Thomas “Tim” Profit October 4 th 1955 August 1 st 2009

Antidepressant use doubles in US, study finds 03 Aug 2009 Reuters Health and Science WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Use of antidepressant drugs in the United States doubled between 1996 and 2005, probably because of a mix of factors, researchers reported on Monday. About 6 percent of people were prescribed an antidepressant in 1996 -- 13 million people. This rose to more than 10 percent or 27 million people by 2005, the researchers found. "Significant increases in antidepressant use were evident across all sociodemographic groups examined, except African Americans," Dr. Mark Olfson of Columbia University in New York and Steven Marcus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia wrote in the Archives of General Psychiatry. "Not only are more U.S. residents being treated with antidepressants, but also those who are being treated are receiving more antidepressant prescriptions," they added. More than 164 million prescriptions were written in 2008 for antidepressants, totaling $9.6 billion in U.S. sales, according to IMS Health.

Pee in the shower to save rainforest 05/08/2009 New TV ads are encouraging Brazilians to save water – by urinating in the shower. Brazilian environmental group SOS Mata Atlantica says the campaign, running on several television stations, uses humor to persuade people to reduce flushes. The group says if a household avoids one flush a day, it can save up to 4,380 liters (1,157 gallons) of water annually. SOS spokeswoman Adriana Kfouri said Tuesday that the ad is "a way to be playful about a serious subject." The spot features cartoon drawings of people from all walks of life - a trapeze artist, a basketball player, even an alien – urinating in the shower. Narrated by children's voices, the ad ends with: "Pee in the shower! Save the Atlantic rainforest!" - AP

A French Revelation, or The Burning Bush Incredibly, President George W. Bush told French President Jacques Chirac in early 2003 that Iraq must be invaded to thwart Gog and Magog, the Bible’s satanic agents of the Apocalypse. Honest. This isn’t a joke. The president of the United States, in a top-secret phone call to a major European ally, asked for French troops to join American soldiers in attacking Iraq as a mission from God. Now out of office, Chirac recounts that the American leader appealed to their “common faith” (Christianity) and told him: “Gog and Magog are at work in the Middle East…. The biblical prophecies are being fulfilled…. This confrontation is willed by God, who wants to use this conflict to erase his people’s enemies before a New Age begins.” This bizarre episode occurred while the White House was assembling its “coalition of the willing” to unleash the Iraq invasion. Chirac says he was boggled by Bush’s call and “wondered how someone could be so superficial and fanatical in their beliefs.” After the 2003 call, the puzzled French leader didn’t comply with Bush’s request. Instead, his staff asked Thomas Romer, a theologian at the University of Lausanne, to analyze the weird appeal. Dr. Romer explained that the Old Testament book of Ezekiel contains two chapters (38 and 39) in which God rages against Gog and Magog, sinister and mysterious forces menacing Israel. Jehovah vows to smite them savagely, to “turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws,” and slaughter them ruthlessly. In the New Testament, the mystical book of Revelation envisions Gog and Magog gathering nations for battle, “and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”

Your Kid’s Price Tag: $221,000 August 5, 2009 “ It’s no secret that raising children can be expensive, but how about a quarter of a million dollars expensive ? A government report released Tuesday says a middle-income family with a child born last year will spend about $221,000 raising that child through age 17. The report by the USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion identified housing as the largest single expense, followed by food and child care/education costs. The $221,000 in expenses rises to about $292,000 when adjusted for inflation. USDA economist Mark Lino, who co-authored the report with Andrea Carlson, often hears people say children cost a lot when the annual findings are issued. “I tell them children also have many benefits, so you have to keep that in mind,” he said. Families with more income spend more on child-related costs, the report said. A family that earns less than $57,000 annually will spend about $160,000 on a child from birth through high school. Those with an income between $57,000 and $99,000 spend about $221,000 and those with higher incomes are expected to spend roughly $367,000 through age 17.”

