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It's the middle of a sizzling summer. As you walk along a winding path in the heart of lush wilderness, sounds of boys fill the forest. There is laughing and […]

The night before your big trek, you drag out the backpack and open every compartment. Just throw all your stuff in there and get going, right? Wrong. In the long […]

TIM BROX of Troop 140 knew he was in for an adventure when he put on his standard-issue clothing. It was winter in Fresno, Calif., and most of his buddies […]

You've seen them on TV: Guys scaling rock walls like Spider-man. They have their fingers and toes dug into rocky terrain, making them appear as if they are just dangling […]

Kyle Holt stands on a wide stretch of sand and stares ahead. There's a lot of activity here on the shores of Cocoa Beach, Fla., and a lot of noise. [...]

The article addresses the alleged massacre committed by U.S. Marines in the town of Haditha, Iraq. On November 19, 2005 24 mostly unarmed Iraqi civilians were killed. The incident, and its alleged cover-up, are being investigated by the military. Many feel that what happened in Haditha is a reason for the U.S. to pull troops out of Iraq; others feel that it demonstrates a reason to stay.

The article looks at disaster planning in New Orleans, Louisiana, as it prepares for hurricane season a year after Hurricane Katrina. With the hurricane season starting, flooding is on everyone's mind. Government officials, military men and private suppliers are running role-playing exercises. New Orleans residents are not counting on the levees to hold or the government to rescue them. Self-sufficiency is everyone's mantra. The book "The Storm," by Ivor van Heerden, is referenced. The levee system and the city's evacuation plan are also discussed.

The article discusses the Hollywood movie "Brokeback Mountain," a western about two cowboys who have a 20-year love affair. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal star in the film, which was directed by Ang Lee, produced by Diana Ossana and James Schamus, with screenplay written by Ossana and Larry McMurtry. The process of making the film is mentioned, as well as its social impact. INSET: Hollywood's Homosexuals.

Focuses on the reaction to Hurricane Rita, after the lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina. Observation that public officials made certain to evacuate people and provide supplies and troops in abundance before Rita struck, in order to avoid the criticism they received after Katrina; Difficulties associated with evacuating Houston, Texas, the fourth-largest city in the U.S.; Comments from Texas Governor Rick Perry, suggesting being stuck in evacuating traffic is better than being rescued from a rooftop by helicopter; Concern over the levees in New Orleans, which had broken only weeks before under Katrina.

Focuses on the controversy surrounding the teaching of evolutionary biology and intelligent design in American public schools. View of U.S. President George W. Bush that lessons in evolutionary biology should be combined with a discussion of intelligent design; View of intelligent design supporters that the theory provides a subtler way of finding evidence of God's fingerprints in nature that traditional creationism; Review of how evolutionary biology is regarded as one of the best supported ideas in science; History of the conflict regarding what theory should be taught in American public schools; Comparison of intelligent design theory to evolutionary biology; Review of how each theory would be taught in the classroom.

Looks at the influence of teenagers on the U.S. cellular telephone industry. Influence of popular culture on graphics and ring tones developed for cell phones; Efforts of wireless technology makers to market their products and services to youth; Development of devices which provide cellular phone service and other types of media, including music, movies, and games; Impact of camera phones on the cellular phone market; Investments of large cellular phone companies in new products and technology; Profitability of small technology companies on the cellular phone industry. INSET: Mobile Magic.

Examines what makes workers more productive and happy to go to work. Researchers in psychology, economics and organizational behavior who have been discovering that the experience of being happy at work looks similar across professions; People who love their work who feel in control and challenged and finding meaning in what they do; Thoughts of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in "Good Business" on the importance of the pleasure of work; Disaffection of the American work force from a Gallup Poll; The basic human needs of a workplace; Desire for meaning in work and the many different forms it takes; "Authentic leadership" skills which are now being offered at some business schools. INSET: Joy Building: A Quick Guide for the Boss.

Examines the growing popularity of compact cars, which automobile companies are designing with style. Details of several small cars, such as the Mini Cooper, Audi A3, Mazda 5, and Mercedes Vision B Sports Tourer; Consideration of the appeal of small cars, such as good acceleration and fuel efficiency. INSET: COMING SOON?.

