Shauna Wright
This Day in History for December 17 – The Wright Brothers Fly and More
Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:
1903 – Near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Orville and Wilbur Wright make history’s first successful flight in a self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft (More info)
1944 – The US Army announces the end of its policy of holding Japanese-Americans in internment camps, allowing “evacuees” to return home (More info)
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‘Obesity May Run in the Family,’ Say Researchers — Health Check
Is obesity contagious? A study back in 2007 seemed to indicate that, saying we get it from our friends. To back that up, researchers highlighted data showing members of social groups were likely to have similar rates of obesity. New research, however, seems to be changing all this by finding that social interactions may have little impact on body weight.
Steve Jobs’ Death and Occupy Wall Street Round Out the Top 10 Biggest Events of 2011
Alex Wong, Getty Images / Handout, Getty Images / Apple / US Navy / John Moore, Getty Images
2011 can be tracked by its dramatic events, beginning with the Tuscon shooting that critically wounded US Rep. Gabby Giffords and continuing all the way up to the death of Muammar Gadhafi in October
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Celebrity Birthdays for December 16 – Billy Gibbons, Benjamin Bratt and More
Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today:
Billy Gibbons
Age: 62
Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, and Musician
Known For: Being one of the famously-bearded guitarists of the blues-rock band ZZ Top, which is known for songs like ‘Legs,’ ‘La Grange,’ ‘Tush,’ and ‘Tube Snake Boogie’
This Day in History for December 16 – Boston Tea Party Occurs and More
Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:
1773 – In Boston Harbor, a group of Massachusetts colonists dump 342 chests of tea into the harbor in what would come to be known as the Boston Tea Party (More info)
1920 – The Haiyuan earthquake, magnitude 8.5, rocks the Gansu province in China and kills an estimated 200,000 (More info)
Facebook’s Timeline Is Here — So How Do You Use It? [VIDEO]
After a few months in private trials, Facebook launched its Timeline feature to the masses on Thursday. In a nutshell, it lets you view people’s photos and status updates from days long past instead of just showing you what they’ve done or posted most recently. Basically, it’s the Facebook equivalent of being forced to look through your friends’ childhood scrapbooks.
Intrigued? Here’s what you nee
Good News for New Year’s Resolutions States ‘Nibbling’ Is OK — Health Check
As you start to think about your New Year’s diet (really, don’t we all have one planned?), a small Norwegian study has found a little eating between meals won’t necessarily torpedo your weight-loss goals.
Barbara Walters Chooses Steve Jobs as Her ‘Most Fascinating Person’ of 2011 [VIDEO]
Barbara Walters has named her Most Fascinating Person of 2011: Steve Jobs.
While her policy has always been to choose only living people for the annual roundup, Walters said that when Jobs retired as CEO of Apple last summer, she knew he’d be her pick to top the list. And even after his death on October 5, Walters stuck to her choice because, much like Jobs believed, “rules were made to be broken.
Could Shaving Your Chest Increase Your Risk of Getting Bedbugs? — Health Check
This year saw a rash of bedbug infestations worldwide, but scientists are now saying there might be a way of defending against the vermin. While no one seems immune, the more body hair you have, the less attractive you may be to the bloodsucking little critters. Looks like all the men out waxing their chests may have acted a little too hastily.
This Day in History for December 15 – Bill of Rights Ratified and More
Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:
1791 – Virginia becomes the last state to ratify the Bill of Rights, making the first ten amendments to the Constitution law and completing the revolutionary reforms begun by the Declaration of Independence (More info)
1939 – ‘Gone with the Wind’ premieres at Loew’s Grand Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia (More info)
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Celebrity Birthdays for December 15 – Tim Conway, Don Johnson and More
Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today:
Tim Conway
Age: 78
Occupation: Actor and Comedian
Known For: His role as an inept officer on the popular 1960s WWII sitcom ‘McHale’s Navy,’ and his hilarious work as part of the legendary comedy ensemble on ‘The Carol Burnett Show’
New Movie Releases — ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked’ and ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’
Whether your thing is singing rodents or sleuthing Englishmen, you’ll want to start heading to the theater.
In ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked,’ the squeaky trio of Alvin, Simon and Theodore find themselves marooned on a tropical island after they go overboard from their cruise ship.
All the Single Ladies Are Staying Single as Fewer Adults Are Getting Married
It’s always been said that men are afraid of commitment, and now there’s research to back it up. Sorry ladies, this applies to you as well. A new study from the Pew Research Center finds that fewer and fewer adults are actually getting married these days.
US Government Agency Begs to End Cell Phone Use While Driving — Health Check
Studies about the dangers of using a cell device while driving have produced mixed results — some say talking or texting behind the wheel can increase the odds of a crash exponentially, while others say the perils are few.
Regardless, the National Transportation Safety Board is so convinced of the dangers of “distracted driving” that it’s now called for a nationwide ban on non-emergency cell phone
US Marine Corps Scrambles to Apologize After Mix-Up Sends Purple Hearts to Dead Soldiers
The families of US Marines mourning loved ones killed in action recently got a most unwelcome surprise when an epic blunder caused them to receive Purple Hearts intended for soldiers who’d been wounded but survived.
Have Scientists Found a Way for People to Live Forever? — Health Check [VIDEO]
A 100th birthday is so rare these days that it’s cause for serious celebration. But scientists say that someday in the very near future, people could live well beyond that.
This Day in History for December 14 – ‘Saturday Night Fever’ Premieres and More
Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:
1799 – President George Washington dies at the age of 67 (More info)
1903 – The Wright brothers make their first attempt to fly with the Wright Flyer in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (More info)
Celebrity Birthdays for December 14 – KaDee Strickland, Vanessa Hudgens and More
Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today:
KaDee Strickland
Age: 36
Occupation: Actress
Known For: Playing Charlotte King on the ABC drama ‘Private Practice,’ appearing in films such as ‘The Sixth Sense,’ ‘Something’s Gotta Give,’ and ‘Fever Pitch,’ and speaking out against the emphasis placed on beauty in the Los Angeles acting community
Could the Dangers of Driving and Using a Cell Phone Be a Bunch of Baloney? — Health Check
In recent years, study after study has raised the alarm about the dangers of talking on the phone while driving, with some saying you could be four times as likely to have a crash if you’re using a phone behind the wheel.
But new research indicates it may have been much ado about nothing.
Hilton May Be a Great Hotel, But It’s Also America’s Happiest Company
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is “find a new job,” you may want to narrow your search to the companies a new survey says are the happiest to work for.