I don’t like to shop where the checkout clerk acts like they are doing you a favor to sell you something. Especially if that person is the store owner. They just say ‘there ya go’ as they hand you the change, or just look at you and expect YOU to say ‘thank you’ to them! […]

By The Associated Press Heat and sweet harmonize nicely in this chicken dish sweetened with agave syrup and spiced up with ground ancho chilies. Serve this with a side of roasted sweet potatoes. ––– CHILI-RUBBED AGAVE CHICKEN Start to finish: 30 minutes Servings: 4 3 tablespoons ground ancho chili powder 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 […]

IF you ever doubted that Hollywood has fear of change, take a look at the array of upcoming summer movies. Familiar faces with pointy ears and bad rafting skills will once again space travel, time travel and generally repeat themselves across the screen. Meet the new summer lineup. Same as the old summer lineup. All […]

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Dule Hill, 34; Christopher Cross, 58; Frankie Valli, 75; Pete Seeger, 90 Happy Birthday: You have to move forward with your dreams, goals and desires in order to achieve happiness and contentment. Look at the big picture and see yourself, instead of someone else, at the helm. Strength, courage and […]

http://www.moviefone.com/summer-movies Friday, May 1 Battle for Terra – Evan Rachel Wood, Justin Long     Ghosts of Girlfriends Past – Matthew McConaughey,Jennifer Garner     X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber     A Wink and a Smile         Break         Eldorado – Bouli Lanners, Fabrice Adde     Home (2009) – Marcia Gay Harden, […]

By Jon Bream Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leonard Cohen’s songs are better known than he is. Starting with Judy Collins in 1966 (“Suzanne”), they’ve been covered more than 1,500 times by other singers, whose versions often became more famous than his own. Like Kris Kristofferson, Cohen is both a songwriting […]

Swine flu and other uglies There is nothing funny about a potentially deadly illness, particularly one capable of sweeping across large populations. Why then did our medically minded forebears apply such ridiculous names to such serious ailments? Were they drunk on miracle cure medicine? Or did they mean to impress the severity of each new […]

DEAR ABBY: A year ago, my husband and I chose to permanently take in my cousin “Martha’s” 11-year-old daughter, “Stella.” She is smart as a whip and has a heart as big as Texas. My problem is, what should I do about Martha’s other child, Stella’s 8-year-old brother, “Carl”? We are adopting Stella with no […]

Text: BC-MOMS-TEENBOOK:MI – lifestyle (700 words) Troubling tale could help teens (NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR MCT NEWS SERVICE SUBSCRIPTION. To subscribe to MOMS, see purchase information below.) (PHOTO) By Sue Corbett McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) Laurie Halse Anderson’s new book, “Wintergirls” (Viking, $17.99, ages 12-up) just may be the scariest book you will ever read as […]

Why are you considering leaving? Images (NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR MCT NEWS SERVICE SUBSCRIPTION. To subscribe to Love & Relationships, see purchase information below.) (ILLUSTRATION) By Susie and Otto Collins divorce360.com (MCT) No matter how long you’ve been in a relationship or marriage, if you are thinking about the possibility of leaving, you are probably […]