For viewers who love the apparel and accessories in their favorite feature films, but until now have had little opportunity to identify them, StarStyle announced today the launch of its Film Section with Universal Pictures' upcoming feature "Because I Said So," starring Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore, Lauren Graham and Piper Perabo. From the latest styles in dresses and sweaters to accessories and shoes, these four trend-setting actresses bring their keen fashion sense to the big ... [full story]

Ronen Sen is a career diplomat in India's Foreign Service and became his country's ambassador to the United States in 2004. His tenure is spanning a remarkable transformation in the once chilly U.S.-India relationship. The administration of President George W. Bush is promoting a strategic partnership with India, stressing the two countries' shared values on democracy and fighting terrorism. Sen was interviewed Jan. 16 by members of the San Diego Union-Tribune's editorial board. Q: What ... [full story]

Pat Vredevoogd Combs, president of the National Association of Realtors, praised Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D- N.Y.) and Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) for introducing key legislation that NAR believes would ensure the nation's real estate industry remains competitive. The Community Choice in Real Estate Act, S.413, introduced Friday, is cosponsored by senators on both sides of the aisle: Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), John Ensign, (R-Nev.), Russ Feingold ... [full story]

Probes in search of Mar­tian life haven’t drilled deep enough to reach the liv­ing cells that sci­en­tists hope may lurk with­in the red plan­et, ac­cord­ing to new re­search. A sun­set on Mars, an im­age that this month was voted as fa­vor­ite in a pub­lic poll of Mars im­ages from NASA's Spir­it rov­er. (Cour­te­sy NA­SA).Ra­di­a­tion would have killed off most cells near the sur­face long ago, the in­ves­ti­ga­tors said. Un­like Earth, Mars is un­pro­tect­ed by a mag­net­ic ... [full story]

A new report released yesterday finds extensive undeveloped geothermal resources in fourteen Western states -- Oregon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The new report, An Assessment of Geothermal Resource Development Needs in the Western United States, written by Dan Fleischmann for the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) is the most in-depth study we've ever undertaken into the specific barriers and challenges to geothermal energy in the US. ... [full story]

Q: We are finally in a position to add the master bedroom-bath extension we've been wanting, but we find ourselves overwhelmed by the options. Our home is fairly contemporary. I say "fairly" because we have a mix of antiques and modern furniture; we have a lot of different materials throughout the house. For example, the main room floor is slate, the kitchen is hardwood and the rest has been carpeted in sisal with area rugs. ... [full story]

JetBlue Airways has been a darling of the skies since its maiden voyage in early 2000, wooing travelers with a seductive perfume of low-fare nonstops, 36 channels of live TV free in every seat back and more legroom than its bigger, pricier competitors. Now, it's getting roomier. The airline is removing a row of gray leather seats from its all-coach A-320 aircraft, boosting legroom on the first 11 rows from the current 32 inches to ... [full story]

When she was a girl her father used to say regularly, "Rachel, you'd lose your head if it weren't attached to your neck." She was 12 when he first said it. When returning by train from visiting aunts in Ann Arbor, Mich., Rachel remembered that she didn't have her purse and panicked. Now 70, Rachel has found a silver lining in her bad habit of losing items. Whenever she misplaces something - glasses, a leather ... [full story]

Lawmakers will compete in walking contest to earn funds for local health-related school programs Salem, Oregon -- With the 2007 session underway, members of the Oregon State Legislature will face many new challenges intended to improve the state's healthcare system. One that doesn't involve drafting a bill is the Move It! Program, sponsored by Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon. Move It! offers legislators the chance to improve their own health and that of their ... [full story]

The Board of Directors of Cascade Bancorp approved payment of a $.09 per share quarterly cash dividend. This regular dividend is payable on February 20, 2007, to shareholders of record as of February 12, 2007. "The Company announced its fourth quarter and full year 2006 financial results reflecting another outstanding year. "The impact of the successful F&M merger has made 2006 a milestone year for Cascade Bancorp. We have achieved our strategic aim of building ... [full story]