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New iPhone app helps spot cheaters? - Las Vegas casino operators are on the lookout for blackjack cheaters using a card-counting iPhone application designed to help players win.

Meet the man who has survived on a diet of ROADKILL for 30 years

Roadkill diet: Jonathan McGowan, 44, has dined on a diet of roadkill for the last 30 years as he shuns supermarket meats.


Rat stir fries and owl curries hardly sound like the stuff you would serve your friends for dinner.

But surprisingly, Jonathan McGowan's exotic roadkill dishes are a big hit with his guests.

The 44-year-old bachelor has lived on a diet of roadkill for the Past 30 years to avoid buying meat from the supermarket.

He has shunned pre-packaged meats and instead dined on mice, moles, hedgehogs, pigeons, crows and gulls.

The taxidermist from Bournemouth, Dorset, never kills the animals himself but eats only what he finds at the roadside or in woodland.

Mr McGowan first got a taste for roadkill at the age of 14 when he cooked a dead adder that he had found.

He said: 'The adder didn't actually taste very nice - a bit like bacon rind. But it had piqued my curiosity and I wondered what else I could eat and what it would taste like.'

After leaving sixth form college he lived alone and turned to roadkill to save some money on his weekly food bills.

He said: 'From a young age I was always interested in natural history and being brought up amongst the farming, hunting and shooting communities of the Dorset countryside meant I was right in the middle of everything.

'Everywhere I looked there were dead animals; fish that had been caught, pheasants that had been shot and animals that had been run over in the road so naturally I became drawn to nature and how it worked.

'I used to cut up dead animals to see their insides and when I did all I could see was fresh, organic meat, better than the kind I had seen in the supermarkets. So I never saw a problem with cooking and eating it.'

Mr McGowan insisted it was better to eat roadkill than meat from shops because of the way it is produced.

He said: 'I guess at the age of 14 I just wanted to be different. But even then I understood that what I was doing was better than eating meat in the shops because of how it was produced.

'There was a broiler production unit close to where I was living where there was always three layers of chickens - a dead, rotting layer at the bottom, a squashed layer in the middle and a layer at the top where they could barely move.
Appetising meal? From owl curries to squirrel pie, Jonathan, 44, has sampled every form of wildlife over the years including, pigeon, heron and duck

'I saw how dirty farm animals were and how unhealthy they were. I was also used to going to the cattle market where the treatment of the animals by the farmers was grotesque. I wasn't happy about what I saw at all.'

Mr McGowan, who gives presentations in schools and colleges, has long extolled the virtues of his diet to friends who have been surprisingly open to the idea of roadkill dinner parties.

His owl curries are often popular, as are his rat stir fries.

Another speciality is pan-fried craneflies, served with olive oil, celery and raisins.

Mr McGowan said: 'It's a bit like a Waldorf salad, only with daddy-long-legs. I don't eat the legs though, that would be weird.

'My friends all think it is great, especially if they get to try some. Fox is often a favourite too, as is rabbit.

'They can see it's good meat and that it's healthy eating, although I think a lot of them are put off the idea of picking up dead animals themselves and having to prepare them.

'It's not something everyone can do. I have grown up around nature and know just by looking how an animal has died and how long it has been there.

'I am careful, obviously, not to eat anything that I don't think is fresh and if I don't know how an animal has died I will perform an autopsy on it first.

'I found a raven recently that had been poisoned, probably with strychnine, and that is something that other people would probably not think to look out for.

'I do have to be careful, but I have never been sick from anything I have ever eaten.'


After cooking an adder at the age of 14, which he said tasted like bacon rind, Jonathan McGowan has dined on a huge variety of animals he's found.

The taxidermist lists fox, venison and deer among his favourite meats - but he has eaten everything the countryside has to offer over the years.

With thousands of animals being found dead at the roadside every year, Mr McGowan has varied if - on the face of it - slightly unedifying pickings.

He has eaten mice, moles, hedeghogs, squirrels, rats, foxes, badgers, hares, rabbits, deer, stoats, weasels, polecats, otters, wildcats, pheasants, finches, thrushes, ducks, geese, pigeons, owls, crows, gulls, blackbirds and cormorants.

He says many animals taste much better than people would expect.

Foxes - 'There's a common myth that you cannot eat them but they are most delicious. It is a lean meat and there is never any fat. Young foxes are always very nice and they taste slightly like chicken.'

Mice - 'They taste weird - there is no other food quite like them. They aren't particularly nice and have a very bitter flavour. They are of course so small that they are almost worthless.'

Rats - 'They are most delicious and it is a misconception that they are dirty. They are quite like pork but quite salty. They are delicious and the meat is great on its own. I would not eat city rats but in Dorset they are very good.'

