Growing Low-Oxygen Zones In Oceans

WASHINGTON — Lower levels of oxygen in the Earth’s oceans, particularly off the United States’ Pacific Northwest coast, could be another sign of fundamental changes linked to global climate change, scientists say. They warn that the oceans’ complex undersea ecosystems and fragile food chains could be disrupted. In some spots off Washington state and Oregon […]


Crackdown on ultra-luxurious showerheads

A Water Fight Over Luxury Showers Gene Goforth sells showerheads—big ones, like the Raindance Imperial 600 AIR. Selling for as much as $5,457, it has a 24-inch spray face, 358 no-clog channels and a triple-massage option. “You can just stand under it, and it helps your psyche,” says Mr. Goforth, who has one in his […]


China argues to replace US dollar

The dollar has been the world’s reserve currency for decades China’s central bank has reiterated its call for a new reserve currency to replace the US dollar. The report from the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) said a “super-sovereign” currency should take its place. Central bank chief Zhou Xiaochuan has loudly led calls for the […]


Things Your Mechanic Won’t Tell You

1. “You might be in the wrong garage.” There are many choices as to where consumers can take their car when it’s in need of maintenance or repair. Those include going to the car dealer, a department or chain-store franchise, or an independent mechanic at a service station. Where you should go depends on what […]


Oprah Winfrey chooses short story collection

CHICAGO – Oprah Winfrey has blessed the book world’s eternal underdog: the short story. Publishing’s surest hitmaker announced Friday that her latest pick was Uwem Akpan’s debut collection “Say You’re One Of Them,” practically guaranteeing hundreds of thousands of sales, numbers generally unthinkable for short stories beyond works by Ernest Hemingway, John Cheever and other […]


McDonald’s says no way Ronald will retire

Retire Ronald McDonald? No way. That’s the message McDonald’s Corp.’s CEO Jim Skinner gave Thursday to the red-haired clown’s critics who say the cartoon promotes unhealthy eating and should go the way of the Marlboro Man and Joe Camel. “The answer is no,” Skinner told a room full of shareholders who gathered for a meeting […]


Volcano in Iceland

The eruption of a volcano beneath Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull has resulted in dangerous amounts of volcanic ash in the sky, huge headaches for travelers, and, it should be stated, unexpected beauty. Flickr members have captured a slew of photos of the ash and the resulting chaos. The eruption caused a 3.7 mile high plume of ash, […]


Billionaire Aids Charity That Aided Him

Were it not for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, there might be no Google. Thirty years ago today, Sergey Brin, a 6-year-old Soviet boy facing an uncertain future, arrived in the United States with the help of the society. Now Mr. Brin, the billionaire co-founder of Google, is giving $1 million to the society, widely […]