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LOS ANGELES – The University of Southern California dental school has something to smile about. The school announced Wednesday that USC graduate and trustee Herman Ostrow has donated $35 million to its School of Dentistry. It’s believed to be the largest-ever individual donation to a U.S. dental school. The school …

RAFAH, Egypt – Hamas loyalists and Egyptian troops opened fire along Gaza’s volatile border Wednesday, leaving an Egyptian soldier dead and more than a dozen Gazans hurt in the bloodiest clash between the two sides in a year. Accompanied by a barrage of rocks, the shooting underlined the mounting tensions …

NEW YORK – U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said his son had nothing to do with U.N. business, but it now seems that Kojo Annan (search) at least was shadowing his father and perhaps trading on his last name for an Oil-for-Food contractor. The younger Annan worked for Cotecna Inspection …

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine: Doubting Thomas Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is giving fellow Democrat, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, less than rave reviews. State House News writes that the mayor says Patrick, “carried a grade of a ‘C’ for the first three years of his term — …

Earlier this week, we had a lively discussion about whether or not President Obama is a socialist. You may remember radio guy Rush Limbaugh mocked me for not putting the s-word label on Mr. Obama. Also, Fox News analyst Newt Gingrich agreed with Mr. Limbaugh that the president is a …

Here’s a culinary “six degrees of separation.” What one food connects a revolutionary war veteran with John Quincy Adams, Joseph-Napolean Bonaparte, Edgar Allan Poe, 19th century banker and philanthropist Spencer Trask, a 19th century banker and philanthropist? Mustard. Specifically, Barhyte Mustard, the favorite mustard of people more famous than you. …

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine: Kicked Out? A Democratic senator is predicting Congress will abandon the so-called “cornhusker kickback” given to fellow Democrat Ben Nelson, to help secure his vote on the health care bill. Ohio’s Sherrod Brown told local newspaper Toledo Blade the $100 million for …

Many moons ago I wrote about how environmentalists use their so-called ethical beliefs to justify asinine behavior. Examples abound: A socialite rails against plastic bags, as she boards her private jet to eat bat testicles with a shaman; a scabby rock star condemns us for not helping the poor, as …

Now it’s Eric Cantor — against health care reform and the target of a nut. Just like it was Bart Stupak — for health care reform and the target of a lot of nuts. Nuts don’t distinguish. So, I’m wondering, why should we? I want to make three things very …

One of the best parts about sex – besides the obvious, of course – is how much fun it can be. Sure, intense and romantic sex is great too, but there is something really stimulating about being able to laugh while you’re getting down and dirty. Sex can be so …