Pigeons - 'I don't eat town pigeons but wood pigeons are very nice. They are very large and very irony. It's best marinated and I love to have it with red wine.'

Moles - 'They are horrible and have a rancid taste. They have an unpleasant taste in their skin to ward off predators. Wild animals don't eat them. I've only had one once and never again.'

Hedgehogs - 'When you get in it's all fatty meat. It's not nice but okay if you like eating fatty foods.'

Squirrels - 'They are most delicious. They provide a good firm white meat which is quite similar to rabbit but not as overpowering. Not many animals taste like what they eat but squirrels do have a nutty flavour. It's fantastic stuff.'

Wild cats - 'You do get a few wild cats in Dorset as you do in Scotland. They have a very nice flavour but they are very rare.'

source:dailymail

Police hunt cruel thug who spray-painted bull terrier PINK

Two-year-old dog has been nicknamed Neon by animal home staff
Jaws tied together before being daubed in paint
He will be rehomed after his wounds have healed and colour has faded


Paint attack: The two-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier had his jaw tied shut before being sprayed with pink and purple paint. He was found in Coventry

Police are hunting a thug who spray-painted a Staffordshire Bull Terrier bright pink.
The young male dog - who has since been named Neon - is thought to have been stolen, attacked and them dumped.

The bull terrier's jaws were been tied together before he was daubed with pink and purple paint.

Police discovered the animal, aged around two or three, wandering the streets in Coventry. He was handed over to a dogs' home where he has been cleaned up.

Darren Calveley, manager of Birmingham Dogs' Home where he is being looked after, said: 'The poor animal has been through so much caused by pure cruelty and abuse but has remained good natured and will require rehoming once his wounds have healed and has been given the all clear by our vet.'

He added that the dog - who is still not completely clean - was in a good condition despite the mis-treatment.

'The dog has been assessed and is understandably nervous at first, but once reassured he is extremely friendly and loves a fuss,' he said.

'Our canine carers have named him Neon and have very much fallen in love with his playful antics.

Julie Gallagher, Coventry City Council's lead animal welfare and pest controller, described the attack as 'incredibly stupid'.
Hunt: Police believe Neon may have been stolen before being attacked and dumped. He is being cared for at Birmingham Dogs Home.

'The injuries to his nose are quite fresh. Someone has obviously tied his nose up and sprayed his face,' she said.

'This is an incredibly stupid thing to do. The vet examined him and he's going to be OK though.

'Once his nose has healed a bit more the dogs' home will be able to give him a more thorough wash and get more of the paint off.

'It would've been really unpleasant to have paint sprayed directly into his face and in his eyes.

'Saying that we have had dogs in here with nail varnish and one dog that had his name spray-painted on one side and the owner's mobile phone number spray-painted on the other side.'

He was found at around midnight last Friday.

Anyone who recognises the dog is asked to contact Birmingham Dogs Home.

source:dailymail

MLK memorial dedication

MLK memorial dedication - Unless another hurricane inexplicably materializes off the East Coast, the dedication ceremony for the new Martin Luther King Jr. memorial will be held Sunday morning.


President Obama, Vice President Biden, King's family and a handful of civil rights leaders and dignitaries will be on hand to celebrate the achievements of the man credited with pushing the civil rights movement to the forefront for America and advancing its cause through peaceful demonstrations. martin luther king memorial dedication,

The morning-long ceremony was initially slated for Aug. 28 ?-- the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington and King's "I Have a Dream" speech -- but Tropical Storm Irene delayed the event. This second attempt to honor King will be scaled back considerably, but still is expected to run four hours and includes a musical performance by Aretha Franklin, remarks from Obama and the replaying of King's famous speech.

Organizers originally planned a full day of festivities, but Sunday's ceremony will start just before 8 a.m. and end around noon. Hurricane Irene,

Despite the pared down schedule, "I am confident Sunday's event will be momentous for all who join us in West Potomac Park and those who tune in from across the country and around the world to witness this long-awaited moment in our nation's history," said Harry Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation. Aretha Franklin

The program beings at 7:50 a.m. with a video of King followed by musical selections.

The ceremony starts at 9 a.m. and includes a welcome address from D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray followed by remarks from King's family and reflections on the civil rights movement from Dan Rather and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, among others.

Franklin's performance and Obama's speech will come toward the end.

The King memorial is the first on the National Mall to honor someone who wasn't president and the first to honor a black American leader. It spans four acres and includes a 450-foot inscription wall with more than a dozen quotes from King engraved into the granite and a 30-foot sculpture of him.

