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The incredible story of how a spreadsheet error led to global budget cuts.

This one's got it all: ideas with stakes as high as the global economy, a 28-year-old grad student, a spreadsheet error, and of course, Stephen Colbert.

The Colbert Report
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  • 1:30-1:57: We get a depressing montage of American leaders using this study as foundation for policy.
  • 2:35-2:45: We meet their European counterparts.
  • 3:53: We meet the 28-year-old grad student who found the error ... in about 5 minutes.
  • 4:45: We learn what the data actually tells us.
  • 6:11: Colbert is, well, just being Colbert.
  • *Just to be clear: The spreadsheet error was the first in a series of mistakes made by professors Reinhart and Rogoff. For a more

    detailed analysis, check out Mike Konczal, who writes at Next New Deal.

    popular

    10 anti-holiday recipes that prove the season can be tasty and healthy

    Balance out heavy holiday eating with some lighter—but still delicious—fare.

    Albertson's

    Lighten your calorie load with some delicious, nutritious food between big holiday meals.

    True

    The holiday season has arrived with its cozy vibe, joyous celebrations and inevitable indulgences. From Thanksgiving feasts to Christmas cookie exchanges to Aunt Eva’s irresistible jelly donuts—not to mention leftover Halloween candy still lingering—fall and winter can feel like a non-stop gorge fest.

    Total resistance is fairly futile—let’s be real—so it’s helpful to arm yourself with ways to mitigate the effects of eating-all-the-things around the holidays. Serving smaller amounts of rich, celebratory foods and focusing on slowly savoring the taste is one way. Another is to counteract those holiday calorie-bomb meals with some lighter fare in between.

    Contrary to popular belief, eating “light” doesn’t have to be tasteless, boring or unsatisfying. And contrary to common practice, meals don’t have to fill an entire plate—especially when we’re trying to balance out heavy holiday eating.

    It is possible to enjoy the bounties of the season while maintaining a healthy balance. Whether you prefer to eat low-carb or plant-based or gluten-free or everything under the sun, we’ve got you covered with these 10 easy, low-calorie meals from across the dietary spectrum.

    Each of these recipes has less than 600 calories (most a lot less) per serving and can be made in less than 30 minutes. And Albertsons has made it easy to find O Organics® ingredients you can put right in your shopping cart to make prepping these meals even simpler.

    Enjoy!

    eggs and green veggies in a skillet, plate of baconNot quite green eggs and ham, but closeAlbertsons

    Breakfast Skillet of Greens, Eggs & Ham

    273 calories | 20 minutes

    Ingredients:

    1 (5 oz) pkg baby spinach

    2 eggs

    1 clove garlic

    4 slices prosciutto

    1/2 medium yellow onion

    1 medium zucchini squash

    1/8 cup butter, unsalted

    1 pinch crushed red pepper

    Find full instructions and shopping list here.

    bow of cauliflower ham saladGet your cauliflower power on.Albertsons

    Creamy Cauliflower Salad with Ham, Celery & Dill

    345 calories | 20 minutes

    1/2 medium head cauliflower

    1 stick celery

    1/4 small bunch fresh dill

    8 oz. ham steak, boneless

    1/2 shallot

    1/4 tspblack pepper

    1/4 tsp curry powder

    2 tsp Dijon mustard

    1/4 tsp garlic powder

    3 Tbsp mayonnaise

    1/8 tsp paprika

    2 tsp red wine vinegar

    1/2 tsp salt

    Find full instructions and shopping list here.

    tofu on skewers on a plate with coleslawPlant-based food fan? This combo looks yums. Albertsons

    Grilled Chili Tofu Skewers with Ranch Cabbage, Apple & Cucumber Slaw

    568 calories | 20 minutes

    1 avocado

    1/2 English cucumber

    1 (12 oz.) package extra firm tofu

    1 Granny Smith apple

    3 Tbsp (45 ml) Ranch dressing

    1/2 (14 oz bag) shredded cabbage (coleslaw mix)

    2 tsp chili powder

    1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

    1/2 tsp garlic powder

    1/2 tsp salt

    Find full instructions and shopping list here.

    frittata in a cast iron skilletSometimes you just gotta frittata.Albertsons

    Bell Pepper, Olive & Sun-Dried Tomato Frittata with Parmesan

    513 calories | 25 minutes

    6 eggs

    1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted

    2 oz Parmesan cheese

    1 red bell pepper

    1/2 medium red onion

    8 sundried tomatoes, oil-packed

    1/4 tsp black pepper

    1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

    1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

    1/4 tsp salt

    Find full instructions and shopping list here.

    plate with slices of grilled chicken and a caprese saladCaprese, if you please.Albertsons

    Balsamic Grilled Chicken with Classic Caprese Salad

    509 calories | 25 minutes

    3/4 lb chicken breasts, boneless skinless

    1/2 small pkg fresh basil

    1/2 (8 oz pkg) fresh mozzarella cheese

    1 clove garlic

    3 tomatoes

    1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

    4 3/4 pinches black pepper

    1 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

    3/4 tsp salt

    Find full instructions and shopping list here.

    four stuffed mushrooms on a plateThese mushrooms look positively poppable.Albertsons

