'Cupcakists' Find Happiness in a Simple Pastry

Experts puzzled by drop in murder, property crime

(NEWSER) - Despite financial misery, unemployment, and foreclosures, America's crime rate actually dropped in 2009. Preliminary FBI figures show murder and manslaughter are down 10%, January to June, while property crimes overall dropped 6%, the AP reports. Car theft is down 19%. "That's a remarkable decline, given the economic conditions," one expert said. More»

(NEWSER) - Old guard NYC food vendors are serving up a side of invective with their hot dogs, aimed at upscale newcomers disturbing the traditional order, the Times reports. In the last year the recession has pushed white-collar workers of all stripes onto the street, but the newbies don’t understand—or won’t abide by—the community’s arcane rules. “I should not have to carry a baseball bat on my truck in order to sell cupcakes,” says one. More»

Recession has sped end of 'era of male dominance'

(NEWSER) - Macho men caused this recession, and they’re going to pay the price: for the first time in history, they’ll cease to be the dominant force in society, writes Reihan Salam in Foreign Policy. Signs of the turning tide can already be seen in the US, as male-dominated industries like construction get hit hardest by the “he-cession,” and stimulus money goes to female-dominated health care and education. More»

Yorkshire terrier is second; bulldog now at No. 8 and gaining fast

(NEWSER) - The Obamas’ pup could change things, but for now the playful Labrador retriever remains America’s most popular purebred, the American Kennel Club calculates. It's the Lab’s 18th consecutive year as king; the Yorkshire terrier and German shepherd are second and third, Reuters reports. Bulldogs moved up two spots, to No. 8, with their popularity up 69% in the past decade. More»

Legendary host says goodbye after 35 years of 'come on down'

(NEWSER) - Bob Barker taped his final episode of "The Price is Right" yesterday after 35 years hosting the long-running game show. He treated it as just another day, signing off with his usual admonition to spay and neuter pets, but after the cameras stopped rolling, the 83-year-old legend thanked the studio audience profusely for his 50 years in TV. More»