AP - Iran pressed ahead Monday with plans that will increase its ability to make nuclear weapons as it formally informed the U.N. nuclear agency of its intention to enrich uranium to higher levels.

AP - Rep. John Murtha, the tall, gruff-mannered former Marine who became the de facto voice of veterans on Capitol Hill and later an outspoken and influential critic of the Iraq War, died Monday. He was 77. The Pennsylvania Democrat had been suffering from complications from gallbladder surgery. He died at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., with his family at his bedside, the hospital said.

AP - Could this turn into something more than political theater? President Barack Obama's televised dialogue with Republican lawmakers on health care, promised for later this month, has the makings of an entertaining exchange. But the differences between the basic Democratic and GOP ideas are stark — and the two sides have increasingly hardened their positions in this election year.

AP - New York Gov. David Paterson on Monday lashed back at what he called a "callous and sleazy" assault on his character in statehouse rumors and media reports that include accusations about womanizing and drug use, allegations he flatly denied.

AP - A $20 cab ride to the airport skyrocketed to the "snow rate" of $100 in the nation's capital, and those travelers who could get to the airport or train station still had to haggle or wait in long lines to escape the snowbound Mid-Atlantic.

AP - The world's tallest skyscraper has unexpectedly closed to the public a month after its lavish opening, disappointing tourists headed for the observation deck and casting doubt over plans to welcome its first permanent occupants in the coming weeks.

AP - The doctor who prosecutors say caused Michael Jackson's death has been released from jail after posting $75,000 in bail, only a few hours after surrendering to authorities on a manslaughter charge.

AP - Days before a former suburban Chicago police officer's fourth wife vanished in 2007, she told a divorce attorney that her husband thought she suspected he had killed his previous wife and suggested extorting money from him to keep quiet, the lawyer testified Monday.

AP - Authorities said a man accused of stealing a car then reporting it stolen remains in custody after telling police he was robbed at gunpoint while trying to buy crack cocaine with a credit card. The Flint Journal said the man reported Thursday night that a 2003 Chevy Malibu had been stolen.

AP - The New Orleans Saints' victory over Indianapolis in the Super Bowl was watched by more than 106 million people, surpassing the 1983 finale of "M-A-S-H" to become the most-watched program in U.S. television history, the Nielsen Co. said Monday.

Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp was preparing a global recall of its new Prius model on Monday, further damaging its reputation for quality and reliability on the heels of two other massive recalls.

Reuters - President Barack Obama's call for a bipartisan healthcare summit sets the stage for a final push to get the stalled legislation through Congress, but skeptical Republicans said on Monday the only solution is to start over.

Reuters - Democratic Representative John Murtha, chairman of the House of Representatives defense appropriations subcommittee who exercised enormous influence on defense issues, died on Monday.

Reuters - All workers at the Connecticut power plant construction site rocked by a massive explosion on Sunday have been accounted for, leaving the death toll at five, the town's mayor said on Monday.

Reuters - Federal government agencies in the capital region will remain closed for a second day on Tuesday as residents brace for another blizzard while trying to clean up from a weekend storm that paralyzed the area with two feet of snow.

Reuters - A Haitian judge made no decision at a hearing on Monday whether to free or prosecute 10 U.S. missionaries accused of kidnapping children, and their leader said she trusted in God they would be cleared and released.

Reuters - New York Governor David Paterson on Monday restated his intention to run for governor and denied rumors he might resign over potentially scandalous allegations in a forthcoming news report that fueled new speculation about his political future.

Reuters - Ukraine waited for Yulia Tymoshenko Tuesday to contest a weekend presidential election or concede defeat and allow the winner, Viktor Yanukovich, to start piecing together a governing coalition in parliament.

AFP - Iran said on Monday it has formally told the UN nuclear watchdog of its plan to produce higher enriched uranium, sparking US and French calls for "strong" sanctions against the defiant Islamic republic.

AFP - NATO commanders urged the Taliban to surrender as troops dug in Monday for a major assault on a key insurgent stronghold in southern Afghanistan, sending thousands of residents fleeing.

No one cares about your new Farmville cow except you and him.

My friend just sent me this cute cartoon about the most annoying things you can do with your Facebook profile.

(Okay, she only posted it in her status update and I stole it from her, but c'est la vie.)

If you're guilty of any of these - especially tagging terrible, terrible photos of your friends - knock it off. Your Facebook friends will thank you.

Related articles:

• 5 Things You Should Never Share on Facebook
• Facebook Do's and Don'ts
• Does Your Facebook Profile Reveal Too Much?

How to Suck at Facebook originally appeared on About.com Teen Advice on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 05:52:12.

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A new debate is raging in the Teen Advice forum:

How young is too young to lose your virginity?

My answer: there's no magic age when people become ready to have sex for the first time. There's a ton of factors at stake, including your relationship with your partner and your ability to deal with the consequences of sex (both physically and emotionally). Some people don't feel ready to have sex till they're in their 20's, and that's perfectly reasonable.

Music_and_Lights says that if you have to ask, you're not ready yet. I think that's pretty fair.

What do you think? Do you agree, disagree or have some of your own advice to share? Stop by the forum and spill your guts.

Related Articles:

• 10 Signs You're Ready to Have Sex
• Quiz: Are You Ready to Have Sex?
• 20 Facts About Your First Time

How Young is Too Young? originally appeared on About.com Teen Advice on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 16:23:44.

