Author: Jen Talley

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Jen Tally is a freelance writer, editor and librarian.

5 Surprising Celebrity Foreclosures

During the first quarter of 2010, one in every 138 housing units in the United States received a foreclosure notice. With unemployment at record highs, it’s hardly surprising that so many people find themselves unable to afford their houses. You might think wealthy celebs would buck this trend, but you’d be wrong: rappers, actors, and […]

6 Crimes Committed by Guys in Santa Suits

Santa Claus knows when you are sleeping.  He also knows when you’re awake – and he’ll use that information to assault,  kidnap and rob you. Here are 6 crimes committed by guys in Santa suits: 1) Motorcycle Kidnapper Santa Don’t trust a Santa on a motorcycle. A family stopping for gas in Columbia, South Carolina […]

The 8 Worst Riots in American History

Riots have made a huge mark on American history. Whether incited by racial conflicts, perceived injustices, or police brutality, a riot can cause such destruction that it blights the landscape and destroys burgeoning progress in an area. Sometimes, however, in the aftermath of violence, social movements begin that result in improved conditions. Eight of the […]

The Truth About China’s One Child Policy

China is in the news frequently as the country grows wealthier and more powerful. Any examination of Chinese economics, politics or history usually includes a mention of China’s “one-child” policy, the government’s official population control method. But what is it, really? How and why does the government of China control the country’s birth rate, and […]

6 Ridiculous Inventions That Make Great Holiday Presents

United States patent law specifies that to be patented, an invention must be both new and useful. Canned sandwiches? Bras that hold beverages? Definitely new. “Useful,” apparently, is a fairly subjective qualification, as shown by the following inventions. All of these are currently available for purchase, just in time for your holiday shopping! The Wine […]

5 Real Life Crimes Stemming From Virtual Worlds

Murder. Assault. Fraud. The cyber world has its share of illegal activity, most in the form of spam and phishing schemes. The law is evolving to find way to deal with these virtual crimes, but some serious transgressions are not just planned using online resources; some criminals have been motivated by their cyber activities to […]

5 Financial Benefits You Can Only Get By Having Kids

It’s a fact: kids are expensive. From pricey baby gear to piano lessons, orthodontics to college tuition, making the choice to have children is guaranteed to cost you a fortune. Stressed and exhausted new parents might be relieved to know, however, that along with sticky kisses, dirty diapers, and general chaos there are actually some […]

Top Secret Security Clearance: How Easy Is It to Get, Really?

You may have seen the recent Washington Post report that revealed approximately 854,000 people have top-secret U.S. government security clearance. There are 33 buildings in the Washington D.C. metro area alone, totaling 17 million square feet of space, devoted to top-secret intelligence work. It seems a bit counter-intuitive for the equivalent of the entire population […]