http://www.mail.com/subjects/126-lifestyle.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.20/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/subjects/126-lifestyle.html http://www.mail.com/news/us/1764452-huge-dna-code-christmas-tree-revealed.html NEW YORK (AP) — To millions of people, the Christmas tree is a cheerful sight. To scientists who decipher the DNA codes of plants and animals, it's a monster. We're talking about the conifer, the umbrella term for cone-bearing trees like the spruce, fir, pine, cypress and cedar. Apart from their Yuletide popularity, they play big roles in the lumber indus... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 22:54:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1764452-huge-dna-code-christmas-tree-revealed.html 2012-12-13T22:54:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1763186-smartphones-used-to-e-hail-nyc-taxis.html NEW YORK (AP) — Raising your arm and yelling "taxi!" will soon be the old-fashioned way to nab a New York City cab. Soon, all you'll need is a smartphone app. On Thursday, New York City's Taxi & Limousine Commission approved a plan that will allow riders to "e-hail" yellow cabs, starting Feb. 15 on a test basis. "We should not ignore technology that's out... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:55:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1763186-smartphones-used-to-e-hail-nyc-taxis.html 2012-12-13T20:55:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1765036-us-holiday-sales-slowly-pick-up-sandy.html WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumers shook off Superstorm Sandy last month and stepped up holiday shopping, helped by a steady job market and lower gas prices. Retail sales rose 0.3 percent in November from October, reversing the previous month's decline. Sales increased mostly because Americans spent more online, bought more electronics and began to replace ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:26:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1765036-us-holiday-sales-slowly-pick-up-sandy.html 2012-12-13T20:26:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1764842-rescued-christmas-tree-lifts-wrecked-towns-spirit.html UNION BEACH, N.J. (AP) — In the days after Superstorm Sandy wrecked this gritty blue-collar enclave on the New Jersey shore, creating iconic scenes of devastation and loss, the artificial Christmas tree was just an inconspicuous part of tons of rubble, the detritus of people's lives in a town ripped open for all to see. A local youth soccer coach drove pa... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:49:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1764842-rescued-christmas-tree-lifts-wrecked-towns-spirit.html 2012-12-13T17:49:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763806-german-real-estate-booms-people-seek-security.html BERLIN (AP) — Buying a home in Berlin is widely viewed as one of the safest investments a German, or any European, can make. That is why some real-estate experts are worried the market could get overheated. Home prices in Germany's largest cities are booming. Building permits and home ownership rates are climbing fast. And the percentage of foreigners sna... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:12:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763806-german-real-estate-booms-people-seek-security.html 2012-12-13T17:12:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1764238-review-playstation-icons-join-battle-royale.html The holiday season is a good time to catch up with old friends. If you're an Xbox fan, you're probably getting reacquainted with galactic warrior Master Chief in his new adventure, "Halo 4." If you're a Nintendophile, you're probably frolicking with Mario on your new Wii U. Sony, meanwhile, has expanded its holiday guest list to invite nearly two decades ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:56:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1764238-review-playstation-icons-join-battle-royale.html 2012-12-13T14:56:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1763820-short-hosting-snl-mccartney-musical-guest.html NEW YORK (AP) — "Saturday Night Live" is welcoming two prominent up-and-comers to this week's show. Guest hosting the special Christmas edition will be a brilliant Canadian-born comic, Martin Short. The musical guest? Breakout singer-songwriter Paul McCartney. "I think he's from Europe," Short ventured, tongue-in-cheek, at the mention of McCartney's name.... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:18:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1763820-short-hosting-snl-mccartney-musical-guest.html 2012-12-13T12:18:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763678-spanish-botched-fresco-artist-sells-work-ebay.html MADRID (AP) — The 80-year-old Spanish artist who became famous because of her botched restoration of a Christ fresco in a small-town church is auctioning one of her works on eBay for charity. Celia Gimenez's oil painting "Las Bodegas de Borja" ("Borja's Wine Cellar"), was fetching €620 ($808) Thursday, doubling its starting price after 31 bids. The sale c... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:06:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1763678-spanish-botched-fresco-artist-sells-work-ebay.html 2012-12-13T11:06:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1763170-gimmicky-boost-lovelorn-las-vegas.html LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas, land of the quickie wedding, is in the midst of a serious love recession, and chapels in the city accustomed to playing the numbers were not about to let the latest money-making opportunity — Wednesday's auspicious 12/12/12 date — pass without a marketing push. They worked for months to turn the day into a major payout, luring ... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 05:58:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1763170-gimmicky-boost-lovelorn-las-vegas.html 2012-12-13T05:58:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1760186-indian-sitar-virtuoso-ravi-shankar-dies-92.html NEW YORK (AP) — The kids at first didn't seem to know how to respond as Ravi Shankar began his four-hour set on the final afternoon of the Monterey Pop Festival, in the fabled summer of 1967. As captured in D.A. Pennebaker's documentary, some nodded along and smiled; Jimi Hendrix listened carefully. Others dozed, or chatted. A few hippies danced wildly, a... