USA TODAY articles from January 2006

USA TODAY archives from January 2006

Optimism slipping say corporate CFOS.(YOUR LIFE)
January 1, 2006... Chief financial officers fear that inflation will rise when Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan steps down this month and are pessimistic about the U.S. economy. Moreover, although high fuel costs are the No. 1 concern reported by U.S....

Career resolutions? Bah humbug!(YOUR LIFE)
January 1, 2006... Whether it is the improving economy or that they are more concerned with bettering their health, professionals are not thinking about their jobs when making New Year's resolutions, shows a survey developed by Accountemps, Menlo Park, Calif., a...

Surf's up for new year.(YOUR LIFE)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... It is time to clear the slate and move forward to turn 2006 into a productive time no matter what surprises are in store for us, suggests Frank F. Lunn, president and chief executive officer, Kahuna Empowerment, Inc., Bloomington, Ill., and...

Holiday party hosts are liable for drunks.(YOUR LIFE)
January 1, 2006... If Grandma got run over by a reindeer, you had better hope the reindeer was not drinking at your holiday party. If a guest or third party is injured in an alcohol-related accident, and the drinking can be linked to your party, you could be held...

Accounting salaries are on the rise.(YOUR LIFE)
January 1, 2006... Heightened competition for accounting and finance professionals will lead to increases in base compensation this year, maintains the 2006 Salary Guide from Robert Half International Inc., Menlo Park, Calif., a specialized consulting and...

Corporate executives' jobs get tougher.(YOUR LIFE)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... Pressure on the job may be growing for corporate executives, according to a survey developed by Robert Half Management Resources, Menlo Park, Calif., a provider of senior-level accounting and finance professionals on a project and interim...

Real estate will slow as major stocks advance.(Your Life)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... If one of your New Year's resolutions is to make smarter investment decisions in 2006, resolve to put your money in the stock market, advises economic forecaster Harry S. Dent, founder and president of the H.S. Dent Foundation, Allen, Tex. "The...

Businesses should prepare for pandemic.(Your Life)
January 1, 2006... As economists and health experts warn of massive disruption to the global economy in the event of an avian flu pandemic, many U.S. businesses just now are beginning to look at ways to prepare for the possible health, social, and economic impact...

"No" year's resolutions for "weighty" women.(Your Life)
January 1, 2006... Whether it is making promises to lose weight or exercise more, resolutions long have been a traditional aspect of ringing in the New Year. For most, health and appearance are at the top of the list in a relentless pursuit of thinness, a quest...

Poultry industry's antidote for bird flu.(Your Life)
January 1, 2006... To many agricultural purists, corporate control of food production is for the birds. The business model, however, could be a key component in preventing an outbreak of avian influenza within the U.S., contend two poultry experts based at Purdue...

Winter wonderland shoveling tips.(Your Life)
January 1, 2006... Having a white holiday season can be a dream come true, but cleaning up after one can be physically challenging. To help kids and adults alike avoid injury while shoveling snow and ice this winter, the National Athletic Trainers' Association,...

A picture's worth at least 1,000 words.(Your Life)
January 1, 2006... Creating a photo album or scrapbook is a fun, creative activity for the entire family, especially during the holiday season. It provides an opportunity to spend quality time with your children and partner, offers Kenneth N. Condrell, professor...

Medicaid: America's undisputed boondoggle champion: its costs--both seen and unseen--are enormous, as the 40-year-old Federal initiative "now is bigger than Medicare (the Federal health program for the elderly and disabled) and is the single largest item in state budgets, even more so than elementary and secondary education.".(National Affairs)
January 1, 2006... MEDICAID IS THE largest means-tested government program in the U.S. Enacted in 1965, it provides medical care to tens of millions of low-income Americans. Supporters praise the program for making essential care available to those who otherwise...

