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• Memorial Day Plans

  About.com 15-Minute Fashion

  15 May 2012 | 3:46 am

  Raise your hand if you have an exciting Memorial Day weekend trip planned! I'm headed to Mexico for the week--it also happens to coincide with my birthday so my hubby and I decided to splurge a bit. (That's us in Turks & Caicos, right) Getting ready for the first beach trip of the season is a challenge, between squeezing in waxing appointments, pedicure appointments and the like.  That's why I wrote--and will be glad to have--these two beach vacation stories:...Read Full Post

• Visiting Fort McHenry

  About.com 19th Century History

  14 May 2012 | 6:22 am

  I recently visited Maryland to see how the state is preparing for the War of 1812 Bicentennial, and a highlight was a visit to Baltimore's Fort McHenry. Francis Scott Key, ...Read Full Post

• Eleanor Roosevelt: The First Lady of the World

  About.com 20th Century History

  3 May 2012 | 5:14 pm

  Eleanor Roosevelt was always serious. When she was young, her mother even used to call her "Granny," a name that upset little Eleanor. When she was older, Eleanor put that seriousness to good use. ...Read Full Post

• This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - X - "See How We Are"

  About.com 80s Music

  12 May 2012 | 3:29 pm

  Though pioneering Los Angeles punk rock band X had become a shadow of itself by 1987, the year its penultimate studio LP, See How We Are, was released, the long-term creative duo of John Doe and Exene Cervenka still managed to make some important music together following both the end of their marriage (to each other) and the loss of an essential founding member. Guitarist Billy Zoom, after all, had been a major part of the band's driving, kinetically exhilarating sound, and the addition of two perfectly inspired guitarists (Tony Gilkyson and roots rock legend Dave Alvin) could not be expected…

• Sparkle and Shine with Orange Accessories

  About.com Accessories

  10 May 2012 | 6:59 pm

  From beauty to fashion, orange has become the new "it" color of style. For a fun way to accessorize with this popular color, check out these Orange Drop Earrings from Dorothy Perkins. Between the unique shape and combination of gold and orange, you'll be sure to stand out from the crowd. I could see these earrings working extremely well with a summer dress or loose fitting romper. It's perfect for creating an effortlessly chic and casual bohemian look. For just $11, you'll have a stunning pair of earrings to spice up your next outfit. Photo courtesy of Anthropologie.com

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  About.com 15-Minute Fashion

• Memorial Day Plans

  15 May 2012 | 3:46 am

  Raise your hand if you have an exciting Memorial Day weekend trip planned! I'm headed to Mexico for the week--it also happens to coincide with my birthday so my hubby and I decided to splurge a bit. (That's us in Turks & Caicos, right) Getting ready for the first beach trip of the season is a challenge, between squeezing in waxing appointments, pedicure appointments and the like.  That's why I wrote--and will be glad to have--these two beach vacation stories:...Read Full Post

• Piperlime to Open a Bricks and Mortar Store

  14 May 2012 | 6:06 am

  If you like Piperlime as much as I do, you'll be thrilled to hear that the online store is opening it's first retail store in New York City later this year. The 4,000 square foot store will be at 121 Wooster Street in SoHo. "Our customers have been asking for a place where they can experience Piperlime in person, and New York is the perfect location for this," said Jennifer Gosselin, senior vice president and general manager of Piperlime. "Since introducing Piperlime in 2006, we've built a loyal following of fashion-involved women looking for a mix of the best styles from the brands they love…

• Mally 24/7 Professional Gel Nail System

  10 May 2012 | 2:20 am

  The other week I had the chance to learn about Mally's 24/7 Professional Gel Nail System available on QVC. For anyone who like the looks of pretty polished nails, but doesn't have time to deal with chips and cracks or the hassle of going to the salon for a gel or a Shellac mani, this system is the perfect answer. And at $150 it is one of the better values out there....Read Full Post

• Nicole Richie Is Launching a Line at Macy's

  9 May 2012 | 2:24 am

  Nicole Richie, already a Fashion Star and QVC designer, is expanding her designing empire with a limited edition collection to launch at Macy's next fall. The Macy's Impulse Capsule Collection has previously featured Karl Lagerfeld and Alberta Ferretti. "I am thrilled to have this opportunity to work with Macy's and create a collection that channels the individual artist in all of us," said the House of Harlow 1960 designer. The collection will include maxi skirts and crop tops, all for under $149 and launches in September.

• The Shops at Target

  7 May 2012 | 3:16 am

  Target launched a new retail concept this week: The Shops at Target. Each selection of Shops features local stores that are well known in their areas: The Webster is a chic boutique in Miami, Privet House features houseware in Connecticut, Cos Bar is a beauty haven in Aspen. Be sure to check out the full range of products either in store or online and read on to find out why this dress from The Webster is one of my Must-Haves for May.

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  About.com 19th Century History

• Visiting Fort McHenry

  14 May 2012 | 6:22 am

  I recently visited Maryland to see how the state is preparing for the War of 1812 Bicentennial, and a highlight was a visit to Baltimore's Fort McHenry. Francis Scott Key, ...Read Full Post

• Newspaper Sunday

  13 May 2012 | 6:38 am

  I've become a fan of Chronicling America, the truly amazing collection of old newspapers at the Library of Congress. When the site was recently shut down for about a week ...Read Full Post

• Today's "Lincoln Invented Facebook" Hoax

  8 May 2012 | 12:13 pm

  Twitter seems to have gone crazy this afternoon over a blog posting about how Abraham Lincoln invented Facebook, or something very similar to it, in 1845. The blog item, which apparently has already been taken down after quickly going viral, was an entertaining account of a visit to the Lincoln museum in Springfield, Illinois. The blogger said he was doing some research that involved whether Lincoln had ever written anything about P.T. Barnum. When a researcher retrieved the "Springfield Gazette," it turned out to be, instead of a newspaper one might expect, a prototype of a social networking…

• The Battle of Baltimore

  7 May 2012 | 6:15 am

  Late in the summer of 1814 British forces humiliated the United States by torching the Capitol and the White House, and it looked like something even worse was about to ...Read Full Post

• The Haymarket Riot

  4 May 2012 | 5:10 am

  The Haymarket Riot broke out when a peaceful outdoor union meeting in Chicago on May 4, 1886 turned chaotic when a bomb was thrown into the crowd. The police opened ...Read Full Post

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  About.com 20th Century History

• Eleanor Roosevelt: The First Lady of the World

  3 May 2012 | 5:14 pm

  Eleanor Roosevelt was always serious. When she was young, her mother even used to call her "Granny," a name that upset little Eleanor. When she was older, Eleanor put that seriousness to good use. ...Read Full Post

• History Quote of the Week

  3 May 2012 | 4:52 pm

  "Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life." --Quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady of the United States and delegate to the United Nations ...Read Full Post

• Harry Houdini: The Handcuff King

  26 Apr 2012 | 7:06 pm

  Harry Houdini, the great escape artist, made his living creating increasingly risky death-defying stunts that usually involved handcuffs and frequently involved water. But how did this great magician get his start? Why did he pretend to be a spirit medium? How many movies did he appear in? How did he die? Find all this out plus more in this biography of Harry Houdini.

• The Tragic Story of the Kursk

  26 Apr 2012 | 6:28 pm

  During naval exercises on August 12, 2000, the Russian Oscar-II class nuclear submarine, the Kursk, sank in the Barents Sea. While several countries offered help try to rescue any survivors, Russia initially refused. Find out what happened to the Kursk. ...Read Full Post

• World War I: A Short History

  26 Apr 2012 | 5:51 pm

  They said it would end by Christmas. They were wrong. World War I, also known as the Great War, lasted for five bloody years. Learn more about how WWI began, how it was fought, and how it finally ended....Read Full Post

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  About.com 80s Music

• This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - X - "See How We Are"

  12 May 2012 | 3:29 pm

  Though pioneering Los Angeles punk rock band X had become a shadow of itself by 1987, the year its penultimate studio LP, See How We Are, was released, the long-term creative duo of John Doe and Exene Cervenka still managed to make some important music together following both the end of their marriage (to each other) and the loss of an essential founding member. Guitarist Billy Zoom, after all, had been a major part of the band's driving, kinetically exhilarating sound, and the addition of two perfectly inspired guitarists (Tony Gilkyson and roots rock legend Dave Alvin) could not be expected…

• R.I.P. Adam Yauch - This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Beastie Boys' "She's On It"

  5 May 2012 | 10:05 am

  After yet another week shrouded by tragic and early celebrity deaths, the pop music world was forced to join in the mourning with Friday's announcement that founding Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch had passed away at 47 following a three-year cancer battle. So now, just three weeks after the pioneering rap-rock trio was enshrined into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, death strikes again in what could be construed by the extremely conspiracy-minded as a cruel attempt to silence the music. Now, I'm not literally saying some cosmic force in charge of death has something against rock and roll, but…

• R.I.P. Greg Ham - This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Men at Work's "Giving Up"

  25 Apr 2012 | 4:56 pm

  The passing last week of Men at Work's multi-instrumentalist and key creative force Greg Ham likely caught more than a few pop music fans off-guard, but those who knew the 58-year-old best probably (and sadly) weren't all that shocked. Ever since the puzzling 2010 court decision that determined the band's signature 1982 hit "Down Under" duplicated "substantial portions" of popular Australian children's song "Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree," friends say that Ham had been despondent, even relapsing into drug and alcohol abuse in part due to his discomfort over the situation. The cause of…

• This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Scandal's "Love's Got a Line on You"

  18 Apr 2012 | 5:39 pm

  During the past eight years or so, something happened within American pop culture that many music fans assumed would never actually come to be: in the form of a 2004 stroke, the ravages of time had finally begun to catch up with seemingly ageless, legendary musical TV personality Dick Clark. Unfortunately today - despite an impressive recovery from that stroke over the past several years - Clark passed away at age 82 from a massive heart attack suffered during a hospital visit for an outpatient procedure. It's a genuinely sad day for music lovers of the rock and roll era, who one way or…

• This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - The House of Love's "Love in a Car"

  11 Apr 2012 | 5:11 pm

  I'm the first to admit anytime the subject comes up that I was probably about as far as one could be from being hip to the early alternative/indie sound continuing to emerge out of the U.K. circa 1988. Trapped far too exclusively in a music world (though it seemed kind of wide open at the time) composed mostly of classic rock, hair metal and arena rock, I would have had no idea what to do if exposed to a band like The House of Love at that early point of my rock music education. So perhaps it's just as well that this London outfit remained as alien to me back then as a good, modestly stylish…

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  About.com Accessories

• Sparkle and Shine with Orange Accessories

  10 May 2012 | 6:59 pm

  From beauty to fashion, orange has become the new "it" color of style. For a fun way to accessorize with this popular color, check out these Orange Drop Earrings from Dorothy Perkins. Between the unique shape and combination of gold and orange, you'll be sure to stand out from the crowd. I could see these earrings working extremely well with a summer dress or loose fitting romper. It's perfect for creating an effortlessly chic and casual bohemian look. For just $11, you'll have a stunning pair of earrings to spice up your next outfit. Photo courtesy of Anthropologie.com

• Accessorize with Spring 2012's Hottest Trends

  23 Apr 2012 | 5:21 pm

  While scarves are usually associated with fall and winter, you can easily rock one during the spring season. It all comes down to the material and design of the scarf. If you're looking to incorporate scarves into your spring wardrobe, keep an eye out for lightweight fabrics such as silk, cotton or chiffon. Prints that feature florals, stripes, polka dots, and vibrant colors are also appropriate for spring. This weekend's steal is a circle scarf by Anthropologie, the Twofold Lucia Loop. Made of silk and double sided, this gorgeous $40 used to be $78. You can wear it with an endless variety of…

• Trendy Tuesday: Canvas Tote Bags

  17 Apr 2012 | 6:53 pm

  In a world of leather handbags and embellished purses, this particular trend might come as a surprise to many. Lightweight fabric totes have become the new "it" bag, making them a trendy and affordable accessory. These types of bags are so easy to find, and often run for less than $20. Totes tend to be very roomy, and are really easy to store in your closet or carry around. While fabric tote bags don't have pockets, you'll be sure to fit all of your daily essentials in one simple tote. This trend is a reminder that sometimes, the simplest things are the most stylish. Left: ASOS Shopper with…

• Weekend Steal: Anthropologie Twofold Lucia Loop Scarf

  15 Apr 2012 | 6:59 pm

  While scarves are usually associated with fall and winter, you can easily rock one during the spring season. It all comes down to the material and design of the scarf. If you're looking to incorporate scarves into your spring wardrobe, keep an eye out for lightweight fabrics such as silk, cotton or chiffon. Prints that feature florals, stripes, polka dots, and vibrant colors are also appropriate for spring. This weekend's steal is a circle scarf by Anthropologie, the Twofold Lucia Loop. Made of silk and double sided, this gorgeous $40 used to be $78. You can wear it with an endless variety of…

• Trendy Tuesday: Hair Fascinators

  10 Apr 2012 | 6:24 pm

  This Tuesday's trend might be a surprising one. Fascinator hair clips inspired by costume fashion have been making their way into the fashion world as a chic and different way of accessorizing. You'll probably associate this type of clip with the royalty of England, especially after Princess Kate Middleton has been dubbed as a fashion icon. Luckily, you don't have to be royalty to rock this type look. You can start off with an accessory like this Cara Accessories 'Friday Night' Fascinator Hair Clip, available at Nordstrom for $48. Wear it with a trench coat, cape or peacoat for an outfit that…

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  About.com Acne

• Ever Heard of BB Cream? I Hadn't Either

  15 May 2012 | 8:09 pm

  Apparently, BB cream (the "BB" stands for "blemish balm") is super popular in other countries, but it's just starting to make its appearance here in the U.S. I had never heard of the stuff until I read about it on Jen Adkins, the About.com Skin Care Guide's, site. Jen loves the stuff, and now that I've learned a bit about them, I'm so intrigued....Read Full Post

• Text Messaging Treatment Reminders Doesn’t Seem to Be Helpful

  11 May 2012 | 12:34 pm

  Remembering to use your acne treatments can be challenging sometimes (especially when you're rushing off to work or school, or dead tired and ready for bed.) But because consistency is so important in getting acne under control, dermatologists and other skin pros are always looking for ways to help their patients remember to use their treatments more regularly....Read Full Post

• What's New: More Product Reviews, What Is Mild Acne?

  30 Apr 2012 | 4:49 pm

  Did you see the latest additions to the About.com Acne site? I've got more product reviews up, plus an answer to the question "how do I know if I have mild acne?" ...Read Full Post

• The Weather is Warming -- Protect Your Skin from Sunburn

  29 Apr 2012 | 5:38 pm

  We're wrapping up a warm, sunny weekend here. I was lucky enough to spend most of the time outdoors, enjoying the beautiful weather. And, even though I wore sunscreen, tonight I can feel just the slightest sting of burn on my skin....Read Full Post

• I Loved This Article...

