"As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give
other people permission to do the same."

— Marianne Williamson: Spiritual teacher, author, lecturer

Today's Quote

"I found that when you start thinking and saying what you really want, then your mind automatically shifts and pulls you in that direction. And sometimes it can be that simple, just a little twist in vocabulary that illustrates your attitude and philosophy."

— Jim Rohn: Business philosopher, author, speaker

7 Tips to De-stress Your Life

Drink less, stop running late all the time and…meditate in the restroom?

Surge in visits to food pantries

A study says more Americans are relying on food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters for day-to-day survival.

Read more

5 Ways Techno-Gadgetry Is Bringing Out the Worst in Humanity

Everything from handy gadgets like cell phones and iPods to user-friendly weaponry like Tasers have changed the way we work, play and police.

READ MORE

The Sound of Palin's Hand Clapping

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Men & Women

Woman has Man in it;

Mrs. has Mr. in it;

Female has Male in it;

She has He in it;

Madam has Adam in it;



Okay, Okay, it all makes sense now...

I never looked at it this way before:

Ever notice how all of women's problems start with MEN?

MEN tal illness

MEN strual cramps

MEN tal breakdown

MEN opause

GUY necologist



AND,



When we have REAL trouble, it's a


HIS terectomy.

Here's The Joke

A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and tapped him on the shoulder. The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb, and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window.

For a few moments everything was silent in the cab, and then the still shaking driver said, "I'm sorry but you scared the daylights out of me."

The frightened passenger apologized to the driver and said he didn't realize a mere tap on the shoulder could frighten him so much.

The driver replied, "No, no, I'm sorry, it's entirely my fault. Today is my first day driving a cab. I've been driving a hearse for the last 25 years."

Live-Action Paper Animation

Brokenkites - Touch by Harriet Macdonald from brokenkites on Vimeo.

Homeless donate $14.64 for quake victims

Donations for Haiti have poured in to the American Red Cross of Central Maryland from a range of sources. Nothing, though, has stood out like the coins and crumpled dollar bills that spilled from one envelope.

That gift - $14.64 - came from the pockets of homeless people at a downtown Baltimore shelter.

"We were all weepy-eyed," recalled Red Cross volunteer coordinator Bobbie Jones, who was at the front desk when the donation arrived.

Public relations director Linnea Anderson got teary, too. "Just the thought of those people huddled together in a shelter and seeing a need beyond themselves is enough to give anybody chills," she said. "What a remarkable example of the human spirit."

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Koop's False Claims

The 93-year-old former surgeon general claims seniors would be 'too old' in the United Kingdom to get a pacemaker or joint replacement. He's wrong.

Summary

Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop claims that the United Kingdom's health care system would consider seniors "too old" to qualify for the artificial joints, heart pacemakers and coronary stent that he's received in the U.S.

U.K. guidelines make clear that patients of "any age" may receive pacemakers, for example. And in fact, official statistics show 47 patients aged 100 or older got new or replacement pacemakers in a single recent year.

Koop, who held office during the Reagan administration, makes his false claim in a TV spot by the conservative 60 Plus Association. We asked 60 Plus to substantiate the claim but received nothing that backs up what Koop said about joints, stents or pacemakers being denied based on age. A spokeswoman for the U.K.'s Department of Health states that Koop's assertions are "not true."

Note: This is a summary only. The full article with analysis, images and citations may be viewed at FactCheck.org

Slow-Cooker Asian Short Ribs

Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 20m
Total Time: 7hr 30m

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
* 1/3 cup brown sugar
* 1/4 cup rice vinegar
* 2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
* 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
* 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
* 8 beef short ribs (about 4 pounds)
* 4 medium carrots, peeled and halved crosswise
* 1 small green cabbage (about 1 pound), quartered
* 2 tablespoons cornstarch
* 1 tablespoon sesame oil
* 4 scallions, thinly sliced (optional)

Directions

1. In a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine the soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper. Add the short ribs and carrots and arrange in a single layer. Lay the cabbage on top.

