Life News (Popular Culture)

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Ball State experts are available to talk about everything from overpriced Valentine roses to heart-healthy workouts.

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What makes Valentine's Day so special? Is it the romance, the history, the cultural aspects or is it just fun? Our experts here at the University of Maryland have you covered no matter what angle you're trying to take - whether it be the economic impact of the day to the use of humor as a way to express love.

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We work hard to say "Thank You" on Valentines Day. But we don't always say those words to everyone who deserves it. Maryland parenting expert Susan Walker says, for those of us with young children in child care, Valentines Day is the perfect time to let child care givers know they are appreciated and offers tips on how to do that.

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Americans' attitudes toward love and relationships have changed dramatically over the past 40 years, a shift that is manifested throughout popular culture in films, fiction and self-help books, according to "Modern Love: Romance, Intimacy and the Marriage Crisis."

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1) Johnny Carson is an American Institution; 2) Lower NYC Needs Funding for Visual, Performance Arts; 3) Online Television Has Limitless Capabilities; 4) Gender Age Differences Expected Among Oscar Nominees; 5) Local Television News May Be Found at Odd Times of the Day and more.

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Experts at the University of Maryland are remembering former Tonight Show host Johnny Carson as a very good comedian who had the ability to make us laugh. He was down-to-earth, likeable and never afraid to make fun of himself.

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As the University of Arkansas Press celebrates its 25th year, it rolls out two books in its spring 2005 catalog that focus on popular culture "“ one on Oprah Winfrey's hugely influential book club, the other on a country music trio that helped launch Elvis Presley's career.

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Anthony Aveni, Colgate professor and author of "The Book of the Year "“ A Brief History of Our Seasonal Holidays," explains the origins of Groundhog Day and how the animal came to hog the limelight and displace weather forecasters for a day.

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1) Casual Fridays Are Sending the Wrong Message; 2) Keeping Kids (and Your Data) Safe Online; 3) Singles Should Socialize Strategically; 4) Choosing a Cruise That's Right for You.

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Kansas State University President Jon Wefald has long hoped to bring visibility to the era of the Negro Baseball League and African-American achievement. For several years, Wefald has been lobbying to have a movie made on the topic. Recently, his lobbying efforts paid off.

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1) Elimination of Steroids in Sports; 2) Sophisticated Movie Pin-Ups Creates Buzz for Films; 3) Are We Really Learning Anything from Home Decorating Shows?

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1) Film Piracy; 2) Elimination of Steroids in Sports; 3) Scrap Those New Year's Resolutions; 4) Healthy Eating Italian Style; 5) Pink is No Longer Taboo for Males and more.

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After being sworn in for a second term on Jan. 20, President George W. Bush will head inside the Capitol to join family members, guests and Congressional leaders for the inaugural luncheon, in keeping with a tradition introduced by Harry S. Truman and embraced by every subsequent president except Jimmy Carter.

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Holy Water-Gate, a documentary film about the cover-up of abuse in the Catholic Church, has won a CINE Golden Eagle Award. It will have its U.S. premiere in Brookline, Mass. on Jan. 10.

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Colgate University expert offers tips on staying warm during cold weather.

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Iowa State University faculty make predictions for 2005 on topics ranging from diets to Wall Street.

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The first quantitative analysis of Oprah Winfrey's book recommendations confirms the conventional wisdom that her endorsement dramatically increased individual book sales, but also suggests that her impact lasted longer than previously thought.

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1) Elimination of Steroids in Sports; 2) "Carol Of The Bells" Has Nothing to Do With Christmas; 3) Let's Get Rid of New Year's Resolutions; 4) Use Your Intuition for a Better Life; 5) Is Tea the New Coffee? and more.

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While his belly may jiggle like a bowl full of jelly, Santa Claus is actually in remarkable health, according to Gettysburg College health and exercise sciences Prof. Dan Drury.

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Role models dolls for girls, of aviator Amelia Earhart, painter Mary Cassatt, softball Olympian Dot Richardson, black abolitionist Harriet Tubman and other female achievers, are being marketed by former top female executive Randy Allen, now a Cornell professor.

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Parents considering purchase of "must-have" electronic educational toys for their children this holiday season are reminded to include an extra component that's much more important than batteries: themselves.

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1) Elimination of Steroids in Sports (continued, 3 experts); 2) Online Holiday Shopping Saves Money and Time.

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Colgate University professor provides tips on controlling utility bills.

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A Northeastern senior is rubbing elbows with the blokes over in the MTV Europe headquarters in London as she completes her second co-op as a production intern for the music television station.