The vanishing center.(STATE OF THE NATION)
January 1, 2006... IT IS A COMMON THEME of many self-described moderates that Pres. George W. Bush should "govern from the center." This advice sounds inclusive and magnanimous. It appeals as a way of leading the country out of an environment pockmarked by...

Baby boomers at a crossroads.(Economics)
January 1, 2006... IT WAS NOT that long ago when, as kids, everyone was trying to answer the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Perhaps by the time you finished your first or second year of college, you actually had a fairly good idea of what...

Perks are perking up again.(ECONOMIC OBSERVER)
January 1, 2006... AN ANALYSIS OF WORKPLACE TRENDS shows that employee perks, a reliable barometer of job market strength, are beginning to make a comeback. While not as extravagant as those offered in the late 1990s, companies clearly are shifting their focus...

Is the food scarcity scare for real.(Ecology)
January 1, 2006... IN RECENT MONTHS, rising oil prices have focused the world's attention on the depletion of vital reserves, but the drying up of underground water resources from overpumping is a far more serious issue. Excessive pumping for irrigation to...

Why women still feel persecuted.(American Thought)
January 1, 2006... FOR SEVERAL DECADES now, we have been witnessing tremendous energy and momentum towards the betterment of women's lives. Sexual stereotypes that long served as accepted wisdom have been debated, deconstructed, and dismantled. In the 30-plus...

Timetables and strategies.(WORLD WATCHER)
January 1, 2006... AS OF PRES. BUSH'S SPEECH at Annapolis in late November 2005, there still was no strategy either to "win" or withdraw from Iraq. In his "Plan for Victory" speech, the President rolled out the same vague objectives that he has stated before...

Straightening out U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.(Worldview)
January 1, 2006... A WISE FOREIGN policy recognizes that U.S. leadership is determined as much by its commitment to principle as by its exercise of power. For decades, the strength of U.S. leadership has brought together allies in common cause, addressing common...

Sticking to the ultimate New Year's resolution: carbs are good and fat can be our friend if we would just learn to make nice with these vital macronutrients.(Medicine & Health)
January 1, 2006... THERE HAVE BEEN the cabbage soup, grapefruit, low fat/no fat, and high-protein diets, as well as calorie-counting and no-calorie-counting programs--and let us not forget the do-note-at-late-at-night regimen and... well, you get the idea....

Enjoying the magic of the seasons throughout the year: the exhibition, "Spirit of the Holidays, " illuminates the season with charming, rarely seen examples of Tasha Tudor's original art for greeting cards and children's books created for those special celebrations--from Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's to Valentine's Day, Easter, and Halloween.(Museums Today)
January 1, 2006... FAMILY, ART, AND NATURE have been at the center of Tasha Tudor's life for years. Her hard-won success--as an author, artist, illustrator, and parent--is a constant source of pride for the still-working 90-year-old. Rejecting commercial fads and...

How Van Gogh: influenced--and was influenced by--the art of drawing: while Rembrandt, Delacroix, and Daumier had a great impact on him, others, such as Matisse and Klee, were early beneficiaries of his example.(Museums Today)
January 1, 2006... VINCENT VAN GOGH cultivated a large appetite for pictures and developed a very broad knowledge of art. While working as a young art dealer in The Hague, Paris, and London between 1869-76, as well as in Amsterdam, where he was training to be a...

Do not cry for the Crescent City.(Life in America)
January 1, 2006... THE LOVE AFFAIRS we share with cities are secret things. Mine begin with their connection to the waters that nourish them. The crooked canals of Venice and the narrow walkways chasing after them, closed in like a picture frame. Camps' Bay Beach...

No media protection here.(WORDS IMAGES)
January 1, 2006... A KEY REASON THE NEWS MEDIA EXISTS with special privileges is to be our watchdogs. Reporters' charge is to alert us when something is amiss, when human or natural disasters are about to threaten our welfare. When it comes to natural...

