Wedding season is officially upon us, and one needn't be marrying a "Bridezilla" star to find the planning comes with some stress. Interfaith couples seem to have more than most as they try to satisfy not only each other but two extended families and two religious communities.
Venezuela and the Vatican haven't always seen eye-to-eye. During his 14 years in power, President Hugo Chavez often battled with the church, accusing leaders of participating in a coup against him and calling a Venezuelan cardinal a "troglodyte" on national television.
LOS ANGELES Actor Bruce Willis has entered the fray in the Westside's action-packed housing market, listing his Beverly Hills mansion at $22 million.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. A veteran teacher at a Catholic school has lost her job because school officials are worried her ex-husband, now serving a jail sentence for domestic abuse and stalking, will pose a danger to students and teachers when he is released.
LOS ANGELES The human brain may be wired to sympathize with the underdog — even if the underdog is a yellow square being chased by a blue circle, and the brain has been checking out the outside world for only 10 months.
LONDON LONDON- The neophyte holders of two of Christendom's most venerable posts met for the first time Friday and spoke of fostering unity and understanding between their sometimes rival branches of the faith.
From those amped-up TV ads, you have to wonder how humanity survived before collapsible garden hoses and earwax vacuums.
MERCED There's always a lot to do at the Merced County Fair, and this year will be no exception. From livestock shows and rodeo events to creative crafts and thrilling rides, the choices are many and varied. The same is true when it comes to entertainment.
CHICAGO Some believe the solution to neighborhood violence is increased police presence and arrests. For others, it's teaching parents how to raise respectful children. And then there is a small cadre of idealists who believe all it takes is art.
MERCED The Merced Mall's Summer Music Series could introduce listeners to something new, according to its organizer. "I like bringing things (that) maybe unfamiliar to an audience," mall marketing director William Taylor said. All of the concerts at the mall, 851 W. Olive Ave., are free of charge.
ON THE SHELF: CRAFT BOOKS BOLDLY GO WHERE NONE HAS GONE BEFORE
Is your garden calling out to you to do something and you are not sure what to do first?
Q: I have a dry-laid brick patio bordered on three sides by flower beds. Over the years I have noticed that the bricks are turning black on top. This is not from garden soil or mud, and it is not uniform in its coverage. I have thought about scrubbing the bricks with a water-bleach mix, but I am afraid that it will bleach the bricks.
Every day our appliances take a beating. From the constant opening and closing of doors to turning them on and off, our daily actions can eventually lead to a repair call or earlier-than-expected replacement.
Blue Fortune Agastache, or anise hyssop, is causing quite a stir in our garden. We have dozens - some partnered with TigerEye Gold rudbeckia, others with the scarlet milkweed - but believe me when I say 3- to 4-foot-tall incredible spikes of blue bottle brush-like flowers are indeed stealing the show.
