All Arts & Culture
Don Pardo, longtime 'Saturday Night Live' announcer, diesDon Pardo served as the 'SNL' announcer for almost four decades as well as working on such shows as 'Jeopardy and 'Your Show of Shows.' 'Nothing is like the moment when Don Pardo says your name,' former 'SNL' cast member Jimmy Fallon said.
Taylor Swift: Here are the details of her new album announcementTaylor Swift recently announced her new album '1989,' which the singer said is her 'first documented, official pop album.' Taylor Swift's last work was her 2012 album 'Red.'
USDA: Cost to raise kids rises, now above $245,000The United States Department of Agriculture has released its annual report on the cost of raising children, and families will spend almost a quarter-million dollars on housing, food, childcare, and education for kids born in 2013.
Back to school for band & orchestra: The art of extracting petrified hot dogsOne family-run business is helping get musical instruments ready 鈥� and hot dog free 鈥� in time for back-to-school rentals of band and orchestra instruments.
'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' holds off 'Expendables 3' at the box office'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' placed first at the box office again this past weekend over newer films like 'The Expendables 3' and 'Let's Be Cops,' while 'Guardians of the Galaxy' took second place.- Malia leaves Obama vacation early. Where's Sasha?President Obama is vacationing on Martha's Vineyard with just one daughter at a time. Apparently, like some teens, the highlight of their summer isn't spending two weeks with their parents.
Yellow tomato gazpacho with head-on shrimpBlend yellow tomatoes and peppers with olive oil and spices for this simple summer gazpacho. Garnish with nuts, chives, radishes, and grapes for a sophisticated finish.
'If They Gunned Me Down' on Tumblr: Pressing parents to take a second lookA new Tumblr post launched in the wake of the shooting of Michael Brown has raised important questions about what images might be chosen to build a story about a person's character.
Bakery style peanut butter cookiesThese cookies will knock the socks off any peanut butter-lover. If you can't do peanut butter without chocolate, top each cookie dough ball with chopped peanut butter cups or add some chocolate chips to the dough.
Childhood obesity video: Drop the guilt, pleaseA troubling video aimed at preventing childhood obesity could discourage viewers rather than inspire lifestyle changes, due to elements that shame parents for bad habits.聽
'The Giver' is unduly do-goody and drab'The Giver' stars Jeff Bridges as the title character, who is the sole person who remembers the history of humankind, and Brenton Thwaites as his student.
'The Expendables 3': The franchise should probably end after this film'The Expendables 3' often has basic problems with lighting and green screen, though the movie has some satisfying action sequences. However, even diehard fans of the franchise may feel like 'The Expendables 3' is running on fumes.
Robin Williams: Watch the Broadway cast of 'Aladdin' honor the actorRobin Williams starred as the Genie in the original 1992 film of 'Aladdin' and the cast of the Broadway adaptation of the musical recently honored him through song at one of their performances. Robin Williams died on Aug. 11.
Ditch the playdate: 4 ways to encourage creative play for kids Here are four ways parents can help remove limitations to play and set their kids free.
Top Picks: Imogen Heap's new album 'Sparks,' the PBS documentary 'Big Men,' and moreClassical music lovers can check out streaming concerts, ballets, and operas from all over the world on medici.tv, the PBS documentary 'Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of Lightning' by Lange's granddaughter Dyanna Taylor looks at Lange's impact on our perception of the 1930s and '40s, and more top picks.
Oxford Dictionaries: Are new words 鈥榯hrowing shade鈥� on real English?The online Oxford dictionary has added dozens of new informal terms and abbreviations, keeping pace with trends in online communications. It might be best to teach kids proper English before throwing these new terms their way.
Cherry tomatoes in creamTomato season is finally here! Pair this bright, summery side dish with a grilled steak or fish fillet.聽
'The Giver' star Jeff Bridges discusses his passion project'The Giver' actor Jeff Bridges remembers wanting to make a film of Lois Lowry's classic dystopian novel. 'I thought, "It's gonna be a cinch," and that was 18 years ago,' the actor said.聽'The Giver' comes to theaters on Aug. 15.
'Let's Be Cops': Critics aren't embracing the comedy'Let's Be Cops' stars 'New Girl' actors Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. as two friends who pretend to be policemen. 'Let's Be Cops' was released on Aug. 13.
Bullyproof for school: A jiu-jitsu master mixes kale and stopping bulliesRener Gracie and Brian Ortega are famous for their jujitsu and mixed martial arts skills respectively, but they are also making a big impact outside of their sports by helping kids to deal with bullies through the 'BullyProof' summer camp.
