A. J. Jacobs sizes up his formidable foe, brown eyes narrowed behind the slim wire frames of his glasses. His enemy is freshly baked and smells temptingly like chocolate chips, cinnamon, and nutmeg. His enemy is round, with crispy edges and a soft, chewy center. His enemy, right now, is a cookie.

Finally, Jacobs asks: “Is it organic?”

Unfortunately, it is not. He shrugs, and his face splits with a quick, sudden grin—the smile of a mischievous boy about to break the rules.

“Don’t tell my publisher,” he says, and takes a big bite.

Jacobs, best-selling author of , , and the new t, is a few months into his latest project: a year spent trying to become the healthiest person alive. This means

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TERRE HAUTE — Skateboarders from across Southern Indiana will converge on the Voorhees Skate Park in Terre Haute from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday for the Third Annual Transition Skate Jam.

“This is really a highlight for the year for area skateboarders and fans,” said Michael Ramsey, owner of the Transition Skate Shop in Terre Haute, who is sponsoring the Skate Jam. “It’s a great chance to watch the local kids skate who are really pushing themselves to improve, and also to see some of the best talent in Indiana. It’s exciting to see them all mixed in together.”

The highlight of the day is the skate competition from 3 to 4 p.m., where three skaters at a time take a 60-second trip through the bowl to show their skills for the judges. The competiti

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The look of sheer panic washed over actress Anne Heche’s face as she watched Harrison Ford pilot a de Havilland airplane through a thunder and lightning storm.

Over the Pacific Ocean and flying through pouring rain, Ford finally sees a small island where he could land. Pulling the controls for the plane’s wing flaps, Ford somehow manages to land on the water and taxi onto the beach, spinning the aircraft a few times before cutting the engine.

In a scene that took about five minutes on the film “Six Days, Seven Nights” actually took the team at Camarillo-based Studio Wings, Inc.

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The man who brought you such musical visions as “Prom Night Dumpster Baby” and “You Have AIDS” now brings you his debut album. But wait — not one flatulence joke? Not one reference to “fat chicks?” Nope, this is straight up big band jazz.

Seth MacFarlane often uses his Rat Pack throwback pipes to provide a signature musical flavor to “Family Guy.” Whether it’s Brian the Dog singing with Frank Sinatra Jr. or one of the show’s Bing Crosby/Bob Hope homage episodes, MacFarlane is an unabashed fan of the big band era.

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TERRE HAUTE — Edith Acton, a lifelong resident of Terre Haute, is the Wabash Valley Art Guild Artist of the Month for August. Her fused glass artwork can be viewed at the Vigo County Public Library and will be on display on Saturday at the Block Party in downtown Terre Haute. 

Acton had been a crafter for most of her life, but as soon as she mastered the various crafts, it would become repetitive and the satisfaction would diminish. About 8 years ago, she tried glass fusion, and discovered the creative aspect of her work and with it the feeling of being an artist.

Her journey to becoming an artist started with a trip to an art festival in Florida. A

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It’s that exciting time of year again—when the promise of newly sharpened pencils, crisp white paper, shiny new shoes, and a whole new year ahead beckon children back to school. Whether a child is just starting out in his or her first year or returning to a familiar routine, a good book can go a long way in inspiring enthusiasm for what’s to come.