Construction on the project lasted five years and the final product includes an array of trees, plants, stones and water to create a natural and serene landscape. Aretha Franklin,

Source: washingtonexaminer

Celeb Protesters

Celeb Protesters - The recent "Occupy Wall Street" protests have drawn their share of famous attendees, for good and for bad. And it's for this reason that Wonderwall is looking at celebrities willing to join the crowd and chant for or against the political causes that mattered to them. Have a look at these stars gone political.

Susan Sarandon is easily one of the most political active celebrities out there, and she recently joined the Occupy Wall Street protest in New York. Whether it's rooting in favor of a Democratic candidate or protesting an American military effort, Sarandon has never been afraid

to make her voice heard. susan sarandon occupy wall street,

It's not just Hollywood's liberal elite who joined the Occupy protests. "Gossip Girl" star Penn Badgley was seen stepping away from the upper-crust atmosphere of his CW series and joining protesters to call for more equal distribution of the nation's wealth. penn badgley occupy, gossip girl spoilers,

She's known for dressing like a one-woman circus, but Lady Gaga got about as buttoned-down as she can in September 2010, when she spoke to Congress about the need to repeal the U.S. military's ban on openly gay soldiers. Sure, she was wearing a meat dress just days before, but a year later, gay soldiers could actually serve.

It's a sign of how protests -- celebrity-inclusive and otherwise -- can work in 2011: Mark Ruffalo attended the Occupy Wall Street events in person, but has also been especially active on Twitter. Via social media, he's been justifying the protesters' right to assembly and shooting down criticism of this political movement. mark ruffalo twitter,

When California voted on whether to ban gay marriage, Drew Barrymore was one of the famous faces who spoke out against such a restriction. Ultimately, the controversial Prop 8 passed, but it faced an opponent in Barrymore, who spoke alongside her gay friends in Hollywood about why she felt the ban was unethical. drew barrymore bisexual,

Perhaps the most politically active A-list celebrity today, Sean Penn has been channeling his trademark fury into causes for years. One of the most vocal critics of the Bush administration -- he called its leaders "villainously and criminally obscene people" -- and an anti-war protest regular, Penn has traveled around the world -- to Iran, to Venezuela, to Cuba, to Haiti -- to personally investigate worldwide strife. sean penn egyptian,

Shakira was among the celebrities who, in 2010, criticized Arizona's stringent anti-illegal immigrant legislative act. She traveled to the state and spoke with Latino families she said would suffer under the law. Ultimately, she spoke to state officials, protesting the law on the grounds that it could deter Arizona immigrants from reporting crimes for fear of getting deported. shakira concert ticklets,

 Not every celeb's visit to the Occupy protests has gone over so well. Kanye West -- the uber-wealthy rapper who hasn't shied away from flaunting his lifestyle in his music, in his videos and in interviews -- showed up too, but was accused of being a hypocrite. Protesters -- who claim that a small fraction of the population controls an undue share of the nation's wealth -- said West only attended to get himself publicity. kanye west hypocrite, kanye west net worth,

Sometimes celebrity protests take stranger forms. In 2009, Jessica Alba plastered posters of great white sharks around Oklahoma City, allegedly to draw the public's attention to the species' dwindling numbers. In the end, she wasn't charged with vandalism, because the affected property owners didn't want to pursue the matter. Alba publicly apologized for the odd pro-shark stunt, and donated money to United Way, whose billboard was one of Alba's targets.

It's not only liberal causes that celebs rally behind. Though many conservative-leaning notables have declined to appear with the masses at Tea Party rallies of the past two years, former "SNL" actress Victoria Jackson has been active and vocal. And she doesn't shy away from getting into the nitty-gritty about her feelings toward Obama, liberal causes and the current state of pop culture. victoria jackson occupy wall street,

According to The Daily Beast, Martin Sheen holds a record for being the most-arrested celebrity. That may sound surprising, especially given his levelheaded public image in projects like "The West Wing," but Sheen is a vocal advocate for many issues, including farmworkers' rights and anti-nuclear and anti-war causes. As a result of his protests, he's been put in cuffs a whopping 66 times.martin sheen arrest,

No stranger to advocacy, Daryl Hannah was arrested in August 2011 at the White House for protesting a planned oil pipeline. Hannah was previously arrested in 2006 for chaining herself to a tree in Los Angeles to protest its destruction. During her downtime from protesting, she also acts. daryl hannah arrest,

Danny Glover reportedly "electrified" a crowd at a Los Angeles Occupy Wall Street event, but he's no stranger to political action. A champion of the working class, Glover was arrested in 2010 for his protest against Sodexo, a food services company that he accused of illegally and unethically treating its employees. Glover had previously implored male celebs to boycott Hugo Boss suits on grounds that the company had plans to lay off hundreds of workers.

