(NewsUSA) - There might be more truth than you think to the term "million-dollar smile." Research has found evidence of a possible connection between your appearance and how much is in your paycheck. In a study released by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, researchers found that good-looking people tend to earn 5 percent more an hour than their less attractive cohorts. Other studies suggest that a smile is a major factor in the overall impression ... [full story]

The immigration debate is once again dominating the news as members of Congress focus on the long- neglected problem of fixing our country's failed immigration laws. American lawmakers are now at a critical point. Enforcement-only legislation won't work and hasn't worked. Previous efforts to solve this problem by focusing exclusively on border security have failed miserably. In fact, during the past decade, the U.S. tripled the number of agents on the border, quintupled the budget, toughened our ... [full story]

(NU) - There has been an increase recently in Americans' obsessions to look and feel better. Reality makeover programs such as "Extreme Makeover" use cosmetic surgery to erase signs of aging or to change the size and shape of specific body parts. However, for some people, invasive procedures are not an option. Many are afraid to undergo surgery because of the risks or the expense that is often associated with these cosmetic procedures. Fortunately, there are ... [full story]

(NewsUSA) - A new national organization is providing a fun way for former football players to stay active and in the game. American Football Alumni unites former high school, college and professional players and coaches so they can reconnect with old teammates and make new friends. But besides its extensive networking opportunities, the organization offers members information and support on how to use their football disciplines to further themselves personally, professionally and financially. To date, there's been ... [full story]

(NewsUSA) - You rush to get your children to their football game only to find out that it's been canceled. Why weren't you notified in advance? When sports and recreation directors make last-minute schedule changes, such as canceling a game due to inclement weather or having to change practice times, they may have to inform several people at the same time. But with limited time to spread the word to players, parents, coaches and officials, some ... [full story]

Two of the world's biggest e-mail account providers, Yahoo Inc. and America Online, introduced a service that will charge senders a fee to route their e-mail directly to a user's mailbox without first passing through junk mail filters. All I can do is block any and all AOL originated connections from any Internet resource I have influence over. That's now done - and should've been done long ago. AOL is a product unto itself. The ... [full story]

Generally, older people are at a higher risk for medication-related problems because they have more chronic conditions and are taking more medications. At least 243,000 seniors end up in the hospital each year due to adverse reactions caused by the combination of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications. Whenever two or more medications are taken concurrently, there is a chance that there will be an interaction among the drugs. The interaction may increase or decrease the ... [full story]

For first-time buyers of modest means, the goal of home ownership is more difficult to attain today. But a new initiative spearheaded by the nation's credit unions is helping more people qualify for home loans. "Real estate prices are still high all over the country," said Daniel A. Mica, president and chief executive officer of the Credit Union National Association. "Mortgage rates are headed upward as well. The gap between the incomes of average families ... [full story]

(NewsUSA) - As companies face the challenge of improving productivity and efficiency with ever-shrinking budgets, the need for outsourcing certain operations has grown. And ironically, although digital technologies become more important in business, the idea of a paperless office seems more distant than ever. In fact, Bill Gates has proclaimed that the paperless office is "one of those 'any day now' phenomena that never seem to actually arrive. ... Paperwork is increasing faster than digital technology ... [full story]

(NewsUSA) - From ads that dance or sing to MTV-like commercials, online advertisers are now using a new type of technology called "rich media" to attract consumers. U.S. Internet advertising revenue will have reached about $12 billion last year, up $3 billion from 2004. Of this, advertisers spent about $1 billion on rich media, up from $800 million in 2003, according to the Interactive Advertising Bureau. So what exactly is rich media? By definition, it is an ... [full story]