It's cold outside. Bone-chillingly cold. And on a day like today, there's really only one remedy to help thaw out: a piping hot, soul-warming meal. A cup of soup, a bowl of stew, a helping of pasta or noodles—these are my go-to winter dishes that become even more satisfying the colder it gets. So if you're looking for a hearty meal, try one of these… Read More >>

For someone who spent countless hours studying Robert Burns, the renowned Scottish poet and a father of Romanticism, in her modern poetry class in college, it's amazing that I'd never heard about a festive supper dedicated to the bard on January 25th (believed to be his birthday). I read about it in "Drinking Like A Poet," in the New York Times Magazine's "Drink" column this weekend. Like any… Read More >>

So, your first inaugural oath in 2009 included a mistake (albeit not your fault). Four years later, after nailing a legally-required private oath ceremony, you say, “I did it” to your youngest daughter Malia. And then, on January 21, 2013, in front of millions once again…you flub. Even Presidents, it would seem, can get a little nervous. In fact, high profile attacks of the nerves are not uncommon. After Read More >>

There are times when we all need a little push. Should you go to the gym or catch up on TV? Vacuum the house or finish your book? Get up for work (but your bed is sooo comfy)? Grapple no more, lazy bones and procrastinators, instamotivation.com is here to help. The site delivers a quick, instant dose of oomph whenever you need it. If all you need to get going is "On a…" then… Read More >>

We all lose papers—scribbled shopping lists, love letters, Post-It Notes. You probably don't think much of it, but over at foundmagazine.com, users submit these dropped pieces—and oddly enough, in a few funny, somber, or surprising words you can really see a whole life. Some favorites: •Thinking First: This amusing attempt at self improvement ("I need to start thinking before… Read More >>

Love your dog? Maybe a little too much, even? From social networking sites exclusively for dogs (there’s one for cats, too!) to giant aisles devoted to doggies at supercenters, it’s pretty clear we love our pooches. A recent survey by ULTRA Food for Dogsfound some striking statistics revealing just how much: • 49 percent of dog owners are reported to regularly sleep in bed… Read More >>

This Tuesday marks the 40th anniversary of his death, but President Lyndon Johnson still looms as big a character now as he did then (in big part thanks to Robert Caro's epic five volume series on Johnson's life, the latest of which was released last spring). To remember his final years, PBS Newshourcrafted a detailed and fascinating account of LBJ's concerns about his… Read More >>

Today BookScoutmakes its official debut on Facebook. This free app susses out your timeline and your "likes" to make personalized suggestions of books you might enjoy. Okay, it's not quite the same as your favorite old bookseller who hand-picked your reading, but with brick-and-mortar stores closing and an overwhelming number of choices online, it's nice to… Read More >>

If you own a device with a touch screen—or know someone who does—there's a very good chance you've come across Temple Run, the hit game from Imangi Studios that's been downloaded over 170 million times. Its premise is fairly simple: Think of it like the opening scene from Raiders of the Lost Arkwith more action, stretched out over an indefinite play period, and palm-sized. Its… Read More >>

While second presidential inaugurations tend to lack the fireworks of the first—it will be hard to top Aretha's hat, as well as the million-plus visitors that poured into the capital for 2009's historic event—they remain the symbolic commencement of a fresh term. The important date is really Sunday (according to the Constitution, the President's power expires on at… Read More >>