Sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll and the Apocalypse: 2012 had it all. But only 10 stories about the past year's strangest scientific research can make it into our Weird Science hall of fame ? so we're going to need your help.
Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/hardball/50300018/
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DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS Enlarge Image
Kerry Strayton, 61, is looking to retire in places such as Colombia, Uruguay and Thailand to stretch his retirement dollar.
TORONTO -- Dwindling pension benefits are forcing many Canadians to rethink how they'll spend their golden years, but that doesn't necessarily mean giving up their dreams of a sun-soaked retirement.
Some experts say with proper planning, uprooting to an exotic locale can actually help cash-strapped seniors stretch their retirement dollars.
Aside from milder temperatures, they say many of the destinations favoured by Canadians -- including parts of Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica -- offer another advantage prized by those on a fixed income: a lower cost of living.
"It's sometimes assumed that an international retirement vision or lifestyle is something that wealthy people pursue," said Rod Burylo, a Calgary-based financial adviser specializing in international retirement.
"The reality is... some people retire to Mexico because it's so darn cheap," he said.
"One could reason, therefore, that if the economy suffered and their finances suffered, they may be more inclined to retire to Mexico because... they could have a better quality of life than they could have here."
Many Canadians are having to make tough financial choices -- including prolonging their careers or downsizing their homes -- in preparing for retirement as debt-ridden governments and companies scale back benefits.
While financial considerations alone are rarely enough to prompt a drastic change of scenery, they often play an important role in the decision-making process, according to a recent survey by the BMO Retirement Institute.
The survey by one of Canada's largest banks found more than 70 per cent of Canadians aged 45 or older have given thought to where they want to live out their golden years.
But it also found that while many fantasize about retreating to faraway lands, just over 10 per cent of respondents said they were willing to follow through and leave Canadian soil.
"I think you get people moving abroad for two reasons," said Brian Burlacoff, a financial adviser with Sun Life Financial.
"You get a proportion of people who do want to spend time very purposely outside of Canada -- snowbirds, for example, in Florida or Arizona -- (and) they have a plan for that," he said.
"But the other group that you get moving away are people that have no plan and they're kind of drawing at straws because they have to find a place that's less expensive to live in order to carry out their retirement objectives."
That kind of "reactive" move, he said, is similar to trading a downtown Toronto lifestyle for a more affordable one in a neighbouring suburb.
But unlike a simple hop across municipal borders, crossing national boundaries can have serious tax and health-care implications, he warned.
And even regions where the average day-to-day costs are low can drain the savings of those without a clear budget plan, he said.
A guidebook published by the Department of Foreign Affairs lays out the potential pitfalls for those looking to retire abroad, from the loss of Canadian citizenship or residency -- and the resulting loss of health coverage -- to the intricacies of foreign tax systems.
"Many developing countries lack the resources to collect taxes on foreign-source income, so they compensate by imposing high consumption taxes or import duties," the document reads.
"Make sure you take into account all taxes, duties and fees, as well as the withholding taxes you will pay on income originating in Canada."
Burlacoff and Burylo both recommend consulting an adviser who understands the specific challenges involved, and keeping in touch throughout the preparations and after the move.
At 61, Kerry Strayton believes he's still up to a decade away from retirement, but that hasn't stopped the Richmond, B.C., resident from getting a head start on his plans to retire abroad.
He's already "actively researching" possible destinations for him and his wife, such as Colombia, Uruguay and Thailand -- places with a pleasant climate and a thriving cultural scene, that he says are accessible enough that their son and daughter will be able to visit.
Moving seems like a necessity for the couple, who Strayton says will have to live off their savings and his wife's "small, very modest" pension, given that his employer doesn't offer a pension plan of its own.
He estimates it would cost roughly $1,500 a month in one of his chosen destinations to keep the same standard of living that would cost $2,500 in Richmond.
"To be honest, living in this part of the country in particular, which is very, very expensive, it's hard to see how we would manage to have at least some kind of reasonable lifestyle," he said.
Many unknowns remain: For one thing, the couple hasn't decided whether to make a permanent move or take the more popular snowbird route.
