(CNN) -- The white coats of cardiologists are a regular fixture for heart patients, but more and more, the furry coats of man's best friends might become a common sight.Researchers at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, found that a 12-minute bedside visit with a dog can help ease anxiety levels by 24 percent in heart failure patients, compared to a 10 percent drop when patients had a visit from a human volunteer, and no drop in patients who had no visit.Results of the 76-patient study were presented last week at the American Heart Association's annual Scientific Sessions in Dallas, Texas. The study was funded by the Pet Care Trust Foundation, a non-profit organization which promotes human-animal interaction and bonding.In the study, effects of dog and volunteer visits were compared with those of volunteers only, and with patients who had no visits and remained at rest.Heart pressures indicating cardiac function and stress hormone levels were monitored and patients answered an anxiety assessment questionnaire before and after the visits. Although levels of the stress hormone norepinephrine and critical pressure measures also decreased, suggesting improved cardiac function, the most marked response was seen in anxiety levels."The first thing you notice is that the patient's facial expression changes to a smile and the stress of the world seems to be lifted off their shoulders," study author Kathy Cole said.Feelings of depression and helplessness are common among heart patients, Cole said, and just three nights in a hospital is enough to make some patients feel anxious and unsettled.During the visit, the furry friend is allowed to lie on the bed next to the patient with its head within two feet of the patient's. Most patients petted the dog, while others engaged human volunteers in conversation about the dog.Canines used in the study are specially trained animal-assisted therapy dogs that undergo a series of trainings, evaluations and certifications to qualify as therapy dogs. Dog breeds varied: Researchers used everything from Bernese mountain dogs to miniature schnauzers.However, a dog doesn't have to be specially trained to have a calming effect on its human counterparts. In fact, the animal doesn't even have to be a dog in order to help."As long as the animal has meaning to the patient, or a relationship with the animal, it can help calm the patient," Cole said.The latest study falls in line with previous research in the field of animal-assisted therapy which has shown that the therapy reduces blood pressure in both healthy and hypertensive patients, and that it aids in the recovery of cancer patients as well.The study also supports the well-documented phenomenon that the greater a person's level of networking and social support, the more likely that person is to have healthier heart function, with or without heart disease.

BENNINGTON, Vermont (AP) -- A high school teacher is facing questions from administrators after giving a vocabulary quiz that included digs at President Bush and the extreme right.Bret Chenkin, a social studies and English teacher at Mount Anthony Union High School, said he gave the quiz to his students several months ago. The quiz asked students to pick the proper words to complete sentences.One example: "I wish Bush would be (coherent, eschewed) for once during a speech, but there are theories that his everyday diction charms the below-average mind, hence insuring him Republican votes." "Coherent" is the right answer.Principal Sue Maguire said she hoped to speak to whomever complained about the quiz and any students who might be concerned. She said she also would talk with Chenkin. School Superintendent Wesley Knapp said he was taking the situation seriously."It's absolutely unacceptable," Knapp said. "They (teachers) don't have a license to hold forth on a particular standpoint."Chenkin, 36, a teacher for seven years, said he isn't shy about sharing his liberal views with students as a way of prompting debate, but said the quizzes are being taken out of context."The kids know it's hyperbolic, so-to-speak," he said. "They know it's tongue in cheek." But he said he would change his teaching methods if some are concerned."I'll put in both sides," he said. "Especially if it's going to cause a lot of grief."The school is in Bennington, a community of about 16,500 in the southwest corner of the state.Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

(CNN) -- It's the season of giving, but all your kid seems interested in is taking. When they are bombarded with ads about the year's hot toys, it's natural for kids to want to be on the receiving end of gift-giving. But how do you handle the seasonal outbreak of the "gimmes"?Financial, parenting and education experts offer advice for turning the holiday season into a time that helps kids learn financial responsibility and the importance of giving."Fifty-three percent of parents agree that their child thinks money grows on trees," says Rosetta Jones, vice president of Visa USA, which conducted a survey of parents. She encourages parents to use the holiday season to teach their children good personal finance practices.For young children who expect presents from Santa, it's fine to preserve the magic of the season while taking the time to start very general discussions about money, with questions like "Where does money come from?" and "Why do Mommy and Daddy go to work?"Older children can learn about the family's gift-giving budget and, with help, set similar budgets of their own. Jones suggests that older kids earn their gift-giving funds to further help them develop healthy, realistic perceptions about money.Since kids learn by example, Jones says, parents should take advantage of everyday opportunities to engage them. "Managing money is not rocket science," she says. "It's just a matter of taking the time to use everyday experiences, like holiday shopping, to bring that education home and make it real for the child."Dr. Istar Schwager, founder and president of CreativeParents.com, agrees. She urges parents to help kids become savvy about consuming all through the year, by teaching them to look at packages to determine what's included in them, as well as comparison shop.She suggests that parents take their kids to the store to see if the toy they want is truly as appealing in person as it is in the ads. If a friend's child has the toy, ask if your child can try it to see if he or she really likes it. Sometimes boredom sets in faster than you think.Schwager says that although parents are under a lot of pressure from their kids, they have a responsibility to sift through what their kids are asking for and have a "reality list."If parents object to a toy because it's unsafe, is not age-appropriate or doesn't meet their values, they need to say so.Kids learn from the way parents talk to them, Schwager says, and can be surprisingly realistic if they are included in the loop and spoken to honestly and sensitively. "There are nice ways of saying 'no,' and often kids are more understanding than parents may realize."She's also a big believer in toys that have stood the test of time -- board games, riding toys, dolls and stuffed animals, blocks, puppets and other toys that challenge kids to use their imagination and play with others.Schwager reminds parents that not everything of value has to be bought, and asks them to send the message that there's more to the season than buying things. Handmade gifts, time spent together and helping others in need make the season more meaningful for kids and offer rewards of their own.At Lewis Elementary in Kennesaw, Georgia, the emphasis is on helping others before the holidays even start. Guidance counselors are made aware of families in the community who are going through tough times. The Student Council organizes and leads a canned and dry goods drive, followed by a new clothing drive for essentials, like socks and underwear, to help these families.The school adorns a "Giving Tree" with paper ornaments that bear the names of gifts on the wish lists of children from the families. Students' families buy the items and the school's guidance counselors make sure they are delivered. Many other schools have similar initiatives.Mariann Dolnick, a veteran educator at Lewis Elementary, says that this school-wide initiative is one way students learn about the rewards of giving versus receiving."It helps to take the focus off 'what I want,'" says Dolnick.She's aware of the pressures parents face as they work to earn money to provide their children with material possessions, but says she has seen many students who have lots of "things" with little knowledge of the real world.Dolnick urges parents to take time to talk to and interact with their kids."Give your kids real life experiences and fewer material things. There has to be a balance."

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AP) -- Thousands of people, some in tears, streamed into the Audubon Zoo on Friday, the first day it was open since Hurricane Katrina.Members of Audubon Nature Institute, which operates the zoo, were among the first visitors, with general public admission scheduled for Saturday, according to the Audubon Nature Institute. "It's a city without kids and families, and a city without kids and families is a city without soul and heart," said Ron Forman, president of Audubon Nature Institute. "So we just thought it was critical to get the thing open for Thanksgiving weekend." (Watch as families flock to the zoo -- 3:04)The reopening was so emotional for many visitors that the zoo decided to post huggers at the front gates, Forman said."As people walk in, they're crying," he said. "This is a time of sadness in this city."Like much in the city, the zoo has struggled to regain its footing after the hurricane. The zoo laid off about 600 workers.Most of the animals are fine, although two otters and a raccoon did not survive, and about 2,000 trees were destroyed. Audubon also operates the Aquarium of the Americas in the French Quarter, where about 10,000 animals died because of the hurricane. The aquarium and its Entergy IMAX Theater will open next summer at the earliest, Forman said.Another Audubon facility, the Louisiana Nature Center, may never reopen, he said. The opening for a new addition to the institute -- an insectarium -- has been pushed back to 2007.Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

