ATLANTA — More than 3 out of 4 new moms now breast-feed their infants, the highest rate in the U.S. in at least 20 years, according to a a government report released yesterday.

Girlfriends' getaways — where women travel with other women and leave the menfolk home — are booming. And the phenomenon is not just about bachelerotte parties or 20-somethings on spring break.

"Restore and renew." "Significantly reduces the loss of cells in the epidermis." "Regenerate cells and repair tissue."

Josh Holloway, the resident bad boy Sawyer on ABC TV's "Lost," is lending a bit of star power to the fight against human trafficking in Hawai'i.

"Spring Footholds: Echoes," a dance concert, opens at 8 tonight and continues through Sunday at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Earle Ernst Lab Theatre.

"Restore and renew." "Significantly reduces the loss of cells in the epidermis." "Regenerate cells and repair tissue."

To become a mega-movie star these days, a man must don the tights. With a few notable exceptions like Leonardo DiCaprio, who had the good fortune to be in the highest-grossing movie of all time (that would be "Titanic"), almost every $20 million man has done his time as a caped crusader, masked marvel or some popcorn equivalent, such as a pirate or extraterrestrial G-man.

OSAKA, Japan — Udon noodle exports in 2007 were more than double that of 10 years ago, apparently because of a growing fondness overseas for Japanese food and the growing ranks of Japanese baseball players plying their trade overseas.

Q. I'm looking for a cookie that I can make with a cake mix. I stock up on them when they go on sale, and I often need to make a batch of cookies for church or school functions. Any suggestions? I've really loved your other cake-mix Recipe Doctor recipes, so I trust you can do this too.

Batter breads, which don't require kneading and go together more quickly than conventional kneaded breads, can save time while giving you that warm, bread-baking feeling and your kitchen that lovely yeasty aroma.