Shauna Wright

All-night cram sessions are commonplace for students. But even though we know being sleep-deprived could be counter-productive, it seems learning doesn’t have to stop just because we nod off.

Many people say they don’t work out because they simply don’t have the time. If you’re one of them, your favorite excuse may have just fallen by the wayside — a new study shows just 30 minutes of daily activity is enough for weight loss.

The economic downturn has been rough on a lot of businesses, but it’s been a boon for state lotteries. Seems people who only have a few dollars to spare aren’t putting them away for a rainy day — they’re trying to parlay them into big bucks.

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 79 – Mount Vesuvius erupts, burying the cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae in volcanic ash (More info) 1912 – Alaska becomes a United States territory (More info)

Tattoo aficionados know they should only frequent parlors where things are clean and the artist uses sterile tools. But dangers may lurk elsewhere — new studies show the ink itself could be contaminated.

Here’s a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today: Shelley Long Age: 63 Occupation: Actress Known For: Her Emmy-winning role as snooty Diane Chambers on the iconic hit TV series ‘Cheers,’ playing mom Carol Brady in ‘The Brady Bunch’ movie franchise, other film roles in ‘Irreconcilable Differences’ and ‘Dr. T & the Women,’ and a recurring role on the series ‘Modern Family’ Read Mo

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1926 – Silent film star Rudolph Valentino dies from a ruptured ulcer at the age of 31, sending tens of thousands of fans into a hysterical state of mass mourning (More info) 1939 – Germany and the Soviet Union shock the world by signing the Hitler-Stalin Pact (More info)

565 – St. Columba reports seeing a monster in Loch Ness, Scotland (More info) 1848 – The United States annexes New Mexico (More info)

Telecommuters may have some creative ways to while away the day, but at least they’re not shooting the breeze with colleagues — something a new survey finds is the biggest time-waster at work.

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1866 – President Andrew Johnson formally declares an end to the Civil War (More info) 1920 – The National Football League is founded (More info)