Kathy Griffin doesn't shy away from speaking her mind, whether about other celebrities or about political causes. In 2009, Griffin joined a protest in Sacramento, Calif., against Prop 8, which banned gay marriage in that state. That's putting a big mouth to use for a big cause. kathy griffin tour dates,

You can't discuss celebrity political protests without mentioning John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1969 "bed-in." In March 1969, the couple used the buzz surrounding their wedding to promote world peace, specifically by inviting the press into their suite at the Amsterdam Hilton. Lennon and Ono sat in their bed innocently and talked with reporters about alternatives to war. The odd, intimate spectacle epitomized everything about Lennon's celebrity at this point in his career: quirky but politically motivated, and as much about the world around him as it was about himself. yoko ono twitter

Anyone who's seen the documentary "The Cove" has seen Hayden Panettiere's protest against dolphin hunters in Japan. Panettiere and other protesters attempted to block the hunters in 2007, an act that ultimately resulted in Japan putting out a warrant for the actress's arrest. The warrant was later dropped, and in 2010, Panettiere returned to the Japan to again protest dolphin hunting.

The hip-hop artist and actor attempted to breathe life into the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards with a performance of the song "Katrina Clap" outside the venue. He intended to raise awareness of the plight of post-Katrina New Orleans. And although Mos Def had obtained all proper citation needed to perform his protest song, he was still arrested by police, who assumed he didn't.

One of the most active celebrity protesters ever, Jane Fonda, whose anti-Vietnam War efforts earned her the nickname "Hanoi Jane," has fought for a variety of liberal causes to the point that she's today known as much for her activism as for her film work. Beyond the Vietnam War, Fonda also called for the resignation of Richard Nixon and supported worldwide feminist causes. jane fonda seniors workout,

In one of the oddest acts of celebrity public demonstration, singer Erykah Badu filmed a video for her song "Window Seat" that she described as a "protest" about "liberating yourself." In it, she exits a car and walks around Dealey Plaza in Dallas, the site of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Badu sheds one article of clothing at a time until she's completely nude, at which point a shot rings out and she falls to the ground. The video was filmed live on an open set, and bystanders are visibly confused as to what's happening. Badu later clarified that she meant no disrespect to JFK in staging the protest.

Though he supports many environmental causes, Harrelson has become identified specifically with the fight to legalize marijuana. In 1996, Harrelson was arrested in Kentucky for planting four hemp seeds in protest of the fact that state law there doesn't differentiate between hemp and marijuana. He then successfully fought the charges. woody harrelson justin timberlake smoke, marijuana laws by state,

Q'orianka Kilcher -- Jewel's cousin, perhaps best known for staring opposite Colin Farrell in the Pocahontas movie "The New World" -- is an advocate of many liberal causes, but is perhaps especially known for her support of those relating to Native Americans. In June 2010, the half-Peruvian star and her mother were arrested for chaining themselves to the gates of the White House in protest of Obama meeting with Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez, who aims to drill for oil in his country's indigenous lands. jewel tour dates, native american celebrities,

Source: wonderwall

Luckiest towns in US?

Luckiest towns in US?, San Diego, which has been touted as having one of the best climates in the United States, is also the luckiest, according to a new ranking.


The sunny southern California city won the top spot in the

Men's Health magazine list of America's 100 luckiest towns, with Baltimore, Phoenix, Wilmington in Delaware and Richmond, Virginia not far behind. luckiest town in us,

"Luck is basically our modern world's magic," said David Zinczenko, editor in chief of the magazine. "People need to believe in luck because it allows them to give a name to the randomness of life, and when you name something, you have more power over it." San Diego, California,

To determine the most charmed towns the magazine analyzed data about cities with the most lottery and sweepstake winners, the most hole-in-ones on the golf course, the fewest lighting strikes, the least deaths from falling objects, and the lowest debt due to playing the lottery and race betting.

"San Diego's multiple jackpot winners, its low lightning strike count, and its low number of lightning-related injuries and deaths helped push it to the top," Zinczenko said. lightning strikes,

Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the country, and another betting hub, Reno, Nevada, also landed in the top 10. Charleston WV,

"It is in the top 10," Zinczenko said about Las Vegas. "And you have to remember that there would be no Vegas if all of the gamblers were lucky all of the time."

At the opposite end of the spectrum Lady Luck was shinning the least on Charleston in West Virginia. It was the town with the highest rate of deaths from falling objects, with four times as many as San Diego, and had no lottery or sweepstake winners.