2. Cook, covered, on high for 5 to 6 hours (or on low for 7 to 8 hours―see note below), until the meat is tender and easily pulls away from the bone.

3. Transfer the cabbage, short ribs, and carrots to plates. With a large spoon or ladle, skim the fat from the cooking liquid and discard.

4. If the slow cooker is on the low setting, turn it to high. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water until smooth. Whisk into the cooking liquid and cook until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the sesame oil. Spoon the sauce over the short ribs and vegetables and sprinkle with the scallions (if using).

Bon Iver - Skinny Love (Porch Show in Paris)

A gorgeous version of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love," performed at an intimate porch show in Paris.

Bon Iver - Skinny Love - Une Soiree de Poche from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

This Is Your Brain on Happiness

Circuits in your brain light up when you're happy. One groundbreaking researcher has discovered how to keep them lit.

Read more

Another Blonde Joke

A blonde tried to sell her old car. She was having a lot of problems because the car had 250,000 miles on it.

One day, she told her problem to a brunette she worked with at a salon.

The brunette told her, "There is a way to make the car easier to sell, but it's not legal."

"That doesn't matter," replied the blonde, "if I only can sell the car."

"Okay," said the brunette. "Here is the address of a friend of mine. He owns a car repair shop. Tell him I sent you, and he will turn the odometer on your car back to 50,000 miles. Then it should not be a problem to sell your car anymore."

The following weekend, the blonde made the trip to the mechanic.

About one month after that, the brunette asked the blonde, "So...did you sell your car?"

"No," replied the blonde, "why should I? It only has 50,000 miles on it!"

Best Doctor-Recommended Health Sites

These doctor-approved sites will inform you, not worry you.

David Letterman at Taco Bell

Xavier Pics

Turkey Reubens

Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 15m
Total Time: 15m

Directions

1. Spread 4 slices rye bread with Dijon mustard and another 4 with Russian dressing.

2. Dividing evenly, top the mustard-spread bread slices with 8 slices roasted turkey, 1 cup sauerkraut, 8 slices Swiss cheese, and the remaining bread.

3. Pan-fry the sandwiches in olive oil until the cheese melts.

Time Lapse Video of Guy Driving Across the Country

K.D. Lang sings Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah

Enjoy!

Doing It Like Rabbits!

A rabbit one day managed to break free from the laboratory where he had been born and brought up. As he scurried away from the fencing of the compound, he felt grass under his little feet and saw the dawn breaking for the first time in his life. 'Wow, this is great,' he thought.

It wasn't long before he came to a hedge and, after squeezing under it he saw a wonderful sight - lots of other bunny rabbits, all free and nibbling at the lush grass.

"Hey," he called. "I'm a rabbit from the laboratory and I've just escaped. Are you wild rabbits?"

"Yes. Come and join us," they cried.

Our friend hopped over to them and started eating the grass. It tasted so good.

"What else do you wild rabbits do?" he asked.

"Well," one of them said. "You see that field there? It's got carrots growing in it. We dig them up and eat them."

This, he couldn't resist and he spent the next hour eating the most succulent carrots. They were wonderful.

Later, he asked them again, "What else do you do?"

"You see that field there? It's got lettuce growing in it. We eat them as well."

The lettuce tasted just as good and he returned a while later completely full. "Is there anything else you guys do?" he asked.

One of the other rabbits came a bit closer to him and spoke softly. "There's one other thing you must try. You see those rabbits there, "he said, pointing to the far corner of the field. "They're girls. We shag them. Go and try it."

Well, our friend spent the rest of the morning shagging his little heart out until, completely spent, he staggered back over to the guys.

"That was fantastic," he panted.

"So are you going to live with us then?" one of them asked. "I'm sorry, I had a great time but I can't."

The wild rabbits all stared at him, a bit surprised. "Why? We thought you liked it here."

"I do," our friend replied. "But I must get back to the laboratory. I'm dying for a cigarette!"

