympic protesters, arresting seven of them after some hurled newspaper boxes through department store display windows advertising Olympic souvenirs in downtown Vancouver, B.C. Those arrested were given a choice of posting bail or agreeing to try out for the Canadian Olympic shot put team for the 2012 Summer Games in London. What's on the tube, eh? An estimated 23 million Canadians, more than two-thirds of the country, watched portions of the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. But you have to remember that the only other channel available up there was showing a documentary about the hoary marmot. Dear Grandma, you'll be hearing a lot from me now: More parents are getting cell phones for their kids, then regretting the decision when the first bill shows up with additional charges for a blizzard of text messages sent to and received from friends. We have some tips on how to cut the bill. Here's The Buzz's tip for reining in text-happy teens: Allow unlimited texts, but require that each text be matched by a handwritten note to grandparents and other relatives. ...
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Google trumps Facebook, and not in a good way Friend or foe? Google tweaked its new Facebook competitor after privacy complaints surfaced over how the system created a circle of “friends” automatically from your Gmail e-mail contacts — be they golfing buddies, business associates or the landlord you've threatened to sue. Mission accomplished, Google: In just a week, your new social hub achieved the humiliation of countless thousands. Facebook needed months to do that. Oh, and another thing: They call it “Buzz.” Thanks a bunch, guys. Dog debuts: Three new dog breeds will be showcased at this year's Westminster Kennel Club dog show, which begins Monday. The new dogs — the Irish red and white setter, the Pyrenean shepherd and the Norwegian buhund — will join hundreds of other pooches at New York's Madison Square Garden. And while the dogs come in all shapes and sizes, they all share one thing in common: a wish that they could do normal dog stuff like sniffing crotches and chasing cats instead of trying to impress some lady dressed in a blue blazer, a plaid skirt and loafers. ... [Read More]
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