Eight good reasons to be cheerful
It's probably good that I'm not rich. Money, it seems to me, sends people in one of three directions: It accelerates an innate inclination to be generous, or it accelerates a kamikaze inclination to party with the Olsen twins, or it sucks away your sense of purpose and produces a desperate need to eat nothing but those little white cheddar Cheez-It crackers while staring blankly at an endless cycle of "Will & Grace" reruns.

U.S. blocks import of Chinese milk products
The Food and Drug Administration has begun blocking the import of milk products from China in an effort to ensure that products contaminated with melamine do not enter the U.S. market.

Google tool uses search terms to detect flu outbreaks
If you have a fever, headache and runny nose, you might go to Google and type the words "flu symptoms" to see whether you've come down with influenza.

Jobless claims highest since Sept. 11 attacks
Unemployment filings surge to 516,000, number of Americans continuing on benefits at 25-year high.

Federal mortgage rescue plan due
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the administration officials are set to announce program to help at-risk homeowners.