Calif. kids can have Happy Meals, judge rules

Seth Perlman / AP

A San Francisco judge has dismissed a proposed class-action lawsuit that sought to stop McDonald's Corp. from using toys to market its meals to children in California.

By The Associated Press

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Children in California will still be able to get toys with their Happy Meals.

A San Francisco judge has dismissed a proposed class-action lawsuit that sought to stop McDonald's Corp. from using toys to market its meals to children in the Golden State. The suit had been filed in late 2010 by Monet Parham, a California mother of two, and The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.

The suit had claimed that the world's biggest hamburger chain was violating consumer protection laws and exploiting children's vulnerability by using toys to lure them to eat nutritionally unbalanced meals that can lead to obesity. The lawsuit did not seek damages.

McDonald's spokeswoman Danya Proud said that the lawsuit was without merit and detracted from "the important issue of children's health and nutrition."

"We are proud of our Happy Meals and will vigorously defend our brand, our reputation and our food," Proud said in the statement. "We stand on our 30-year track record of providing a fun experience for kids and families at McDonald's."

The Center for Science in the Public Interest said in a statement that it will discuss with Parham whether to appeal the case. The group called the use of toys to market food a "predatory practice that undermines parents, causes rifts in families and harms kids' health."

The suit, filed in the county of San Francisco, was dismissed by Judge Richard Kramer on Wednesday.

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Kendrec McDade Lawsuit: Legal Action Alleges Wrongful Death In ...

PASADENA, Calif. ? Pasadena's police chief is inviting the FBI to investigate the death of a college student who was shot and killed by officers last month.

Chief Phillip Sanchez says the FBI would add another independent review to the investigation of 19-year-old Kendrec McDade's March 24 death.

Sanchez's invitation comes days after McDade's parents sued police, saying his death was part of a pattern of Pasadena police killing black people.

Officers say a 911 caller led them to believe McDade was an armed robbery suspect when they opened fire. He was unarmed.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller says the federal law enforcement agency is investigating to determine whether a violation of federal civil rights was a factor.

Eimiller says the FBI routinely assesses incidents where questions of civil rights violations are raised.

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GBP ?1400 Ossulton Way, London, Hampstead Garden Suburb, N2

Recently refurbished beautiful family home in Hampstead Garden Suburb is to let through Knight Frank, Hampstead. The property has undergone extensive renovation and features four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two reception rooms, large eat in kitchen with glass doors leading to a large landscape designed garden. The house has been wired for surround sound and broadband internet and has off street parking for two cars . The local, buses, shops and restaurants of Market Place just a minute's walk away. The house is available to rent on an unfurnished basis.

April 05 2012 12:00 pm | Uncategorized

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Watch Your Wallet With These Personal Finance Tips

Dump your old incandescent bulbs and install efficient, compact fluorescent bulbs in their place. These bulbs will save you money and save the environment at the same time. Compact fluorescent bulbs also have much longer lifespans than incandescent bulbs. The need to purchase fewer bulbs will save you money.

You can avoid causing financial issues by staying out of credit card debt from the get go. Before you buy anything with your credit card, ask yourself a few questions. Do the math and figure out exactly the length of time it will take you to pay it off. If you cannot pay it in full in one month and it isn?t completely necessary, you ought to avoid it.

Avoid investment opportunities that have high fees attached. Most brokers have hefty fees for the services that they render. These fees can eat into your returns. The two things to watch out for, generally, are unreasonable broker commissions and suspiciously high fund management costs.

Knowing the value of ones possessions can make all the difference in preventing a person from throwing out or selling an item for next to nothing, when it was really a valuable item. For example, selling a valuable piece of furniture is a definite personal finance benefit, compared to throwing it in the trash.

You can regain control of your personal finances by designing a budget and making a firm commitment to adhere to it. There are a number of different ways that you can create and manage a budget. It is also a great way to monitor your spending and keep it under control.

Try to have a credit score around 740 to get a good mortgage. If you have a high credit rating you will get a good interest rate. If your credit score is not good, take all the time you need to improve it. It is better to wait to apply for a mortgage until your credit score improves.

While debt may eventually expire when it isn?t collected, it is advisable to get advice on repayment of old debts. Find out when your debts will become obsolete and refuse to pay back anyone who is trying to get money for an expired debt.

A good way to keep your credit from being damaged by late payments is to set up an automatic bill payment with your debit account. This will ensure that your credit card bills get paid even if you forget.

Make sure you chose eateries that a local person would when you are traveling, so as to save costs. The tourist trap restaurants and hotel eating establishments are probably overpriced. Look online before your trip, and figure out where the local people eat. You will enjoy better prices and a much more authentic dining experience.

