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When Conde Nast announced that their famed magazine Gourmet would close down, many in the foodie community were shocked that such an icon would no longer exist.  Just the archives alone of Gourmet's thousands of recipes seemed reason enough to keep the brand going.More...

Gourmet Is Alive Again -- and Kicking

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Although everyone recognizes American Gothic, the endlessly parodied image of a pitchfork-wielding farm couple, few know the gothic story of its creator, Grant Wood.  In writing Wood's biography, I was intrigued by how this closeted gay man - who survived by adopting a folksy, overall-clad persona - drew inspiration from the women around him.  Above all, these included his widowed mother and married sister, both of whom slept alongside Wood for much of his adult life.  More Norman Bates than Norman Rockwell, it seems, he painted some of the most arresting female portraits in American art.  Here are nine (and a half) of my favorites:More...

Grant Wood's Women From New Book 'A Life' (PHOTOS)

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Bad stuff happens.  We try to be happy.  Then we hear bad news.   I found out my film editor colleague Sally Menke died hiking in the hills near where I live.  I heard the helicopters searching late at night, but had no idea that they were searching for her.I can't unravel the cosmic reason for Sally leaving the planet at 56.  This is extremely sad for her family and her director, Quentin Tarantino.  You can understand the family grief, but I can vouch that the director-editor attachment is also like "family."  Sally was Tarantino's one-and-only.More...

Dealing With the Bad Stuff in Life -- a Fairy Tale Can Lend a Hand to Quentin Tarantino

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Sir Ian McKellen and the members of England's Royal Shakespeare Company sat in rapt attention inside an inner-city Los Angeles classroom.They watched as a group of fifth graders showcased their acting abilities and musical talent in a collection of scenes from Shakespeare's works.More...

Classroom Heroes: Rafe Esquith's Mission To Share Shakespeare With His Students

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If it wasn't already clear, Michelle Obama favorite and HuffPost Game Changer Jason Wu has achieved international success. The designer chatted with WWD while en route to the airport on Monday -- he's going home to Taiwan for his brother's wedding and, yes, Wu designed the bride's and bridesmaids' dresses. He told the fashion newspaper, "It's been crazy. I was told I would have to prepare at the airport and get private security because there were going to be people following me. I'm not used to that. Who am I, Victoria Beckham?"According to WWD, on Wu's schedule for his visit is a radio interview with President Ma Ying-jeou, consulting on a condominium complex in Taipei and traveling to Beijing to fete his new eyeshadow collection with Shiseido.More...

Jason Wu On Being Recognized: 'Who Am I, Victoria Beckham?'

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I can't think of anything that has more disturbed me in my eighty-three years as an American citizen than the current virulent attacks, both from the political right and left, on the incumbent president of the United States.Much of the criticism, of course, is pure nonsense -- that he is a Muslim sympathizer, that he is an un-American alien ineligible for office, that he is a secret Socialist. But in addition to the lies and slanders being generated om the right, Obama has been stimulating deep disappointment on the left as well. Among the criticisms being leveled against him at present are that he is waging an unmanageable and unwinnable war in Afghanistan, that he has failed to repeal "Don't ask, don't tell" in the military, that in trying to achieve an impossible  political consensus he has compromised liberal ideals. While Republicans are blaming him for calamities directly attributable to their own candidate, George Bush, some Democrats are blaming him for failing to reverse these troubles overnight.More...

Reviling Obama

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Instead of just complaining about the struggles facing the middle class, Americans have the power to act and stop the country's decline into a third world nation.Appearing on "The Dylan Ratigan Show" Tuesday, Arianna called on Americans of all classes and backgrounds to volunteer and help those struggling around them.More...

Arianna: Turn Anger Into Hope -- Help Those Around You (VIDEO)

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I stepped down from a platform a couple of hours ago at the Humane Society of Missouri headquarters in St. Louis to announce the results of The Humane Society of the United States' latest investigative report -- "Missouri's Dirty Dozen." This painstakingly documented report synthesizes information gleaned from state and federal inspection reports, including enforcement records, animal care violations, and photographs, and reveals shocking abuses and mistreatment of dogs at the state's largest puppy mills. You can read the entire 27-page report here (PDF), or look at a summary of the report (PDF).HSUS researchers identified these Dirty Dozen puppy mills and eight "dishonorable mentions." Some of the violations described in kennel inspection reports include:More...

A Dozen More Reasons for Supporting Missouri's Prop B

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More often than not, the best way to get to know a city is on foot.  Whether you're looking for a glimpse into local life or simply taking advantage of a sunny day, taking to the streets is your best bet.Here, see our picks for the world's 10 best walking cities, from Budapest to Buenos Aires.  Put on your walking shoes and enjoy!More...

World's 10 Best Walking Cities (PHOTOS)

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You know what's been missing from today? A video of adorable kittens riding around on Roomba to Stravinsky's "Rite Of Spring." Thankfully, we just found that exact thing right here. Watch as these curious cats ride around on a vacuum-cleaning robot and  fall off one by one, all set to the perfect tune. (Via Buzzfeed)WATCH:More...

Cute/Ridiculous Animal Thing Of The Day: Kittens Riding On A Roomba! (VIDEO)