How the size of an average restaurant meal has QUADRUPLED since the 1950s – with U.S. burgers now three times as big

A startling infographic has highlighted just how out of control the country’s meal servings are – with the average restaurant portion more than four times as big as it was in the 1950s.

The image, created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shows a cup of fountain soda is now six times as large, while burgers and a portion of fries have both tripled in size.

Also horrifying is how [...]

In India Coal Towns, Many Miners Are Children

I remember seeing pictures of child miners in old pictures from the late 1800s, early 1900s. Then of course, I did some searching because I recall that child labor is still common in the world today…

In Northeast In India Coal Towns, Many Miners Are Children (May 15, 2011)
“The young miners descend on rickety ladders made of branches into the makeshift coal mines dotting the Jaintia Hills in northeast India, scrambling sideways into “rat hole” [...]

Dec. 8 is Take it in the Ear Day, Chocolate Brownie Day, anniversary of the Soviet Union being dissolved:

Take it in the Ear Day

 

If you receive a verbal tongue lashing, you’ll have to “take it in the ear” on Dec. 8. It could just be a day to listen to others vent or express their anxiety about their overexuberant holiday shopping and credit card balance. Similar to “take it in the ear” is the phrase “box your ears,” which was used as a threat of violence. The [...]

UPDATE: Men charged with stealing entire bridge

State police have arrested two men accused of stealing a privately owned steel bridge from a secluded area in Lawrence County.

Police said that Benjamin Arthur Jones, 24, and Alexander William Jones, 25, used a torch to tear apart the Covert’s Crossing Bridge late last month or early this month. The bridge had been in North Beaver Township since at least the early 1900s and was worth an [...]

ENTIRE TOWN UP FOR SALE…FOR ONLY $799,000

Scenic, once known as a Wild West town next to the Badlands, now finds itself in an unlikely place: listed for sale by the woman who has owned much of the town for years.

And she is hoping to get as much as $799,000 for 46 acres of West River land that includes 12 acres of a town that holds fond memories but finds itself in danger of becoming another Western [...]

Poorer girls ‘start periods early’

Bodyweight is linked to the age at which a girl starts her periods.

Girls from poorer backgrounds are more likely to start their periods at a younger age, thereby increasing their risk of breast cancer, says a study.

It found that girls born in the late 1980s and 1990s began their periods at 12.3 years on average, compared to 13.5 years in the early 1900s.

Girls in lower [...]

Joplin, Mo. tornado, killing at least 89, is single deadliest U.S. tornado since Worcester, Mass. 1953 tornado-NOAA

NOTE: Having happened before the era of comprehensive damage surveys, some of these events may have been composed of multiple tornadoes along a damage path. Death counts for events in the 1800s and early 1900s should be treated as estimates since recordkeeping of tornado deaths was erratic back then.

DATE

LOCATION(S)

DEATHS

1

18 Mar 1925

Tri-State (MO/IL/IN)

695

2

06 May 1840

Natchez MS

317

3

27 May 1896

St. Louis MO

255

4

05 Apr 1936

Tupelo MS

216

5

06 Apr 1936

Gainesville GA

203

6

09 Apr [...]

When we start paying 400-500 billion /yr in interest ---3/5 years?

When we start paying 400-500 billion /yr in interest —3/5 years?

The IMF just published a report that said to solve our fiscal crisis will require a 14% of GDP adjustment.  In other words any combination of revenue or spending cuts amounting to 14%( that’s 2 trillion) per year for the next 30+ years.  Anybody care to suggest how this is accomplished?  Current Data:

yr 2010:    692 [...]