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| Story Stack is where stories first appear on the site. These stories have made our first cut, but haven't necessarily earned the "Smartly Selected" designation for inclusion as one of Pat's Picks. |
NJ Toll Booth Operators Give Change and Threats
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 11:40 AM
I’ve always have my EZ Pass in place when driving on the New Jersey Turnpike so I’ve missed the choice encounters detailed in today’s Newark Star Ledger. The state just released two years of complaints about the behavior of some toll booth attendants and the details are pretty unbelievable. Drivers say they have been threatened with strip searches, road-side beat downs and even death by toll booth operators.
“YouTube U”
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 11:33 AM
Call it “YouTube U.” The Philadelphia Inquirer says more and more people are turning to YouTube for demonstrations of skills they’d like to learn. From learning how to moonwalk to the correct way to apply eyeliner, how-to videos are the site’s second most popular category.
Victim: My Love Handles Saved My Life
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 11:09 AM
A Florida woman says her love handles saved her life. The 35-year-old Florida woman was visiting friends in Atlantic City when she was hit with a stray bullet on the boardwalk. In an interview with the Press of Atlantic City, the woman said she’d been trying to lose weight but since the incident, has changed her mind: “I want to be as big as I can if it’s going to stop a bullet.”
Opinion: Remember Toyota’s Importance to US Economy
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 10:26 AM
There’s a big Toyota plant in Mississippi. And the state’s governor, Haley Barbour, brings an interesting perspective on the automaker’s troubles to this morning’s Washington Post. Barbour writes in an opinion piece that we need to be fair to the company. Yes, they should fix the safety problems, but we can’t lose sight of the important role Toyota plays in the US economy.
Cleaning the Fridge is Last on Everyone’s List
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 10:19 AM
If you picked your way through old takeout containers, wilted vegetables and a tempest of condiment packages just to get to the milk this morning, you’re not alone. No one likes to clean out their refrigerator reports the Wall Street Journal. Most people say they only do it once or twice a year and often that’s because something smells and they can’t figure out what it is.
Hillary Clinton Sued By Family of Texas Cop
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 9:39 AM
The family of a Texas police officer is suing Hillary Clinton after he died while escorting Clinton around Dallas on a campaign visit says the Morning News. The suit claims that Clinton and her staff “didn’t give the city enough time to prepare for the motorcade.”
Bristol Palin Lands TV Gig
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 9:30 AM
America’s most famous teenage mother is about to get a little more famous. The Newark Star Ledger says Bristol Palin will play herself on an upcoming episode of ABC’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.” The guest spot will air sometime this summer.
Chicago Company Redesigns the Hot Dog
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 9:17 AM
I told you on Monday about how the American Pediatrics Association was urging hot dog producers to redesign their products so kids would be less likely to choke on them. Well, Chicago Tribune food critic Phil Vitel tracked down a company that already has. Called the Big Hot Dog, Vitel says the only thing that could choke on this seven-pound,16-inch-long, four-inch-wide sausage is a boa constrictor.
Olympic Team of One
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 8:59 AM
Turns out there is an ‘I’ in team. The New York Times profiles skier Marino Cardelli in this morning’s paper. Cardelli is the entire Olympic team for his country, the republic of San Marino, which has a population of 30,000.
Robo-Cooks
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 8:53 AM
Yes, there really is a robot that will make an omelet for you. The technology isn’t to the point of being affordable yet, but in the tradition of the Jetsons, there are now robots that will do your work in the kitchen says the New York Times. VIDEO
Planned US Embassy Looks Like a Fort
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 8:48 AM
There’s a great architecture review in the New York Times this morning. It’s of the planned US Embassy in London. The Times describes the proposed building as bland. But what’s actually quite clever is how they’ve designed a park and moat around it to secure the building, without making it look like a fortress.
Calling, The Unused App
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 8:39 AM
A piece in this morning’s Wall Street Journal rang true for me. It says “calling” is the unused iPhone app. It’s just too time consuming. The Journal says the shift from using cell phones to call people to using them for virtually everything else “offers a glimpse of where consumer technology is heading.”
ESPN Suspends Host for Rude Comment
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 8:07 AM
ESPN Tony Kornheiser got some unexpected time off from work yesterday. The network suspended the host of “Pardon the Interruption” for comments he made about colleague Hannah Storm’s outfit reports the New York Daily News. It seemed to be Storm’s red go-go boots that prompted Kornheiser to call her out for wearing “a horrifying, horrifying outfit.” AUDIO
Internet Has Revived TV Audience
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 7:44 AM
In the end, it turns out the Internet didn’t kill the TV. More of us are watching TV while we interact with friends on Twitter or Facebook. It’s exactly what I’ve been doing during the Olympics telecasts. The New York Times says social media sites “enable an online water-cooler conversation.”
Dutch Speed Skater Disqualified for Lane Change
Written by Pat's Papers | Wednesday, 24 February 2010 7:33 AM
A rare gaffe last night cost a Dutch speed skater the gold and perhaps, cost his coach a job. Sven Kramer was leading the pack in the 10,000-meter long-track speed skating when his coach mistakenly told him to switch to the outside lane says the San Jose Mercury News. Kramer was immediately disqualified for an “illegal lane change.”