In Memoriam

Schooled

By William Rivers Pitt

On Friday, January 29th, Mr. Obama presented himself before a collection of some 140 Republican members of Congress and, not to put too fine a point on it, bounced them individually and collectively off all four walls in the room.

One by one, Republican members of Congress stood before Mr. Obama and took their best shots. One by one, he sent them packing with a smile on his face and the facts on his side. One of the most revealing exchanges took place when GOP Congressman Mike Pence (R-Indiana) tried to take the president to task for refusing to support an across-the-board tax cut, and for the massive cascade of job losses that hit the nation last winter. Mr. Obama reminded Pence that the job losses he spoke of took place before he took office, and before any of his programs had been implemented. He excoriated Pence and a number of his Republican brethren for attending ribbon-cutting ceremonies celebrating programs created by the stimulus package they had voted against. He concluded by telling Pence, "I'm going to want to take a look at your math," because Pence's support for massive tax cuts, a spending freeze and a balanced budget all at the same time basically makes no sense whatsoever.

Perhaps, the most revealing aspect of this event came after the deal had gone down. The Republicans in that room were made to look so foolish in the face of this president that a number of them later stated bluntly that it was a mistake to have allowed cameras into the room. Fox News saw how badly those GOP Congress people were being thrashed and cut away from their broadcast of the event a full 20 minutes before it was over, choosing instead to flood their studio with critics of Obama to try and mitigate the damage.

And that, in a nutshell, is the present reality of this Republican Party. When allowed to freely bloviate into the yawning void of modern political journalism, the GOP can score points easily. They are the undisputed world heavyweight champions of the sound bite stab below the fifth rib, and their talents in this regard are fortified by their uncanny ability to have no fealty to the truth whatsoever. When confronted by someone armed to the teeth with the facts, someone who can articulate those facts clearly and completely in front of a battery of cameras broadcasting his words to a national audience on every network, they folded like wet napkins.

Read entire article




Stewart blasts Fox for cutting off Obama-GOP debate

How Baltic the mongrel drifted 20 miles out to sea on river ice and survived l

It’s thought Baltic’s problems began when he got trapped on ice on the Vistula River near Torun on Friday.

A day later he was spotted in Grudziadz, 40 miles upstream, where fireman tried to reach the German shepherd-type mongrel.

But thick ice made it too risky to launch a rescue craft despite Baltic floating just a few yards from the river bank.

Another bid to save the stranded mutt was made at Kwidzyn, 22 miles further on towards Poland’s coast.

After sightings dried up it was assumed the dog had perished.

Read more

How to Stop an Accelerating Car

With the Toyota recall in full swing, car owners are understandably worried about a possible safety problem in their vehicle. What should you do if your car is suddenly accelerating out of control? Here is a demonstration video from Consumer Reports on what to do, and Toyota's advice which differs slightly. (Also on the Toyota page is general information about the recall.)

Technology's Most Reliable Brands

How dependable is that computer, camera, printer, or HDTV you are considering buying? You don't know for sure, but some 35,000 owners of these technology products told PC World what their experience was like, and how supportive (or not) the manufacturers were when they had a problem.

Daily Dilemma

What's the one thing you refuse to eat?

How Edwards used wealthy heiress to fund love-child coverup

Payments from a wealthy heiress to a North Carolina interior decorator helped subsidize the cover-up of John Edwards' affair with Rielle Hunter. The decorator, Bryan Huffman, eventually became the conduit for as much as $700,000 from Rachel "Bunny" Mellon.

Read more

Is federal judge David O. Carter starting a trial on Jan. 26 to determine whether Obama is qualified to be president?

No. This is yet another bogus claim circulated by (crazy) persons who cling to a belief that Obama was not born in the U.S.A. The judge threw the case out of court back in October.

Read more

Weird home cures that work

Duct tape for warts, olive oil for excema and other home cures that really work

Controlling high blood pressure may be best protection against dementia

If the cardiologist's warnings don't scare you, consider this: Controlling blood pressure just might be the best protection yet known against dementia.

