Stories You Might Have Missed: Volume I

I asked and you answered. I appreciate the feedback (and of course readers) - and now I welcome you to my newest series: "Stories You Might Have Missed". My new series will focus on "news" articles that have perhaps escaped under the radar (usually that's a good thing). Enjoy!




As I've mentioned before, I love to travel. During the past summer I traveled to Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria. Next year I'm heading to Greece...but perhaps I should add a few more countries to my agenda in the near future. According to ProTraveller, there are 20 major countries, islands, and cities that are threatened by global warming. I've already been to London, New York City, and Yellowstone National Park (all on the list), and New Orleans making the list isn't much of a surprise, but how about Death Valley? Perhaps I should book a flight to Tokyo (where I'd love to visit someday) or even the picturesque Cook Islands.

Of course, the economy isn't great these days (you didn't need me to tell you that), but did you know that splurging is actually good for your health? If you believe a pair of professors at Harvard and Columbia, then yes, splurging is good for you. In fact, if you don't splurge, according to the Wall Street Journal article, you are more likely to feel regret later in life.

Now that you've decided you owe it to yourself to splurge and spring for that vacation to somewhere that is bound to eventually be affected drastically by global warming, you've got to find a way to pay for it. Perhaps an option to NOT consider would be to write a 360 billion (that's BILLION) dollar check and attempt to cash it. Granted, 360 billion bucks will allow you to travel first class anywhere you want...but don't attempt to cash that check in Texas. Charles Ray Fuller tried that earlier this year, but the vigilant bank employees became "immediately suspicious - perhaps the 10 zeros on a personal check tipped them off" according to the CBS News article. If you do decide to attempt a similar heist, at least be wise enough to not have marijuana and an unlawful weapon on you when try.

Since I shattered one get rich quick scheme, I figure it's only fair I give you a different option. You could come up with something that makes life better for everyone. Something so amazingly simple that it is shocking no one ever came up with it before... Take pancakes for example. Sure, everyone loves a good pancake, but who wants to sit around, mix the batter, and then carefully spoon it onto a hot griddle and then wait a minute or two for the pancake to be done? Luckily, you now have another option. Organic Batter Blaster spray on pancakes. That's right, pancakes in an aerosol can. Surely you can devise something similar, perhaps chicken and biscuits in a can?

Before you doubt the aforementioned wisdom, remember: you are smart. There are plenty of people in the world that would be lucky to have a quarter of the IQ that you possess. Some of those same people have managed to get rich regardless, so you certainly should have no trouble. Case in point: Ms. Jessica Simpson. Sure, she's been in the news lately as Mrs. Romo-to-be, but she ran into controversy earlier this year thanks to her chest. Actually, it was the shirt she wore covering her chest. It seems Ms. Simpson decided that "Real Girls Eat Meat" and that she ought to wear a shirt to prove it.

While the story could have ended there, it seems that PETA took great offense to Simpson's chest. PETA's own buxom spokesperson, Pamela Anderson weighed in on the t-shirt saying that "I think she (Simpson) is a b*tch and wh*re." Sweet Pamela continued saying, "Actually, I don't know if she was talking about food or men."

So there you have it, your first round of stories you might have missed. You now have some travel ideas, get rich quick schemes, and old-news celebrity spats. You're welcome.

Sources:

http://www.otbeach.com/news/20-cities-islands-countries-threatened-by-global-warming/
http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2008/07/07/splurging-is-good-for-your-health/?mod=yhoofront
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/02/national/main4064444.shtml?source=RSSattr=U.S._4064444
http://www.shinyshiny.tv/2007/11/organic_batter.html
http://deceiver.com/2008/06/17/peta-doesnt-like-jessica-simpsons-chest/
http://deceiver.com/2008/06/30/pamela-anderson-slams-jessica-simpson/
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,368461,00.html
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article1359310.ece