Pop Tug

It is never easy to talk to your child about sex and birth control, but the more open and comfortable you are as a parent talking about the subject could help your child to make better decisions in regards to their sexuality. Talking to your child about sex and birth control should not be construed…

Although I’m pretty sure we won’t have a white Christmas this year in SoCal, I still want my kids to experience winter. This means engaging in snow-related activities and eating comfort food. If we are lucky, we might even take a trip to the snow. If not, we will just have to create our own…

The Ohio State House is currently debating House Bill 542 which amends ORC §4710.01 significantly.1 The most notable change is an amendment to the Ohio Debt Adjusters Act that would exempt out of state debt settlement companies from Ohio’s debt adjuster standards and consumer protections. The Ohio Debt Adjusters Act places limits on both initial…

Police dramas have always been one of television’s acclaimed and beloved genres with critics and fans alike. But when suddenly mixed with suspense, fairy tales and sci-fi cult elements, as with NBC’s sophomore hit series ‘Grimm,’ the genre becomes filled with surprises and even more twists and turns that will keep audiences continually guessing. The…

With summer fast fading, it’s time to make the last of vacation days memorable ones that can be savored through the rest of the year. Based on my own travels, here are several suggestions for great places to spend a Labor Day weekend and say goodbye to the summer: Las Vegas You can’t go wrong…

A late 2012 season and off season spending spree has seen the new owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers commit more than $600 million to bring in new players and upgrade the major league roster that under the crumbling and bankrupt McCourt regime was very thin and quite average beyond Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, and…

Internet marketing is the marketing of products or services over the internet. (Wikipedia) This innovative marketing tool is helping billions of consumers reach the products and services they desire as easily as the click of a button. There are countless ways of marketing your product or service via the internet. In this article, I will…

Many people want to buy the best house they can afford. Real estate agents and mortgage companies want people to buy the most expensive house they can, because they get larger commissions. How much of a home can truly afford? Real estate agents and mortgage companies determine this with a series of formulas and ratios….

There are exactly two ways that a facebook account holder can use to permanently delete their facebook account forever: once deleted it can’t be gotten back. So if you are not entirely sure about deleting your facebook account then disabling it is the option for you right now and that can be done by going…

There are two reasons for teaching your dog to “speak” or bark on command. The main reason is that it’s much easier to teach your dog not to bark after you teach them when to bark. The goal of many dog trainers is to not only teach a dog to speak, but also when to…

Since we live in Louisiana Mardi Gras is an important part of our culture. Even with a child with Autism we were able to find ways to participate in the festivities. We anticipate smells from the delicious foods cooked, sounds from the parades and fireworks, and during those years we went to New Orleans for…

On Sunday night the San Francisco 49’ers will attempt to go perfect six-for-six in Super Bowl appearances as they square off against a Baltimore Ravens team that has had to grind out three tough playoff wins to reach New Orleans; including two road contests against the AFCs top two seeds (Denver, New England). Despite all…

WWE Survivor Series Back when the WWE only had four annual pay-per-views, Survivor Series was one of them. The original concept of large, all-star tag teams caught on with fans and lives on today. Although there is more buzz about the WWE title match at Survivor Series 2012, the inclusion of Team Foley should increase…

This is a review for the Samsung T404G cell phone provided by Net10, Tracfone, and Straight talk (by Walmart). This phone normally ranges around $80, but you can buy it a bit cheaper when the company runs sales or if you buy it online from places like Amazon. I bought my phone from Kmart because…

These top 10 U.S. Olympic athletes may be well-known, while some are not. Yet, they all have one other thing in common. They like to communicate via Twitter. Some have a loyal fan base stemming from their Olympic appearance in 2008, while others are still building theirs. Here’s an opportunity to follow and get to…

Certain inevitable expectations come with the prospect of trying to cram an entire life into a one room or a couple of too-small rooms. Trying to devise a working decorating plan that allows for the highest efficiency of space and purpose without giving in to the propensity of cluttering up life can be especially difficult….