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:04:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1760186-indian-sitar-virtuoso-ravi-shankar-dies-92.html 2012-12-13T00:04:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1762606-american-airlines-rolls-fare-structure.html DALLAS (AP) — American Airlines is changing the way it charges you to fly. American will charge $68 or $88 more per round trip for economy-class passengers who want a ticket that lets them check baggage or change the reservation later without getting hit by another fee. The airline says it's responding to customer complaints about fees, especially the cha... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:13:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1762606-american-airlines-rolls-fare-structure.html 2012-12-12T22:13:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1760786-avon-to-cut-4-pct-jobs-global-restructuring.html NEW YORK (AP) — Avon Products plans to cut about 1,500 jobs and exit two Asian markets, as the struggling beauty products seller starts on a broad restructuring plan in an effort to turn around results. The job cuts amount to almost 4 percent of its workforce and mark one of the first major moves by CEO Sheri McCoy. McCoy was brought on in April to replac... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:35:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1760786-avon-to-cut-4-pct-jobs-global-restructuring.html 2012-12-12T20:35:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1762096-congress-ends-second-bag-checks-flights.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Passengers arriving in the U.S. from international airports who miss connecting flights because their checked bags have to be rescreened could get some relief under legislation passed Wednesday by the House and sent to the president for his signature. The "No-Hassle Flying Act" gives the Transportation Security Administration the authori... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:19:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1762096-congress-ends-second-bag-checks-flights.html 2012-12-12T20:19:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1761678-cheese-7500-years-ago.html LONDON (AP) — Little Miss Muffet could have been separating her curds and whey 7,500 years ago, according to a new study that finds the earliest solid evidence of cheese-making. Scientists performed a chemical analysis on fragments from 34 pottery sieves discovered in Poland to determine their purpose. Until now, experts weren't sure whether such sieves w... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:56:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1761678-cheese-7500-years-ago.html 2012-12-12T19:56:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1762138-cavallari-shares-style-with-2-accessory-lines.html NEW YORK (AP) — Kristin Cavallari may be a new mom, but she still aims to be as put together and stylish as she did pre-baby. It's part of her job these days. The 25-year-old former reality TV star, who welcomed with fiance, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, son Camden in August, partnered with celeb-shopping website OpenSky.com with Cavallari acting ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:23:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1762138-cavallari-shares-style-with-2-accessory-lines.html 2012-12-12T19:23:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1762098-data-child-abuse-drops-5th-straight-year.html NEW YORK (AP) — Reports of child abuse and neglect have dropped nationwide for the fifth consecutive year, and abuse-related child fatalities also are at a five-year low, according to new federal statistics. The latest annual report from the Department of Health and Human Services, released Wednesday, estimates that there were 681,000 cases of child abuse... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:56:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1762098-data-child-abuse-drops-5th-straight-year.html 2012-12-12T18:56:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1761498-susan-sarandon-expands-ping-pong-empire-to-la.html LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ping pong is having a moment, thanks in no small part to Susan Sarandon. The Oscar-winning actress and self-described "ping pong propagandist" envisions a nation of table-tennis players. To that end, she's the famous name behind SPiN, a series of "ping pong social clubs" that opened its latest location in Los Angeles Wednesday. There ar... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:08:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1761498-susan-sarandon-expands-ping-pong-empire-to-la.html 2012-12-12T18:08:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1760632-italy-raises-money-lower-rates-despite-upheaval.html ROME (AP) — Italy successfully sold €6.5 billion ($8.45 billion) in bonds the country's first debt auction since the country's Prime Minister Mario Monti announced his decision to resign. The Italian Treasury reported that the interest rate on the bonds was 1.46 percent, down from the 1.76 percent paid in the last such offer in November. Demand was nearly... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:08:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1760632-italy-raises-money-lower-rates-despite-upheaval.html 2012-12-12T18:08:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1761732-2012-styles-that-heads-turn.html NEW YORK (AP) — Every year fashion offers up the good, the bad and the ugly. But what the industry is really built on — and consumers respond to — is buzz. Here are the top moments of 2012 that made our heads turn: —Angelina Jolie at the Oscars. The leg that peeked out of the high thigh-high slit of her Versace gown was the most exciting appearance on the... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:19:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1761732-2012-styles-that-heads-turn.html 2012-12-12T17:19:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1761522-wiz-khalifa-readies-music-marriage-fatherhood.html ATLANTA (AP) — Rapper Wiz Khalifa says preparation for becoming a first-time father and husband has helped put him in a more mature musical state of mind. But that doesn't mean Khalifa will refrain from his weed-smoking, rock star-like ways. "I'm at a different point in my life," said Khalifa, whose sophomore album, "O.N.I.F.C.," debuted at No. 2 on Billb... