Some women embrace their birthdays with unbridled excitement, either as an excuse to celebrate with friends or because they like being the center of attention. Other people — especially as they get older — choose to mark their birthdays quietly or not celebrate them at all. Then, of course, there are some folks who even celebrate their half birthdays!

Are you the type who goes all out in celebration of yourself, or would you rather ignore the fact that you're getting older? On that note, has your attitude toward your birthday changed as you've aged? Do tell: Are you a birthday girl? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Scottish government has refused a plan to build a massive windfarm, which would have produced significant amounts of renewable energy. Local authorities and businesses supported the plan, as a way to create at least 600 jobs and give Scotland a market edge in renewable-energy production. Around the world, individuals and corporations looking for a financial windfall are eager to invest in energy from the air.


So is the Scottish government anti-environment? Quite the opposite, actually. The 181 wind turbines — each 140 meters tall, mounted in concrete bases of up to 1,000 cubic meters — would have been build on the Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area, a habit for legally-protected bird species. Thus, it did not comply with EU environmental protection laws.

When businesses push for environmental solutions that ironically have a negative impact on the environment, is greed, rather than green, behind the plans? If governments want to recruit industries and corporations, do they have to allow for some collateral damage?

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I don’t care who you are; embarrassing moments happen to all of us. But countering a humiliating situation with awkwardness only makes it worse. Instead, with a little grace, it’s easy to put an embarrassing situation behind you in no time. To check out my hints on how to deal with the agony that follows a public fall or a foot-in-the-mouth moment, read more

Yesterday, pirates captured a Basque tuna fishing boat off the coast of Somalia. Four armed pirates used a grenade launcher to overtake the 26 crew members on the Spanish boat.

Last year, pirates seized 25 ships off the Somalian coast. Earlier this month, pirates held hostage 30 crew members on a French luxury yacht. After the crew paid a $2 million ransom for its release, the French authorities apprehended the pirates, and they were charged in French court. How do you say "arrrrrrr" in French?

Somalia's poor excuse for a central government cannot control the 3,000-mile coastline. Victimized countries, like France, are forced to take on the pirates themselves. But, even though the US navy patrols the international waters, they are still extremely dangerous.

Do you think a movie about real-life pirates (and not Jack Sparrow) would be as successful, considering they are a result of lawlessness spawned by a humanitarian crisis and political chaos?

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