If The Biggest Loser tops your must-see TV list — and your prime reason for watching it is to give you hope — you may have concluded that the only way to get rid of the excess weight that’s causing you emotional and physical pain is to remove all temptations. It’s not easy sequestering yourself…

I am a single dad of two teenage boys and after my divorce I had to adapt to a strict budget. It was very difficult at first because I was accustomed to spending at will without much thought. After some careful planning, I figured out a number of ways to save money. The first thing…

When I saw Tarsem Singh’s The Fall in 2008, I was struck by the screen presence of Catinca Untaru, who was only six years old during filming and yet was able to give one of the year’s most engaging and convincing performances as a curious little girl wandering the halls of a hospital in 1920s…

The hilariously raucous feel-good crowd pleasing Broadway Production of Sister Act is coming to spread holiday cheer to South Florida audiences Dec. 18-30 at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The heavenly hit movie starring Whoopi Goldberg was a runaway sleeper hit in theaters. The musical called “In a word, Divine!” by the Associated…

According to MLive.com, Jon Gruden said on the air of “Monday Night Football” that Calvin Johnson’s single-season receiving yards record is “tarnished” because Johnson accumulated a lot of meaningless yards when the Detroit Lions were losing. Johnson broke Jerry Rice’s record of 1,848 set in 1995. Johnson now has 1,892 yards on the season with…

Oregon-Davis, a small school corporation in Indiana, faces the tough job of asking the community for funds to keep their schools open. This Hamlet, Ind. school is leading the way in many categories in their county, including the use of technology in the classroom. Budget cuts have been made in multiple ways. including staff positions…

Here’s a quick Bon Jovi Jeopardy question for you: “This song, from the group’s first album, is the only song on any Bon Jovi record that was not at least co-written by a member of the band.” Answer: What is “She Don’t Know Me”? It was the June 16th, 1984 and my brother and I…

New Orleans Saints “Playoffs!?” As crazy as this would have sounded only a month ago, New Orleans Saints fans are dreaming of the playoffs once again. Even Jim Mora wouldn’t scoff at a question about the playoffs right now. (Well, maybe he would.) At 3-5, the Saints are back in the NFC Wildcard hunt. Take…

I learned some valuable tips from my grandmother who grew up during the Great Depression. Her parents had emigrated from Germany just prior to the Depression; it really hit the family hard. My grandmother was brought up with lessons about keeping items working and stretching meals to last a week. While I’m not as intense…

Turtle harvesting is a booming business in the United States. A recent story in the Mobile Press Register revealed how large scale commercial harvesting may pose a risk to the turtle populations in this country. Turtle harvesting is largely unregulated and difficult to monitor. But the turtles may not be the only thing at risk….

It’s an unfortunate reality that once you find yourself in financial difficulty the effects of bad credit can snowball your financial hardship. Poor credit doesn’t just keep you from getting a loan. It often means you will pay more for everyday necessities such as insurance and utilities. Texas is a deregulated electricity market which means…

In woolen-spun yarn, the twist runs into the fiber as it is being drafted, so there is twist between your hands. A true woolen yarn is spun from rolags with a long draw; carded roving works, too, but the yarn will not be quite as elastic. Short Backward Draw After making a join and allowing…

Women are always saying that “a good man is hard to find”. Some women might even add that finding a good black man is even harder. Whether this is true or not is debatable. However, there are ways for a black woman to get and keep a black man. Wonder just how finding and keeping…

August is pear picking time in South Georgia. And by the looks of things, my little pear tree appears to be overflowing with fruit. As such, my thoughts have turned towards pear recipes. With that said, here are my picks for the top five ways to eat pears in season: Vanilla Poached Pears One of…

There are various treatments including therapies and medications that can be given to a patient identified to have the obsessive and compulsive symptoms of the disorder. Because of the number of treatments available for patients, they find it difficult to decide on what treatment should they take. The very first and basic step in identifying…

Do your children enjoy watching “Ben 10 Alien Force?” If so, you may want to give some thought to hosting a “Ben 10 Alien Force” themed party this year. In my experience, there are several items that would work well with the topic and make great additions to the kids’ goodie bags. Here’s a brief…

One of my favorite fiction series about horses was the My Friend Flicka trilogy by Mary O’Hara. One of the horses featured was an albino stallion called (oddly enough) the Albino. Unfortunately, albino horses are found only in fiction and not in real life. Albinism is when a creature is born with a complete lack…

Do you love to travel? Or do you simply yearn about learning languages? A lot of us shy away from learning a new language because it’s either too difficult or too time consuming. Even a logophile like me sometimes doesn’t get the motivation necessary to finish a language course from the start. And who hasn’t…

Seashells and sea glass collected from the beach trip, rocks and arrowheads collected from a weekend getaway in the mountains, fun family photos taken during the Holidays, is there anyways to artfully showcase these souvenirs and relive the memories again and again? Sure there is, with a few clear glass canning jars and few other…

Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has had an especially busy 2012. Although he is not touring solo, nor with Led Zeppelin, he is currently promoting a new concert dvd and cd set. The live concert dvd and album, entitled “Celebration Day” was originally recorded five years ago. This single performance was a tribute to Ahmet…

