Don't take a vacation from exercise

"When summer vacations roll around, folks often leave their exercise routines behind with their cares. But studies show that after 10 to 20 days without exercise, most people begin to display symptoms of detraining on all physical fronts. So it's important to couple your travel with exercise, not only to burn off the extra calories a vacation tends to include but also to retain the hard-won fitness gains you've made to date this year."

Click here for more on why you should take your exercise program along with you on vacation.

What Makes America Different?

"Five decades after America gained independence, French political analyst Alexis de Tocqueville remarked on its exceptional character.

Unlike other nations that were defined by ethnicity, geography, common heritage, social class, or hierarchal structures, America was a nation of immigrants bond together by a shared commitment to the democratic principles of liberty, equality, individualism and laissez faire economics."

Click here for more on the foundations of America's greatness.

Patriotic postcards rich in symbolism and value

"On Sunday, we celebrate our country's birthday — a time for parades and flag-waving, backyard cookouts and the requisite fireworks show. It's also an ideal chance for collectors to pull out their century-old patriotic postcards and put them on display."

For a look at history through the lens of postcards, click here.

Army of 'citizen journalists' create headaches, opportunities for aid world

"The growing army of 'citizen journalists' operating in humanitarian crises who file news with great speed but often with no training present a headache for the aid community but also an opportunity to tell the story from a new angle and potentially save lives, aid workers and reporters said on Friday."

Click here for more on the story of amateur journalists and how they are challenging aid organizations.

Hiding behind the Flag

"See here the bars of red and white,
The field of blue strewn with stars.
But look behind the colored cloth, the simple fabric."


To read more, click here.

Redefining the First Freedom: More Than Worship

"As we celebrate the Fourth of July and the founding of our free nation, be sure to celebrate our freedoms as Americans -- while you still can."

Click here for more on Chuck Colson's commentary.

Gov. Bobby Jindal sets oil spill 'Day of Prayer for Perseverance' for Sunday

"Gov. Bobby Jindal today called on all Louisiana citizens to unite in a day of prayer for perseverance for the state Sunday as the battle ranges on to control the Deepwater Horizon-BP oil spill disaster."

For more on the governor's proclamation, click here.