But with several more years of squirrelling away savings ahead, the pair has some time to figure it out.
And in the meantime, Strayton said, they'll be checking out the top contenders to see which one could eventually become their new home.
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-- The Canadian Press
Source: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/finance/not-exactly-a-foreign-idea-184783561.html
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I?d like to take this moment to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!
May the joy and peace of the season be with your family, your friends, and most of all, with you. Whether you spend it with others or on your own, remember that the holiday lasts for only a very short time each year ? so savor it. (And if you?re not a great lover of this holiday, well, it?ll be over before you know it now.)
And from one of my favorite classics, White Christmas:
If you?re worried and you can?t sleep,
Just count your blessings instead of sheep,
And you?ll fall asleep? counting your blessings.
From our entire Psych Central family ? the staff, writers, bloggers, editors, community volunteers, moderators and administrators ? we wish you a wonderful and joyous Christmas. Peace.
Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.Like this author?
Catch up on other posts by John M. Grohol, PsyD (or subscribe to their feed).
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APA Reference
Grohol, J. (2012). Merry Christmas 2012. Psych Central. Retrieved on December 26, 2012, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/12/25/merry-christmas-2012/
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Source: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/12/25/merry-christmas-2012/
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's condition has "improved slightly" after a cancer operation in Cuba, the information minister said on Monday, amid doubts over whether the former soldier is in good enough health to continue governing.
"The patient has shown a slight improvement in his condition," Venezuelan Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said during a terse televised statement, adding the president has maintained contact with family members.
Chavez has not been heard from in two weeks following a fourth operation for an unspecified type of cancer in the pelvic region. The government has said he suffered post-operatory complications including unexpected bleeding and a lung infection, but offered few details about his actual condition.
His death, or even his resignation for health reasons, would upend the politics of the South American OPEC nation where his personalized brand of oil-financed socialism has made him a hero to the poor but a pariah to critics who call him a dictator.
His allies are now openly discussing the possibility that he may not be back in time to be sworn in for his third six-year term on the constitutionally mandated date of January 10.
Opposition leaders say a delay to his taking power would be another signal that Chavez is not in condition to govern and that fresh elections should be called to choose his replacement.
They believe they have a better shot against Chavez's anointed successor, Vice President Nicolas Maduro, than against the charismatic president who for 14 years has been nearly invincible at the ballot box.
But a constitutional dispute over succession could lead to a messy transition toward a post-Chavez era.
Maduro has become the government's main figurehead in the president's absence. His speeches have mimicked Chavez's bombastic style that mixes historical references with acid insults of adversaries.
Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who lost to Chavez in the October presidential vote, slammed Maduro in an interview published on Sunday for failing to seek dialogue with the opposition at a time of political uncertainty.
"Maduro is not the one that won the elections, nor is he the leader," Capriles told the local El Universal newspaper. "Because Chavez is absent, this is precisely the time that (Maduro) needs help from people (in the opposition camp)."
Chavez has vastly expanded presidential powers and built a near-cult following among millions of poor Venezuelans, who love his feisty language and social welfare projects.
The opposition is smarting from this month's governors elections in which Chavez allies won 20 of 23 states. They are trying to keep attention focused on day-to-day problems from rampant crime to power outages.
(Reporting by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/venezuelas-chavez-improves-slightly-cancer-surgery-official-212850292.html
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WASHINGTON (AP) ? National Rifle Association executive Wayne LaPierre says the American people think it would be "crazy" not to put armed guards in every school, as the group has suggested in the wake of the massacre at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.
LaPierre also contends that any new efforts by Congress to regulate guns or ammunition would not prevent mass shootings.
