And it's Hillary Clinton—again! For the 11th year in a row, Americans named Clinton as their Most Admired Woman in the world, according to a Gallup poll. With the 2012 honor, Clinton has earned the title the most times (17 total) in Gallup history. The USA Today/Gallup poll is open-ended, meaning Americans are asked to name the man and woman they most admire without… Read More >>

As an aging soccer player and runner, I love seeing spectacular displays of athleticism in unexpected places. On days when my knees creak and back aches, they remind me of the physical feats possible with a little talent and a lot of practice. Sure, you can see amazing catches, goals and playsfrom the pros, but some of my best-loved moments occur when there's no roaring… Read More >>

It would seem at first that Charles Durning and Daniel Inouye, who died this month within a week of each other, had little or nothing in common. Durning was born in Highland Falls, N.Y in 1923; Inouye was born in Honolulu in 1924. Durning, an outstanding character actor, entertained us for decades on stage, screen and television. Inouye, a U.S. Senator for… Read More >>

In a recent chat with Ted Allen, the host of the hit show Chopped, I learned about a few everyday ingredients that make many dishes better. And as we discussed all things cooking and entertaining, Allen posed this question: "You must spend time trying to figure out ways to make your favorite foods less fattening—doesn't everybody?" That's when I learned about Allen's latest collaboration with Unilever. He's… Read More >>

“Touchdowns and tackles. Those are usually a few things we think about during a typical football season, and while the 2012 season had no shortage of either, we will remember this past season for something extremely different, something that transcends the sport entirely. We will remember a man named Chuck and a few dozen of his friends in Indianapolis.”—Michael Salvatore via Yahoo! Voices Chuck Pagano's back. The Indianapolis Colts head coach returned to the sidelines this weekafter spending the past few months away from his team battling leukemia. While he was gone, the man still inspired his team to reach new heights. Last year, no one would have thought that the Colts would be in contention for the playoff spot that they are this year. The… Read More >>

In many ways, 2012 was the year of Lincoln: On the big screen, he worked tirelessly to ensure the passage of the 13th Amendmentoutlawing slavery in the United States*, and in real life, this New Year marks the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, a decree freeing all slaves in Confederate states at war with the Union. In honor of this momentous anniversary, the… Read More >>

Here's one for anyone who's ever sent (or received) an article based mostly on its wacky-but-true premise: The Atlantic Wire blog has cultivated a very thorough list of 2012's best and worst "trend" stories. That is, features on topics like babies drinking cappuccinos in Brooklyn, an apparent upward tick in people working from bed, and so forth. There's a lot to dig through in this round-up—some of it's funny, some of it's fascinating, and almost all of it… Read More >>

After a few weeks of eating, drinking, and being merry, I'm in the mood for something that's more about vegetables than sugar or butter. Nothing too light or ascetic, just good wholesome food. That's why I'm poring over two new cookbooks—Roots and Clean Plates— and putting sticky notes on every other recipe. Carrot ribbons with pesto and goat cheese? Beet risotto with… Read More >>

The holidays are over. The trees have been trimmed, the gifts exchanged, and if you’re anything like my family, wrapping paper rolls, gift bags and bows litter the house from last-minute packaging. To keeps things under wraps until next year, follow some of these simple organization ideas: • Use a paper towel holder or a hanging shower caddyto stack and organize ribbon. •… Read More >>

Bram Stoker is a legend thanks to his most famous work, Dracula, but there's more to the author than you might have known. The Forgotten Writings of Bram Stoker, a new book that was recently excerpted on The Huffington Post, includes 12 previously unknown published works, three that have never been reprinted, 12 rare writings about Stoker by his contemporaries, and the estate sale catalog of Stoker's personal… Read More >>