Under a new Wal-Mart policy, a worker who gives 20 years of loyal service to the company will be given a free polo shirt. That's gratitude for you. The New York Times reports that the policy is part of Wal-Mart's effort to stem discontent in the work force. In addition, Wal-Mart managers will be required to meet with 10 rank-and-file employees every week to listen to their concerns. To sprinkle a little holiday cheer on ... [full story]

A woman sits in front of a desk, behind which a man types on a computer keyboard beneath a sign that says: 'Russian Life Insurance Inc.' In the caption, the man asks the woman: 'Do you sky dive? Ever been a critic of Putin?' [full story]

No more leaving the dishwasher door wide open after mealtime, hoping your family and guests will take the hint and leave their tableware in it - in-sink models let you load the dishwasher while standing at the basin. And one model, the Briva from KitchenAid, even lets you use the space as a sink when you're not using it as a dishwasher.   VERSATILITY ON TAP - KitchenAid's Briva in-sink dishwasher is the only such model ... [full story]

About 3 1/2 years ago, the Department of Defense rang John Miguelez in Redondo Beach, Calif., to ask if he'd evaluate five upper-limb amputees at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. A plane awaited him at Los Angeles International Airport. Miguelez was used to traveling worldwide to see amputees.   ADVANCED ARM - John Miguelez, owner of Advanced Arm Dynamics, evaluates a prosthesis for Phong Tran, who lost his right arm while working as ... [full story]

THE AUTHOR Do you break out in a cold sweat when trying to decipher the menu in Vietnamese restaurants? Are you afraid that what you order could turn out to be too "adventurous?" "It's a language thing," food writer and newly published cookbook writer Andrea Nguyen says with a laugh.   ANDREA NGUYEN - Like most chefs and food writers, Andrea Nguyen’s love of food came from a family tradition. When her family fled Vietnam, Nguyen's ... [full story]

The Elderlaw Forum:  Money is needed to keep a family intact.  But, often, a lot of money tears a family apart; particularly when those with the money approach the end of their lives. “I never thought it would happen to us,” said the USD Senior Legal Helpline caller, a 73-year-old woman whose husband died two years ago.  “We used to be a loving family.  Now my daughters won’t talk to me.  And, they are attacking ... [full story]

It looks like you won the auction for the DVD player on eBay but haven't paid the seller yet. It says so right there on the e-mail with the official eBay logo. Of course, you didn't bid on a DVD player, so it must be some kind of misunderstanding. All you have to do is click on the link, sign in with your account name and password. The vast majority of Internet users will recognize this ... [full story]

Each year consumers spend many hours preparing taxes hoping they don’t owe the government money. But what many fail to realize is that the government isn’t the only one who may collect their hard earned cash -- so may identity thieves. In a time where one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, it’s important to ensure that the multitude of documents used to prepare taxes are appropriately stored or destroyed. In 2005, consumers lost nearly ... [full story]

Toddlers hold the key to back pain relief. They may have to rely on grown-ups to teach them how to tie a shoe and use the potty, but when it comes to knowing how to sit, stand, bend and walk with ease, we can take our cues from these little ones.  Moreover, toddlers, in spite of their tender age, hold the secret of good posture.  All healthy babies teach themselves how to stand and walk ... [full story]

The younger a boy is when he starts drinking alcohol, the more likely he will be a risky drinker as an adult, says the results of a four-year survey of male Marine Corps recruits that raises concerns for society at large. The survey in the December issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine identifies several other factors for drinking problems. They are tobacco use, coming from a small or rural hometown and growing up ... [full story]