(Coastal Living) -- For years, seasoned travelers have touted the 150 miles of verdant Pacific coast from Puerto Vallarta south to Manzanillo as Mexico's undiscovered treasure.Remarkably, Costa Alegre, or Happy Coast, still is, despite a roster of visitors that includes A-list actors and directors, European aristocrats, Sports Illustrated swimsuit models and globe-trotting polo players.The mystique persists because Costa Alegre has preserved its natural beauty, and because its remoteness keeps the paparazzi and other modern irritants at bay. "It's just isolated enough to discourage the package tourists and spring-break hordes," says Giorgio Brignone, a member of the Italian clan that has smartly developed the stretch known as Costa Careyes. "We've always had a lot of European visitors, but now we're getting more Americans who realize it's not difficult to travel here." Frequent flights connect the United States to Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo, and on the well-paved highway between them, traffic flows freely. Except, that is, for the occasional cattle drive (imagine the Pacific Coast Highway doubling as the Chisholm Trail) or party of pint-size banditos (kids blocking the road to solicit donations for school).A trio of alluring resorts -- El Careyes, Las Alamandas, and El Tamarindo -- dots a south-central section of Costa Alegre that takes little more than an hour to drive, making it feasible to stay at any or all on one trip. Each follows the example set by Giorgio's father, Gian Franco Brignone, who arrived in Careyes in the late '60s: Start with hundreds of acres of unspoiled coast; insist on careful, low-density development; and build in a style that harmonizes with nature. All three resorts offer ways to explore the lush tropical environment, spa services, varied menus that draw on fresh fish and other local ingredients, and mucho romantic atmosphere.And all draw design inspiration from the cliff-topping Careyes villas, which blend vibrant walls, patterned concrete floors, and open-sided living areas crowned with soaring thatched roofs. The style is at once contemporary, timeless, and comfortable. Visitors can rent these fabulous villas or simply admire them while staying at El Careyes Beach Resort or in the colorful casitas above neighboring Playa Rosa.El Careyes Beach ResortPainted sunset hues, the resort resembles a whimsical Mediterranean village wrapped around a palm-studded piazza. Beyond its sprawling, amoeba-shape pool lies a crescent of sand and offshore islets so picturesque that "guests sometimes compliment us for their placement," notes a waiter in the open-air dining room. The cosmopolitan crowd that comes here in the fall-to-spring high season circulates at multilingual parties in the villas, at resort restaurants, and at simple eateries along the highway.Las AlamandasTo the north, with 1,500 gloriously empty acres and a maximum capacity of 30 guests, Las Alamandas encourages guests to indulge their whims. Care to canter on a deserted beach? Your horse awaits. Fancy a candlelit dinner for two on a seaside promontory? �No problema! Owner Isabel Goldsmith created this hedonistic hacienda to her own exacting standards and welcomes visitors personally. The comfortable, color-splashed rooms feature private patios, Mexican crafts, and ample soaking tubs. The main dining area overlooks the ocean, beach, whiskery palms, and, at dusk, foraging tejones. Mexico's answer to raccoons, these creatures provide a sort of floor show as they roam to and fro, their long, curving tails gliding through the air like question marks. The bar's signature rum punch shares its name with one of the property's beaches: Soledad. The same word -- Spanish for solitude -- sums up much of the appeal of Las Alamandas, a perfect place to be alone together.El TamarindoMarrying palapa roofs, outdoor lounge areas, plunge pools and obscuring foliage, the 29 villas of 2,040-acre El Tamarindo epitomize the discreet retreat. They echo the resort's dining pavilion and adjacent pool on a personal scale. Guests can bike trails that extend across a golf course woven into the jungle, explore the shore in kayaks or have a massage in a breezy beach hut. Then follow spa director Reto Kade into the beachfront temazcal, a sweat lodge heated with rocks pulled from a bonfire.Pheasantlike birds known as chachalacas mark morning and evening with a riotous racket. Big white butterflies float by like flying handkerchiefs. And sea turtles come ashore, as they have for ages, to lay their eggs. As at the two other resorts, El Tamarindo protects the eggs from animal and human predators. Assisting the hatchlings to the water's edge, guests become part of an ancient cycle. Watching the tiny turtles wobble into the surf, knowing that only a few will make it back to reproduce, makes palpable the pulse of nature.And the desire to return. "When you come to this coast, you always come back," Giorgio declares. "Like a turtle -- only the odds are much better!" Fortunately, much of Costa Alegre will remain undisturbed for years to come, allowing repeat and first-time visitors to enjoy its not-so-secret splendors.

BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) -- Scientists monitoring earth movements in Antarctica believe they have found a singing iceberg.Sound waves from the iceberg had a frequency of around 0.5 hertz, too low to be heard by humans, but by playing them at higher speed the iceberg sounded like a swarm of bees or an orchestra warming up, the scientists said.The German Alfred Wegener institute for polar and marine research will publish the results of its study, done in 2002, in Science magazine on Friday.Between July and November 2002 researchers picked up acoustic signals of unprecedented clarity when recording seismic signals to measure earthquakes and tectonic movements on the Ekstroem ice shelf on Antarctica's South Atlantic coast.Tracking the signal, the scientists found a 50 by 20 kilometre iceberg that had collided with an underwater peninsula and was slowly scraping around it."Once the iceberg stuck fast on the seabed it was like a rock in a river," said scientist Vera Schlindwein. "The water pushes through its crevasses and tunnels at high pressure and the iceberg starts singing.""The tune even goes up and down, just like a real song." Copyright 2005 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) -- A Japanese space probe apparently succeeded in landing Saturday on an asteroid and collecting surface samples in an unprecedented mission to bring the extraterrestrial material back to Earth, but afterwards showed signs of trouble, Japan's space agency said.The probe, now hovering about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the asteroid, appeared to be shaking vertically due to problems with its thruster, according to spokesman Atsushi Akoh of Japan's space agency JAXA. The agency would put the probe into "safety mode" to investigate, Akoh said. The Hayabusa appeared to have touched down for a few seconds on the asteroid -- floating 290 million kilometers (180 million miles) from Earth -- to collect powder from its surface before lifting off again to transmit data to mission controllers, according to spokesman Kiyotaka Yashiro of Japan's space agency, JAXA. More data confirming the mission's success is expected later in the day after scientists have examined additional transmissions from the probe, Yashiro said. But JAXA will not know for sure if Hayabusa collected surface samples until it returns to Earth. It is expected to land in the Australian Outback in June 2007.If all goes well, it will be the first time a probe returns to Earth with samples from an asteroid, according to JAXA. A NASA probe collected data for two weeks from the asteroid Eros in 2001, but did not return with samples. Saturday's landing on the asteroid was Hayabusa's second, following a faulty touchdown Sunday. JAXA lost contact with the probe during that attempt and did not even realize it had landed until days later -- long after Hayabusa had lifted off into orbit. The space agency hopes that examining asteroid samples will help unlock the secrets of how celestial bodies formed, because their surfaces are believed to have remained relatively unchanged over the eons, unlike larger bodies such the planets or moons. Hayabusa fired a metal projectile shortly before 8 a.m. Japan time (11 p.m. GMT), suggesting that the asteroid had landed and collected the dust that was kicked up. The whole procedure was over in a matter of seconds, as planned. "It is only a very small amount of material, powder really," Yashiro said. The landing could compensate for a series of glitches in Japan's attempt to complete the world's first two-way trip to an asteroid. Two rehearsal touchdowns were botched, one when the spacecraft had trouble finding a landing spot, and one when a small robot rover was lost in space. Hayabusa also had a problem with one of its three gyroscopes. Hayabusa was launched in May 2003 and has until early December before it must begin its journey home. On top of recovering samples from the Itokawa asteroid, the probe is also testing a new type of ion engine that uses an electric field to accelerate positive ions to a high velocity. It swung by Earth for a gravity assist that propelled the probe toward Itokawa, JAXA said on its Web site. JAXA hopes to use the fuel-saving technology in missions further into outer space, the Web site said. The potato-shaped asteroid is named after Hideo Itokawa, the father of rocket science in Japan, and is orbiting the sun between Earth and Mars. It is 690 meters (2,300 feet) long and 300 meters (1,000 feet) wide. Copyright 2005 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

