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Give the gift of hearing this holiday season
Getting older doesn't necessarily mean looking and feeling older. Age 50 is the new 30, according to celebrities who crossed that threshold in recent years. And while the body can start to show signs of aging, it doesn't necessarily mean one has to suffer.
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Creativity, organization, and activism help communities cope with police budget cuts
With schools back in session and the holidays approaching, many of us start to think more about the security of our communities. While crime is down, budget cuts in police departments across the country add to local concerns, and people in your community may be seeking new, cost-effective ways to make your neighborhoods ...
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Give a U.S. Savings Bond gift this holiday season
To celebrate the holiday season, the U.S. Department of the Treasury is proud to introduce a new set of savings bond certificates to mark the time-honored tradition of giving U.S. Savings Bonds as holiday gifts. The newly designed gift certificates feature historical and patriotic themes and can be given when digital sav...
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The naked truth: How to prevent baring it all due to hair loss
Whether it's a few extra hairs in the sink or a completely bare scalp, baldness is a common issue for many people - not just men. If caught early enough, balding can be slowed or even stopped. Here's what you need to know.
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Top 10 tips for staying safe online
Whether playing online games, sending and responding to emails, visiting social networks or checking bank accounts, the average American spends 13 hours per week online, according to a survey taken by Forrester. While the ever-evolving conveniences of online shopping and digital communication often make life a little eas...
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The first 100 years: Innovation in distance learning
Where a college education was once confined to an elite minority, higher education today is attainable for the majority of Americans. Perhaps the most dramatic impact was made by the emergence of distance learning, which allows students to access degree programs targeting their unique educational goals from anywhere in t...
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New electronic payment rule will protect federal benefit payments from financial crimes
Last year alone, more than 440,000 Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks were reported lost or stolen. Despite the risks, millions of senior citizens, people with disabilities and other federal benefit recipients still receive their payments by paper check. Beneficiaries' increased exposure to fin...
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Baking for the holidays? A checklist of pantry must-haves
If you enjoy baking traditional holiday favorites, you may also like trying new recipes. Experimenting with new recipes is easier if you start out with a well-stocked pantry. Keep these ingredients in your pantry year-round and you'll be on track to bake up a storm this holiday season.
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Simple tips for completing a DIY home project on time and on budget
We are in the midst of a do-it-yourself revolution, with more Americans pulling out the tool belt and getting their hands dirty. If you'd like to hop on the DIY bandwagon and enjoy the money savings and pride that comes with completing a project yourself, it's important to keep some tips in mind so your grand ideas don't...
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Fall foods: Helping heartburn sufferers keep the heat in the kitchen
With the fall season comes a drop in temperatures and a surge of hearty comfort foods. But while enjoying a favorite dish or trying something new might leave some people with a warm, fuzzy feeling, many Americans might be experiencing a fiery and uncomfortable case of heartburn. Fortunately, frequent heartburn sufferers ...
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Simple ways to keep skin healthy during cold weather
While the crisp, cool weather may leave a healthy-looking rosy glow on cheeks, colder seasons can be tremendously harsh on skin. Extreme changes and inclement weather during the fall and winter months can leave skin dry, chapped and even cracked. Here are some simple ways to keep skin healthy during cold weather.
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Holiday home entertaining made simple and satisfying
The pressure to host the perfect party can take all the joy out of what is supposed to be a fun and memorable occasion with friends and family. But holiday entertaining doesn't have to equal stress. By planning ahead and simplifying your party plans, you can host a fun, festive get-together that you'll remember for holid...
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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
Obama in heated exchanges with Code Pink anti-war protester

Protester Benjamin interrupts U.S. President Barack Obama as he speaks about his administration's counter-terrorism policy at the National Defense University at Fort McNair in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The woman who interrupted President Barack Obama's speech on counterterrorism policy on Thursday is well-known around Washington as a perennial protester on national security issues. Medea Benjamin, a founder of anti-war women's group Code Pink, began demonstrating years ago on Capitol Hill, becoming an almost routine presence at hearings where high-ranking officials of the Bush administration appeared to talk about the Iraq war. ...


Thu May 23 19:43:20 UTC 2013
Obama orders review of guidelines for probing journalists

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
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