USA TODAY articles from November 2007

USA TODAY archives from November 2007

Angry wives without a cause.(Angry Without a Cause)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Christian author and speaker Raymond Force believes that wives sometimes are "their own arch-enemies" when it comes to influencing their husbands for good. In Angry Without a Cause, Force writes: "The woman [who] ridicules her husband by making...

More women choosing single motherhood.(YOUR LIFE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Higher rates of unmarried childbearing are tied in part to the growing incidence of women choosing single motherhood through adoption or donor insemination, according to a study released by the Pew Institute, Los Angeles. Using U.S. Census data...

Spitzer scheme a danger to U.S.(Local Policies Unfair to American Citizens)(Eliot Spitzer's social policy fot illegal immigrants)
November 1, 2007... Gov. Eliot Spitzer's proposal to grant driver's licenses to illegal aliens is no more than political pandering to vocal interest groups and cheap labor employers. Moreover, it would endanger the security of all Americans, while adding to the...

Ending haven for illegal aliens.(Local Policies Unfair to American Citizens, Illinois)
November 1, 2007... The decision by the Department of Homeland Security to file suit against the state of Illinois for its attempt to thwart enforcement of Federal immigration laws is being applauded by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, Washington,...

Rethinking teens' rights to information.(YOUR LIFE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... The rapidly changing media environment experienced by American teenagers is having positive and negative effects on their development, maintains Roger Levesque, a professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Indiana University,...

Perception of media bias hurts democracy.(YOUR LIFE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... The perception of mainstream news media bias may play a role in fewer Americans having an active interest and concern about politics, indicates a political sociologist from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. "If people hear over and over...

Fed to the rescue in subprime crisis.(Federal Reserve Board)
November 1, 2007... The Federal Reserve has addressed the subprime mortgage crisis by again cutting the interest rate it charges banks, but the Fed needs to take a broader approach when attempting to fix financial problems that threaten to damage the economy...

"Baghdad boil" a sore point in U.S.(Your Life)(infectious skin disease )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Nine new cases of an infectious skin disease common in the Middle East, Mexico, and South America, where it sometimes is referred to as a "Baghdad boil," have been identified in the U.S. by a team of dermapathologists at the University of Texas...

Hillarycare poisonous to nation's health.(Get Government to Back Off)
November 1, 2007... When presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton announced her new "universal health care" plan, she put forth immediate claims that it would solve the problem of high insurance premiums. "You'll never again have to worry about finding affordable...

Keep congress out of Mental Health.(Get Government to Back Off)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... By a unanimous vote, the Senate has approved the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007, which would forbid employers to offer less favorable insurance coverage for mental illness than for physical illness. Support for a similar measure is widespread...

What not to do about subprime failures.(Get Government to Back Off)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... As high default rates on subprime loans continue, various state and Federal officials are eager to "do something" to counter the failures--especially to give aid to homeowners who bought mortgages they could not afford. "This is exactly the...

Do not regulate toy safety.(Get Government to Back Off)
November 1, 2007... As companies recall numerous toys based on safety concerns about lead paint, many are using the events to call for a dramatic increase in regulation. "To guarantee the safety of the nation's children," writes The New York Times, "American toy...

The country's best and worst highways.(Your Life)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Few people know the country's highways and byways (and, just as important, their rest stops) better than those who drive for a living. In Atlas Van Lines' annual King of the Road survey, the company's van operators sound off on their most and...

Migration becomes treacherous business.(Your Life)
November 1, 2007... The most far-reaching investigation to date on the journeys of migrating species shows drastic changes are underway in the U.S. and around the world. The migrations of many American species begin in September and continue through November and...

Sinking SCHIP: although presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the rest of the Democratically controlled Congress have other ideas, a perfect first step toward stopping the growth of government health programs would be for lawmakers to curtail contributions to Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.(Medicine & Health)
November 1, 2007... DESPITE PRES. George W. Bush's decision to veto Congress' October bill--and the legislative branch's failure to override that veto--Federal lawmakers still are contemplating further efforts that could result in millions more middle-income...

Rebuilding valuable soil.(EYE ON ECOLOGY)
November 1, 2007... THE 1930s Dust Bowl that threatened to turn America's Great Plains into a vast desert was a traumatic experience that led to revolutionary changes in the nation's agricultural practices, including the planting of tree shelterbelts (rows of...

