Russia closed down its casinos overnight as gambling was banned nationwide, a move the industry says could throw a third of a million people out of work. picked by kakana 3 days ago

Rwanda has strongly denied reports that its parliament is considering a draft law which would forcibly sterilise people who are mentally disabled. picked by nateebiinature 3 days ago

From, imo, the absolute best photography site around. picked by cb__ 3 days ago

Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, many government documents that would normally never be seen by the public are now freely available. Government Attic offers up a very large and diverse set of documents from military secrets to FCC complaints about your favorite show and much more. Makes for some interesting browsing. picked by 2manyusernames 3 days ago

A widely circulated photograph shows an Air Force Raptor 22 jet breaking the fabled sound barrier while performing aerial maneuvers in the Gulf of Alaska.

The phenomenon is not well studied. Scientists refer to it as a vapor cone, shock collar, or shock egg, and it's thought to be created by what's called a Prandtl-Glauert singularity. picked by Bingo 3 days ago

General Motors is laying off workers, but giving them retirement benefits instead of severence pay. This could lead to all kinds of problems down the line, as GM is not obligated to contribute to its retirement fund until 2013. picked by Bingo 3 days ago

Now 79 and seriously ill, train robber Ronnie Biggs is set to be released from prison into a nursing home.

NB - Since posting, the Home Office refused his parole application and the story at the end of the link was updated. picked by pocksucket 3 days ago

The European Space Agency (Esa) has released a stunning image of the spiral galaxy M51, otherwise known as the Whirlpool Galaxy. picked by AutumnLotus 3 days ago

In the formation of droplets in a stream of falling sand, scientists have witnessed a dynamic that points beyond the boundaries of traditional physics, and may represent one aspect of a fifth state of matter. picked by AutumnLotus 3 days ago

A search for gravitational waves stemming from the creation of the universe commences this week with an array of new detectors sensitive enough to measure signals as faint as a billionth of a volt. picked by AutumnLotus 3 days ago

The colony may be the largest of its type ever known for any insect species, and could rival humans in the scale of its world domination. picked by AutumnLotus 3 days ago

Researchers studied red columbines pollinated by hummingbirds, and white or yellow columbines pollinated by hawkmoths. They believe that a color shift from red to white or yellow has happened five times in North America. picked by AutumnLotus 3 days ago

Canada Day, formerly Dominion Day celebrates the anniversary of the July 1, 1867 enactment of the British North America Act of 1867, which united Canada as a single country of four provinces.
Go forth and hug yourself a Canadian today picked by 2manyusernames 3 days ago

The primary reason for the creation of this website: to give visitors a "behind-the-scenes" glimpse that few get to see, in a world that has all but vanished. The interactive tours on this website give you a look at things from the "worker bee" perspective, instead of the polished and glossed over "official" websites on the subject that censor much of the shortcoming... read full post picked by maven 3 days ago

George Jerutis, a tattoo artist, is in hot water for tattooing a child. How did authorities find out? picked by suebe 4 days ago

Although they are used millions of times every day— few people are aware of the dangers to their liver and gastrointestinal tract posed by drugs containing acetaminophen. Hundreds of deaths and over 150,000 accidental overdoses every year have triggered the panel reporting to the FDA to propose eliminating this category of prescription pain killer. picked by equinox 4 days ago

Even the judge rated it as one of the dumbest crimes he'd ever heard.

Western Michigan University student William K. Bradley was already serving time when the opportunity for him to extend his sentence arose. picked by AutumnLotus 4 days ago

Exactly forty years ago today – July 1, 1969 – a racist ex-convict and wanna-be folk singer in his 40s named Charles Manson shot a black drug dealer by the name of Bernard “Lotsapoppa” Crowe.
Throughout the summer of 1969, Charles Manson orchestrated the grisliest murder spree in Los Angeles history. picked by bornbad 4 days ago

Genetic analyses of human skin are revealing more about what makes us look old. As well as throwing up ways to smooth away wrinkles, the studies may provide a quantifiable way to test claims made for skin products. picked by AutumnLotus 4 days ago

Some of the first eerie signs of a potential health catastrophe came as bizarre deformities in water animals, often in their sexual organs. Now scientists are connecting the dots with evidence of increasing abnormalities among humans, particularly large increases in numbers of genital deformities among newborn boys. picked by bornbad 4 days ago

How did piranhas -- the legendary freshwater fish with the razor bite -- get their telltale teeth? Researchers from Argentina, the United States and Venezuela have uncovered the jawbone of a striking transitional fossil that sheds light on this question. picked by AutumnLotus 4 days ago

Check out this great advertisement for Phillips Cinematic TVs. This is pretty cool. picked by em0ney 4 days ago

A burglar who broke into a house and threatened a pensioner with a knife got more than he bargained for when the victim turned out to be a retired boxer who left him bruised and bleeding. picked by AutumnLotus 4 days ago

Did you know that, on average, an American is killed by a drunk driver every 40 minutes? picked by bornbad 4 days ago

Several recent high-profile Scientology defections have led some to wonder whether one of the church’s most visible members, John Travolta, may be next. picked by bornbad 4 days ago