You have entered your golden years and find yourself alone. This happened to me and I can tell you it’s not the end of the world. Sure, you have a couple of kids and some grand kids who you love, but when the day is done and you’re sitting alone watching television you’d enjoy interaction…

Salut ! C’est bien de vous voir! (Hi! It’s great to see you!) Just a moment, I must wipe off these small jars packed with homemade muscat grape jelly. Through the cold weeks of winter, it will remind us of the last warm days of autumn. Yes, the golden color is reminiscent of the sun…

COMMENTARY | Arizona Sen. John McCain is getting some flak responding with a “duh,” to a reporter. But he’s right. Sometimes the question is more of a statement. Sometimes, the topic is irrelevant. Sometimes the questions make no sense. Take the case of a recent interview over a bipartisan immigration reform. Here’s how the exchange…

2012 was an interesting and even somewhat of a tumultuous calendar year for Tottenham Hotspur. Perceived by some as legitimate title contenders back at the start of January, Spurs fell to fourth in the league table before losing out on Champions League thanks to Chelsea. Manager Harry Redknapp was sacked and ultimately replaced by former…

“The customer is always right,” this was the mantra I learned time and time again while working at K-Mart during my grad school years. K-Mart’s philosophy was simple: happy customers are repeat customers; unhappy customers stop shopping at K-Mart and tell their friends and family not to. For that reason, we were encouraged to and…

Disney World is for the young and the young at heart. Disney World is a magical kingdom for everybody no matter what your age is. Disney celebrates anniversaries, birthdays, and most any special occasion that you can imagine. Anybody can afford to take a romantic vacation to Disney World. This is why we are looking…

Saying goodbye to adult kids and grandkids can be very difficult, especially when grandchildren are babies. They grow incredibly fast, and each moment apart can be a heart wrenching reminder of milestones that might be missed. Grandparents of military babies have it especially rough. They can go months at a time without seeing their kids…

I love antique malls, you can find unusual items, in row after row of privately owned booths. How do you get me, and others, to remember your booth and be a repeat customer? Participate in your mall’s events… *If there’s a special event/sale to celebrate Valentine’s Day , Halloween, or Christmas in July, decorate your…

When selecting a pair of tennis shoes, there are several things that must be considered beyond the shoes’ size and aesthetic qualities. For starters, you’ll need to know what your foot type is and what kind of surface you’ll be playing on. Your foot type is determined by the amount of arch that your feet…

Summer is approaching, and thusly I have dug out the bathing suits from last year; my favorites still fit but there is a little extra ‘me’ poking out here and there. So, like many of my fellow women, I have begun trying to lose those extra few pounds that will make me look better in…

I have become a creature of habit when it comes to Linux. I tried Lubuntu, hated it because it was so basic, so primitive then tried Ubuntu. I was running Ubuntu via Wubi for a minute and got by okay, realized that I was running a 64-bit version of Ubuntu kicked my swap file up…

Though the Tampa Bay Rays have only existed since 1998, the team has enjoyed many quality hitters, deserving of mention on a list of the franchise’s best. Unlike other clubs, however, the Rays do not possess a legacy of players making contributions for a decade or more. Tampa Bay unfortunately did not compete during the…

As kids, we couldn’t wait to grow up and be parents. Then we found out adulthood sometimes has more responsibilities than freedoms. Sometimes we can find a middle ground that helps us feel like it all makes sense. Other times we get angry at the injustice of lost dreams and expectations. And every now and…

COMMENTARY | On Tuesday, December 25, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks 100-94 to win their fifth consecutive game. The Lakers are now eight games back in the Pacific Division with a 14-14 record. While the Lakers’ recent 118-115 comeback victory over the Golden State Warriors is probably more impressive, I believe…

If you have a degree in physical therapy, you can expect to find plentiful positions available in hospitals, clinics and other medical settings. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the projected growth rate for this field is much faster than average. To stand out when sending resumes to potential employers, your career objective…

Bristol Palin had to be thrilled when Barack Obama endorsed gay marriage – it provided her with the perfect ploy to get her new reality show a little free publicity. All the daughter of Sarah Palin had to do was post a ridiculous rant on her blog to get everyone all riled up and talking…

When McDonald’s introduced their dollar menu, it was a cool way to save a little money. Everyone loved their commercials introducing a new class of citizens: The Dollar Menu-aires. Now more fast food restaurants have value menus and more people than ever are ordering off of dollar menus. However, there are a few little tricks…

