Top headlines:
Excerpt: Roald Dahls secret mission: Dr. Francis Collins, arguably the nation's leading geneticist and author of the best-selling "The Language of God," is working on a book that promises "stunning new revelations about why we get sick; what it means to be healthy; how we can prevent disease" and medical treatment. ›18:38 2 Sep, Tue
NYT: Obama to dispatch female surrogates: Obama aides say they are counting on not only Hillary Clinton but also Democratic female governors to criticize their Alaskan counterpart, Sarah Palin and, by extension, John McCain. ›04:13
How the presidents stack up as travelers: We review a few of our past presidents travels and preview some of the travel habits of the two contenders hoping to move into the White House next January. ›15:00
'Potter' publisher to promote next big thing: U.S. Olympian Michael Phelps announced on TODAY he will use the $1 million bonus he earned for tying Mark Spitzs record of seven gold medals to start his own foundation to promote education about swimming and pool safety. ›14:16 2 Sep, Tue
Bush may create largest protected area: President Bush on Monday said he was considering creating two protected marine areas in the Pacific Ocean one of which would be the world's largest, covering an area almost as large as Alaska. ›23:45 25 Aug, Mon
Advancing Atlantic swallows African village: The old shore road to Totope is now under the sea, and when developers began carving out another one, it was washed away so often they abandoned it. ›14:13 26 Aug, Tue
Traveling Europe: By plane or by train?: Discount airlines have made jetting around the continent quicker and cheaper, so does it make sense even to consider traveling by train anymore? The answer: It depends. ›20:25 4 Sep, Thu
Experts scale back sea level rise forecast: Worldwide sea levels may rise by about 2.6 to 6.6 feet by 2100 thanks to global warming, but dire predictions of larger increases seem unrealistic, U.S. scientists said on Thursday. ›22:28 4 Sep, Thu
'Twilight' author drops book after leak: It's become harder than ever to separate health facts from fiction. Take this quiz for the truth behind the most popular (and persistent) health rumors. ›19:08 2 Sep, Tue
Boy doles out fake $20 bills at school: Authorities say an 8-year-old boy was handing out hundreds of dollars in fake $20 bills at an Ocala elementary school. School officials reported the boy to police on Tuesday. ›22:13 4 Sep, Thu
Excerpt: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle:
Pedal pushers power innovative gym: The owner of a Portland, Ore., gym hopes his people-powered approach toward energy generation the first of its kind in the nation could make a dent in his businesss carbon footprint. ›17:32 1 Sep, Mon
Karma? Bug eviction ends with blazing temple: A Japanese monk trying to rid his temple of a hornets' nest panicked when the hornets attacked him and dropped a torch, burning his temple to the ground, police said Thursday. ›11:55 4 Sep, Thu
Mushrooms poison 'Horse Whisperer' author: For Jason and Rachael Storm, saying "I do" at a funeral home was a piece of cake. The local Starks and Menchinger Family Funeral Home is where Jason is a funeral director. For the groom it was no different than getting married in a church. I look at it as, if you go to a church and get married, how many caskets do you think have been rolled down that aisle? ›13:08 2 Sep, Tue
Wise answers to old wives' tales: In Jennet Conant's new book, "The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington," she explores the time the classic author was assigned to be a diplomat in Washington, D.C., and in charge of a secret mission, as well as Dahl's relationship with the great British spymaster William Stephenson. An excerpt. ›13:44 3 Sep, Wed
Newsweek: The latest celebrity fad? Politicians!: The tabloids have discovered the selling power of politicians... now our latest celebrities. ›15:52
Oddest book title? Greek Rural Postmen: It may not be a best-seller, but "Greek Rural Postmen and Their Cancellation Numbers" has won a literary accolade: oddest book title of the past 30 years. The runner-up was "People Who Don't Know They're Dead," and third place went to "How To Avoid Huge Ships." ›14:47
Economic woes hit Fashion Week catwalk: Fashion as any manufacturer or retailer will tell you is an industry that's among the first to be affected by the economy's roller-coaster ride. Yet in this downturn, there are a record number of shows planned for New York Fashion Week, which starts Friday. ›21:50 4 Sep, Thu
U.K. army to reconsider bearskin hats: After meeting with animal rights activists, the British military said Tuesday that it will study alternative materials to replace the bearskin hats worn by the soldiers who guard Buckingham Palace. ›12:22 3 Sep, Wed
Slide show: Slide show: Celebrity women over 50: The Oscar-winning actress has returned to work with Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani to raise money for the fight against AIDS in Africa, designing a T-shirt to be sold under the "Red" label. ›19:42 28 Aug, Thu
Beyond hotels: Hostels, couches and more: Budget-minded travelers have plenty of ways to save money and take trips. ›13:45 4 Sep, Thu
McCain: End constant partisan rancor: John McCain accepts the Republican presidential nomination with a dual message: Barack Obama did not have the judgment to govern, whereas he himself could reach across party divisions. ›03:57
Industry files lawsuit over polar bear rule: Five industry groups have sued the Interior Department over a rule to protect the polar bear that they say unfairly singles out business operations in Alaska for their contribution to global warming. ›00:08 29 Aug, Fri
Cross-dressing thief leaves fake breast: Police in Port St. Lucie are on the lookout for a cross-dressing man who snatched a 74-year-old woman's purse. As if that weren't odd enough, they're depending on a strange clue. ›19:42 3 Sep, Wed
