A few generations ago, women visited their hair salons once a week for a shampoo and set. Then when perms became popular, visits decreased to every six weeks or so. In the 1980s and 1990s as hair products became increasingly more available, women styled their own hair. Today, most women visit their salon only every nine to 10 weeks to get a haircut and receive a touch-up of color.   SHORT SPORT - Short hair is ... [full story]

WASHINGTON - Next month's budget debate in the Senate will likely shape the U.S. presidential campaign, political analysts said.The Politico reported Thursday that lawmakers' spending decisions will likely set the stage for the general election presidential campaign. Lawmakers will consider such things as whether President George W. Bush's tax cuts should be extended -- a debate that will draw sharp lines between Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, and Arizona ... [full story]

ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Take the plunge and work hard in order to swim out of troubled waters. Doing nothing will get you nowhere. Extra effort will get you over the finish line in record time. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Catch up on your rest and escape to a favorite place, both mentally and physically. Look to your dreams for some important, revealing information. GEMINI (May 21 - June 21): You ... [full story]

It just keeps coming and coming and you are sick of it. It's all that junk mail that arrives in your mailbox every day and those unwanted receipts that gather in your wallet. Then there are those financial records.   ZISZOR! - Get a grip on shredding paper with the new Ziszor! CNS Photo courtesy of Ziszor!     RAIN GAUGE - If you don't want to go outside in the dark to check on the rainfall, try the ... [full story]

  While the garage is a great place for storage, it often becomes cluttered. To avoid clutter, you can assemble this simple utility shelf from inexpensive two-by-fours and plywood.  [full story]

Oregon's share of the Pacific coastline owes its international reputation to the rugged beauty and natural wonders found along its 363-mile stretch. Unlike other states, all of Oregon's beaches are protected from encroachment and entirely open to the public, so visitors can play along the Pacific and experience its pristine splendor.   SAFE SHORES - The Heceta Head Lighthouse, perched on the cliffs of the central Oregon coast, is one of the few in the country ... [full story]

The moves: Performing a side bend while in a side plank position.   GOING TO THE CORE - To help increase core and shoulder strength and stability, firefighter Jay Albrandt assumes the side plank position with his feet stacked and dips his hips toward the floor until a slight stretch is felt. CNS Photo by Michael Franklin.  Works on: Core strength, shoulder strength and stability. Level: Advanced. Precautions: Do not attempt this exercise if you have a ... [full story]

WASHINGTON - Industry lobbyists won the removal of a neurologist from a U.S. review panel on whether to ban a chemical used in TV housings, a published report said.Deborah Rice chaired the Environmental Protection Agency committee on deca, a brominated compound, the Los Angeles Times reported. She had studied the effects of deca in animals and reported that it affected their neurological systems. Officials removed Rice from her position last August because of the "perception of ... [full story]

In 2004, fewer than two-thirds of heart attack patients at Palomar Medical Center underwent a highly recommended emergency procedure to open clogged arteries within two hours of arriving at the Southern California hospital.   BONUS BUCKS - The pay-for-performance movement is spreading in health care, but studies show mixed results. CNS illustration by Jacie Landeros.   A year later, that number had risen to three out of four. Much of the credit for the improvement was given to ... [full story]

Almost every day, Vanessa Wilbourn looked forward to a cup of tea from Starbucks on her drive to high school. Then several weeks ago, she started wondering about whether her habit was good for the Earth. After watching a TV show about practical ways to become environmentally conscious, she decided to start small.   SMALL CHANGES - Sisters Trina Koller, left, and Trudy Balestreri sort through the first shipment of the reusable shopping bags they designed. ... [full story]