Topic: Christmas

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3 novels about family, crime, and love

In this week's fiction roundup, two girls try to hide the deaths of their parents, two American writers fall in love (at least in a novel), and an international bestseller explores the lengths a family will go to clean up after a crime.

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Modern Parenthood Tooth fairy: Toy industry wants to monetize the "holiday moment"

The tooth fairy is one of the least commercialized family traditions. Now 'The Real Tooth Faires LLC' brings what one expert calls "an amalgam of the worst trends in the toy industry ... every known money-making ploy in a pseudo-sweet ambiance ... full of gender stereotyping and sexualization.'
Turtle Diary

A poignant novel of two lost souls and a dream of freedom, from the author of "Riddley Walker."
Decoder Wire Ted Nugent's brother slaps Ted on gun background checks. Family feud?

Ted Nugent's brother Jeffrey, in an op-ed, argues that the NRA and Ted are wrong to fight expanded background checks for gun buyers. Ted, naturally, doesn't take that lying down, whips out ... a pen?
Stir It Up! Chipotle shredded beef flatbread sandwiches

The best part about the components of this dish is that you can mix and match the pieces. Enjoy the corn and bean relish as part of this sandwich or with a bowl of tortilla chips. Enjoy the queso drizzled over a hamburger or tossed with macaroni. Even the spicy beef can be served on its own with a side of mashed potatoes.
Modern Parenthood The Matrix Retold by mom: Her son says he wants suggestions for the next video

The Matrix Retold, with more than 3 million views just two days since it was uploaded to YouTube, is shaking things up for the mom behind it. Online fame isn't easy to understand, but she's really happy the Internet thinks she's funny, her son says.
Picture this...

In a digital age, you'd think school photos would be a snap.
At prom, flowers not just for corsages and boutonnieres anymore

Prom flowers these days are not only something to stick on a lapel or strap around a wrist. New arrangements created by creative florists have flowers popping up on prom attire from head to toe.
Modern Parenthood China adoption diary: Madeleine's ingenious toy inventions

Madeleine likes toys that confound her parents, like a scraggly drawing on pink paper. Maybe it's creativity or an instinct formed in the orphanage prior to her adoption. Maybe she's just being an 8-year-old.
Joan Baez returns to Vietnam after 41 years. Why? (+video)

Joan Baez is back in Hanoi for the first time since December 1972, when American B-52s were raining bombs on Vietnam. Joan Baez visited a bunker in Hanoi and sang "Oh Freedom," a song she often sung during civil rights rallies in the 1960s.
Arkham Origins: The Dark Knight swoops back onto consoles Oct. 25

Batman: Arkham Origins is the follow-up to the 2011 best-seller Arkham City. But for this Batman title, Rocksteady Studios has been replaced by Warner Bros. Games Montreal.
How Kickstarter campaigns find success

Having a successful Kickstarter campaign is easier said than done. Some find that hook and go viral -- others flop. But creative and prepared entrepreneurs can find success even in failure.
The Simple Dollar Want to save money this spring? Lose the storage space.

Spring cleaning isn’t just an opportunity to clear out your living quarters, Hamm writes. It’s a chance to earn some money, re-examine your possessions, and even look toward the possibility of more cost-efficient housing.
Modern Parenthood End gang violence: Changing a violent community? Start with a barber chair

Trimming levels of gang and street violence is tough, but in Virginia a group of brothers started holding gun trade-ins and Unity Walks in rough neighborhoods to give the community a new look. How do you get people to show up? Hair cuts.
3 novels about family, crime, and love

In this week's fiction roundup, two girls try to hide the deaths of their parents, two American writers fall in love (at least in a novel), and an international bestseller explores the lengths a family will go to clean up after a crime.
The Vote The war on Sarah Palin's Christmas book (+video)

News that Sarah Palin is writing a book about Christmas has led to an explosion of comment in social-media spaces. Here are the most likely ramifications of this Palin development.
Chapter & Verse Sarah Palin will write on 'the war on Christmas'

Sarah Palin says her next book will urge readers to 'ignore the politically correct Scrooges who would rather take Christ out of Christmas.'
Chapter & Verse Three lives saved by a children's book

Three boys who were camping in Queensland, Australia, escaped from quicksand using information gained in a book.
College tuition: Pay $10,000 for four years?

Universities are experimenting with tuition caps and free online courses as a way to bring down college tuition costs. Ten Texas schools are offering degrees for a total college tuition of $10,000.
North Korea sends its first tweet over 3G service

North Korea's 3G cellular network is up and running, as proven by a warm "hello" sent out through Twitter. 3G service is new to North Korea, but its own citizens cannot use it.
What's next for Chávez and Venezuela?

President Chávez's predawn return to Venezuela, announced yesterday, raises many questions about the country's leadership and future.
Culture Cafe 'Downton Abbey': 10 of the best tweets about the shocking finale

'Downton Abbey' fans took to Twitter to vent their emotions about the surprising wrap-up to the British drama's third season. 'Downton Abbey' airs on PBS in America.
Two sisters, two wildernesses

For one, the charm is in the microscopic; the other scans for bears.
'Fear not, little flock'

A Christian Science perspective: A spiritual lesson from birds' daily flight to find food.
Presidential libraries: from Boston to Honolulu ... or maybe Chicago

Presidential libraries can be found coast to coast, and may even go beyond that once a site is selected for President Obama's future repository of documents and artifacts. To quickly hopscotch around to the 13 official presidential libraries and museums overseen by the National Archives, plus that of Abraham Lincoln, check out this library list.
Stir It Up! Smoked salmon frittata with caramelized onions and spinach

Breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner; this frittata works for any meal. Whipping it up in an oven-safe skillet is a breeze, there's no flipping or crust required. Serve it with toast and cream cheese, for breakfast or with a side salad for lunch.