EAST FISHKILL, New York (AP) -- Gyms are typically places to sweat, shoot hoops, backflip, benchpress or box. Then there's the Little Gym.The balance beam here has training rails, flips are done in slow-motion with Mommy holding tight, and the instructor cheers athletes who walk down the big cushy pads without falling on their diapered bottoms with a hearty, "Ta Da!"This franchise run by sisters Meredith Rockett and Dariane Mirando in the Hudson Valley suburbs caters to babies, toddlers, preschoolers and elementary kids.It's one of many kid-centric operations cropping up around the country with names like My Gym or Gymboree Play & Music. Industry experts say the gym programs catering to kids are being helped by parents spooked by the rising tide of childhood obesity and the lack of unstructured outlets for play.Mirando says that when she and her sister were growing up, "Mom would say, 'Go out and ride your bikes and I don't want to see you until dinner.' Unfortunately, society doesn't allow that anymore."Gym programs for kids are nothing new. The first Little Gym opened in 1976 and health clubs have been offering programs like "Mommy and Me Swimming" for a while. But the idea is picking up steam. Children under age 18 represent the second-fastest growing health club demographic after the over-55 crowd, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association. The group reports that health club memberships for kids age 6 to 11 grew by more than a third from 1999 to 1.8 million last year.Adult chains like Town Sports International have responded with programs like Sports Club for Kids, in which participants can take a spinning class while watching a virtual reality DVD. At the same time, gyms for children are more common. The number of Little Gym franchises nationwide is expected to jump from 189 now to 244 by the end of next year, said president and chief executive officer Robert Bingham.These different gyms offer fitness programs for kids in all shapes and sizes, often with names like "Gym Dandy" or "Mighty Mites."The Fishkill Little Gym, a "Type A" clean space with multicolored mats and gymnastic equipment, focuses on programs for kids age 10 months to 12 years. Classes are designed for different age groups.A recent class run by Rockett for parents and kids age 19 months to 21/2 years centered on basic movement. Instead of full-on cartwheels, four toddling girls were encouraged to do feet-barely-leave-the-ground versions called "monkey jumps." They did donkey kicks instead of handstands. Rockett broke out jingle bells and bubbles.Coaxing and cooing her way through the 45-minute session, Rockett knows that none of the toddlers can flip backward over a parallel bar, at least intentionally. Her goal is "progressive skill building" -- breaking down athletic feats into toddler-sized portions. She cradles kids in her arms as they grab the bar, guiding them though a slow-motion pullover.In a matter of weeks, she said, some of the kids will be swinging from bars.This is a clearly noncompetitive atmosphere. Young students are prone to wandering off and teething on bean bags, and parents guiding their children through class said their main goal was to have fun. Maribeth Karas said she signed up her 1 1/2-year-old daughter for the chance to be with other kids."She likes it," Karas said. "She likes the motion and the singing -- and it makes her sleepy too!"Jane Clark, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Maryland, said these gym programs can fill a void in developing physical skills in children. Clark helped draw up infant-through-preschooler guidelines released a few years ago by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education. Those call for regular physical activity from the earliest years."Children don't go out and play like they used to, so unfortunately, we have to create these environments for them," she said.Alarm about children's physical fitness -- about 30 percent of U.S. schoolchildren are estimated to be overweight and about half of those, obese -- probably helps business too. Brooke Correia, a spokeswoman for the health club industry group, said the programs also make more sense in an era when kids' lives are heavily regimented with extracurricular activities like scouts and music. Gym time becomes yet another block on the schedule.Clark warns, though, that parents considering kid gym programs should avoid competitive games. Also, watch out for instructors that tell young kids they're doing things the wrong way."Your child should have fun," Clark said. "They should have a variety of experiences and they should be challenged to do things just a little bit better."Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

(AP) -- Children who are overweight face more than future health problems. They appear to have broken bones and joint problems more often during childhood than kids of normal weight, research suggests."A lot of people think that if you're an overweight kid ... that later on in life you're going to run into having heart disease or Type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Susan Yanovski, director of the obesity and eating disorders program at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases."But kids and adults who are overweight are already having problems with their mobility, fractures, and joint pain."A study led by her husband, obesity researcher Dr. Jack Yanovski, found that children and teens who were overweight were far more likely to have had a fracture than their ideal-weight peers. They also had more bone and hip joint abnormalities, which can lead to permanent deformities.The research involved 227 overweight children and adolescents and 128 who weren't overweight. The children had an average age of 12. All were enrolled in various federal health studies between 1996 and 2004 and were considered overweight if they were in the 95th percentile of weight and height for their age and sex.A review of their medical history revealed that 13 percent of overweight kids had had at least one broken bone at some point in their lives, compared with less than 4 percent of ideal-weight children.Similar results were found for how many had muscle, bone or joint pain, especially knee pain, and restricted movement."The combination of musculoskeletal pain and poor mobility may possibly lead to less physical activity ... and perpetuate the vicious cycle," said Yanovski, head of the growth and obesity program at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. He presented results of the study at a recent meeting of the Obesity Society in Vancouver, British Columbia.Caleb Ezzard knows the problem well.With 362 pounds on his 5-foot-4-inch frame, the 14-year-old from Louisville, Ky., developed Blount's disease, a growth disorder of the shin bone that causes the lower legs to bow inward."I used to play football," but the bone problem put an end to that, he said. "When I would run, my weight would put pressure on my leg and my bones would start moving and it would hurt."Even more common than Blount's is SCFE, or slipped capital femoral epiphysis, caused by improper growth in the ball part of the ball-and-socket joint that forms the hip, said Dr. Junichi Tamai, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati.Children often say their knees hurt, but the real problem is the malformation that's starting to occur in the joint, he said. Being unable to exercise makes the situation worse.Active kids' bones are strong"If a child is very active, chances are the bones are very strong," because weight-bearing exercise promotes bone density, Tamai said."Also, a very active child may be able to fall better," he said. If kids have too many pounds on their frame, "when they fall, there's just more weight behind it" and bones are more likely to snap.Hormones are believed to play a role, too."What we generally see is that lean, muscular young men have the hardest bone, and that goes along with the testosterone," which can be lower in very overweight boys, Tamai said.In Caleb's case, orthopedic surgeries could only partly resolve the leg issues. In October, he had obesity surgery at the Cincinnati children's hospital, hoping to get at the underlying problem."We've tried Weight Watchers, we've tried Slimfast, we tried the fitness centers with not much success," said Caleb's stepfather, Steven Reed.Caleb said that other family members' experiences convinced him to have the gastric bypass operation."I didn't start wanting it until I saw the success it had with my uncle," he said.His weight is starting to drop, but he won't be able to consider much exercise until it falls some more."It's painful to walk," he said.Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A second Time magazine reporter has been asked to testify in the CIA leak case about her discussions with Karl Rove's attorney, a sign that prosecutors are still exploring charges against the key White House aide.Viveca Novak, a reporter in Time's Washington bureau, is cooperating with Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, who is investigating the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity in 2003, the magazine reported in its December 5 issue.Novak specifically has been asked to testify under oath about conversations she had with Rove attorney Robert Luskin starting in May 2004, the magazine reported.Novak, part of a team tracking the CIA case for Time, has written or contributed to articles quoting Luskin that characterized the nature of what was said between Rove and Matthew Cooper, the first Time reporter who testified in the case in July.A grand jury indicted I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, on perjury and obstruction charges on October 28. Fitzgerald said in court papers earlier this month that he will present additional evidence to another grand jury.Rove has remained under investigation for his possible involvement in leaking the identity of Plame, whose husband, former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson, is a Bush administration critic.Plame's CIA status was exposed by conservative columnist Robert Novak in July 2003, eight days after her husband accused the U.S. government of manipulating prewar intelligence to exaggerate the Iraqi threat. Time's Novak is not related to Robert Novak, who is also a CNN contributor.Rove spoke to Robert Novak and Cooper about Wilson's wife and her CIA status before each of the two journalists disclosed Plame's identity.Since Libby's indictment, The Washington Post's Bob Woodward disclosed that he had learned the CIA operative's identity from a top Bush administration official before another journalist had published Plame's name. Woodward has said Libby was not his source, and a spokesman for Rove has said Rove did not discuss Plame with Woodward.Both Time and CNN.com are owned by Time Warner.Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