LaPierre's comments on NBC's "Meet the Press" reinforced the position that the largest gun-rights lobby took on Friday when it broke its weeklong silence on the shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
That stand has described by some lawmakers as tone-deaf.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., says LaPierre blames everything but guns for a series of mass shootings in recent years.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nra-public-wants-armed-guards-every-school-151217671.html
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Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who has touted his <a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/12/mormon-senator-mike-crapo-gets-arrested-drunk-driving-bad-jokes-follow/60290/" target="_hplink">Mormon religion</a> in the past, was <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/23/mike-crapo-dui_n_2357148.html?utm_hp_ref=politics" target="_hplink">arrested</a> in Alexandria, Virginia for driving under the influence. Crapo released the <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/mike-crapo-drunk-driving-85451.html" target="_hplink">following statement</a> on his arrest: "I am deeply sorry for the actions that resulted in this circumstance," Crapo said. "I made a mistake for which I apologize to my family, my Idaho constituents and any others who have put their trust in me. I accept total responsibility and will deal with whatever penalty comes my way in this matter. I will also undertake measures to ensure that this circumstance is never repeated."
Then-Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) was a proponent of the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would have banned states from recognizing same-sex marriage. "Marriage is the cornerstone on which our society was founded," he argued on the Senate floor in 2004. He also called on President Bill Clinton to resign over the Monica Lewinsky scandal, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/16/ensign-whacked-clinton-fo_n_216508.html">saying it had destroyed the president's credibility</a>. Yet in 2009, Ensign admitted that he had had an extramarital affair with a former campaign staffer who was also the wife of one of his top aides. An ethics investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee and the FBI followed, and<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/21/john-ensign-resigns-reports_n_852285.html"> Ensign resigned</a> in 2011.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) has a long and rich history of hypocrisy, including receiving a reported $1.6 million in consulting fees from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac before blaming the mortgage giants for the country's housing crisis and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/newt-gingrich-endorses-obamacare-individual-mandate-audio-2012-1">endorsing President Barack Obama's health care plan</a> before the 2012 presidential primary campaign, during which he hammered Mitt Romney's Massachusetts plan for being similar to Obamacare. But his crowning hypocrisy was probably leading impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton in the 1990s over the Monica Lewinsky scandal while Gingrich himself was having an extramarital affair. His ex-wife Marianne recently claimed that while they were married, Newt <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/19/open-marriage-newt-gingrich-marianne-affair-_n_1217944.html">requested an "open marriage" </a>so that he could continue the affair with his now-wife, Callista.
Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) stepped down as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee after <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/02/charles-rangel-censured-censure_n_791289.html">he was congressionally censured</a> for failing to pay income taxes and filing misleading financial statements, among other misdeeds. But that didn't stop him from hammering Mitt Romney for his lack of transparency on tax returns. "Before he judges other people about paying federal income taxes, Governor Romney should come clean about the tax returns he's hiding from voters," Rangel said.
The failed vice presidential candidate has been an outspoken opponent of earmark spending, but that didn't stop Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) from <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/27/paul-ryan-emails-stimulus_n_2027975.html">arranging a $735,000 earmark</a> to construct a transit center in his hometown of Janesville, Wis. Likewise, after slamming President Barack Obama's stimulus package, Ryan sought stimulus funds for several projects in his district.
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) was the original sponsor of legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but her war against "socialized medicine" hasn't stopped husband Marcus from <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-bachmann-20110626,0,7400031,print.story">applying for public funds</a> for his "pray away the gay" counseling practice. Bachmann, an outspoken opponent of big government, has also <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-bachmann-20110626,0,7400031,print.story">personally benefited from federal farm subsidies</a>. She recently described the Internal Revenue Service, which earlier in her career employed her to sue people in tax collection cases, as <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/07/11/264991/bachmann-tax-collector-irs/">"the most heartless organization anyone knows of." </a>
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has loudly congratulated himself for the GOP House jobs package -- even though economists say the package's 32 bills <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/24/republican-jobs-bills_n_1687647.html">will do little to create jobs</a> -- while working hard to block President Barack Obama?s $447 billion jobs plan. A longtime critic of wasteful government spending, Boehner (along with other House Republican leaders) <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/16/doma-house-republicans_n_1971666.html">spent $1.5 million</a> defending the Defense of Marriage Act.
