Archive for the ‘Humanities’ Category

Getting Into Med School Without Hard Sciences

Friday, July 30th, 2010
A program admits students if they study humanities instead of the traditional pre-medical school curriculum.

2010: Worst Movie Year Ever?

Friday, July 30th, 2010
Coming soon to a theater near you: absolutely nothing you want to see. Joe Queenan on why Hollywood keeps trying to sell us on pointless sequels, lame remakes and the stardom of Shia LaBeouf.

Wyly Brothers Face SEC Fraud Charges

Thursday, July 29th, 2010
Billionaire brothers Sam Wyly and Charles Wyly hid $550 million in trading profits by using an "elaborate sham system" of offshore entities, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Thursday.

Police: Cheeseburger found in SC woman’s gas tank

Thursday, July 29th, 2010
By 2010-07-30T01:25:36Z
ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) -- A South Carolina woman found out fast food won't make your car go fast. The Herald of Rock Hill reported Thursday a 30-year-old woman made a complaint to police after she took her car to a Rock Hill mechanic last week because it would suddenly stop running....

Police: Cheeseburger found in SC woman’s gas tank

Thursday, July 29th, 2010
By 2010-07-30T01:25:36Z
ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) -- A South Carolina woman found out fast food won't make your car go fast. The Herald of Rock Hill reported Thursday a 30-year-old woman made a complaint to police after she took her car to a Rock Hill mechanic last week because it would suddenly stop running....

Exhibition Bares Painter’s Intentions

Thursday, July 29th, 2010
The heart of "An Eakins Masterpiece Restored: Seeing The Gross Clinic Anew" is the painting itself, brought back to its original intensity and immediacy.

Vicar conducted 360 sham marriages

Thursday, July 29th, 2010
LONDON (Reuters) - A vicar was found guilty on Thursday of conducting hundreds of sham marriages between African nationals and cash-strapped eastern Europeans to allow illegal immigrants to gain residency in Britain.

Churchill’s dentures fetch nearly $24,000

Thursday, July 29th, 2010
LONDON (Reuters) - A partial set of British wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill's gold-mounted dentures has fetched 15,200 pounds ($23,770) at auction, over three times the estimate.

Brewer claims world’s strongest beer

Thursday, July 29th, 2010
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A Dutch brewer with a penchant for competition has laid claim to creating the world's strongest brew: a beer that is some 60 percent alcohol by volume.

BP Disaster Regnites California’s Anti-Drilling Fervor

Thursday, July 29th, 2010
The disaster in the gulf strengthens opposition to oil drilling in California.

Hotels Try to Win Over Teens

Thursday, July 29th, 2010
For teenagers on summer vacation with their families, there seems to be a universal goal: Ditching the parents. Hotels and resorts are trying to make that easier by offering souped-up teen programs.

Santander’s Net Slips as Spain Weighs

Thursday, July 29th, 2010
Banco Santander said that its second-quarter net profit fell 8%, as a drop in profit in continental Europe offset higher earnings at the banking giant's Latin American and U.K. operations.

Sanofi Said to Plan a Bid of $70 for Genzyme

Thursday, July 29th, 2010
A deal would bolster Sanofi’s drug pipeline and significantly increase its presence in biopharmaceuticals.

The Ever-Curious Cellist

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
From Dvorak to American roots music to Argentine tango, Yo-Yo Ma works both inside and outside the box.

Florida great-grandma takes a bite out of crime

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
By 2010-07-29T01:24:32Z
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- A great-grandmother in Daytona Beach bit an assailant and was dragged several feet hanging on to the getaway car of a couple who snatched her purse. Patricia Robertson doesn't know how she summoned the strength, but the commotion she created helped get her belongings back....

Florida great-grandma takes a bite out of crime

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
By 2010-07-29T01:24:32Z
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- A great-grandmother in Daytona Beach bit an assailant and was dragged several feet hanging on to the getaway car of a couple who snatched her purse. Patricia Robertson doesn't know how she summoned the strength, but the commotion she created helped get her belongings back....

Novartis Plans Giveaway of New Children’s Medicine

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
The Swiss drug giant will give away up to 250,000 bottles of a liquid medicine to woo parents frustrated by the recall of liquid children’s Tylenol.