CONCORD, New Hampshire (AP) -- To some, a never-enforced New Hampshire law requiring parental notification before a minor has an abortion is a backward step for women's rights. To others, it protects parents' right to know if their child is having an abortion.The U.S. Supreme Court will consider those arguments Wednesday as it begins to weigh whether to reinstate a law that requires parental notification 48 hours before an abortion can be performed on a minor.The 2003 law was struck down, days before it was to take effect, for failing to provide an exception to protect a minor's health. Under the law, parents or guardians must be notified either in person or by certified mail. (Watch issues and arguments in case -- 2:09)Supporters of the law say a provision that allows a girl to go to a judge instead of a parent provides needed protection if her health is in danger.Opponents, however, say the law's requirements could lead to dangerous delays and result in judges making medical decisions instead of doctors. They also view the law as an ill-disguised attempt by abortion opponents to chip away at Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that legalized abortion."Women are going to get abortions no matter what, whether it's legal or illegal, whether they're 13 or whether they're 50. ... Any limitations put on it is heading backward in time," said Becca Pawling, 35, who leads Annie's Forum, a weekly program that brings together teenage girls and older women for snacks, support, crafts and conversation in Portsmouth.The issue sparked a lively debate among the eight women at one recent meeting. One teen said she would tell her father but she'd more likely to turn to an older sibling for support. Another said she might tell her parents, but afterward.Some older participants said they would support requiring girls to get some kind of adult counseling before getting abortions, but not necessarily from parents."I don't think I agree with the legislation, but I don't like the idea of young girls having to go through this by themselves," said Emily Morgan. "I'm 27 and I don't know if I could handle it."Nearly all states have laws requiring some kind of parental involvement when minors have abortions.According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit group that researches reproductive health issues, 21 states require parental consent and 13 require parental notification. Nine other states, including New Hampshire, have laws that aren't in effect because they've been blocked by court orders.In its last major abortion decision, the Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that state abortion laws must provide an exception to protect a girl's health in case her parents don't agree. It passed up several other abortion cases this year before agreeing in May to take up New Hampshire's law. Some legal experts suggested the surprising decision was the court's way of reminding President Bush what could be at stake in filling a Supreme Court vacancy.It's unclear how many women would be affected by New Hampshire's law because the state's abortion providers, unlike those in almost every other state, do not submit annual statistics to the federal government.Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, which sued to block the law, said it performed 550 abortions in New Hampshire in 2004. Fifty-two were on girls.Teens also are divided on the issue.Molly Cummings, 17, of Nashua, said she wasn't aware of the law and thought abortions were illegal for teenagers. Despite having a close relationship with her parents, she doubted she would tell them if she ended up pregnant and had an abortion."I don't think I'd be able to tell my parents," she said. "They'd be disappointed in me."Jess Henderson, 17, of Concord, said she thinks the law is reasonable and might make teens think more about the consequences of their actions."There are a lot of people who look on abortion pretty lightly," she said.Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- Dozens of war protesters packed up their tents and left their campsite in a field near President Bush's ranch Sunday, vowing to return during Easter for a third vigil if U.S. troops are still in Iraq.The weeklong protest, which coincided with Bush's Thanksgiving holiday visit to his ranch, drew about 200 people. It was a continuation of the August demonstration led by California mother Cindy Sheehan, whose son Casey died in Iraq last year during combat.Protesters credit the summer vigil, which they say attracted some 12,000 people over the 26 days, with shifting American sentiment about the war. They said they returned to keep pressure on Bush to end the war, although they knew turnout would be lower during the holidays."This is part of a permanent action that is going to keep happening," said Beatriz Saldivar, whose nephew Daniel Torres died in Iraq in February. "It's powerful that we come here in his backyard and we say, `Enough."'A few Bush supporters gathered again Sunday in the Crawford Coffee Station parking lot, where a store marquee read: "You are home. We support you. Happy Thanksgiving."One Bush supporter had signs -- "Score: Cindy, 3. USA, 403" -- referring to House Republicans' recent vote on a nonbinding resolution to pull out the troops from Iraq. It was rejected 403-3.Before leaving town Sunday, the group of about 50 war protesters held an interfaith service at the Crawford Peace House.They also planted a tree at their campsite, a private lot about a mile from Bush's ranch. The landowner who let demonstrators use the property the last few weeks of the August vigil has leased it to them through next year. Before last week's protest, the group had water and electricity installed."We're here for the long haul. As long as this country is at war with Iraq, we'll be here to oppose it," said Hadi Jawad, a co-founder of the Crawford Peace House, which opened a month after the war began in March 2003. "I think Crawford has become a point of pilgrimage to a lot of people. This has become hallowed ground."After taking some time off from protesting to spend Christmas with their families, many plan to return to the area for the January court date of the 12 activists arrested last week. They challenged the new county bans on roadside parking and camping by setting up tents at Sheehan's original site, in ditches off the main road leading to Bush's ranch.Sheehan, who was not yet in town when the 12 were arrested, said she was glad she returned for the second protest."I go all over the country, mostly by myself. I'm never alone, but I'm often lonely," said Sheehan, who has three other children and is going through a divorce. "When I came here Thursday, I didn't feel lonely anymore. I'm here with my family."Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

MANHATTAN BEACH, California (AP) -- Peter Gallagher's green eyes sparkle as he leans back in his dressing room and hums a tune. He looks excited, nervous and expectant. And he should. The "O.C." dad is putting out his first record ... at age 50."I knew I was going to have to put together an evening of music before I hang it up, because if I didn't do it, it would be a real terrible thing for me," says the actor on the set of his hit show.Gallagher's album "7 Days in Memphis" was released in early November by Epic Records. Bluesy and heartfelt, the collection of mostly Memphis soul covers is a great opportunity -- albeit a daunting one -- for the longtime actor and Broadway singer to showcase his singing chops."What's scary about doing a solo record like this is admitting your own taste," he says. "I don't have a character to hide behind."Not that fans of "The O.C" haven't already heard Gallagher belt out the blues.Last season, Gallagher's TV alter-ego -- jolly attorney and hip father Sandy Cohen -- jumped up on a stage and brought down the house with Solomon Burke's passionate "Don't Give Up on Me."Fans and critics praised Gallagher for his warm, thunderous voice, and record executives came calling. Epic executives urged Gallagher to record a slew of '60s and '70s songs from Memphis' Stax/Volt label in the vein of "Don't Give Up on Me." They gave him a multi-disc set of Memphis music to study.It was a perfect match."I had no idea I listened to Memphis soul as a kid," says Gallagher, who as a 12-year-old loved Stax/Volt artists such as Otis Redding and Booker T. & the MG's. Redding's 1968 hit "(Sitting On) The Dock of the Bay" is still one of his favorite songs."But no one needs to do 'Dock of the Bay' again," he says. "I just don't think you can mess with perfection. Maybe not no one, but not me."Instead, he chose lesser known songs by the likes of Carla and Rufus and Sam and Dave, and tunes such as the horn-infused "I've Got to Love Somebody's Baby" and the emotive soul ballad "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye." He hopes the selection will attract older baby boomers and curious younger fans akin to his 20-something castmates on "The O.C."Guests on the album include guitarist Steve Cropper of Booker T. & the MG's and soul singer Betty White.Youthfully handsome, with a thick mane of black hair, Gallagher regularly sings to his wife and two children. He's always been "a bit of a stimulation junkie," he says."The first time I sang in public, it was really a result of my music teacher's attempt to humiliate me in class because I was doing something wrong," Gallagher reminisces, grinning.Sent to the back of the class for imitating a standup bass ("dum, dum, dum," he hums), his teacher demanded he sing. "I remember thinking, 'this is sink or swim.' My ears were burning, and the humiliation was rising. I thought to myself, 'I'll show YOU man."'Apparently he did, because Gallagher went on to star in an array of musicals, including "Hair," "Guys and Dolls" and the lead in Pete Townshend's "Psychoderelict." Over 25 years, he's appeared in more than 50 films. In 2003 Gallagher hit the jackpot with "The O.C." -- one of Fox's most popular shows."He's always singing on set," says Efrain Cortes, an "O.C." assistant director. "He's the epitome of class, and his music reflects that. Everyone on the crew loves him."Gallagher says singing is "like being given an unbelievably great monologue, like acting times 10." But his performance anxiety is equally multiplied."I was staring at the ceiling late at night a few weeks before recording in June, thinking, 'I have the greatest day job in the world.' I was terrified to march into that hallowed musical ground of Memphis and record and sing these songs," he says.As for touring, Gallagher's busy acting schedule just won't allow it, at least not until next June. But that won't keep him from jumping up on a stage, and soon."I'm definitely going to perform live, even if it's at a Ramada Inn near you, and I'll be selling records in the back," he says, laughing.Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

NEW YORK (AP) -- A video game master from Kansas City, Missouri, won a $150,000 prize on Tuesday by besting a rival in the Cyberathlete Professional League World Tour Grand Finals.Johnathan Wendel, 24, who goes by the name "Fatal1ty" in the world of multiplayer games, beat Sander Kaasjager, a player from the Netherlands known as "fnatic.Vo0," for the competition's top prize."It took a lot of practice coming into this tournament, training about eight hours a day for the last two to three weeks," Wendel told AP Television News after the event. "To win $150,000 playing a video game -- that's the best."Wendel has been playing video games since around the age of 5, when his father gave him a Nintendo system and he first played Ikari Warriors. At 15, he started taking home prizes from local competitions. At 18, he entered his first professional tournament in Dallas.Wendel, who is -- for now, at least -- skipping college, has become the leader in titles and prize money in the world of professional gaming.The Cyberathlete Professional League, the first organization of its kind, was founded eight years ago.Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