Seniors Smoking More Weed
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 12:12 PM
More and more senior citizens are partaking in pot-smoking says the Newark Star Ledger. For many baby boomers marijuana doesn’t hold the stigma it did for their parents. And legalization advocates say the shifting cultural tide could make it easier to change the country’s laws regarding marijuana.
Tweeting From Congress
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 11:50 AM
Forget the filibuster. Limiting your arguments to 140 characters is all the rage in Washington these days. The LA Times reports that 200 of the 535 members of Congress have taken to Twitter. The paper says that congressmen tweet more than senators and that Republicans do more posting than Democrats.
Good Samaritan Snow Shovelers Don’t Know Where to Draw Line
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 11:38 AM
To blow or not to blow. The Chicago Tribune says that life doesn’t necessarily get better with a snow blower. With it, comes questions of etiquette like, should I do my neighbor’s walk? And, how far down the block should I go? Many times, the paper says, good Samaritan snow-shovelers end up offending their neighbors.
Angry Drivers Forced to Take Psych Exams
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 11:28 AM
If you’re considering a move to Minnesota, be sure not to pack your road rage. The Star Tribune says the state has a little-know law that requires those deemed “angry drivers” to take a psychiatric evaluation in order to keep their licenses.
O-Mama Injects Politeness into Politics
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 11:13 AM
It often seems like the politicians fighting on Capitol Hill could stand for some etiquette lessons from the mothers. And that’s basically the premise behind a new website, O-Mama.com says the Orange County Register. Two women - one Republican, one Democrat - started the site to provide a place for “opinionated moms” to politely discuss politics and current events.
Playing wih Classic Literature
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 11:02 AM
Can classic works of literature be made into great video games? That’s the question in this morning’s San Francisco Chronicle. The paper says that while the idea may seem distasteful for fans of both genres, “making video games out of classic books could help games gain more acceptance as an art form, while exposing younger generations to at least a taste of the classics.”
New CD from Johnny Cash
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 10:50 AM
Johnny Cash may be dead, but he’s a long way from being gone. A new CD, recorded before the iconic singer’s death in 2003, was just released. And New York Daily News music critic Jim Farber says “Ain’t No Grave” has a sweetness that was rarely seen from Johnny Cash.
Jersey Shore: Rent the House, Get the Hair
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 10:39 AM
There are not one, but two “Jersey Shore”-themed stories in today’s New York Daily News. The News says you can rent the house they used for the MTV reality series, if you’re willing to pay $1800 a night “to grace the ground zero of Guido.” And if, while you’re there, you decide you want to take it to the next level, the News has a how-to guide on transforming yourself into the show’s unofficial mascot, Snooki.
Rethinking an Aspirin a Day
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 10:33 AM
You may want to hesitate before reaching for that aspirin bottle in your medicine cabinet. The Wall Street Journal says new research contradicts the long-standing advice that a daily dose of aspirin may reduce the risk of a heart attack. Experts now say the side effects of taking a daily aspirin may outweigh the benefits.
Passage of Jobs Bill a “Rare Bipartisan Breakthrough”
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 10:28 AM
The New York Times says it was “rare bipartisan breakthrough” as five Republicans stepped in to move a $15 billion job creation bill ahead in the Senate. The new Massachusetts senator Scott Brown was the first of the five to side with the Democrats.
Toyota Chief Promises “Smart Pedal” Technology on all New Models
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 9:30 AM
There’s a double shot of Toyota in the Wall Street Journal this morning. On the front page, the headline reads: “Support Wavers at Toyota For Chief.” It’s an interesting choice given that the Journal publishes a guest column from that same man on its opinion page. Akio Toyoda uses the space to explain how his company is going to make things right and restore customer confidence.
Lifetime Looking for a Lifeline
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 9:15 AM
The Lifetime channel is going through an identity crisis says the LA Times - it can’t decide whether to wear “sensible shoes or stilettos.” Internal debates are waging at the female-focused channel as ratings stagnate. Some staffers want to cater to a hipper and younger audience while others want to focus on the network’s bread and butter, the “ripped from the headlines” movies.
Women’s Biological Clock Ticks Faster Than Expected
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 9:01 AM
The Washington Post says a woman’s biological clock may tick a lot faster than you think. By the age of 30, a woman has lost all but 12 percent of her eggs. At 40, only 3 percent of her eggs remain. Recent studies have confirmed what fertility experts have warned for years: “For women, unfortunately, it’s use ‘em or lose ‘em.”
Ski Jumping, the Quaint Danger Sport
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 8:49 AM
It’s hard to be a ski jumper these days. The New York Times asks how the sport became boring after years of appearing exciting and dangerous in the Wide World of Sports intro? Now, it’s snowboarders and aerial skiers who are seen as the daredevils.
Life’s Little Touches Do a Body Good
Written by Pat's Papers | Tuesday, 23 February 2010 8:39 AM
Life’s little touches are more meaningful than you might think. The New York Times says that tap on the shoulder, a hug or even a fist bump “can communicate an even wider range of emotion than gestures or expressions.” Researchers note that good sports teams tend to be touchier than losing teams. And happy couples touch each other more than unhappy couples.
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