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Seasonal
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Holiday entertaining made easy
The holidays are just around the corner, which means family and friends will soon get together at your home to celebrate. Whether you're hosting large or intimate gatherings, having a game plan in place well in advance of your event is essential. With a few simple steps, you can jumpstart holiday entertaining - and incre...
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Governments prep for another snowmageddon
While American drivers enjoyed a relatively mild winter last season, this time around the Farmers' Almanac is predicting a heavier than average snowfall for much of the country and adequate preparation for snow removal will be key to avoiding catastrophe.
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A holiday tech gift idea for your favorite TV watcher
If someone on your gift list this year loves to watch TV and wants to see all the top-rated shows for free - there's a gift out there that can grant them their wish and won't break the bank. It's a razor thin, indoor, high-tech HDTV antenna that pulls in all TV broadcast signals within 25 miles and makes them available i...
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Five easy ways to support the troops during the holidays
Supporting the troops is an important thing to do - but sometimes it's hard to figure out how to give your support. Here are five easy ways to thank those people who keep us safe every single day - even if you don't personally know someone serving. And it's the perfect time of year to do it. With the holidays coming up, ...
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Pondering presidential polls? How to decipher the data
When it comes to deciphering the data from polls, you may feel like you need an advanced degree in political science to really put the information in perspective. It's worth the effort, however, to understand what polls might really mean. If you're following the polls, keep these fundamental considerations in mind when e...
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Expert tips to provide birds with basic needs to weather winter
Winter is prime time for attracting birds. Beckoning birds to your backyard in winter can be easier than in any other season if you provide what they need to weather and survive the coldest months.
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Recipes from Paula Deen and Diabetes in a New Light allow you to enjoy the holidays while sticking to your diabetes regimen
With calorie-packed foods and sugary drinks often at the center of holiday gatherings, the season can be more challenging than festive for many Americans living with type 2 diabetes. But American cooking star Paula Deen, who has type 2 diabetes, is letting people know that it's still possible to enjoy all that the holida...
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How to help kids adjust to sleep schedule changes
Whether it's every year at daylight saving time, the start of the school year or holiday travel, you'll often be faced with the challenge of adjusting what time your child wakes up and goes to bed. But there's no reason to panic when sleep schedules change. With a few helpful tips, you can have your children back on a ro...
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Quick tips for pulling together a holiday potluck
When your holiday-dinner guest list keeps growing year after year, it may be time to share the cooking. A potluck is a great way to share the load, and with just a little advance planning you can avoid ending up with 12 green bean casseroles on the dinner table.
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Outdoor activities heat up as weather cools down
As the days grow shorter and Old Man Winter makes his appearance, many of us are tempted to bundle up and stay indoors. But don't let the changing weather keep you from nature's beauty and the potential of outdoor adventure.
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Great destinations to visit over the holidays
For some people, the holidays are meant to be spent at home, surrounded by friends and family. For others, they are a time to escape on vacation. And then there are those remarkable people who manage to work in both. To aid in that pursuit, here are six destinations across the country that are perfect for a quick holiday...
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Holiday dining gets fresh flavor with new uses for seasonal ingredients
When the weather cools, do your cravings turn toward peppermint? Or perhaps the approaching holidays are priming your palate for pumpkin and gingerbread. Some flavors and ingredients just seem to go naturally with the season. While time-honored culinary traditions will always have a place in our seasonal celebrations, mi...
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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
Bridge collapses in Washington state, sending cars into river

I-5 Bridge Collapses On Skagit River In WashingtonBy Jonathan Kaminsky OLYMPIA, Washington (Reuters) - Part of a four-lane freeway bridge over a river in a rural area north of Seattle collapsed on Thursday, sending vehicles and people into the frigid water below, authorities said. The collapse on Interstate 5 over the Skagit River happened at about 7 p.m. local time between the towns of Mount Vernon and Burlington, 55 miles north of Seattle, Washington State Patrol spokesman Trooper Mark Francis said. "I've got reports of vehicles and people in the water," Francis said. He added that he did not know if anyone was injured. ...


Thu May 23 23:23:55 UTC 2013
Magnitude 5.7 quake strikes Northern California: U.S. Geological Survey
(Reuters) - A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck in Northern California on Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter of the quake was located 2 miles north-northeast of the town of Canyondam, the USGS said. An initial report said the quake was magnitude 5.9. A 5.7 magnitude quake is considered moderate, but has the potential to cause considerable damage. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. (Writing by the Americas Desk)
Thu May 23 23:15:10 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