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Outdoor activities heat up as weather cools down
As the days grow shorter and Old Man Winter makes his appearance, many of us are tempted to bundle up and stay indoors. But don't let the changing weather keep you from nature's beauty and the potential of outdoor adventure.
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Great destinations to visit over the holidays
For some people, the holidays are meant to be spent at home, surrounded by friends and family. For others, they are a time to escape on vacation. And then there are those remarkable people who manage to work in both. To aid in that pursuit, here are six destinations across the country that are perfect for a quick holiday...
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Getting your home ready for the hosting season
Some might call the fall and winter months the holiday season, but it could just as easily be known as the hosting season. It's the time of year when cooking for crowds and welcoming friends and family for celebrations is the name of the game. For those opening their homes to guests, it can be hectic, but there are plent...
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Secrets of building a great gift basket
Giving a great gift basket is like bestowing a buffet of gifts on your loved one, and when the well-put-together gift basket is opened, well, that's a magical moment. Beneath the pretty decorations lie enchanting mysteries that emerge one-by-one to the delight of the recipient. Here is some advice for putting together a ...
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Simple tips to help you wrap your gifts with style
The holiday season is right around the corner, and that means the presents will be piling up before you know it. This year, before you reach for the usual old boxes and bows, rethink your wrapping routine with these simple, inexpensive ideas to help you punch up every present. Not only will you surprise and delight every...
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Holiday dining gets fresh flavor with new uses for seasonal ingredients
When the weather cools, do your cravings turn toward peppermint? Or perhaps the approaching holidays are priming your palate for pumpkin and gingerbread. Some flavors and ingredients just seem to go naturally with the season. While time-honored culinary traditions will always have a place in our seasonal celebrations, mi...
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Tips for updating your look in just minutes
Women today are busier than ever. Sometimes doing it all means rushing home after work to get ready for a night out, or saying yes to last-minute plans. But what if there just isn't time to revamp your whole look?
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Upgrading your kitchen from 'blah' to 'bling' for less
To design a kitchen that meets the multiple needs of today's modern family, including standing up to its daily wear and tear without breaking the bank, homeowners can transform their kitchens with a few tips and tricks from interior design experts and companies that have created more durable and affordable yet equally be...
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Finding your wanderlust based on your budget [INFOGRAPHIC]
Finding your wanderlust based on your budget [INFOGRAPHIC]
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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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Make holiday entertaining a breeze
With the holidays drawing close, your home will soon be the center of attention when entertaining guests from near and far. From creating a festive atmosphere to feeding friends and family, it's important to plan ahead for a hassle-free holiday season everyone will enjoy. Make this season's party planning less stressful ...
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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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national news

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Eric Garcetti speaks during an election night party at Avalon night club in HollywoodBy Alex Dobuzinskis LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - City Councilman Eric Garcetti leads City Controller Wendy Greuel by 7 percentage points in a tightening race for mayor of Los Angeles, according to the latest opinion poll, but the survey's director said Greuel could still stage an upset in Tuesday's election. The poll released late on Friday by the University of Southern California's Price School of Public Policy and the Los Angeles Times showed Garcetti favored by 48 percent of likely voters, compared with 41 percent for Greuel. Eleven percent of respondents said they were undecided. ...


Sat May 18 19:38:45 UTC 2013

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during dedication ceremonies at State Department in WashingtonBy Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When the Yemen-based branch of al Qaeda placed a bounty on her husband's head, Mary Feierstein learned of it from a friend who called and said, "You must be a mess!" U.S. Ambassador Gerald Feierstein was thousands of miles (km) away at the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, without his wife and family on what is called an "unaccompanied" posting. He is one of more than a thousand U.S. diplomats on such tours of duty in danger spots around the world, part of a trend that is changing the definition of being a diplomat. ...


Sun May 19 04:53:32 UTC 2013
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Two men arrested in the fatal beating of the grandson of U.S. civil rights activist Malcolm X were sent to prison on Saturday to await trial, a Mexico City court spokesman said. David Hernandez and Manuel Perez, waiters at the Palace nightclub near Mexico City's popular Garibaldi Square, face charges of murder and robbery, the official said. Malcolm Shabazz, who police have said was 29, died May 9 at the Palace after a dispute over a $1,200 bill. Hernandez and Perez were arrested on Monday. ...
Sat May 18 19:58:12 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