Topic: San Francisco
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3 new novels about young people on a mission
Characters wonder if they're the right ones for the job in these talked-about new novels.
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NaNoWriMo: 6 things you need to know about the writing challenge
Flipping to the November page on your calendar means that it's time for NaNoWriMo again. Here's a primer on the challenge that's produced bestselling novels and made novelists of many.
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10 richest members of Congress
The 10 wealthiest members of Congress in 2012 include Senate and House members hailing from all over the US. Can you guess which political party had the most lawmakers on the list – and who grabbed the top spot?
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The 20 most fascinating accidental inventions
Most inventors strive for weeks, months, or years to perfect their products. (Thomas Edison tried thousands of different light bulb filaments before arriving at the ideal mixture of tungsten.) But sometimes, brilliance strikes by accident. Here's a salute to the scientists, chefs, and everyday folk who stumbled upon greatness – and, more important, shared their mistakes with the world.
UPDATE: After great reader feedback, we've added five additional accidental inventions: Stainless steel, plastic, ice cream cones, Post-it Notes, and matches.
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Five ways big banks' Libor scandal affects you
London, this year's host of the Olympics, is also home to a bank scandal that threatens to rock the financial world as much as the Games influence the world of sports. Here's why: Libor (London Interbank Offered Rate) is a global benchmark for interest rates that reaches deep into the international financial system. Allegations that banks rigged those rates means that everyone from mortgage-holders and indebted students to cities and mutual funds may have had their interest rates unnaturally altered. Already tainted by other scandals, banks are under investigation because of charges that they profited illegally from their rate-rigging scheme. The mess further taints big banks and puts more strain on the credibility of the global financial system. Here are five ways the Libor scandal could affect you:
All Content
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Declaring His Genius
In his 1882 lecture tour of the US and Canada, Irish wit Oscar Wilde let his clothing and set design do half the work.
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Stock markets leap after 'fiscal cliff' compromise, but problems lurk
The House of Representatives passed the budget bill late Tuesday night, a contentious exercise because many Republicans had wanted a deal that did more to cut government spending.
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West Antarctica warming much faster than expected
Average temperatures in West Antarctica rise 4.3 degrees since 1950s. The region's warming is nearly twice as much as expected and one of the most rapid on the planet.
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In 'fiscal cliff' fight, Obama gets better marks than Boehner
President Obama's approval rating is at a three-year high; Speaker Boehner's is at an all-time low, and a majority of Americans view the GOP as too extreme. Is Boehner's position in danger?
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Guns in schools? Sandy Hook rekindles hot debate on arming teachers. (+video)
Across the country, some argue that an armed teacher could have prevented the Sandy Hook massacre. But others say having guns in schools heightens the risk of other tragedies.
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Hawaii's Inouye was current longest-serving senator, war hero
As a senator, Inouye became one of the most influential politicians in the country, playing key roles in congressional investigations of the Watergate and Iran-Contra scandals.
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Influential Hawaiian senator Daniel Inouye dies (+video)
Daniel Inouye, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the longest-serving senator, and a World War II hero, died Monday after a brief hospitalization. Inouye was a senator for Hawaii since 1963.
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Chicago Muslims aim to reclaim meaning of 'jihad' from extremists
New ad campaign on Chicago buses, launched Friday, aims to raise awareness of how most Muslims experience 'jihad' – as personal struggle, not 'holy war.'
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Chapter & Verse
Anarchy for children? A pro-anarchy kids' book angers the Tea Party'A Rule is to Break: A Child's Guide to Anarchy,' by John Seven and Jana Christy, was called 'downright shocking' by a Tea Party publication and received a blurb from activist Bill Ayers.
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Reader recommendation: God's Hotel
Monitor readers share their favorite book picks.
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Saving Money
Cheapest way to ship your package? Here's how to save.Post office beats UPS, FedEx on price in a head-to-head comparison, more than $50 on an overnight five-pound package. But don't go to the post office. There's a better way.
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Same-sex marriage: Waiting now for the Supreme Court to act
As reflected in polls and recent ballot measures, public opinion is moving in favor of same-sex marriage. Now that the US Supreme Court has agreed to take up the issue, both sides in the debate look for clear legal resolution.
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Supreme Court: Both sides in gay marriage debate voice optimism
The Supreme Court's decision to take up appeals over DOMA and California's Prop. 8 ban on gay marriage elicited positive reactions from advocates on both sides of the contentious issue.
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Starbucks to open 1,500 new US stores by 2017
Starbucks has ambitious expansion plans in the United States, aiming to open 1,500 new cafes over the next five years. Starbucks is also planning to expand overseas, particularly in China.
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Nose-to-tail dishes turn trendy
The practice of using as much of the animal as possible in cooking is an old trend that's coming back.
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Change Agent
How one man learned to share – and saved $17,000 in one yearNeal Gorenflo found he could share cars, lodging, office space, even a nanny, saving him money and helping him to live in a more sustainable way.
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Focus
Winter looming, New York rushes to repair homes hit by superstorm SandyHiring private contractors to repair homes quickly, New York responds to disaster relief in its own entrepreneurial way. Will the city be able to get people back in their homes before year's end?
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NASA plans follow-up trek to Mars
The Mars rover Curiosity is four months into its 2-year investigative visit to Mars. Now NASA is planning another rover trip to bring samples from Mars back to Earth.
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More rain-drenched days ahead in North California (+video)
More rain has been predicted for Northern California, even after the 15 to 20-inch onslaught the area saw last week.
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Mars rover Curiosity soil analysis: why no news still isn't bad news
The Mars rover Curiosity has finished its first full soil analysis in Gail Crater, and its findings are consistent with those elsewhere on the planet. Researchers say the results form a 'baseline.'
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Obama tax plan: Which cities would it hit hardest?
President Obama's plan to raise tax rates would hit the wealthiest Americans. Yet cities with the highest percentage of rich households are clustered in blue states.
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Will Supreme Court decide if gay marriage is constitutional? (+video)
The Supreme Court meets Friday to decide whether it should take up a case on same-sex marriage, and the claim that the Constitution gives people the right to marry regardless of sexual orientation.
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iTunes 11: Sleeker, skinnier, faster
Apple has finally released iTunes 11, the latest edition of its new multimedia platform. And the new iTunes is a beauty.
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Change Agent
Designing from nature could solve the world's biggest challengesCan a boat be designed to clean the water? How does a spider manufacture resilient fiber? The world needs products that don’t harm humans or the environment, and nature’s already done the research.
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Opinion: Make #GivingTuesday a US tradition like Black Friday and Cyber Monday
The holiday season starts with one day to give thanks followed by two days (Black Friday and Cyber Monday) for bargain hunting. Today, nonprofits, businesses, and individuals are coming together to launch #GivingTuesday – a day to celebrate the great American tradition of giving.
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