After four months of around-the-clock care, the orphaned sea otter pup adopted by the Shedd Aquarium in January will go on public display this week. Cayucos was found in California in early December, where she was rescued and stabilized by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sea Otter Research and Conservation program, a sister institution of the Shedd, according to a news release from the aquarium. As one of few facilities with the housing space and resources needed to care for a pup, the Shedd Aquarium was chosen as Cayucos' permanent home. "Shedd Aquarium is one of the country’s top marine mammal conservation and education organizations, so it was only natural that we do whatever it takes to make sure that a pup of a threatened otter ... Continue reading →

Take a look at Lake Shore Drive circa 1905 #lsd #chilft #history http://t.co/lQ58UyAi Continue reading →

Hundreds of millions of dollars meant to provide a little relief to the nation’s struggling homeowners is being diverted to plug state budget gaps. In a budget proposed this week, California joined more than a dozen states that want to help close gaping shortfalls using money paid by the nation’s biggest banks and earmarked for foreclosure prevention, investigations of financial fraud and blunting the ill effects of the housing crisis. California was awarded more than $400 million from the banks, and Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed using the bulk of that sum to pay the state’s debts. The money was part of a national settlement valued at $25 billion and negotiated with five big banks over abuses in their mortgage and foreclosure processes. The settlement, ... Continue reading →

Can you name this British estate from a popular TV show? (Answer is below.)Photo: highclerecastle.co.uk | PBS.orgThe settings for favorite TV shows can often become almost as familiar as the characters themselves. But although we’ve spent many hours with these apartments and houses in the background, their details usually remain a mystery. Of course many programs are shot on sets, but sometimes real home exteriors and interiors are used. Slideshow: Where Have I Seen That House? With this collection, readers may wonder no more about some well-known homes from television dramas on AMC, HBO, and PBS as well as situation comedies on NBC and FOX. There are a few reality homes thrown in as well, from programs airing on MTV and Oxygen. Check out these ... Continue reading →