  26 Apr 2012 | 8:49 pm

  By happenstance I found an article published online at The Daily Sundial, a student-run newspaper/website by California State University Northridge. It gives a very personal and honest look at one person's experience with severe acne. ...Read Full Post

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  About.com ADD / ADHD

• Book Review of ‘The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD’

  12 May 2012 | 8:42 am

  Mindfulness practice is an approach that is showing promise in helping adults with ADHD improve focus and better monitor attention. In her book --The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD -- Dr. Lidia Zylowska explains what mindful awareness is and how it can help adults with ADHD. Read Book Review Photo © Shambhala Publications Learn more or join the conversation! FACEBOOK | TWITTER | NEWSLETTER

• ADHD Coaching for College Students

  29 Apr 2012 | 7:57 am

  Research finds that students who received ADHD coaching show substantial gains in their overall approach to learning - including improvements in their ability to organize, direct and manage cognitive activities, emotional responses and overt behaviors. They are better able to formulate goals more realistically and consistently work toward achieving them, manage their time more effectively, and stick with tasks even when they find those tasks challenging. In addition, students report that coaching helps them to feel less stress, greater empowerment, increased confidence, and have more balanced…

• What Are Executive Functions?

  24 Apr 2012 | 7:30 am

  "What exactly are executive functions and how do they affect a student's learning?" -- About.com readerDeficits in executive function can make it more difficult for a student to plan, prioritize, organize, pay attention, remember details, and control emotional reactions. Read More About Executive Function Photo © Microsoft Learn more or join the conversation! FACEBOOK | TWITTER | NEWSLETTER

• What Study Tips are Helpful for College Students With ADHD?

  11 Apr 2012 | 7:57 am

  ADHD can make studying for college classes quite a challenge. You may find that you are putting a lot of time and preparation into studying with little to show for all your effort. Finding individualized strategies that work for you is helpful. If you are currently in college or are an adult with ADHD who has already graduated, please share what particular strategies you found to be most helpful. What are some of the study tips you recommend? CLICK HERE TO SHARE STRATEGIES OR READ RESPONSES FROM OTHERS Learn more or join the conversation! FACEBOOK | TWITTER | NEWSLETTER

• What is a 504 Accommodation Plan?

  11 Apr 2012 | 7:57 am

  "Our daughter is 13 years old and has ADD. She qualifies for special accommodations at school under Section 504. We are getting ready to meet with the school to develop her 504 Plan. Can you give me information about what types of help she might be able to receive? Also, what exactly is a 504 Plan?" -- About.com Reader Learn More About 504 Accommodation Plans Photo © Dylan Ellis Learn more or join the conversation! FACEBOOK | TWITTER | NEWSLETTER

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  About.com Addictions

• When Mother's Day Hurts

  13 May 2012 | 5:15 am

  Last year, I wrote about coping with an unhappy mother's day when your relationship with your mother is less than perfect. A comment from a reader yesterday reminded me that it is not only the children of abusive mothers who find this annual celebration painful, but also those mothers whose children have turned away from them. ...Read Full Post

• DSM-V Re-Opened For Feedback

  6 May 2012 | 7:43 pm

  The controversial fifth edition of the gold-standard medical textbook used for the diagnosis of mental conditions, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-V, has been re-opened for feedback from the public until June 15th, 2012. ...Read Full Post

• Drug Czar Confuses Hemp with Marijuana

  29 Apr 2012 | 7:16 pm

  A recent blog in the Huffington Post claimed that US Drug Czar, Gil Kerlikowske, confused the hemp plant with the marijuana plant in a bizarre defense of the move to disallow US farmers from producing industrial hemp. ...Read Full Post

• Mad Men on Acid

  23 Apr 2012 | 9:02 pm

  Last night's episode of Mad Men showed a group of middle aged executives dropping acid together.  This bizarre muddle of clichés and myths about LSD bore little resemblance to the psychedelic experience as reported by those who have taken it. ...Read Full Post

• Is 4/20 Really Supporting Marijuana Legalization?

  21 Apr 2012 | 9:41 am

  Image © John Moore / Getty Images Yesterday, cities all over North America engaged in public demonstrations of marijuana smoking, perportedly to protest the illegal status of marijuana, and to support the legalization of marijuana. But is 4/20 really achieving its stated aims? ...Read Full Post

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  About.com Adoption / Foster Care

• Hero Movie Brings Out Bullies

  15 May 2012 | 8:15 pm

  When I became the Guide here on About Adoption and Foster Care, I came at the topic very one sided and with only one point of view - that of an adoptive parent. Thankfully that didn't last as I was schooled by members of the forum, where I quickly learned that the adoption community consisted of adoptees, birth parents, as well as the adoptive parents. They each had a story to tell, and each adoption story was different. I am very thankful for that education, because now I can more clearly see both sides of an adoption or foster care issue....Read Full Post

• Help Your Child Finish the School Year on a Strong Note

  14 May 2012 | 4:33 am

  Photo © Carrie Craft, licensed to About.com, Inc. As we're finishing up school here this week, and man did time fly, it's easy to want to just coast in to a summer of relaxation. But, while it may be the end of the school year, it's still important as a foster parent to help your foster child finish the year strong....Read Full Post

• Happy Mother's Day

  13 May 2012 | 3:00 am

  Getty Images / Mario Lalich I have to agree with the popular saying, "Motherhood is not for wimps." I think it goes double for foster and adoptive mothers. It takes a special person to mother and nurture a child that is not your biological child....Read Full Post

• Today Is BirthMother's Day

  12 May 2012 | 3:56 am

  It may not be well known to the rest of the world, but so some in the adoption community - today, the Saturday before Mother's Day, is Birthmother's Day. Here is a link to some poetry and other writings by birth or first mom's....Read Full Post

• Foster Parent Appreciation Month

  9 May 2012 | 3:00 am

  I just got the official invitation for our foster care agencies foster parent appreciation celebration. This year it is being held at the Tanganyika Wildlife Park. We get to tour the part, and then enjoy a late lunch and an appreciation ceremony. I have always wanted to visit this zoo, so I'm pretty excited!...Read Full Post

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  About.com Adventure Travel

• Early Detection System Against Identity Theft

  14 May 2012 | 4:04 am

  You're walking down a street in a foreign country and someone grabs your wallet.  Or, you hung your purse on the back of your chair while eating in an outdoor cafe and when it's time to pay the bill you realize it's gone.  If you're a member, just call ProtectMyID and they'll call all your credit card companies and monitor the Internet for other illegal uses of your identity....Read Full Post

• Adventure Travel Wannabees: Win the Adventure of Your Dreams

  12 May 2012 | 6:56 am

  Ask ten travelers their definition of adventure travel and you'll get ten different answers. If they've entered the competition for Outside magazine's first annual Adventure Grant, one of them might win a $10,000 endowment.  To celebrate its 35th anniversary, the magazine will "help fund a smart, creative, and (perhaps) slightly foolhardy project" that will be featured  in an upcoming issue....Read Full Post

• Would You Follow His Footsteps?

  10 May 2012 | 1:35 pm

  He's one of several adventurers on an expedition led by famed mountaineer Conrad Anker, along with photographer Cory Richards.  The team's goal was to repeat the historic climb of the 1963 National Geographic-sponsored American Mount Everest Expedition. But, with the lack of snow on the proposed West Ridge route leaving a surface of ancient ice, plans have changed....Read Full Post

• Summer Trips For Adventure Travelers

  7 May 2012 | 3:01 pm

  Would you like to watch polar bears running through wildflowers instead of snow?  How about swimming with sea lions?  Does mountain biking and hiking in the Rockies, or kayaking in Alaska sound appealing. Here are some terrific adventurous summer vacations....Read Full Post

• It's "Never Too Old to Play" Month

  4 May 2012 | 6:01 am

  May is "Older American's Month" and some of the adventure travel companies that cater to the active travelers age 50+ are promoting active vacations for this age group. "How older vacationers travel today is far different than from just a generation ago."says Alan. E. Lewis, Chairman and CEO of Overseas Adventure Travel....Read Full Post

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  About.com Africa Travel

• Where is This in Africa?

  14 May 2012 | 4:15 am

  You're looking at Africa's lowest geographic point. This lake lies 515 feet (155m) below sea level. It's a salt water lake, with beaches literally made of pure salt. Some of the salt banks are over 200 feet (65 m) deep. Saltier than even the Dead Sea, when you dive in you don't have to swim a single stroke, you can just float and read a book. Salt cakes everything along the shores of this lake, loose vegetation that has been blown here from far away, dead birds -- everything is crystallized in salt. And not surprisingly, no vegetation grows here. Slabs of salt are carved out of the upper…

• Best Things to Do in Cape Town

  11 May 2012 | 2:37 am

  Coming up with a "Top 10 list of things to see and do in Cape Town" is remarkably simple.  The main problem is everyone else has a similar list. So if you've been to Cape Town a few times and feel you've covered the big sights like: Table Mountain, Robben Island, and have taken a Township Tour -- then check out some of these alternatives. Cape Town off the Beaten Track... Organic Food Markets in the Winelands - Most visitors to Cape Town will delight in a visit to one or two wine estates and a top notch restaurant.  But you can get your fill of the most delicious organic produce,…

• Trekking Up Mount Kenya

  9 May 2012 | 5:39 am

  Mount Kenya is Africa's second highest mountain, and despite peaking at over 5,000m it still seems to sit well and truly in Mount Kilimanjaro's shadow, across the border in Tanzania. What it lacks in height however it more than makes up for in beauty. Jagged snow-capped peaks, sweeping glacial valleys and diverse vegetation make climbing Mount Kenya a strong contender for Africa's greatest trek. One of the many highlights is its unique Afro-Alpine zone with its Dr Seuss-like landscape of Giant Lobelias and Senecios... Read more More About: Mount Kenya l Mount Kilimanjaro l Morocco's Atlas…

• The Parrotfish Run

  7 May 2012 | 6:11 am

  It's likely that you are familiar with the great annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra that make their way through the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. You may have heard of the great annual sardine run that takes place in May through July along South Africa's Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal coast. Literally billions of fish gang together for safety as they swim up the coast, eagerly chased by birds, sharks, seals and even penguins. But it's unlikely that you've heard about the parrotfish run. I had not heard about this fishy event until quite recently. The parrotfish run takes…

• June Festivals and Events in Africa (2012)

  5 May 2012 | 3:00 am

  Senegal's historic town of St Louis is hosting an international Jazz festival this June. Morocco's finest traditional musicians are gearing up for no less than three important cultural festivals in Fes, Marrakech, and Essaouira. South Africa's livestock is getting trimmed, brushed and ready for their big Royal show in Pietermaritzburg, which starts at the end of May. Find out details and more by checking out -- June Festivals & Events in Africa

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  About.com African History

• This Day in African History – World War II: Axis Defeated in North Africa

  12 May 2012 | 7:10 pm

• 10 May 1994 - Mandela Inaugurated as President

  9 May 2012 | 7:20 pm

• This Day in African History – Death of Henry Morton Stanley

  9 May 2012 | 7:10 pm

• This Day in African History – Ethiopia regains its Independence

  4 May 2012 | 7:10 pm

  Read Full PostThis Day in African History – Ethiopia regains its Independence originally appeared on About.com African History on Saturday, May 5th, 2012 at 00:10:23.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• This Day in African History – The Groote Schuur Minute

  3 May 2012 | 7:10 pm

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  About.com African-American History

• This Week in African-American History: May 9 to May 15

  11 May 2012 | 9:00 am

  Image Courtesy of Getty Images May 9 1800:Abolitionist John Brown is born. 1867:Abolitionist and feminist Sojourner Truth delivers a speech at the first meeting of the American Equal Rights Association. May 10 1837:Pickney Benton Stewart Pinchback, a lieutenant governor of Louisiana during the Reconstruction Era is born....Read Full Post

• Preserving the Underground Railroad

  6 May 2012 | 6:43 pm

  Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain. Why is legacy so important? Clarence Still, a local New Jersey historian and descendant of abolitionist William Still, spent his lifetime answering this question. ...Read Full Post

• This Week in African-American History: May 2 to May 8

  2 May 2012 | 5:48 pm

  May 2 1844: Inventor Elijah McCoy, also known as the "Real McCoy," is born in Ontario, Canada. An inventor, McCoy owned patents to fifty inventions that enhanced the running of many engine-operated machines....Read Full Post

• Paul Laurence Dunbar: Voice of a Generation

  30 Apr 2012 | 6:51 pm

  Today is the last day of National Poetry Month and I've decided to end with a discussion of one of my favorite poems, "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar....Read Full Post

• Booker T. Washington: Unapologetic Accommodationist

  30 Apr 2012 | 3:26 pm

  Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Booker T. Washington once said, "an inch of progress is worth a yard of complaint."Throughout Washington's career, he countered with much opposition from men such as William Monroe Trotter and W.E.B. Du Bois who felt that he was not doing enough to fight for an immediate end of racism and segregation in the United States....Read Full Post

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  About.com Agnosticism / Atheism

• Persecution of Witches: Under Torture, Accused Witches Would Confess to Almost Anything

  15 May 2012 | 10:00 am

  Image Source:Jupiter Images Confessions of witchcraft, extracted under torture or threat of torture, commonly came attached to denouncements of other possible witches, keeping the Inquisitors in business. In Spain, church records ...Read Full Post

• Seeing Omniscience Everywhere

  15 May 2012 | 7:00 am

  It's surprising, but apparently young children assume that others are omniscient and they have to learn that the rest of us in the world have limited knowledge. They know that they themselves are not omniscient of course, but they seem to automatically conclude that others -- even their parents -- know absolutely everything. That might be helpful for parenting at times, but it also suggests that belief in super-powerful gods and spirits might come naturally to human beings. Read Full PostSeeing Omniscience Everywhere originally appeared on About.com Agnosticism / Atheism on Tuesday, May 15th,…

• Comment of the Week: Christian Bigotry Against Christians

  15 May 2012 | 3:00 am

  When talking about Christian bigotry and prejudice, at least in the United States, the targets are usually pretty consistent: gays, atheists, liberals, immigrants, etc. What we don't hear so much about is Christian bigotry against other Christians -- even though historically Christians have tended to target each other quite a bit. Christian bigotry against other Christians isn't dead and gone. Read Full PostComment of the Week: Christian Bigotry Against Christians originally appeared on About.com Agnosticism / Atheism on Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 at 08:00:31.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• Atheists Should Monitor Church Voter Guides

  14 May 2012 | 10:00 am

  Every election year, and especially during presidential election years, there are complaints about voter guides distributed to churches by Christian Right and Christian Nationalist organizations. These guides purport to be neutral explanations of candidates' positions, but in reality they are designed to promote particular candidates at the expense of others. The purpose is to help elect conservatives who will push the Christian Nationalist agenda. You can help fight this. Read Article: Atheists Should Monitor Church Voter Guides

• Santa vs. God - What's a Delusion?

