Before They Were Famous

The homecoming king. The cheerleader. The CIA intern? You may be surprised to find out what some celebrities were up to in high school and college.

The top 5 cities where prices are being slashed

A large percentage of houses in these towns are offered at deep discounts. For the lucky few who are buying homes, this may be good news: The latest data show that people selling homes are increasingly abandoning their original asking price and offering their listings for a discount.

25 Hottest Hollywood Singles

For the most part, celebrities have their pick of whom they want to date. After all, being rich and famous tends to make you irresistible to the opposite sex. Yet despite their otherworldly hotness, impeccable style and killer bods, some celebs are still flying solo in the love department. So which celebs are currently on the market? Click through for a rundown of the 25 hottest singles.

Sandra Bullock

Age: 46

Relationship Status: Divorced

Presidential Flip Floppers

Barack Obama is not the only president to change his mind. Here's a look at other American leaders who flipped-flopped over policies, scandals & more.

Barack Obama

44th president

It's tempting not to negotiate with hostage takers -- unless the hostage gets harmed. Then, people will question the wisdom of that strategy. In this case, the hostage was the American people, and I was not willing to see them get harmed."

--- Barack Obama on his tax cut deal

George W. Bush

43rd president

"U.S. officials never expected that we were going to open garages and find weapons of mass destruction."

--- George W. Bush on weapons of mass destruction claim

Bill Clinton

42nd president

"I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret that."

--- Bill Clinton on the Monica Lewinsky scandal

George H. W. Bush

41st president

I did it, and I regret it, and I regret it."

--- George H.W. Bush on raising taxes

Ronald Reagan

40th president

"A few months ago, I told the American people I did not trade arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions still tell me that's true, but the facts and the evidence tell me it is not."

--- Reagan's testimony with regard to the Iran-Contra affair

Richard Nixon

37th president

"I can see clearly now ... that I was wrong in not acting more decisively and more forthrightly in dealing with Watergate."

--- Richard Nixon on the Watergate scandal

Lyndon B. Johnson

36th president

"I knew from the start that I was bound to be crucified either way I moved."

--- Lyndon B. Johnson on the Vietnam War

John F. Kennedy

35th president

"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard."

--- John F. Kennedy on the space program

Herbert Hoover

31st president

"The willingness of our people to accept this added burden in these times in order impregnably to establish the credit of the federal government is a great tribute to their wisdom and courage."

--- Herbert Hoover on signing the Revenue Act of 1932

Warren G. Harding

29th president

"I am not fit for this office and should never have been here."

--- Warren G. Harding

Andrew Johnson

17th president

"It is true I am asked why don't I join the Democratic Party. Why don't they join me … if I have administered the office of president so well?"

--- Andrew Johnson on his party affiliation

John Tyler

10th president

"In 1840, I was called from my farm to undertake the administration of public affairs, and I foresaw that I was called to a bed of thorns. I now leave that bed which has afforded me little rest ..."

--- John Tyler on why he wouldn't run for re-election

10 Most Luxury Apartments in US

If a big discount is one sign of a good deal, then New York is a bargain-hunter's paradise — for luxury apartments, anyway.

New York

778 Park Ave., No. 15/16

• List price: $24.9 million
• Previous list price: $46 million in May 2008
• Reduced: $21.1 million
• Price cut: 45.9%

This duplex apartment was the residence of the late philanthropist Brooke Astor. It occupies the entire 16th floor and part of the building's 15th floor and has five bedrooms, four bathrooms and one half-bath.
Corcoran listed the unit for $46 million in May 2008. Stribling & Associates relisted it in February 2009 for $29 million and then for $24.9 million in August 2009, according to StreetEasy.com. Architect Rosario Candela designed the building in 1931.

New York

812 Park Ave., penthouse

• List price: $15.9 million
• Previous list price: $36.5 million in November 2007
• Reduced: $20.6 million
• Price cut: 56.4%

This 6,500-square-foot triplex penthouse is on the 13th, 14th and 15th floors of a pre-World War II cooperative on Park Avenue. Sotheby's International Realty listed it for $36.5 million in November 2007, and Brown Harris Stevens listed it in June 2009 for $22 million.
Architect James Carpenter won an award from the American Institute of Architects' New York chapter for his work on this building in 1927, according to Corcoran.

New York

740 Park Ave., No. 4/5C

• List price: $26 million
• Previous list price: $35 million in August 2008
• Reduced: $9 million
• Price cut: 25.7%

This 6,700-square-foot duplex has four bedrooms with walk-in closets and en suite marble bathrooms, in addition to a laundry room, staff rooms, a private elevator landing and a marble gallery.
Sotheby's International Realty listed the property on StreetEasy.com for $35 million in August 2008 and reduced the price to $26 million in January 2009. The building, designed by architect Rosario Candela, also has been home to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and John D. Rockefeller Jr.