The silver screen's restless icon.(USA Yesterday)(In memoriam)
January 1, 2006... IN DECEMBER 1954, a 23-year-old actor was the subject of a photo essay for Life magazine. A loner who marched to his own eccentric beat, James Dean was by no means an easy subject. He was considered reclusive, antisocial, and simply was not...

Populist primer.(REEL WORLD)(history of movies)
January 1, 2006... I LOST A BELOVED AUNT RECENTLY, and it got me to thinking about the movies of her youth (the 1930s and 1940s), a subject she dearly loved to discuss with me. This was the heyday of director Frank Capra's populism--the feel-good movies of second...

When it snows, do as the eskimos do.(WHAT'S NEW?)
January 1, 2006... Some of our fondest winter memories of childhood are of building snow forts after big blizzards. So, we were pretty excited when we came across Eskimold from Tundra North Manufacturing, Creston, British Columbia. This ingenious igloo-building...

Butter bell rings in the New Year's feast.(Original Butter Bell Crock)(WHAT'S NEW?)
January 1, 2006... For most people, there is no question that butter belongs in the fridge. Yet, that solution brings on a host of other problems: refrigerated butter is hard to spread and it loses much of its flavor and texture at low temperatures. Admittedly,...

Don't count the days.(ECOlogical Calendar)(WHAT'S NEW?)
January 1, 2006... A lot of people merely think of the just completed year as the number 2005 and the New Year as another ho-hum numeral, 2006. For many, it's simply add one to the old year's tally and off we go again--and the common calendar of dates in boxes...

Fill up your closet with Filson.(WHAT'S NEW?)
January 1, 2006... The folks at C.C. Filson Company, Seattle, Wash., have seen their customers' needs change over the years. Filson has designed premium outdoor clothing and accessories for the "American Sportsman" since 1897. The company's history dates to the...

National Geographic marches with penguins.(What's New?)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... Last summer's surprise hit movie "March of the Penguins" (now out on DVD) has been captured in two volumes from National Geographic Books--a lavishly illustrated hard cover tabletop edition as well as a delightful softcover children's version,...

Stylish "Velvet" Hats that won't get crushed.(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... Whether smart and sophisticated or sassy and fun, a good hat often can be the finishing touch--or topper if you will--to complete a wardrobe. Hats, though, ought to be practical as well as fashionable. The San Francisco Hat Company, San...

How about that! babies do gymnastics.(The Baby Gymnastics Play Wall)(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... Leave it to Fisher-Price, Inc., East Aurora, N.Y., to get babies involved in gymnastics--well, sort of. The Baby Gymnastics Play Wall ($54.99) encourages and rewards babies' physical activity, from sitting and crawling to standing and cruising....

Hit the trail, not the hot-water bottle.(Crescent Moon)(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... When we go trailing--whether it be through the Adirondack Mountains in New York, White Mountains in New Hampshire, Green Mountains in Vermont, or Longfellow Mountains in Maine--a walking stick of the proper size, strength, and feel is a must....

What's it like to grip a Cobra?(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... If you're a winter sports aficionado, you're going to need some gloves to protect you from whatever Mother Nature has to offer. From Dakine, Hoed River, Ore., comes the Dakine Cobra Gore-Tex Glove ($70), sure to meet even the most extreme...

Place your chips on trading cards.(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... When the baseball card collecting business took off some years ago, so did the active imaginations of the sports' marketing experts. Athletics, in all its many forms, can be a money-maker if the right idea is promoted in the right way by the...

Kids II puts children first.(Baby Einstein Discovering Water Activity Gym)(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... For most people, babies are irresistible. Show up with one at any get-together or family function and, more times than not, the little guy will be passed around like a football, showered with love and attention, and endlessly entertained. When...

Weighing in on obesity and other matters.(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... It's very easy to overindulge this time of year. A look at the alarming obesity (and related illnesses) statistics means that many of us need to take greater control over monitoring and improving our health and fitness. Although we tend to...

