Going the distance, and then some
Ultramarathoning--a sport once reserved for only the hardiest of masochistic athletes--slowly grows in popularity.
Skating on thin ... plastic?
Forget skating on ice. How about skating on plastic? Throughout the country, new-generation synthetic-ice rinks are becoming increasingly popular. They’re cheaper and environmentally friendly and can be used year-round, manufacturers say. But skaters have given the new surface a chilly reception.
Playground taunts of ‘Dumbo’ got you down? Get your ears done
Cosmetic ear surgery, or otoplasty, was the most common plastic surgery in 2007 for the under-18 set, with some children getting the procedure as young as 5 years old.
It’s a mullet ... it’s a paper clip ... it’s MacGyver!
While so many other once beloved 1980s television characters inspire only nostalgia, why does MacGyver live on? It’s simple: He was the kind of hero we not only wanted to be, but could be. We all like to think that if called upon, we can save the day with our own mental agility and some duct tape.
Can juice provide an 'antioxidant advantage'? Tropicana thinks so
A stimulus package aims to protect Americans from economic catastrophe. The military has your back when it comes to security threats. But with names like “immunity defense” and “be tough,” are beverages also being enlisted for duty?
Kids who want to learn to spin on their heads turn to YouTube
Teenagers finally have something to show for all the time they spend surfing the Internet. Instructional videos on YouTube are teaching a growing number of teens new hobbies and tricks they can call their own.
Diamonds are a committed man’s best friend
Engagement rings are no longer just for women. As more women—and men—propose to their boyfriends and want take their men off the market during the engagement period, more and more men are wearing a visible token of love, from plain bands to diamond rings.
Made-up games: Cardboard forts and Pilates ball goals
Bored with baseball? Haven't played soccer since you were 6? Try tearing down a cardboard fortress or chucking a Pilates ball for points, like 20-40-somethings throughout the country who are inventing and playing their own new sports.
Dear friend and guest: I love you, but I want my couch back
It’s not uncommon for friends to stop by for a visit once in a while. However, if you live in New York City, Las Vegas or San Francisco, it can be every weekend. There's a level of stress and added responsibility that comes with hosting a guest. Here, hosts and hostesses from each of these cities talk about how their work, school and personal life have been affected by visitors.
Honey, what did you swap for dinner tonight?
Dinner co-ops, also known as supper swaps, are cooking up across the country and saving time, money and the family dinner.
The mysterious mind: why some people won’t go back to places they love
Some people can’t revisit special destinations often enough. For others, loving a place means never returning to it. They fear that a repeat visit will destroy their memories of a treasured experience.
Why go to your reunion? Facebook-stalking is so much simpler
Now that it’s easy to check up on friends and foes with a simple click of a button, Facebook has taken some of the mystery out of high school reunions. Some say it has made reunions unnecessary. Others say it’s helping get the party started.
How do you tell a paparazzo from a journalist? By their paychecks
They often go after the same targets, but photographers differ sharply on whether they’re photojournalists or paparazzi. One cares more about the money than the muse, but sometimes it’s hard to draw the distinction.
In matchmaking and marriage, parents in India look to the Web
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Matrimonial sites are popular among parents in India hoping to find spouses for their children in the U.S. But the sites also highlight differences in expectations between parents and the children who take a different route to marriage.
At colleges, some alumni want to erase the past
At college newspapers nationwide, editors are being asked to remove embarrassing stories about past alumni. The alumni are different, but most editors handle it the same way.
Your wedding: the documentary
The humble wedding video has morphed into the wedding documentary. Using digital cameras and computer editing, videographers are creating the ultimate chick flick—for two.
Spurred by SATs and college concerns, high schoolers flock to Latin
The mindless verbal recitation. The archaic prose. The old men in togas. No wonder Latin gets such a bad rap. While Latin was once thought of as snooty and boring, it’s gaining traction among teens looking to boost SAT scores and gain acceptance at top colleges. Along the way, some students are finding that what was once a résumé-enhancing exercise can soon become a lifelong love.
To bee or not to bee: cities ponder plight of urban hives
While the bee population is going down, the number of beekeepers is going up. The problem is that some municipal governments—including that of New York City, where beekeeping is illegal—are caught between the desire to save the honeybee from extinction and existing restrictions to protect citizens from potentially harmful insects.
Wall Street’s collapse leads to Great Depression for MBAs
MBAs are realizing that the sputtering economy is an unanticipated roadblock on the way to becoming “Masters of the Universe.” Business school students who hoped to land Wall Street jobs are struggling to figure out what to do instead.
Less is more: finding the freedom in frugality
Tough times inspire vows of frugality and “freecycle” groups.
Save the planes, scare the birds
The future of airport bird control may be the ancient art of falconry. Forget the noisemakers, the guns and the poison, one falconer says. All he needs to clear the runways around an airport is a falcon and 15 minutes every hour.
Film camera loyalists fear their days are numbered
As photographers hoard dwindling supplies and old cameras collect dust on the shelves of Times Square, film loyalists struggle to maintain old habits.