Coping with the national mortgage: meltdown and the collapse of the shadow banking system.(Business & Finance)
November 1, 2007... NATIONAL FORECLOSURES jump 93%. More than 154 U.S. lenders have "imploded." Recent figures for defaults and foreclosures are evidence of a serious threat to the American dream of home ownership for subprime and, now, prime borrowers. When...

Cinema's dark side.(Chinatown)
November 1, 2007... THE 1974 MOVIE "CHINATOWN" is one of the pivotal works of the film noir genre. The central character, as in most noir movies, is a tough guy detective, played here by Jack Nicholson (before he slipped into his over-the-top psychotic acting...

U.S. oil supplies are not art risk: it is past time for political and ecological alarmists to stop spreading unfounded fears that America's energy security somehow is endangered.(National Affairs)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MANY AMERICANS have lost confidence in their country s "energy security" over the past several years. Oil prices already were high by historic standards in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast and...

Hollywood hates America.(movie industry)
November 1, 2007... SOON AFTER THE BOMBS DROPPED on Pearl, Harbor, Hollywood began making movies to bolster the nation s morale and dramatize its cause. The industry was, as cinematic historian Neil Gabler put it, "turning out film after film about the Nazis'...

A look inside the Iranian sponsored terrorism machine.(Worldview)
November 1, 2007... IF A MILITARY OPERATION is enacted to solve the problem of the Iranian nuclear program, is there any real threat of a wave of terrorist attacks in the U.S. and Europe? The answer is yes. Of course, it is extremely difficult to assess terrorist...

Iraq's murky waters.(private security contractors)
November 1, 2007... ALMOST NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW that American government officials in Iraq are not guarded by the U.S. military, but instead are protected by what are known as "private security contractors" or PSCs. The Baghdad incident on Sept. 16 in which...

Woe is the politics of immigration.(The World Today)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN THE MID 1960s, Congress passed a series of extraordinary laws intended to guarantee the civil liberties (and voting rights) of black people with the clear purpose of ensuring their regrettably long-deferred entry...

Where land meets water: mindful of the recent catastrophic effects of Hurricane Katrina, this exhibition reminds viewers that the line of demarcation between Louisiana's land and water is vague and ever-changing.(Museums Today)
November 1, 2007... IT IS A PLACE that often seems unable to make up its mind whether it will be earth or water, and so it compromises. The result is that much of moist lower Louisiana belongs to neither element. The line of demarcation is vague and forever...

An American in Paris: watercolor, notes artist Barbara Ernst Prey, "develops on its own.... You have an idea, but the beauty is in the process.... It's so fluid, and accidents can happen.".(Museums Today)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SHOWCASING a collection of 80 works in watercolor that span her entire career, "An American View: Barbara Ernst Prey" provides valuable insight into the artistic paths this talented painter has chosen to follow....

Disney high school musical the ice tour: we're all in this together as the Disney megahit makes the seamless transition from the small screen to a large arena ice surface.(Entertainment)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I'VE SEEN BOTH movies a zillion times--hey, it's not my fault; I have an 11-year-old--been to the concert, listened to the CD soundtracks over and over again, memorized the lyrics, watched my daughter execute all the...

What do we care?(book conceived by youth thought)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WAR IN IRAQ, global warming, government scandals, media madness--what do we care? We're just teenagers All we think about is homecoming, the latest fashions, video games, music downloads, the hot new guy or girl at...

The beginner's mind.(American Thought)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WE ARE intrigued by the Zen concept of a beginner's mind--one that still is open to the dance of imagination in the land of innocence and possibility. This dance is one that most adults must work hard to retain in a...

A picture is worth 1,000 lies.(manipulating photographs)
November 1, 2007... DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT YOU SEE. Today's technology makes manipulating and altering photographs so easy that a child can do it. Johnny is at bat and misses the ball. No problem-move the ball from under the bat to right on the bat and see Johnny...

Street life is no life for children.(homeless children)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COMING HOME AFTER school or a day with friends is something most kids take for granted, but for more than 1,000,000 young people living in this country, there is no place to call home. Youth homelessness is a complex...

Getting rich ... on paper.(income tax)
November 1, 2007... ESTIMATES OF THE TOP ONE PERCENT'S share of total U.S. income have been cited widely as evidence of a large and continuous increase in U.S. income inequality since the 1970s. Yet, many changes in U.S. tax laws and regulations after 1980 made a...

Foster care is failing.(education of at risk youth and foster children)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE ESTIMATED 518,000 children currently in foster care are among the most at-risk youngsters in American society. Research shows that adults who formerly were in foster care are more likely than the general...