  14 May 2012 | 7:00 am

  It's common for atheist critics of religion to compare belief in gods with belief in Santa Claus. Religious apologists object to such comparisons of course so the question has to be asked: is the comparison justified or not? Obviously the two aren't exactly the same, but are they close enough for comparisons to be helpful? Read Full PostSanta vs. God - What's a Delusion? originally appeared on About.com Agnosticism / Atheism on Monday, May 14th, 2012 at 12:00:34.Permalink | Comment | Email this

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  About.com Albuquerque

• Isotopes Twelve Game Homestand Begins May 17

  15 May 2012 | 8:39 am

  The weather feels like summer, which always makes me think of baseball. I can still remember being about five and hopping the train with my dad to see the Philadelphia Phillies. Peanuts, ice cream, the crack of a bat--what's not to love? Granted, bats aren't made of wood anymore, but baseball is still pure fun....Read Full Post

• Best Weekend Bets

  11 May 2012 | 8:24 am

  Happy Mother's Day to moms everywhere! Have a safe and wonderful weekend. National Public Gardens Day Join in a special celebration that includes talks, lectures, demonstrations and more. Learn about gardening, the environment, and how to conserve water. Get tips on landscape design. Free with admission at the Botanic Gardens, Friday, May 11....Read Full Post

• Two NM Philharmonic Concerts this Weekend at the Zoo

  9 May 2012 | 11:32 am

  The New Mexico Philharmonic has two concerts this weekend at the zoo. On Saturday, May 12 at 8 p.m., the orchestra pays tribute to the composer John Williams, probably best known for film soundtrack hits such as Harry Potter, Jaws, E.T. and Star Wars. Tickets can be purchased online....Read Full Post

• Mother's Day Brunch

  7 May 2012 | 11:04 am

  Sunday brunch is always fun and special, but Mother's Day brunch is even better. Check out some of the amazing spreads around town, with some places offering all you can ...Read Full Post

• Best Weekend Bets

  4 May 2012 | 7:48 am

  Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, a day to celebrate and eat some favorite foods, like guacamole and tamales. Have a margarita and a wonderful weekend. John McCutcheon The beloved folksinger is back, performing at the National Hispanic Cultural Center on Friday, May 4....Read Full Post

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  About.com Alcoholism

• What Did You Learn While in Rehab?

  15 May 2012 | 7:10 pm

• Cost-Free Alcohol and Drug Treatment Programs

  14 May 2012 | 7:09 pm

• Do You Have an Alcohol or Drug Problem?

  12 May 2012 | 4:01 am

• Alcohol and Drugs in the News

  10 May 2012 | 7:01 pm

• Age 16 Peak Time for Teens to Start Drugs

  9 May 2012 | 10:10 pm

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  About.com UFOs / Aliens

• Metallic, Square Vehicle over Los Banos, California

  15 May 2012 | 7:50 am

  A UFO sighting that involves multi-witnesses occurred in Los Banos, California, on April 15, 2012. We have one eyewitness report from a man who was driving on Highway 152 at ...Read Full Post

• UFO Caught on Video from Cruise Ship in China

  13 May 2012 | 9:23 pm

  Lately, there has been an abundance of UFO videos going around the Net. One of the best in my opinion was taken from a cruise ship sailing near Hong Kong, ...Read Full Post

• 1975 - Marine Pilot Encounters UFO over Gulf of Mexico

  11 May 2012 | 9:18 pm

  It goes without saying that certain UFO reports are given a high priority because of who makes them. Some of the most welcome are those from pilots. They are trained ...Read Full Post

• UFOs May Pose Danger to Airplanes

  10 May 2012 | 1:20 am

  A UFO topic that is rarely discussed is the danger that UFOs might impose on airplanes. Just recently, it was brought up on an Internet article, UFO Dangers Examined By U.S. News and World Report...Read Full Post

• Two Disc-shaped Objects Seen over Glendale, Arizona

  7 May 2012 | 9:10 pm

  One of our readers has sent me a very exciting report of two disc-shaped objects which he saw on February 25, of this year. He was sitting outside an RV park ...Read Full Post

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  About.com Allergies

• Are Seasonal Allergies Causing Your Cough?

  14 May 2012 | 9:11 pm

  Coughing is one of the most common reasons why people visit their doctors. When symptoms last for more than a few weeks, the cough would be diagnosed as being chronic. The most common causes of chronic cough include post nasal drip, asthma and acid reflux. Post nasal drip, caused by allergic rhinitis, and asthma certainly could be caused by allergies, which could be worse seasonally....Read Full Post

• Local Honey to Treat Pollen Allergies

  7 May 2012 | 7:50 pm

  Spring hay fever season finds people desperate to find relief from their nasal allergy symptoms. Natural therapies, without the use of medicines, are becoming more popular, especially among allergy sufferers. It is a popular notion that eating honey is a natural remedy for symptoms of allergies and asthma. Honey contains various ingredients, including pollen allergens and components of honeybees. Locally produced honey would be expected to contain local plant pollens to which a person would be allergic, and therefore is the preferred type of honey for allergies. It makes sense that consuming…

• April Showers Bring May Flowers -- And Grass Pollen

  6 May 2012 | 1:53 pm

  The April rains have stopped, the weather is warming up, and the flowers are beginning to bloom. But along with this beauty that you CAN see comes the misery you CAN'T see -- grass allergy season.  May is grass allergy season in much of the country, which causes many allergy sufferers to be absolutely miserable. Whether a person is mowing the lawn, golfing, or just spending some quality time outdoors, airborne grass pollen can wreak havoc on a person's allergy symptoms. Grass pollen causes a wide array of allergy symptoms, the most common of which is hay fever. Other symptoms caused by…

• Over the Counter Cold and Allergy Medicines: Do You Know Which One to Choose?

  28 Apr 2012 | 2:25 pm

  Have you been in the cold and allergy section of your local drug store recently? The choices of different products -- and there are literally hundreds of them -- can be very confusing. After all, the name of the product doesn't always give you the best idea of what the medicine actually contains. Unless you're a physician, nurse or pharmacist, you'd probably not really know what you're getting just be looking at the active ingredients....Read Full Post

• Marijuana Allergy

  27 Apr 2012 | 10:58 am

  Marijuana has become increasingly popular over the past many decades as a medicinal and recreational drug. While still outlawed in most states in the U.S., some states have approved the use of "medicinal marijuana". Derived from the buds and flowers of the Cannabis sativa plant, marijuana has been linked to many allergic reactions over the years. These reactions have included hay fever symptoms from the plant pollen, common in the summer months in areas where marijuana is cultivated or grows wild. Other reactions have occurred from smoking marijuana, due to not only the plant allergen but…

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  About.com Alternative Music

• Top 10 Tuesdays: 20 Best Drag City Albums

  15 May 2012 | 7:00 am

  One of my favorite albums of the year is the debut solo album for Sophia Knapp (pictured!), the leader of Brooklyn rock outfit Cliffie Swan (née Lights). I've been meaning ...Read Full Post

• Introducing: Ryan Power

  15 May 2012 | 3:00 am

  Name: Ryan Power From: Burlington, Vermont Story: Fearing death, one man quietly battles obscurity Sound: Complex synth-pop with croony vocals I Don't Want to Die is the fifth album from Ryan Power, but the ...Read Full Post

• Free Music Monday: Deep Time "Clouds"

  14 May 2012 | 11:00 am

  Name changes have been in the air in 2012 —Dive becoming Diiv, War becoming Vår, the Morning Benders becoming Pop Etc— and, so, the Artists Formerly Known As YellowFever now ...Read Full Post

• Free Music Monday: Eternal Summers "Millions"

  14 May 2012 | 9:00 am

  When I introduced you to Eternal Summers a couple of years back, they were a determinedly lo-fi duo, playing secretly-sad-hearted indie-rock that owed a huge debt to The Breeders. Now, two ...Read Full Post

• Free Music Monday: Heavenly Beat "Messiah"

  14 May 2012 | 7:00 am

  Back in the days of wine and Wolf Parade, there was this weird dynamic in following said Canadian Indie-Rock Powerhouse: you had to pick a side. Fans of the band ...Read Full Post

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  About.com Alternative Religions

• New Article: Santeria

  29 Apr 2012 | 9:27 pm

  Some time ago I started work on Vodou (Voodoo).  This month I've added another African Diaspora religion: Santeria.  Both religions originated in Africa and was brought to the new World by African slaves.  There the beliefs mixed with that of the natives, of Christians, and of the slave experience in general.

• Nazi Symbols and their Origins

  29 Apr 2012 | 9:18 pm

  This might have been motivated by the fact that I'm currently teaching about World War II in my history class.  My brain is rather overloaded in horribleness at the moment. There are a handful of symbols Westerners immediately identify as a part of Naziism.  However, these symbols generally have older origins, and these origins have very little in common with the ideology of the Nazis.  I've started a new gallery of such Nazi symbols, which includes the swastika I wrote about a couple weeks ago as well as the Black Sun article I've just added.

• New Articles: Swastikas and Suicide Cults

  16 Apr 2012 | 6:35 am

  The swastika has a very sad history, and not just because of its association with the Nazis and the Holocaust.  Many cultures have revered the symbol for thousands of years and, indeed, still do.  In the West, however, that is culturally difficult, as the average viewer immediately connects the image to the Nazis....Read Full Post

• Facebook Page Properly Updating

  11 Apr 2012 | 9:25 am

  Blog posts are now automatically updating on my Altreligion Facebook page.  Hopefully Twitter will be set up soon as well, but to be honest, I really do not like using Twitter.  I find it very difficult to effectively communicate with other people through it.  So if you're wanting to share your views, I would suggest the blog, the Facebook page, and the forum.  The forum is very quiet right now, but the only way to make it not quiet is for people to take an interest in it.  I accept that the forum may simply not be the best medium for this particular group site.

• What Was Heaven's Gate?

  31 Mar 2012 | 9:34 am

  It was national news in 1997 when 39 members of Heaven's Gate committed suicide.  Most people believed the group vanished at that point.  After all, the members were dead.  In fact, not all members committed suicide, and the survivors continue to spread their message of an approaching apocalypse and salvation through separation from earthly ties.  For them, the spiritual world is an alien one.  The destroyers and the saviors alike are advanced aliens.

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  About.com Alzheimers Disease

• Is It Time for a Nursing Home?

  13 May 2012 | 9:44 am

  For some people, the answer to this question is clear. They may say, "No! I'm not ever going to make that choice. We'll figure it out and get the help we need at home." Or, "We promised our dad we wouldn't put him in a home."...Read Full Post

• A Mother's Day Tribute: One Daughter's Love Through Alzheimer's

  10 May 2012 | 6:24 am

  As Mother's Day approaches, I'd like to share a brief story with you. Margie, a reader who had been caring for her mother with Alzheimer's disease, recently contacted me and we began an email conversation. Margie wrote about the different symptoms her mother exhibited, the difficulty and helplessness of not knowing how to respond to those changes in her mother, the struggle of whether to keep her mother at home or have a facility help care for her, and the void in her heart since her mother passed away in November....Read Full Post

• What's the Story on Coconut Oil and Alzheimer's Disease?

  6 May 2012 | 5:13 pm

  If you've been following Alzheimer's research, you may have heard about the use of coconut oil in treating Alzheimer's disease. A physician in Florida has written about her experience with using coconut oil to treat her husband's symptoms of dementia, noting that he showed significant improvement after she added it to his diet....Read Full Post

• Berries: A Tasty Way to Slow Cognitive Decline?

  29 Apr 2012 | 6:30 pm

  The Annals of Neurology reported a study this week that demonstrated that eating strawberries and blueberries delayed women's cognitive decline by 2.5 years. Researchers  included data from 16,010 women with an ...Read Full Post

• Pat Summitt Steps Down to Fight Battle Against Early Onset Alzheimer's

  23 Apr 2012 | 3:39 am

  Pat Summitt recently announced she's giving up her head coaching role at Tennessee. Summitt was the head coach of the Lady Volunteers and has the most wins ever of any NCAA coach....Read Full Post

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  About.com American Food

• Not the Same Old Chicken

  14 May 2012 | 4:39 pm

  It's time to break the habit of preparing the same old chicken dishes. If you're like me, you serve chicken for dinner more often than you'd like to admit. Plus, when you stop to think about it, you're probably cycling through the same five or six recipes over and over again. So why not shake things up a bit and try some new variations? Recipes like Chicken with Fresh Orange Salsa, or Chicken Fricassee with Asparagus and Fresh Dill, and Garlic and Fennel Grilled Chicken will provide just the lift your weeknight meals may need. Sign-up for the American Food newsletter. Become a Fan of American…

• Sweets for Mom

  9 May 2012 | 1:49 pm

  Personally, I feel that breakfast or brunch for mom on Mother's Day is way overdone. So I propose that you do something different this year and instead satisfy mom's sweet tooth with a wonderful homemade dessert. Here are some perfect sweet recipes just right for celebrating the most important woman in your life! Ultimate Chocolate Layer Cake Mocha Caramel Custard Apple Cake with Caramel Glaze Luscious Lemon Bars Sign-up for the American Food newsletter. Become a Fan of American Food on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

• Derby Day Dishes

  2 May 2012 | 6:06 pm

  America's most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby, is happening in just a few days. And even though the race lasts just a couple of minutes, the pomp and circumstance that surrounds it is astounding. But I say forget about the Derby hat parade that takes place inside Churchill Downs and the two weeks of parties that lead up to the race, and let's talk about what I consider to be the best part - the area's famous food! Because really, what would the Kentucky Derby be without a Mint Julep, a slice of Kentucky Derby Chocolate Bourbon Pie, the famous Benedictine spread, or a real, authentic…

• Waffling Around

  25 Apr 2012 | 7:59 am

  Bring the waffle iron out of hiding and try these delicious recipes. You might reserve the waffle iron just for breakfast― and probably just on the weekend at that. But I say leave it out on the counter and make waffles during the week. They're so easy, and you can even make the batter ahead. Lemon Waffles with Fresh Blueberries Applesauce Waffles Sign-up for the American Food newsletter. Become a Fan of American Food on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. Photo Getty

• Pizza on the Grill

  22 Apr 2012 | 6:43 am

  What's not to love about grilled pizza? Cooking the crust over the intense heat of an open fire gives it a smoky, crispness on the outside and a light, chewy texture on the inside. Plus, it's an easy technique to master. The key is to have everything ready, because once the dough goes on the grill, the toppings follow in about a minute. Give these recipes a try, and soon you may have a successful pizzeria right in your own backyard. Grilled Tomato Pizza with Prosciutto and Basil Grilled Pizza with Sausage and Broccoli Raab Sign-up for the American Food newsletter. Become a Fan of American…

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  About.com American History

• Gideon v. Wainwright

  29 Apr 2012 | 8:17 am

  In 1963, the US Supreme Court ruled on Gideon v. Wainwright, a landmark decision requiring states to provide defense counsel in all criminal cases on the basis that it would be a violation of the sixth amendment rights. Due to this, the number of public defenders in the country exponentially rose. Learn more about this important case and its significance:...Read Full Post

• James Monroe - 5th US President

  27 Apr 2012 | 11:04 pm

  James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758 to relatively wealthy Virginia planters. However, both of his parents soon died, and he inherited his father's estate at a young age. Monroe had a distinguished career during the American Revolution. Afterwards, he had a huge political career that included all of the following positions at one time or another:...Read Full Post

• Top 10 Significant Presidential Elections

  27 Apr 2012 | 4:12 am

  As the nomination for Mitt Romney seems to be more and more assured, America is heading into its 57th presidential election. Only time will tell how significant this election will be. The following article takes a look at the ten most significant presidential elections in US history....Read Full Post

• Ulysses S Grant

  26 Apr 2012 | 10:59 pm

  On April 27, 1822, Ulysses S Grant was born. He was destined to lead the Union forces during the US Civil War. After the war, he rode a wave of popularity to be elected as the eighteenth president of the United States. Unfortunately, his time in office was wracked by five presidential scandals. Sadly, after the presidency, he lost all his money and wrote his memoirs as a way to raise money for his wife before his death on July 23, 1885.

