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Seasonal
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Tips for elevating the traditional holiday meal
If preparing the holiday feast falls upon you, the pressure is on to get it just right. Whether you're faithfully replicating treasured family recipes, or want to put a new creative spin on seasonal culinary customs, achieving success with the food you offer can define a happy holiday experience for all.
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Confidence is key when driving in winter weather
Harsh winter conditions can have crippling effects for drivers in locations often affected by snowy and icy weather during the cold months. Hauling the kids to hockey practice or even a quick trip to the grocery store could prove to be a difficult task, especially if a vehicle is not ready for challenging conditions that...
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Halloween decor - more treat than trick
While displaying ghosts and goblins is great for the kids and the standard for Halloween decor, how about getting into the spirit but with a bit more sophistication this year? If you are throwing a Halloween party for those adults who are kids at heart, a spooky holiday theme can still be part of the festivities, but wit...
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Prevent winter fun from becoming a DUI
Many Americans associate drinking and driving with New Year's Eve. But throughout the cold-weather months, from holiday season office parties through snowmobiling season in January and February, to St. Patrick's Day in March, there are ample opportunities for even cautious drivers to let their guard down when it comes dr...
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Savory fall dishes enhanced with grapes
Beautiful fall vegetables are in season now and make for wonderful dishes that will have your family members saying "yum." In addition to the traditional fall flavors of produce like squash and cauliflower, California grapes are also in season, having one of the longest, "just-picked" seasons among North American fruits,...
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Eco-friendly tips to protect homes from pesky bugs
Cool weather signals homeowners to finalize outdoor chores and cozy up for the long winter ahead. It also signals pesky insects to head indoors seeking food sources and warm, safe places to hibernate. What can the smart homeowner do?
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Should you 'winterize' your pet?
The arrival of autumn signals many changes in the household, from switching from salads to soups to pulling sweaters out of storage to changing furnace filters. With pets, however, you may need to think as much about what you don't change as what you do.
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Upgrade your pest control this fall
Where do bugs enter your home? The short answer: all over. Sometimes they crawl or fly in when windows or doors are open. They also slip in through cracks in walls or foundations, holes in window screens or crevices in the home that let in cables, wires and pipes. Most commonly though, they'll drop right onto your roof a...
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Easy and affordable ways to spruce up your space
When seasons change, it's also a good time to change out and update your home decor. Time and budget don't always allow for a complete overhaul, so here are some easy and affordable ways to rejuvenate your home.
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Warm up the colder months with skin that's irresistible to touch
In today's fast-paced, technology-driven world, we text more than we hug; we touch our phones more than we touch each other. However, despite the need to be "plugged in," when surveyed by professionals at Arizona State University, 75 percent of men and women agreed they would like more touch in their lives. As the coole...
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Home renovations before the holidays
Fall is a great time to tackle some of those home improvement projects. Now that the summer vacations are over and children are back in school, you're ready to make your home all comfy and cozy before the deep freeze and holiday guests arrive.
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Keep drafts out and dollars in by weatherizing your home
Many homeowners expect their heating costs to rise as cold weather creeps around the corner. Contrary to popular belief, there are ways to keep your energy costs (and your thermostat) low during the winter.
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national news

Boy Scouts statue titled Trail to Manhood outside the National Scouting Museum in IrvingBy Marice Richter GRAPEVINE, Texas (Reuters) - The Boy Scouts of America voted on Thursday to lift a ban on openly gay scouts that had been in place throughout the organization's 103-year history, capping weeks of intense lobbying on both sides, the group said in a statement. More than 60 percent of the group's National Council, composed of some 1,400 delegates, voted to end the ban effective January 1, 2014. A prohibition on openly gay adult leaders remains in place. ...


Thu May 23 18:30:11 UTC 2013

U.S. President Barack Obama pauses during speech at the National Defense University in WashingtonBy Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday he directed Attorney General Eric Holder to conduct a review of Department of Justice guidelines for investigations that involve journalists and report back by early July. Obama has come under criticism for his administration's pursuit of journalists who have reported leaked material. In recent weeks, it emerged that the Justice Department seized Associated Press phone records as part of a probe into leaks about a 2012 Yemen-based plot to bomb a U.S. ...


Thu May 23 17:52:12 UTC 2013

Jodi Arias addresses the jury during the penalty phase of her murder trial in PhoenixPHOENIX (Reuters) - An Arizona jury tasked with determining whether convicted killer Jodi Arias should be put to death for the brutal murder of an ex-boyfriend failed to reach a unanimous verdict on Thursday, and a judge ordered a retrial in the penalty phase. Arias, 32, was found guilty earlier this month in the murder of Travis Alexander, whose body was found slumped in the shower of his Phoenix-area home in June 2008. He was stabbed 27 times, had his throat slashed and was shot in the face. (Reporting by Tim Gaynor; Editing by Cynthia Johnston)


Thu May 23 18:33:47 UTC 2013
[Updated at 6:20 p.m. CT] DALLAS – The Boy Scouts of America, one of the country’s largest and oldest youth organizations, decided 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 the [...]
Thu May 23 17:14:38 UTC 2013