2. Deteriorating Transportation Infrastructure Could Cost America $3.1 Trillion 7/27/11 HuffingtonpostNew tires add up. That's the finding of a report issued Wednesday by the American Society for Civil Engineers, which tallies up the cost of our decaying surface transportation infrastructure, from potholes to rusting bridges to buses that never come.The engineers found that overall, the cost of failing to invest more in the nation's roads and bridges would total $3.1 trillion in lost GDP growth by 2020. For workers, the toll of investing only at current levels would be equally daunting: 877,000 jobs would also be lost. Already, the report found, deficient and deteriorating surface transportation cost us $130 billion in 2010.By and large those costs would not come from the more dramatic failings of America's transportation system -- like the collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minnesota -- but more mundane or even invisible problems. The minivan that hits a pothole chips away at a family's income. The clogged highway that drains away an extra half hour of a trucker's day also drives up the cost of shipping for businesses.

3. Who Is Killing Iran's Nuclear Scientists? July 26, 2011 The Americans deny everything. The Israelis also deny everything -- but with a smile, according to a senior U.S. official. Regardless of who is killing Iran's nuclear scientists -- the Israelis, the Americans or the Iranians themselves -- there's no question that researchers and officials linked to Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program keep turning up dead. Since 2007, four different scientists allegedly associated with the nation's nuclear weapons program have died via bomb, gunshot or poisoning, while a fifth barely survived a car bombing. The most recent victim, 35-year-old DarioushRezaeinejad, was shot in the neck outside his daughter's Tehran kindergarten on Saturday by two gunmen on a motorcycle. According to an unconfirmed report in an Israeli intelligence publication, Rezaeinejad was working on a nuclear detonator, and was seen daily at a nuclear lab in northern Tehran. Rezaeinejad's murder sparked official outrage in Iran. State media published an online report Sunday evening in which a leader of the nation's parliament said the killing showed the "desperation" of the U.S. and Israel. "When the Americans and the Zionist regime realized that they cannot stand against the resolve of the Iranian nation and [after they] witnessed our nuclear achievements they resorted to assassinating our scientists," said KazemJalali, head of the parliament's national security committee, according to the report. In most cases, Iranian officials blame the deaths and disappearances on the West without equivocation.

4. Female U.S. Senators Call on Saudi Arabia to Let Women DriveJul 26, 2011 4:20 PM ETBloomberg Fourteen female U.S. senators called on Saudi Arabia today to end its ban on women driving cars, adding new public support to a once-quiet campaign to change Saudi policy. In a letter to King Abdullah, the senators called on the kingdom to honor its commitments to the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Arab Charter on Human Rights by giving women the right to drive. “The prohibition on women driving motor vehicles, even in cases of emergency, makes it impossible for citizens to exercise a basic human right,” wrote Senator Barbara Boxer of California, the second-ranked Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with 13 colleagues from both political parties. “We strongly urge you to reconsider this ban and take an important step toward affording Saudi women the rights they deserve,” they wrote.

5. The world's most expensive house goes on sale for $175m... and it's only got THREE bedroomsDaily Mail 28th July 2011Wyoming is famous for its glorious Eastern Great Plains, majestic Rocky Mountains and pristine lakes - but now it's also become the home to the world's most expensive house.The home has gone on the market for a staggering $175 million (£106m) and boasts a huge 1,750 acre back yard - but the main residence only offers three bedrooms.Jackson Land and Cattle ranch is set in the beautiful surroundings of the western state, with incredible views of the Rocky Mountains.It comes complete with an equestrian centre, guesthouse and apartment for staff and boasts rolling timbered hills with aspens and evergreens, large productive hay meadows and fishing ponds.But the main residence of the ranch, which was formerly the home to US governor Clifford Hansen, only has three bedrooms.And it is being advertised for an eye-watering $175 million (£106 million) - believed to be most expensive house currently listed for sale anywhere in the world.Its value is partly attributed to its development potential, with the property coming with permission to split the land into 35 separate residential sites.However, the current owner, casino owner Richard Fields, ideally hopes any new buyer will preserve the whole land.The property's location also comes with tax benefits, as Wyoming has no state income tax or estate tax.Jonathan Pierce, the property's listing agent, said: 'You can fish and ride and hunt and you're still only three minutes from downtown Jackson Hole.'People wanting the absolute finest property in the absolute finest resort community in the country can give me a call.'