Since every little bit can add up, even taking small steps to improve your personal finances could help you out a lot. Instead of purchasing a cup of coffee every morning, brew your own at home or at work. Brewing your own coffee can save you about $25 a week. Try using the bus versus your car. That saves you money on gas and car maintenance. Every little bit saved will add up surprisingly fast, giving you a head start on retirement or any other large investment. Those things are certainly more important than a coffeehouse brew.

A little bit of effort invested in managing your money can save you a lot of waste and trouble in the long run. All that is really required is research and sound financial advice. Using the tips listed above will help you to make better financial decisions in the future.

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Surf's up! 10 best beaches for families

Chris Polk / AP

Sunset Beach in Cape May, N.J., has gentle waves and excellent views of a day's end.

By Lissa Poirot, Family Vacation Critic

The sun, the surf, the sand ... there is joy in any family vacation on the beach. And wouldn't you know it, we've got our 10 favorite places for families to play in the sand and surf!

1. Waimanalo Bay Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii
Ask any local on Oahu what the best beach is, and they will tell you Waimanalo Bay is not only their best beach, but the best beach in the entire state. Also ranked as one of the cleanest beaches in the country, Waimanalo is tricky to get to, and far removed from the crowded beaches of Waikiki, but worth the jaw-dropping scenic drive. The sand is sugar soft, the cove offers calm waters for tiny swimmers, and the waves down the beach are more manageable for new surfers.

Recommended nearby hotel: Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

2. Outer Beach, Cape Cod, Mass.
John F. Kennedy loved this stretch of sand dunes, salt ponds and soft-sand beaches so much he turned it into a national treasure: the Cape Cod National Seashore. He's not the only one who waxed on about the beauty of these shores: Henry David Thoreau devoted time and pen to the Outer Beach. While summering on Cape Cod, I've found no beaches as beautiful as those on the "forearm" facing the Atlantic Ocean stretching from Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet. Marshes, ponds and 40 miles of untouched beaches beckon to be explored.

Recommended nearby hotel: Wequassett Resort and Golf Club

3. Deerfield Beach, Near Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
I'm not surprised Deerfield Beach remains on the Clean Beaches Coalition's best beaches list. I grew up in South Florida and my favorite beach by far was Deerfield Beach -- I'd drive the extra half hour from my Fort Lauderdale beach to visit it. This surfer's haunt features more waves than other nearby beaches, and the stretches of sand are dotted with oversized boulders, creating private pockets for beachgoers. Great restaurants and shops line the beach's boardwalk.

Recommended nearby hotel: Hilton Ft Lauderdale Beach Resort

4. Sand Beach, Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia is known for its breathtaking and unspoiled beauty, and its beaches are also some of the cleanest in the country. Sand Beach appears on Clean Beaches Coalition's cleanest beaches, but we also like this beach because coastal Maine is filled with charming New England villages and old-fashioned charm. Acadia National Park also provides plenty to do when sand?between the toes becomes a bore (does it ever?).

Recommended nearby hotel: Bar Harbor Inn

5. Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Outer Banks, N.C.
The barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina provide 70 miles of dune-laced beaches running from South Nags Head to Ocracoke Island. The wide and uncluttered beaches line warm waters and plenty of places for families stake out a private day in the sun. As a preserved area, wildlife refuges, lighthouses and camping areas are also located along these beaches, providing more fun under the sun.

Recommended nearby hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites Outer Banks

6. Shell Beaches, Corpus Christi, Texas
Be it Big Shell Beach or Little Shell Beach on Padre Island National Seashore in Texas, your family is sure to love these expansive beaches on the island's national seashore. The hard-packed beaches make driving on the beach easy, so families often drive up with picnics and a day's worth of activities in tow. Both beaches, like their names indicate, are shell littered for shell-seeking walks, and both are found on the Clean Beaches list.

Recommended nearby hotel: Omni Corpus Christi Hotel Marina Tower

7. Coronado Beach, San Diego, Calif.
While Coronado may be more famous for its red-roofed grand dame hotel where Marilyn Monroe walked, ate and slept while filming the classic "Some Like It Hot," it's the stretch of beach on this island just opposite San Diego that truly is memorable. With a long sandbar and fantastic waves to stoke any one of your little surfers, the large expanse of beach is family friendly and even has a nearby bike trail that runs to Imperial Beach. If you visit January through March, you may even see the migrating whales en route to Baja.

Recommended nearby hotel: Hotel del Coronado

8. Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota, Fla.
Dr. Beach named Siesta Key Beach the nation's best beach last year, and it's easy to see why: not only is it super clean, but it features sugar-soft sand and perfect shell-seeking stretches to excite the kids. Located near Sarasota, the Gulf's calm waters won't intimate young children, and may even provide a glimpse at playful dolphins swimming just off the coast. Not only is the sand super soft, it borders the most gorgeous emerald-green water you've ever seen.

