The Mega Millions lottery is now up to $400 million.

If you are in one of the states that participates, are you playing? How much have you spent?

If you win, what is the first thing you would do?

The first person you would tell?

The first purchase you would make?

What dream would you make come true?

Posted by: Open Blogger at 03:56 PM | Comments (461)
Post contains 66 words, total size 1 kb.

The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone has had a number of major positive impacts on the ecosystem. This video claims that wolves have even changed the course of the river.

Via @johnekdahl. more...

Posted by: Ace at 01:11 PM | Comments (339)
Post contains 58 words, total size 1 kb.

Evidently, sin taxes should now be applied to anything that reduces tax revenues to the government. E-cigs have doubled in use this past year and analog cigarette use is on the decline. So what's a politician to do? Behold so-called Republican Chris Christie's latest budget proposal which includes jacking up the tax on e-cigs equal to real cigarettes. Now just how are they going to apply a per pack tax on e-cigs when e-cigs aren't packaged like analog cigarettes? Are they going to tax the battery? The atomizer? The nicotine juice? What if the vaper is someone who is vaping zero nicotine? Is the mere act of using an e-cig then a taxable offense? And if they tax the nicotine juice, then how about taxing the patch and gum then at the same rate? more...

Posted by: CDR M at 06:02 PM | Comments (777)
Post contains 541 words, total size 5 kb.

Here's an open thread for those of you who don't want to talk about gardening.

It's looking like officials in Malaysia are now saying that the Malaysian Airlines jet was hi-jacked:

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- The Malaysian jetliner missing for more than a week was deliberately diverted and continued flying for more than six hours after severing contact with the ground, meaning it could have gone as far northwest as Kazakhstan or into the Indian Ocean's southern reaches, Malaysia's leader said Saturday.

Prime Minister Najib Razak's statement confirmed days of mounting speculation that the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 to Beijing was not accidental. It also refocused the investigation into the flight's 12-person crew and 227 passengers, and underlined the complicated task for searchers who already have been scouring vast areas of ocean.

Hat tip: Twitchy, where I go for most of my "I need to catch up on what's happening" needs.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 08:03 AM | Comments (261)
Post contains 166 words, total size 1 kb.

Welcome to the I'm exhausted so you get the shaft edition of the Saturday Car Thread.

Countrysquire loves Whealers Dealers, the English show which has aired on Discovery’s Velocity channel for a while now. The show started as Mike Brewer buying modern classics in need of a little attention, then 6’7 mechanic Edd China doing the repair work in order to get them ready to sell. Finally, Mike would try to sell the car for a profit, finalizing the deal with “’old out your ‘and, you’ve bought a crackin’ motor!” They have done a lot of different types of cars over the years, but the premise has remained the same. In a sea of auto related shows which either have phony deadlines and drama, or spend half the time advertising some crap, this one stands out. Before you wade in, be aware that the English have some different terms for auto parts. Our door panels are there door cards. We have aluminum, they have aluminium. The chaps over at lotus-europa.com have prepared a chart to convert from English to…err…English.

Now armed with the English-to-English translator above, have a look-see:

more...

Posted by: Open Blogger at 10:40 AM | Comments (147)
Post contains 584 words, total size 5 kb.

This thread brought to you by Be Prepared:

From your host, WeirdDave:

Y-not has been on vacation this week, so the bulk of the gardening thread falls to me. She has promised to contribute some photos, perhaps her standing in front of the worldÂ’s largest ball of kittens, or maybe this place:
more...

Posted by: Open Blogger at 08:04 AM | Comments (152)
Post contains 1147 words, total size 8 kb.

The current food pyramid is nothing of a sort. It is an unusable, overly complex process called ChooseMyPlate.

I defy anyone to glean any useful (or even correct) information in simple form from this website. Anyone who does will win an AOSHQ Platinum membership (without ampersand capability).

[addendum] The AOSHQ Pyramid is a work in progress, so any advice would be appreciated.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 06:45 AM | Comments (301)
Post contains 69 words, total size 1 kb.

Here. Have some pancakes and bacon.

It's good for you.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 04:44 AM | Comments (252)
Post contains 20 words, total size 1 kb.

I'm having tech issues on my end. I apologize.

Here's a piece of pie until I can get it up and running.

[Update - Andy] Merging my content in tbe new non-ONT ONT

Model Sues Playboy After ‘Golf Tee In Butt’ Stunt Goes Terribly Wrong

This is the most AoSHQ ONT-compliant piece ever

A model has filed suit against Playboy Enterprises and the co-host of a Playboy morning show after a 2012 stunt that involved sticking a golf tee in her butt (shockingly) didnÂ’t go according to plan.

Liz Dickson took a golf club to the buttocks when host Kevin Klein stuck a ball on the tee firmly lodged between DicksonÂ’s cheeks and took an errant swing. Now sheÂ’s alleging battery and negligence (and seeking $500,000 and punitive damage).

Hawt!

What's This Pi Day BS?

Pi day? No, no, no.

It's Steak and BJ Day.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:29 PM | Comments (133)
Post contains 150 words, total size 1 kb.

There's a record at stake here, so an ONT must go up. Even one as crappy as this. more...

Posted by: andy at 07:25 PM | Comments (96)
Post contains 40 words, total size 1 kb.