He won an Oscar for "An Inconvenient Truth" and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21262661/ns/us_news-environment/t/gore-un-climate-panel-win-nobel-peace-prize/#.UKqNy2mMF9Q">a Nobel Peace Prize</a> for his work on climate change, but Al Gore's own carbon footprint was once an inconvenient issue. His 20-room Nashville mansion and pool house in 2006 <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/GlobalWarming/story?id=2906888&page=1#.UKqO42mMF9Q">racked up $30,000 in utility bills</a>, consuming more than 20 times the national home average, according to a report by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research. A Gore spokesperson <a href="http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/despite-home-upgrades-gore-still-%E2%80%98hypocrite%E2%80%99-energy-usage-group-says">disputed the conservative think tank's report</a> and said that renovations on the home cut its electricity and natural gas consumption about 40 percent by the next year.
Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), a famed segregationist, spent many of his 48 years in the U.S. Senate fighting racial integration and equality, punctuated by his 24-hour filibuster in a failed attempt to kill the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Six months after Thurmond's death in 2003, a biracial woman named Essie Mae Washington-Williams revealed that the late senator was her father. Her mother was 16 and working for Thurmond?s parents when she became pregnant.
From his opposition to President Barack Obama's health care reform, which was patterned after his own plan in Massachusetts, to his politically expedient shifts in positions on immigration, climate change and abortion, Mitt Romney has a record of hypocrisy too expansive and well documented for any Etch A Sketch to erase.
During his time in office, former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) introduced a bill against child pornography, fought to expand federal sex offender laws, supported anti-gay legislation and chaired the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children. Then he was caught sending graphic sex messages to underage males working as congressional pages. He quickly resigned in 2006.
When Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) admitted his involvement in the "D.C. Madam" scandal in 2007, it didn?t end his career or lead to any criminal charges. It also didn't end his attempts to narrow prosecutorial discretion for others in vulnerable positions. At a hearing last year on the HALT Act, which would have suspended discretionary immigration protections, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) <a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/07/sen_david_vitter_called_hypocr.html">accused Vitter</a> of "hypocrisy to seek to limit the use of discretion when one has enjoyed the benefit himself." Vitter has also advocated for abstinence-only sex education and in 2004 ran on a "family values" platform that included opposition to same-sex marriage.
Sarah Palin has been an outspoken opponent of President Barack Obama's health care plan, but a more socialized system wasn't always so problematic for her. In 2010, she admitted to having taken <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/08/palin-crossed-border-for_n_490080.html"> trips across the Canadian border</a> to receive single-payer health care long before she brought "death panels" into the war against the Affordable Care Act.
Former Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) is best known for his 2007 airport bathroom trip that ended in a same-sex-sting arrest for lewd conduct after he allegedly solicited sex from an undercover officer. Craig blamed his wandering foot on his "wide stance" but resigned later that year. While in office, he had supported the anti-gay marriage Federal Marriage Amendment and voted against a measure to include anti-gay bias in hate crimes legislation. He received a rating of zero from the Human Rights Campaign for his votes on LGBT issues.
While serving as the Democratic governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer was brought down by a federal wiretap that revealed he patronized a $1,000-an-hour prostitute named Ashley Dupre at a Washington, D.C., hotel. Further investigation uncovered the prostitution ring Emperors Club VIP, and numerous money transfers to the club were traced back to Client 9 -- the governor. As New York state attorney general, Spitzer <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/03/report_governor_spitzer_involv.html">prosecuted at least two prostitution rings</a>, and as governor he forced state comptroller Alan Hevesi out of office for the comparatively minor offense of using a state car and chauffeur for his sick wife.
Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.) just won a second term despite <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/15/scott-desjarlais-approved_n_2140171.html">recent revelations</a> that he had sex with a patient while working as a physician and later urged her to get an abortion. Yet DesJarlais' campaign platform opposed abortion. "All life should be cherished and protected. We are pro-life," his website stated. There?s more. According to transcripts from his 2001 divorce proceedings, released after the election, the congressman and his then-wife made a "mutual" decision for her to have two abortions while they were married.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/24/political-hypocrites_n_2352328.html
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