One of the hottest new travel trends is traveling with your grandchildren, also known as inter-generational travel. To make this experience a memorable one for both you and your grandchildren, here are a few tips from personal experience. Involve your grandchildren in trip planning Get them excited as you explore places to go together and…

As the weather gets cooler, I start bringing out the wool sweaters. Not just to wear, but also to craft with. When wool sweaters are washed, the knit stitches turn into a sturdy felt. I used this wool felt to create fall ornies to decorate a canning jar gift container. Give the gift jar to…

Are you looking for a unique way to decorate your Christmas tree, holiday dinner table or holiday presents? Perhaps you’re just looking for a homemade gift that your friends and family are not accustom to receiving. Either way, I may be able to be of some assistance. When I was younger, my grandmother and mother…

If all you can think of is black lacquer when it comes to black furniture, you’re missing out on a whole lot of style. Black furniture can be traditional or contemporary. It can be big and bold or simply elegant. Whatever style you use, decorating with black furniture can be described with one word –…

All across the country, there are plenty of sports teams, educational programs, art clubs and extracurricular activities that are based on the fundraising provided by sponsorships. There are a lot of people who, without the help of sponsorship programs , would not be able to participate in the extracurricular activities. If you are someone who…

Do be careful there. That bad blood on the floor is slippery, and the custodial staff has the week off. From the probable perspective of Washington Nationals fans, it started when Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels plunked their teen phenom, Bryce Harper, in the small of the back Sunday night, then surprisingly (as per the…

I’ve been a fan of “Ghostbusters” almost my entire life. I loved the premise, the characters, the gadgets and toys; the list goes on and on. One of the coolest things, though, was that the team operated out of an abandoned firehouse, this meant that they had the customary pole that firefighters use to get…

In my Navy career, many decades ago, I had the opportunity to serve as a boot camp instructor. It was the time between World War II and the Korean War when I was a college student. During four consecutive summers, as a chief petty officer I went on active duty for eight weeks in each…

Homeowners’ insurance premiums fall within the category of bills we pay for services that we hope we never have to use. My wife and I pay our premiums from our escrow. We add twelve equal payments of approximately $100 to our monthly mortgage payment. We often wonder why we have to pay so much when…

When you make the decision to care for an elderly parent, you are taking on a huge responsibility. In my situation, I was my dad’s caregiver, but since I am single and lost my house, I had to move home with my parents. I was devastated at the time, but I realized my purpose for…

With so much in life revolving around communication and speaking it’s hard to believe that it’s not always as cut and dried as it may seem. Specific rules still apply when it comes to interaction through words. It may sound tedious but, even though it’s your mouth that’s doing the work, your brain works twice…

You have heard the terms used on just about every television’s court drama series. However, do you really know how a court trial is structured? Following a murder trial (or any trial for that matter) is not hard to understand if you know a little about the process and the legal terminology. With everyone’s eyes…

Where is the end of the world? Back in the day when the flat-earth theory reigned supreme, the ends of the earth were known as Ushuaia, Fisterra, and Verdens Ende. Interestingly enough, you still have an opportunity to visit these locales today. Spain: Fisterra is for beach and nature lovers Spain’s Galicia is situated in…

Jessica Alba is clearly a celebrity cut from different cloth than the usual group who populate the headlines-she’s started an online company called The Honest Company, whose mission is to provide parents with baby clothes, toys, diapers, etc., free from harmful chemicals. And now, reports, Mashable, Ms. Alba and her company have crossed another boundary,…

MLS is supporting the Movember movement again by raising money for men’s health issues. Participants will be raising money by growing moustaches during Nov. 2012. This is the second year that the league is asking fans and players to join the movement. MLS W.O.R.K.S. is offering incentives to the group or person who raises the…

Free money! While this is an oxymoron, it is a common view of tax refunds. It is money to blow, enjoy, or waste. A month after the refund check hits the mailbox, it is gone. Do something different this year. Multiply your refund by putting it to work. Avoid the urge to party. A couple…

The woman arrived at the open house about two hours into the showing when there were several other people looking at the house. She wandered through the downstairs rooms for a few minutes before approaching the realtor and explaining that she needed to use a bathroom. She asked to use the one upstairs for privacy….