6. Aug 2, 2011 The Disturbing Secrets of the Air Force’s Jesus Loves Nukes Nuclear Missile ProgramJesus loves everyone. He loves innocents, he loves sinners, he loves cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels. And according to the United States Air Force, Jesus loves atomic intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear mass-murdering too.That's basically what they have been telling their nuclear missile officers for decades under a special ethics training program colloquially known as Jesus Loves Nukes. It seems that the use of nuclear weapons to destroy enemy populations is perfectly fine according to their interpretation of Christian ethics. Now, after being exposed by Truth-Out and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, the Air Force is canceling it. What is it?The "ethics" training—imparted by USAF chaplains—uses many passages of the Old and New Testament to justify the use of atomic weapons to obliterate innocent populations (aka the enemy). Its core document, a 43-page Powerpoint presentation, also quotes St Augustine's Causes to Just War. It contains references to Hiroshima and Nagasaki too, teaching the official—and much debated—excuse for the bombing of those two Japanese cities.

7. Larry Flynt says he's offered Casey Anthony $500,000 to pose in HustlerJul 28, 2011 (CNN) -- If Larry Flynt has his way, Casey Anthony could reintroduce herself -- nude -- to America on the pages of Hustler magazine, and make well over $500,000 in the process.The pornography magnate told HLN's "Nancy Grace" show on Thursday night that talks are ongoing that could land Anthony on the pages of his magazine, weeks after a Florida jury acquitted her of murder in her 2-year-old daughter Caylee's death.Anthony's camp dismissed the report as "nonsense.“But Flynt insisted he was serious about the offer, which he said would include $500,000 up front plus 10% of all profits. He said any payment that the Orlando woman might receive for interviews with media outlets would be "chicken feed" compared to what she'd receive by appearing in Hustler.

8. The Big Lebowski’s Stoner Cottage Unless you are a big time dealer or have made it on the PBA circuit you might not have the cash to afford The Dude’s abode. In fact, we’re pretty sure the average Devil’s Lettuce pusher or touring bowler couldn’t muster up the cash to afford this compound but man would it be sweet. If you’re a fan of The Big Lebowski, this would be liking living on set, only you’d have to figure out which of the six cottages belonged to Jeff Lebowski (we don’t think a rug is there to clue you in). Hey, if you have the cash it would sure impress your stoner buddies who still live in a one-bedroom apartment that isn’t exactly tied together. $2295000

9. Sun Unleashes Incredibly Powerful M9-Class Solar FlareAugust 2, 2011, 11:08 PM This past weekend, our sun released one of the most powerful types of solar storms on the classification scale — a M9-class solar flare. Thankfully, the “active region” where the flare erupted was pointed away from Earth, and the flare was brief enough that we won’t see any catastrophic effects. So, put away the bug-out-bag and emergency supplies.Why is an M9 solar flare so strong? Well, scientists classify solar flares according to their X-ray brightness. “C” type flares are the weakest, “M” type flares are mid-range, and “X” flares pretty much cause radiation storms, widespread blackouts and other apocalyptic stuff down here on Earth. This was an M9 class flare, which means it was just below being rated as an X class flare.Don’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet. The “active region” where this flare erupted will soon be facing Earth.

10. Scrapmetal Alien MotorcycleFri Jul 29 2011The Bangkok worker used recycled materials from old cars and bicycles to create a monster machine which is sculpted to look like a beast. It looks awesome, it really does .

11. Britain gripped by rush for Nazi gold02 August, 2011, 17:38 Underwater treasures can charm the hearts and capture the minds of even the most practical people in the world. A team of British businessmen seems, too, to have fallen under the spell of hidden Nazi gold.The businessmen managed to find the directions to the treasures in a secret SS letter stored in the Nazi archives in Koblenz, British media report. The document says the gold was sunk in Berlin’s Stolpsee Lake by the end of World War II as ordered by Luftwaffe Commander Hermann Göring. Whom the 18 boxes belonged to is unknown.The British treasure-hunters have found a witness to the sinking.“There were 20 to 30 men wearing death camp uniforms; they stored the heavy boxes on boats,”EckardLitz told The Sun. “The boats took to the middle of the lake where the boxes were thrown into the water. Then the boats were refilled – about six times. After all the boxes were sunk, the Nazi’s shot all the men.” Back in 1981, East Germany’s Defense Minister Erich Mielke ordered to search for the gold in the lake, but nothing was found. Local residents say the lake is filled with garbage, which could seriously complicate the search operation. "I am not surprised they have not found anything as the lake is 1,040 acres in size. They didn't have the technology to properly examine the lake,” priest Erich Koehler told the Sun. “But there are enough local people still around to know that the gold is there – and the bodies of the poor souls forced to dump it into the water.“The British businessmen, however, are will not give up that easy: they are planning to rent a submarine.