In a flurry of new research, scientists scanned people's brains to show hypertension fuels a kind of scarring linked to later development of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Those scars can start building up in middle age, decades before memory problems will appear.

The evidence is strong enough that the National Institutes of Health soon will begin enrolling thousands of hypertension sufferers in a major study to see if aggressive treatment — pushing blood pressure lower than currently recommended — better protects not just their hearts but their brains.

Read more

Just Stay

A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.

"Your son is here," she said to the old man.

She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.

Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.

The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed.All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.

He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.

Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.

Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.

Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.

"Who was that man?" he asked.

The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.

"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."

"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"

"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his
son just wasn't here.

When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son,knowing how much he needed me, I stayed. I came here tonight to find a Mr. William Grey. His Son was Killed in Iraq today, and I was sent to inform him. What was this Gentleman's Name?"

The Nurse with Tears in her eyes answered, "Mr. William Grey."

The next time someone needs you .... just be there. Stay.

10 not-so-obvious dining trends for 2010

Dining trends lists tend to remind us of the advice doled out by storefront psychics — partly insane and at times flat wrong, occasionally perceptive and sometimes forward thinking, but more often than not, sort of vague enough so that to prove their predictions were off base would be nearly impossible. Scanning lists by J. Walter Thompson, The James Beard Foundation and other industry publications, we did find 10 trends that are less obvious than, say, mini burgers, bacon and locally produced eats (which found their way on most lists).

Website of the Day

Confront Your Toxic Relationships

Face your problems head-on on! Instead of bottling up your anger and resentment, find out how to effectively communicate with others and when to protect yourself from harm.

Angel Orange Trifles

Prep Time:45 min
Start to Finish:
makes:10 Servings

2 cups fat-free milk
1 4-serving-size package fat-free sugar-free reduced-calorie vanilla instant pudding mix
2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 of an 8-ounce package reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened
3 cups assorted citrus fruit sections (such as blood oranges, tangelos, grapefruit, and/or navel oranges)
4 ounces prepared Betty Crocker® white angel food cake, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 4 cups)
Finely shredded orange peel (optional)
1. In a medium bowl combine milk and pudding mix; beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 2 minutes. Beat in the 2 teaspoons orange peel and 2 tablespoons of the orange juice. Set aside. In a large bowl beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add pudding mixture, beating until combined.

2. Divide half of the fruit among ten 6-ounce dessert glasses or dishes. (Or arrange half of the fruit in a 1 1/2 quart glass bowl.) Arrange half of the cake cubes on the fruit. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the remaining orange juice. Spoon half of the pudding mixture over cake. Repeat layers. Cover and chill for 2 hours before serving. If desired, garnish individual servings with additional orange peel.

Make-Ahead Directions: Prepare as above, except cover and chill for up to 6 hours before serving.

Chicken Cacciatore

Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 45m
Total Time: 1hr 50m

Ingredients

* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
* 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
* 1 3 1/2- to 4-pound chicken, cut into pieces
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
* 1 carrot, diced
* 1 celery stalk, diced
* 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 3 sprigs fresh thyme
* 1 bay leaf
* 1 28-ounce can plum tomatoes
* 1/3 cup dry red wine
* 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Directions

1. In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Working in batches, lightly coat the chicken with the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.

2. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium heat. Add some of the chicken to the pan. Cook until browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining chicken.

3. Add the onion to the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add the carrot, celery, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf. Cook for 10 minutes. Crush the tomatoes and stir them into the vegetables. Add the wine and the remaining salt and pepper and bring to a simmer.

4. Add the chicken, reduce heat, and cover. Simmer for 45 minutes, turning the pieces occasionally. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Stir in the parsley and serve on individual plates.

An Amazing Performance By Blind Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii

Just 21 and blind since birth, Nobuyuki Tsuljii is an amazing talent on the piano. Find out why he received a 2-minute ovation.

No Man Will Succeed!

One day a man spotted a lamp by the roadside. He picked it up, rubbed it vigorously, and a genie appeared.

"I'll grant you your fondest wish," the genie said.

