Call us crazy, but we don’t think eating disorders really scream “sexy”. New York chain beauty store Ricky’s is typically the place to go for your ridiculous, last-minute Halloween costumes. But the “Anna Rexia” costume the store was selling online brings scary to a whole new level. The skin and bones costume, complete with measuring
Continue reading …For a group of people who loudly denounce government, most of the GOP presidential contenders sure have spent a lot of time working for it—as politicians, as an attorney for the IRS, as an Air Force serviceman, and in other ways, observes Gregg Easterbrook at Reuters . People who have…
Continue reading …Singer Vesta Williams has died In honor of Vesta Williams @happy2bqueen just awoke to the I remember Vesta Williams singer dies at48 504Swagolicious says: RT @ DianneReeves1 : I am so sad about the news of Vesta Williams a great singer gone to soon rest in peace.
Continue reading …With bodies piling up and funding disappearing, Detroit has decided to save some money by outsourcing its morgue operations to the University of Michigan, Bloomberg reports. Detroit’s morgue is unusually busy, with five pathologists performing autopsies on 2,400 corpses a year. Earlier this year, it had 185 bodies stacked…
Continue reading …On Friday's Early Show, CBS's Erica Hill advocated for a liberal pet cause, urging Michele Bachmann to allow children of illegal aliens to receive in-state college tuition. Hill also spotlighted Gov. Rick Perry's attack on his competitors in the GOP presidential race on this issue: “Basically, [Perry is] saying to the other eight folks on the stage there, including yourself, that you don't have a heart .” The anchor raised the immigration issue towards the end of her interview of the Minnesota representative. Hill first quoted Gov. Perry's line on the in-state tuition issue from the previous night's debate: “He said, ' If you say we should not educate children who come into our state by no fault of their own, I don't think you have a heart .'” She then made a budget-based appeal to the Republican: “I know you said you don't want any resources to go to illegal aliens or their children. Why not, though, give them a tuition break now, rather then, perhaps, down the line, having to hand over unemployment, or even welfare? ” When Bachmann replied, “We shouldn't be benefitting people who are violating our laws,” Hill actually interrupted her guest midway through her answer: ” Even if it wasn't their own choice? These are children, as Governor Perry said, who were brought here by their parents without any knowledge .” More than three months earlier, the CBS anchor hounded another Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney , over his 2008 proposal to allow the Big Three auto companies go into bankruptcy instead of bailing them out: ” Based on what we've seen in the auto industry, weren't you wrong in this case? ” Hill also continues the trend of the Big Three networks throwing liberal questions during their morning show interviews of GOP presidential candidates. A MRC study relesed on Thursday found that 83% of the “ideological questions” asked of these Republicans between January 1 and September 15, 2011 reflected a liberal policy agenda. The full transcript of Erica Hill's interview of Rep. Michele Bachmann, which aired at the top of the 8 am Eastern hour: ERICA HILL: As we've been reporting this morning, nine Republican presidential candidates squared off in Orlando last night, the third debate in as many weeks, battling over everything from illegal immigration to Social Security. At one point, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann made a pitch to GOP voters, saying think carefully about just what kind of candidate you want to represent you. REP. MICHELE BACHMANN, 2012 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (from Republican presidential debate in Orlando, Florida): Every four years, conservatives are told that we have to settle and it's anybody but obama. That's what we're hearing this year. I don't think that's true. We need to choose a candidate who represents conservatives and constitutional conservative positions. [CBS News Graphic: "Race For 2012: Bachmann On Right For GOP Nomination"] HILL: Michele Bachmann making her case there. She joins us this morning from Orlando. Congresswoman, good to have you with us. BACHMANN: Good morning! It's a beautiful morning, Erica. HILL: It looks like it is there in Orlando. There's been so much talk, of course, over the last few weeks, and since Rick Perry jumped into the race, that this has essentially become a two-man race between Romney and Perry- the numbers starting to reflect that. How do you then change that perception, because you have said, you're in it for the long haul? BACHMANN: You're right, I am in it for the long haul, and remember, there's only been one true vote so far where all of the candidates were competitive. That was in the Iowa straw poll- or at least the majority of the candidates were