A Cornell University horticulturist research says that giving some plants diluted alcohol stunts the growth of a plant's leaves and stems but doesn't affect the blossoms. William Miller, director of Cornell's Flower Bulb Research Program, reported his findings in the April issue of HortTechnology, a peer-reviewed journal of horticulture.

A historic tavern opened in 1784, when Annapolis, Md. , served as the nation's capital. It is now getting a facelift and new signage, and will become the area's sixth Starbucks. The ever-increasing coffee chain that has many American stopping before, after, and during work or leisure activities is ruffling some feathers in a city with significant American importance and cultural heritage.

A whopping 57 percent of U. S. adults said holiday drinks such as eggnog, hot chocolate and punch were boring. Those results led a contest given by a syrup firm to invent a new drink. The winner: Mulled Pomegranate Warmer, which includes lemons, oranges, sugar, water, pomegranate or raspberry syrup, wine and spices.

A life-size statue of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, erected in the Bosnian city of Mostar, was vandalized just hours after its public unveiling on Saturday. The statue, which features Lee in his trademark defensive stance armed with nunchucks, was erected as a symbolic protest against ethnic division and to commemorate would have been The Dragon's 65th birthday on Sunday.

At least 10 people have been arrested and more than 7,000 bottles of phony whiskey, cognac and other spirits seized following a months-long investigation into a nationwide bootlegging operation. The gang, headed by a 45-year-old man identified only by his surname, Lai, collected empty, discarded bottles of name brand liquors such as Chivas Regal and Remy Martin, and then filled them with generic drinking alcohol blended to taste, look, and smell like the real thing.