Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has put aside petty quarrels with King Juan Carlos of Spain and offered an open embrace. Chavez, who seems to really love the sound of his own voice and is known for his lengthy speeches, angered King Carlos last year by interrupting a speech given by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. The King was already annoyed with Chavez after he had called former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar a "fascist" at the Ibero-American summit in Chile.

Do your kids hear the words “summer vacation” and automatically think “mental shut-down?” Not only does regular participation in academic and social programs have a positive influence on a child’s mental development, but it can give their self-esteem a major boost, too. Read on for tips from the NEA that will keep your kids from vegetating in front of the TV while school’s out.