POL-Poll-Christmas-Trees
They deck offices, lobbies, and living rooms, but what are they called? A new poll shows Americans are overwhelmingly decided on whether it is a "Christmas" or "holiday" tree. Eight in ten side with "Christmas" over "holiday," according to the latest poll from Clarus Research Group. Only 12% refer to it as a holiday tree.
BUSINESS
MONEY-Mortgage-Debt-Forgiveness
A tax break that has saved struggling homeowners from paying thousands of dollars to the IRS is just days away from expiring. If the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 does not get extended by Congress by the end of the year, homeowners will have to start paying income taxes on the portion of their mortgage that is forgiven in a foreclosure, short sale or principal reduction.
MONEY-Holiday-Shopping
A weekend wedged in right before Christmas seemed like the perfect gift for procrastinators who wait until the 23rd hour for holiday shopping, or shoppers who wait for one last big sale.
MONEY-Stock-Markets
U.S. stocks sank Monday as investors remain concerned that officials in Washington will fail to resolve a looming fiscal crisis. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.4%. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq both lost about 0.3%. U.S. markets closed at 1 p.m. ET and will remain dark Tuesday for the Christmas holiday.
MONEY-Britain-Austerity
Millions of Britons are facing a bleak holiday season worried about falling incomes and how to repay debt, as economic reports raise questions about whether the country's austerity measures can restore growth.
FEATURES AND COMMENTARY
NORAD-Santa-Tracker
The Santa trackers at NORAD started on Christmas Eve at 6 a.m. ET, fielding questions from all over the globe and continuing a tradition that began by accident in 1955.
FEA-Christmas-Glitter
Immediately after my Christmas tree is decorated and the tree lights plugged in, I turn off all the other house lights and sit on the stairs, staring at my gleaming achievement. I could stare for days, hypnotized by the shiny allure of the decorations. The simple, white lights I prefer for the tree sit neatly among what has become an all-out, no-holds-barred glitter explosion.
MED-holiday-depression-blues
When the holidays bring heartache instead of joy, I think they do so because they stand as an unforgiving yard stick against which we measure our losses and troubles.
MED-Reindeer-Red-Nose
Ho ho ho, here's some Christmas-themed science! The British Medical Journal's Christmas issue this month features a study about reindeer that treats a fantastical idea with some medical reality. The result is a lesson in how reindeer noses compare to the noses of humans and what purpose their underlying structures serve.
TRAVEL-airport-delay-nightmares-tips
No one is immune to airline delays and cancellations, even if you're an aviation producer who just spent two days telling the story of how airlines try to keep planes flying on time.
TECH-lester-chambers-kickstarter
On the Web, the "Time Has Come" for 1960s singer Lester Chambers, who has hit hard times despite his song's popularity. A Kickstarter campaign is aimed at funding a new album, giving Chambers the rights.
ENT-Ronnie-Wood-Marries
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