'Tiz nobler to "Eat Mor Chikin".(Cows in Shining Armor Calendar)(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... The cows--more specifically, the "Eat Mor Chikin" Chick-fil-A Cows--are back for a ninth straight year in a Renaissance-themed calendar called "Cows in Shining Armor." Donning shields and regal coats of arms, the bovines take on the...

Plug and play with Jakks Pacific.(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... One of the most popular ways to play video games these days is through the Jakks Pacific, Malibu, Calif., line of Plug it in & Play TV Games. With an extensive catalog of titles, these affordably priced, battery operated devices just need to be...

No need for road rage.(What's New?)(LineChaserz from Overbreak LLC)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... You draw the track, and LineChaserz will follow it. if only we could pull off such a stunt at rush hour. LineChaserz, from Overbreak LLC, Sun Valley, Calif., are among the hottest new vehicles to race onto the market in years. Their patented...

Lego celebrates 50 years of building toys.(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... Building blocks have been around forever. One of the most popular makers of building toys--Lego--is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The Enfield, Conn., company has something for kids of all ages whether they're looking for action, adventure,...

Get those crafty creative juices flowing.(Creativity for Kids)(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... We've given up trying to make decisions whenever we see the outstanding and ever-evolving line of Creativity for Kids products from A.W. Faber-Castell USA, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. It's all good, as the saying goes, and oh-so worth getting for...

Radical baseball from Radica.(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... Strange as it may seem to some, it is possible to play a realistic game of baseball without actually leaving your living room. Radica USA, Dallas, Tex., has reincarnated our national pastime with its Play TV [Baseball.sup.3] ($39.99). Whether...

We all could use a Fitness Caddy.(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... If you've ever taken an aerobics class, you know it can be hard to juggle your water bottle, keys, towel, cell phone, etc. without dropping anything. You're probably not comfortable taking your pocketbook in, traditional gym bags are too large,...

Introducing "creative" Puzz-A-Models.(Puzz-A-Model)(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... Puzz-A-Model is the new series of woodcraft construction kits from Creativity for Kids, designed for boys and girls age 10 and up, and featuring fantastic mythical creatures. These kits offer the challenge of a puzzle and the fun of a model....

From the boat to the boardroom.(Sperry Top-Sider)(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... As you climb the corporate ladder, it is important to be outfitted in footwear that will keep your climbing feet from slipping on every rung. Sperry Top-Sider, Lexington, Mass., those renowned makers of boat shoes the last 70 years, has created...

Please press here for soda bubbles.(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... If you enjoy brewing your own coffee and also like soda, then Soda-Club USA Penguin, Cherry Hill, N.J., has you covered. Its on-demand gourmet soda machine will brew a liter in about 30 seconds and includes a choice of 25 flavors, from classic...

Lighted slippers that think on their feet.(What's New?)(BrightFeet Lighted Slippers from Boston Ideas LLC)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... At one time or another, everyone awakens at night, fumbles about the room or hallway, perhaps bumping their head or groggily kicking a doorframe or stepping on the dog. Turning on the light will wake up the kids or your spouse. What to do? ...

Love the feel of long-lasting leather.(What's New?)(Col. Littleton Ltd. Inc.)
January 1, 2006... It's hard to decide just what we like more about fine leather--how great it feels or how long it lasts. The choice doesn't get any easier, either, when trying to decide among the many leather products of Col. Littleton, Ltd., Inc., Lynnville,...

Spy vs. Spy along the beltway.(What's New?)(International Spy Museum)
January 1, 2006... We remember reading last year about the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C., and how it boasted the country's largest permanent collection of international spy-related artifacts on public display. It is the only public museum in the...

What a decade: I Love the 80s Board Game.(What's New?)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2006... Fans of the 1980s will flip over the new I Love the 80s Board Game ($24.99) from Intellinitiative, Inc., Boston, Mass. From the makers of the hit VH1 series, the game contains 1,500 questions and challenges in five categories: TV, movies,...