12. Jello Made from Human Genes — What Will Vegans Do?July 21, 2011,Well, the debate over if jello can really be eaten by vegans just got a lot more complicated. Researchers in Beijing at the College of Life Sciences and Technology have figured out a way to create gelatin — except that this jello is made out of humans.The scientists have taken human gelatin genes, and combined them with a special type of yeast. This grows a type of jello that is, essentially, derived from human genes. On the plus side, creating (and eating) this human derived jello does mean that you won’t be at risk for developing mad cow disease.So, if this “human jello” catches on, what will vegans do? Will human jello be off-limits?

14. Todd Keirstead, golf pro and entertainer, puts Inuvik Mayor Denny Rodgers in his place during a trick shots show on July 18 at the Road's End Golf Course in Inuvik. -

15. Man allegedly 'force-fed' iPhone to girlfriendBy Rosa GolijanYou may have visualized cramming someone's cellphone down his or her throat out of sheer frustration on occasion, but odds are that you've never acted on such a violent thought — unlike one New York City patent attorney. Apparently 37-year-old Brian Anscomb was recently arrested after accusations that he'd "force-fed" an iPhone to his girlfriend during an argument. According to court papers referenced by the New York Post, this attack bruised and cut the mouth of the 23-year-old woman.While Anscomb's lawyer denies "all of the allegations" connected to the incident, it is notable that the New York Post suggests that this may not be the first time the couple had a fight which ended with cellphone-related violence:It wasn't [Anscomb's] first phone flipout — on July 10, he allegedly cracked [his girlfriend's] cellphone in half when she tried to call cops during a nasty squabble.Anscomb then slugged her in the eye as she tried to flee, court papers claim.It's also worth pointing out that there appears to be a lack of information regarding the particulars of the most recent incident. We are not told exactly how Anscomb attacked the young woman nor how he managed to force an object the shape and size of an iPhone down her throat — something which would probably lead many to experience a great deal of discomfort and resistance as well as the urge to vomit.Based on these details as well as the absence of further information, we are left believing that the force-feeding described by the New York Post — while an incredibly violent attack — likely did not leave the woman even close to actually being forced to swallow a gadget.

16. You Can Swim, But You Can’t Hide From This Robot Jet Ski July 25, 2011 | The Army has autonomous robots scampering around on land. The Air Force has killer drones dropping bombs from the air. Now the Navy — understandably just a little jealous, and clearly not satisfied with its robotic helicopters — prepares to add two new seafaring ‘bots to the mix.“Blackfish” is a remote controlled, sawed-off jet ski meant to patrol ports for terrorist swimmers up to no good. “Harbor Wing” is a 60-foot, 10-ton, environmentally friendly sailboat with a catamaran’s hull, packed full of surveillance equipment meant to aim a stealthy, sailor-free eye on far away horizons. Both vessels would surf around without a human on board.This isn’t the Navy’s first venture into robotic catamarans. A few years back they released a whole master plan on how unmanned vessels could help spy on enemies, transport soldiers across the water, torpedo hostile boats or outsmart pirates. And defense electronics companies have been quick to jump on the robo-ship bandwagon.

17. Photographer Ezra Shaw captured unique images of diver's contorted faces during the Men's 3m Springboard preliminary round during Day Six of the 14th FINA World Championships at the Oriental Sports Center on July 21, 2011 in Shanghai, China.

18. Did Chuck E. Cheese Give The Middle Finger To My 4-Year-Old?July 22, 2011 Last Sunday, Corbin went with his family to celebrate his birthday at a Chuck E. Cheese's eatery. He even got to pose for a picture with the restaurant's namesake rodent. But when Corbin's parents got home and uploaded the pictures to Facebook, they noticed something peculiar; it looked like nice ol' Chuck was flipping off the camera.Corbin's father Jesse tells Consumerist that the family took their concerns about the photo to Chuck E. Cheese's HQ but were given the brush-off. "If they had just said 'We're sorry' it would have ended right there," he says.A rep for the eatery tells the Las Cruces Sun-News that things are not what they appear to be in the photo. "He has big wide paws, like a glove, and they're lumpy and not clearly defined," the rep says about the mascot's costume. "His glove is a thumb and three fingers, so what you see is his index finger extended — not his middle finger." Jesse, who maintains a sense of humor about the situation, tells Consumerist that — if it was wardrobe-related — Chuck E. Cheese's might want to rethink its costume design or how they tell employees inside those costumes to pose for the camera.

