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Effortless entertaining: Tips for hosting the perfect al fresco dinner party
(BPT) - Whether it’s in the backyard or on a rooftop, summer is an ideal time to entertain outdoors. The long days and warm nights create the perfect backdrop for a relaxing get-together with family and friends. While most love the idea of entertaining, 62 percent wish they did so more often, according to a national su...
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Summer sandals: Pairing what we want with what we need
(BPT) - While stylish for men and women, you may be surprised to learn wearing most flip-flops can hurt or even injure your feet. The flip-flop, an icon of summer, has for decades been the easy choice for warm weather and weekends on the go; however, it isn’t always the most supportive or healthy choice. Though we’ve c...
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Melanoma facts [Infographic]
Melanoma is the most serious and deadly form of skin cancer, and metastatic melanoma is when the disease has spread to other parts of the body. The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2013, there will be more than 76,000 new cases of melanoma and close to 9,500 deaths in the United States from the disease. Approximately half of all people with metastatic melanoma have a BRAF mutation, which is an abnormal change in a gene that can enable some melanoma tumors to grow and spread. Melan...
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Tap the hidden job market
(BPT) - The process of finding employment has quietly undergone an evolution. Job seekers are discovering that many positions are not posted to the public. In fact, the online career guidance resource Quintessential Careers reports that only 15 to 20 percent of available jobs post to newspapers, online job boards or e...
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Accessorizing secrets for a beautiful home and a beautiful you
(BPT) - Accessorizing is a beautiful thing; the right accessories can make your home exciting and inviting, and give you confidence and style. Yet accessorizing can be intimidating as well. With so many options in terms of design and color, it can be difficult to refine your personal style – and express your tastes in y...
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The man cave: Give Dad a space all his own
(BPT) - Man cave, manspace, manctuary ... whatever he calls it, it’s Dad’s special place away from the rest of the house. This Father’s Day, give Dad the ultimate gift and make him his own man cave. It’s easier than you think, and a thoughtful gift that says to Dad, “I love you, and you can run away from us now.” Step ...
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Revealed: keys to getting kids to eat more veggies
(BPT) - Incorporating veggies into your family’s diet this summer can be easier than you ever thought. How? Creative parents know that adding flavor and making veggies a crunchy, fun treat can result in pleas for “more veggies please!” Keep your kids busy on warm summer days with activities like picking vegetables out ...
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Key factors, statistics in major depressive disorder [Infographic]
Millions of people suffer from major depressive disorder (MDD), but it can be effectively treated by professionals. If you - or someone you know - has symptoms of MDD, it's important to talk to your doctor about your symptoms.
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The buzz about Brood II cicadas [Infographic]
This month, billions of cicadas will emerge from the ground following a 17 year nap with the singular goal of finding a mate. They will shed their exoskeleton, make lots of noise, and find a perfect cicada love match. While these creatures may look scary, they are completely harmless to humans. In fact, the bug experts at Terminix , the nation’s largest pest control provider, give the following tips and pointers on how to spot the red-eyed insects.
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Simple summertime DIY ideas 'built' just for kids
Summertime is here, which means warm weather and longer days. For parents, it also means finding ways to keep kids entertained and busy during the out-of-school months.    Rest assured - there are plenty of easy, fun, do-it-yourself activities for kids that can be created by using simple odds and ends from around the h...
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Return from vacation truly refreshed
Sometimes vacations aren’t quite as relaxing as you plan or expect them to be and these days traveling itself can often be stressful, almost to the point of defeating the purpose of one’s getaway. Shouldn’t you come back from a trip feeling more refreshed than when you left? More and more travelers are beginning to catc...
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The American bra evolution [Infographic]
The days of women suffering from bad bras are over. Say farewell to poor fit, underwire problems, inconsistent sizing and discontinued styles, and hello to an overdue revolution in bra innovation. According to research conducted: * Three out of four women have difficulty finding a bra that fits properly. * Eighty-five percent are wearing the wrong size. * Fifty-three percent of women have never been professionally fit for a bra. It’s time for a modern approach to undergarments. Women will...
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national news

A street sign for Wall Street hangs in front of the New York Stock ExchangeBy John Shiffman and Mark Hosenball (Reuters) WASHINGTON - U.S. intelligence officials on Tuesday identified two of the more than 50 classified cases in which they say National Security Agency eavesdropping helped thwart terrorist plots including a planned attack on the New York Stock Exchange. The other, a San Diego money laundering investigation tied to financing for a Somali militia, is among the 27 cases cited in a Reuters report Tuesday [ID:nL2N0ET0PZ] in which the U.S. government filed public notice that it used a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrant. ...


2013-06-18 15:37:00 -0500

Blue sky is seen over a blanket of fog enveloping the skyline of ChicagoCHICAGO (Reuters) - Seeking to break a weeks-long impasse in efforts to fix the state's woefully underfunded pension system, Illinois will turn to a rarely used legislative conference committee in hopes of reaching a compromise solution, Governor Pat Quinn's office said on Tuesday. State lawmakers return to the state capitol on Wednesday for a special session on pensions called by Quinn. A series of meetings over the last two weeks has brought the Democratic Senate president and House speaker no closer to tackling the state's nearly $100 billion unfunded pension liability. ...


2013-06-18 15:28:01 -0500
By Noreen O'Donnell NEW YORK (Reuters) - Federal authorities announced a $65,000 reward on Tuesday in the unsolved 2008 case of the Times Square bomber who tried to destroy a military recruiting station before escaping on a bicycle. Authorities released new videos of the suspect and a picture of the bomb. They said the explosion - which went off in one of the city's busiest intersections - might be related to two earlier bombings in New York, one at the British Consulate in 2005 and another at the Mexican Consulate in 2007. ...
2013-06-18 15:49:08 -0500
A pair of California teens were rescued by helicopter from atop an 8,600-foot cliff after they became stranded and were unable to climb down, CNN reports. The California Highway Patrol dispatched a helicopter and a small plane to retrieve them. With winds gusting up to 30 mph and the teenage boys, 16 and 17, perched [...]
2013-06-18 12:51:46 -0500