• John Wilkes Booth's Death...

  25 Apr 2012 | 10:59 pm

  On April 26, 1865, John Wilkes Booth was found hiding with co-conspirator David Herold in a barn near Port Royal, Virginia. While Herold surrendered, Booth refused so the barn was set on fire. In the ensuing chaos, a soldier shot and killed Booth. However, there are some who claim that he did not die but instead escaped despite the fact that many people who knew Booth identified his body. There are many conspiracies surrounding Abraham Lincoln's death including ones that Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, ones that involved Andrew Johnson, and even one that included the Catholic Church. ...Read…

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  About.com Amsterdam Travel

• Day Trip to the Defense Line

  10 May 2012 | 4:00 am

  The Defense Line of Amsterdam embodies a typically Dutch tactic for the defense of Amsterdam at wartime: harness the power of the water to protect the city. The UNESCO-listed defense line consisted of tracts of land that could be flooded to prevent access to Amsterdam; the forts of Weesp, Muiden and Pampus Island that stood on the defense line are now popular attractions for families, military history buffs and the simply curious. Find out more about the Defense Line of Amsterdam and visitor information for these monumental forts.

• For Art and Architecture

  8 May 2012 | 4:00 am

  A trio of new exhibits has recently opened up at Arti et Amicitiae (Latin for "for art and friendship"), an art society whose public exhibits feature contemporary artists and themes. Stop by their headquarters, an architectural jewel on the corner of Rokin and the Spui, to admire its monumental interior and to mull over the art in the upstairs and adjoined exhibit rooms.

• Happy Queen's Day!

  30 Apr 2012 | 4:00 am

  Today, April 30, is Queen's Day, a Dutch national holiday to honor the birthday of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Each year, the Queen and members of the royal family take the day to visit two specially chosen cities in the same Dutch province; this year, it's the central province of Utrecht. Read about Utrecht city...Read Full Post

• Weird Amsterdam: The Glasses Museum

  29 Apr 2012 | 4:00 am

  Ever wondered how the modern day spectacle frames came to be? The Nationaal Brilmuseum (National Glasses Museum) in the fashionable 9 Streets district plumbs the history of corrective lenses with ...Read Full Post

• EYE on the IJ

  27 Apr 2012 | 4:00 am

  The new EYE Film Institute is certainly an eye-catcher with its dramatic new headquarters on the IJ Promenade in Amsterdam North. Take a free, three-minute ferry across the river to explore its exhibits on film history and techniques, its interactive installation-packed basement, or just to take in the scenery of the IJ riverfront from its promenade or cafe-restaurant.

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  About.com Theme Parks

• I Got My Kicks on Route 66

  15 May 2012 | 4:20 pm

  I had a chance to motor west last week and made it over to Disneyland for a behind-the-construction-walls preview of Cars Land, one of the final -- and most anticipated -- pieces of the five-year, $1.1-billion expansion of Disney California Adventure. Until I ventured behind the wall, I had only seen the huge Ornament Valley mountain range during its early construction and in Disney-provided photos and videos. I have to admit that despite all of the hype, this sometimes-jaded journalist was nonetheless wowed by the sheer scale and majesty of the nearly done land. (It opens on June 15, along…

• How I Met the CoasterRadio Guys

  14 May 2012 | 12:34 pm

  It's the most wonderful time of the year -- for park fans anyhoo. Nearly every park is now open for the season (at least on weekends), new rides are debuting, and all is once again well with the world. In celebration of the exciting 2012 season, I joined Mike Collins and E.B. on their CoasterRadio.com podcast to deconstruct many of the latest, greatest coasters and attractions rolling out at parks, including Skyrush at Hersheypark, X-Flight at Six Flags Great America, and the reconfigured Spider-Man ride at Islands of Adventure....Read Full Post

• Verbolt Over to Busch Gardens for Unique New Coaster

  9 May 2012 | 8:36 am

  Roller coasters, which pretty much used to simply get pulled up lift hills and careen around tracks as gravity took over, continue to evolve. Newfangled elements, effects, and features are helping to create hybrid rides that defy categorization. Case in point: Verbolten, the new coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia. It will incorporate a magnetic launch system and some impressive-sounding technology to help tell a story -- actually multiple stories, a world's-first for a coaster -- as it delivers its thrills. Read more about Verbolten....Read Full Post

• Nemo is Found at Disney World's Latest Resort

  8 May 2012 | 3:26 pm

  Scheduled to open on May 31, Disney's Art of Animation Resort, the 25th (!) on-property hotel at Disney World, is delightful. During a recent visit to Mickey's Florida empire, I got to take a preview tour, and I was enchanted. The resort is brimming with color, whimsy, and charm, and its theme -- an ode to animation -- is engaging and something that Disney can rightfully claim as its legacy....Read Full Post

• Alabama Adventure Throws Water on Amusement Park

  7 May 2012 | 12:24 pm

  The park first known as Visionland and later Alabama Adventure has had a troubled history. Originally opened as a regional amusement and water park in 1998 near Birmingham, Alabama, ...Read Full Post

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  About.com Ancient / Classical History

• These Are Pairs of ... ?

  15 May 2012 | 3:43 pm

  © Clipart.com Guess what these pairs of names have in common. Leuconotus and AltanusLibonotus and SubvesperusArgestes and EtesiaeCircias and CorusThracias and GallicusSupernas and CaeciasCarbas and OrnithiaeEurocircias and Volturnus Answer Related: Zeus' Mates and Children Names and Types of Nymphs Mars and Venus Caught in a Net The 4 Roman Winds Plutarch Sign up for my free, weekly Ancient/Classical History newsletter

• Myth Monday - The First Tyrant

  14 May 2012 | 1:55 am

  Candaules, His Wife, and Gyges by William Etty 1820PD Courtesy of Wikipedia Today's Myth Monday features a story about the first tyrant known to the Greeks. It could be based on history, since the main male character is, but the actual coup is very unlikely to have happened in this way. Read Full PostMyth Monday - The First Tyrant originally appeared on About.com Ancient / Classical History on Monday, May 14th, 2012 at 06:55:59.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• Do You Know the Connection Between Immolation and Salted Cakes?

  13 May 2012 | 4:31 am

  On This Day in Ancient History - May 13:Vestal Virgins worked on the mola salsa, the Romans' sacred salted cake. In her online article on mola salsa, author Caroline Tully cites Robin Lorsch Wildfang's book on Vestal Virgins to say that this was one of the days on which the Vestal Virgins gathered unripe spelt to use in the mola salsa. The grain would then Read Full PostDo You Know the Connection Between Immolation and Salted Cakes? originally appeared on About.com Ancient / Classical History on Sunday, May 13th, 2012 at 09:31:16.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• Who Said It?

  11 May 2012 | 6:13 pm

  "Audentes deus ipse iuvat!"God himself favors the brave.Answer. Read more quotations by this author. (Includes translation and citation.) Sign up for my free, weekly Ancient/Classical History newsletter

• He Founded the City That Became the Capital of the Byzantine Empire

  11 May 2012 | 3:55 am

  On This Day in Ancient History - May 11: Constantine Public Domain In A.D. 330, Constantine the Great inaugurated his new capital city, the former Byzantium, which had started ...Read Full Post

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  About.com Animal Rights

• Brooklyn Food Conference, May 12, 2012

  9 May 2012 | 6:59 pm

  I'll be speaking at the Brooklyn Food Conference this Saturday: Saturday, May 12, 2012, 9am - 6pm Brooklyn Technical High School 29 Fort Greene Place Brooklyn, NY 11217 (map and directions here) The conference features over 150 workshops in 50 classrooms. I'm speaking in two of the Occupy Wall Street Animal Issues Working Group's series of workshops. The entire series includes:...Read Full Post

• Speak Up Against Dangerous Hunting Bill

  2 May 2012 | 7:28 pm

  The Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012 (S.2066/H.R. 4089, a.k.a. "Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act") is a drastic and extreme attack on wildlife and the environment, and has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives. According to the Animal Welfare Institute, the bill would:...Read Full Post

• World Week for Animals in Laboratories

  25 Apr 2012 | 11:52 pm

  April 21-29 is World Week for Animals in Laboratories. Here are four things that you can do to help animals in laboratories: Support the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act, (H.R. 1513/S. 810), which would phase out the use of chimpanzees in laboratories. Learn more about the bill here, then contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives.You can look up your U.S. Representative on the House of Representatives website, while your senators can be found on the official Senate website. A personal communication is always best, but if you're short on time, you can use this webform from the…

• Ted Nugent, Poaching Again

  25 Apr 2012 | 8:53 pm

  To follow up Nugent's 2005 cookbook "Kill It & Grill It," his next cookbook should be, "Poach It & Poach It." Ted Nugent has once again pled guilty to illegal hunting. This time, he illegally killed a black bear in southern Alaska. And like his previous poaching incident, he filmed and broadcast the events for his television show, "Spirit of the Wild."...Read Full Post

• For Earth Day, Meet Mike Hudak and Me

  10 Apr 2012 | 11:30 pm

  Environmental advocate Mike Hudak and I will speak at an Earth Day event in central New Jersey, on Wednesday, April 18: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 7:00pm Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Monmouth County (Directions) 1475 West Front Street Lincroft, NJ 07738...Read Full Post

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  About.com Animals / Wildlife

• Facts About Mammals

  28 Apr 2012 | 1:51 pm

  Did you know there are 21 groups of mammals? Or that there are nearly 5,000 species of mammals? Find out these facts and more in this article about mammals.

• All About Amphibians

  28 Apr 2012 | 1:50 pm

  Amphibians are a group of animals that includes newts, salamanders, caecilians, frogs and toads. There are between 5,000 and 6,000 species of amphibians alive today. The following articles will introduce ...Read Full Post

• Monotremes

  28 Apr 2012 | 11:46 am

  Monotremes are a unique group of mammals. Unlike placental mammals and marsupials, monotremes lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. Monotremes consist of two subgroups, the echidnas ...Read Full Post

• Pinnipeds

  28 Apr 2012 | 5:50 am

  Pinnipeds are marine mammals that include three groups, the eared seals (also known as the fur seals), the true seals, and the walrus. This group of mammals are sell suited ...Read Full Post

• Study Reveals Jellyfish on Rise

  27 Apr 2012 | 7:07 am

  Jellyfish numbers are on the rise worldwide according to a global study conducted by scientists from the University of British Columbia. The research team examined data for several species of jellyfish and found that jellyfish populations were increasing in 62 percent of the locations they analyzed. Areas with booming jellyfish populations included the coastal waters of East Asia, the Black Sea, the Northeastern United States, Hawaii and Antarctica. This study represents the first of its kind done on global scale. Plenty of anecdotal evidence exists for increasing jellyfish populations but…

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  About.com Animated TV

• FOX Announces Primetime Slate for 2012-2013 Season

  14 May 2012 | 1:59 pm

  Today in a press release, FOX announced which cartoons will be returning for their Animation Domination line-up on Sunday nights next fall. Who's missing? Allen Gregory and Napoleon Dynamite. No word whether either of those failed shows will make a mid-season appearance. But really, with such a solid line-up, why does FOX keep tinkering with new 'toons? Picture courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox. 7:30-8:00 p.m. The Cleveland Show (Relegated to the downhill slide timeslot previously occupied by Futurama and King of the Hill, and only after fall's football season is over) 8:00-8:30 p.m. The…

• Best Movies Made From Cartoons

  14 May 2012 | 3:00 am

  Sooner or later, popular TV cartoons become feature films, like Yogi Bear, Smurfs and in 2014, Mr. Peabody and Sherman. Many times cartoons are not as enjoyable when they're stretched to feature length: plots are too thin; jokes get old; big celebrities take too much attention away from favorite characters. However, a handful of movies made from cartoons have managed to bring the best of their shows to the big screen. See if you agree with this list of the best movies made from cartoons. Picture courtesy of Fox Home Entertainment. Follow Me on Twitter | Join Me on Facebook

• American Dad Season Finale

  13 May 2012 | 2:00 am

  American Dad is the new King of the Hill, in that FOX does little to promote it, but it's one of the funniest and most clever TV shows on the air. American Dad dissects family values, politics and most American preconceptions in every episode. In the season finale tonight, Stan finds Steve playing with his toys and vows to make a man out of him by taking him to Mexico. His plays go awry, however, when they are kidnapped by a drug cartel. Watch "Toy Whorey" tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET on FOX. Picture courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox. Follow Me on Twitter | Join Me on Facebook

• "Birth of the Blade"

  12 May 2012 | 2:00 am

  If you've been following ThunderCats on Cartoon Network, you'll know today's episode is pivotal for Lion-O. In "Birth of the Blade," Lion-O and Pumyra try to evade Mumm-Ra and his forces in the mines of Mount Plundarr in an effort to keep the Sword of Plundarr out his hands, we flash back in time and discover its origin--and its relationship with the Sword of Omens. Watch ThunderCats today at 9:30 a.m. ET on Cartoon Network. Picture © Warner Bros. Follow Me on Twitter | Join Me on Facebook

• Cartoon Network Celebrates Summer at Atlantis

  9 May 2012 | 2:08 am

  Not that I need another reason to visit Atlantis, but add Cartoon Network into death-defying water slides and who could resist? Atlantis is the place to visit this summer if you're looking for a family-friendly, but beachy vacation. The summer festivities will run from May 25th to Septemeber 3rd. Adventure Time will be everywhere, with an Adventure Time themed poolside dive-in theater and a Cartoon Network character takeover of one of Atlantis' most popular dining destinations, Seagrapes restaurant. Fans will watch screenings from their favorite Cartoon Network shows like Adventure Time,…

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  About.com Animation

• Poll: What's Your Take on the Creative Cloud?

