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Want More Dream Dates than Dating Disasters?

Family & Pets

Top Ten Do's and Don'ts for Finding the Right Match

(ARA) - Dating can be tough, and first dates, both good and bad, are an inevitable part of finding Mr. or Ms. Right. The quest for true love is seldom easy. But, armed with helpful online resources, some important guidelines and a positive attitude, dating can be an adventure in meeting new friends and exploring life's possibilities.

To help today's singles better navigate the world of dating, Love.com has developed the following do's and don'ts to help ensure more dream dates than dating disasters.

Top Ten Dating Do's and Don'ts

♥ Do seek out weekend dates from friends, co-workers and online dating services. The more you reach out to let people know you are available, the more dates are likely to come your way.

♥ Don't try to be someone you're not. Just because your date turns out to be a vegetarian doesn't mean you need to order the tofu burger and fries. Neither should you sign up for the next marathon when your date mentions he's an avid jogger, particularly if you haven't put on your running shoes in years. Just be yourself.

♥ Do get to know dates via e-mail and instant messaging (IM). Chat online to find out about interests and hobbies until you feel comfortable setting up a phone call or in-person meeting. When you do finally meet your date, you may feel as though you've known him or her for years!

♥ Don't talk about past relationships or exes on the first few dates. No first date wants to hear how funny, attractive or smart your ex was. Instead, spend this time learning more about the other person to find out if it's worth ordering dessert to spend more time together.

♥ Do be true to yourself and to your date by being up-front about your appearance and availability, as well as whether you are divorced, widowed or have children. If you need to arrange for a babysitter, let your date know from the get-go.

♥ Don't play games, unless you're up for a round of Scrabble. Both you and your date are looking for someone special, and it's not fair to waste time on mind games.

♥ Do be honest about what you are looking for from the other person. Whether you want to hear wedding bells or just the dinner specials, key your date in. If you're not looking for the same thing, it's a waste of time for you both.

♥ Don't look for other possible love matches when you're on a date. It's not fair for you to be checking out the bartender while your date is telling you his life story. Give each date a chance.

♥ Do be on the lookout for red flags. Break off any relationships at the first sign of anything that feels uncomfortable to you.

♥ Don't make snap judgments about your date. Unless he's a complete snooze or a closet psycho, give him a fair shot before writing him off. You may come to regret the hasty rejection of a potential love of a lifetime.

To try out these dating do's and don'ts, visit www.love.com, a unique online dating service that features the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) service, the largest and most active instant messaging community in the United States.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Soon Every Passenger in Your Car Will Be Able to Personalize Their Entertainment Experience

Family & Pets

(ARA) - "Are we there yet?" For years, those have been the most popular words uttered during a long car trip; but soon people will instead be saying, "Can I stay in the car a little longer, please!"

Starting in Spring 2005, people who buy one of General Motors' new crossover sport vans (CSVs), including the Saturn Relay, will be able to upgrade to the new Mobile Digital Media Powered by PhatNoise system, a wallet-sized, 40-gigabyte (GB) hard-drive cartridge that installs in the vehicle's integrated overhead rail storage system..

The cartridge is easily removable, and can be connected to a home PC or laptop to download content. It is capable of holding and playing back a total of 10,000 songs (in MP3, WMA or WAV formats) or 40 standard-length movies (in MPEG format), or a combination of music, movies and video games -- up to 40 GB of material.

"It's an entertainment option that really offers something for everyone," says Jill Lajdziak, Saturn's general manager. "When you're on a long road trip, the kids can watch their favorite videos or play video games, and the adults can listen to music or audio books, at the same time without disturbing each other."

Front seat passengers use radio and steering wheel controls to access the music collection. They can browse by artist, album, genre or custom play list. Rear-seat passengers select from a colorful menu displayed on the overhead DVD monitor to play their own music, videos or games using the wireless DVD remote and headphones. Two wireless game controllers are also included.

In addition to the PhatNoise entertainment systems, the new CSVs also offer the option of adding XM Satellite Radio, a service that provides more than 120 coast-to-coast digital-quality channels of original commercial-free music, news and sports talk. There are even channels devoted to weather and traffic.

"Before you know it, summer vacation will be here, and for families planning a long road trip, upgrading to an advanced entertainment system can be a real life and sanity saver," says Lajdziak.

To find out more about the system that puts all the entertainment features you can imagine at your fingertips -- even while traveling 65 miles per hour down the highway -- log on to www.saturn.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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New Dietary Guidelines Leave Americans Searching for Tastier Veggies

Food and Entertaining

(ARA) - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have released the sixth edition of Dietary Guidelines for Americans -- with some big changes. While the guidelines recommend tailoring your diet to fit your individual needs, there is a big focus on increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables. The number nearly doubles from five daily servings, as suggested by the former Food Guide Pyramid, to nine, leaving many searching for a tasty way to adjust their diets.