CONCORD, New Hampshire (AP) -- Wendy Armstrong won't confess how much money she used to spend on scrapbooking supplies, but she does admit nearly kicking her daughter out of her nursery to make more room for the piles of paper and decorative doodads.The baby kept her room, but "believe me, it was a very hard decision," jokes Armstrong, a stay-at-home mom who lives near Portland, Oregon."This was not so much a scrapbooking hobby as a collecting hobby."Two years later, Armstrong is ready to get rid of her collection altogether.But she hasn't given up on scrapbooking. Rather, she's joining a growing number of scrapbookers who have gone digital.Armstrong, 43, now creates all of her scrapbook pages entirely on her computer. No more physical cutting and pasting, no more agonizing over a layout to the point of paralysis."I had two kids, a backlog of a gazillion photos, and I was just getting to the point where I'd literally have layouts that sat on my desk for months just not quite finished," she said.Switching to digital scrapbooking brought a huge sense of relief."All of a sudden I didn't totally panic about finishing my layouts like I did with paper scrapping because I never really had to finish," said Armstrong, who has completed 240 pages in just more than a year. "It just created so much more freedom than paper scrapping."Digital scrapbooking is a fast-growing offshoot of the $2.5 billion scrapbooking industry.Motivated by the same desire to preserve memories as their traditional peers, digital scrapbookers use photo-editing software and other programs to arrange digital or scanned photographs, text and embellishments on their pages. Finished pages can be printed and inserted in standard scrapbook albums, bound in hardcover coffee table-style books, burned to CDs and DVDs or shared through e-mail.Last winter, Armstrong created a batch of pages covering her family's activities of the previous year and printed two copies, one for herself and one for her parents in Florida."There's no way I would've done a paper scrapbook to send them," she said. "Heck, I couldn't even do it for myself."Some digital scrapbookers strive for realistic pages featuring digitally created ribbons, tags and other embellishments, such as shadows that give an appearance of depth. Others adopt a more artistic style by blending photos together, or they go for the cleaner, graphic style of magazine layouts and advertisements.For many, the main appeal is flexibility: Photos and embellishments can be repositioned, resized or re-colored.And while printing pages can be expensive, digitally created "papers" and decorations can be used over and over, and many coordinated kits can be downloaded for free from dozens of Web sites.One of the most popular sites, Scrapbook Bytes, has grown to nearly 40,000 registered members since it went online in 2003.Its 34-year-old founder, Amy Edwards, said she was looking to create a welcoming place for digital scrappers to find information and inspiration -- after noticing they were getting a cool reception on sites devoted to traditional scrapbooking."I thought it was going to be just a little thing," Edwards said. "It literally flew out from under my feet. The traffic is outrageous."The increase in users has been matched by an explosion in the number of people designing their own papers and elements to share or even sell.Dianne Rigdon of Bakersfield, California, started making her own kits after downloading a few free ones and now spends 20 to 30 hours a week designing."I think scrappers are becoming savvy. They know their programs and they're starting to explore it as an art," she said. "It's not only about preserving memories."Rigdon, 42, estimates only a handful of designers make enough to earn a living."You're just happy getting any money for doing what you love to do," she said. "I enjoy the creative process ... and there's no mess. You can leave it at any moment and come back to it later, and no one's messed with it."Some traditional paper companies now offer digital kits on CD, and computer-generated layouts are making their way into scrapbooking magazines. Simple Scrapbooks magazine just published its fourth edition of Digital Scrapbooking, and about 15 percent of the layouts it publishes in its regular magazine are digital, reflecting the percentage of computer-generated layouts submitted by readers."I think it definitely has broadened the appeal of scrapbooking," said Stacy Julian, the magazine's founding editor. "So many people think scrapbooking is perhaps a kind of kitschy-crafty thing. It's made it much more accessible to people who don't have that inclination for crafts, but maybe they work with a computer all day long and they feel much more comfortable with the technical aspect of it."Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Nearly 1,600 people crossed the Gaza-Egypt line in both directions on Saturday, passing through the first-ever Palestinian-controlled international border, according to a European Union spokeswoman, who said the "process has gone very smoothly.""We are extremely pleased with the way the crossing has been taking place," said Cristina Gallah, spokewoman for European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who's in Barcelona for the Euro-Mediterranean summit.The Rafah Crossing, a main crossing from southern Gaza into Egypt, opened to the public on Saturday. Gallah said that "1,587 people have been able to cross the border in both directions, and the process has gone very smoothly and we consider it a success." Although the crossing did not open until noon, and then only for four hours, some arrived at 6 a.m. (Watch as the border is opened -- 1:59)Video showed people walking through metal detectors, getting their belongings scanned, then standing in line to have their passports stamped.Gaza no longer a 'big prison'On Friday, officials held ceremonies to mark the opening, with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas taking the first steps over it -- the first time a Palestinian crossed an international border under Palestinian control."The opening of this border is important," he said, "because it means the Gaza Strip will not be a big prison."The crossing was closed in September as Israel withdrew its forces and settlers, ending its 38-year occupation of Gaza.Intense U.S.-led negotiations earlier this month led to the deal for the border to be put under Palestinian control.E.U. monitorsWhile the Rafah Crossing is officially under Palestinian control, dozens of monitors from the European Union will be there for at least the next 12 months with the final say in any dispute about who and what is allowed in and out of the territory.The Israelis will also be closely watching via closed-circuit television.Those lining up Saturday included people wanting to see relatives, students and some seeking medical treatment. Many, however, just wanted to cross the border -- some for the first time ever. Under Israeli control, Palestinians could not be sure when or for how long the crossing would be open. In addition, sometimes Palestinians were turned back or questioned for hours. Israelis frequently closed the control for security reasons.Most residents only needed a Palestinian ID, although some Palestinian men between the ages of 18 and 40 needed a visa.With Gaza no longer under Israeli occupation, open and free borders are considered by most observers crucial for the impoverished Gaza economy to grow.E.U. Middle East envoy Marc Otte said he hopes the change of control will "open the door" for Palestinians and their future in the territory."It's a historic moment," he said. "For the first time, the Palestinians will be in control of their borders. We consider that extremely important, because not only will it signify for the people a huge change in their lives to travel freely, it's freedom. It's opening."Officials said the crossing will eventually operate 24 hours a day.U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan praised the opening. In a written statement, a spokeswoman said Annan "appreciates the important decision made by the government of Israel to open the crossing" and extended thanks to those who made it possible.The deal that led to Friday's historic changeover was announced earlier this month by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a trip to the region to mark the 10th anniversary of the slaying of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Rice oversaw all-night negotiations on the topic, staying a day longer than scheduled to encourage the breakthrough.Palestinians pushed for relaxing Israel's border restrictions to help the region's ailing economy, while Israel wanted measures in place to protect against terrorism.Under terms of the agreement, any disputes between Israelis and Palestinians will be mediated by the E.U. If Israelis, for instance, believe weapons are being smuggled across the border, they would protest to the E.U. If the E.U. believes the Israelis have a case, the border will be closed.The deal also includes construction of a Gaza seaport, and will allow Palestinians to travel between the West Bank and Gaza in bus convoys through Israel.--CNN correspondent John Vause contributed to this report

(CNN) -- Amid reports that the house arrest of Nobel laureate and democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi has been extended for another year, eyewitnesses tell CNN security at her home was beefed up on Sunday.Road blocks were set up on the street, with only military vehicles allowed to pass, eyewitnesses said.A number of military vehicles traveled in and out of the main gate of Suu Kyi's lakeside villa in Yangon, Myanmar.Unconfirmed reports said a military team met Suu Kyi briefly to inform her that her house arrest was extended. Although she has spent most of the last 15 years under house arrest, the most recent punishment stems from a bloody May 2003 clash between her supporters and a pro-government group during her political campaign. Afterwards, she and the top officials of her party, the National League for Democracy, were put under military custody.In late 2003, Suu Kyi was transferred to the villa where she has lived alone. Her telephone service was discontinued and her television was seized. Her only connection to the outside world is through an NLD official she meets with monthly.The military has ruled Myanmar, also known as Burma, since 1962.Suu Kyi was first put under house arrest in 1990, after she won a landslide election victory. Rather than honor the result, military rulers imprisoned her and fellow party leaders.Suu Kyi was briefly released from house arrest in 1996 and again in 2002. Both times, she continued her political campaign for democracy.Asked about the reports that Suu Kyi's house arrest has been extended, NLD spokesman U Lwin told CNN on Sunday he has not been informed by any official and could not comment, but that the extension would not surprise him.No official representing the military junta was available for comment.CNN Producer Narunart Prapanya contributed to this report.