19. That Wall Street Prostitution Ring Is Still Going Thursday, 21 Jul 2011 CNBC Following Wednesday's indictments of 17 people accused of running a $7 million prostitution ring, all of the websites allegedly operated by the accused are still up—and at least one of them is still "servicing" callers. From NBC New York: A phone number clearly printed on the angelofyourchoice.com homepage led NBC New York to a receptionist who offered to book an escort named "Jane" for $600 an hour. "She is on 43rd Street and Broadway, that’s the Carter Hotel, I think," said the unidentified voice. When NBC New York took a hidden camera to the hotel, a blond woman who called herself Jane answered the hotel room door. After a few pleasantries, she outlined her price schedule. "Six hundred for one hour," said the self-described model. She insisted any cash she might receive would be for her companionship only, but detectives say angelofyourchoice.com is really a front for pure prostitution. This, by the way, is Jane's page on angleofyourchoice. The pictures, while not nudes, aren't necessarily "safe for work."

20. Maharaja's tiger hunting Rolls may fetch $1 millionNEW DELHI (Reuters) - Auction house Bonhams will put under the hammer a rare Rolls Royce Phantom modified for tiger hunting by an Indian maharaja during the days of the British Raj, featuring a mounted machine gun and a cannon, that may fetch up to $1 million.The custom-made 1925 Rolls Royce was originally commissioned by Umed Singh II, the maharaja of Kotah in the 1920s at a time when tiger hunting was hugely popular in India.The flaming red vehicle, with a convertible canvas roof and bespoke hunting features including a double-barreled shotgun, spotlights for night hunting and a mountable Lantaka cannon, is expected to fetch up to $1 million when it goes on the block in mid-August in Carmel, California."It was quite common, most of the maharajahs had specialized customized cars manufactured in the U.S. and they even had gilted frames and all sorts of things," said PranNevile, a writer and expert on India's colonial era known as the British Raj.The car's 8.0-liter, 6-cylinder engine with a low gearing ratio allowed "it to creep powerfully through the roughshod jungles of Rajasthan," wrote Bonhams.For centuries, big game hunting of tigers, leopards and Asiatic lions in India's forests was a favored pastime of India's rulers from the Mughal emperors to the British elite.While much tiger hunting was carried out on elephant-back, some Indian maharajahs, or "great kings" of princely states across India including arid Rajasthan, took things to the extreme."It was more for a show but everything would be ready and then they would then go and take this Rolls Royce up to a point or the hills and from there shoot the tiger that was already captured by their servants," Nevile told Reuters.Indiscriminate hunting, however, decimated India's Bengal tiger population from an estimated 40,000 a century ago to about 1,700 today. Tigers are now a protected keystone species throughout Asia from Indonesia's Sumatra to Indochina and India.Indian maharajas were known for their high living and extravagant spending on all manner of trappings including ornate palaces, vintage cars and Louis Vuitton bags.The nawab, or ruler, of southern Hyderabad state used the famed Koh-i-Noor diamond, once the largest known gemstone in the world, as a paperweight, while the nawab of tiny western Junagadh state was renowned for spending lavishly on his dog's wedding."They wanted to live in ostentatious style. Being a princely lot they had their own grand style and it was even copied by the British," said Nevile

21. Outrage as girls as young as SEVEN are given poledancing lessons - and pictures are posted on gym's Facebookpage26th July 2011Girls as young as seven are being offered pole dancing lessons at a gym - and pictures of their moves have been posted on Facebook. Parents and councillors have raised concerned for the safety of the girls after JLN Pole Fitness in Bolton, Greater Manchester, put the images online. The instructor at the dance studio said the classes are fun, good exercise and do not teach their children anything erotic. Instructor: Jess Leanne Norris, 18, describes her pole fitness classes at her studio in Bolton as 'art'Kate Eaton, 33, from Harwood, takes her daughter Jen to the classes. She said: 'Jen had her seventh birthday party there with her friends. She loves it. 'I do not have a problem with it at all. It is nothing to do with lap dancing, it is gymnastics. It is not in the slightest bit sexual.

