TresSugar

Study Suggests That We Think Clearer on Sunny Days

TresSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:00:18 -0700

If you have a big decision to make, you might want to hurry up and make it before the sunny Summer's over.

New research reveals that not only are people more moody on cloudy days, but they actually have cloudier brains too! During a study on strokes, researchers coincidentally discovered a positive correlation between cognitive impairment and gloomy weather. While the study focused on people already prone to depression, experts say the findings can likely be extended to others. So you're probably better off making big decisions on days when the sky is clear and so is your mind.

Does the weather ever impact the way you think?

Source: Flickr User xlordashx

Briefing Book! French Workers Hold Bosses Hostage

CitizenSugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:00:13 -0700

French workers angry at Caterpillar for cutting 700 jobs are holding their bosses hostage in their offices. – CNN
In Europe, it's war of the rosés. - YumSugar
Trya tells you everything you need to know about sex changes.- Jezebel
Man gets DUI on motorized bar stool. - Huffington Post
Despite intense snowstorm, the water levels of the Red River in Fargo, ND, are slowly falling. - New York Times
Despite Obama being hit by the left and right, 42 percent of Americans think the country is on the right track, up from 15 percent in December. - The Daily Beast
The Obama administration has given up on bipartisanship. - Slate
Authors worried about Kindle for the wrong reasons. - Boing Boing
Poll dancing as an Olympic sport? - Feministing

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7 Outdoor Date Ideas

DearSugar — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

I hope my list of eight things to look forward to this Spring is helping you count down the minutes to Friday - I for one cannot wait! And while you can do most of those things with others, I thought you'd like to hear my seven outdoor date ideas, too - enjoy!

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Spring Has Not Sprung: Snow Blankets the East Coast

CitizenSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:30:52 -0800

The White House is extra white today. Epic snowfall has blanketed the US capital and much of the East Coast. Many of the nation's school children are celebrating a snow day! That includes Sasha and Malia Obama, which I found out watching the national news this morning. I guess it counts as breaking news! The snowy weather has caused educational disruptions, airline delays, car accidents, and power outages. But it also makes for some lovely photographs. Check out these wintry shots before the sun comes out to melt the snow away. Source

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The Snow Man: China Delivers Unique Snowflakes to Masses

CitizenSugar — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:00:44 -0800

Last Summer, China kept Beijing's skies clear, mostly, during the Olympics by shooting chemicals into clouds - or cloud seeding, as it's called. It ensured rainclouds spilled themselves somewhere, anywhere, away from the Olympic games. Now the country's at it again, only this time it's to ease a three-month drought that's dried up 12 of China's 23 provinces.

Cloud seeding injects silver iodide, dry ice, and salt into the sky, accelerating the natural process. Though little scientific evidence exists to say it works, Chinese scientists gladly accept credit when it does. And while it's not considered harmful (well, maybe a little?), it can go awry.

Last year Russia was clearing the sky for a national holiday (it's routine!), when an iodide-ice-salt mix failed to dissolve and a hunk of cement fell from the sky, oops, damaging a house but not hurting anyone.

Thankfully no cement fell on China this week, just three days of artificially inseminated snow. It was a rare treat for the Beijing area; twice as many tourists as usual came to the Great Wall. Huh. Maybe it should snow more often?

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On Fire: Australia Battles Deadliest Natural Disaster in History

LibertySugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:58:31 -0800

Victoria, Australia is welcoming cooler weather, as authorities say it will take several more days to contain blazes that have killed over 100 people.

On site last weekend, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd proclaimed: "Hell and all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria in the past 24 hours." These residents can thank a record breaking heatwave and perhaps arsonists for the hellish experience.

Australia's federal government will be there to help pick up the pieces, and the tab, for those who suffered damage, thanks to a $10 million disaster relief fund. Each adult will get $1,000 and an extra $400 for each child. Victims can apply for other grants, such as a re-establishment grant, totaling $26,000.

Do you think governments should pay for disaster relief and reconstruction?

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Heat Wave! Record Highs Burn Australia

LibertySugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:30:54 -0800

The Midwest might be suffering from severe Winter storms and power outages, but Down Under record-high temperatures are torturing rural towns with wild fires, and Australian Open tennis players and spectators with heat stroke. In Melbourne, temperatures reached 113 F° (45.1°C), marking the third consecutive day with temperatures over 109°F (43°C).

The conditions have been described as furnace-like, and the professional tennis players in town have quicker feet than usual - they say their feet feel like they're burning through their shoes.

If it's chilly in your neck of the woods, these pics from Australia will surely warm you up!

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Yes, But Will I Need an Umbrella?

GiggleSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:11:17 -0800

I'm not sure what kind of weather report this is, but it's harshing my mellow!

Front Page: Travelers and Shoppers Face Subzero Temps Around US

CitizenSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 08:00:40 -0800

Subzero temperatures have hit the Midwest with high winds driving the windchill to 25 degrees below zero. Around the entire US, record snow and cold temperatures are being recorded. - AP
Toyota has projected its first loss in 70 years, the first since the Japanese car company began such reports. - San Francisco Chronicle
Muntadar al-Zaidi, the journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush, will stand trial on Dec. 31. He faces a prison term of five to 15 years for aggression against a head of state. - BBC News

Rahm Emanuel only had one "courtesy" phone conversation with Gov. Blagojevich, according to sources familiar with the Obama team's yet-to-be released report. Most of the conversation involved Rahm's House of Representative's seat, with only a passing reference to Obama's Senate seat. - ABC News

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Texas Says Hello (Hurricane) Dolly!

LibertySugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:42 -0700

Yesterday, Hurricane Dolly made landfall in Southern Texas in the town of South Padre Island, with 120 mph winds ripping roofs off homes, pouring down rain, and sending residents looking for shelter. Contact with land brought the winds down from category 2 speeds to category 1, and now flooding along the Rio Grande has become the main concern over the next few days, thanks to Dolly's "sluggish nature."

Over 3,000 residents of low-lying areas by the river and the coast went to crowded schools for shelter. One school had 800 evacuees, including children and babies. Insurance experts estimate the Dolly's insurance company price tag to be $1.2 billion. Damage caused in Mexico will be about a quarter of that. While avoiding the valuable oil rigs in the Gulf, the heavy rain and wind most likely destroyed the cotton fields in the region.

Meteorologists see indications that the rest of this year's hurricane season could be very active - so hold on!

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