Baraboo, a Circus Birthplace

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
Clowns, trains and mini-golf are among the attractions of this southwest Wisconsin city, the birthplace of the Ringling Bros. Circus.

Florida great-grandma takes a bite out of crime

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
By 2010-07-28T20:10:01Z
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- A great-grandmother in Daytona Beach bit an assailant and was dragged several feet hanging on to the getaway car of a couple who snatched her purse. Patricia Robertson doesn't know how she summoned the strength, but the commotion she created helped get her belongings back....

Escaped tiger found after massive South Africa search

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Rangers captured an escaped tiger at a South African farm on Wednesday after a two-day helicopter search that had dominated news broadcasts.

Investors Return to China Markets

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
China's stock market, one of the world's worst performers in the first half of the year, has swung upward as investors bet that the government's aggressive efforts to tighten the reins on the economy have peaked.

Washington State Moves to Tighten Controls on Pain Killers

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
Regulators in Washington State are attempting to stem what some see as the excessive use of prescribed narcotics.

Hamas targets women’s underwear in modesty drive

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
GAZA (Reuters) - The Islamist rulers of the Gaza Strip have ordered lingerie shops to display more modesty.

Fur farm foxes trained to combat rat plague

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
BEIJING (Reuters) - Authorities in China's far west have bred and trained "an army" of silver foxes bought from a fur farm to fight a plague of rats threatening a huge expanse of grasslands, state media said on Wednesday.

Five 5K Runs Experts Recommend

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
The 5k race is the country's most popular running race. At 3.1 miles, it's a distance easy enough for beginners, but not so short that accomplished runners scoff. A guide to some of the highest rated 5K races in the U.S.

Texas Battles Health Law Even as It Follows It

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
An awkward dichotomy exists in states that are challenging the health care act, but are still required to follow it while their cases move through the courts.

Earnings Boost European Stocks

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
European stock markets were higher, with relatively strong earnings news offering a degree of confidence to investors, while banking stocks continued to benefit from the positive developments surrounding the industry.

Md. man sentenced for stealing library’s tarantula

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
By 2010-07-28T01:18:16Z
WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) -- A Maryland man has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for stealing a spider from a public library. Carroll County Circuit Judge J. Barry Hughes sentenced 27-year-old Randy Humple of Westminster Monday....

Tobacco Funds Dwindle as Obesity Fight Intensifies

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
As public health priorities shift, anti-tobacco programs are losing out to the campaign against obesity.

Bear crashes in runaway car

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
DENVER (Reuters) - A black bear attracted by the smell of a peanut butter sandwich managed to open the door of a car, climb in and got stuck, knocking the gear stick into neutral and sending the car rolling down a slope into trees.

Caves offer new tour — in Klingon

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Staff at the Jenolan Caves west of Sydney have added a new out-of-this-world attraction -- a tour in the Star Trek language Klingon.

Lufthansa Seeks Savor in the Sky

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
Chefs from the German airline are using a chopped up jet as a laboratory to study the decline of haute cuisine at high altitude.

Following a Script to Escape a Nightmare

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
Mounting evidence suggests that therapy can help reduce the frequency and intensity of nightmares.

Firefighters dismantle police car to rescue kitten

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
By 2010-07-27T13:20:53Z
VIENNA (AP) -- This little kitty went home - but only after Vienna police and firefighters partially dismantled a police car to find it....

Happy Couples, Go Ahead and Fight

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
Couples fight. The good news: If you fight the right way it can actually make your relationship happier and healthier.

UBS Swings to Profit

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
UBS swung to a second-quarter profit, helped in part by a $566.7 million gain on its own debt and a fall in withdrawals at its private banking unit.

Vital Signs: Regimens: Finding a Way to Save Money and Blood

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
Transfusing patients with their own blood can halve the number of blood products used in hospitals and reduce costs, a study reports.

Man finds $4,800 in pot in auction painting

Monday, July 26th, 2010
By 2010-07-27T01:14:46Z
CANTON, Ga. (AP) -- A Cherokee County man found a hidden treasure in a painting he bought at an auction: four pounds of marijuana. Gordon Clement, 80, discovered the pot stashed inside of the painting, which he bought at a post office auction about five years ago. He found the drugs last weekend when he tried to sell the artwork at another auction....

