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Family Living
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Money advice for expectant and new parents
(BPT) - Have you ever heard the saying that “babies don’t come with owner’s manuals”? It’s true that no matter how many books you read, classes you take, or experienced parents you talk to, you can never be completely prepared for the challenges and joys of parenthood. You can, however, prepare yourself for the costs of...
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How classroom technology can benefit your child's education
(BPT) - Historically, the term “digital divide” has referred to the gap in technology levels between developing and first world countries; however, it’s truly the divide between the more affluent and the underprivileged. While the divide has a worldwide reach, it’s important to remember that the gap is growing in Americ...
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Don't let these myths rain on your retirement party
(BPT) - Do you dream of the day you can retire, but aren't sure how to get there? You're not alone. Many people find it easier to avoid reality when it comes to planning for retirement. "That can lead to big mistakes in their retirement income planning ," says Zachary Gipson, vice president of retirement and wealth planning at USAA. Here's a look at five common myths that could derail your expectations for income when you retire. Myth 1: You won't be around long enough to go through your...
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Easy Asian recipes for everyday and entertaining
(BPT) - Preparing a meal that will please everyone at the table is something that every host strives for. The vibrant flavors of Asian food are surprisingly easy to create at home – particularly when you have the right ingredients – and so versatile that they can be dressed up or down to fit any occasion. “There’s a pe...
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Grow your tax refund with savings bonds
(BPT) - Expecting a tax refund this tax season? If so, you may be interested in a convenient savings option offered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Taxpayers may buy paper Series I Savings Bonds, in amounts ranging from $50 to $5,000, with their annual tax refund by completing the “Allocation of Refund (Includin...
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Secrets for making the perfect pizza on game day
(BPT) - When it comes to game-day entertaining, pizza served with a full-flavored craft beer is sure to score big with your guests. Delicious and easy, guests can quickly grab a slice and a brew during the break in the action and get back to the game with a well-balanced pairing in hand. To kick it up a notch for your n...
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Simple tips to declutter your digital life
(BPT) - Owning multiple gadgets is no longer the domain of tech geeks – it’s the new normal for just about everyone. Between multiple computers, phones, tablets, readers and music players, and the files that fill them up, people have a lot on their digital hands. Because that can be both costly and cumbersome, people ar...
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TV tip-overs a hazard for young children
(BPT) - Many homes have new TVs decorating the living room, bedroom, den and even the kitchen. These TVs often feature the latest wide, flat screens, which give viewers great definition and clarity. But while they provide a beautiful viewing experience, flat screen TVs are top-heavy on a narrow base, and they can easily...
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Your new TV features a geat picture and a tipping hazard [Infographic]
Your new flat-screen TV may feature a great picture and incredible sound, but it also comes with something you might not know: a big tipping hazard. The average weight of a flat-screen TV is 50 pounds, which is the equivalent of three bowling balls falling on you or your family members. The statistics are scary, with young children being particularly prone to TV-related injuries. Remember, the best place for your TV is safely mounted on the wall.  
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Untreated hearing loss can strain relationships with loved ones, but there is hope
(BPT) - Hearing loss is much more common than most people realize. In fact, it is such a prevalent condition that only arthritis and hypertension affect more people. If left untreated, the consequences of hearing loss can be severe and greatly impact the quality of life and personal relationships of those affected. Wors...
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Add some New Orleans flavor to your game day recipes
(BPT) - When it comes to planning for the big football game in New Orleans this year, instead of turning to grease-heavy and heartburn-inducing foods, why not consider some tasty and healthier options that will have everyone giving you a high score for food options? New Orleans-based executive chef Tory McPhail, of the...
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Think beyond the allowance to teach kids lasting money skills
(BPT) - One of the most exciting parts of parenthood is watching your children learn as they grow. Of course, life’s lessons can be tough just as often as they can be pleasant. And as you want to protect kids from falling off their bike or scraping a knee, you also want to set them up for a successful financial future, ...
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national news

A home destroyed nearly five months ago during the landfall of Superstorm Sandy is pictured in Mantoloking, New JerseyBy Victoria Cavaliere SEASIDE HEIGHTS, New Jersey (Reuters) - The New Jersey shore ushered in the unofficial start of summer on Friday, with businesses making last-minute preparations and officials declaring the resort towns ready for visitors seven months after Superstorm Sandy. Governor Chris Christie oversaw a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open a freshly re-constructed boardwalk in Seaside Heights and declared it "a great day for New Jersey." "We're here with the whole country welcoming the Jersey shore back," he said. ...


Fri May 24 12:25:59 UTC 2013

Obama signs a bill designating the Congressional Gold Medal commemorating lives of four young girls killed in 1963 bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church bombing of Birmingham, Alabama, in Washington(Reuters) - President Barack Obama signed a bill into law on Friday granting the United States' highest civilian honor to four black girls killed in a civil rights-era church bombing that shocked the nation in 1963. Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to 14-year-olds Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, and 11-year-old Denise McNair, who were killed in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. ...


Fri May 24 14:52:41 UTC 2013

Jason Owen digs through debris as he helps his mother to salvage items from her uncle's home after it was almost destroyed by a tornado in Moore, Oklahoma(Reuters) - Tornadoes that struck the United States from May 18 to May 20 caused between $2 billion to $5 billion of insured losses, disaster modeling company Eqecat said late Thursday. At the high end of the range, the tornado outbreak may rank as the second-worst ever in terms of insured losses, behind the late-April 2011 twisters that devastated Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and other communities. Eqecat said most of the losses were attributed to the tornado that devastated Moore, Oklahoma, on Monday. ...


Fri May 24 07:55:01 UTC 2013
From William Ray Fullmer: "My nephew, Sgt. Derek Tillman Roberts, spilled his blood on the sands of Iraq to extend the right to live free to the people of the Middle East. On June 14, 2007, Derek was killed by a roadside bomb in Kirkuk, placed by those too cowardly to face him on the [...]
Fri May 24 13:55:25 UTC 2013