Tampa in Florida, Jackson, Mississippi and Memphis were also among the least lucky cities.

Source: yahoo

Restaurants wants mandatory tip rate

Restaurants wants mandatory tip rate, It’s a question many of us ask when we go out to a restaurant. “How much should I tip?” Whether your service is good or bad, San Francisco Restaurant workers want to implement a 25% standard tip onto your bill for you. Is this fair?


Many in the food industry say “…yes, it’s about time.” However, many “foodies” are not as happy with the idea. According to an article in the San Jose Mercury News, for the most part, people, on average tip between 15% – 20% and the restaurant worker actually has to claim 15% of that to the IRS. 25% tip rate restaurants,

Opinions that sway against the increase said that “…the whole purpose of a tip is to reward service.”  average tip 15-20%,

They feel the new tip increase should be earned and if more is needed, then they must step up their service so that the increase justifies a larger tip amount. San Francisco, California,

Source: theswash

Movie inspired man who ‘dogged’ Woods?

Movie inspired man who ‘dogged’ Woods?, Tiger Woods can't catch a break lately.


The golfer -- whose once-supreme ranking in his sport has slipped following his epic divorce scandal -- got a hot dog thrown at him during a Tuesday golf match in San Martin, Calif. Local man Brandon Kelly was arrested for the offense -- and, oddly, credits Ryan Gosling's movie Drive for the bizarre act.
"I threw the hot dog toward Tiger Woods because I was inspired by the movie Drive,'" Kelly, 31, told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, according to the Associated Press. Frys.com Open in San Martin,

In the recently released film, hunky star Gosling, 30, plays a stunt driver-turned-getaway driver.

Gushed Kelly, who claimed to be a fan of Woods, 35: "As soon as the movie ended, I thought to myself, 'I have to do something courageous and epic. I have to throw a hot dog on the green in front of Tiger.'"

The Associated Press confirms that Kelly shouted Woods' name and tossed the wiener during the Frys.com Open; he was arrested for disturbing the peace. A Santa Clara County Sheriff's rep said that Kelly will likely be given a fine and community service sentence for the misdemeanor."courageous and epic.",

Woods recalled the incident to the AP: "When I looked up, the hot dog was already in the air...The bun was kind of disintegrating."

Thanks to Kelly's prank, Woods missed his 18-foot putt.
"Some guy just came running on the green, and he had a hot dog, and evidently ... I don't know how he tried to throw it, but I was kind of focusing on my putt when he started yelling," Woods said after the game. Tiger Woods dog,

"Next thing I know, he laid on the ground, and looked like he wanted to be arrested because he ... put his hands behind his back and turned his head."

Source:  yahoo

The world's most expensive dessert

The world's most expensive dessert, In a world where it’s trendy to wear diamonds on your shoes or to have them adorn your favorite pooch, we shouldn’t be really that surprised that they’re also used as the cherry on top of a chocolate cake.


Marc Guibert, head chef at Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel in Windermere, Cumbria, has just designed the world’s most expensive chocolate pudding / cake, which costs a whopping £22,000 ($34,500 or €25,000).

And yes, The Sun informs, it comes decorated with a gorgeous 2-carat diamond, but also with edible gold leaves. You can’t eat the diamond. +most expensive dessert $34,500,

Inspired by the Faberge egg, Guibert used the finest chocolate and the most expensive edible gold leaves to create a dessert that is a beautiful as it’s exquisite in taste and, last but not least, mind-boggling expensive. worlds most expensive dessert,

“The haute cuisine chocolate pudding is shaped like a Faberge Easter egg – but made with a whole host of luxurious ingredients, including gold and champagne caviar,” the British tabloid writes.

“And forget the ordinary cherry on the top – this pricey pud is topped with a two-carat diamond,” adds The Sun.

“Glazed with edible gold leaf and layered with champagne jelly, the creation is made from four different types of the finest Belgian chocolate flavored with a combination of peach, orange and whiskey,” says the publication. +most expensive dessert,

Guibert created the Faberge Easter Egg, as he named this ridiculous expensive cake, to mark the start of the National Chocolate Week and, while it may currently be the most expensive dessert in the world, it’s yet to achieve international glory through the Guinness Book.

In order to Guibert to get his creation in the Guinness Book, The Sun tells us, someone has to buy it first. However, that someone must order it three weeks in advance for it to be made, and only afterwards get to indulge in it.

The record for world’s most expensive dessert was previously held by £12,000 ($18,819 or €13,671) pudding offered by the Serendipity 3 Restaurant in New York – a steal compared to the Faberge Easter Egg.