Iowa teen known as ‘Deer Magnet’ after hitting 5

Monday, July 26th, 2010
By 2010-07-27T01:14:45Z
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- A central Iowa teen has earned the nickname "The Deer Magnet" after hitting five deer in the past year. Seventeen-year-old Kacee Larson of Conrad said her string of bad luck began last July when she was driving home from her job at an ice cream shop. She saw the deer an instant before hitting it....

New Nutritionist: Your Grocer

Monday, July 26th, 2010
A number of grocery retailers are now pushing nutritional advice. Efforts include posting nutritional ratings on bin labels and hiring dietitians to advise shoppers on how to select healthier food.

Why Jobs, Not More Housing Stimulus, Is the Key

Monday, July 26th, 2010
For all the risks associated with a weak U.S. housing market, there are others from too much intervention.

Woman uses railroad spike to battle intruder

Monday, July 26th, 2010
By 2010-07-26T20:29:33Z
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (AP) -- When an intruder came into her home, Stephanie Molina grabbed the first thing she could find to fight him off - a railroad spike. It worked, and police followed the trail of blood to the suspect's apartment....

Vital Signs: Nostrums: Some Nasal Gels May Harm Sense of Smell

Monday, July 26th, 2010
A new analysis has concluded that zinc nasal gel products can indeed cause some patients to lose their sense of smell.

Bikes and Cars: A Lesson in Los Angeles

Monday, July 26th, 2010
The mayor of Los Angeles fell off his bicycle and broke an elbow when a taxi swerved.

Pub lets clients drink between the lines

Monday, July 26th, 2010
NAGYKOVACSI, Hungary (Reuters) - On the way home from a hard day's work, Ferenc Nagy often gets the urge to pop into his favorite boozer for another round of binge reading.

Teenager survives fall from 16th story balcony

Monday, July 26th, 2010
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A 15-year-old New Zealand boy has survived with minor injuries after falling 16-storeys from the balcony of his family's apartment onto a concrete floor, New Zealand media reported Monday.

Next Test for Europe Banks: Finding Funds

Monday, July 26th, 2010
Now that most major European banks have sailed through their long-awaited "stress tests," they face a stiffer challenge in the months ahead: raising billions of dollars of long-term funding to finance new lending.

Anglers Tangle Over ‘Skishing’

Monday, July 26th, 2010
An extreme method that combines skiing and fishing puts fishermen deep in water, spawning a surfcasting debate.

European Stocks Reverse Gains

Monday, July 26th, 2010
European stock markets opened higher, with banks leading gainers as market participants react with relief to Friday's release of European bank stress tests.

Fake shark devours surfer in latest statue prank

Sunday, July 25th, 2010
By 2010-07-26T03:02:36Z
CARDIFF-BY-THE-SEA, Calif. (AP) -- A bronze surfer statue near San Diego has been the target of many gags, but never one this big and scary....

New Drugs Buoy Hopes in Fighting Hepatitis C

Sunday, July 25th, 2010
The late-trial success of telaprevir has given medical experts reason to believe a new wave of drugs could lead to far better treatment outcomes for patients who have the virus.

Kazakhstan Looks for Tour Lift

Sunday, July 25th, 2010
How do you change perceptions of a little known country formed largely by a hugely popular movie that ridiculed it? For Kazakhstan, part of the answer is to win professional cycling's biggest prize, the Tour de France.

Blockbuster Quarterly Earnings? Yawn.

Sunday, July 25th, 2010
Although growth figures look weak, corporate earnings are coming in reasonably strong. Yet the market's response so far has been lackluster.

Jordanian police nab lettuce lady during protest

Sunday, July 25th, 2010
By 2010-07-25T16:25:57Z
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) -- An animal rights activist has caused a stir in Jordan's capital by covering herself in lettuce in a quirky attempt to persuade Middle Eastern meat lovers to go vegetarian....

Boozy Float Parties Run Aground

Sunday, July 25th, 2010
Consuming alcohol is illegal on this city's famous beaches. But, thanks to a loophole authorities are now trying to close, drinking a few feet from shore is not.

Political Times: Race: Still Too Hot to Touch

Sunday, July 25th, 2010
Why hasn’t America moved beyond the old debate on race in the age of Obama?

Does Language Influence Culture?