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- President Robert Mugabe's ruling party headed Sunday toward an overwhelming majority of seats in a newly created Senate in Zimbabwe after a poll marked by widespread voter apathy and deep divisions in the main opposition movement over calls for a boycott.Independent monitors predicted that an overall average turnout for the 31 contested seats across the country at between 15 and 20 percent, the lowest in any national poll since independence in 1980.The leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai, thanked supporters for "heeding our call for the boycott of this meaningless election.""We have been vindicated. We were proved right in our assessment of the national sentiment," he said.However, the election campaign left the Movement for Democratic Change bitterly and perhaps irrevocably divided, threatening to destroy the only group to have seriously challenged Mugabe's increasingly autocratic 25-year rule.Tsvangirai argued that participation in Saturday's vote would lend credibility to a poll that was certain to be flawed. But senior members of his party rejected his boycott call and fielded 26 candidates.The split in the opposition assured Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front control of the chamber he abolished in 1990.Mugabe pushed through a constitutional amendment earlier this year to set up the Senate, in what critics said was an attempt to increase his power to dole out jobs and perks in the ailing economy. The new house has no veto powers over legislation passed by the ruling party-dominated lower house.Returns for 11 of the 31 seats up for grabs showed the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front won six seats compared to five for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, according to state radio.Zanu-PF won all three seats in Harare, traditionally sympathetic to the opposition, suggesting that Tsvangirai's boycott call had been obeyed.The Movement for Democratic Change won five seats in its main stronghold, the second city of Bulawayo, where local leaders defied the boycott order.But turnout of voters in Bulawayo was just 6 percent of eligible electors, the independent Zimbabwe Election Support Network said.Only about 10 percent of voters turned out in the dormitory township of Chitungwiza, 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Harare, a traditional opposition power base which was won by the ruling party.Even in ruling party strongholds, preliminary returns from rural eastern Zimbabwe showed less than 28 percent of voters cast ballots."Turnout was very low indeed. It is a vote of no confidence in the entire process," said Reginald Matchaba-Hove, head of the election support network.Nearly 60 percent of registered voters cast their ballots in the last parliamentary polls in March.The ruling party's candidates were unopposed for 19 of the Senate's 50 elected seats. Mugabe appoints six other seats, and 10 are reserved for traditional leaders, selected by the fiercely pro-government Council of Chiefs.State radio reported no political violence or intimidation that have characterized elections in Zimbabwe since 2000.There were more electoral officials than voters at many polling stations in the capital, Harare, Saturday. Scores of people lined up to buy sugar at supermarkets in northern and eastern parts of the city -- dispersing angrily when stocks ran out at one store, witnesses said. In an adjacent polling station, 13 electoral officials and police officers supervised a single voter casting his ballot.Many have questioned the cost of adding a second chamber at a time of acute shortages of food, gasoline and other essentials.The government estimates the Senate's annual costs at about 60 billion Zimbabwe dollars ($6 million) in a country suffering its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1980.The often violent seizure of thousands of white-owned commercial farms, coupled with erratic rains, has crippled Zimbabwe's agriculture-based economy.Campaigning for the Senate was muted compared with previous elections, which independent observers said were marred by intimidation and fraud.Some 3.2 million of Zimbabwe's 12 million population were registered to vote. Mugabe did not cast a ballot because the ruling party candidate in his constituency was unopposed.Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

YAKIMA, Washington (AP) -- Two jail inmates remained at large Sunday, two days after escaping with seven others from a maximum-security area of a county jail by using bed sheets tied into ropes, officials said.The remaining seven escapees were captured by authorities -- including a murder suspect discovered Saturday in his sister's attic.The men broke through the ceiling of the four-story Yakima County Jail and used a rope made of bed sheets to climb down Friday, authorities said. Five were recaptured on the jail grounds.One of the two inmates still at large Sunday had been spotted Friday evening, but fled on foot before officers arrived, Police Chief Sam Granato said."We have no information on how they're getting around or if they're even still together," he said.The two missing men are Luis Soto, 28, of Toppenish, who was facing trial January 3 on a second-degree theft charge; and Gianno Alaimo, 26, of Yakima, who had been charged with assault, officials said.Responding to a tip, officers went to a Yakima home where a sister of escapee Santos Luera lives, Granato said. The officers found Luera and another missing inmate in the attic."They were verbally combative," Granato said. "They weren't happy they had been captured."Luera, 20, who faced a December 5 murder trial for the shooting death of his stepbrother, had a broken leg and was taken to a hospital. Terry Moser, 25, who had been charged with assault, was also back in custody.The breakout was similar to an escape by four inmates in 1994 from the same central Washington jail. Those inmates made a hole in a ceiling and followed ductwork to a roof vent, then used a bed-sheet rope to reach the annex roof, the Yakima Herald-Republic reported. Two were injured when the sheets came apart. The other two fled to Mexico, where one was killed in a gunfight and the other was captured.Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

(CNN) -- The disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway in Aruba May 30 may have travelers and their loved ones looking closely at travel safety.Even in destinations that are considered relatively safe, there are pockets of danger. But that doesn't mean plans should be changed or canceled.Travel experts suggest you find out about a destination's specific areas of concern and use the same caution you would in unfamiliar situations at home."Being aware is the biggest thing you can do," said Nilou Motamed, a senior editor at Travel + Leisure magazine.Motamed recommends the State Department's Web site as a good first source of information on destinations that are considered dangerous to Americans.The State Department issues travel warnings for those locations. Consular information sheets that include information on crime, safety and security for every country also are posted on the agency's Web site.Comparing the State Department's information with postings from similar agencies in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom gives travelers a wider perspective on safety issues, said Don George, Lonely Planet's global travel editor.Consider registering with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, particularly if you are headed to an area that has a current travel warning. "They've just made it easier," Motamed said. "You can do it online, so you don't actually even have to go to the embassy when you get there."Motamed and George also suggest looking for a destination's English-language publications before the trip. Many newspapers are posted online and often are the best source of current local news.When you get there, ask locals for guidance, George advises."Ask local people what's appropriate and what's not appropriate," George said. "[To] a hotel clerk in the hotel where you're staying, you can say, 'Is it OK to walk in this part of town after dinner or is it better to get a taxi?' "Using normal caution and trusting your instincts also goes a long way on the road."It's just really important to keep that notion of common sense always in your head whether you're in Paris or Papua New Guinea," George said.If you're traveling alone, establish a regular pattern of communication with someone at home, George advises. Whether it's a phone call or an e-mail every night or every second day, keeping someone posted about your trip is a good safety measure.With group travel, let someone in your group know where you're going when you split off for a solo outing.The State Department advises travelers to leave a copy of their itinerary with someone at home in case of an emergency. It's also a good idea to leave a copy of your passport, tickets, credit cards and traveler's checks.Bring a copy of those important documents with you as well, and be sure to keep the copies in a separate place."It's a great idea to copy those," Motamed said. "Because in case you lose them, it's so much easier to get them replaced if you have a copy of them."The State Department advises familiarizing yourself with local laws and customs. Dress conservatively and avoid the appearance of affluence, the agency suggests.Above all, exercise caution, George advises."We should always have our guard up to a certain extent."

