Don't have a cow, man, but "The Simpsons Movie" is an underachiever. Which is to say it's fun, and better than most of the twaddle that's out there, on big screen or (not-so-)small(-anymore). But in the end - and from the very beginning, for that matter - it's nothing more than a "Simpsons" episode writ, or rather, animated large.   'THE SIMPSONS MOVIE' - When Homer mistakenly pollutes the river with toxic waste from the power ... [full story]

A Canadian doctor has found a simple tool for determining whether you are at an increased risk for heart disease or diabetes. It's a tape measure. What's more, the tale of the tape can be a good one even if you have been packing a few extra pounds. That's because researchers led by Dr. Jean-Pierre Despres of the Laval University in Montreal, Canada, found the higher a man's cardiorespiratory fitness, the less fat he has ... [full story]

 Kevin Spearman shakes his head when the subject of childhood obesity comes up. "It's a big problem," he says, with a sigh. Kids have to start eating more fruits and vegetables, he adds, and stop eating junk food. "Especially fast food," he says, in a very serious tone. "That's where the real problem is."   PUMPING IRON - Sydney Craven, 9, works out on a treadmill at the Cameron Family YMCA in San Diego, one of ... [full story]

It snaps. It crackles. It pops. Bright hits of color wake up all those blacks and grays in your wardrobe this fall. We're not talking head-to-toe neon here. One kick is all you need. Layering color on top of dark neutrals is a trick used by many fashion pros. So start searching now for those special ways to give your clothes a spirited twist with one explosion of color. Here's the shopping list:   FALL COLOR ... [full story]

"What am I going to do with 50 little cubes of pesto?" Lisa Brock asked herself six years ago.   FOODCUBER - Now you can easily store the proper portions of food in one step with the FoodCuber. CNS Photo courtesy of Alanna Swenson.    DAY COUNTER - Salsa is one of many foods that can spoil easily once opened. Keep track with the DaysAgo Digital Day Counter. CNS Photo courtesy of double u products, inc.     LEFTOVERS - Take ... [full story]

  Home How-To: Bouncy floors Floors in old homes can tend to sag or bounce as they age. There are many techniques to strengthen a floor, here are a few common methods:  [full story]

Even in Hollywood, faking it as a chef is no piece of cake. Just ask the two hambones starring in the new movie "No Reservations." To perfect his culinary wrist action for the Warner Bros. kitchen romance, Aaron Eckhart spent hours at home tossing granola in a pan while watching TV. Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones practiced her thin-slicing technique on radishes before cutting into truffles, which cost $2,200 a pound.   MICHAEL WHITE - Before filming ... [full story]

Austin-Lehman Adventures, which specializes in multisport vacations throughout the Americas, is offering a rare opportunity to accompany National Geographic Adventure magazine Contributing Editor Bob Howells on its inaugural trip in Chiapas, dubbed Mexico's last exotic frontier.   TASTY TREAT - An open storefront window along Main Street in Julian, Calif., tempts passers-by with a tray of green apples. This year's annual Fall Apple Harvest runs from Sept. 15-Nov. 15. CNS photo by Tom Roebuck. This eight-day, seven-night ... [full story]

The Moves: A postural stretch adapted from yoga. Works on: Lengthening the spine, chest and abdomen. Stretching the shoulders and hamstrings.   SHOULDER STRETCH - Firefighter Robert Logan demonstrates a postural stretch. CNS Photo by Peggy Peattie. Setup: Place both palms on a wall directly in front of the shoulders. Step away from the wall approximately 3 feet, or one full step. Steps: Push the hands firmly into the wall, bend forward at the hips, and straighten ... [full story]

When California vegetable grower Jack Vessey surveyed one of his late-winter spinach fields several months ago, he knew he'd never raise the crop the same way again.   KEEPING GREENS CLEAN - Workers pulled weeds by hand from a spinach field near Holtville, Calif. Harvesting safety precautions will be mandatory under a new Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement. CNS Photo by Laura Embry.    FOOD SAFETY - Jack Vessey of Vessey & Co., one of the California's largest spinach ... [full story]