The pending transfer of the widow of television producer Aaron Spelling to a condo unit from a mansion reflects the downturn of the American economy and the real estate market. Candy Spelling, when Aaron was still alive, lived with her husband for almost two decades in a 56,500-square foot French chateau-style mansion which had a wine-tasting room, bowling lanes and silver, china and gift-wrapping rooms. Aaron was the man behind hit TV series like "Charlie's Angels" and "Seventh Heaven. "

Some 100 nude beachcombers participated Sunday morning in the 15th Annual Bare Buns Run/Walk in Wreck Beach. The five-kilometer (3. 1 miles) race is a fundraising activity to preserve the nudist beach. The Wreck Beach Preservation Society, which organizes the annual event, will also hold a Body Acceptance Day on Aug. 23 for first-time nudists.

To boost the Labor Party's dwindling popularity, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has resorted to various methods of wooing Britons, including calling them at 6 a. m. to check their concerns. One recipient of his calls was Stephen Carter, who was on overtime work when Brown called. Carter was one of many Britons who had written to the prime minister. Brown responded to their letters by personally calling to look into their concerns.

The home and auto industries are two of the hardest hit sectors in the U. S. Rising foreclosures mark the housing sector, while closing car manufacturing plants are common in the auto plant. Given the parallel routes these two industries pass through, it is not surprising to hear American couples throwing in a used car as a freebie, just to unload on the market a debt-ridden home.

While there was an unexpected uptick in the February sales of existing homes at 2. 9 percent, home foreclosure filings across the U. S. grew by 60 percent and bank seizures more than doubled for the second month of the year. Aside from Americans struggling with the economy, the subprime crisis also hit a vulnerable sector who could do nothing about losing their roof, except whimper. Homeowners and their pets are being separated by escalating incidents of home foreclosures across America. According to USA Today, thousands of pets are being sent to animal shelters although no exact figures are available due to the lack of accounting standards for recording pets affected by foreclosures.