The James Logan Courier

By Tom Avril
The Philadelphia Inquirer (MCT)

PHILADELPHIA — The 1982 vintage of Lafite-Rothschild is among the most storied wines of the past few decades. To the serious collector, it is worth several thousand dollars a bottle, Robert J. Levis explained to his listeners.

Unless, of course, something goes wrong with the cork, and the precious fluid turns to vinegar. But how to tell without popping the cork?

The question was a hypothetical one — and not just because Levis didn't have a bottle of the fine Bordeaux on hand. Most of his audience wouldn't be allowed to drink it anyway.

By Jessika Robinson, Courier Staff Writer
Holiday Kits are great to give. No matter who you may be looking for there is a gift kit to fit your need. Many companies have put out kits to give the gift of beauty all in one box during the holidays.

By Suzanne Wu, Courier Staff Writer

For many, it’s the season of exchanging and hinting at toys, gadgets and clothing. For the Hope Connections club it’s a different story as they are in full swing embracing their motto of giving without expecting anything in return.

In preparation for the holidays, Hope Connections has organized a canned food, and toy drive for forty families around Union City and, with the help of the Logan community, expects to present each with $100 dollar food certificate for fresh fruit, dairy and vegetable products. In addition to the food certificates, toys that are donated by students and staff will be given to the children of those needy families.

By Kara McGuire
Star Tribune (Minneapolis) (MCT)

The recession has many families cutting back spending on gifts this year. But with a little resourcefulness, those of you whose bank balances lack holiday cheer can give presents without adding to your debt or picking up a glue gun.

My favorite strategy of the lot is to use what Mark Lacek calls "the other American currency": loyalty points or miles earned through credit card rewards, store frequent-buyer clubs and airline mileage programs. Lacek, a partner at loyalty marketing company Denali Marketing in Minneapolis, estimates that more than half of the consumers who have earned rewards take advantage of them. But "it is very viable that a consumer could look at the balance in their credit card program and probably find many, many options" for gifts, he said.

By Brier Dudley
The Seattle Times (MCT)

Buying high-tech gifts is really hard.

It's almost impossible to keep abreast of the latest gadgets and know which ones are getting long in the tooth.

Deals are everywhere nowadays. Yet the frenzy is also clearing shelves to make way for next year's models.

By Judith Graham
Chicago Tribune (MCT)

You may think your attentive spouse, your loving children and your good friends are what make you happy. But something else may be going on: The people they're connected with are making you happy too.

So suggests a new study proposing that happiness is transmitted through social networks, almost like a germ is spread through personal contact. The research was published Thursday in BMJ, a British medical journal.