  14 May 2012 | 12:58 am

  Now that Adobe's Creative Cloud has launched in full, I've been giving their ...Read Full Post

• Adobe CS6 Launches

  7 May 2012 | 2:49 am

  After a lot of talk, a lot of hype, and a lot of anticipation, Adobe Creative Suite 6 finally launched yesterday (note: for purchase only; the Creative Cloud SaaS subscription ...Read Full Post

• One of the Most Exciting Features of Adobe CS6: Subscriptions

  29 Apr 2012 | 11:52 pm

  One of my biggest gripes with newer versions of the Adobe Creative Suite has been the price. Even with the new features, the new functionality, and the great new enhancements ...Read Full Post

• What's The Difference Between Japanese and American Animation?

  4 Mar 2012 | 4:26 pm

  Ask the difference between American and Japanese animation, and you may get a fairly ugly response depending on whether the person you're asking is particularly invested in one or the ...Read Full Post

• What Are Structural Lines and Center Lines?

  2 Mar 2012 | 4:23 pm

  While you don't have to have DaVinci's skills in art, figure drawing, and perspective to be an animator, it helps to have a good understanding of structures and perspective - ...Read Full Post

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  About.com Anime

• Anime Review: 'Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker'

  13 May 2012 | 2:45 pm

  The vast majority of anime is still produced in Japan for a Japanese audience first, which is one of the cardinal definitions of anime I've used. But more and more we're seeing projects either done for hire as export-only items, or created with both Japanese- and English-speaking audiences in mind....Read Full Post

• Anime Review: 'Cat Planet Cuties'

  12 May 2012 | 3:34 pm

  Anime show titles are often at right angles to the show they're attached to. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is not about a ghost, Dance in the Vampire Bund is not about a dance (although it is about a vampire nation), and most anyone would be hard-pressed to say what Mardock Scramble is about without reading the sleeve copy on the disc....Read Full Post

• New Series Profile: 'Hetalia'

  7 May 2012 | 3:39 pm

  "Controversial" is such an open-ended word. With anime, it's typically used to refer to two basic kinds of shows. The first sport the easy kind of controversy: violence, sexuality, or material intended for mature audiences that seems aimed at younger viewers (for the latter, consider Shin-chan)....Read Full Post

• James Cameron's 'Battle Angel Alita' Off The Table [UPDATED]

  7 May 2012 | 8:00 am

  For years, anime fans held their breath over the possibility that director James Cameron (Avatar) would be launching a live-action adaptation of Battle Angel Alita. Now, a recent New York Times interview with Cameron hints at him taking all his non-Avatar related projects off the table for keeps, Alita included....Read Full Post

• Anime Review: 'Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood OVA Collection'

  6 May 2012 | 12:34 pm

  At this point it's impossible not to think of Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood as one of anime's mainstays. It's one of those shows that, to use Hollywood parlance, hits all the quadrants: it's easy for newcomers to get into; it pleases the fans; it's as satisfying for older viewers as it is younger ones; and it's been a critical and commercial success....Read Full Post

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  About.com Antiques

• The Value of Limoges Porcelain

  30 Apr 2012 | 8:02 am

  Values on Limoges Porcelain vary widely depending on the object, the decoration, and the skill of the decorator. See a number of different Limoges pieces and sets along with how much they sold for recently. Read more...

• Sending an Antique Gift to Mom?

  29 Apr 2012 | 9:11 am

  These tips actually apply to shipping lots of breakable items, but specifically antiques and collectibles. Make sure those valuable treasures you've carefully picked out for Mother's Day make it to their destination unscathed. Read more...

• The Life and Art of L.C. Tiffany

  29 Apr 2012 | 8:49 am

  I recently did a series of articles highlighting the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany as seen in the Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, Florida. It was impossible to learn more about those incredibly beautiful works without delving into the life of the man behind them. Read more...

• What are Cigarette Silks?

  29 Apr 2012 | 8:40 am

  Lots of quilts and other small textiles, like those made of cigar ribbons, were fashioned from cigarette silks distributed as premiums in the early 1900s. Often made in a series, these little pieces of Americana can be interesting and colorful in a number of ways, and also quite valuable. Read more...

• Tips for Collecting Antique Typewriters

  29 Apr 2012 | 8:27 am

  As typewriters become more and more of a novelty, lots of people are intrigued by them. In fact, it's reported that actor Tom Hanks keeps an antique typewriter handy to type a quick note on occasion. Learn more about collecting these old writing machines including what models to look for and a few sample values. Read more...

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  About.com Panic Disorder

• FAQs For Friends and Family

  30 Apr 2012 | 1:26 pm

  Your loved ones may have many questions regarding your condition. Due to the numerous myths about panic disorder, many people do question if panic symptoms are just an overreaction to fears and anxiety. Even well-intended friends and family members may wonder if you would just "get over" agoraphobia if you were forced into feared situations. On the other hand, most of your loved ones probably want to help you, but are uncertain about how to be supportive. Friends and family members often ask, "What can I do to help?" and "What are the best treatment options for panic disorder?"...Read Full…

• Managing Your Anxiety

  29 Apr 2012 | 3:20 pm

  Anxiety involves feelings of nervousness and fear. It often entails symptoms that impact one's thoughts and emotions. Anxiety can even be felt on a physical level, such as through headaches, muscle pain, and tension throughout the body. People with panic disorder are usually familiar with the struggle of managing anxiety. However, there are ways to more effectively deal with these feelings. There are some small changes you can make to start coping with anxiety....Read Full Post

• Maintaining Success After Treatment

  29 Apr 2012 | 9:39 am

  Photo © Microsoft How is success maintained once treatment is over? What happens if panic symptoms become unmanageable again? What can be done to stay on a path toward recovery? Typical treatment options for panic disorder include medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of these two choices. Many people with panic disorder follow through with a treatment plan and are able to build the skills they need to manage their condition. Treatment typically ends once the treatment goals have been met and maintained for a period of time. A therapist will help the person to gradually…

• How Yoga Can Help Reduce Panic and Anxiety Symptoms

  28 Apr 2012 | 2:57 pm

  Photo © Microsoft Did you know that yoga can also be a way to help cope with feelings of fear and anxiety? Yoga can be an effective way for those with anxiety disorders to manage their symptoms. Regular yoga practice has been known to help restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit.Yoga has some of the same benefits of physical exercise for panic disorder with the additional benefit of deep relaxation....Read Full Post

• The Physical Symptoms of Panic and Anxiety

  28 Apr 2012 | 11:21 am

  Photo © Microsoft Panic and anxiety are often accompanied by many disturbing physical sensations. Common physical symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and muscle tension. Additionally, people with panic and anxiety are prone to developing co-occurring health conditions. Some conditions that are frequently experienced by people with panic disorder include headaches, migraines, and muscle pain. Despite the difficulty of these symptoms, it is possible to mange panic disorder and these co-occurring conditions....Read Full Post

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  About.com Apartment Living / Rental

• Get the Most Savings With Bed Bath & Beyond Coupons

  12 May 2012 | 4:38 am

  If you shop at Bed Bath & Beyond for your apartment needs, you're probably familiar with their coupons, which can get you 20% -- or more -- off your purchases....Read Full Post

• How to Request an Accommodation for a Disability

  12 May 2012 | 4:37 am

  If you're renting an apartment and you have a disability, did you know that federal fair housing law requires your landlord to consider requests for accommodations and grant them if they're reasonable?...Read Full Post

• Memphis Rental Property Called 'Dirtiest Home in America'

  12 May 2012 | 4:37 am

  A Memphis, Tenn. landlord couldn't believe the condition of his rental home when his tenant moved out. It's not that she mistreated appliances, damaged walls, or caused any intentional harm to the building. The problem was that at some point the tenant apparently stopped throwing things away....Read Full Post

• Mother's Day: Quick Tips for Child Safety

  5 May 2012 | 5:56 am

  If you have kids or you're expecting children at your apartment on Mother's Day, here are some quick safety tips you can follow to ensure a fun time:...Read Full Post

• Mother's Day: Must You Be a Child's Biological Parent to Have Discrimination Protection?

  5 May 2012 | 5:55 am

  With a continued focus on Mother's Day, here's another issue of importance to many moms who are looking for or currently renting an apartment. Federal fair housing law, as you may know, protects renters based on "familial status," which refers to the presence of a child under 18 in a household. This means, for example, that a landlord can't turn you away just because you have one or more children living with you....Read Full Post

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  About.com Housewares / Appliances

• Cool Gear Travel Tubes - Small to Pack, Big on Convenience

  15 May 2012 | 1:36 am

  Refillable travel bottles are a must if you want to reduce packing weight and cheap, standard plastic ones leave MUCH to be desired. They're frustrating to fill or handle and most leak. The answer? Cool Gear Travel Tubes. Ok, I admit that their good looks did get my attention, but getting up close and personal cemented the relationship. I wouldn't want to travel without them.  Learn more about these handy travel accessories in my Cool Gear Go Gear Travel Tubes Review....Read Full Post

• True or False: When it Comes to Knives, Tang Does Matter

  14 May 2012 | 1:36 am

  True. The size of the tang, whether it's part or full-tang does matter if you want the knife to last longer. That's because the full tang increases the strength of the knife. That's especially important when buying quality kitchen knives. You want a full tang.  And expect to pay more for a full-tang knife....Read Full Post

• Add Some Whimsy (and function) With a Mural

  12 May 2012 | 1:36 am

  If you haven't been to Elephants on the Wall, this is one very creative site you might want to check out. They have these cool paint-by-number chalkboard murals that combine a whimsy decor with function, so you can jot down notes or give some heartwarming praise. The site has a good variety of paint-by-number wall murals - more than 200, so there's a wide choice to chose from, but the chalkboard collection is just so cute and practical....Read Full Post

• Saltwater Canvas Bag Reviews

  10 May 2012 | 1:26 am

  If you're looking for a large and highly functional beach tote, the Saltwater Canvas Whale Bag is it. Over-sized and with several pockets, you'll have ample room for towels, gear and whatever else you like to take to the beach....Read Full Post

• Tip of the Week: Lock 'Em Out!

  9 May 2012 | 1:05 am

  Is baby just starting to crawl and every time he/she wanders close to the kitchen cabinet, you start to fret?  Under the kitchen sink is the most common place where we tend to keep cleansers, bleach and other harmful stuff.  You could relocate all this hazardous stock to a safer place, but maybe there isn't another good spot.   Take a few minutes to install a child lock on that cabinet door and rest easier, knowing you've safeguarded this corner.   Wonderful!  Now are there other places where junior should be locked out of?...Read Full Post

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  About.com Freshwater Aquariums

• Black-Banded Leporinus

  14 May 2012 | 12:56 pm

  Not so long ago it wasn't easy to find Black-Banded Leporinus for sale in your LFS. Now many shops carry them, but they are usually young and fairly small, ...Read Full Post

• Yo Yo Loach Help

  13 May 2012 | 3:07 am

  This new Yo Yo Loach owner is having trouble with his fish. Can you offer suggestions to help? "I have recently acquired originally two Pakistani loaches. I found when I ...Read Full Post

• Killifish

  12 May 2012 | 5:04 am

  If you want to take on a new and interesting challenge, consider raising some Killifish. They are fascinating fish that are fun to hatch and raise. Although you may not ...Read Full Post

• Goldfish Varieties

  10 May 2012 | 3:26 am

  Goldfish have been kept as pets for over a thousand years. From simple to fancy, white to black, dozens of Goldfish variations abound. In fact, there are currently over 120 ...Read Full Post

• Harlequins

  9 May 2012 | 6:23 am

  Harlequins, often referred to as the Red Rasbora, are arguably the most popular of the more than five dozen species of Rasbora. Small and colorful, a school of Harlequins make ...Read Full Post

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  About.com Archaeology

• Reassessing Abri Castanet

  14 May 2012 | 9:16 am

  An article in PNAS published on May 14, 2012, describes a fundamental reassessment of the Upper Paleolithic Aurignacian site of Abri Castanet, in the Dordogne region of France, which pushes the date of its artwork back to among the earliest known in the world, about 37,000 years ago....Read Full Post

• Classic Maya Astronomical Mural

  11 May 2012 | 6:20 am

  A fascinating report in Science today, and featured in an upcoming issue of National Geographic, is that of a newly discovered mural including astronomical tables at the classic Maya site of Xultún. ...Read Full Post

• Horses from the Western Steppes

  10 May 2012 | 5:51 am

  New DNA evidence published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences earlier this week supports the domestication of horses as having occurred one time, somewhere in the western steppe region of Eurasia, somewhere in what is today Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, or Uzbekistan. ...Read Full Post

• Ancient Roadside Inns

  7 May 2012 | 4:04 am

  In one of the Time Team programs I reviewed last week, the team investigated a Roman mansio--the Empire's version of a way station or roadside hotel. Read Full Post

• Exchange Systems and Trade Networks

  4 May 2012 | 3:45 am

  An important concept used in archaeological and anthropological study for the past 150 years or more is that of exchange systems or trade networks. Exchange systems are the way consumers connect with producers of goods, services and ideas. ...Read Full Post

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  About.com Architecture

• AIA Convention & Expo

  15 May 2012 | 8:05 am

  Architecture is history, so it's appropriate that David McCullough deliver the opening keynote address this week at the 2012 AIA National Convention in Washington, DC. The well-known historian and prize-winning ...Read Full Post

• Architecture Updates: May 6 - 12, 2012

  12 May 2012 | 5:15 am

  When our readers aren't showing and telling us about where they call home, they're asking questions or voicing their opinions—and we love the enthusiasm!...Read Full Post

• Ranch House Plans

  8 May 2012 | 4:05 am

  Bring the campfire indoors! The ranch style house was and still is one of the most popular home styles in the United States. Our new gallery of 1950s Ranch House Plans reveals some of the reasons why. These small ranch homes seem much larger than they really are. The designs are airy with a back-to-nature feeling—not to mention those huge fireplaces and chimneys. The small home is back! More About House Plans: Cape Cod House Plans for 1950s America...Read Full Post

• Architecture Updates: April 29 - May 5, 2012

  5 May 2012 | 4:21 am

  Fred Abler is a very busy guy for About.com. This week we received another truckload of videos from him (where does he get the time?), so crank up the bandwidth ...Read Full Post

• Preservation Month Discoveries

  2 May 2012 | 3:30 am

  Pile the kids in the car and strap the dog to the roof—we have some Olmsted Landscapes to preserve! May is National Preservation Month, and this year's theme is Discover America's Hidden Gems...Read Full Post

