Best Sci-Fi Movies

25 Best Sci-Fi Movies of all Time

50 Best Movies of 2008 (and the 10 Worst)

the first Christmas tree

In case you're under the impression that Christmas trees are an ancient Christian practice, they've really only been part of popular culture for the past couple of centuries. As recently as 1851, the first Christmas tree in an American church was erected by Pastor Henry Schwan of Cleveland. Did his flock sing hosannas? Nope. He was attacked and the tree removed, as such activity was clearly a pagan practice.

As the Good Book stateth in Jeremiah: "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not."

GTD

A clean desk might be the sign of an empty mind, as some bumper stickers suggest, but that’s exactly how David Allen likes it. The veteran coach and management consultant, leader of the Ojai, California–based David Allen Company and author of three bestselling books including Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (Viking Penguin, 2001), has blazed the trail in productivity training, time management and stress reduction, aiding clients ranging from major global corporations such as American Express to Boy Scout troops.

The mission and method, as shared in Costco member Allen’s books and workshops are simple: Clear the to-do list clutter from your head so that your mind can get to work on creative action.

Allen’s productivity methods, titled GTD (for Getting Things Done), are being used by tens of millions of people around the world, from Estonia to Russia to India, and are successful because, according to company spokesman James Rider, “we don’t let work define us. We define our work. GTD is the bridge between the practicality of handling everyday tasks and finding the spiritual promise of relaxation, focus and control.”

Chris Rose is a liberal and a conservative

There's no getting around it: The C-word and the L-word are at the root of our nation's Great Divide. Together they are the elephant in the room and we need to wrestle it to the ground before we all end up looking like asses and, yes, puns intended.

Surprising signs of Longevity

Consider this: In the 20th century, the average life expectancy shot up 30 years — the greatest gain in 5,000 years of human history. And this: Centenarians — folks who make it into the triple digits — aren't such an exclusive club anymore, increasing 51% from 1990 to 2000. How to account for these dramatic leaps? Advances in health, education, and disease prevention and treatments are high on the list — and that makes sense. But what you may not know is that seemingly unimportant everyday habits, or circumstances in your past, can influence how long and how well you'll live.