Eat your veggies

We always moaned and groaned when mom insisted we eat our brussels sprouts. Let's face it: mom was right about eating your veggies, but accommodating the new dietary guidelines doesn't have to be such a chore if you pick tasty versions of your mom's old favorites. It's also important to choose colorful fruits and veggies because they provide the wide range of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals your body needs to maintain good health and energy levels, protect against the effects of aging, and reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, according to the Produce for Better Health Foundation.

Seeing red

Tomatoes are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and other phytochemicals that many researchers believe may work together to help protect against cancer and other degenerative diseases. They also contain an important antioxidant called "lycopene" that contributes to their bright, vibrant red color. However, finding a tasty tomato outside of the summer farmer's market months sometimes make this healthy choice less than appealing. In fact, tomatoes at your local chain-grocery store are more often than not mushy and pink, not juicy and red.

Bite-sized healthy treats

Enter Santa Sweets, Inc., the Florida-based grower of the Santa Sweet variety tomato -- the grape tomato boasting the most flavor because of its higher brix (natural sugar content) compared to other varieties. The best part? It's available year-round, so those summer farmer's market months don't stand alone as the only time of year you can snack on tasty tomatoes. The pure variety, smaller size, sweetness, thin skin and firm texture have been credited with the variety's success. Santa Sweets also have a long shelf life, and unlike most cherry tomatoes, they are a squirt-free choice for social occasions. Recently, Santa Sweets, Inc. unveiled a "first" on the market: dried grape tomatoes. The flavor of dried Santa Sweets is unique, capturing the sweetness of these small red beauties with a rich and tangy taste. Including a handful of these tasty little tomatoes in you lunch or throwing a few on your salad suddenly doesn't make the new nine-a-day recommendation seem so out of reach. Choosing tasty alternatives, such as Santa Sweets means a healthy lifestyle without sacrificing flavor.

Grape Tomato Recipes

Sautéed Grape Tomato Sauce

1 tbsp olive oil

1 pt Santa Sweet Grape Tomatoes

2-3 tbsp. finely chopped parsley or basil

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Sauté Santa Sweet Grape Tomatoes in olive oil over medium heat. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with herbs; toss to coat and season to taste. Great as a side dish or add to your favorite pasta recipe where appropriate. Serves 6.

1 pint Santa Sweet Grape Tomatoes

2 celery ribs, diced

1/4 cup black pitted olives, sliced

1/3 cup stuffed green olives, sliced

1/4 cup minced parsley

1 small clove garlic, peeled and minced

1 large carrot, julienne

1/3 sweet onion, finely minced

1 tablespoon virgin olive oil

1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Taste and correct seasoning if needed. Let stand at room temperature about 30 minutes. Serve over grilled sliced Italian or French bread. Slice bread about 3/4 inches thick.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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Low Level Literacy is a Bigger Problem in America Than You May Think

Senior Living

(ARA) - America is the most prosperous country on the planet, so it would probably come as a surprise to a lot of people that 15 percent of the population -- or 44 million Americans -- can hardly read or write. And the problem reaches a lot further than you may think.

"Low level literacy impacts just almost every social issue we have in the United States. Individuals with low literacy skills are more likely to live in poverty; their annual health care costs are four times higher; and they are more likely to end up in prison. But teach them to read, and their lives turn around," says Rochelle Cassella, director of corporate communications for ProLiteracy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission of helping adults and their families acquire the literacy practices and skills they need to function more effectively in their daily lives. "Once they learn how to read, people gain the ability to read bus schedules, browse the classified ads and fill out job applications that used to be off limits for them," she adds.

Inspired by the work being done by ProLiteracy, and realizing how prominent reading is among its guests, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson implemented a campaign to raise money for the organization. The chain established libraries in all 335 of its hotels in the United States and Canada, offering guests the opportunity to borrow books with an incentive to return them on their next visit.

"The 'return' part of the program is on the honor system, and thanks to the incentive, we get most of them back," says Nancy Johnson, executive vice president of Country Inns & Suites By Carlson. For each title brought back, $5 is donated to ProLiteracy.

Since the launch of "Book It and Return" in January 2001, $60,000 has been raised to help solve the problem of low level literacy. The money goes towards providing technical assistance to local programs that provide one-on-one and group instruction in literacy skills to adult learners.

"We've received countless letters from guests who want to express their pleasure with the program," says Johnson. "A school teacher from Davenport, Iowa, wrote 'As a teacher of 32 years experience, this is one of the best ideas I've ever heard of and I'm going to share it with my faculty.' We've also heard from our hotel managers that people stop in from time to time, even if they don't have reservations, just to return books because they know doing so will help someone in need."

To learn more about the "Book It and Return Program," log on to www.countryinns.com.

Throughout the system of Country Inns & Suites hotels, a variety of fiction, nonfiction and self-help books are on hand for guests to borrow. More information about the ProLiteracy program can be found at www.proliteracy.org.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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