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How safe is your home? [Infographic]
How safe is your home? The 2013 ADT Safety Data Index, a recent survey commissioned by ADT, found that America’s knowledge of national safety and security facts and information is alarmingly low. When quizzed on a series of national security and safety questions, those polled scored 1.6 out of 5.  And while Americans may believe their home is a safe place, they may not be taking the proper precautionary measures to safeguard their homes and belongings. With the surging real estate market an...
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A year-end report card on school cafeterias: Did they make the grade for improved nutrition?
(BPT) - The 2012-2013 school year brought a new curriculum to school cafeterias across the United States. For most of the country’s 17,000 school districts, it was an accelerated class, requiring the complete revision of school menus, from ingredients to food pairings to recipes, to meet the new USDA nutrition guideline...
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Free time? What's that? [Infographic]
People may ask what you do in your free time, as if you have so much time to spare. In fact, one in three moms have less than 30 minutes of free time to themselves each day. Spend those 30 minutes wisely and give yourself a sweet escape. We all know that nothing is sweeter than a moment to yourself on a hot summer’s afternoon. While summer is still a season away, you can enjoy the sweet taste with Dole Fruit Parfaits. The juicy fruit and creamy topping will carry you away to somewhere warm....
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One-of-a-kind ideas for an unforgettable wedding
(BPT) - Mark knew he wanted to marry his girlfriend, Stacy, but he didn’t know how to pop the question. The proposal had to be memorable, unique, and meaningful for just the two of them. A cozy picnic on their favorite beach, surrounded by soft sand and cresting waves sounded perfect. Mark just needed that one final det...
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What are America's most popular travel plans?
It’s never too early to make your summer travel plans. DreamPlanGo , the popular website and social community devoted to bringing travelers vacation ideas and trip inspiration, surveyed a cross-section of Americans and found some interesting answers to that age-old question, “What are you doing this summer?” True to f...
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Hitting the road or water? Tips to make outdoor time fun, memorable and safe
(BPT) - Americans are falling in love with Mother Nature all over again, which could be why ownership of boats and recreational vehicles is more popular than ever. If you own a boat or RV, do you use it frequently, or is it sitting in your driveway? It’s time to get the most out of it, and with a few simple ideas, you’l...
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Cycling into spring [Infographic]
Check your tire pressure and strap on your helmet! It’s time to get bikes out of storage and head out for a ride in the warm, fresh air – shaking off winter for good. Master Lock recently surveyed consumers to find out their safety and security habits – can you believe almost half of bike riders have either had their bike stolen or know someone who has? Check out the company’s survey results, safety information and fun facts below. Pedal on!
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Laser spine surgery helps seniors find relief from lumbar spinal stenosis
(BPT) - Two recent clinical studies bring good news to the aging population. If you have lower back pain, burning pain or numbness in your legs you are probably one of the many people suffering with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS) – a condition affecting a vast majority of the over-60 age group – and this good news app...
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The skinny on lighter fare for summer
(BPT) - Summer is a time to switch out our wardrobes, exchange coats for swimsuits and boots for flip-flops. But if the winter months took a toll on your waistline you may not want to shed those extra layers. Lighten up for warmer summer days by making simple swaps and conscious diet decisions.  It’s possible to enjoy ...
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How to be your kids' fitness mentor
(BPT) - “Do as I say, not as I do,” has never been an exemplary parenting style. As childhood obesity has more than doubled over the past 30 years, the need for an active lifestyle has never been greater. If parents make fitness a priority, chances are their kids will too. “If you’re a parent, whether you’re aware of i...
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How is home financing affecting recent home purchases? [Infographic]
The recent national home price index showed signs of a turnaround in the turbulent real estate market, with average home prices rebounding to higher levels in the past months. This, paired with current mortgage rates remaining at historic lows, has many considering homeownership. But deciding to buy a home is just the beginning of a process which can be daunting. To highlight best practices in home buying and home financing, TD Bank created the TD Bank Mortgage Service Index. This national s...
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One of the most common skin conditions you've never heard of
(BPT) - What affects an estimated 16 million Americans, more commonly occurs in women and tends to appear after age 30? If you didn’t guess “rosacea,” you’re not alone – 78% of Americans don’t know what this condition is despite the fact that it’s very common. Rosacea appears on the skin as redness, unpredictable blushi...
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national news
Boy Scouts of America votes to end century-old ban on gay scouts

Jennifer Tyrrell hugs Pascal Tessier after a resolution passed to allow openly gay scouts in the Boy Scouts in GrapevineBy Marice Richter GRAPEVINE, Texas (Reuters) - The Boy Scouts of America voted on Thursday to lift a century-old ban on openly gay scouts in a major victory for gay rights activists, but the decision means a sea of change for an organization that depends heavily on faith-based groups. More than 60 percent of the group's National Council, comprised of some 1,400 delegates, voted in favor of ending the ban, effective January 1, 2014, the group said in a statement. A prohibition on openly gay adult leaders remains in place. ...


Thu May 23 21:55:35 UTC 2013
Tornado insured losses estimated at $2 billion-$5 billion

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 anywhere from $2 billion to $5 billion in insured losses, disaster modeling company Eqecat said. The firm said most of the losses were attributed to the tornado that devastated Moore, Oklahoma, last Monday. Eqecat said some 76 tornadoes struck across 10 states over a three-day span. The worst of it was in Moore, where the firm said about 13,000 structures were damaged. ...


Fri May 24 06:18:12 UTC 2013
Truck strike may have caused Washington state bridge collapse, officials says

I-5 Bridge Collapses On Skagit River In WashingtonBy Jonathan Kaminsky OLYMPIA, Washington (Reuters) - A colliding truck may have triggered the collapse on Thursday of part of a four-lane freeway bridge that sent vehicles and drivers tumbling into a frigid river in Washington state, officials said. A U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into what led part of the Interstate 5 bridge to fall into the Skagit River 55 miles north of Seattle was expected to continue on Friday. Two of the three people rescued from the river were hospitalized with hypothermia, but no one died, officials said. ...


Fri May 24 04:14:46 UTC 2013
Boy Scouts vote to end ban on gay youth members
[Updated at 6:55 p.m. CT] DALLAS – The Boy Scouts of America, one of the country’s largest and oldest youth organizations, decided on Thursday to break 103 years of tradition by allowing openly gay members into its ranks. The controversial move was approved by more than 60 percent of the approximate 1,400 votes cast by [...]
Thu May 23 18:55:38 UTC 2013