August 1, 2009 Todd and Sarah Palin to divorce Affairs on both sides Monday 8/3 AKDT Palin lawyer threatens to serve papers to blogger at kindergarten, then balks 9:20pm Saturday - AlaskaReport.com receives letter from Palin lawyer Van Flein evidently confirming some details (will post when we clarify missing information) AlaskaReport has learned that Todd Palin and former Alaska governor Sarah Palin are to divorce. Multiple sources in Wasilla and Anchorage (including a former Palin staffer) have confirmed the split. The sources preferred to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions from the Palins and their coworkers. A National Enquirer story exposing previous affairs on both sides led to a deterioration of their marriage and the stress from that led to Palin's resignation as governor of Alaska last week. The Palins were noticeably not speaking to each other for most of last Sunday's resignation speech in Fairbanks. Sarah ditched Todd (MSNBC) right after the speech and left without him. Sarah removed her wedding ring a couple of weeks ago. AlaskaReport

Shooting Victims Lured To Alley By Sex July 30, 2009 KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Two men were shot in an alley early Wednesday morning after they were lured there by women who offered sex acts in exchange for money, police said. Officers said it was a trap laid by two women and two male accomplices. They had been cruising the Plaza and Westport areas, looking for victims, Officer Darin Snapp said. "This was all planned out. Two women and two men conspired before they even got to Westport, and that's what they were going to do," Snapp told KMBC's Jim Flink. Dawn Clark, 38, and Krystal Myers, 20, are accused of offering a good time to two unsuspecting patrons, but what they were really going to do was rob them, police said. "According to these two victims, they had no idea. They just thought they'd met two girls who were going to go home, do some more partying and have a good time," Snapp said. According to police, the women suggested they all go have sex in an alley at 26th Street and Cleveland Avenue. When that happened, two male accomplices arrived and fired gunshots. "These victims had no chance. They were just in the alley with these two women, when the men came up to them shooting -- they didn't even attempt to rob them," Snapp said. Police charged Anthony Williams, of Kansas City, Kan., with two counts of assault and two counts of armed criminal action. Clark and Myers were charged with attempted robbery. The other accused man -- Larry Shores, 26, of Kansas City, Kan. -- has not been caught.

Nude, intoxicated man tough to nab, cops say August 4, 2009 Noblesville -- Police say it took up to 10 officers to subdue a naked and heavily intoxicated Lebanon man at a Hamilton County campground over the weekend. Hamilton County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Vicky Dunbar said officers were called to Noblesville's Green Acres Campground shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday morning on reports of a "drunk, belligerent, naked man" starting several fights there. When police arrived, they encountered the man, later identified as Nathan Whitlow, 18, Lebanon, who was unclothed, highly agitated and apparently injured. Whitlow charged officers as they exited their vehicles, Dunbar said, and continued struggling despite being bitten by a police dog and hit several times with a stun gun, Dunbar said. Finally, up to seven officers were able to pile onto Whitlow long enough for him to be handcuffed and sedated. Officers believe Whitlow ingested a combination of alcohol, cocaine, PCP and psychedelic mushrooms, Dunbar said. Whitlow was taken to St. Vincent Hospital, where he remained Monday. He was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting law enforcement, criminal mischief and striking or interfering with law enforcement.

Photo’s released by the Calumet County, Wis. Sheriff's Office, of four women facing charges of being a party to false imprisonment. The four women tied up a man in an eastern Wisconsin motel, blindfolded him and glued a sensitive body part to get their revenge, authorities say. The four, one of them the man's wife, are charged with being party to false imprisonment in what amounts to a lover's triangle gone bad last Thursday, July 30, 2009, according to Calumet County court records.

Relaxation Drink Has Some Calling it Liquid Pot Monday, 03 Aug 2009 PHOENIX - There's a new drink being sold in Arizona -- but why are people comparing it to pot? It's called Drank, and it's a 16-ounce soda drink that tastes sort of like grape soda. It's the opposite of an energy drink. Drank calls itself an extreme relaxation product, so much so, that some have dubbed it "weed in a can." Brandon Rycombel sells and delivers Drank to stores. He says, "I think a lot of people use that for stress relief. That's what we use it for." It contains melatonin, valerian root and rose hips, a remedy that supposedly slows you down. "In our day and age, we've got a lot of stress. The economy is bad. People need something to help them relax, bring them down," says Rycombel. A spokesperson says it's an alternative -- not a substitute -- for marijuana. "This isn't going to get you into any trouble," says Rycombel. "You can buy it in the store. It's legal." Adam Hinojosa says drinking Drank helps him sleep. "While I have never tried pot, I will admit that I know a few people who have used it. I'd say the comparison is as wrong as you can be." Hinojosa drinks it 3 to 4 times a week. "There's no sensation of getting high with Drank. It feels no different than falling asleep under your own normal, natural mechanisms." The can includes the warning: "This product may cause drowsiness. Not recommended more than 2 servings within a 24-hour period. A Drank spokesperson says many evergy drinks with caffeine contain a warning label, which is a standard industry practice. He also says Drank has sold millions of cans with no reports of adverse effects. A medical toxicologist says pregnant or nursing women, children and people taking medications should talk to a doctor before having the ingredient valerian.