    Warm Goat Cheese, Parmesan & Sun-Dried Tomato Stuffed Mushrooms

    187 calories | 35 minutes

    1/2 lb cremini mushrooms

    1 clove garlic

    1/2 (4 oz) log goat cheese

    1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

    2 sundried tomatoes, oil-packed

    1 1/4 pinches crushed red pepper

    1 tsp extra virgin olive oil

    1/4 tsp Italian seasoning

    2 pinches salt

    Find full instructions and shopping list here.

    plate with open English muffin with goat cheese and sliced baby tomatoes on topMove over, avocado toast. English muffin pizzas have arrived.Albertsons

    English Muffin Pizzas with Basil Pesto, Goat Cheese & Tomatoes

    327 calories | 10 minutes

    3 Tbsp (45 ml) basil pesto

    2 English muffins

    1/2 (4 oz) log goat cheese

    1/2 pint grape tomatoes

    3/4 pinch black pepper

    2 pinches salt

    Find full instructions and shopping list here.

    pita pocket on a plate filled with veggies, meat and cheeseThis pita pocket packs a colorful punch.Albertsons

    Warm Pita Pocket with Turkey, Cheddar, Roasted Red Peppers & Parsley

    313 calories | 20 minutes

    1/4 (8 oz) block cheddar cheese

    1/2 bunch Italian (flat-leaf) parsley

    4 oz oven roasted turkey breast, sliced

    1/2 (12 oz) jar roasted red bell peppers

    1 whole grain pita

    3/4 pinch black pepper

    1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

    2 tsp mayonnaise

    Find full instructions and shopping list here.

    plate with toast smeared with avocado and topped with prosciuttoDid we say, "Move over, avocado toast?" What we meant was "Throw some prosciutto on it!" Albertsons

    Avocado Toast with Crispy Prosciutto

    283 calories | 10 minutes

    1 avocado

    2 slices prosciutto

    2 slices whole grain bread

    1 5/8 tsp black pepper

    1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

    1/8 tsp garlic powder

    1/8 tsp onion powder

    Find full instructions and shopping list here.

    bowl of chili with cheese and green onions on topVegetarian chili with a fall twistAlbertsons

    Black Bean & Pumpkin Chili with Cheddar

    444 calories | 30 minutes

    2 (15 oz can) black beans

    1/2 (8 oz ) block cheddar cheese

    2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes

    2 cloves garlic

    2 green bell peppers

    1 small bunch green onions (scallions)

    1 (15 oz) can pure pumpkin purée

    1 medium yellow onion

    1/2 tsp black pepper

    5 7/8 tsp chili powder

    1/2 tsp cinnamon

    2 tsp cumin, ground

    1 tsp salt

    1 Tbsp virgin coconut oil

    Find full instructions and shopping list here.

    For more delicious and nutritious recipes, visit albertsons.com/recipes.

    Health

    Artists got fed up with these 'anti-homeless spikes.' So they made them a bit more ... comfy.

    "Our moral compass is skewed if we think things like this are acceptable."

    Photo courtesy of CC BY-ND, Immo Klink and Marco Godoy

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    These are called "anti-homeless spikes." They're about as friendly as they sound.

    As you may have guessed, they're intended to deter people who are homeless from sitting or sleeping on that concrete step. And yeah, they're pretty awful.

    The spikes are a prime example of how cities design spaces to keep homeless people away.

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    What is Depression?

    In the United States, close to 10% of the population has depression, but sometimes it can take a long time for someone to even understand that they have it.

    One difficulty in diagnosis is trying to distinguish between feeling down and experiencing clinical depression. This TED-Ed video from December 2015 can help make the distinction. With simple animation, the video explains how clinical depression lasts longer than two weeks with a range of symptoms that can include changes in appetite, poor concentration, restlessness, sleep disorders (either too much or too little), and suicidal ideation. The video briefly discusses the neuroscience behind the illness, outlines treatments, and offers advice on how you can help a friend or loved one who may have depression.

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    Madalyn shared with her colleagues about her own mental health.


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    A brave fan asks Patrick Stewart a question he doesn't usually get and is given a beautiful answer

    Patrick Stewart often talks about his childhood and the torment his father put him and his mother through.

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    When her 5-year-old broke his leg, this mom raised $0. It's actually inspiring.

    Her crowdfunding alternative is so obvious, it's shocking America hasn't taken advantage of it.


    Freddie Teer is a normal boy. He loves Legos, skateboarding, and horsing around with his older brother Ollie. But in March 2017, his mother faced every parent's worst nightmare.

    Photo via iStock.

    Freddie was doing tricks down the stairs of his front porch when he fell off his bike — and his bike fell on him.

    "[He was] just crying, wouldn't let us touch his leg, couldn't put any weight on his leg. We knew," mom Ashley says.

    Ashley rushed Freddie to the emergency room, where an X-ray confirmed the bones in his left shin were broken in half. He needed to be sedated, his bones set and put in a cast. It was an agonizing day for the Teers. But it's what happened next that was truly inspiring.

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    Around 1 a.m. on April 24, semi-truck drivers in the Oak Park area of Michigan received a distress call from area police: An unidentified man was standing on the edge of a local bridge, apparently ready to jump onto the freeway below.

    Those drivers then did something amazing. They raced to the scene to help — and lined up their trucks under the bridge, providing a relatively safe landing space should the man jump.

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