(Photo by Trina Alexander) It's National Tooth Fairy Day, a perfect time to celebrate the elusive sprite and to reminisce about our deciduous teeth... and how we lost them. The stories vary from the ordinary (wiggling the loose tooth with the tongue until it's out) to the wacky (fighting with siblings over warm laundry until somehow sister is biting the clothes basket and brother yanks it -- and two front teeth -- out of her mouth). But even when kiddies accidentally swallow their baby teeth, the Tooth Fairy almost always gets the tip. She sneaks into bedrooms in the middle of the night to snag the envelope lovingly colored in her image, and she leaves a little gift: money, Legos, or other household oddities (lint remover, anybody?) Sure, it's a goofy tradition, but 6-7 year olds who are losing their first teeth are likely to be traumatized. The Tooth Fairy gives kids something to look forward to, even in the face of losing something they used to be attached to. Tooth Fairy, we wish to thank thee. Suggested Sites... Holiday Insights: National Tooth Fairy Day - learn the origins of the pretty fairy day. Tooth Fairy Blog - got a letter for the Tooth Fairy? Post it on her blog. Parents.com: Bye-Bye, Baby Teeth - don't force the kids' teeth out, let them wiggle 'em out on their own. Zilly - you don't have to speak German to play this game with the Tooth Fairy.

Directory categories: Kids' Health, Dental Health, Toothbrushes and Toothpaste, Dental Floss, Dentists

Archived under: Fairies, Health, Kids, Mythology and Folklore, Teeth

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Elizabeth Taylor at the 2002 Cinema Against AIDS Gala Today we honor the birthday of Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor Hilton Wilding Todd Fisher Burton Burton Warner Fortensky (whew!), and how appropriate is it that her 75th birthday is also her diamond anniversary? Elizabeth (not "Liz"; never "Liz") was a star from the age of 9, when she appeared in her first picture, and barely a day has gone by since then when she wasn't in the public eye. Despite her ups and downs, she's been the personification of glamour -- and used her notoriety to champion her favorite causes, most notably AIDS research. But more than a mere icon, she's an actress of power and grace, being nominated for five Academy Awards (winning two), not to mention being the first actress to earn a million dollars for a film and ranking seventh in a list of the greatest film actresses of all time. We may not be able to give her diamonds, but we'll definitely hoist a chicken in her honor. Suggested Sites... Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation - providing critically needed support services for people with HIV/AIDS, prevention services, and education for populations most in need. Kennedy Center Honors: Elizabeth Taylor - it's not like making her a Dame, but it's darn close. Destination Hollywood: Elizabeth Taylor - photos, quotes, and trivia. The Krupp Diamond - Elizabeth Taylor's other diamond. Hello! Magazine: Elizabeth Taylor - photos and information about her life and films.

Directory categories: Elizabeth Taylor, Classic Hollywood Actors, Classic Hollywood, Diamonds, Richard Burton

Archived under: AIDS, Actors, Birthdays, Elizabeth Taylor, Entertainment, Movies

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(Photo by Chris Brown) When Levi Strauss arrived in San Francisco in 1853 to sell dry goods to miners, he had no idea that within 100 years his name would be synonymous with cowboys, laborers, rebels, and winning the cold war. The story goes that a miner told Strauss he should have brought pants instead of the buttons and cloth for tents he brought from New York. Faster than you can say 501, Strauss began fashioning "waist-high overalls" for the hard-working miners who wore out pants quicker than they went through a mining claim. The pants were an instant hit and Strauss soon improved on their design by switching to a softer fabric from France known as serge de Nîmes -- or simply "denim." The design evolved over the years to include belt loops, rivets, and the iconic red tag. The pants weren't even called "jeans" until the mid-1930s, years after Strauss' death. Today, Levi's may be losing their luster to hip high-fashion brands, but there is no doubt that Strauss' influence has been riveted in place. Suggested Sites... Levi's - oh-so-snug. The Blue Jeans Story - how a French fabric conquered the world. How Jeans Are Made - just in case you were wondering. Ripped Jeans Guide - well, it was cool in the '80s. Levi's Turns to Suing Its Rivals - they've got their pocket arches in an uproar over copycat designs.

Directory categories: Jeans, Jean Labels, California Gold Rush, Fashion Designers

Archived under: American History, Apparel, Clothing and Accessories, Design, Fashion, History

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(Photo by John) February may be considered by many to be 28 dark days on the sports calendar. Football is kaput. Lonely pitchers and catchers toss the ball around at Spring Training. March Madness has yet to tip off. But, hold on, now. Down in Birmingham, Alabama, this week the bass boats are lined up, the anglers are pumped, and (hopefully) the bass will be biting. It's the Bassmaster Classic, the mother of all fishing contests. The top fisherman takes home a sweet trophy and 500,000 big ones. The Classic pits the top 50 anglers against one another in an all-out quest to bag the most bass. Of course, the tough part is actually catching the wily creatures that could be in any nook or cranny of the 12,000-acre Lay Lake. But no worries, these guys are professionals. They've been out surveying the lake, practicing their casts, and scouting the waters in hopes of striking the big payoff. With the world watching, there will probably be fewer tall tales. Suggested Sites... Bassmaster Classic - ESPN site for the Bassmaster Classic. YouTube: Bassmaster Promotion - boy, those guys are crazy about catching fish. Classic Volunteer Blog - a behind-the-scenes look at the Classic from BASS Federation Nation member Shawn Johnson. ESPN Fantasy Fishing - you read that right, "Fantasy Fishing." Bass Pundit - blogging for bass.

Directory categories: Bass Fishing, Tournaments, Clubs and Teams, Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, B.A.S.S. Federation Clubs

Archived under: Events, Fish, Fishing, Outdoors, Sports

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LARPers fighting at SXSW 2006 (Photo by Will Pate) You don't have to wait for Halloween or get an acting gig to transform into your favorite fantasy character. To satisfy your imagination year round, unite with the Live Action Role Playing (LARP) community. Since the emergence of Dungeons & Dragons in 1974, LARP players of all ages have congregated in parks and conventions to perform fantasy game sequences in grand displays of expert make-believe. Sporting foam weapons and killer costumes (including vampires, knights, and monsters), each player enacts dramatic scenes by following storylines and unraveling mysterious outcomes. What type of person would enjoy this activity? The crass and unenlightened might argue that introverted nerds partake in this unconventional hobby. But LARPers hangout to enjoy the outdoors, socialize, and get a creative workout together, while millions of adult gamers battle online in World of Warcraft, mingle in Second Life, and manipulate imaginary citizens in The Sims. Who's the nerd now? Suggested Sites... Darkon - the movie - documentary film exploring the lives of hardcore LARPers based in Baltimore, Maryland. Tucson Weekly: We’re All Elves - meet the heroes of Darkon. HowStuffWorks: LARP - if you don't get it, this will definitely help. Burlington Free Press: Vamping It Up - bloodsuckers have a ball in Essex. Nero LARP - everything you need to get started.

Directory categories: LARP, Dungeons & Dragons, Role Playing Games

Archived under: Hobbies, Outdoors, Recreation and Travel, Role-Playing Games

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