TGIThursday

'We're a culture, not a costume' this Halloween

By Emanuella Grinberg, CNN

Published: Wednesday, October 26, 2011

(CNN) -- Thinking about donning a kimono to dress like a geisha for Halloween, or a Mexican mariachi suit?

CNN

Occupy Sacramento protestors appear in court

By Bill Lindelof and Ed Fletcher

Published: Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011

Occupy Sacramento protestors appearing in court today were having their cases postponed until Nov. 3.

Sacramento Bee

Austrian student takes on Facebook over privacy

By Melissa Eddy, Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011

VIENNA -- Max Schrems wasn't sure what he would get when he asked Facebook to send him a record of his personal data from three years of using the site.

Sacramento Bee

President to Ease Student Loan Burden for Low-Income Graduates

By Tamar Lewin

Published: October 25, 2011

President Obama will announce new programs Wednesday to lower monthly loan payments for some students graduating next year and thereafter and to let borrowers who have a mix of direct federal loans and loans under the old Federal Family Education Loan Program consolidate them at a slightly lower interest rate.

NY Times

Longevity's secrets sought in DNA of 100-year-olds

By Malcolm Ritter

Published: October 26, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) — George Eberhardt turned 107 last month, and scientists would love to know how he and other older folks like him made it that far. So he's going to hand over some of his DNA. He's one of 100 centenarians taking part in a project announced Wednesday that will examine some of the oldest citizens with one of the newest scientific tools: whole-genome sequencing, the deciphering of a person's complete collection of DNA.

Yahoo News

China Cracks Down on Bloggers and ‘Excessive’ Entertainment

By Sharon LaFraniere, Michael Wines and Edward Wong

Published: October 26, 2011

BEIJING — Political censorship in this authoritarian state remains heavy-handed. But for years, the Communist Party has tolerated a creeping liberalization in popular culture, tacitly allowing everything from popular knockoffs of “American Idol”-style talent shows to freewheeling microblogs that let media groups prosper and let people blow off steam.

NY Times

Tear gas used on Occupy protesters in Oakland, California

By Michael Martinez, Amber Lyon, Steve Turnham, Rose Arce, Nick Valencia, Jessica Jordan and Rich Phillips

Published: Wed October 26, 2011

(CNN) -- Authorities made a series of arrests at Occupy Wall Street protests in California and Georgia on Tuesday and Wednesday, with clashes in one city that involved tear gas being used on demonstrators.

CNN

College costs still rising; state schools now average $17,000 a year

By Justin Pope, Associated Press

Published: October 26, 2011

As President Obama prepared to announce new measures Wednesday to help ease the burden of student loan debt, new figures painted a demoralizing picture of college costs for students and parents: Average in-state tuition and fees at four-year public colleges rose an additional $631 this fall, or 8.3 percent, compared with a year ago.

San Jose Mercury

Inquest: Singer Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning

By Erin McLaughlin and Laura Smith-Spark

Published: October 26, 2011

London (CNN) -- Singer Amy Winehouse's death this summer was the result of alcohol poisoning, an inquest ruled Wednesday, as it reached a verdict of "death by misadventure."

CNN

Universal flu vaccine may be on horizon

By Amber Dance, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Published: October 24, 2011

It's an annual autumn rite for many: trooping to the doctor's office or pharmacy for the jab that might stave off sniffles and aches during the flu season.

LA Times