Las Vegas

1 Hughes Center Drive, No. 1901

• List price: $11.7 million
• Previous list price: $20 million in January 2008
• Reduced: $8.3 million
• Price cut: 41.5%

This two-story penthouse in the Park Towers was listed by Prudential at $20 million in 2008 before being relisted for $15 million in 2009, according to Zillow.com. The price was cut to $13.2 million in February 2010 and then to $11.7 million in September, according to Zillow.com.

New York

610 Park Ave., penthouse

• List price: $25.8 million
• Previous list price: $32.8 million in March
• Reduced: $7 million
• Price cut: 21.3%

This duplex penthouse has 7,700 square feet of living and entertaining space and 1,450 square feet of roof terrace. It features five bedrooms, a maid's room and a solarium. According to StreetEasy.com, Corcoran listed the unit for $32.8 million in March, reduced the price to $29.8 million in May and cut it again to $25.8 million in September.
The building, formerly the Mayfair Hotel, was converted into luxury condos by Donald Trump in 1998, according to Observer.com.

Los Angeles

1 West Century Drive, No. 34A

• List price: $8 million
• Previous list price: $14.3 million in June
• Reduced: $6.3 million
• Price cut: 44.1%

This 4,497-square-foot condo in the new Century residential tower has four bedrooms, five full bathrooms and a half-bath. Prices for units in the Century, which New York-based developer Related Cos. built, have dropped 10% to 25% across the board, according to Curbed.com.

Las Vegas

2777 Paradise Road, No. 3801/3901

• List price: $10 million
• Previous list price: $16 million in January 2009
• Reduced: $6 million
• Price cut: 37.5%

This penthouse offers more than 12,000 square feet of living space, including more than 3,000 square feet of wraparound terraces that provide a view of the Las Vegas Strip. The unit has five bedrooms and nine bathrooms and a dining room with a vaulted ceiling, according to Prudential. Florida-based developer Thurnberry Associates built the property.

Miami Beach, Fla.

800 S. Pointe Drive, PH-A

• List price: $16 million
• Previous list price: $22 million in 2008
• Reduced: $6 million
• Price cut: 27.3%

This new luxury condo development, named Apogee, was built by Miami-based developer The Related Group in 2008. The penthouse, which first listed for $22 million in 2008, occupies the top two floors of the building, with 11,000 square feet of terrace and balcony. The rooftop has a private pool and built-in kitchen.

New York

43 Fifth Ave., fifth floor

• List price: $19 million
• Previous list price: $25 million in January
• Reduced: $6 million
• Price cut: 24%

Features in this apartment include 10.5-foot ceilings, bay windows overlooking the Gothic Revival First Presbyterian Church, intricate molding, wainscoting and dark-stained white oak flooring. It has five bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms.
It was listed on Trulia.com by Anne Weintraub in January for $25 million and reduced to $19 million in April. The building, built in 1903 and converted to a cooperative in 1978, according to Cityrealty.com, was once home to actor Marlon Brando.

New York

770 Park Ave., No. 8D

• List price: $11 million
• Previous list price: $16.8 million in May 2008
• Reduced: $5.8 million
• Price cut: 34.5%

This renovated, four-bedroom apartment receives light through 28 windows spanning four exposures. It was listed for $16.8 million by Brown Harris Stevens in May 2008 and reduced to $11 million in October 2009, according to StreetEasy. The 18-story building was designed by Rosario Candela in 1930 in an H-shape to maximize light and air, according to the book "New York 1930, Architecture and Urbanism Between the Two World Wars."

Thanksgiving Holiday Travel

 Over the hill, through the woods and past the body scanners and the security checkpoints en route to Grandma's house this holiday season. Thanksgiving cooking

It's all about the cooking on thank-the-turkey day. Now, about that gravy …

To be thankful

Take a minute -- OK maybe five -- to consider the blessings that surround you.

Family at the holidays

Before the homemade chow, there's the meet-and-greet with the relatives standing by Grandma's fireplace. Some conversation starters.

Giving to the merchants

After all the holiday leftovers have been subdivided, it's time for some tactical planning. Now, where are the sale fliers with store layouts?

Maintaining your figure

After you went to all that trouble to shed those pounds, the holidays arrive and with them the "Seasonal Seven."

Acts of service

People often find that saying the words of thanksgiving isn't enough, and they feel the need to act on that conviction.

Thanksgiving table

This year, just do it. Get beyond a pop-up turkey centerpiece and questions about your cousin's fifth husband, and there's no need to arm-wrestle over the electric carver.

Thanksgiving entertainment

Thanksgiving is more than just turkey. Some of the trimmings include old flicks, trivia quizzes and, of course, parades. Did someone say "Miracle on 34th Street"

History of Thanksgiving

A survival guide wouldn't be complete without a recap of how all this Thanksgiving stuff got started.

