By VIRGINIA LINN, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
No joke: Mad marks 500th issue
What, Mad worry?
Alfred E. Neuman and the Usual Gang of Idiots are keeping stiff upper lips as they mark a bittersweet occasion.
Mad magazine's landmark 500th issue hits newsstands Tuesday -- the same day the 57-year-old monthly publication goes quarterly.
The usual gang of suspects is the reason: bad economy, drop in advertising, changing demographics.
Keeping socks together in washers and dryers
One of the great modern mysteries is one that plagues almost every household: the missing sock in the dryer.
A visit to Monet's home outside Paris
GIVERNY, France -- "It took me some time to understand my water lilies. And then, suddenly, I had the revelation of the magic of my pond ..."-- Claude Monet
Text-messaging system will tell you if that toy is safe
Say you're browsing the toy aisle of your local discounter. You see a Polly Pocket mini doll set car you're interested in buying but see -- of course -- that it was made in China.

