Frugal Shoppers Become Swappers

The turtleneck from designer Marc Jacobs costs hundreds of dollars at Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue. But at one Brooklyn bar, the charcoal-gray sweater was free for the taking - along with jeans, belts and shoes.

The neighborhood watering hole called Sycamore will never be mistaken for a department store, but for some recession-battered consumers, it's serving a similar purpose. It's a chance to update their wardrobes and capture the adventure of shopping without having to open their wallets.

"It's guilt-free shopping," said Shannon McDowell, a bartender and swapper.

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Plumber Uses Snake With Camera To Find Cat In Wall

When Bubba the cat disappeared inside the home he shares with Cheryl and Phillip Albers, they knocked holes in walls looking for him, but he couldn't be found. Bubba's meows could be heard through the night last Monday, Cheryl Albers said, after he vanished following a visit from an air-conditioner repairman.

Bubba normally hides high atop a kitchen cabinet when there is a stranger in the house that he doesn't want to meet, Albers said. He wasn't there, however, after the repairman left.

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At Notre Dame, Obama confronts abortion uproar

"Confronting the nation's deep schism over abortion, President Obama on Sunday called for greater understanding on all sides and 'open hearts, open minds, fair-minded words' on the issue as he spoke to graduates at one of America's premier Catholic universities.

Obama stressed the importance of common ground as opponents of abortion rights protested his appearance and the honorary degree he received from the University of Notre Dame."

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Ministers Urged to Keep Resolution at Center of World Health Assembly’s Agenda

"Millions of children will continue to die of preventable causes each year unless health and development ministers get their priorities straight next week in Geneva, says leading aid agency World Vision.

Days before government officials begin their annual forum at the World Health Assembly, World Vision is urging them to support a vital resolution on primary health care, and place it at the center of the development agenda."

Click here for more about World Vision's position.

Folsom, CA Veterans Parade Gets New Moniker

"A one-man parade that has grown to more than 1,000 received a new name Tuesday night.

The annual Veterans Day Parade will now be known as the Wayne Spence Memorial Folsom Veterans Day Parade, thanks to a move by the Folsom City Council."

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Space tomato packs nutritional super-punch

What started as a science experiment to grow plants in space has blossomed into a drought-resistant, nutritionally rich tomato — patent pending.

Mariya Khodakovskaya was a researcher at North Carolina State University when she created a genetically altered tomato seed designed to better withstand the rigors of space. The seeds were flown to the International Space Station in August 2007.

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Confused by SPF? Take a Number

Last year, Coppertone rolled out two easy-to-use sprays with its highest-ever sun protection factor: SPF 70+. Not to be outdone, Neutrogena offered its Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch lotion in SPF 85 strength, that year’s big gun.

This sun season, Banana Boat is retaliating with a pair of SPF 85 sprays, which it trumpets on its Web site as “our highest SPF level in a continuous spray formula.”

But now, SPF creep has hit the triple digits with Neutrogena’s SPF 100+ sunblock, leading some dermatologists to complain that this is merely a numbers game that confuses consumers.

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