What started in the '90s as a quiet debate among car buffs and greens is now, as former Nissan design chief Jerry Hirshberg says with a sigh, 'a religious war.' On one side are environmentalists and Hollywood types, as well as reputable safety experts who say SUVs can be death machines. A group called the Detroit Project has produced ads charging that because SUVs use so much gas, and because some of the crude oil for that gas comes from the Middle East, and because some oil-rich princes have funded Islamic extremists, SUV owners are supporting terrorists. There are serious questions that affect everyone who owns an SUV or drives near them: Are these vehicles safe? Most Americans--55% of those surveyed in a TIME/CNN poll--believe SUVs are safer than cars because of their sheer size. But that's not necessarily true. In 2001, the most recent year for which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has figures, there were 162 deaths per million SUVs, including crossovers, and 157 deaths per million cars--meaning the death rate for SUVs was slightly higher. Last week automakers and a safety group met in Washington to address the issue, known as 'crash compatibility.' NHTSA research has shown that if a car rams another car on the driver side, the driver of the struck car is 6.6 times as likely to die as the driver of the torpedoing one. But if an SUV hits the car, the driver of the car is 30 times as likely to be killed. Proposals to hold SUVs to the same standards as cars are usually killed by a coalition of union-backed Democrats and industry-backed Republicans, even though 70% of those surveyed in the TIME/CNN poll said Congress should require SUVs to get better gas mileage. The right way to frame the SUV debate is not whether SUVs should be dumped but whether society pays too much, and their drivers too little, for the benefits SUVs provide. INSETS: THE TRACK RECORD;A New Breed's Ancestors.

Presents the opinion of the author that reality television is the best thing to happen to television in several years. Belief that it has created excitement among viewers; Comment that reality television is a way to tell involving human stories; Benefits of reality programs for network television; Comparison of reality television with sitcoms; Young audiences that support reality television; Comments about several reality shows, including 'Joe Millionaire,' 'The Bachelorette,' and 'American Idol'; Remarks from social critics of reality programs.

Discusses homelessness in the United States and efforts of the George W. Bush administration to solve the problem of chronic homelessness. Statistics on what is being spent by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agency for permanent housing; Lack of support at the federal government level for creating affordable housing and strengthening programs that attack the causes of poverty; The issues of temporary homeless shelters and government assistance; Profiles of families and how they became homeless; How cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Dallas are managing vagrancy and begging.

Focuses on the 'Left Behind,' series of books by Time LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins based on the Book of Revelations. How the September 11 Terrorist attacks have increased the interest of Americans in end of the world prophecies in Revelations; Sales of the books; Belief of many in prophecy; How the books have affected people's views.

Focuses on the efforts of the American Catholic laity to voice their opinions in light of the sexual abuse scandal facing the Catholic Church. Response to the scandal of Catholic organizations such as the Voice of the Faithful and the Fellowship of Southern Illinois Laity; Role of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Outlook for greater collaboration between the laity and church hierarchy.

Family Tradition Eugene Hunsberger tried to ease the flustered minds and souls of soldiers. In World War II and later in the Korean conflict, Hunsberger would carry a worn and […]

The article reports on the U.S. mania for Christmas shopping, even as Americans have more debt and more expenses. The day after Thanksgiving is the start of a competitive race for consumers to find good deals that may not make retailers any money. Included are discussions of energy costs, inflation, housing, stock prices and job growth.

Discusses the closing of military bases in the United States, with the view that communities can recover from the economic jolt. Examples of redevelopment, including costs and planning; Bergstrom Air Force Base in Texas converted into Austin-Bergstrom International Airport that provides more jobs than the base did; Lowry Air Force Base in Denver replaced by a redevelopment triangle that pays property taxes; Fort Chaffee Army post in Arkansas became Redevelopment Authority land; Outlook for Maine's Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and South Dakota's Ellsworth Air Force Base to be closed by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

Observes that churches in the U.S. have begun to see 13 as a pivotal age for finding God. Efforts of churches, especially Protestant congregations with large youth programs, to reconnect with adolescents; Disagreement about how deep or lasting such religious experiences are; Focus on an idea that reflects both ancient tradition and modern psychology; Why this age can be a time of deep faith; Anxieties of 13-year-olds; Attitudes of evangelical churches regarding the hearts and minds of 13-year-olds; Growth of adolescent-specific church programs; Comments of Christian Smith, co-author of "Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers."

