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What famous European hotels would Gatsby visit?
Accommodations often take a backseat during the planning stages of a vacation. However, sometimes the places you stay can end up being the best part of your getaway. In Europe, travelers can reserve rooms in centuries-old hotels that have survived civil and world wars or were retreats for legendary fashion icons, author...
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Simple ways to give meals a boost of flavor
(BPT) - Flavor is a top priority whether you’re cooking for a gathering or simply putting food on the table for a weeknight meal. Great tasting food can do a lot: turn a party into a success, make guests rave and even get the kids to clean their plates. Luckily, you don’t have to be a five-star chef to give your meals a...
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Surviving summer vacation: 5 tips for an enjoyable season with family
(BPT) - With summer ahead, parents are busy making plans for camps, sports and vacations. This time of year can be challenging, but there are ways to make it more enjoyable. Learn to love this summer with your family using these five easy tips: 1. Eat foods that keep you going Nutrition has a way of impacting almost ...
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Simple ways older drivers can save money on auto insurance
(BPT) - Are your auto insurance premiums too high? Maybe they are, but not for reasons you might think. Insurance companies aren’t charging you higher premiums because you’re in an over-50 age group. You may be paying too much because you haven’t done anything to lower the cost of your premiums. Check out these money-sa...
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College career services go social to connect students and employers
(BPT) - College students need little encouragement to use social media to interact with their classmates, family and friends, but many are still leery of using the platforms when it comes to seeking employment. Only 20 percent of college career center professionals felt students were enthusiastic about using social med...
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The decorator's secret to make your first home magazine worthy
Whether you've signed a lease agreement or purchased a house, moving into your first home is an exciting time. For many people, it's their first opportunity to express their personal style by decorating their own space. Whatever your taste - contemporary or classic, modern or rustic - you want your first home's interio...
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Stay safe on the road this summer
(BPT) - As you hit the road for this year’s vacation, you may see an increasing number of vehicles on the sides of the highway broken down either with mechanical problems or flat tires. Don’t derail your travel fun by being one of them. A few simple steps will help you avoid being stuck on the side of the road – or at l...
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Kitchen remodeling 101: Brush up on the basics
(BPT) - In this economy, taking on a kitchen remodel can be a scary proposition. You’re probably asking yourself plenty of questions. How drastically should you change the room? Do you need to hire a professional? Can you still recoup money spent on remodeling if you sell the house? Have no fear - these six tips from S...
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Home harmonizing: Making outdoor entertaining areas as useful as indoors
(BPT) - The trend toward outdoor living spaces shows no signs of slowing, and the newest step in the trend is blurring the lines between outdoor and indoor spaces. Outdoor spaces are truly becoming an extension of indoors, mimicking the most useful and appealing elements of indoor spaces. The trend is rewriting how Amer...
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Road trip tips: How to plan a memorable summer vacation and save money
(BPT) - As beautiful summer weather gradually makes its appearance across the nation, thoughts turn to summer travel plans. Americans enjoy the fun and relaxation of traveling: 77 percent of domestic trips are for leisure purposes, according to the U.S. Travel Association. If you want to vacation with friends or family,...
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Tuscany travel: For curious travelers, an Italian feast for all the senses
Some say that travel is about the journey more than the destination. And for a growing number of travelers, it’s all about the experience - both on the journey and within the destination. Travelers focus on getting a deeper, more authentic look at well-loved destinations. Tuscany travel experiences figure on the vacat...
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Iconic Hotels in Europe
Accommodations often take a backseat during the planning stages of a vacation. However, sometimes the places you stay can end up being the best part of your getaway. In Europe, travelers can reserve rooms in centuries-old hotels that have survived civil and world wars or were retreats for legendary fashion icons, author...
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national news

A selection of lunch meals offered to detainees are displayed in a food preparation area at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo BayBy Jane Sutton GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein urged the Pentagon on Wednesday to stop force-feeding hunger-striking prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and called the practice "out of step" with medical ethics and international norms. Feinstein, a California Democrat who chairs the Senate intelligence committee, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, saying the Guantanamo force-feeding policy was also out of synch with policies in the civilian federal prisons. ...


2013-06-19 18:07:32 -0500

Robert Mueller gestures at the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee at an oversight hearing about the FBI on Capitol Hill in WashingtonBy David Ingram WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States uses drones for surveillance in some limited law enforcement situations, FBI Director Robert Mueller said on Wednesday, sparking additional debate about President Barack Obama's use of domestic surveillance. The acknowledgement came in response to questions from U.S. senators who said they wanted to know more about the federal government's increasing use of unmanned aircraft. "Does the FBI use drones for surveillance on U.S. soil?" Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa asked during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. ...


2013-06-19 17:19:45 -0500

Charred trees burnt during the Doce Fire stand along a mountain side in Yavapai County, ArizonaBy Tim Gaynor and Alex Dobuzinskis PHOENIX/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An Arizona wildfire whipped up by strong winds threatened hundreds of homes on Wednesday, even as firefighters were gaining an edge on a California blaze raging near a pristine wilderness, authorities said. More than 500 firefighters were battling the Doce Fire, which has burned through 7,000 acres of chaparral, pine and juniper since Tuesday morning near Prescott, about 100 miles north of Phoenix, the Prescott National Forest said in a statement. ...


2013-06-19 17:31:53 -0500
America’s problem with portion size has sparked a strange new photo trend, one in which parents set their newborn babies alongside massive burritos on restaurant tabletops. According to the U.K.’s Daily Mail, a Mexican restaurant in Seattle, Wash., is saying that any diners who take photos of their babies next to one of the restaurant's [...]
2013-06-19 15:51:08 -0500