Journalist hunts for acid-spitting Mongolian death worm August 03, 2009 ARMED with explosives, two men are heading to Mongolia's Gobi Desert to find the fabled acid-spitting and lightning-throwing Mongolian death worm. The worm has never been documented but some Mongolians are convinced it exists. They call it Allghoi Khorkhoi, or "intestine worm" because it resembles a cow's intestine and is about 1.5m long. The worm apparently jumps out of the sand and kills people by spitting concentrated acid or shooting lightning from its rectum over long distances, NZPA reports. (Seriously.) New Zealand TV entertainment journalist David Farrier, who is organising the expedition, and cameraman Christie Douglas, leave this week to spend two weeks in the Gobi, trying to verify the worm's existence and making a documentary about it.

Baby Glutton the breastfeeding doll. A 'sucky' idea? Tuesday August 04, 2009 Because you shouldn't have to wait until you have breasts before you start breastfeeding your baby. For the child who has everything... A Breastfeeding Doll?!?!? Spanish toymaker Berjuan is proud to present (against their better judgment, I hope) Bebe Gloton, the first-ever breastfeeding doll. First-ever! I bet that's true. Because it's a bad idea. If I invented the combination Baby-Changing Table/Table Saw it would be the "first-ever." The purpose of Bebe Gloton (Spanish for, roughly, "Gluttonous Baby",) is allegedly to promote breastfeeding. Reaching children early with the idea that breastfeeding is natural. However, of course it's natural!!! I don't think any mom (pre-teen or otherwise) is contesting the fact that breastfeeding is healthy and natural. To "play" with this toy, the young girl (or boy I suppose?) puts on a halter/bra type vestment and Bebe Gloton suckles on it around the nipple area.

Planned $95M superyacht looks like a killer whale Thu July 30, 2009 The planned seventy-six meter long "Oculus," which is designed for 12 guests, looks like a large sea creature, with one end looking uncannily like the jaw and eye socket of a shark or a killer whale. A second design, the futuristic, 91-meter "Infinitas," is based on the figure-of-eight shape of an infinity loop. The pair are the brainchild of Kevin Schopfer, a Boston, Massachusetts-based architect who felt the design of luxury yachts should move away from generic boat shapes to something more playful. The two eye-catching designs, which include inside swimming pools and helipads, are still looking for someone to stump up the cash to pay for them. With a starting price of $95 million for Oculus and $140 million for Infinitas, they won't come cheap. But Schopfer has teamed with naval architecture firm Sparkman & Stevens to build more of the vessels. "There are several potential clients interested in both Oculus and Infinitas and discussions are ongoing," he told CNN.

The BedBunker July 30, 2009 “ As many as 32 rifles and 70 hand guns, supply complete protection within this carefully designed tamper proof hidden storage system … BedBunker modular safes are designed to replace the box spring under twin, queen, or king size mattresses and are compatible with most standard bed frames. Custom sizes are available by special order… Sophisticated Mul-T-Lock locking system, hydraulic gas-assist piston, and a strategically mounted maximum security hinge system carefully integrated for maximum strength and safe operation.”

Smart cars get Dutch dunking 27 Jul 2009 SMART car owners have been left Smarting over a new craze — for chucking their motors into canals. Dutch pranksters in Amsterdam have dumped dozens of the tiny two-seater cars into the city's waterways. And now police fear the bizarre trend will spread to the UK and the rest of Europe. Eco-friendly Smart cars are small enough to be picked up by just a few people and dumped into the Dutch capital's canals, reports De Telegraaf newspaper. One victim Casper de Jong was woken by police after they found his Smart floating in the waterway outside his apartment. Mr de Jong said: "Several weeks ago the same thing happened to my companion's Smart. Both cars were a complete write-off." One Smart sales worker said: "We're not supposed to talk about this because the police don't want the craze to spread but we've had quite a few drowned cars returned to us."

