Jump in your time machine and set the dial for the 1960s - it's time for a flashback ... if you were around back then. MGM has released a boxed set of DVDs starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. Though these movies were popular then, they don't stand the test of time today.   BEACH BLANKET RETRO - Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Deborah Walley and John Ashley wore sunny smiles in 1965's 'Beach Blanket Bingo.' CNS ... [full story]

A simple thank-you card shows good manners, but it could also help job candidates gain an edge in the interview process. Eighty-eight percent of respondents said a post-interview thank-you note could improve a candidate's chances, according to a survey by Accountemps, a staffing service, which polled 150 senior executives. But less than half of all job-seekers take the time to send a card. Although many candidates choose not to send thank-you notes, this recent survey ... [full story]

Job-seekers may want to reconsider going under the needle for a piercing or tattoo when it comes to finding a job. Eighty-five percent of respondents feel that tattoos and body piercings hinder a person's job search, according to a survey of 468 U.S. employees by Vault.com, a career publisher. However, only 16 percent of the respondents had an official policy against tattoos and piercings at their companies. Mark Oldman, Vault's co-founder and co-president, says there ... [full story]

It's 3 p.m. and you have two more hours of work. As you stare at the computer, you begin to feel sluggish and want to take a nap. You start yawning and grab some caffeine to finish the day. Thirty-one percent feel the workplace is to blame for increased feelings of tiredness, according to a survey by Diet Pepsi MAX that surveyed approximately 1,100 U.S. American adults. Could the workplace be causing respondents to feel ... [full story]

Computers with online access can be an easy distraction; however, employees may want to concentrate more on work instead of surfing the Internet at the office. You never know who or what may be watching. BeAware Corporate Edition, which has a "workplace activity management" application, allows companies to keep track of employees' computer history in order to eliminate excessive time-wasting and increase productivity in the office. At least 13 percent of employees spend more than ... [full story]

Job-seekers may discover that their "perfect" job isn't so ideal. Approximately 25 percent of workers regret accepting a new position within the first year, according to an estimate by the global outplacement agency Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. The agency recommends leaving the position sooner rather than later if the employee is unhappy and remorseful. "There is nothing to gain by staying in a position you regret taking, but there is a lot to lose," ... [full story]

SAN DIEGO - As Mexican police held a memorial service Tuesday for two officers gunned down in Tijuana last weekend, city law enforcement officials downplayed a news report alleging a connection between drug traffickers and city police. The allegations surfaced just days before Sunday's fiercely contested gubernatorial election, in which Tijuana's former mayor, Jorge Hank Rhon, a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), is running against National Action Party (PAN) candidate JoseÐ Guadalupe Osuna ... [full story]

White sandy beaches, warm water and sunny skies begin to call vacationers to the Caribbean as the fall arrives and temperatures cool in North America. St. Kitts is a pristine island with all the attractions of a luxurious Caribbean paradise without the crowds and pollution. This year new package deals called "Fall in Love with St. Kitts" are being offered to prospective guests. Stay four nights in a beachfront hotel or a beautiful plantation home ... [full story]

If you love to cook and love to eat, the renowned Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., has an event planned for the weekend of Oct. 25-28 that you won't want to miss.   FOOD GETAWAY - Special speakers and chefs will be sharing their cooking expertise at the renowned Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., from Oct. 25-28. CNS Photo. Special speakers and chefs will be sharing their knowledge in cooking classes and demonstrations ... [full story]

Eighty-six miles east of Aruba, the Dutch Caribbean island Bonaire sits in year-round sunshine, surrounded by beautiful coral reefs, and swarms of fish swimming in the clear, calm water.   PERFECT PLACE FOR A STROLL - The Kralendijk waterfront is lined with shopping malls, supermarkets, and restaurants that offer many options for the wandering visitor on an evening stroll. CNS Photo.    BEAUTIFUL BONAIR - Boats mooring on Bonaire's waterfront set a beautiful background. Tourists have their choice ... [full story]