Sunday, July 25th, 2010
New cognitive research suggests that language profoundly influences the way people see the world.

Dengue Fever? What About It, Key West Says

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
Floridians are unsettled by the disease’s impact, and the way the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has publicized it.

Artists See an Increase in U.S.-Cuba Cultural Exchanges

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
Despite little apparent progress in diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States, Cuban artists say more musicians, artists, actors and writers are traveling between the two countries.

Britain Plans to Decentralize National Health Care

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
The new government’s plan would be the most radical reorganization of the National Health Service since its inception in 1948.

When Pneumonia Follows Severe Dementia

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
A new study finds that aggressive treatment of pneumonia in severely demented patients did not improve the quality of their remaining months.

Idaho police dog back to work after suspension

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
By 2010-07-24T19:01:34Z
SUN VALLEY, Idaho (AP) -- A police dog in the central Idaho resort town of Sun Valley is back on duty after serving a "suspension" for an unprovoked attack on a small schnauzer....

Idaho police dog back to work after suspension

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
By 2010-07-24T19:01:34Z
SUN VALLEY, Idaho (AP) -- A police dog in the central Idaho resort town of Sun Valley is back on duty after serving a "suspension" for an unprovoked attack on a small schnauzer....

Idaho police dog back to work after suspension

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
By 2010-07-24T16:35:45Z
SUN VALLEY, Idaho (AP) -- A police dog in the central Idaho resort town of Sun Valley is back on duty after serving a "suspension" for an unprovoked attack on a small schnauzer....

San Diego Partyers Take Advantage of the Float

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
Consuming alcohol is illegal on this city's famous beaches. But, thanks to a loophole authorities are now trying to close, drinking a few feet from shore is not.

Potential Found in a New Approach to Alzheimer’s

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
A scientific finding raises hopes in treating Alzheimer’s disease, as well as Huntington’s and Parkinson’s.

Euro Advances After Test Results

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
The euro posted a modest advance after most European banks passed regulatory stress tests and initial doubts over the tests' stringency were allayed as investors dug into the details.

A Can’t-Miss Deal That Can Miss

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
Investors are abuzz over the "guaranteed" yields of 5.75% to 7.75% offered by an unusual instrument called a "factored structured settlement." Here's why you should pass on them.

Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
Passing on art, collectibles and other valuables to your heirs can lead to major headaches when it comes to settling an estate—especially this year, with the estate tax and other tax provisions up in the air.

European Banks Rally in U.S. Trading

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
Shares of European-listed banks in the U.S. rallied as European stress tests showed the large majority of banks would be able to withstand a potential economic downturn or government bond crisis.

Man decked out in Darth Vader mask robs NY bank

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
By 2010-07-24T05:18:16Z
SETAUKET, N.Y. (AP) -- Times must be tough back at the Empire....

Man decked out in Darth Vader mask robs NY bank

Saturday, July 24th, 2010
By 2010-07-24T05:18:16Z
SETAUKET, N.Y. (AP) -- Times must be tough back at the Empire....

Why We Need More Par-Three Courses

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Short layouts are still out of fashion, but a revival could be a boon to the game—and also really fun.

V.A. Eases Rules for Medical Marijuana

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Hospitals and clinics in the Department of Veterans Affairs system will formally allow veterans to use the drug in states where it is legal, though they will not prescribe it.

Doubling Down on Housing

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Record-low interest rates and a scary stock market are prompting investors to sink even more money into their homes.

Professor returns from vacation, gets ‘foiled’

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
By 2010-07-24T01:16:24Z
ST. PETER, Minn. (AP) -- A science professor at Gustavus Adolphus College left for a week's vacation this summer and returned to a shiny office. Very shiny. Professor Scott Bur's students had covered his office in aluminum foil. Computer screen, chairs, the ceiling, the floor - all covered in foil. Books and pens were individually wrapped, so was the phone, a ball cap, a bottle and the coffee maker....

"Darth Vader" strikes NY bank

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Force was with a man when he robbed a bank wearing a Darth Vader mask and a cape.

A Brighter Day for Gulf Fisheries

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
"We feel very confident that the seafood is completely safe to eat," a federal official says of newly reopened gulf waters.

Stocks Waver After Stress Tests

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Stocks wobbled after most European banks passed stress tests but investors questioned whether the tests had been rigorous enough to allay concerns over lenders' stability.