National Geographic's knack for fun learning.(What's New?)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... There is something to be said for educational toys. When you are able to make learning fun, it just takes on a whole new meaning. From National Geographic comes a bevy of gift ideas that are fun, educational, or simply just beautiful. For...

What's all the Hubbub and Ruckus about?(What's New?)(Ruckus, card game from Hubbub Inc.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... For a card game that doesn't take all night to play, look no further than Ruckus ($9.99) from Hubbub, Inc., Northfield, Ill. In this easy-to-learn, fast-paced game, players are dealt seven each of the quirky cards--e.g., monkey in a bottle,...

It's a small "virtual" world after all.(Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters)(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... Disney's trademark creative storytelling and state-of-the-art technology combine to create "Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters," an all-new interactive Disneyland park adventure, now open in Tomorrowland as part of the park's 18-month 50th...

Fisher-price is rock 'em, sock 'em again.(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... Remember Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots, the ultra-crazy fight game in which two bruising cement heads duked it out in the ring while throwing punches at the discretion of whoever was running the push-button controller?. To use television...

It's easy to V.Smile with VTech.(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... When VTech, Arlington Heights, Ill., entered the gaming market with its V.Smile TV Learning System, it designed a way for younger children to learn skills such as spelling and counting. This wholesome approach has been heralded as it entertains...

That would be a "Swish-a-Roo baby!".(What's New?)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
January 1, 2006... Give Fisher-Price, Inc., East Aurora, N.Y., and ESPN, Bristol, Conn., their due. Last holiday season, their collaborative efforts produced ESPN GameStation, the all-inclusive sports center that allows players to enjoy six of today's most...

Cool places secret spaces.(Super Fort)(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... Two of the most dreaded words that can spring from a child's mouth are: "I'm bored" Looking for a way to supercharge your child's imagination? Think back to the good old days before television and video games took over playtime, when children...

Getting there should be half the fun.(The Road Atlas and Road Atlas Travel Guide)(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... For Rand McNally, Skokie, Ill., knowing how to get somewhere just is not good enough. That is why, alongside more than 2,000 map updates, the 2006 editions of The Road Atlas and Road Atlas Travel Guide incorporate new resources, must-see spots,...

Nicktoons Unite on THQ video games.(VIDEO GAMES)
January 1, 2006... Stars from some of the most popular Nickelodeon TV shows come to life in the Nicktoons Unite! video game from THQ, Agoura Hills, Calif. It's good versus evil in this one- to four-player cooperative play, 15-level game where Professor Calamitous...

Don't waste gas by getting lost.(2006 Road Atlas)(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... Drivers can do very little about the price of gas, but they can do plenty to extend their mileage and save money. The first thing is to "know where you're going" with accurate and updated directions, which are available in the 2006 Road Atlas...

The retro ride is back in style.(What's New?)(retro bicycles from Electra Bicycle Company)
January 1, 2006... If anything's led the way for the latest retro movement, it's bicycles, which are back in a big way, thanks, in part, to the efforts and creative designs of the Electra Bicycle Company, Carlsbad, Calif., manufacturers of retro-inspired...

Dirt Devil's trio of tough picker-uppers.(Classic Hand Vac)(What's New?)
January 1, 2006... For some quick clean-ups at a price that won't break the bank, you'll love the convenience and affordability of this trio from Dirt Devil, Royal Appliance Mfg. Co., Glen Willon, Ohio. The powerful and compact Classic Hand Vac ($39.99) is...

Subtle is as subtle does.(PARTING THOUGHTS)
January 1, 2006... MY DICTIONARY DEFINES subtle as "not immediately obvious; characterized by skill or ingenuity; clever; elusive; [even] insidious. Armed with this wide-ranging description, let us look at some concrete instances of this. (The very word itself is...