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The Center for the Arts presents the Boston premiere of "Embedded," written and directed by Tim Robbins. Performances take place at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, December 9 & 10 at Northeastern University in Blackman Theatre, Ell Hall, 360 Huntington Avenue Boston.

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Holiday hustle and bustle can unleash hazards that put pets in peril, says an Iowa State University small animal veterinarian. She points out potential hazards. By simply being aware of these, she says pet owners can greatly minimize the risk to their animals.

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A Medical College of Wisconsin physician reviews movies with one thing in mind "“ how doctors are portrayed. Glenn Flores, M.D., brings his expertise as a pediatrician to his avocation reviewing movies from the past and present. His current review of a dozen movies builds on an earlier published study reviewing 131 films.

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An international judging panel in Cannes on the French Riviera has awarded Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture its Prix D'Or. - the top honors in the food magazine category.

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Year-in-review letters accompanying Christmas cards have become a popular way to maintain connections with friends and family who have fallen out of touch. As the trend has emerged, so has the fact that in an age of e-mail and cell phones, many people today struggle with the art of letter writing.

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Ah, family hour. That period of wholesome television programming free of sex talk and rough language, right? No. Actually, hell no. A Florida State University communication professor has found that the frequency of profane language in prime time hours jumped in 2001 after dipping in 1997.

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In the wake of last week's NBA player-fan brawl, the co-founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project can discuss incivility in American society.

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The world as Americans have been seeing it will never be the same again -- not because of some conflict, but because nightly news anchors from two of the biggest networks are stepping down. So claims a professor of electronic media at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

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Those free makeovers women flock to at counters all over the country may leave them with more than the latest shade of eye shadow or a great new foundation. They also may leave them with a colony of bacteria swarming over their faces.

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Based on a new review of neutron activation analyses and ballistic evidence, two researchers have concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy 41 years ago.

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The most important thing for a teacher to remember is to avoid having a narrow view of what holidays represent. That's the suggestion from a Kansas State University expert who prepares new teachers to succeed in the classroom.

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Recent high-profile incidents of husbands accused of murdering their wives might lead one to presume that such incidents are on the rise. In fact, they are not. A Kansas State University professor said such crimes are less common than in years past.

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There is emerging evidence from both Canada and the United Kingdom that cultural production can boost the economies of post industrial communities, according to a team of researchers from the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary's University.

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Many couldn't wait for election day to pass because they just don't trust today's politicians, who they believe are all about image and less about substance. But that's nothing new according to a philosophy professor from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa.

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If you think that all festive fare is fattening and there is no such thing as a low-cal Christmas, then dietician Franceen Friefeld has tidings of great joy for you! Fill Up, Not Out this season!

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Craft enthusiasts, hobbyists and anyone curious about new, do-it-yourself gift and decoration projects are finding themselves in good company with the arrival of the 2004 holiday giving season.

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Grand Valley State University has experts available for holiday stories.

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It doesn't take a miracle to get through the season's holiday parties with grace and good cheer. P.M. Forni, co-founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project, offers tips for a civil celebration of the winter holidays.

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University of South Florida professor looks into why traditional holiday films such as "It's a Wonderful Life" stand the test of time.

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While jolly old St. Nicholas is delivering goodies to all the good little boys and girls, his "˜evil twin' may be right on his heels with a sack full of coal. University of South Florida professor offers insight on this and other holiday legends and superstitions.

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Naughty or nice? The age-old debate may still be raging in households around the world, but there was nothing but kudos for the members of the Santa Institute during their annual press conference.

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Drivers who find themselves at a standstill on the interstate this week can thank a nineteenth-century women's magazine editor for creating the Thanksgiving tradition that compels us all to return to our family roots at the same time.

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Kissing is the berries. Just don't eat them. Mistletoe is not a deadly poison, but it could make you sick, says biology professor Tom Hemmerly. Like some medicines, keep it beyond the reach of children...

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Just in time for Halloween, Northern Michigan University's Leonard Heldreth serves up his recommendations for 15 frightful films that will add to the spirited celebration. As a film critic and co-editor of "The Blood is Life: Vampires in Literature," he offers a well-qualified opinion.

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Parents who are concerned about Halloween safety may want to consider the tips offered by Maryland Assistant Professor Susan Walker (Family Studies). She says safety is something the whole community can get involved with.

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The new "Hello Kitty" debit card introduced by MasterCard(R) encourages poor money management skills and over-spending among adolescents, says Baylor University's Dr. James Roberts.