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Family Living
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Insight and inspiration for GED seekers
(BPT) - More than 39 million Americans 16 and older lack a high school diploma, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. And while a new survey indicates their reasons for dropping out range from lack of parental support to becoming parents themselves, those seeking a second chance at an education often find hope in General E...
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Tips for being safe in the dark with your outdoor equipment
(BPT) - In dark corners and spaces where the sun doesn’t shine – or has gone below the horizon for the night – the most useful tool in the world is a light. Having a light source helps keep you safe from tripping, running into objects and causing injuries. Safety is a big concern for those who enjoy the outdoors, esp...
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Packing, eating and reheating: Food safety from the store to the table
(BPT) - Today’s busy families are always on the go, which means less time for shopping, preparing and eating food. However, there is one thing you can’t skimp on no matter how fast you’re going, and that’s food safety. From grocery shopping to reheating leftovers, you can use several tips to ensure that the food you eat...
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The six most common identity theft risks at tax time
(BPT) - Tax time is always tough. Whether you will owe or anticipate a refund, plan to do your own taxes or pay a professional to do them for you, preparing and filing your taxes can be a tedious task. It can also be a risky one: the information needed to prepare your taxes is a treasure trove for enterprising identity ...
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The 10 'never-break' rules of good credit
(BPT) - Some rules are meant to be broken – like the one about not wearing white after Labor Day. Others should remain sacrosanct, such as the rules of good credit. Those are the kind of rules that can make life easier and happier when you follow them – and help ensure your finances stay in good order, too. Unlike fash...
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Swimming: Not just for summer anymore
(BPT) - It’s dark. It’s cold. Heading to the pool might be the furthest thing from your mind. While summer is the time of year for playing at the beach, pool parties and outdoor water sports, the colder months are actually a great time to start swimming. “Swimming is a low-impact exercise that depending, on the intensi...
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How to make your proposal perfect
(BPT) - You’ve picked the perfect ring. You’ve practiced the words you’ll use when you propose. But you know she would be livid if you asked her on the big screen at a sporting event. Making an engagement truly memorable will win you points for a lifetime each time she retells your engagement story. These tips will hel...
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Advice for families coping with an older driver's changing abilities
(BPT) - As we age, and watch our loved ones grow older, it’s important to think about – and plan for – a time when we may no longer be able to drive. But how do we decide when it’s time to transition from driver to passenger? In our busy suburban communities driving is essential to an independent lifestyle, and the dec...
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How to achieve 4 common financial goals
(BPT) - Whether it’s the new year, a new job, a new baby or simply the right time to get your finances order, the process usually starts with setting some goals. The first step in the process of achieving your financial goals is to recognize what needs to be done to put yourself in the position you want to be in. Once...
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This holiday season, share your financial and care inventory with those who need to know
(BPT) - Each year, thousands of Americans are thrust into the uncomfortable role of making long-term care decisions for their family members. These emotional decisions can create stressful situations for the entire family, in addition to being time-consuming and expensive. Fortunately, there is a way to help reduce the...
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Families battle bullying behavior with an unexpected ally: military school
(BPT) - Bullying is reaching epidemic proportions in North America, with 83 percent of American girls and 79 percent of boys saying they’ve experienced harassment, according to the National Education Association. Adults typically respond to bullying issues with concern, outrage and frustration, and for many, the only ...
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Pay it forward: the next generation of women who are changing the world
(BPT) - The roles and perceptions of women have greatly evolved over the last 50 years. From homemaker to executive, women have fought for their voice and advanced tremendously – altering virtually every aspect of American culture. In 2013, the women of the past continue to pay it forward and emerging leaders take the r...
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national news

A tornado touches down southwest of Wichita, Kan. near the town of Viola on Sunday, May 19, 2013. The tornado was part of a line of storms that past through the central plains on Sunday. (AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, Travis Heying)By Chris Francescani (Reuters) - A massive storm front swept north through the central United States on Sunday, hammering the region with fist-sized hail, blinding rain and tornadoes, including a half-mile wide twister that struck near Oklahoma City. News reports said at least one person had died. By 9:30 p.m. Central Standard Time, more than two dozen tornadoes had been spotted in parts of Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and local news reports. ...


Mon May 20 03:05:00 UTC 2013

A farm sits in the distance near a corn field in RedkeyBy Tom Polansek and Mark Weinraub SHERIDAN, Illinois (Reuters) - With the U.S. spring planting season off to a historically slow start, an increasing number of farmers are counting on powerful tools to catch up: Monster machines that sow 36 rows of corn at once and feature high-tech innovations like computer-guided directional equipment. The technological wizardry from companies like Deere & Co and AGCO Corp is pitted in a frantic race against time, with farmers scrambling to get seeds in the ground because a slow start depresses yields and reduces the size of their harvest. ...


Mon May 20 06:04:59 UTC 2013

A special hydro-cell vehicle gets refueled at an alternative energy facility into hydrogen in Honolulu in this file photoBy Nichola Groom LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In October 2004, then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger rolled up to a pioneering fueling station at Los Angeles International Airport in a hydrogen-powered metallic blue Hummer loaned to him by General Motors Corp. The "California Hydrogen Highway," Schwarzenegger's vision to ensure that every Californian would have access to a hydrogen fueling station by the end of 2010, called for the state to spend more than $50 million to help deploy up to 100 hydrogen fuel stations that would serve 2,000 fuel cell vehicles. ...


Mon May 20 00:05:50 UTC 2013
When high school senior Jenny Bonilla got her college acceptance letter in March, she felt shock and heartbreak rather than joy. That’s because the letter from Goucher College, a private liberal arts school in Baltimore, also brought news that she would owe an unaffordable $20,000 a year in tuition and board, even with a scholarship [...]
Mon May 20 04:21:17 UTC 2013