Reauthorization of NCLB: federal management or citizen ownership of K-12 education?(Education)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN HIS 2007 State of the Union address, Pres. George W. Bush stated: "Now the task is to build on the success, without watering down standards, without taking control from local communities, and without backsliding...

Does socialism or free enterprise best serve the common good?(Economics)
November 1, 2007... IN CHAPTER 21 of St. Matthew's Gospel, Jesus proposes a moral dilemma in the form of a parable: A man asks his two sons to work for him in his vineyard. The first son declines, but later ends up going. The second son tells his father be will...

Let the turkey save the day.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(How to Cook a Turkey and All the Other Trimmings)(Brief article)(Book review)
November 1, 2007... In the idyllic fantasy we have in our minds as we close in on the holidays, we picture the perfect gathering: All of our extended family brought together under one roof, with children and adults thoroughly enjoying one another's company, as we...

These cookies (and cakes) are darn good.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(chocolategourmet.com)
November 1, 2007... When it comes to sweets, it takes a lot to impress us. Suffice it to say, we've eaten more than our share--some good, some bad, and oftentimes whatever's available--so it's rare when we come across something that is in a class by itself. But,...

Creating gifts that mean something special.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Faber-Castell Corp.)
November 1, 2007... There's nothing like the touch of a homemade gift. Taking the time to create something you know will be meaningful to the recipient brings unparalleled joy to the giver and the giftee. That's one of the reasons we've always been so impressed...

Time for backyard birds to "come and get it".(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Wild Birds Unlimited Inc.'s birdhouses)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... When you're making out your holiday list this season, don't forget about our feathered friends. Birds are essential to a healthy ecosystem and birdfeeding has become a very popular hobby--second only to gardening. By adjusting the blend of...

Getting the jump on stormy weather.(weather forecasting equipments)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Regardless of what's going on in the world, it seems the biggest stories in the news revolve around the weather. Whether in the form of a tease ("Is the snow headed our way? Find out at 11... ") or a program interruption ("There's a severe...

Rollin', rollin', rollin' keep those legs a rollin'.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Marathon Carbon Series' roller skates)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... One of the best ways to ensure success--and longevity--in any fitness program is to select activities you enjoy. Better still is to pick something the entire family loves. Not only does it bring everyone together, but all of you will benefit...

High definition doesn't just mean TV anymore.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Boston Acoustics Inc.'s audio receiver)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... There are many quintessential rushes in life, but you would be hard pressed--at least from our vantage point--to match the feeling provided by great-sounding music. We're not here to argue tastes; whatever you're into... well... you're into....

Restocking for the Holidays.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(wines)(Buyers guide)
November 1, 2007... As we move into the season filled with holiday parties and get-togethers, we're reminded it's time to restock our liquor cabinets with just the right crowd-pleasing labels. While we're out shopping, we know that there are a few people on our...

Chore day now is just a breeze.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Electrolux AB's Ergorapido)
November 1, 2007... As busy as we are these days, it seems almost impossible to keep on top of the housework. Even on ordinary days, we're still trying to pack in more things than time will allow. Throw in a couple of holidays and forget about it--we'll never...

Start (or end) your day with a rain shower.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Rainshower from InvigoRain technology)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Whether we use it to get going in the morning or to wash away the remnants of a hard day, those few minutes in the shower give us our one guaranteed moment to feel refreshed, renewed, and ready to face whatever comes next. Not surprisingly,...

Take a deep breath of blue air.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Blueair Inc.'s Blueair ECO10 )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... So many of us, concerned with our indoor air quality, run air purifiers in our homes. With minimal maintenance, they help trap smoke, dust, and other allergens, and make us more comfortable in our environment. Most of us, however, never stop to...

Do you need a blanket? That's affirmagy!(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Do you believe in the power of positive thinking? We can't help but be reminded of one of our children's teachers who loved to quote Henry Ford: "If you think you can or you think you can't, you're probably right "That seems to be the message...

Save your world (and your face and hair).(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(personal care products)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Most of us go through our days without giving a second thought to the rain forests or, given their location, even considering that they have any effect on our lives. Although these natural regions cover only a tiny portion of the Earth's...

Then we're all agreed--let's eat!(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(meat box)(Buyers guide)
November 1, 2007... What do you give to the people on your holiday list who seem to have everything? They don't need another knick-knack or tchotchke to collect dust, and probably have all the tee shirts or bathrobes they'll be able to use for the rest of their...