23. Pot farms in California forest raided, dozens arrested July 26th, 2011 Nearly 80 people have been arrested in the largest marijuana-eradication law enforcement operation in California history, several local reports say. About 292,000 plants have been discovered, Justice Department spokeswoman Michelle Gregory told the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat.Raids involving local, state and federal authorities have been going on for days in the Mendocino National Forest in remote, mountainous areas in Glenn, Colusa, Tehama, Mendocino, Lake and Trinity counties, according to the Tehama County Daily News.Officials are beginning the massive cleanup of the sites, which have suffered environmental damage, the Daily News and Press-Democrat report.The idea for the operation reportedly came after a public meeting in Covelo in north Mendocino County in 2010. Residents said that armed people had confronted them in and around the forest. Hikers and ranchers also said they had been shot at when they mistakenly walked into areas where marijuana was being grown, the Press-Democrat reports.It's unclear who the growers might be.

24. School Shut Down After Meth Found InsideWednesday, 27 Jul 2011, 10:53 AM EDTCHARLESTON, W.Va. - A West Virginia public vocational school has been shut down indefinitely after traces of methamphetamine were found throughout the building during an investigation of the principal and a teacher.State Police Sgt. Andy Perdue said Monday that traces of the drug were found in the ducts, principal's office, hallways and bathrooms of the Boone County Career and Technical Center. Perdue says the teacher admitted he smoked meth with the principal in the principal's office.He says police do not have evidence the school was used as a meth lab.Teacher Jack Turley faces charges of manufacturing meth and procuring Sudafed for making meth. Principal Keith Phipps faces charges of purchasing over the legal limit of Sudafed.Their attorneys didn't return calls seeking comment.

25. Bikini-clad customer takes issue with WalmartJul 27, 2011 The temperature that day hit 90 degrees, so McMillin threw on a turquoise bikini and a pair of shorts.She said five minutes into her shopping trip while in the clothing aisle, a store employee told her to put on a shirt or leave, saying the swimsuit violated health codes."I was horrified," McMillin told KVAL News. "I am embarrassed.""We just walked in, straight over to the clothing," Vogt said. "It's wrong. If you don't like the way someone looks, don't look at them.“McMillin said employees then escorted her and her sister out of the store."I hadn't done anything obnoxious or outlandish," McMillin said.Walmart spokeswoman Ashley Hardie told KVAL News that McMillin has it all wrong.Hardie said customers complained and McMillin verbally abused people in the store. But Hardie said McMillin was was never escorted outside."We can understand her frustration. It was not our intent to offend the customer, and we have apologized to her," Hardie said. "We have also reinforced with our associates our expectations of how to handle these matters.“McMillin said that is not good enough and that she will never shop at Walmart again

26. Swedish man's thong use prompts police probe22 Jul 11 thelocal.seOn Thursday visitors to a beach on lake Falkträsket, in northern Sweden, witnessed uniformed police turn up and make their way through the sea of towels to question a man in his thirties about his choice of swimwear. The man, who was practising yoga in the sun, was only wearing a thong. “Did they think he was some kind of a sexual criminal just because he was wearing a g-string?” said holiday-maker EllinorPerlefelt to local paper Norran. She was upset by the incident and told the paper she was convinced that it was someone among the other sunbathers that made a complaint to the police. The police confirmed to Norran that it was indeed some of the beach dwellers that had contacted them after witnessing the man adopt yoga positions in the flimsy attire. Witnesses to the incident also told the paper how the police took the man with them to the parking area for a short talk. After that the man went back to his towel, got dressed and left the beach.“It must have been terribly humiliating for him,” said Perlefelt to Norran. According to the paper the police also questioned people who had been sitting nearby on how they had perceived the situation, to find out if there had been any sexual harassment. But according to EllinorPerlefelt the police turning up and questioning the man made for a completely unacceptable situation.“If people are that worried to see naked skin they really shouldn’t go to the beach,” she said to Norran. At the police they concur that the incident was perhaps not handled as well as it could have been.

27. He's a tortured troll August 2, 2011 Obviously, the carpet does not match the drapes. Georgia cops posted this mug shot last week of a 27-year-old man with a troll-doll hairstyle who was busted on a suspicion-of-battery charge. According to the chart behind him, the style-challenged punk, who was not identified, measured about 5 feet, 8 inches tall. Factor in the height of his DayGlo 'do, and he stands more than 6-foot-3. On the other hand, his toy counterpart averages just 6 inches tall. Its fuzzy pink coif puts him at 9 inches. The dolls first hit the market in the late '50s and soon turned into one of the biggest toy fads in the United States by 1963.

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52. Gynoids

60. Kate Upton