The man thought for a moment, then said, "I want a spectacular job. A job that no man has ever succeeded at or has ever even dared try."

"Poof!" said the genie. "You're a housewife."

Tori Amos - Smells like teen spirit

Enjoy!

Meet Harold Ford, Jr.: Ann Coulter's Favorite Democrat.

Astonishing Report: We're Executing Gitmo Prisoners and Calling It Suicide

The three "suicides" in June 2006 were not suicides at all. The men were killed during interrogations in a secret prison block and the murders were disguised to look like suicides.

Read more

Want To Order Pizza?

FBI agents conducted a raid of a psychiatric hospital in San Diego that under investigation for medical insurance fraud. After hours of reviewing thousands of medical records, the dozens of agents had worked up quite an appetite. The agent in charge of the investigation called a nearby pizza parlor with delivery service to order a quick dinner for his colleagues.

The following telephone conversation took place and was recorded by the because they were taping all conversations at the hospital.

Agent: Hello. I'd like to order 19 large pizzas and 67 cans of soda.

Pizza Man: And where would you like them delivered?

Agent: We're over at the psychiatric hospital.

Pizza Man: The psychiatric hospital?

Agent: That's right. I'm an FBI agent.

Pizza Man: You're an FBI agent?

Agent: That's correct. Just about everybody here is.

Pizza Man: And you're at the psychiatric hospital?

Agent: That's correct. And make sure you don't go through the front doors. We have them locked. You'll have to go around to the back service entrance to deliver the pizzas.

Pizza Man: And you say you're all FBI agents?

Agent: That's right. How soon can you have them here?

Pizza Man: Everyone at the psychiatric hospital is an FBI agent?

Agent: That's right. We've been here all day and we're starving.

Pizza Man: How are you going to pay for all of this?

Agent: I have my checkbook right here.

Pizza Man: And you're all FBI agents?

Agent: That's right. Everyone here is an FBI agent. Can you remember to bring the pizzas and sodas to the service entrance in the rear? We have the front doors locked.

Pizza Man: I don't think so. *Click*

Website of the Day - Operation Nice

Encouraging individuals to be proactively nice.

Classic Split-Pea Soup

Serves 6
Hands-On Time: 15m
Total Time: 3hr 45m

Ingredients

* 1 ham hock
* 2 32-ounce low-sodium chicken broth
* 1 pound green split peas
* 2 large carrots, chopped
* 2 stalks celery, chopped
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, chopped
* 1 bay leaf
* 1 teaspoon dried thyme
* 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

Directions

1. Rinse the ham hock and place it in a large saucepan or Dutch oven along with the broth, split peas, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are very tender, 3 to 3½ hours.

2. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Transfer the ham hock to a plate and let sit until cool enough to handle, at least 10 minutes. Shred the meat and stir it into the soup.

Liberals

Click to enlarge

Sparkling Sugar Twists

Makes 24
Total Time: 2hr 15m

Directions

1. On a floured surface, roll pieces of the basic sugar cookie dough into 3⁄8-inch-thick cords and cut into 6-inch lengths (do not substitute slice-and-bake dough in this recipe). Shape into twists, then place on baking sheets.

2. Brush with a beaten egg and sprinkle with ¼ cup coarse sanding sugar or turbinado sugar.

3. Bake at 350° F on parchment-lined baking sheets until just beginning to brown, 15 to 18 minutes.

4. Cool slightly on baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Want to Run? Ditch the Shoes

A new study out Thursday, led by Harvard researchers, suggests that running barefoot can actually be better for your feet than running with shoes, as it saves your feet from a negative impact. “It’s as if every time you land on the ground, someone hits you on the heel with a hammer,’’ said one scientist. “It’s an amazing thing. Running barefoot can be less impactful.’’ Barefoot runners land on the ball or middle of their feet avoid the problem of landing heel-first. When runners land on their heels, the foot experiences an impact of two to three times their body weight. Barefoot runners avoid this fate.

Read more

This is exactly why women should always twirl once in front of the mirror before leaving the house.