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Venice rebels against cruise ship intrusions (AP)

CORRECTS DATE PHOTO TAKEN - In this photo taken Sept. 10, 2011, a cruise liner sails past the Giudecca canal in Venice, Italy. The fatal grounding of the Costa Concordia off the Tuscan coast has sharpened the focus on the largely unchecked boom of these ever-larger luxury liners, and nowhere more so than in Venice, a fragile city already struggling against mass tourism and the steady deterioration of its underwater foundations. There's growing clamor for an urgent rethink to the expanding cruise liner traffic through Venice's historic center. Critics point not only to a threat of accidents, but also air and water pollution, and the injection of an additional 2 million more tourists a year into a city already under constant siege. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini)AP - It’s a matter of perspective. From aboard a 12-deck cruise liner, the sight of St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace and Bridge of Sighs gliding past from a cabin balcony is a breathtaking thrill.

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SF's Dogpatch pier district braces for renewal (AP)

In this Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012 photo, Allen Gross works on his historic 19th century sailboat at a shipyard near Pier 70 in San Francisco. The city intends to overhaul historic Pier 70, a rough-and-tumble neighborhood sitting at the foot of Potrero Hill, filled with 150-year-old industrial buildings, canneries, dry docks and plenty of maritime lore. The 1,000 some residents, artists and small business owners, shipyard workers, fisherman and boat builders are passionate about their historic surroundings and lifestyle and want to be appeased. 'I don't think the people in the city staff positions understand the nuances of what happens down here,' said Gross, a retired San Francisco Opera set carpenter who is restoring the Folly, a wooden cutter built in 1889 and one of the oldest boats on the San Francisco Bay. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)AP - There’s a hidden corner of the City by the Bay where rusted cranes used to build WWII battleships loom over dilapidated artist studios, where working-class fishermen bob up against first-class ocean liners docked for repair.

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Indy's homespun charm wins over East Coast fans (AP)

Football fans dance in the street at Super Bowl Village in Indianapolis, Friday Feb. 3, 2012. The New England Patriots are scheduled to face the New York Giants in NFL football's Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis on Feb 5. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)AP - Indianapolis’ chowder and fried clams didn’t measure up to the storied fare that has spoiled John and Cheryl Younghans in their native New England. Fellow New England Patriots fan Bob Ritchie drove to the Hoosier State from Massachusetts and when he arrived was floored by the flatness.

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High Museum to feature folk artist Bill Traylor (AP)

In this image released by the High Museum of Art, an untitled work of poster paint and pencil on cardboard by artist Bill Traylor, is shown. Works by Traylor, who was born into slavery in Alabama and became a highly respected self-taught artist, will be exhibited at AtlantaĆ¢??s High Museum of Art from Feb. 5, thru May 13.   (AP Photo/High Museum of Art)AP - A new exhibition set to open at Atlanta’s High Museum of Art showcases the work of Bill Traylor, who was born into slavery in Alabama and became a highly respected self-taught artist after he began drawing while sitting on the sidewalks of Montgomery as an old man.

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Winter driving school ? humbling, but worthwhile (AP)

In this Jan. 21, 2012 photo, a student practices keeping control of a car on a snow-covered course during the Keweenaw Research CenterĆ¢??s winter driving school near Hancock, Mich. The school helps new and veteran drivers learn how to avoid crashes while driving on snowy roads. (AP Photo/John Flesher)AP - I’m at the wheel of a Buick Park Avenue, driving about 30 mph on a snowy surface, when a sharp curve looms ahead. I tap the brake and steer leftward entering the turn. But something goes wrong. The car skids to the right and — WHOMP — slams into a snowbank, where it’s stuck fast. Auugghh!!

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The latest scavenger hunt takes you underwater (AP)

In this Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012 photo, Kenny Jenkins uses a lift bag to help him carry a weight and geocache marker to place it in about 33 ft. of water in Lake Denton in Avon Park Fla. Interest in geocaching has grown significantly over the years. But combining the two hobbies, geocaching and scuba diving, has only recently taken off. About 100 geocaches around the world today are only accessible with scuba gear, according to the geocaching.com database. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)AP - The latest scavenger hunt takes you underwater.

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Gates visitor center more than philanthropy museum (AP)

In this photo taken Jan. 24, 2012, Martha Choe, right, chief administrative officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and spokeswoman Melissa Milburn walk down a hall at the facility's new visitor's center in Seattle. The new facility showcases Bill Gates' philanthropy, not his computers. Those who decide to stop by before their trip up the nearby Space Needle will find thought-provoking and even fun exhibits that encourage visitors on how they can make the world a better place. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)AP - People are already joking it’s a good thing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation isn’t charging admission for its new visitor center, which showcases Bill Gates’ multibillion-dollar philanthropy, not his computers.

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Forest Service to Jesus: You can stay ? for now (AP)

AP - A mountaintop Jesus statue can stay at a ski resort in the western U.S. state of Montana — for now.

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NY winter park is a twist on pop-up trend (AP)

In this Tuesday, Jan. 24 2012 photo Jana Kennedy, left, reads a book to her niece Matilda as others enjoy high tea at the Park Here indoor park in New York.  Birds are chirping, the grass is green and tea is being served amid blossoming bushes. Welcome to New York City in January, with a cure for cold-weather blues: a pop-up indoor park in lower Manhattan that's open through Valentine's Day. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)AP - Birds are chirping, the grass is green and tea is being served amid blossoming bushes.

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Enjoy London's Olympic spirit without a ticket (AP)

In this Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012 photo, a canoeist paddles down the white water course at the Lee Valley White Water Center in north London. The white water course will host the London 2012 Olympic canoe slalom competitions. The center is open to public for white water rafting until April and after the Olympics.  (AP Photo/Sang Tan)AP - No tickets for the 2012 Olympics? Don’t despair: You don’t need one to enjoy the games and the party atmosphere in London this summer.