Widows and widowers in the U.S. who say they give 10 percent or more of their income to the church: 17.6 percent

Non-widowed Americans who say they give 10 percent or more: 8.6 percent

Most people live in a way that shows they believe their actions have consequences for good or ill. For example, although people disagree about whether global warming is real, those who do believe it is real are starting to change the way they live. According to a 2008 survey conducted by ABC News, Planet Green, and Stanford University, 80 percent of U.S. adults believe global warming is a reality. ...

In 2009, Bank of America asked 1,000 adults (18 and older) what they would do if they were given $1,000. Of those surveyed:

• Forty-eight percent said they would put it all in a general savings account.
• Twenty-seven percent said they would use it to pay off credit card debt.
• Twelve percent said they would put it in their child's educational fund.
• Ten percent said they would use it for health care expenses.

Despite the best efforts of pastors and Christian educators, many children in America still don't enjoy going to church. These kids usually reveal their discomfort through one of a few predictable habits. Some fidget in their seats; others doodle or draw; still others try to sneak in a comic book or portable video game.

But a 7-year-old boy in Plain City, Utah, recently broke the mold and attempted ...

A. O. Scott of The New York Times takes a fascinating look at why we love spoon-fed movies. He gamely argues that our movie-going habits turn a blazing spotlight on our overall immaturity. Good stuff.

There's been a recent spike in U.S. suicides due to the faltering economy.

That last troubling link leads to this other troubling link: antidepressant drug use has almost doubled in America. (Note: You ...

Curious about what we're spending our money on in America? Every day Americans buy an average of:

• 3,972,603 movie tickets

• 1,683,835 songs and albums from on-line resources

• 1,650,000 DVD rentals from Netflix

• 978,030 bags of Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet popcorn

• 568,764 Titleist golf balls

• 443,650 large French fries at Burger King

• 160,968 bottles of Absolut ...

Pests—bugs and rodents—even the thought of them makes our skin crawl. But pests find their way into everyone's home at one time or another. The question is, do we hate these pests enough to do what it takes to get rid of them? One survey says that depends on what sort of pest is in the house. Researchers found that people will dish out their hard earned money for an exterminator—meaning ...

On April 18, 1942, Army Corporal Jacob DeShazer boarded a bomber plane with his pilot, Lieutenant William Farrow, and a co-pilot, navigator, and rear gunner. Their mission was to bomb Tokyo and its surrounding cities. When the mission was accomplished, they were to land on the shores of enemy territory and elude the opposing forces as they awaited further instructions. The bombing was a success, but ...

Across northern England and Scotland, a do-or-die battle is being waged against an aggressive invader: the American gray squirrel.

Researchers have discovered that the gray squirrel is threatening Britain's red squirrel by destroying its habitat and spreading disease. Miles Barne, chairman of the London-based European Squirrel Initiative—yes, there is such a thing—says Victorians first ...

[My daughter], Allison,* came home for the weekend. She opened the door, didn't speak, and dropped her duffel bag. Smudges of mascara circled her eyes. I whispered a "God-please-no" prayer.

"Come tell me about your classes." I patted the sofa.

"Gotta take a shower."

As she clomped upstairs, I analyzed the recent changes in her: complaints of not having any money, rarely answers the phone, weight loss, ...