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  About.com Art History

• Guess the Artist

  13 May 2012 | 8:58 pm

  Your clues this week are: The artist was an American, but wasn't born in the United States of America. A prolific painter and contributor to the gene pool, the artist created over 1,000 portraits and 16 offspring -- 11 of whom survived to adulthood. Besides art, our artist was also proficient in the areas of militia captain, saddler, taxidermist, political radical, watch maker, carpenter, legislative representative, silversmith, abolitionist, optometrist, upholsterer, museum founder, naturalist, sign painter, dentist, and spouse (by virtue of having married three times). And The sitter in…

• Happy Us Day, Mothers

  13 May 2012 | 6:05 pm

  Happy Us Day, Mothers originally appeared on About.com Art History on Sunday, May 13th, 2012 at 23:05:59.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• Guess the Artist

  6 May 2012 | 10:14 pm

  Your clues this week are: The Hispano-American Baroque artist was born in colonial Alto Perú, in a town named "lake-open plain" if one uses the regional variant of Quechua. However, most of the artist's life was spent in a fabulously wealthy town at the foot of Cerro Rico -- also in Alto Perú. Incidentally, "Alto Perú" went the way of the Dodo in 1824. Some claim that the artist's teacher was Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-1682), but there is no evidence that the artist traveled to either Seville or Madrid. It is more likely that the artist saw engravings of Murillo's…

• On Separating Funk (Art) from Junk (Art)

  30 Apr 2012 | 5:33 pm

  Before last week, I would have said one involved Soul Brother Number One James Brown, and the other non-recyclables. That would have worked, too, were it not for the word "art" tailgating both "funk" and "junk." So once again I sallied forth, armed only with an Inter-Library Loan card and a can-do attitude. Now that I know, you, too, can know how to compare and contrast Junk Art and Funk Art. I figure if "Doing It to Death" (the actual name of "Gonna Have a Funky Good Time") plays in your head the whole time, that's your business. ("In order for me to get down, I have to get down in D," is…

• Guess the Artist

  29 Apr 2012 | 10:38 pm

  Your clues this week are: The artist was American, born on a Midwestern farm towards the end of the 19th century. After spending years in a large metropolitan area, the artist was compelled to move to Northern New Mexico for the same reason so many other artists did: the quality of the sunlight. The artist and a friend were founders of a painting group based on a quote by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). WWII put a permanent end to the group, as it temporarily did to many other pleasant pursuits. The two pine trees tell us this is an early work. As a long career progressed,…

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  About.com Arthritis

• Bartonella Infection May Be Linked to Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions

  14 May 2012 | 12:40 pm

  A bacterium that is associated with cat scratch fever may play some role in human rheumatoid illnesses, including arthritis, according to researchers from North Carolina State University. The bacterium, named Bartonella, is transmitted predominantly by fleas, but also by ticks and other biting insects. Bartonella can also be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches from infected cats or dogs. The bacterium can be carried in cat's blood for months or years....Read Full Post

• Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

  12 May 2012 | 3:15 pm

  Fibromyalgia is a chronic and painful condition which affects about 10 million people in the United States alone. To increase public awareness of this often misunderstood condition, May 12th is ...Read Full Post

• Tofacitinib Recommended for FDA Approval to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis

  9 May 2012 | 5:50 pm

  The Arthritis Advisory Committee to the U.S. FDA has voted 8-2 to recommend approval of tofacitinib for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. If approved, tofacitinib would be the first new oral disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) for rheumatoid arthritis in more than 10 years and the first oral biologic drug...Read Full Post

• Arthritis Advisory Committee Unanimously Against Arcalyst for Gout

  8 May 2012 | 10:41 pm

  The Arthritis Advisory Committee voted 11-0 against recommending FDA approval of Arcalyst (rilonacept) for the prevention of gout flares in patients starting urate-lowering treatment. Arcalyst, a drug being developed by Regeneron, is an interleukin-1 blocker. The advisory panel did not feel that benefits outweighed risks in data presented for Arcalyst. They also felt that 16 weeks, the duration of trials, was inadequate....Read Full Post

• Steroids Increase Infection Risk in Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

  5 May 2012 | 2:57 pm

  Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham used U.S. Medicaid data from 2000 to 2005 to compare the incidence of bacterial infection in children with and without juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). It was determined that children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis have higher rates of hospitalization for bacterial infection than children without juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The risk of bacterial infection significantly increased with the use of high-dose glucocorticoids (10 mg. prednisone or more daily), but the use of methotrexate or TNF blockers...Read Full Post

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  About.com Asian History

• The Silk Road Returns

  14 May 2012 | 6:26 pm

  The ancient Silk Road was actually a network of transportation routes between East Asia and the Middle East, with branches into Europe. It crisscrossed Central Asia by land, and skirted the Indian Ocean basin by sea. The Silk Road reached its apex of trade and security during the time of the Mongol Empire, when the "Pax Mongolica" ensured relatively safe passage for traders and emissaries from across Asia and beyond....Read Full Post

• Historic Photos from Colonial India

  14 May 2012 | 2:23 pm

  Photos provide us with a glimpse of a moment in history. Of course, with early photography, the moments captured were much longer - the subjects had to stand still while the image developed on the glass. If they didn't, it would blur....Read Full Post

• Genghis Khan Statue Stirs Controversy in London

  23 Apr 2012 | 5:00 am

  To celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's upcoming Diamond Jubilee, marking the 60th anniversary of her accession to Great Britain's throne, an interesting piece of statuary has gone in at Marble Arch, London. It's an equestrian piece depicting a famous world leader born 850 years ago - Genghis Khan....Read Full Post

• Job Training for Tamil War Widows

  22 Apr 2012 | 10:41 pm

  The government of India is putting into place a job training program for widows from neighboring Sri Lanka. Many of these women, mostly ethnic Tamils whose husbands died in the three-decade long struggle for independence, have trouble supporting themselves because of limited educational opportunities....Read Full Post

• Quick Facts on the Vietnam War

  22 Apr 2012 | 3:26 pm

  Do you struggle to recall when the Vietnam War ended? Want to discuss modern-day parallels with the My Lai Massacre, but can't remember when it happened? Then Quick Facts on the Vietnam War is for you....Read Full Post

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  About.com Astrology

• Rare Transit of Venus (2004 & 2012), Love & Money

  15 May 2012 | 11:52 am

  Venus is retrograde as of today, and set to dance backwards in high heels across the face of the Sun on June 5/6th. This is known as the Transit of Venus, and it's the second of two, with the first back in 2004. Writing about Venus, says astrologer Judith Goldberg was a labor of love. She writes on Venus' retrograde and the rare pass of the love planet over our ginormous Sun. Looking across the timelines through the lens of Venus (and this transit), she makes some amusing connections. She writes, "In 1518, for example, Magellan circumnavigated the globe and proved that the world was round!"…

• Gemini Solar Eclipse: Bee Curious

  14 May 2012 | 4:49 am

  Butterflies remind me of mutable Gemini, with their erratic flying style, seemingly making decisions on the fly. They alight here and there, depending on what's in their flight path. Bees also buzz like Gemini, and I love watching them stuff pollen in their little side pouch, as they go. ...Read Full Post

• Mother's Peace Day

  13 May 2012 | 7:39 am

  The origin of Mother's Day here in the United States is out of the ashes of the hellish war between the States. In some borderlands, neighbor fought against neighbor, and blood relations faced off on the battlefield. In the decades after the Civil War, women organized Mother's Friendship Days, to meet as mothers of young men lost to war, and reunite families on different sides. ...Read Full Post

• Maxine Taylor: "Find your Passion...Find your Mission"

  12 May 2012 | 9:36 am

  She used to be CNN's on-air astrologer, and the first to be licensed in Georgia. Now Atlanta-based Maxine Taylor has a new book out encouraging all ya'll to Move into the Magic. ...Read Full Post

• Transit of Venus, 2012 & Dr. Saturno's Unveiling

  11 May 2012 | 6:18 am

  An archeological unveiling in the land of the ancient Maya is being used to dispel theories of apocalypse, which means unveiling. Such paradoxical times we live in! The archeologist is Dr. William Saturno, an intriguing name in itself. Saturn rules the time construct and authority, and here we have news that "time" continues on into the future....Read Full Post

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  About.com Space / Astronomy

• The War on Science

  9 May 2012 | 9:56 pm

  Everything is a war these days: Actual wars in various regions of the world, the war on drugs and even wars on various social issues. But there is another war going on, one that doesn't get nearly as much press: The war on science....Read Full Post

• What is the Higgs Boson?

  26 Apr 2012 | 12:05 pm

  Unless you live under a rock, you are undoubtedly aware of the work being carried out at the Large Hadron Collider. There, researchers are attempting to find a particle known as the Higgs Boson....Read Full Post

• Shuttle Arrives at Smithsonian

  19 Apr 2012 | 4:13 pm

  The Space Shuttle Discovery was shown off at the Smithsonian earlier today. NASA has posted a photo gallery of the preparation, journey and ceremony; it's worth checking out. Here in Indianapolis, Indiana, we may not have gotten the coveted Discovery, but we recently acquired a shuttle of our own. Pretty cool. Though, frankly, it's not as big as I thought it would be......Read Full Post

• Space Shuttle Discovery on its Way to D.C.

  17 Apr 2012 | 2:45 am

  One of the iconic machines of the 20th century is on its way to Washington D.C. to be displayed at the Smithsonian. The event, including the flight to Dulles, can be seen on NASA's website. They'll have video of the shuttle preparation and interviews about the program and the future of manned space flight. If you just want to catch the landing - which is really impressive as it involves being piggybacked on a modified 747 - tune in around 10:00 am EDT today.

• Giant Stars

  9 Apr 2012 | 10:07 am

  Our Sun absolutely dwarfs the planets of our solar system, accounting for nearly 99.9% of the mass in our little corner of the cosmos. And while recent studies have found that our Sun is actually above average in size, it is, well, puny, compared to some of the behemoths out there in our galaxy....Read Full Post

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  About.com Atlanta

• Atlanta Area Day Camps

  14 May 2012 | 8:02 am

  Summer is coming! Do you know how you're keeping your kids entertained? Check out these great Atlanta day camp options for all ages. Camp is a great activity for kids, plus a great break for the parents - and day camps are much more affordable than the overnight variety. Plus, you'd miss 'em, right?

• 2012 Memorial Day Weekend Events in Atlanta

  9 May 2012 | 2:01 pm

  Planning ahead for Memorial Day weekend? There are lots of fun events going on around Atlanta. From Jazz Fest to ceremonies honoring our soldiers, get the scoop on Atlanta's Memorial Day events for 2012.

• Kids Bowl Free Around Atlanta

  9 May 2012 | 1:45 pm

  Summer is just around the corner (really, school is out this month!), and that means you're on the hunt for ways to entertain the kids for a few months, right? Here's a hot tip for you. Bowling. Free bowling....Read Full Post

• Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil Show Coming to Atlanta

  9 May 2012 | 10:19 am

  Still looking for a gift for mom? If she is a Michael Jackson fan, how about tickets to the new Cirque du Soleil show, Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour? The show is just over a month away, playing for only one weekend at Philips Arena. Tickets are on sale now.

• Mother's Day 2012 is Coming

  2 May 2012 | 4:21 pm

  Mother's Day is almost here! Still looking for something to do or securing your brunch plans? Check out some of our Atlanta Mother's Day picks for 2012. Don't forget to pick up a gift for mom from one of Atlanta's great gift shops!

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  About.com Austin

• Fun with Little Ones

  4 May 2012 | 8:30 am

  As the mom of a 3-year-old and an 8-month-old, I'm always looking for fun new things to do with kids in the Austin area. Thankfully, Austin has a lot to offer in that department. From lake activities to a wonderful children's museum to parks where they could play for hours, there's a little something for children of all ages....Read Full Post

• Seeing Stars in Austin

  4 May 2012 | 8:30 am

  The first time I met a celebrity in Austin it was a completely random afternoon. I was walking near the University of Texas campus when I saw none other than Kevin Spacey walking directly toward me. My hearted started beating fast as I tried to decide if I should say something. As he got within a few feet of me, I said nervously, "Mr. Spacey -- I'm a huge fan!" He graciously thanked me, shook my hand and continued walking....Read Full Post

• SXSW on the Cheap

  4 May 2012 | 8:30 am

  It's March, which means that in just a few days Austin will be flooded with celebrities of the film, music and interactive varieties. While the South by Southwest festival may be one of the exciting times of the year for many Austinites, the high badge prices keep it from being a reality for many others....Read Full Post

• The More Food Trucks, the Merrier in Austin

  4 May 2012 | 8:30 am

  I'll be the first to admit that I was once skeptical about the whole food truck craze. After all, did I really want to eat my dinner off a paper plate outside an old Airstream in a gravel parking lot?...Read Full Post

• Planning Your July 4 Celebration?

  26 Jun 2011 | 1:08 pm

  The drought has affected several planned Independence Day events across Central Texas. And though Austin canceled its annual pyrotechnic show and musical celebration on Lady Bird Lake, surrounding areas still plan to offer events like parades, festivals and, yes, fireworks....Read Full Post

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  About.com Australia / New Zealand Travel

• Supersprinter Black Caviar Is off to London on an Australian Record of 21 Straight Wins

  12 May 2012 | 1:55 am

  Undefeated bay mare Black Caviar chalked up her 21st straight win in the 1200m Goodwood at Adelaide's Morphettville Racecourse this afternoon, May 12, local time. This was her last race in Australia before leaving for London to compete in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. Black Caviar: 21 Wins out of 21 Races

• There's Always a Melbourne Attraction to Warm Your Heart

  10 May 2012 | 7:00 pm

  In bracing autumn weather, with winter just weeks away, Melbourne remains a warm favorite for travelers to Australia. Dress for the weather and you're fine. Get around in the city and discover many of Melbourne's surprising attractions, from Federation Square to Southbank to the developing Docklands. If the warmth of indoor museums is more your thing, you'll much variety in Merlbourne's museums and galleries, some of them with quick walking access from the heart of the city. And yes, there's the City Circle Tram and City Tourist Shuttle to ferry you around for free. Melbourne: Getting Around…

• Sydney's Going Vivid

  5 May 2012 | 11:00 pm

  Sydney is going Vivid with the opening of this year's Vivid Sydney Festival on May 25. Vivid Sydney continues until June 11. Vivid Sydney, one of Australia's premier festivals and events is a celebration of light, music and ideas that includes large-scale light installations and projections through to music performances, ideas, creative summits. Outdoors, visitors and Sydneysiders alike should enjoy the festive colors and and images projected on the walls of Sydney's iconic buildings, from Sydney Opera House to other Sydney city structures. There are as well a variety of indoor festival…

• Will Black Caviar Make It 21 out of 21 Before Leaving for London?

