Put on your dark shades and suit.  The FBI wants you. 

The FBI's unexpectedly large number of job openings results more from attrition and a wave of retirements than from growing government appropriations, Bureau officials told CNN.

The FBI routinely advertises openings for individuals with critical skills in computer science and language fluency. But John Raucci, assistant director of the FBI's Human Resources Division, says current needs are much more wide-ranging

The lengthy list of openings includes positions in finance and accounting, security, intelligence analysis, training and education, nursing and counseling, physical surveillance, electrical engineering, physical and social sciences, and auto mechanics.

Full listing of available positions and application procedures - Link

Link to article

During this tough economic time, Hyundai Motor America has put together the Hyundai Assurance Program.

...people who finance or lease a new Hyundai during the next 12 months can return the car if they “experience an involuntary loss of income” within one year of the purchase date.

According to a Hyundai press release, buyers can return a vehicle for no additional charge within 12 months of purchase if any of the following occur:

-- Involuntary unemployment
-- Physical disability
-- Loss of driver’s license for medical reasons
-- Job transfer overseas
-- Personal bankruptcy filing by a self-employed worker
-- Accidental death

To qualify, the buyer must have made at least two scheduled payments on the loan or lease and be current on the payments, as well as pay the amount over the $7,500 negative-equity threshold. The value of the vehicle will be determined by the dealer, who will be allowed to re-sell the vehicle, Hyundai said. Returning the car shouldn’t have a negative impact on the customer’s credit, the automaker said.

Link to full article.

How do you know when you are truly in love?  Scientists from Stony Brook University in New York claim they have discovered true love.

Previous research suggested that the first stages of romantic love, a rollercoaster ride of mood swings and obsessions that psychologists call limerence, start to fade within 15 months. After 10 years the chemical tide has ebbed away.

The scans of some of the long-term couples, however, revealed that elements of limerence mature, enabling them to enjoy what a new report calls “intensive companionship and sexual liveliness”.

The researchers nicknamed the couples “swans” because they have similar mental “love maps” to animals that mate for life such as swans, voles and grey foxes.

The reactions of the swans to pictures of their beloved were identified on MRI brain scans as a burst of pleasure-producing dopamine more commonly seen in couples who are gripped in the first flush of lust.

“The findings go against the traditional view of romance – that it drops off sharply in the first decade – but we are sure it’s real,” said Arthur Aron, a psychologist at Stony Brook.

Link to full article

Watercliffe Meadow opened its doors in September.  It has 500 students, classrooms, teachers and a playground.  Technically, it is a school, but calling it a "school" has been forbidden because of its 'negative connotations'. 

'We decided from an early stage we didn't want to use the word "school",' she [Linda Kingdon, headmistress] said yesterday. 'This is Watercliffe Meadow, a place for learning. One reason was many of the parents of the children here had very negative connotations of school.

'Instead we want this to a be a place for family learning, where anyone can come. We were able to start from scratch and create a new type of learning experience. There are no whistles or bells or locked doors.

So would a student get expelled if he or she called it "school"?  Seriously, a school is a school.

Link

Check out the Flickr Pool dedicated entirely to Far Side reenactments.  Have a laugh!  Link.

[Pictured, "First Pants THEN shoes" by Tim Orval]

I was reading this CNN article written by Maureen Salamon and it got me thinking...  What wouldn't you do in front of your spouse? 

Would you fart or belch in front of your spouse? 

Would you let your spouse see you going to the bathroom?  (Number 1?  Number 2?  Or both?)

Would you sing to your spouse even though you know you have a terrible voice?  What about dancing?

Would you pick your nose?  Pick a wedgie?  Pop a zit?  Pick your teeth?

So what are your boundaries?  Share them in the comments.

As Thomas Carter's new photobook CHINA: Portrait of a People makes its debut as the most comprehensive book of photography on modern China ever published by a single author, literati and the press are unable to hold back their acclaim. Following are excerpts from the praise CHINA: Portrait of a People continues to receive from readers and media reviewers:

Are you wondering what to get your young evil genius for the holidays?  You could get your little one the unoriginal alphabet blocks -- you know, "A" is for apple.  Or you could get her alphabet blocks that other kids in her play group will drool over.  A Young Mad Scientist's First Alphabet Blocks has made the alphabet just a bit more interesting.  Link.

You may remember me from my previous Chinglish posts on Blogcadre. Well I have since moved to India and will be sharing a few cultural and life tidbits with you...taking into consideration spontaneous power cuts and ungodly slow internet connections.

Have you ever tried to make the perfect pizza with fresh ingredients without the chewy crust?  Skip eating out and delivery and try this pizza hack over at Serious Eats.  You'll only need a cast-iron skillet and your oven's broiler.  Link.