Source: softpedia

Teen must take down haunted house

Teen must take down haunted house

Teen must take down haunted house, Local teens open their own haunted house. Ohio - Two local teens have become entrepreneurs in the entertainment business--the Halloween entertainment business. Their brand new venture is part haunted house, part charity.
Matt Simon, 16, and his cousin Nick Francis, 18, are owners and operators of "The Fear Experience" located in North Olmsted.
Matt and Nick have been haunted house fans since they were kids, however, it wasn't until the two teamed up in 2008 and built a haunted house in Nick's backyard that they realized their talent for displaying the spooky spectacles.

After their backyard success the duo dreamed up the idea to work year round and open a professional haunted house with their efforts also benefiting a good cause. fremont teen haunted house fine, calif Fremont, California, fremont teen haunted house safety hazard, fremont haunted house move to commercial lot,

Matt and Nick started their first haunted house in 2009 in Toledo while partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northwest Ohio. They opened for 10 days and raised thousands for the charity.

After their success in the Toledo area, the two took the jump and moved their entire operation to the greater Cleveland area--to the Soccer Sportsplex in North Olmsted.

The teens put a lot of work into this year's "Fear Experience" and promise haunted house fans a terrifying time--all for a good cause. Proceeds will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation Northeast Ohio Region.

Source:newsnet5

Recession = baby bust?

Recession = baby bust?

Recession = baby bust?_ Forget the Dow and the GDP. Here's the latest economic indicator: The U.S. birth rate has fallen to its lowest level in at least a century as many people apparently decided they couldn't afford more mouths to feed.

The birth rate dropped for the second year in a row since the recession began in 2007. Births fell 2.6 percent last year even as the population grew, numbers released Friday by the National Center for Health Statistics show.

"It's a good-sized decline for one year. Every month is showing a decline from the year before," said Stephanie Ventura, the demographer who oversaw the report.
The birth rate, which takes into account changes in the population, fell to 13.5 births for every 1,000 people last year. That's down from 14.3 in 2007 and way down from 30 in 1909, when it was common for people to have big families.
The situation is a striking turnabout from 2007, when more babies were born in the United States than any other year in the nation's history. The recession began that fall, dragging down stocks, jobs and births.
"When the economy is bad and people are uncomfortable about their financial future, they tend to postpone having children. We saw that in the Great Depression the 1930s and we're seeing that in the Great Recession today," said Andrew Cherlin, a sociology professor at Johns Hopkins University.
"It could take a few years to turn this around," he added.

The birth rate dipped below 20 per 1,000 people in 1932 and did not rise above that level until the early 1940s. Recent recessions, in 1981-82, 1990-91 and 2001, all were followed by small dips in the birth rate, according to CDC figures.

The Great Recession "is definitely a deterrent" to people having more children, said Dr. Michael Cabbad, chief of maternal health at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, where births declined from about 2,800 in 2008 to about 2,500 last year.
Even Cabbad's son said he'd like to have more children "if his business plan works out."

Nearly half of low- and middle-income women surveyed a year ago by the Guttmacher Institute said they wanted to delay pregnancy or limit the number of children they have because of money concerns. Half of those Women also said the recession made them more focused on contraceptive use. Guttmacher researches reproductive health issues.

Besides finances, experts said a decline in immigration to the United States also may be pushing births down.
The downward trend invites worrisome comparisons to Japan and its "lost decade" of economic stagnation in the 1990s, which was accompanied by very low birth rates. Births in Japan fell 2 percent in 2009 after a slight rise in 2008.
Not so in Britain, where the population took its biggest jump in almost half a century last year and the fertility rate is at its highest level since 1973. France's birth rate also has been rising; Germany's birth rate is lower but rising as well.

Cherlin said the U.S. birth rate "is still higher than the birth rate in many wealthy countries and we also have many immigrants entering the country. So we do not need to be worried yet about a birth dearth" that would crimp the nation's ability to take care of its growing elderly population.

The new U.S. report is a rough count of births from states. It estimates there were 4,136,000 births in 2009, down from a year ago's estimate of 4,247,000 in 2008 and more than 4.3 million in 2007.

The report does not give details on trends in different age groups. That will come next spring and will give a clearer picture who is and is not having children, Ventura said.
Last spring's report, on births in 2008, showed an overall drop but a surprising rise in births to women over 40, who may have felt they were running out of time to have children and didn't want to delay despite the bad economy.

Women who postpone having children because of careers also may find they have trouble conceiving, said Mark Mather of the Population Reference Bureau, a Washington-based demographic research group.
"For some of those women, they're going to find themselves in their mid-40s where it's going to be hard to have the number of children they want," he said.