  1 May 2012 | 7:00 pm

  Undefeated in 20 of 20 metropolitan horse racing events, supersprinter Black Caviar is racing on May 12 at Adelaide's Morphettville Racecourse. This is her last race in Australia before heading to London to run in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 23 in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Year. At Morphettville, she will start in the 1200m Goodwood. At Royal Ascot she will tackle the 1207m (8 furlongs) Diamond Jubilee Stakes, the feature race of the day where bookmakers have installed Black Caviar as the short-priced favorite. Black Caviar: Australia's Winningest Horse Racing Champion…

• Maytime!

  30 Apr 2012 | 7:00 pm

  Maytime in Australia heralds the coming of the southern winter. It is, too, a time of celebrations and festivals as you look at what happens in Australia month by month. May is mid-year and the last month of the Australian autumn. And winter is knocking at the door. It's that time of the year when the leaves of deciduous trees turn to gold and start to fall, and the mountains grow slowly white with snow. Australia Month by Month Australian Events and Festivals Quirky Queensland Events and Festivals Photo: Captain Cook 1770 Festival, by Greig Boreham, courtesy Captain Cook 1770 Festival

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  About.com Australian / New Zealand Food

• Eating locally and seasonally (on land and sea)

  15 May 2012 | 5:14 am

  A couple of weeks ago I enjoyed a cruise around the scenic Fleurieu Peninsula as part of a Tasting Australia media trip. If that wasn't decadent enough, I and my fellow food writers and bloggers were served delicious canapés and lovely Australian wines by our own private, on-board chef....Read Full Post

• Tasting Australia and cooler weather

  6 May 2012 | 4:21 am

  I'm just back from a week on a Tasting Australia media trip, and boy, did I have an amazing time! Tasting Australia is one of Australia's premier food festivals, attracting over 50,000 international chefs, food media and food lovers to Adelaide, South Australia, every other year. 2012's event was an eight-day festival of some 80+ events, including talks and panel discussions, cooking classes for adults and kids, workshops, wine tastings, celebrity lunches and dinners, tours and cooking demonstrations. Whether you were a beginner foodie or a consummate bon vivant, there was…

• Indulgent Summer Recipes

  26 Apr 2012 | 7:17 am

  Lighter meals are always popular during summer. That doesn't mean you have to sacrifice taste or style though. So if you're wondering what to cook for a light but indulgent summer meal, why not try this lovely Grilled Seafood Salad with Persimmons followed by Mini Pavlovas with Pomegranate Seeds?...Read Full Post

• Grilled mushrooms and asparagus salad

  4 Apr 2011 | 2:52 am

  Salads don't always have to consist of just lettuce, tomato and cucumber. They can be as varied as your imagination. Try this salad made with grilled mushrooms and asparagus spears, topped with a gorgeous soft poached egg and drizzled with a zesty dressing of lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, parsley and chili flakes....Read Full Post

• Blueberry tart

  28 Mar 2011 | 12:42 am

  One bite of this buttery short crust tart filled with blueberries, lemon zest and vanilla will set your senses alight. A creamy dollop of vanilla yogurt is the perfect accompaniment. Blueberries can substituted with strawberries or raspberries....Read Full Post

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  About.com Auto Repair

• Oil Change, the Auto Repair Gateway Drug

  14 May 2012 | 5:48 pm

  There are lots of auto repairs and maintenance you can do yourself, but there's nothing more satisfying to an entry level DIY mechanic than performing your own oil change. It's ...Read Full Post

• Another Great Reader Tip!

  9 May 2012 | 6:43 pm

  I recently wrote about common causes of engine overheating and received a great tip from a reader. Allan wrote to share this common overheating issue: Many modern vehicles use solid state relays instead of the electro-mechanical ones of the past. The fans they control draw a huge amount of current and the connectors which plug into the solid state felays to power these high current fans fail over time. The connectors get to HOT the pins melt which causes high resistance and finally an open circuit and the fan shuts down. This is so common the dealerships actually sell the connectors to be…

• Five Reasons Your Engine May Be Overheating

  29 Apr 2012 | 6:56 pm

  If you have an overheating problem, or if your engine just seems to be running hot, you should check out this quick list of things that can cause your engine ...Read Full Post

• So Your Car Won't Start

  27 Apr 2012 | 5:56 pm

  If your car is having starting problems, or you have a sudden bout of no-startedness, you should have a look at this No-Start Troubleshooting Checklist. It could really help you ...Read Full Post

• Suspension Clunks and Bumps? Get Help

  24 Apr 2012 | 5:22 pm

  Your suspension is the most abused system on your car or truck. It's no wonder that your shocks and struts will start to complain after a few years of hard ...Read Full Post

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  About.com Bed & Breakfasts

• Inns in the Heart of the City

  30 Apr 2012 | 5:28 pm

  If you believe that inns are only found in the countryside, BedandBreakfast.com found ten that provided an inn experience in the heart of some of the world's major cities. If ...Read Full Post

• Rising from the Ashes: Fran Ambroselli

  30 Apr 2012 | 5:24 pm

  When Fran Ambroselli's Finger Lakes region B&B burned down, it took a few years to collect her thoughts, collect insurance, and start again. But she shows that if you have ...Read Full Post

• B&B.com Places the Best Breakfasts on the Table

  30 Apr 2012 | 5:21 pm

  I think it's almost impossible to truly determine the best breakfasts at inns around the world, but the folks at BedandBreakfast.com have given it their all through a readers-selected review ...Read Full Post

• Fuel Savings to Increase Occupancy?

  30 Apr 2012 | 5:17 pm

  Courtesy of BnBFinder.com, there are a few ideas for innkeepers who may be looking for a new way to attract guests -- and for guests who are looking for ways ...Read Full Post

• Spamalot! Apologies for out of control e-mails/blogs!

  18 Apr 2012 | 10:24 am

  After being on the road for several weeks, I jumped back on B&B features and, when checking the blogs, saw (and heard!) from more than a few of you that ...Read Full Post

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  About.com Babies & Toddlers

• Breastfeeding Toddlers and Beyond

  14 May 2012 | 6:21 pm

  By now, you've probably heard more than enough about that TIME magazine cover of the mom breastfeeding her 3-year-old son. I have seen the image, but I haven't read the ...Read Full Post

• Why Does My Toddler Strip?

  11 May 2012 | 5:41 am

  It might have been funny the first time. But most moms agree that it's really no fun chasing a toddler who likes to strip. One reader writes: It's a problem in public because, well, have you ever chased a naked 2-year-old through the supermarket? Why is he doing this and how can I stop the madness?...Read Full Post

• 6 Toddler-Friendly Crafts for Mothers' Day

  9 May 2012 | 5:40 am

  Just having your little wonder around is, I am sure, enough of a gift for any mother, grandmother, godmother, or special "mom" in her life. But a homemade gift from ...Read Full Post

• Recycled Crayon Craft for Mothers' Day

  8 May 2012 | 6:42 am

  My kids started to love crayons at around 14 months. I remember the moments so well because rather than turning the crayon points to paper and making mommy lovely pictures, ...Read Full Post

• Potty Training: Pull-Ups vs. Underwear

  30 Apr 2012 | 7:16 am

  I took very different approaches to potty training with each my older children, and I expect to take an even different path when Little Guy is ready to start toilet ...Read Full Post

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  About.com Baby Products

• What's New at About Baby Products?

  30 Apr 2012 | 4:15 pm

  Pricegrabber.com. This week, I'd like to introduce you to one of the coolest strollers ever made. I had a chance to review the 4Moms Origami stroller, which has its own power generators in the wheels to run a sweet digital display and the automatic open and close system. This stroller also has innovative safety features. Before you take it on a test drive, you can also check out these stroller safety tips....Read Full Post

• Photo of the Week: Nom Nom!

  23 Apr 2012 | 10:15 pm

  © 2012, H.C. Four-month-old Collin taste-tests one of his Infantino Barn Babies teethers. Do you have a baby photo to share? Send it in for the Baby Products Photo of the Week!

• Drop-Side Cribs Sold at J.C. Penney Recalled

  23 Apr 2012 | 9:28 pm

  © 2012, CPSC. More than 16,000 Rockland Furniture drop-side cribs are recalled because the drop sides can detach, malfunction or otherwise fail. This can allow a dangerous gap to form between the drop side and the mattress where a child can become entrapped. This poses a suffocation and strangulation hazard. A child can also fall out the crib. Five instances of the drop side malfunctioning or detaching were reported, including one incident in which a child became entrapped and had minor scratches and bruises....Read Full Post

• Safety 1st Cabinet Locks Recalled

  23 Apr 2012 | 9:15 pm

  © 2012, CPSC. About 900,000 Safety 1st Push n Snap cabinet locks are recalled because they may not keep kids out of cabinets. Some kids can disengage the locks, which would allow access to cabinet contents. This poses a risk of injury due to dangerous products in the cabinets....Read Full Post

• Recalled Baby Products Resold

  23 Apr 2012 | 8:58 pm

  It's illegal in the U.S. to resell a recalled consumer product. However, due to improper disposal, some recalled baby products originally sold at Meijer stores could be for sale after the recall date. The products could be available at discount retailers, dollar stores, liquidation firms, flea markets or thrift stores....Read Full Post

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  About.com Back & Neck Pain

• Spinal Stenosis - Is That What The Symptoms Say?

  15 May 2012 | 9:57 am

  Spinal stenosis is closely associated with degenerative arthritis of the spine, and can be very difficult to live with.  As with many other back and neck conditions, diagnosing it early can help manage it successfully over time. But the diagnosis process is not always straightforward.  According to Dr. Mark Ebell, Senior Editor of Essential Evidence Plus, a website that helps clinicians make evidence-based decisions, spinal stenosis "is a tough diagnosis to make". In an Essential Evidence Plus POEM, Dr. Ebell summarized and commented on a 2010 systematic review of medical literature…

• APF Is No Longer

  12 May 2012 | 12:09 pm

  Sadly, the American Pain Foundation closed its doors last week.  I received the following in an email, and it seems that pretty much all the content on their website has been replaced with it as well: With deep regret and heavy hearts, we sadly inform you that due to irreparable economic circumstances, APF must cease to exist, effective immediately. On May 3, 2012, the Board of Directors formally voted to dissolve the organization. The Board and staff have worked tirelessly over many months to address a significant gap between available financial resources and funds needed to remain…

• Latest Articles on the Back and Neck Pain Site

  29 Apr 2012 | 5:23 am

  Check out the latest articles here on the Back and Neck Pain site: All About Adjacent Segment Degeneration Total Disc Replacement or Spinal Fusion? Your Psoas Muscle The Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Vocabulary: Encroachment Anatomy: Bony Process

• What To Do When You Get Cricked

  28 Apr 2012 | 7:16 am

  While a crick in the neck generally doesn't require a doctor's appointment, few people can deny the intense discomfort they feel when they have one. So what do you do? For starters, you might try some at home therapies. If that doesn't work, maybe it is time to see a doc.

• Look Up Your Spine Symptoms on the Back And Neck Pain Site

  28 Apr 2012 | 1:20 am

  I'd like to be sure you are aware there's a (small, but growing) category on the Back and Neck Pain site dedicated to helping you figure out what your symptoms mean.  So, for example, if you have shooting pain down your leg, it could be radiculopathy, and you can find a write up of this problem in that category.  The category is called What to Do If You Have.... Check it out.

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  About.com Desserts / Baking

• Almost Wordless Wednesday - Coffee Toffee Crunch A Bunch Pie

  15 May 2012 | 7:20 pm

  Click on the photo for the recipe. Congratulations to Susan Boyle of DeBary, Florida for winning the Best of Show Professional Division, Open Category for entering her Coffee Toffee Crunch a Bunch Pie at the 2012 APC/Crisco National Pie Championships....Read Full Post

• Fresh Strawberry Pie

  14 May 2012 | 4:49 am

  Instead of baking the strawberries in the pie crust, this recipe calls for most of them to be cooked ahead on the stove. The leftover strawberries are put in the baked pie crust first and the cooked ones are added. This is what gives this recipe for Fresh Strawberry Pie a delightfully fresh sweet-tart flavor....Read Full Post

• Happy Mother's Day!

  12 May 2012 | 7:57 pm

  I have to thank my mother for my love of baking desserts. Besides learning the various dessert making and baking techniques, she taught me that you can make people feel special when you bake for them. Mother always made me feel special when she made one these treats....Read Full Post

• What Are You Doing to Get Ready for Mother's Day?

  10 May 2012 | 3:15 am

  For Mother's Day, my family and I will be at a friends home and we're, of course, bringing dessert. Technically, the mothers won't be doing any of the cooking, so I'm making dessert on Saturday. It's all about strawberries, so I plan to serve Strawberry Shortcake...Read Full Post

• Almost Wordless Wednesday - Spider Monkey Peanut Butter Pie

  8 May 2012 | 8:19 pm

  Click on the photo for the recipe. Congratulations to Ana Ramirez of Polk City, Florida for being the Best of Show Junior Chef Winner for entering her Spider Monkey Peanut Butter Pie at the 2012 American Pie Championships....Read Full Post

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  About.com Baltimore

• Start Planning Your Memorial Day Weekend in Baltimore

  15 May 2012 | 3:13 pm

  Memorial Day is just a weekend away, which means it's time to get your plans in motion. Over the long weekend, Fort McHenry and Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens are both hosting Memorial Day ceremonies, while the Maryland Zoo will hold their annual "Brew at the Zoo" fundraiser. All this and more suggestions in this handy guide to Memorial Day weekend in Baltimore....Read Full Post

• About.com Baltimore Goes Social!

  15 May 2012 | 12:40 pm

  It was only a matter of time. Here's how to stay connected: Facebook: "Like" About.com Baltimore Twitter: Follow @AboutBaltimore And as always, you can also stay in the loop by signing up for the weekly About.com Baltimore newsletter.