The article reports on the market for flat screen plasma and LCD televisions. While it seems as though hordes of couch potatoes are snapping up the latest displays, the wonders of LCD and plasma TV technology are still well out of reach for the average shopper. At retailer Circuit City, sales of flat-TV models have tripled over the past year, prompting CEO W. Alan McCollough to label this Christmas "a flat-panel holiday." But as long as the price tag on a flat-screen TV is four or more times as much as a comparable tube TV, many consumers will drool and dream but not bite. "Prices [of flat TVs] will be cheaper for consumers this holiday season, but not cheap enough to have them explode off the shelves," says Chris Connery, vice president of market research at DisplaySearch, a consulting firm based in Austin, Texas. It's a virtual lock that the magic price point--at which flat-panel TVs switch from being a status symbol of the rich and hip to an everyday feature in American living rooms--will be reached in the near future. That's because the Asian consumer-electronics companies that dominate the flat-panel industry are building too many factories too fast. A glut is in the offing, and while prices have already been falling, more rapid declines are expected. Consulting firm iSuppli Corp. estimates that a 37-in. LCD TV that now retails for more than $4,000 will cost half as much in 2006 and is likely to be less than $1,000 by 2008. Plasma TVs will also see prices decline. A 42-in. plasma set that costs on average $2,700 today will probably fall to under $1,000 by 2007.

Focuses on the increasing number of international players that are playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the financial boon they have been for the league. Percentage of NBA revenue generated from sales of merchandise overseas; Foreign born players in the NBA including Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol and Peja Stojakovic; Countries in which the NBA plans to hold exhibition games next season; Percentage of the league's rosters made up of foreign players.

Reports on how churches are trying to appeal to the generations of youth who grew up watching Nickelodeon and are influenced by popular culture in the United States. Example of a Sunday School session that take place on sidewalks, and other approaches by churches to increase attendance; How toddlers at St. Simon's Episcopal Church in Conyers, Georgia are being led into religious instruction; Details of the Workshop Rotation Model, started in the 1990s by Presbyterian churches in Illinois, which is thought to make it easier for children to learn in whichever medium they understand best; Cost of some ideas, including a Toon Town makeover of a room at the First Baptist Church in Springdale, Arkansas; Indication that youth minister is a fast-growing staff position in American churches; Critics of the Funday-school approach; View of proponents that the Bible offers examples of innovative proselytizing.

Focuses on concern surrounding the rise in housing prices in the United States. Role of low interest rates and an increase in buyers; Steadiness of real estate as an investment; Outlook for the future of the housing market.

Focuses on the finances of the Catholic Church in light of sexual abuse lawsuits against priests. Revenue of the Catholic Church which will ensure it does not go bankrupt; How the Roman Catholic dioceses in the U.S. organize their affairs separately; Efforts to protect assets from liability; Research by lawyers and victims to determine the wealth of diocese.

HOW IT HAPPENED 7:10 pm A small dust explosion in the packaging warehouse, where conveyors bring sugar into the building from storage silos, shakes dust into the air. 7:15 pm [...]

When Joe Sprott, 17, noticed emergency vehicles driving up and down streets, having difficulty locating particular addresses in Columbia, S.C., he got an idea. He would paint address numbers on […]

Out of Ottawa Until recently, Pack 3709 of Peru, Ill., might have had trouble imagining just how imposing Christopher Columbus's three ships really were when they sailed from Spain to […]

Describes the summer camping of the Boy Scouts at Camp Roosevelt. INSET: SUMMER SAMPLING.

Provides guidelines on how backpackers should organize and load their bags.

Offers tips on rock climbing for beginners.

