Ahmadinejad Congratulates Obama, Urges 'Real' Change

TEHRAN, Nov. 6 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has congratulated President-elect Barack Obama on his victory, the first time since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution that an Iranian leader has offered such wishes to an American counterpart.

Ahmadinejad wrote a letter to Obama saying Iran would welcome "major, fair and real changes, in policies and actions, especially in this region," according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

Analysts here say the letter indicates that Iran is ready to improve relations with the United States.

Broadway's rough road ahead

The second-act rendition of “Let’s Hang On,” in “Jersey Boys,” might be Broadway’s anthem at the moment.

Nearly every show had its audience shrink last week, with 14 productions experiencing more than a 10 percent drop in ticket sales.
So musicals and plays are trying to hang on until the holidays bring an influx of cheer-seeking visitors to New York, looking to be entertained.

After the new year they will try to hang on again, through January and February, traditionally two of the industry’s slowest months.

Three musicals, “Hairspray,” “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” and “Spring Awakening,” have already announced that they are closing in January. A handful of others have been struggling to fill seats.

Big change for the newsweekly market

U.S. News & World Report Going Monthly
In June, U.S. News moved its publishing schedule from weekly to biweekly and it's no surprise that the magazine has struggled to compete with its traditional competitors -- Time and Newsweek -- even as those magazines have had their own difficulties in this depressing journalism environment.

U.S. News has tried boosting its PR efforts, stepping up its web presence and embracing its image as the-magazine-that-makes-a-lot-of-lists.
Still, there have been plenty of layoffs and, last year, the New York Post's Keith Kelly reported that "The magazine has not made any money since the dot-com bubble burst in 2001."

Election night: Where I wish I was

Yup, Ben's chili bowl.

Actually, this whole thing has me in a bit of D.C. mourning today; there's nothing like watching election returns in Washington. I can't believe that the year I last did that was Bush-Gore.

Ryanair may be flying stateside

Well, TO the states from Europe, according to this article.

It all sounds fine and dandy as long as you realize you'll have to pay a lot in ground transport to get you from Ryanair's far-flung airport partners to your final destination.

Teens say they're reading urban fiction because it reflects life in the city. Should parents be concerned?

Urban fiction - also known as street lit or street fiction - is a style of literature that depicts drugs, violence, and sexual promiscuity in black and Latino neighborhoods.

Some of the books detail the extravagant lifestyles of drug dealers.

Others describe the bloody violence associated with the drug trade.

The sex scenes in some of the novels are extremely explicit, and sex is often used as a form of power rather than an expression of love.

As more teenagers fall under the spell of street-lit novels, some adults worry about how the content is influencing teenagers.

But teens and some adults insist that the content of the books doesn't change mind-sets.

This is interesting

4 Surprising Signs You'll Live a Long Time

( Eater's Digest)

We all know the obvious ways to add years to your life: Don't smoke, eat your veggies, wear a seat belt (even in the backseat). But there are other, lesser-known habits and attributes that can help you live to a ripe old age.

YOU SKIP SODA (EVEN DIET)
I finally kicked my diet cola habit in my 20s, a good thing too, because scientists in Boston recently found that drinking one or more regular or diet sodas every day doubles your risk of metabolic syndrome-- combination of conditions that increase your chances of heart disease and diabetes. The exact culprit isn't completely understood, but it could be the caramel color added to colas and other dark sodas, which increased the risk for metabolic syndrome in animals. Experts also speculate that exposing your tastebuds to the sweet fizzy flavor of soda conditions you to crave sugary foods, which can lead to weight gain. Whatever the reason, it's an easy enough habit to quit. Club soda (sodium free, of course) with a splash of juice satisfies the fizz craving with just enough sweetness.

YOUR LEGS ARE STRONG
Lower-body strength means you also have good balance, flexibility, and endurance. While you probably care more about how your legs look in a mini and a pair of knee-high boots right now, as you get older those attributes reduce your risk of falls, injuries, and hip fractures, all of which are associated with declining health in older folks. So do some squats, lunges, and stair climbing to look good now-- and be strong and healthy later. It's win-win!

YOUR MOM HAD YOU YOUNG
If she was under age 25, you're twice as likely to live to age 100 as someone born to an older mom, according to University of Chicago scientists. The reason, they suspect, is that younger moms' best eggs go first to fertilization, which may mean healthier offspring.

YOU EAT AND DRINK PURPLE THINGS
Red wine, concord grapes, blueberries (okay, not quite purple, but close enough) all get that deep rich color from polyphenols- compounds that reduce heart disease risk and may even protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to new research. So crack open a bottle of Pinot (don't overdo it), snack on some grapes, or make a blueberry pie and ponder all the years that lie ahead.
Talk about happy and healthy!

My favorite Halloween pet photos from Boston.com

Apparently chicken heads are the preferred costume for cats this year.

Time to buy stock in Nice 'N Easy

You will not catch me doing this.

With stock portfolios in the toilet, layoffs looming everywhere and credit hard to come by, many folks are looking for places to cut back.

That includes their own heads.

Consumers are slashing their budgets by skipping visits to upscale hair salons and opting for inexpensive stylists. Some are getting haircuts less often or dyeing their own locks at home.

GW: No longer the most expensive college in the nation

After two years as the most expensive college in the country, GW has given up the top spot to Sarah Lawrence College, University officials confirmed this week.

Apparently coyotes frolic too

Spotted in Natick:

Coyote making merry with a (domesticated) dog's Santa toy.

NY Times: Leading in Job Losses, Rhode Island Struggles On

Rhode Island now has the highest unemployment rate in the nation, the first time the state has held that distinction in the three decades since such records have been kept.

With unemployment at 8.8 percent, Rhode Island has edged past Michigan, and every month seems to bring fresh reports of companies cutting workers, shutting divisions, closing altogether.

“I hate to say it but a distinct improvement for Rhode Island right now would be to have our economy be dead in the water,” said Leonard Lardaro, an economics professor at the University of Rhode Island, who compiles an index of Rhode Island’s economic health.

“Statistically this is the worst year. Clearly we’re going down faster than other states.”