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Gift Ideas
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Smart credit card use for holiday shoppers
(BPT) - What would holiday shopping be without credit cards? Using credit cards wisely can help you score some good deals, and offers a layer of consumer protection that cash and debit cards can’t. Still, if you get carried away with holiday spending, the season’s “Ho, ho, ho!” can turn into “Oh, oh, oh!” come January w...
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What gadgets top 2012 holiday wish lists?
(BPT) - The holiday shopping season is here and the newest tech gadgets are probably at the top of all your loved ones’ wish lists. This year, touch-enabled Ultrabook convertible and tablet devices offer a refreshing take on mobile computing and are proving themselves worthy of your gift-giving dollars. Have someone on...
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Get crafty with these holiday gift wrap ideas
(BPT) - Make wrapping gifts more fun this holiday season. Get your supplies ready, invite some friends and turn up the holiday music. Before you get started, here are some creative gift wrapping tips from popular crafting blogger, Cindy Hopper, founder of SkipToMyLou.org . “I love wrapping holiday gifts – from little...
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How to simplify holiday gift giving
(BPT) - Overwhelmed by your holiday shopping list and short on time? Not to worry – here are a few tips to cut costs, stay organized and still buy presents that your friends and family will love. 1. Stick to a budget. Arrive at the dollar amount at which you feel comfortable spending and stick with it. Then, decide on ...
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Don't lose sleep over holiday gift buying
(BPT) - Is holiday gift buying causing you stress? Searching for a gift that is practical, yet personal? You are not alone in the struggle to find the “perfect gift.” The National Retail Federation estimates that holiday sales will reach $586 billion this season, with the average consumer spending around $550 on gifts....
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Christmas gifts can change lives for children in need
For many families, the Christmas season is a flutter of present buying, gift wrapping, spreading hints and rumors about the packages under the tree, and finally – on the big day – a whirlwind of bows and torn paper scattered everywhere with much frivolity and laughter. But for children with incarcerated parents, the si...
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Easy money for your holiday shopping lists
(BPT) - How many people do you have on your holiday shopping list? And how much are you planning – or able – to spend on gifts? The average American will spend slightly more than $700 on holiday gifts this year, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer reports. Some people plan ahead and save up during the year for holiday gifts, but for many others, the holiday shopping season can be a huge drain on savings. If you’re ready to start your holiday shopping, you may be surprised to learn that you ha...
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Best picks for your holiday electronics gift list
(BPT) - Americans love their electronics: tablet computers, smartphones, digital cameras, HDTVs, e-book readers, MP3 players, and hearing aids. That’s right - new, modern, sleek, life-altering hearing aids. As contoured and futuristic as the most highly styled electronic device – or  so discreet that they’re virtually ...
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Simple tips to glam up your look
(BPT) - Most women would agree that getting ready for a night out on the town is much more exciting than getting ready for a typical day. Dressing up, adding some shine or a little extra sparkle to your outfit can give your mood a boost whether it’s for a special occasion or a regular day. If you’re concerned that dres...
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Hottest gifts of the 2012 holiday season [Infographic]
There's a trend for most-wanted holiday gifts in 2012 that would lead us to believe that adults want to get away, while kids want to get connected. A recent survey showed that among adults that had a preference, clothing was the No. 1 most-wanted gift this holiday, followed by a vacation, a laptop, and a tablet  to round out the top four. When it comes to kids, both boys and girls desire the latest smartphone or laptop the most. More than three quarters of adults surveyed plan to shop onlin...
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Holiday gift ideas for the DIYer
(BPT) - The holidays are here and for the do-it-yourselfer who always has a list of “to-do” projects to tackle, a new tool makes a great gift. From the weekend warrior to automotive enthusiast, an addition to the tool box is certain to bring a smile to their face. Here are some ideas from Craftsman to get you started f...
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Find affordable gifts to say congratulations
Acknowledge your friends' and family's accomplishments from promotions, team wins, engagements, straight-A report cards and everyday victories. There is no better way to say "congrats!" than with gourmet gift baskets, gift cards, personalized gifts and affordable accessories.
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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 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

The Trenton Water Depot in TrentonBy Ernest Scheyder WATFORD CITY, North Dakota (Reuters) - In towns across North Dakota, the wellhead of the North American energy boom, the locals have taken to quoting the adage: "Whiskey is for drinking, and water is for fighting." It's not that they lack water, like Texas and California. They are swimming in it, and it is free for the taking. Yet as the state's Bakken shale fields have grown, so has the fight over who has the right to tap into the multimillion-dollar market to supply water to the energy sector. North Dakota now accounts for over 10 percent of U.S. ...


Sun May 19 23:48:32 UTC 2013
A series of 16 violent tornadoes ransacked north Texas this week, killing six people and flattening entire neighborhoods. Seven people who were reported missing early Friday morning have now been accounted for, but the storms aren't over yet. Severe thunderstorms are expected late Friday in Alabama and Mississippi, and the Plains and the Midwest face [...]
Fri May 17 19:53:22 UTC 2013