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What's wrong with saying "No problem" instead of "You're welcome"? Is it acceptable to answer a phone call with an email? In Would It Kill You To Stop Doing That?, Henry Alford goes on a quest for modern manners; he says most bad behavior is based in ignorance.

A study of accidents involving pedestrians wearing headphones suggests a real risk from the audio distraction. Fumbling with or listening to music players can divert attention from dangers. The audio can also drown out sounds of trouble.

The Supreme Court has declined to hear three cases involving free speech and religion. Two cases involved what powers school officials have to censor students for social media activities conducted from home. A third involved local government meetings that usually begin with Christian prayers.

The Palestinian version of Sesame Street depends on U.S. aid. But that money was put on hold by Congress after the Palestinians went to the United Nations last fall and made a request for statehood.

The improved outlook comes at a painful cost: nearly 700,000 state and local government jobs lost, and significant cuts to education and other programs. And since a quarter of states' budgets come from federal funding, more problems are on the way. But the hope is that the days of crippling budget deficits are at an end.

Low-tech 8-bit and 16-bit game systems inspire most of MAGFest's assortment of live cover bands.

The once sleepy role of secretary of state is rising in profile and controversy as the business of conducting elections has become more and more contentious over the past decade. From Maine to New Mexico, secretaries of state are making activism their trademark.

The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have some of the dirtiest air, thanks to thousands of old diesel cargo trucks that pass through each day. But new emissions standards just went into effect banning those old trucks. Neighboring communities are breathing a sigh of relief, but the restrictions are taking a toll on low-wage truck drivers.

It's the latest salvo in the two companies' global patent war, according to Bloomberg News. This time Apple is trying to ban sales of 10 Samsung smartphone models, claiming the Korean company copied Apple's design. It's also suing Samsung claiming it copied the iPad.

Lancaster is not social networking, but it is fighting crime with real tweets by birds. The city's mayor tells The Wall Street Journal that birds put residents in a "better place." And though police say the causes are many, crime in the city is down.