competitive- and when the voters went out to cast their ballot, I won the Iowa straw poll. We're in this for the marathon, for the long haul. So we're in it to win in Iowa, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Florida. And so, those primary and caucus states we're focusing on, and we've been active and we're on our way, as soon as we're done here this morning. HILL: In terms of Florida, there is a straw poll there coming up this weekend. It's accurately predicted the primary pick the last three times. And, yet, after Iowa, one of your spokespeople said, we're not as concerned with that poll. Has that changed for you in the campaign? BACHMANN: Wel, we're not actively participating in the straw poll, neither is Mitt Romney. I think there's other candidates that aren't participating either. I think it was a very late entry for a couple of candidates. We can't participate in all of those polls, but the one that really counted, when the general public was allowed to vote, that was in Iowa's straw poll. The Florida straw poll is a very small poll with pre-selected delegates. It's very different than the Iowa straw poll. HILL: There's been a lot of talk about your campaign. An article just this morning saying that you haven't been able to bring in big donors. Your former campaign manager, of course, Ed Rollins, speaking out a lot, saying you may not have the resources to go beyond Iowa, but that he is still advising your campaign. Talk to me about those two issues. What about bringing in big donors, first of all? How are you faring on that? BACHMANN: Well, of course, we're actively pursuing the resources that we need, and we have them. We're actively working all across the country, and my former campaign manager was on television this week, as well, saying that I'm the best candidate in the race, and we're doing really well. And I think the reason is because of the positive message for pro-growth policies. What people are interested in is, who can best turn the economy around? I'm a former federal tax litigation attorney. I've started a small business. I'm a private businesswoman. I understand the problems with the economy, how we turn them around. But even more importantly, I understand job creation because I've done it in the real world. We need to have a presidential nominee who understands the economy and job creation, and I'm committed to- the number one job killer in the United States, according to a UBS study that came out this week: ObamaCare. And I will repeal ObamaCare and open credit up. I'm the person who introduced the bill to repeal Dodd-Frank, which is killing credit for businesses and people that want a mortgage. HILL: Obviously, the economy, the number one issue for most Americans. Immigration is also becoming increasingly important, getting more attention- BACHMMAN: Yeah- HILL: That was a focus last night. Rick Perry- and I want to quote here- said he took a little heat for in-state tuition for children of illegal immigrants in Texas, and he said, 'If you say we should not educate children who come into our state by no fault of their own, I don't think you have a heart.' Basically, saying to the other eight folks on the stage there, including yourself, that you don't have a heart. In some ways, I know you said you don't want any resources to go to illegal aliens or their children. Why not, though, give them a tuition break now, rather then, perhaps, down the line, having to hand over unemployment, or even welfare? [CBS News Graphic: "Race For 2012: Bachmann On Illegal Immigration"] BACHMANN: Well, because we have laws in this country, to secure our borders, and unfortunately, those laws are being violated. We shouldn't be benefitting people who are violating our laws. What I hear- HILL: Even if it wasn't their own choice? These are children, as Governor Perry said, who were brought here by their parents without any knowledge. BACHMANN: Well- and again, if a student comes from any other state into Texas, they pay out-of-state tuition. And, as was brought up in the debate last night, that's $88,000 worth of taxpayer-subsidized value that the people of Texas are giving to individuals who come in. It's a magnet. That's really the point of this. We're inducing more people to break the law by giving them inducements, and if someone comes into this state, they can subsequently also obtain other benefits, on occasion, as well. And so, we don't want to have any inducements that will be a magnet to induce more people to come into the United States illegally. What we have to do, quite frankly, is support United States sovereignty and build the fence. That's what Governor Perry said- he would not build a fence. He would continue to give taxpayer-subsidized benefits to illegal aliens. This is not what the people of the United States want, and that's why this was such a crucial issue last night. HILL: Congresswoman, we will continue this discussion, I'm sure, over the next few months. Thanks for being with us this morning. BACHMANN: Thank you.