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According to a new study, 9 out of 10 teen girls say they feel pressure from the media and fashion mags to be thin. Which is too bad, because you're probably just fine the way you are.

As long as your weight matches your height, you don't need to worry about shedding pounds. In fact, you might damage your body if you do.

I know this is all stuff you've heard before. Still, it's always good to have a reminder of what a healthy body is and isn't. And what it isn't is this:

Someone get that poor woman a burrito.

For more on the terrible and gross dangers of over-dieting, check out these articles on anorexia and bulimia. And if you want to lose weight in a healthy way, start with these tips on getting fit and eating healthy at school.

Are You One of the 90% of Girls Who Want to be Thinner? originally appeared on About.com Teen Advice on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 17:18:55.

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Thanks for voting in last week's What are You Doing for Valentine's Day poll!

With 173 votes so far, it looks like the most of you (well, 48% of you) aren't doing much at all on February 14th. Which is a shame, because even if you don't have a boyfriend or girlfriend, you can still totally celebrate. I wrote this article with you guys in mind:

• 7 Things to Do on Valentine's Day if You're Single

The next most popular answer, with 27% of the vote, was "spending it with my boyfriend or girlfriend." For you lucky ducks, I wrote this article:

• 8 Valentine Gift Ideas for Teens

Because while you can't put a price on love, you still shouldn't show up to your date empty-handed.

If there are any other articles you'd like to see - about Valentine's Day or anything else - feel free to leave it in the comments section or get in touch with me.

New Valentine's Day Advice Just for You originally appeared on About.com Teen Advice on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 16:31:09.

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Author J. D. Salinger died today at age 91. If you're wondering why you should care, you've probably never read The Catcher in the Rye. Just about everyone who reads it falls in love with it, especially if they're a teen.

Written in 1951, it's the original teen angst novel, told from the point of view of a confused, angry 17-year old guy named Holden Caulfield. The book got banned by tons of schools (and still does) because of its sexual suggestiveness and bounty of F-bombs.

If you haven't read it yet (or no teachers have made you read it), I highly recommend you pick up a copy.

So Long, J. D. Salinger - The Original Teen Angst Writer originally appeared on About.com Teen Advice on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 17:33:11.

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Congress has just introduced a bill that hopes to end discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender teens at public schools.

Students' (and teachers') reactions to GLBT teens are different in different schools. Are there any "out" teens at your school? And if there are, do you think stricter rules about bullying will make life any easier for them? (My answer to the second question: I don't know, but I sure hope so.)

Come share your thoughts & experiences in the comments section.

Related articles:

• Tips on Combating Homophobia
• Are You Part of the Bullying Problem?
• Finding Support at School for Gay Teens

What's Life Like for Gay Teens at Your School? originally appeared on About.com Teen Advice on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 06:34:55.

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The next time some guy at your school brags about all the sex he's having, I give you full permission to roll your eyes. And not just because it's a stupid thing to brag about.

According to a new study, 60% of guys ages 15-22 have lied about sex. That includes 30% who lied about how far they've gone and 23% who said they had sex when they're really virgins.

You should never feel pressured or insecure about what people say about their sexual experiences. Sex isn't a contest, and there's a ton of good reasons why you're better off abstaining.

And now that we know that most guys are lying, you've got another huge reason to just ignore them.

Related Articles:

• Sex Info for Teens
• Facts & Myths about Virginity
• Are You Ready to Have Sex?

Are Guys Really Having as Much Sex as They Say They Are? originally appeared on About.com Teen Advice on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 16:37:32.

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Write the next big paperback hit.

If you've got a story, a poem or an essay you're proud of that's gathering dust in some old computer folder, get that thing out and upload it to Inkpop.

Inkpop is totally legit - it's run by HarperCollins, the folks who brought you The Amanda Project and The Vampire Diaries - and unlike at other teen lit sites, your work might actually get read by professional editors and authors. If your writing's really good, they might even publish it.

If you'd rather just dip your toe in, you can see what teens have already submitted here. Who knows - you might discover the next Stephanie Meyer while she's still in high school.

For more on teen authors, check this list of the Top 10 Books by Teens for Teens.

A New Site for Teens who Love to Write originally appeared on About.com Teen Advice on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 17:17:31.

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Hey all, I'm going to be writing some new advice for Valentine's Day and I'm curious what sort of advice would be the most helpful to you. Help me out by letting me know what your plans are for the big day.

If there's some Valentine's Day advice in particular that you'd like to hear, please leave a comment and I'll try to write an article about it.

Thanks all! Happy weekend!

What are You Doing for Valentine's Day? originally appeared on About.com Teen Advice on Friday, January 22nd, 2010 at 12:09:58.

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From the Teen Advice Forum:

I'm a student in high school and I've been dating my boyfriend for almost a year. I turned 17 this year and he turned 24. He thinks that he is robbing me of my teen years, which I don't agree with because I'm quite mature for my age.

I can't see myself without him. He makes be feel beyond better than anyone ever has. Is this a problem about the age or not? I need some advice. Badly.

My advice for her can be found here.

What do you think - can she and her boyfriend be happy together? Will age always be an issue? Should they break up right this instant? Leave your advice in the Teen Advice Forum so she'll find it!

Can a 17-Year Old Date a 24-Year Old? originally appeared on About.com Teen Advice on Thursday, January 21st, 2010 at 17:32:16.

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