Over the Top Thanksgiving Turkeys

Suntanned Turkey

With a little aluminum-foil ingenuity, Thanksgiving can be just another day at the beach. Courtesy of the blogs The Whole Enchilada and Raven's Brain, we found an easy way to surprise your Thanksgiving dinner guests: (1) Cut out aluminum foil in desired swimsuit-inspired shapes. (2) Arrange the turkey in the roasting pan and position the foil carefully. (3) Roast according to your own recipe and serve. (4) Watch your guests' faces ... Deep-Fried Turkey

This is it — traditional turkey with all the trimmings, except Jive Turkey owner Aricka Westbrooks deep-fries her turkeys in a pressurized fryer. This method yields crispy, golden-brown skin and remarkably tender, juicy meat that's ready in just 18 to 24 minutes. But this technique is not to be attempted by amateurs (it's even illegal in some states), so it's best to order from the professionals, like Jive Turkey, who ship nationwide.

Turducken

What would this list be without the opulent Cajun delicacy known as turducken? Part turkey, part duck, and part chicken, this bird-in-bird-in-bird masterpiece will provoke oohs and ahhs of delight. The Blue Star's version, which they ship nationwide, features deboned turkey stuffed with boneless chicken wrapped around duck breast fillet, layered with sage-butter bread stuffing and Andouille stuffing. Oooo-wee!

Lifelike Vegetarian Turkey

Forget tofurky — that vegan mainstay looks nothing like the real thing. Make way for the Vegetarian Plus brand Vegetarian Whole Turkey! This faux-meat bird is shaped like a real turkey, replete with drumsticks and a golden exterior, and is made from non-GMO soy. The whole turkey kit comes with a 4-pound turkey, a pound of Himalayan Barley Fried Rice as stuffing, and a pound of gravy.

Barbecue Whole Turkey

Described as the "prime beef" of the white-meat world, Joe's barbecue whole turkey comes in regular-, Cajun-, or jalapeño-smoked. As long as you live in the continental U.S., you and 10 of your loved ones can enjoy this slow-cooked Texas masterpiece on Thanksgiving. The bird ships cooked but frozen, so order early enough to allow 72 hours to thaw.

Thanksgiving Dinner Cake

Why stop at the main course when you're craving turkey? Delight your guests during dessert with this sweet Thanksgiving Dinner cake! The cake, which can be prepared in any flavor, is frosted with just the right shade of chocolate buttercream. Trimmings are created with colored frosting, whipped cream, cinnamon-dusted challah bread. Delish!

Beer-Can Turkey

We're not sure who invented this moist method of meat cookery, but beer and poultry make great partners. For detailed instructions on how to cook a beer-can turkey on your home grill, we turn to a post from Cooking for Engineers. Blogger Michael Chu explains it all, from the best way to brine to the optimal-size beer can and the tastiest blend of spices.

Roast Turkey with Alligator Stuffing

Unleash some wild Bayou flavor with this Cajun-style delicacy. The chefs at Hebert's stuff a whole boneless turkey with this one-of-a-kind rice stuffing that features onions, bell peppers, and alligator meat smothered in a zesty Cajun-spiced tomato sauce. Hebert's makes and ships a variety of New Orleans-style stuffed turkeys, but the alligator caught our eye.

Giving Thanks For Everyday American Heroes

Meet 5 who answered the call, and hear what they learned from their acts of kindness and courage

No. 1: Bus driver to the rescue

Richard Lucas stands in front of a burned-out home in Buffalo, N.Y. Lucas was driving a bus in July when he noticed smoke coming from a two-story house, home to two families. Lucas stopped and pounded on the door to wake the families sleeping inside. The families, shown standing on the porch of their former home, credit him with saving their lives. They are Shannon Reiter, Alysa Huertas, 13, Hanna Huertas, 10, Briana Huertas, 8, Emily Hunter, RosaLynda Baez, 11, MarcoAntonio Baez, 9, and Emiliana Baez, 5.

 Richard Lucas, 45, receives letters from the two families he rescued from the house blaze. "Everytime I drive by the house, I think about what would have happened had I not stopped," Lucas says.

 Fire victims extend their gratitude to Lucas, who reads letters from one of the children he saved from the burning home. Authorities still do not know what caused the blaze

No. 2: Good Samaritan

Victor Perez chased down a suspected kidnapper in his truck, shown here in Fresno, Calif. His actions are credited with freeing an abducted 8-year-old girl.

No. 3: Hero tot

Jaden Bolli is credited with saving the life of his grandmother, Patricia Bolli, who is holding him at her home in Maple Shade, N.J. Bolli had a seizure and Jaden, then 3, helped her by calling 911

No. 4: 'Amazing woman'

After seeing his plea for a kidney donation on Facebook, April Capone Almon donated her organ to Carlos Sanchez. They have formed a close friendship because of it and are seen here catching up near the East Haven Town Hall in East Haven, Conn., where Almon is mayor. "She is an amazing woman," Sanchez says

No. 5: 'Lucky'

Christa Brelsford, 25, was volunteering in a literacy program in Haiti when the January earthquake hit. She was pinned by falling rubble until several Haitians, including Wenson George, 19, helped rescue her. Brelsford, who ended up having her right leg amputated below the knee, is committed to giving back to the Haitian community. "I was lucky," she says. Now, her family is planning to bring George to Anchorage so he can attend high school.