With Christmas fast approaching, it is the time of the year to think about what presents to buy for those who are important to you. Some of these people may be geeks, nerds, or the pop-culture obsessed. Here are five gift ideas for them that are all under $30. 1. Doctor Who Plush Medium Talking…

Installing high-quality furnishings, such as solid wood doors, thick carpeting, and triple paned windows, will naturally inhibit sound from entering any room. Of course, outfitting your room in this way can be quite expensive. If cost is an issue for you, consider using one or more cheaper alternatives. Soundproof Windows Home windows will allow noise…

A2 might be a new group in the hip-hop scene, but they sure sound like they’ve been doing it for a while. Comprised of rappers Izo, Mado, GSMG & John Ave (formerly known as Alby), these up and comers are definitely a group that has more than just rapping talent. The brain behind this amateur…

When I was pregnant with my twins, I had to fill out a long questionnaire before my first visit with the doctor who would later deliver them. Some of the questions on the form had to do with how I planned on feeding my babies after they arrived. Like many expectant mothers today, I hoped…

Making financial decisions for my family isn’t always easy. Sometimes I have to be creative to make ends meets while still making sure my family has what it wants and needs. For now it make financial sense for us to rent a home instead of purchasing one of our own. Renting has its advantages, but…

Whether you are in your twenties or in your forties, you eventually have to confront the need to prepare for retirement. The problem for many people is that the drag of personal debt keeps them from doing the necessary investing. If you are going to successfully invest for retirement, your debt has to be reduced…

Anyone who wants to spend some time at the batting cages near Minneapolis is in luck, because there is a wide array of choices throughout the Twin Cities. Among the many options, these four batting cages are my top picks: Triple Crown Indoor Batting (2308 10th Avenue East, St. Paul) Triple Crown doesn’t provide many…

People come to America for different reasons. It might be for political asylum, to practice their religious belief, to have a better life, to escape oppression and for people who have money to invest in American company and to start a fresh life. My reason is to start a new beginning, a new chapter of…

I admit it, I was never a dog person growing up. In fact, I didn’t become a dog person until a half-starved and flea-ridden puppy showed up in my back yard. As we all know, sometimes pet ownership just happens. We don’t always choose our pets; they sometimes choose us. That’s how it was for…

Searching for 4th of July Celebrations in your area? Let us help by providing times, dates and locations for fireworks, parades, concerts and more, all located within Central Massachusetts. This guide will provide you with a list of events, following a highlighted list of larger events throughout Central Mass. All events are free and suitable…

Hot and humid weather can wreak havoc on your skin and make your makeup drip, crack, or just fade easily throughout the day. While you might be enjoying the hotter temperatures and some fun in the sun, your makeup could end up disappearing or getting streaky within a few hours. Modifying your makeup and skin…

Even though I’m a self-proclaimed grammar nut, for much of my life I wasn’t much of a bookworm. And despite majoring in linguistics and English in college, I didn’t enjoy reading at all. I liked words; I didn’t like books. I guess that’s like saying you like single notes, but not music. Yet, that’s how…

Every aspect of a wedding is important to a bride, but let’s be honest: brides place higher value on certain parts of the wedding. If you have no wedding budget, you can get everything your heart desires. Most brides, though, cannot splurge on every wedding wish. With budgets come a need to prioritize! Decide what…

The success and popularity of Comic-Con International’s San Diego Comic Con, their flagship pop-culture convention, is a double-edged sword. The event has grown so massive over the years it has become a frustrating endeavor for many who attend and even more so for those who get shut out. CCI also runs the similar but smaller…

Our kitchen didn’t always look this way. Beautiful oobatooba granite countertops. Custom cabinetry. Stainless steel appliances. If you’ve never lived through a kitchen remodel and are considering doing so in the future, let me share my experience with you first. We live in a 1,400 square foot home. Three bedrooms. Two bathrooms. Two humans and…

Often times we start an exercise routine and never continue with it because we do not see immediate results. We give ourselves excuses in order to bring reason to us stopping what we have started. There are a couple of quick tips that could help you start an exercise routine, specifically running. Tip number #1:…

People with dissociative identity disorder (DID) have two or more distinct personality states, sometimes referred to as alters. Alters may be of different ages, different genders, different religious beliefs, etc. Alters may have very different ways of thinking, behaving and communicating. Alters may or may not be aware of each other. They may communicate well…

The 4 X 400 meters relay became part of the women’s Olympic track and field program in 1972. Since then, the race has been won by teams representing the Commonwealth of Independent States, the German Democratic Republic, the Soviet Union, and the United States. The United States has won the event 6 times, the most…

Abstract Juveniles look for self-worth and self-identity from their peers. The 21st century is an era where juveniles and adults are image-driven in that they want to impress not only themselves but others. It is important for juveniles to have positive people in their life who can help lead them into a successful adult life,…

During a recent discussion with my husband he looked at me and said, “You are sounding like a lawyer.” Apparently I was actually “winning” the discussion as according to him I twisted and turned words to convince him of my way of thinking. That is a popular misconception among many, but to those that have…