Continue reading …EV charging stations are still hard to come by here in the US and, while 400 new ones won’t exactly blanket the nation, we’ll take what we can get. 350Green is teaming up with Coulomb Technologies to build exactly that many new ChargePoint stations across New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana and California. With the latest announcement the ChargePoint Network is expected to grow to over 1,000 locations, many with fast charging capabilities. We wouldn’t exactly call the plan a game changer but, like we said, every little bit helps. Check out the PR after the break. Continue reading 350Green to install 400 EV charging stations across the US 350Green to install 400 EV charging stations across the US originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Two and a half decades later, the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears team is finally getting its White House ceremony. The original one was canceled because of the Challenger disaster; now, President Obama is inviting the team back on Oct 7. Though two of the team’s central players, Walter Payton and…
Continue reading …Whether it’s a discovery made due to one man’s hoarding or his collecting habits is unclear — either way, a gem has been uncovered in the form of Alfred Hitchcock’s very first film, locked away for almost 80 years. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences screened the first 30 minutes of the famed
Continue reading …Ed Miliband targets initiative at squeezed households with plan to reset terms of privatisation for power and train companies In a populist eve-of-conference appeal, Ed Miliband plans to turn Labour’s fire on privatised industries – proposing a national system of purchasing energy and a ban on train companies that rig prices. The Labour leader hopes to reset the terms of privatisation for industries contributing most to a squeeze of living standards. Miliband pledges that train companies currently rigging fares will be disqualified from renewing their franchise by a Labour government. He also vows to act against price-fixing by the six energy companies by requiring them to pool all energy centrally, a move that he claims would cut energy prices for 80% of users. Any company would then be able to buy and supply energy from the pool at a clear and transparent price. The initiatives are being billed by Miliband’s aides as a sign of his desire to speak out about “a quiet crisis” gripping households because of higher bills, squeezed wages and irresponsible profiteering. In a Guardian interview, the shadow foreign secretary, Douglas Alexander, says: “The focus of conversation around many kitchen tables is rising train fares and energy bills. People believe the government simply do not understand the pressures.” The coalition government has lifted the cap on rail fares, meaning tickets are to rise by as much as 8%, with some individual routes seeing increases as high as 13% next year. Under plans being drawn up by Labour, train-operating companies would be barred from competing for the renewal of their licence if they failed to meet a set of conduct standards over the previous five years, rather than just “a narrow bottom line test”. A Labour source said: “We are allowing these companies to get away with practices which would be barred in any other industry and then we are allowing them to bid for contracts as if the past never happened. There are legal complexities here but there has got to be a basic ‘something for something’ deal with the train companies and there has got to be more pressure brought to bear on price hikes.” Significantly, Labour said: “The assessment of what the train companies are doing will be retrospective so that price rises and irresponsible conduct now or in the past could be used to disqualify companies from the bidding process in the next round of renewal franchises.” Labour is targeting the way in which train companies walk away from delivering services if they are no longer profitable or handing back franchises to avoid making payments back to the taxpayer. The transport secretary Philip Hammond is planning to offer rail franchises as for as long as 15 years. Many train companies would demand compensation or accuse Labour of confiscation if franchises were taken prematurely. Miliband’s move comes as a Guardian-ICM poll showed his personal appeal remains low but voters are also increasingly opposed to government economic policy . The poll finds only 30% of voters – and just 49% of Labour supporters – agree with the statement “the party has the right leader in Ed Miliband”. His net approval ratiing is -14, up from -16 but is now worse than both David Cameron and Nick Clegg. Ed Balls, included for the first time, is on -18. But support for government’s economic policy is perilously low. Only 32% agree with the statement “the government’s tax increases and public spending cuts are essential to protect Britain’s economy”. Almost twice as many, 62%, agree “the cuts are too deep and too fast, they will harm Britain’s economy more than they help it”. Alexander accepts the public bought the Conservative, rather than Labour, explanation for the crash in 2008. “Frankly, after the crisis in 2008, the Conservatives were more successful than Labour in framing a public language that made more sense of the economic crisis and that helps explain the election defeat”. But he said: “There are moments in politics when the common sense of politics is up for grabs. The deteriorating economic situation means now is such a moment.” The terms of trade for British politics are shifting and there is a growing anxiety in the country that the government has got it wrong at a quite fundamentlal level. He says “The task for Labour now is to explain what we got right and wrong before the crash, explain how we would get the economy growing and so deal with the deficit, and explain how we will pursue social justice with less money around”. Writing in the Guardian today, shadow chancellor Ed Balls admits the party has work to do to win credibility on the economy, and that will require being honest that Labour would have faced tough choices on tax and spending if re-elected. But he rejects advice that Labour could neutralise the economy “by going along with the Tory false claim that Labour profligacy caused the crisis”. He writes: “Credibility is certainly not won simply by agreeing with everything the government does. Of course a credible economic policy needs a plan to get the deficit down. But an economic policy can only be credible if it works. And – aAs 1992 showed – the only thing less credible than a government getting it catastrophically wrong on the economy is an Opposition hanging onto their coat-tails.”The Labour conference formally opens on Sunday, but at a meeting of the Labour national executive Miliband will finalise his plans to redraw the Labour constitution, including introducing a new right for registered supporters to have a vote in future leadership elections. The conference may be be overshadowed by the economic crisis, but is still seen by Miliband’s aides as a vital chance to project a clearer vision of where he stands. Labour conference 2011 Labour Labour conference Ed Miliband Household bills Energy bills Consumer affairs Rail transport Energy industry Patrick Wintour guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Eight social scientists say single-sex classrooms encourage gender stereotypes and do not improve student performance in a new report in Science Magazine. The report’s lead author, Diane Halpern, told the New York Times that single-sex schooling increases aggression in boys and gender stereotyping among both sexes. She also charged that one of the main arguments for
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