Recounts the experiences of Tim Brox of Troop 140 of the Eagle Scouts on participating at the 2001-2002 National Science Foundation-Boy Scouts of America Antarctic Scientific Program.

Talks about skimboarding and skimboarders.

The article gives a guide to surviving the possible economic recession. The article focuses on the areas of employment, housing, investments, and spending. The author encourages the consumer to strengthen social networks in case of a layoff, keep current with housing loans and mortgage payments, pick smart stocks such as big companies in health care or utilities, and resist the urge to open new credit card accounts while also paying off as much debt as you can.

This article discusses actions taken by Wal-Mart to decrease pollution and the emission of greenhouse gasses. A Wal-Mart store in Texas has built a giant wind turbine to help power the store, along with photovoltaic shingles on the roof and heat-reflective paint. Wal-Mart has also made changes to its shipping procedures, doubling their fleet's gas mileage by better aerodynamics and mandating that its drivers turn off their engines during breaks.

Reports on the importance of tailoring an exercise regimen as one gets older. During your twenties moderate to vigorous exercise including walking; During your thirties and forties creating a more systemic physical fitness routine; During your fifties and sixties how maintaining weight becomes more difficult.

Discusses the death of 26-year-old U.S. businessman Nick Berg, who was murdered by terrorists in Iraq. How a video of Berg's execution was circulated on the Internet; Questions over why this communications-tower repairman was imprisoned for 13 days in Mosul and why he refused offers of help to get home; Berg's travels in Iraq; His encounters with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation; Why Berg's father Michael blames the President George W. Bush Administration for his son's death, while the U.S. military denies it ever had custody of Berg; Possibility that Berg's beheading was carried out by Al Qaeda terrorist Abu Mousab al-Zarqawi.

Discusses the popularity of clothing retailers such as Pacific Sunwear among teenagers in the U.S. Success of clothing brands that focus on surfing and skating; How Pacific Sunwear went public on the NASDAQ market; Consideration of a chain of clothing stores called d.e.m.o. which caters to the hip-hop crowd; How Pacific Sunwear offers a variety of brand name clothing; Efforts of chief executive officer Greg Weaver to avoid advertisements that focus on sexuality.

Discusses the trend of spa facilities for children in the United States, as of July 2003. View that children are under stress and need to have aestheticians, masseurs, and nutritionists; Idea that adolescents are a market with disposable income and that they obsess about their appearance; Data on the number of spas in the U.S. and how much teens spend on health-and-beauty products; Focus on SPAhhht at the Hyatt Regency facilities in Texas; Services to be offered at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego, California; How 'Seventeen' magazine has entered the spa market; Views on the pros and cons of spas; Price of a three-week residential stay at the Julian Krinsky Canyon Ranch Young Adult Summer Program, located at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.

Focuses on professional golfer Annika Sorenstam who will compete in a men's golf tournament. Number of years since the last female golfer competed against men on the Professional Golf Association (PGA) tour; Comments from Vijay Singh about allowing Sorenstam to compete against men at the Colonial tournament in Fort Worth (Tex.); Comments from Sorenstam about competing with the men; Number of tournaments Sorenstam has won on the Ladies' Professional Golf Association tour; Brief biography of Sorenstam's upbringing.

Discusses the popularity of luxury laundry rooms in U.S. homes. Description of a laundry room that also serves as a home office, a workshop for crafts projects, and sleeping quarters for the family pet in the home of Suzanne Spall in Pittsford, New York; Surge in demand for spacious, centrally located, multi-purpose laundry rooms; Observation that the trend is part of the nesting phenomenon, in which homeowners are burrowing in their homes and finding pleasure in their homes; Description of other laundry rooms; Sales of laundry equipment and machines.

Focuses on the Worth the Wait sex-education program taught in Texas that was written by Dr. Patricia Sulak. Indication that the lessons show the clinical consequences of teen sex in pictures and statistics charting the numbers of youth infected with sexually transmitted diseases; Idea that it has the message to abstain from intercourse or put oneself at serious medical risk; Controversy over sex education in the United States; Question of whether the abstinence movement is effective.