Heather Atherton is nearing that mark. The Sacramento, Calif., mom, who turns 36 next month, started a home-based public relations business after her daughter was born in 2003. She and her husband upgraded to a larger home in 2005 and planned on having a second child not long afterward. Then the recession hit, drying up her husband's sales commissions and leaving them owing more on their home than it is worth. A second child seemed too risky financially.

"However, we just recently decided that it's time to stop waiting and just go for it early next year and let the chips fall where they may," she said. "We can't allow the recession to dictate the size of our family. We just need to move forward with our lives."

source: foxnews

Teen Entrepreneurs

Teen Entrepreneurs

Teen Entrepreneurs, Business's teen titans, Idle texting, shopping and channel surfing are not on the itineraries of these driven teenagers. From a 15-year-old style star launching a high-profile website in September to a top game designer who's only 14, these high school-age entrepreneurs are changing the face of business. Tavi Gevinson + Rookie Magazine, Robert Nay + Bubble Ball,

Farrhad Acidwalla age 17, What he did: This India-based mogul heads up a 42-person branding and marketing firm with the business motto "Creating awesomeness." Maharashtra, India, Rockstah Media, $10 from his parents + Farrhad Acidwalla, Farrhad Acidwalla + CNN, Farrhad Acidwalla + Hindi language entertainment,

Leanna Archer at 15, What she did: Archer started her own line of natural hair care products at age 9 and has branched out into philanthropy as well. Leanna's Inc., Leanna Archer Education Foundation, Leanna Archer + $100,000 a year, Leanna Archer + youngest to open NASDAQ,

Ava Anderson at 15, What she did: This Rhode Island teen founded a nontoxic beauty line and has been embraced by the fashion press as well as the business world. Ava Anderson Non Toxic, Teen Vogue + Ava Anderson, Entrepreneur of 2011 Awards finalist + Ava Anderson, Ava Anderson shampoo and conditioner, Ava Anderson + home party,

Mark Bao's at 18, What he did: This college student has been dubbed "The Startup Machine," thanks to such creations as his viral social media app, his customer support project and his latest venture. U.S. Universities, threewords.me, Support breeze, Mark Bao + Onswipe, Mark Bao + The Genevine Foundation, Mark Bao + posts video of dancing thief,

Tavi Gevinson at age 15, What she did: In September 2011, the young fashion icon and muse launched her own online style magazine, Rookie, gaining praise from the likes of The New York Times and Lady Gaga. Tavi Gevinson + fashion icon, Tavi Gevinson + Rodarte + Target, Rookie Magazine, Rookie Magazine + New York Times + September 6, 2011, Lady Gaga + Tavi + "future of journalism", Tavi Gevinson + Glamour Women of the Year Award, Tavi Gevinson + Anna Wintour, Tavi Gevinson L'Officiel Paris, Style Rookie blog,

Diane Keng at 19, What she did: Before graduating from high school, this Silicon Valley native had already co-founded a popular social network site with her brother. Cupertino, CA, MyWeboo.com, Diane and Steven Keng, Diane Keng + $100,000 investment + venture capitalist father, Diane Keng + T-shirt screen-printing, Santa Clara University,

Lizzie Marie Likness at age 11. What she did: Likness went from selling baked goods at a hometown farmers market to sharing healthy eating habits with kids via her cooking website. Woodstock, GA, Lizzie Marie Cuisine, Lizzie Marie Likness + Del Monte "Do Something Good for You!" grant, WebMD + Lizzie Marie Likness, Lizzie Marie Likness + The Rachael Ray Show, Lizzie Marie cooking, Lizzie Marie Likness at age 11,

Robert Nay at 14. What he did: Nay started an iPhone games company, which sprang from the popularity of an addictive game he designed in his hometown library. Nay Games, Robert Nay + Bubble Ball, Spanish Fork, Utah, Bubble Ball + iTunes most popular free app, Bubble Ball + downloaded more than two million times,

Charles Orgbon at 15, What he did: In 2008, Orgbon launched his own green movement, which promotes environmental awareness and action in schools. Charles Orgbon + PARADE All-America Service Team, Recycling Education + Charles Orgbon, Charles Orgbon + getting 6,000 students to recycle 10 tons of waste, Charles Orgbon at 15,

Adora Svitak at age 12, What she did: Hailed as a child prodigy, Svitak was a published writer by age 7, the subject of a documentary by 11 and a teacher by 12. Flying Fingers + Adora Svitak, The World's Cleverest Child and Me + Adora Svitak, Adora Svitak + The NEA Foundation's Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education, Adora Svitak + TED Conference, Adora Svitak + TED Talks, Adora Svitak + "tiny literary giant",

Man heaven beer truck not charged

Man heaven beer truck not charged

Man heaven beer truck not charged, Man Finds Free Beer Truck, Helps Himself - Thinks He's Died and Gone to Heaven. A man who found a beer truck and helped himself because he thought he was Heaven will not be charged with theft or public intoxication.According to a report from Trib Local, the man stumbled upon a refrigerated beer truck owned by the Schwaben Verein German heritage club and grabbed a pitcher and began to guzzle down some suds. man died heaven free beer truck, man heaven beer truck german heritage, man heaven beer truck not charged,

Once members of the club noticed the man taking the beer and getting hammered, they called police.