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- A boy wizard and a country-music legend outclassed a flurry of box-office newcomers over Thanksgiving."Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" took in $54.9 million over the three-day weekend to remain the top movie, while the Johnny Cash film biography "Walk the Line" stayed in second place with $19.7 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.For the whole five-day Thanksgiving period, "Goblet of Fire" grossed $81.3 million to lift its 10-day total to $201.1 million, while "Walk the Line" took in $27.6 million, raising its 10-day total to $54.7 million.The two films paced Hollywood to a healthy holiday weekend. If estimates hold when final numbers are released Monday, it would be the second-highest gross ever for the five-day Thanksgiving period at $218.3 million, beating last year's haul by 3 percent but finishing behind 2000's record $232.1 million.'Savior of the box office'That was a boost for the slumping movie business, which has had attendance running 8 percent behind last year's."You've got to look at 'Harry Potter' as being the savior of the box office right now," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "Who would have thought in a year we're having this down box office that we'd have the second-biggest Thanksgiving ever?"Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo's family flick "Yours, Mine & Ours" overcame bad reviews to lead the new movies, finishing third with $17.5 million. The movie's five-day total since opening Wednesday was $24.5 million.The animated tale "Chicken Little" held up strongly at No. 4 with $12.4 million, lifting its four-week total to $118.2 million."Rent," featuring Taye Diggs and Rosario Dawson in an adaptation of the Broadway musical sensation, debuted in fifth with a three-day total of $10.7 million and $18.1 million since opening Wednesday.Premiering at No. 6 was Ryan Reynolds' romantic comedy "Just Friends" with $9.3 million from Friday to Sunday and $13.6 million since Wednesday.R&B singer Usher's first starring role with the mob romance "In the Mix" opened at No. 9 with $4.5 million for the weekend and $6.2 million since Wednesday. John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton's crime caper "The Ice Harvest" debuted at No. 10 with $3.7 million Friday to Sunday and $5.1 million since Wednesday."Goblet of Fire" shot past $200 million domestically in just 10 days, the fastest of the four "Harry Potter" movies to cross that mark. The fastest-grossing of the previous movies was the first, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," which took in $186 million in 10 days."Goblet of Fire" could be on track to beat the $317.6 million domestic gross of "Sorcerer's Stone," the franchise's most successful installment."Goblet of Fire" has disproved speculation that its PG-13 rating -- the first of the franchise to carry that tag, after PG ratings for the first three -- might hurt the film by scaring off younger fans."We've learned the audience has grown older with the movies, so the PG-13 rating just played into the core of the audience," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros., which releases the "Harry Potter" films. Warner Bros. and CNN are owned by Time Warner Inc.Warner Bros. also had terrific results for its limited-release debut of "Syriana," whose ensemble cast includes George Clooney and Matt Damon in a thriller centered on the oil industry. The film took in a whopping $372,147 in five theaters over the weekend and $553,372 since Wednesday. "Syriana" goes into nationwide release December 9.Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

THORNDALE, Texas (AP) -- A pack of six dogs mauled a 76-year-old woman to death as she worked in her yard, authorities said.Lillian Loraine Stiles was riding on a lawn mower in her front yard Saturday when she was confronted by the dogs, described as pit bull-rottweiler mixed breeds, said Milam County Sheriff Charlie West.Investigators think Stiles was attacked when she got off the mower and headed into her house.Stiles had severe bites over her entire body, and a man who tried to help her was bitten on one leg, authorities said.The dogs were found at the home of Stiles' neighbor, Jose Hernandez.The sheriff's department will send the findings of its investigation to the Milam County District Attorney's Office, which will decide if any criminal charges will be filed against Hernandez.Thorndale is located about 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of College Station.Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

SANTA MARIA, California (CNN) -- Driver fatigue likely contributed to the crash of a Greyhound bus Sunday morning that left two people dead, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol said."There's a strong possibility that the driver fell asleep and ran off the road," said California Highway Patrol Cmdr. Dan Minor.The bus, carrying the driver and 43 passengers, was on its way from Los Angeles to San Francisco.It drifted off the right side of U.S. Highway 101, went down a 10-15 foot embankment and skidded about 100 yards, finally coming to rest on its side against a eucalyptus tree, said Capt. Keith Cullom of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department."So the people inside the bus had been tossed around significantly," Cullom said. No other vehicles were involved in the accident, he said.One of the dead was 23-year-old Martha Contreras, who was seven months pregnant, Minor said. Her fetus also died.Minor predicted that the death of the fetus would eventually be counted in the death toll.The other fatality was Faro Jahani, a 50-year-old man, Minor said.All of the other passengers were injured, including seven with serious injuries and four with lighter injuries, Minor said. Most had bumps and bruises and were treated and released from nearby hospitals.Witnesses: Bus suddenly driftedA man driving on the highway around the time of the 7:10 a.m. (10:10 a.m. ET) accident said the bus drove right in front of him."(The) bus came up behind me, came around me, passed me, and then came into the slow lane ... instead of straightening up in the slow lane he kept on going over," said Manuel Bonilla. "As soon as he hit the white fog line I knew he was going to go over the edge."Minor said witnesses reported that the bus "suddenly drifted to the right without signaling or braking."He said there was no indication of alcohol or drug impairment in the driver, only fatigue. He identified the driver as Samuel Bishop. Bishop, 63, had apparently been called in to work Saturday night from his home in Fresno, Minor said. He drove a route from Fresno to Los Angeles beginning at 8 p.m. -- 220 miles -- and then began the second route from Los Angeles.He drove 158 miles to near Santa Maria. His shift would have ended in San Luis Obispo, just 32 miles north of Santa Maria.Minor said it's likely Bishop will be charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.Passenger Valerie Bradley said everyone on the bus was asleep when the crash happened."I heard a 'boom,' then tip over, then glass shatter everywhere," Bradley said.Other passengers injuredShe said the driver said he had chest pains when emergency officials arrived on the scene, but he was able to kick out the glass door on the bus and get himself out.Bradley was angry that there were no seatbelts for the passengers, but there was one for the driver.Another passenger, Carole Pitts, said after the crash she saw the driver suspended sideways from his seatbelt.Some of the other victims had to be cut from the wreckage with hydraulic tools, officials said.Helicopters landed on the freeway to transport the injured to Marion Hospital in Santa Maria and Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, according to Santa Barbara County Fire Department spokesman Kent Boisen.Two other Greyhound buses went to the scene to take people to their final destinations, said Greyhound spokeswoman Kim Plaskett from Dallas.People concerned that a friend or relative may have been on the bus can call Greyhound's hot line at 1-800-972-4583.CNN's Kareen Wynter contributed to this report.

MACON, Georgia (AP) -- A military vehicle carrying U.S. politicians overturned on the way to the Baghdad airport Saturday, injuring two congressmen, a fellow congressman traveling with them said.Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pennsylvania, was airlifted to a military hospital in Germany for an MRI on his neck, and Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Missouri, was sent to a Baghdad hospital, said U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall. Marshall, a Georgia Democrat, was in the vehicle but was not hurt.The politicians were riding in a box-like vehicle in a convoy. The convoy was taking up the middle of the road, a common practice used by the military to deter oncoming motorists. Shortly after dark, an oncoming truck refused to yield, Marshall said. (Watch Murphy describe what happened -- 2:49)"Then all of a sudden brakes get slammed on. Then we hit something and go off the side of the road and tip over," Marshall said.Marshall said that as the vehicle toppled over, he held onto Skelton, who has limited use of his arms due to childhood polio.The delegation had traveled to Afghanistan for Thanksgiving with the troops and then on to Baghdad to meet with troops there.Calls to Skelton and Murphy on Sunday were not immediately returned, but Marshall spokesman Doug Moore said both suffered minor injuries. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad confirmed the accident but declined to release further information.Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

(CNN) -- Millions of travelers headed home Sunday at the end of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, braving crowded roads and airports on one of the busiest travel days of the year.Mother Nature cooperated across much of the nation, with some travelers saying their journeys were surprisingly smooth.But conditions were less hospitable across the heartland, with a line of storms prompting tornado warnings in Arkansas and Missouri.Further west, the National Weather Service said an "intense" winter storm was moving slowly northeast across the central Plains, causing wind gusts near 60 mph in Colorado.The combination of snow and high winds "may produce brief whiteout conditions," the weather service said, with motorists in Nebraska and Kansas advised to expect widespread blizzard conditions.Weather closed parts of Interstate 70 in Kansas and Colorado, where the Department of Transportation also blamed the weather for multiple accidents.Travel group AAA projected that more than 37.29 million Americans would travel at least 50 miles from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, an increase of 0.8 percent over the 37 million who did so a year earlier.According to the group's telephone survey, about 31 million of those were traveling by car, nearly 5 million by airplane and almost 2 million by other means, such as train or bus.Mantill Williams of AAA said even more people would travel over the Christmas and New Year's holidays, but those journeys were "spread out over a two- or three-week period."He said the organization wasn't surprised at the number of people hitting the roads for Thanksgiving."What we found historically is that high gas prices alone do not prevent people from traveling," he said. "It may alter their travel somewhat, but you'll be hard-pressed to tell grandma or your mother-in-law that you can't come see them because you can't pay that extra $10 at the gas station."Meanwhile, weather conditions contributed to delays at some of the nation's busiest airports on Sunday.Departure traffic destined for O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, faced delays averaging nearly two hours early Sunday evening, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.Arriving flights were delayed an average of one-and-a-half hours at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. And flights bound for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas were temporarily suspended during the afternoon.Chicago's O'Hare wasn't expecting Sunday to be the busiest Thanksgiving travel day; that came Wednesday, when an estimated 217,000 passengers passed through the airport.Travels were smooth for some who departed early and allowed time for long lines.Passenger Jonathan Dorfman said the start of his journey home to Boston, Massachusetts, from Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., was "incredibly easy.""This morning was a breeze. We left a little bit early, but encountered no traffic," he said. "We have no anxiety at all."On the roads, two deadly accidents led to delays in California and Arizona.Driver fatigue likely contributed to the crash of a Greyhound bus in Santa Maria Sunday morning that left two people dead, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol said. (Full story)Northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101 were closed, and vehicles crashing into the slowed traffic caused two other accidents in southbound lanes.In Arizona, two people died and four others were seriously injured when a passenger van rolled over on Interstate 17 north of Phoenix, closing the highway for several hours, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.Williams advised drivers to pack a "winter survival kit" when heading out."Make sure you have your cell phone, extra blankets, and something to mark your location just in case you do break down," he said."The best thing to do is to make sure you take your time and make sure you buckle up, because this time of year the weather can change in an instant," Williams said.Travelers were sharing the road with millions of shoppers hunting bargains on the first big shopping weekend of the holiday season.The National Retail Federation estimated that 22 million people were expected to be out Sunday, after more than 60 million shoppers headed to stores on Friday and 52.8 million on Saturday. (Full story)CNN's Jeff Green contributed to this report.