• Preakness Events Now Underway

  15 May 2012 | 12:36 pm

  Preakness is fast approaching! The race takes place this Saturday, May 19 -- but there are plenty of activities leading up to the main event. Starting tomorrow, visitors to Pimlico can take sunrise tours of the Grandstand Apron, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the stakes (you might even run into a jockey or blacksmith along the way!). Then Friday is Black-Eyed Susan Day, which includes the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and The People's Pink Party, when retired female riders and active riders compete in a jockey challenge. Saturday brings Preakness, which starts with InfieldFest at 8…

• Tightrope Walker in Inner Harbor Today

  9 May 2012 | 6:45 am

  To celebrate the announcement of the launch of Ripley's Believe it or Not!, the museum is bringing high wire walker Nik Wallenda to the Inner Harbor later today. Beginning promptly at 5:15 p.m., Wallenda will walk on a high wire from the new location of Ripley's Odditorium out over the water to a platform moored in the harbor. He will cover nearly 300 feet, all on a tightrope without a net or any safety device....Read Full Post

• Where to Dine and Let Mom Unwind This Mother's Day

  8 May 2012 | 1:10 pm

  If you are planning to go out for Mother's Day in Baltimore and haven't booked a restaurant, you better hurry! All the best Mother's Day brunch and dinner spots around ...Read Full Post

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  About.com Banking / Loans

• Poorest Customers Targeted for High Fees

  10 May 2012 | 4:23 am

  Banks are increasingly targeting poor consumers; consumer advocates say the main motivation for doing so is the extremely high fees that low-income customers generate. Banks argue that they're helping the "unbanked," but the services they're using don't look very different from what the unbanked would otherwise use (payday loans, prepaid debit cards with high fees, etc).  In some cases, customers would benefit from the bank's simple checking account, but employees highlight more expensive products instead....Read Full Post

• Medical Bills can Ruin Your Credit

  8 May 2012 | 4:05 am

  When you think of your credit, you probably assume that it's just about any loans that you've used. By now, you know that your job and income are not part of a credit score calculation....Read Full Post

• Photos of New, Smaller ATM Card Skimmer

  2 May 2012 | 1:33 pm

  Card skimmers steal your information when you put your card into any device. Whether you're using an ATM or paying for gas at the pump, your card number is at risk....Read Full Post

• Financial Products Should Fit Behavior

  30 Apr 2012 | 3:40 am

  The universe of banking products continues to get more and more confusing. How can you choose which products and services are best? One way to do it is to consider your behavior and your habits. Where are you in life and what do you need from a bank? Students and retirees have different needs, and they'll probably use different bank products....Read Full Post

• Financial Health = Overall Health

  26 Apr 2012 | 9:56 am

  Now there's another reason to keep your finances in order. Money Management International (MMI) has compiled results from several studies suggesting that better financial health could lead to better mental and physical health. An American Psychological Association survey found that money problems were a leading cause of stress. Other polls found that people with high "debt-stress" were more likely to suffer from ulcers, migraines, and other physical challenges....Read Full Post

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  About.com Barbecues & Grilling

• How Often do you Cookout?

  15 May 2012 | 9:12 pm

  May is National Barbecue Month and so lets get a feel for how often you head outback to grill or smoke. I realize that if you are reading this that you probably cook outdoor often, but still it doesn't hurt to ask. Once, a few years ago I set out to cook three meals a day on the grill or smoker for a full week. Turned out that the family ended up eating more than normal, but it certainly wasn't a chore to do. I've found that once you've got the experience with a wide range of foods you really can do all the backyard cooking without a lot of extra work. Anyway, this weeks question is:...Read…

• Top 10 Small Grills for 2012

  14 May 2012 | 9:40 pm

  Sometimes you just don't have the space for a big grill. Whether you live in an apartment, condo, on a boat or just don't have a big patio, it doesn't mean that you can't enjoy a good cookout. Try one of these smaller grills, gas, charcoal or electric to give you real grilling flavor and fun. Remember to check with the local rules where you live to know what kind of grill you can have. Most apartments don't allow gas or charcoal grills. This list contains a wide range of types and prices....Read Full Post

• May is National Barbecue Month

  13 May 2012 | 9:41 pm

  New Poll Reveals It's All About The Cookout Flavor, location and fun atmosphere are top reasons why consumers dine alfresco ARLINGTON, Va., May 1, 2012 -- May is National Barbecue Month, the kick off to the peak outdoor cooking season, and consumers are eager to fire up their grills and smokers and get cooking. According to new nationwide poll results released today from the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), the great outdoors is the preferred place to cook during the warmer months, with an overwhelming 85% of consumers preferring to cook outdoors on the grill or…

• Top 10 Mother's Day Recipes

  11 May 2012 | 9:14 pm

  It's the one day a year we set aside to celebrate Mom and I promise you, she would like nothing better than to not have to cook. Chances are (Dad) that you are more comfortable around the grill than the stove, so try firing it up for Mother's Day....Read Full Post

• New Book: Rotisserie Cooking by Mike Vrobel

  11 May 2012 | 6:42 am

  Frequently I hear the complaint that cookbooks have become too expensive. There is an answer for that, electronic books. Take for instance this great ebook from Mike Vrobel, author of ...Read Full Post

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  About.com Baseball

• Win should get fans off Josh Beckett's back, for now

  15 May 2012 | 8:39 pm

  Few have fallen faster in fans' eyes than Josh Beckett has in Boston. A big reason why the Red Sox won the title in 2007, Beckett was booed off the mound last Thursday in a loss to Cleveland in which he gave up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings at home to an offense that nobody will mistake with the 1927 Yankees....Read Full Post

• Monday Morning Manager: Red Sox make classiest gesture of the year

  13 May 2012 | 8:07 pm

  The Boston Red Sox might have given themselves some karma on Saturday night. Without fanfare, Boston executives John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Tom Werner went to the visiting Cleveland Indians clubhouse before Saturday night's game at Fenway Park. They presented Derek Lowe with a 2004 World Series ring, one to replace the ring that was stolen from his home in Fort Myers over the winter....Read Full Post

• At the quarter pole, troubles in Philly and Boston

  13 May 2012 | 9:27 am

  It's Mother's Day, a day for pink bats and an unofficial quarter pole to what's been an eventful regular season. And if the season ended today, the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians and Washington Nationals would be in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox are in last place....Read Full Post

• Adam Dunn is swinging hard, coming back, and closing in on an odd record

  9 May 2012 | 7:51 pm

  Adam Dunn was a punching bag and a punch line last season, his first with the Chicago White Sox and his first in the American League. It wasn't pretty at all. He hit .159 and struck out 177 times, perhaps the worst performance by an established hitter in a full-time role ever. His batting average was the lowest in MLB since 1900 among hitters with at least 450 plate appearances. After hitting 38 homers or more in seven consecutive seasons in the National League, he hit 11 in 2011, and none in his final 28 games. His OPS was more than 300 points below his career average....Read Full Post

• Four homers for Josh Hamilton: When he's locked in, look out

  8 May 2012 | 9:52 pm

  As we figured out back at the All-Star home run derby in 2008, when Josh Hamilton gets his power stroke going, it's amazing to watch. Hamilton had one of the greatest hitting nights in baseball history on Tuesday evening at Camden Yards in Baltimore. The Texas Rangers center fielder went 5 for 5 with four home runs and a double, becoming the 16th person in history to hit four homers in a game. Nobody has ever hit five. The last to hit four was Carlos Delgado in 2003....Read Full Post

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  About.com Beadwork

• A New Place to Buy and Sell Beading Patterns

  14 May 2012 | 6:32 am

  Craftsy, the online craft course site, has added a platform for buying and selling beading patterns and tutorials. Currently in beta, the new pattern marketplace allows anyone to post PDF patterns for sale. There currently is no fee to list and Craftsy does not take a commission; sellers do, however, need a business (or similar) level PayPal account....Read Full Post

• New Monthly Design Contest From Artbeads

  11 May 2012 | 9:30 am

  Artbeads.com has begun a new series of design contests. To become their next Jewelry Design Star, just upload a photo of your best original jewelry design, and explain its inspiration, here ....Read Full Post

• Correction: Beadwork Magazine Beaded Bead Contest

  10 May 2012 | 3:52 am

  I have an update this week to correct my description of the Beaded Bead Contest, and I can't believe you guys let me get away with this one for so long! To enter, your design needs to include at least five beaded beads: at minimum, one each of all five beads that appear in Beadwork throughout the year....Read Full Post

• A New Pledge Drive for the Bead-It-Up

  8 May 2012 | 9:59 am

  As you may recall from my previous post, Ilene Baranowitz (beader and inventor of Faux Dichro) has created a new tool that makes bead stringing and jewelry design easier. Ilene has found a manufacturer and hammered out the details of production, but she needs to invest $6,000 for an initial run....Read Full Post

• Beady Happenings 5/6/12

  6 May 2012 | 7:57 am

  The monthly online magazine Soda Lime Times is giving away a free download of its Greatest Hits...so far issue. Get it on CraftGossip. (Even if you don't make glass beads, you'll drool over the gorgeous photos.) ...Read Full Post

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  About.com Beauty

• What Frames Best Flatter Your Face?

  10 May 2012 | 8:21 am

  I just completed 3 photo galleries of my favorite eyeglasses. They were such fun to put together and really highlighted some truths about choosing the perfect frames for you, which are:...Read Full Post

• Help! I Had a Baby & Developed Dark Spots on My Face

  7 May 2012 | 11:40 am

  I received an email from a friend who just gave birth this winter and is suffering from melasma, or dark spots on her face. They will recede in time, but she was wondering if there was anything she could do to help that process along....Read Full Post

• Cleanse Your Face With Oils? Yes!

  3 May 2012 | 6:28 am

  In my daily jaunt around the Web today, I found an interesting skincare tidbit I had to share from Dr. Ava Shamban, author of Heal Your Skin: The Breakthrough Plan for Renewal. Apparently, cleansers with natural oils such as olive, jojoba, maracuja or babassu work great as face washes -- even on oily skin -- because oils dissolve oils. This means an oil wash will cleanse your skin of sebum, dirt and bacteria. This is better than creamy washes that sit on skin and can clog pores....Read Full Post

• Natural Skincare: 10 Best Organic Products for Your Skin

  30 Apr 2012 | 11:21 am

  Many of friends are hugely concerned about what they put in their bodies and on their bodies, so naturally when we talk about beauty the main questions I get from friends revolve around natural products. They don't want anything with parabens, they REALLY don't want anything that's been tested on animals and they're willing to spend a bit more money to get the real thing....Read Full Post

• Best Cleansers for Combination Skin

  30 Apr 2012 | 11:04 am

  I got an email recently from a woman named Kimberley asking me for recommendations for cleansers specially formulated for combination skin. I immediately got to work researching and pulling together this list, "Best Cleansers for Combination Skin."...Read Full Post

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  About.com Beer

• Force carbonation defined...

  30 Apr 2012 | 6:56 pm

  Here's a little semantic bonus for the home brewers/keggers amonst us: force carbonation.

• A few thoughts about brewing a chili pepper beer...

  30 Apr 2012 | 6:48 pm

  Homebrewers, ever consider brewing a chili pepper beer?  Here are a few thoughts about doing just that...

• New beer articles for March

  31 Mar 2012 | 12:27 pm

  I've been busy churning out some more beery goodness. Check out my latest articles: Beer just can't get no respect! Is German beer superior to all other beer? Beer ads Beer brand loyalty ...and ...Read Full Post

• Happy St. Patrick's Day!

  16 Mar 2012 | 4:13 am

  So, tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and this year it happens to fall on a Saturday so it should prove to be a big one! A while back I put out a poll asking "Which holiday do you most closely associate with beer?" St. Patrick's Day remains the clear champion. Do you have any strong feelings on this one? Cast your vote. Trust me, it will be the most important vote of 2012! And, when you're done sharing your feelings on this issue, check out all the other beery issues that need to be resolved on my beer polls page. You want my advice for St. Paddy's this year?  Avoid the green beer; it's…

• New beery articles for February, 2012

  29 Feb 2012 | 12:59 pm

  I just published a handful of articles for February. Check 'em out: What is extreme beer? Extreme beer defined Beer and sugar for the homebrewer Lactose defined Fructose defined Maltose defined What is malted barley? The many faces of pale beer...Read Full Post

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  About.com Bestsellers

• Paperback Pick: Silver Sparrow

  15 May 2012 | 7:43 pm

  Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones is the story of a man with two families. One knows about the other family, the other doesn't. One of the lesser discussed gems of 2011, Silver Sparrow is a quick and moving read. Read a complete review and book club questions on Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones Cover Photo Courtesy Algonquin

• The Newlyweds by Nell Freudenberger

  13 May 2012 | 7:01 pm

  Nell Freudenberger's novel about an international marriage that is arranged over the Internet explores the emotional and everyday adjustments to marriage, which are amplified by the difference in cultures. Read a complete review of The Newlyweds by Nell Freudenberger The Newlyweds Book Club Discussion Questions Cover Photo Courtesy Knopf

• Paperback Pick: State of Wonder

  10 May 2012 | 7:41 pm

  State of Wonder by Ann Patchett was one of the big books of 2011. Is it a good paperback to throw in your beach bag? We have the scoop in this review. Cover Photo Courtesy Harper

• Paperback Pick: In the Garden of Beasts

  9 May 2012 | 9:40 am

  In In the Garden of Beasts, historian Erik Larson writes about William Dodd and his family. Dodd was ambassador to Germany just before the outbreak of World War II. Read a complete review of In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson In the Garden of Beasts Book Club Discussion Questions Cover Photo Courtesy Crown

• Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo

  6 May 2012 | 7:49 pm

  Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo was released early this year to much critical praise. Indeed, Boo's account of life in a Mumbai slum over several years is one of the stand outs of the year so far. Find out more about why this nonfiction narrative is a must read. Behind the Beautiful Forevers Book Review Behind the Beautiful Forevers Book Club Discussion Questions Cover Photo Courtesy Random House

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  About.com Health Careers

• Become a Cytotechnologist

  14 May 2012 | 3:49 pm

  What is a cytotechnologist? A cytotechnologist typically works in a medical laboratory, assisting a pathologist in examining slides of human tissue. Could a career as a cytotechnologist be for you?...Read Full Post

• Healthcare Adds 19,000 Jobs Despite Otherwise Disappointing April Job Growth

  4 May 2012 | 9:47 am

  The healthcare industry added 19,000 new jobs during the month of April, according to today's monthly jobs report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Home health care saw the largest gains, adding 6,300 jobs. Physicians' offices added 5,500 jobs, and with the 700 jobs added at outpatient care centers, ambulatory care grew by 15,400 jobs, while hospitals only added 4,100 jobs....Read Full Post

• Careers That Combine Medicine, Law

  30 Apr 2012 | 6:09 pm

  Sometimes physicians make mistakes. And sometimes these mistakes can be serious and very detrimental to patients' health and well-being. For example, if a physician operates on the wrong limb, misdiagnoses a patient, or makes any deviation from the reasonable standard of care that causes severe harm or death of a patient, this is known as medical malpractice....Read Full Post

• Mental Health Careers: "Do More for 1 in 4"

  30 Apr 2012 | 3:41 pm

  May is National Mental Health Month 2012. According to Mental Health America, 60 million Americans are diagnosed with mental illness in any given year. That equates to about 1 in 4 people. Therefore, this year's call to action for Mental Health Month is "Do More for 1 in 4". Mental Health Month was established in 1949 to raise awareness of mental wellness....Read Full Post

• 5 Bad Habits That Could Kill Your Health Career

  29 Apr 2012 | 8:48 pm

  Healthcare professions require more than the proper degree, certificate, and license. Did you know that your personal habits could also impact your healthcare career? Due to the level of responsibility carried by many healthcare workers, including handling sensitive information, life and death situations, dangerous equipment and lethal substances, healthcare workers are screened more thoroughly than employees in many other industries....Read Full Post