ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Avoid getting involved in intense negotiations, negative thinking or pessimistic moods. See beyond petty problems and stay focused on the solution level. TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): You have very important lessons on tap this week. Throw yourself wholeheartedly into a social situation and learn from just being present and active. GEMINI (May 21 - June 21): There could be positive or negative results from a confrontation with ... [full story]

Q: Our 17-year-old grandson is coming to visit for a few days. We don't get to see him often. In our retirement community there isn't much action for him, and we do not know anyone his age nearby. Do you have any ideas for making his visit enjoyable? A: Being able to communicate one-on-one with a grandson is a wonderful opportunity to bond. He will enjoy receiving your full attention, regardless of what activities you ... [full story]

Q: I'm about to do over our oldest son's room. He's going to be living with us for a year or so, waiting for his office to post him abroad. The room's not very big (12 by 14) and just has one window. My question is about that window: what kind of curtains would be suitable in a room for a 25-year-old guy? A: I'd suggest that, like the rest of humanity, 25-year-old guys have ... [full story]

VERBATIM   VERBATIM - What happens if a big asteroid hits Earth? Judging from realistic simulations involving a sledge hammer and a common laboratory frog, we can assume it will be pretty bad. -- David Barry, Humorist. CNS Photo.    WHAT IS IT? - A leaf of the common sundew plant. CNS Photo.    NOW, IF ONLY HE'D SHAVE - ABC reportedly will soon begin airing a comedy series based on the cavemen in the Geico insurance commercials. CNS Photo.    'TRUE ... [full story]

  PURSE HOOKS - Glass and clay domes adorn purse hooks sold by PurseHook.Net, begun by contractor Rich Shamlian. CNS Photo by Nelvin Cepeda.    FISH HOOKS - Rich Shamlian runs PurseHook.Net out of his garage, which houses his fishing hook collection. CNS Photo by Nelvin Cepeda. Rich Shamlian knows hooks. The San Diego angler has dozens of them in the small, low-slung garage behind his cottage. Large thick hooks for catching sharks in the ocean. Short, stubby ones ... [full story]

What's in a name? If it's Paris Hilton, dancing in your swank new nightclub or staying at your upscale hotel, the answer is instant - if not necessarily durable - success.   CREATING A BUZZ - Stingaree is one of the many upscale nightclubs and hotels in San Diego that court celebrities to help build awareness of their businesses. The club paid an undisclosed sum for singer Beyonce to hold a party. CNS Photo by Sean ... [full story]

The moves: A "push-up" using shoulder blade movement. Works on: Improving rotator cuff health, shoulder girdle coordination, serratus anterior strength.   SHOULDER TEST - Using shoulder blade motion, Robert Logan strengthens his rotator cuff and shoulder girdle. CNS Photo by Peggy Peattie. Setup: Stand facing a wall a little more than an arm's length away. Place the palm of one hand on the wall at shoulder height with the fingers pointing up. The other hand can be ... [full story]

It might be hard to think about getting geared up for the winter ski season when the heat of the summer is still blistering, but if planning ahead meant skiing for free, you might be interested right? The beautiful mountainous region of Gunnison-Crested Butte in Colorado is encouraging visitors to try out their snowy slopes by offering free lift tickets from Nov. 25 - Dec. 15.   HEADWALL - Skiers and snowboarders on the Headwall, one ... [full story]

I cast the blame on Jack Klugman. Ever since Klugman's portrayal of Oscar Madison in the 1970's sitcom "The Odd Couple," sportswriters have been routinely depicted on TV and the big screen as cigar-chomping, beer-guzzling, pear-shaped hacks in search of the next buffet.   STEREOTYPE - Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison on 'The Odd Couple' is many people's vision of a sportswriter. CNS Photo courtesy of ABC. Bad dressers, too. The brush is far too broad to ... [full story]

August 24 Reports: Amy Lynne Simmons, 25, was arrested for suspicion of DUII. Tristen Ray Storie, 23, was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Sarah Jaylene Yankee, 25, was arrested for theft/forgery. August 25 Reports: Michael Slade, 56, was arrested for theft/forgery. Scott Lee Nielsen, 36, was arrested for unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon, criminal trespass, and menacing. Robert Lee Wurgaft, 76, was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Randy Allen Purcell, 41, was arrested for suspicion of DUII. Andrew James ... [full story]