They arrived and did not arrest the man, instead they sent him for medical help.

The report adds that before being sent to Northwest Community Hospital, he told police he didn’t think he had done anything wrong. He thought he had died and gone to heaven – a free beer truck.

Source:nationalledger

Iceland volcano to blow?

Iceland volcano to blow? Icelandic volcano tipped to blow again. An Icelandic volcano that wreaked havoc on European aviation last month has sent up a new plume of ash and is set to emit another cloud of debris after surging back to life, meteorologists said.

A plume of ash measuring up to seven kilometres high has been detected at the Eyjafjoell volcano, said a statement from the Icelandic Met Office and Institute of Earth Science.


"The eruption has changed back to an explosive eruption, lava has stopped flowing and most of the magma gets scattered due to explosions in the crater," the statement said.

"The ash plume rises high above the crater [4 to 7 kilometres] and considerable ash fall can be expected in wind direction. No signs of the eruption ending soon."

The move has prompted authorities to consider re-routing transatlantic flights and Ireland to shut airports for a third time this week.

"Ash production did increase [Wednesday] night and the ash plume is going higher now than the last couple of days," Agust Gunnar Gylfason, who monitors the eruption's progress at Iceland's Civil Protection Department, said. icelandic volcano Katla, icelandic volcano Katla, iceland katla evil troll, eyjafjallajökull eruption 2010, katla eruption 1918,

European airspace and airports across the continent were open Thursday (local time), but intergovernmental air traffic control agency Eurocontrol said the ash cloud could mean transatlantic flights might need to be re-routed.

"Significant re-routing of westbound transatlantic flights to avoid the higher contaminated area is currently being discussed between the air navigation service providers concerned and Eurocontrol," the Brussels-based body added.

The area where concentrations of ash could still pose a risk to aircraft engines was lying to the north and west of Ireland, it said.

While the airspace above Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland was open on Thursday after having been shut for the previous two days, Irish authorities announced later in the day the new ash had forced them to shut airports again.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) warned a "massive ash cloud" 1,600 kilometres long and 1,120 kilometres wide was hovering over the Atlantic and drifting into the country's airspace.

"While the northerly winds are keeping the bulk of the cloud out in the Atlantic, the increased size of the cloud is encroaching on Irish airspace along the west coast of Ireland," said the regulator in a statement.

Six airports would be closed, starting at midnight (local time) Thursday and continuing until 1:00pm Friday. Among those shutting down were Shannon and Donegal, the IAA said.
Historic disruptions

The fresh disruption came after Europe's skies were closed for up to a week last month by the eruption of Eyjafjoell.

It was the biggest aerial shutdown in Europe since World War II, with more than 100,000 flights cancelled and eight million passengers affected.

At the strongest period of the eruption, Eyjafjoell sent a plume around 30,000 feet into the air, but scientists have stressed the height of the plume does not necessarily reflect a particular quantity of ash.

On Tuesday, the plume contained about only 10 per cent of the ash it held at the beginning of the eruption.

British Airways said Thursday that its passenger numbers fell by almost 25 per cent last month as a result of the flight bans prompted by the ash cloud.

Source:abc

Family lost in corn maze calls 911

Family lost in corn maze calls 911

Family lost in corn maze calls 911, Authorities say a family that got lost in a 7-acre corn maze in Danvers whipped out a cell phone and called police for help, apparently taking advantage of the department's motto "We Want to Be Bothered."
Family lost in corn maze calls 911. The maze at Connors Farm depicts a headless horseman with words "Salem village" and "Danvers, Ma." The tourist attraction can take up to an hour to navigate.

A police officer entered the maze with a farm manager to search for the disoriented father, mother and two children. The family did not realize they had almost made their way out and were almost 25 feet from the street. lost corn maze 911 25 feet inside, lost corn maze 911 an hour to complete,

Farm owner Bob Connors told the Boston Globe they designed the maze so that people get lost in the long corn stalks. lost corn maze 911.