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:23:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/1761522-wiz-khalifa-readies-music-marriage-fatherhood.html 2012-12-12T16:23:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1761400-oreilly-strikes-war-christmas.html NEW YORK (AP) — Deck the halls and man the battle stations. The fight has resumed. I'm referring, of course, to the so-called War on Christmas, a yearly call to arms by those whose Christmas cheer is under siege. Or so they claim ... fear ... and warn. This annual uproar may have escaped the notice of some Christmas observers. ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:51:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1761400-oreilly-strikes-war-christmas.html 2012-12-12T15:51:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1761098-review-any-day-beautifully-etched-drama.html LOS ANGELES (AP) — Depictions of custody battles have become a cinematic staple, but few register with the heartfelt emotion of "Any Day Now." This 1970s Los Angeles-set drama about a gay couple fighting to adopt a Down syndrome-afflicted teenager is only loosely inspired by a real story, but the smart screenplay by director Travis Fine and George Arthur Bloom has the ring o... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:16:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1761098-review-any-day-beautifully-etched-drama.html 2012-12-12T14:16:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1761048-dishonored-tops-diverse-year-video-games.html The video game universe in 2012 is a study in extremes. At one end, you have the old guard striving to produce mass-appeal blockbusters. At the other end, you have a thriving community of independent game developers scrambling to find an audience for their idiosyncratic visions. Can't we all just get along? Turns out, we can. For while... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:50:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1761048-dishonored-tops-diverse-year-video-games.html 2012-12-12T13:50:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1760368-to-street-cities-daily-calculus.html During her two decades living in Houston, Caroline Oliver, like any urban dweller, frequently encountered people in the streets asking for money. She struggled with how to respond. She wanted to help, but in a useful way. And so when Oliver, a consultant and mother of two who recently moved to Austin, read about the New York police officer who was photogr... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 07:05:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1760368-to-street-cities-daily-calculus.html 2012-12-12T07:05:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1760192-gunman-opens-fire-portland-mall-3-dead.html PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A masked gunman wearing camouflage opened fire Tuesday in a busy Portland mall, leaving the gunman and two others dead and forcing the mall's Santa Claus and hundreds of Christmas shoppers and employees to flee or hide among store displays. Austin Patty, 20, who works at Macy's, said he saw a man in a white mask carrying a rifle and ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 05:52:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1760192-gunman-opens-fire-portland-mall-3-dead.html 2012-12-12T05:52:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1758982-ariz-home-ditto-to-neighbors-christmas-lights.html MARICOPA, Ariz. (AP) — An Arizona woman who knew she couldn't compete head on with her neighbor's elaborate Christmas light display is attracting attention for her response. Using red and green lights, Kristina Green of Maricopa spelled out the word "ditto" and made an arrow pointing toward her neighbor's home. KNXV-TV reports (http://bit.ly/Uv8Qz9) that ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 04:25:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1758982-ariz-home-ditto-to-neighbors-christmas-lights.html 2012-12-12T04:25:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1760328-redbox-instant-streaming-plan-takes-netflix.html LOS ANGELES (AP) — DVD kiosk operator Redbox is launching a challenge to Netflix's streaming-video supremacy. Later this month, Redbox will offer an unlimited streaming-video plan that includes movies from Warner Bros. and pay TV channel Epix, along with four nights of physical DVD rentals, for $8 a month, or $9 a month if customers want Blu-ray discs. ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 04:12:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/lifestyle/1760328-redbox-instant-streaming-plan-takes-netflix.html 2012-12-12T04:12:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1758764-uruguays-lower-house-approves-gay-marriage-law.html MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Lawmakers in taboo-breaking Uruguay voted to legalize gay marriage late Tuesday night, approving a single law governing marriage for heterosexuals and homosexuals. The proposal now goes to the Senate, where the ruling coalition has enough votes for passage. President Jose Mujica plans to sign it into law early next year. The pro... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 02:30:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1758764-uruguays-lower-house-approves-gay-marriage-law.html 2012-12-12T02:30:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1759880-3-dead-including-gunman-oregon-mall-shooting.html PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A gunman opened fire in a suburban Portland shopping mall Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another as people were doing their Christmas shopping, authorities said. Witnesses described a scene of chaos and disbelief as a gunman wearing some sort of camouflage outfit and what looked like a hockey mask fired rounds fire from a m... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 02:00:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1759880-3-dead-including-gunman-oregon-mall-shooting.html 2012-12-12T02:00:00Z