China 'trusts prostitutes more' Politicians were deemed less trustworthy than prostitutes China's prostitutes are better-trusted than its politicians and scientists, according to an online survey published by Insight China magazine. The survey found that 7.9% of respondents considered sex workers to be trustworthy, placing them third behind farmers and religious workers. "A list like this is at the same time surprising and embarrassing," said an editorial in the state-run China Daily. Politicians were far down the list, closer to scientists and teachers. Insight China polled 3,376 Chinese citizens in June and July this year. "The sex workers' unexpected prominence on this list of honour... is indeed unusual," said the China Daily editorial. "At least [the scientists and officials] have not slid into the least credible category which consists of real estate developers, secretaries, agents, entertainers and directors," the editorial said. Soldiers came in fourth place.

Rehab staff 'killed web addict' A Chinese teenager sent to an internet addiction rehabilitation camp has allegedly been beaten to death by its counsellors, according to reports. A number of employees of the Qihang Salvation Training Camp in Nanning have been arrested over the death, his father Deng Fei told the Global Times. The camp had promised to put Deng Senshan, 15, under 24-hour supervision. China is increasingly taking action against what it sees as a pandemic of web addiction. Some estimates suggest up to 10% of the country's 100 million teenage web users could be addicted, and a growing number of rehabilitation services exist. However, there is little consensus on how to treat the addiction. In July, China's Ministry of Health formally banned the use of electroshock therapy as a treatment option. According to the China Daily newspaper, an agreement the teenagers' parents signed with the camp said: "The centre can take necessary approaches including punishment to educate the teenager, as long as the approaches will not abuse the child or impair his health." Camp staff are alleged to have put the teenager in solitary confinement on Saturday and then beaten him that evening.

The Survival Stove July 31, 2009 “Light, compact, and easy to store or carry, this little firebox leaves very low trace residue, creates no garbage, is very stable, extremely safe, and can be used in very cold weather. All you need to create a high cooking heat is a few AA batteries. It uses no artificial fuels and is therefore extremely safe to store, carry and use. It will burn any dry fuel material. An ingenious internal fan creates a forge-like environment in the base of the stove, rapidly producing an intense heat. This absolutely reliable and environmentally friendly tool will never let you down, even under difficult circumstances

Teeny weeny dissolvable bikini 30 Jul 2009 The saucy thong swimsuit looks like a real bikini but DISAPPEARS after just a few seconds in water. Sellers in Germany bill the dissolving Get Naked costume as a chance for men to get their own back after a break-up. But women's rights campaigner Rosmarie Zapfl stormed: "It is an absolute insult to women that this has been invented."

Ural Sahara Motorcycle Move fast to get your hands on one of the 18 Limited Edition 2009 Ural Sahara Motorcycles or forever be left in the dust. The no-chrome bike features a gritty yellow/brown sandy paint job, drawing inspiration from the vast terrain of the Sahara desert itself. The bike resembles its vintage 1939 design with a built continue reading… $13949 Check It Out

TASER X3 is officially Released The new TASER X3 ($TBA) gun. It is a new handheld electronic control device (ECD) has a multi-shot design that allows it to fire three probes in rapid succession, and features including laser sights for both top and bottom probes and the new Pulse Calibration System actively monitors the perp to deliver a Precision Shaped Pulse(TM) that provides "consistent effects."on the target and improved safety characteristics . Today this new weapon is officially released.

Underwear You Can Wear For Weeks August 3, 2009 It might seem like some sort of lazy fantasy, but a Japanese astronaut recently tested out a pair of J-Wear anti-bacterial, flame retardant, antistatic, and water-absorbent briefs which are supposedly wearable for weeks at a time. Astronaut Koichi Wakata says he wore the panties for about a month and received nary a complaint.

Aston Martin One-77 Aston Martin claims to have made the most beautiful piece of artwork ever to hit the road, and we might just have to agree. The Aston Martin One-77 was designed to be perfectly proportioned in interest of both aesthetics and functionality. Everything from the carbon fiber chassis and hand crafted aluminum body to the 7.3-liter continue reading… $1.4 Million Check It Out

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