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Tax-preparation software from TurboTax and H&R Block have drawbacks, benefits — Tax-preparation programs are an unnecessary evil. We don't need special software to pay other bills, but our elected representatives' perpetual tinkering with the tax code makes paying for our share of government so mind-numbingly complex that most of us must outsource the math. It's alarming and...

[Tags: amp, math, special software, tax preparation programs, tax preparation software]

Orange County prosecutor sues Toyota over defects — SANTA ANA -- Prosecutors in Orange County, Calif., have filed a lawsuit against Toyota because of continuing problems with its vehicles.

[Tags: county prosecutor, orange county calif, prosecutors, santa ana, toyota]

Business briefing — AIRLINES

[Tags: airlines]

Janet Yellen appears a likely nominee as Fed vice chairwoman — Appointing the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco would reinforce Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's policy of keeping interest rates low to help stimulate the economy.

Economist Janet L. Yellen, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, has emerged as the likely nominee as vice chairwoman of the Federal Reserve.

[Tags: ben bernanke, economist, economy, fed chairman, federal reserve]

Permanently modified mortgages grow by 45%, government says — In February, the number of homeowners with permanently reduced monthly payments grew to 168,708, the Obama administration reports, and 91,483 more trial modifications are approved.

The Obama administration Friday said its mortgage modification program continued to make progress, with the number of homeowners receiving permanently reduced monthly payments in February increasing by 45% to 168,708.

[Tags: administration reports, mortgage, mortgages, obama]

Rep. Eric Massa tickled his staff. Is that normal? — After more than 200 years, Congress has finally forced America to confront the question: Is it gay for one dude to tickle another dude? Freshman Rep. Eric Massa resigned Monday amid claims that he sexually harassed junior male aides. Appearing on Glenn Beck, Massa admitted that he "groped" a male staffer and "tickled him until he couldn't breathe" in their shared Washington townhouse. Larry King posed the inevitable question to Massa on Tuesday: "Are you gay?"

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Eric Massa - Glenn Beck - United States - Larry King - United States Congress [Tags: aides, eric massa, freshman, glenn beck, inevitable question]

If a NASCAR driver died in a crash, would the racer who caused it be liable? — The car of NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski flipped over and crashed Sunday after another driver, Carl Edwards, bumped him during the Sprint Cup race in Atlanta. (Watch the video here.) Edwards admitted it was retaliation for a similar bump from Keselowski last April. NASCAR has put Edwards on probation for three races as punishment. What if Keselowski had been injured in the crash? Would Edwards be liable?

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NASCAR - Carl Edwards - Brad Keselowski - Atlanta - sport [Tags: brad keselowski, bump, carl edwards, crash, nascar]

High-intensity interval training is time-efficient and effective, study suggests — The usual excuse of "lack of time" for not doing enough exercise is blown away by new research. The study adds to the growing evidence for the benefits of short term high-intensity interval training (HIT) as a time-efficient but safe alternative to traditional types of moderate long term exercise. Astonishingly, it is possible to get more by doing less! [Tags: blown away, excuse, exercise, high intensity interval training, lack of time]

Tumors may respond to extreme and moderate heat — Aided by ultrasound guidance, treating tumors with extreme heat or moderate heat may provide a possible therapeutic option, according to early research. [Tags: extreme heat, moderate heat, therapeutic option, tumors, ultrasound guidance]

Fossil bird eggshell provides source of ancient DNA — Scientists have successfully isolated ancient DNA from fossil eggshell remains of extinct birds for the first time. [Tags: ancient dna, extinct birds, fossil bird, scientists]