12 Things That Will Be Less Expensive in 2012

Does the sagging economy, national debt, and our previous list of the 11 things that will be more expensive in 2012 have ya feeling down? Well, here's something to look forward to: to help counteract some of that 2012 gloom, we've gathered 12 items we predict will cost less in the coming year. From TVs to laptops, cash-strapped shoppers should keep an eye on prices for these items; even wine might see notable discounts next year! So cheer up and read on for the good consumer news. READ MORE HERE

 

 

The leaning tower... of Pizza Hut's salad bar: Diner devises 3ft pile to get round rules at local restaurant

By COLIN FERNANDEZ

It's a conundrum that’s long challenged gluttons and hard-up students.

But now a scientist claims he has worked out how to truly make the most of a buffet bar – by piling food into a 3ft-high tower.

Unfortunately, while it allows you to eat vast quantities, the results don’t exactly look appetising.

Shen Hongrui, a Chinese engineer, advises hungry diners to build strong ‘walls’ with cucumber and carrots, creating a tall container on their plate to fill with their favourite foods.

He devised the set of instructions to get around the ‘one bowl, one visit’ rule at the salad bar in his local Pizza Hut in Beijing.

First, he tells diners to build a solid base, ideally with chickpeas and potatoes. ‘The foundations are very important, so choose dry and strong material,’ he says.

Next, would-be gluttons must create a layer of carrot sticks radiating from the centre to act as a scaffold. READ MORE HERE

 

 

Forget Stocks Or Bonds, Invest In A Lobbyist

by ALEX BLUMBERG

Corporations don't lobby Congress for fun. They lobby because it helps their bottom line. Getting a regulation gutted or a tax loophole created means extra cash for the corporation. But getting laws changed can be very expensive. How much money does a corporation get back from investing in a good lobbyist?

It's a messy, secretive system so it was always hard to study. But in 2004, economists found a bill so simple, so lucrative, that they could finally track the return on lobbying investment.

The American Jobs Creation Act benefited hundreds of multinational corporations with a huge, one-time tax break. Without the law, companies that brought profits earned abroad back to the U.S. had to pay a tax rate of 35 percent. With the law, that rate dropped to just over 5 percent. It saved those companies billions of dollars. READ MORE HERE

 

 

‘If Fred Got Two Beatings Per Day…’ Homework Asks

Jan 7, 2012 6:07pm

Third graders in in Gwinnett County, Ga., were given math homework Wednesday that asked questions about slavery and beatings.

Christopher Braxton told ABC News affiliate WSB-TV in Atlanta that he couldn’t believe the assignment his 8-year-old son brought home from of Beaver Ridge Elementary school in Norcross.

“It kind of blew me away,” Braxton said. “Do you see what I see? Do you really see what I see? He’s not answering this question.”

The question read, “Each tree had 56 oranges. If eight slaves pick them equally, then how much would each slave pick?” READ MORE HERE

 

 

Papa John's customer: Pizza joint called me 'lady chinky eyes'

BY NINA MANDELL / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Published: Saturday, January 7 2012, 5:22 PM

She ordered a small pepperoni pie — and got a side of racism.

Minhee Cho, 24, was shocked when she learned she had been described by a Papa John's employee as “lady chinky eyes.”

The public relations rep spotted the disparaging phrase on her receipt Saturday a day after visiting a Hamilton Heights branch of the popular pizzeria.

“Hey @PapaJohns just FYI my name isn’t ‘lady chinky eyes,’” Cho tweeted, along with the an image of the offensive receipt.

“I was very surprised because the lady that was serving me was super nice and we joked and it seemed super normal,” said Cho, an uptown resident.

Papa John's tweeted Saturday evening that the employee is being  axed.

"We are very upset by recent receipt issue in New York & sincerely apologize to our customer. Franchise employee involved is being terminated," the tweet said. READ MORE HERE

 

 

The land of surfing, barbies... and dope. Study shows more Australians take marijuana than any other nationality

By GARETH FINIGHAN

Last updated at 7:59 AM on 9th January 2012

It's known for its spectacular wildlife, rugged scenery and surfing culture.

But a new study shows why Australians may have developed another national trait - a laid-back, casual lifestyle with plenty of time on the beach and an informal approach to almost anything.

For researchers from the universities of Queensland and New South Wales have found that the continent has the highest per capita consumption of marijuana in the world.

Australia and New Zealand topped the league table despite evidence to suggest that consumption there has been falling for more than a decade. Although not legal in Australia, use of the drug is widely accepted and three states are pushing to have the substance decriminalised.

Researcher Wayne Hall said the geography of the country - which includes large areas of open space difficult to police - and a culture which centres around intoxicants, were likely reasons for Australia topping the table. READ MORE HERE

 

  

Penis tattoo gives guy permanent erection