When Middle of the Pack Is Good

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
The Peloton, the V-formation that top riders form in cycling races, has its unofficial rules and etiquette at the Tour de France.

PM Cameron calls time on jailhouse rock revival

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron has said prisoners will not be allowed to hold parties behind bars after a minister proposed lifting a ban on arts events for inmates introduced by the previous administration.

Hot weather shrinks size of German fries

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
BERLIN (Reuters) - French fries in Germany could be significantly shorter this year due to the heatwave that has baked Germany and much of Europe this month, the German Farmers' Association (DBV) said on Friday.

Passions on Display at E.P.A. Meeting

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Recriminations were the order of the day at an E.P.A.-sponsored public meeting in Pennsylvania on a form of gas drilling known as hydraulic fracturing.

‘Corpse flower’ bloom could stink up Texas wedding

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
By RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI 2010-07-23T13:54:14Z
HOUSTON (AP) -- The flower girl at Jessica Zabala's wedding is purple, six-feet-tall, uninvited and smells like dead bodies....

Blockbuster From China

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
China's most commercially successful film director, Feng Xiaogang, talks about his latest film, the two-earthquake family saga "Aftershock."

Strong Data Lift Euro, Pound

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
A stronger-than-expected rise in German business confidence boosted the euro ahead of European bank stress-test results, while the pound rallied sharply after U.K. second-quarter GDP came in well above market expectations.

News Analysis: At AIDS Gathering, Experts Call for End to War on Drugs

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
A call at a global AIDS conference to end the war on drugs was lost amid worries over donor money drying up.

In Search of Bahraini Pearls

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Bahraini pearls are widely believed to be the best in the world, with their fabulous luster that is the combination of the sea's freshwater springs and its warm, shallow, highly saline water.

Small Screens, Big Budgets

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
A new era of lavish historical epics is booming—on TV. Some of the most expensive series ever produced are coming to cable, including "Boardwalk Empire" and "Camelot."

Federal ‘Sting’ Slams Gene Tests

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
The Government Accountability Office conducted an undercover operation, finding that some genetic testing companies were offering misleading, inaccurate results to consumers.

Police nab bandit who used underwear as mask

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
MIDWEST CITY, Oklahoma (Reuters) - An unemployed woman who said she was desperate for money has been arrested on charges she robbed an Oklahoma McDonald's with a white stretch girdle wrapped around her face as a makeshift mask.

NY "bouquet bandit" arrested for two bank robberies

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York police arrested a man on Wednesday accused of robbing two banks -- with a bunch of flowers and a potted plant.

Mao’s ‘First-Rate Sage’

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
The writer Lu Xun—considered China's first modern author—devoted his life to bringing a revolution to China. Michael J. Ybarra visits the Lu Xun Museum and Lu Xun Final Residence, both in Shanghai.

New Guidelines Seek to Reduce Repeat Caesareans

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
The guidelines aim to help women who had Caesarean sections find doctors willing to allow vaginal births.

Padded Panties Boosted by Curvy Stars

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
A fascination with the hind-quarters of celebrities like Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian is fueling a booming market for undergarments that amplify the derrière.

Wis. candidate can’t use controversial description

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
By SCOTT BAUER 2010-07-22T01:30:22Z
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A legislative candidate from Wisconsin can't use a profane, racially charged phrase to describe herself on the ballot, an election oversight board decided Wednesday....

Wis. candidate can’t use controversial description

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
By SCOTT BAUER 2010-07-22T01:30:22Z
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A legislative candidate from Wisconsin can't use a profane, racially charged phrase to describe herself on the ballot, an election oversight board decided Wednesday....

Fixes for Your Computer From Afar

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Fixing a home computer is an annoyance—lugging it to a store is time consuming and following directions over the phone can get frustrating. But a host of repair services say they solve computer woes by connecting virtually to your machine.

Bernanke Disappoints Investors

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
The Fed's Bernanke left investors disappointed after he gave no indication the agency is preparing any new stimulus measures. The dollar and Treasurys rallied while stocks sank.

Romantic comedies affecting off-screen love lives

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Romantic comedies might provide 90 minutes of light-hearted fun but the happy-ever-after movies are also impacting people's real love lives, according to an Australian survey.

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