Aquavista 100 gives any room a view.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... We're always looking for ways to bring a little life and maybe a splash of color into our living spaces. One thing sure to liven up any room is a fish tank. There are so many options to choose from--whether you select colorful fish, splashy...

You cannot speak to me that way--or can you?(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(DTXT clothes)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... With the advent of text messaging, it seems the English language has been reduced to a series of initials and punctuation marks. OMG! How embarrassing is it to have to ask a preteen just what does BFFL stand for? Call us hopelessly...

Barbie still looks marvelous at 50.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Nearly 50 years after she was introduced by Mattel, Barbie still is thriving. Maybe be cause in the land of make-believe, Barbie has a great life. She's got beautiful clothes, a sporty car, great toys and accessories, and plenty of friends....

Hit the ice ... or go airborne.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Geospace International's Hover Hockey)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... When it comes to sports, we've just entered our favorite time of the year. We offer a halfhearted apology to the many gridiron fans out there, but we're talking about hockey season. For us, nothing matches the excitement--and the fast pace--of...

In search of a small patch of fun time.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Roll-It Tic Tac Toe )(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... What do you do when free time is hard to come by and family time is so important to you? When we want to take a small break from our busy schedule and spend it having quality time with our children, we pull out a game from Patch Products,...

Curl up with Nick classics.(DVDs)(Nick Jr. Favorites)
November 1, 2007... In just a couple of weeks, it will be time to pull out our collection of holiday shows to watch with the kids as we do every year. There's something about the comfort of a tradition that lets us share with our children the classics we watched...

Crayola creations from our future artists.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Buyers guide)
November 1, 2007... From an early age, most kids demonstrate an interest in experimenting with drawing, painting, and coloring. For the youngest children, creating artwork usually means scribbling back and forth with some writing utensil held in a tightly clenched...

Play ball and make ice cream--at the same time.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)( Original Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... One of the world's most popular desserts is ice cream. Even as the years speed by, we never seem to outgrow it. Perhaps because there are so many flavors to choose from, we always are able to find just exactly what we're looking for to satisfy...

Why not playaway while you work away?(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide )(Playaway Ready-to-Go Audio)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Reading always has been one of our passions. (Thank goodness, considering the field we're in.) The trouble, of course, is finding the time to sit down and read for pleasure. It can be a challenge, but we hate to miss the latest novels by our...

Toddlers should be laughing and learning.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Fisher-Price Inc.'s toys)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... It's amazing to watch children move from infancy to toddlerhood and recognize how quickly they learn and absorb knowledge from their ordinary activities. (If only we could preserve that sponge-like ability in our adult years.) Fisher-Price,...

When it comes to games, Hasbro has it down pat.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Hasbro Inc.'s board games)
November 1, 2007... We find that the easiest way to bring a smile to our children's faces is with one simple announcement: "It's family game night" For youngsters, this is an easy sell, but teenagers also appreciate this low-pressure way to interact with parents...

No more fighting for elbow boom.(video games)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... We love the idea of DVD games because not only are they great fun at home in the comfort of the family room, but they're also a terrific form of entertainment on road trips. The kids can pop them in the DVD player in the minivan or in a...

Zebras and tigers and leopards--oh my!(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(shawl)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Whether in a drafty office or a cool restaurant, it's so hard to feel comfortable when the temperature fluctuates constantly. Perhaps it's due to body chemistry, but it seems to be a problem that affects women a lot more often than men. While...

Indulging the chocolate experience.(WHAT'S NEW? Holiday Gift Guide)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Experience chocolate and discover the difference among Euphoric Indulgence, Sweet Serenity, Pure Rapture, and Chocolate for the Vine. Okay, now you've got our attention! Chocolate is a favorite for the holidays, especially gourmet chocolates...

Let the gaming begin.(VIDEO GAMES)(Buyers guide)
November 1, 2007... With so many new titles on the market today, it's hard to keep up. Here's a guide to some of the more popular picks: Designed exclusively for the Nintendo Wii, Carnival Games brings home all the excitement and fanfare of a day at the...

Doing the DS.(VIDEO GAMES)(Buyers guide)
November 1, 2007... One of the things we love about the Nintendo DS system is that many of the games designed exclusively for this platform are intended to exercise your brain, thereby sharpening your mind, memory, computational skills, and, now, your vision. ...

A steep price to pay.(baseball tickets and consumer preferences)
November 1, 2007... "THE SECOND RULE of economics," bellowed my Business & Finance professor Walter Johnson at the University of Missouri some 30 years ago, "is... if you paid it, it must be worth it." In the modern-day sports world, fans have had to learn that...