“U.S. retail sales were disappointing in September, worrying analysts that consumers may be feeling stretched or cautious as the biggest shopping season of the year rolls around. Some retailers make up as much as 30 percent of their yearly sales numbers from October to December. Kicking off the end of …

“Proposed Texas social studies textbooks may be flawed, but state standards are likely to blame for the imperfections. In September, nonprofit organization the Texas Freedom Network Education Fundcommissioned a group of history scholars to evaluate proposed social studies textbooks from publishing giants such as Pearson Education and McGraw-Hill Education. The …

“A study recently announced by researchers from the Loma Linda Medical School found that men living either a vegan or vegetarian diet had lower sperm counts than men who regularly consumed red meat. It has long been noted that vegetarian and vegan diets promote healthy immune systems that enable people …

“Behold, it’s “The Ebola Plush Toy,” priced at $9.95,” and a friendly looking critter indeed. It’s described as the “T-Rex of microbes” by Giant Microbes, a 12-year-old educational toy and gag gift manufacturer which advises customers to “learn all about this front page disease.” The company also makes 149 other …

Don’t worry people of Hong Kong, Kenny G and Nickelback are here to save the day! That’s right, these Western agents of hostile foreign forces are ready to undermine the unity of China by inspiring the student protesters of the Umbrella Revolution to put little things like democracy and voting …

“Don’t drive! If you have to drive…wear a seatbelt. But don’t drive!” Post to Facebook: Like BuzzFeedVideo on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1ilcE7k Post to Twitter: Music: Ten Finger Boogie Music Licensed Via Warner Chappell Production Music Inc. Featuring: Dad — Rocky Hart Mom — Carrie Clifford: @CarrieClifford Girl — Allison Raskin: @Allison620, …

“Opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has hit an all-time high despite years of counter-narcotics efforts that have cost the US $7.6bn (£4.7bn), according to a US government watchdog. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime reported that Afghan farmers grew an “unprecedented” 209,000 hectares (523,000 acres) of opium poppy in …

Chris Hayes rides the New York City subway with Dr. Peter Hotez, who explains how difficult it is to transmit the Ebola virus. » Subscribe to msnbc: http://on.msnbc.com/SubscribeTomsnbc About: msnbc is the premier destination for in-depth analysis of daily headlines, insightful political commentary and informed perspectives. Reaching more than 95 …

“Four former Blackwater security guards were convicted Wednesday in the 2007 shootings of more than 30 Iraqis in Baghdad, an incident that inflamed anti-American sentiment around the globe and was denounced by critics as an illustration of a war gone horribly wrong. The men claimed self-defense, but federal prosecutors argued …

“Europeans went in May to the polls to vote for their representatives to the European Parliament. The results were surprising, as parties in the far right and skeptics of the European Union grew in popularity, picking up seats in the political organization. If anything, the vote was a testament to …