BEIJING, China (AP) -- -- An explosion at a coal mine in northeastern China left 40 dead and another 138 missing, state media reported Monday.A total of 220 miners were underground when the blast occurred late Sunday at the Dongfeng Coal mine in Qitaihe, a city in Heilongjiang province, the official China News Service said, citing the local coal mine safety administration.It did not give the cause of the blast and said it was under investigation.The official Xinhua News Agency said earlier that 30 were dead and 149 were missing.It was not immediately clear why the numbers were different. A man who answered the telephone at the coal mine said officials were too busy to talk and hung up.Xinhua said rescue work was continuing Monday, as managers attempted to figure out exactly how many miners were still underground.The mine is owned by the Heilongjiang Longme Mining (Group) Co., a conglomerate of four state-owned coal businesses in the province, Xinhua said, citing provincial work safety administration officials.Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

(CNN) -- Four Western aid workers in Iraq, including two from Canada and one from Britain, have been kidnapped, according to British and Canadian government officials.Dan McTeague, the parliamentary secretary for Canadians abroad, said the four were kidnapped Saturday, but he would not identify the agency with which they are affiliated.McTeague said the government is working to find out more about the circumstances surrounding the incident. He said the government won't negotiate with kidnappers.The British Foreign Office confirmed that a British citizen, identified as Norman Kember, was one of those abducted.It has been reported, but not confirmed, that the fourth person taken hostage was an American. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad said it was aware of the report and was investigating it.McTeague said the organization contacted embassy officials in Amman, Jordan, The Associated Press reported."Our ability to provide assistance is limited," McTeague said.Canada does not have an embassy in Iraq. The Canadian government has advised since April 2004 that Canadians, including humanitarian workers, should not to travel to Iraq, AP reported."Under no circumstances are Canadians encouraged to travel to Iraq at this time. The situation remains both dangerous and volatile," McTeague said. "This stands as one of the many reasons why we've discouraged Canadians."Hundreds of foreigners and Iraqis have been seized by insurgents fighting to drive U.S.-led forces out of the country. At least four Canadians have been kidnapped since 2003, including a man who was killed in August, AP reported.Canada has not contributed troops to the coalition forces in Iraq.Copyright 2005 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

LONDON, England -- Human rights abuses in Iraq are as bad as they were under Saddam Hussein if not worse, former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi has said."People are doing the same as (in) Saddam's time and worse," Allawi said in an interview published in Britain on Sunday."It is an appropriate comparison," Allawi told The Observer newspaper. "People are remembering the days of Saddam. These were the precise reasons that we fought Saddam and now we are seeing the same things."Allawi's comments come as Hussein's trial is set to resume Monday in Baghdad. Hussein's lawyers are expected to seek another delay in the proceedings. (Full story)The remarks also follow the discovery of an Iraqi government facility holding 170 prisoners, including some showing signs of torture. (Full story) "We are hearing about secret police, secret bunkers where people are being interrogated," said Allawi, who was Iraq's first prime minister of the post-Saddam Hussein era.Allawi, a secular Shiite and former Baathist, is standing in parliamentary elections scheduled for December 15. He failed to win January's election, which brought current Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari, an Islamist Shiite, to power."A lot of Iraqis are being tortured or killed in the course of interrogations," Allawi said. "We are even witnessing Sharia courts based on Islamic law that are trying people and executing them."The Ministry of the Interior is at the heart of the matter," Allawi said. "I am not blaming the minister himself, but the rank and file are behind the secret dungeons and some of the executions that are taking place."Allawi warned that if no action was taken, "the disease infecting (the ministry) will become contagious and spread to all ministries and structures of Iraq's government."In a news conference this month, Interior Minister Bayan Jabr defended the prison facility, saying it held "the most criminal terrorists" and that "nobody was beheaded or killed."

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Saddam Hussein's attorneys will ask an Iraqi tribunal Monday for permission to add former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark to the courtroom defense team.Khames Hameed al-Ubaidi said Clark was in Baghdad and will meet with the defense team on Sunday night or Monday morning, when the trial is scheduled to resume.If Clark is not allowed to participate in the courtroom, he will act as a legal adviser, al-Ubaidi said.A U.S. official close to the Iraqi High Tribunal said there have been no motions made by Hussein's attorney to have an international lawyer work on the defense team. But the official said that if the proper motion for that was filed it would probably be accepted. Clark was attorney general under President Lyndon Johnson and has been a civil rights attorney and activist in recent years. Clark, who opposed the Iraq war, met with Hussein in February 2003, just before the U.S.-led invasion began. "Our plan is to go to court in Baghdad on Monday morning representing the defense counsel as defense support. A fair trial in this case is absolutely imperative for historical truth to justice obviously," Clark told the Reuters news agency before leaving Amman, Jordan. (Watch Ramsey Clark explain his goals -- 2:23)Hussein and seven other former regime members are charged with ordering the killing and torture of more than 140 civilians in the town of Dujail, 23 years ago, after a failed assassination attempt.If convicted, Hussein and his co-defendants would face the death penalty.When the trial resumes Monday, attorneys will ask for a three-month delay of the trial because the defense has not received some documents, al-Ubaidi said. They include death certificates for the 148 people prosecutors say were killed in Dujail. (Watch Iraqis call for Saddam's execution Saturday -- 2:10) In addition, al-Ubaidi wants a better quality computer disk with witness statements, and he said he needs the names of witnesses. Lawyers have said they haven't been able to devote all of their energies to the case because of security fears following recent attacks on attorneys connected with the case.The trial has been delayed since its opening day, October 19, when Hussein's lead attorney, Khalil Dulaimi, said most of the defense lawyers were not sufficiently experienced in international law and in cases of this magnitude.He also said the defense team wasn't informed about the start of the trial until three weeks before it began -- which he said was in violation of the tribunal regulations.Dulaimi has insisted the defense team will not participate in the trial until a solution to protect its members is found. Defense attorneys killedTwo attorneys working on the trial have been killed in the past two months.Adil Muhammed al-Zubaidi, who was representing former Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, was shot to death on November 8 in an attack that left another lawyer wounded.On October 20, a day after the trial began, Sadoon Janabi was kidnapped and fatally shot in the head. Janabi had been representing Awad Hamad Bandar, the former chief judge of Hussein's Revolutionary Court.Janabi had refused any protection from the government, according to an Iraqi government official, and willingly appeared on videotape during the previous day's court proceedings.The United States is working with Iraq's Interior Ministry to investigate the killings. The Iraqi government insists it is committed to protecting the judges and attorneys in the trial.On Wednesday, a U.S. official close to the Iraqi High Tribunal said the issue of security for the defense attorneys is expected to be addressed when the trial resumes.The court is prepared to provide full security to everyone involved in the legal proceedings, the official said.The court also has acted on attorneys' requests to have multinational forces and the Regime Crimes Liaison Office -- the arm of the U.S. State Department charged with assisting the court -- involved in security operations, the official added.Security options for defense attorneys "are at least as good as those" being offered to other participants in the trial, the official said. (Full story)