Recommended nearby hotel: Longboat Key Club & Resort

9. Rehoboth Beach, Del.
This sand-duned beach stretches the expanse of the quaint, small town of Rehoboth, and offers a quieter alternative to the more crowded beaches across the bay that make up the Jersey Shore. The beach's boardwalk is filled with family fun, and kids will enjoy playing at the family-run Funland amusement center, as well as riding in the Jolly Trolley. Nestled nearby is Dewey Beach, a growing small town with its own charm. Both beaches are featured on Delaware's "Gold Coast" and rank as some of the cleanest beaches in the nation.

Recommended nearby hotel: Henlopen Hotel

10. Sunset Beach, Cape May, N.J.
Forget the bad images that just popped into your head when you thought "Jersey Shore." Cape May's Sunset Beach, located at the southern tip of the Jersey Shore, is a gorgeous area of Victorian mansions and cute shopping and dining. White-sand beaches feature gentle waves and in Cape May Point, kids can check out the remains of the U.S.S. Atlantus, which sank offshore during a storm in the 1920s.

Recommended nearby hotel: Congress Hall

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The Bonus Features of a Coworking Membership

The Bonus Features of a Coworking Membership

Coworking has quickly risen in popularity and for good reason. It?s much more cost effective than taking out an office on your own, plus you get to network with all kinds of like-minded entrepreneurs and small business owners. But there are some extra features that you may not know about!

Yes, your coworking space will come fully furnished and you?ll have access to our high-speed Internet, but did you know that all coworking members also get mail and courier handling? You also get a shared fax line and access to monthly networking events.

A little known bonus is the Coworking Visa. As an entrepeneur, you might find yourself traveling to other cities. You need somewhere to get your work done and that?s why the coworking visa is so useful. It provides you with three complimentary, drop-in days at the offices of our coworking partners all around the world. There are over 70 coworking spaces in the United States alone where this will work, as well as locations in 22 different countries. And this visa is included with your membership to The Network Hub.

Coworking options are available at both our Vancouver and New Westminster locations. You don?t have to commit to a dedicated space either, as you can opt for part-time coworking plans too!

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Improve Your Home With These Sound Ideas

Thus, sharp and attractive front doors are able to substantially boost a home?s value. An existing door can be easily enhanced with new locks and knobs.

Don?t start on your kitchen or bathroom re-do project without first turning off the water supply. Make sure you know where the shut off valve is before working near the plumbing system. Doing this will ensure that you don?t accidentally flood your house.

Keep it balanced! Eliminate annoying or distracting noises. Balancing can help fix a wobbly, noisy ceiling fan. Tighten all the screws on your ceiling fans. When adjusting the screws, make sure that all parts of your fan are thoroughly clean.

Look out for patches of ground that are lower than their surroundings, and pay particular attention to the ground near your foundation. Fill these areas with firmly packed soil to stop water from gathering there and causing erosion. This water can seep into the house, rotting out wood.

If you are planning to do some home improvement, schedule plumbing and electrical work first. This sort of repair takes place within the walls, so naturally you will want to take care of them before doing cosmetic work. In addition, it is generally easier to have needed maintenance on your wiring and plumbing done if you have walls torn open for renovations anyway.

Tape off surfaces and trim to protect them during dirty work. By keeping surfaces from being marred by scratches, flying debris or paint splatters, you can prevent any additional expense that might come from having to clean up or repair them later. You do not want to do damage to other parts of your home with improvement to it!

Radiant heating is inexpensive and easy once you know the correct procedures. If you are already planning to install tile floors, talk to a flooring person about using radiant heat. Heated floors are surprisingly efficient and will greatly increase your comfort on chilly days. Heated floors also impress potential home buyers.

When redoing your home?s exterior siding, stucco can be a nice alternative. Stucco is cheaper, easier to install and is a more appealing alternative to aluminum siding. Another benefit is that it will last longer than other options.

You should consider your options when it comes to home security as you are trying to sell your home. If you spend a lot of time away from home or reside in an unsafe neighborhood, a security system is a good idea.

Real estate agents know the best additions to give a home added value. Since they wheel and deal in houses they tend to know their stuff.

Consider hiring a professional when you will be making some major changes around the house. Construction professionals, like contractors and designers, do not stay in business unless they have expertise that a homeowner cannot hope to match. Skilled professionals will be able to ensure that the job is done correctly. While you may want to try to do it yourself, giving the job to professionals will ensure it is done properly the first time.

Create toolboxes that contain tools for certain projects. For instance, you can have a box for plumbing tools that has pipe wrenches, pipe fittings, PVC glue, and more. Then, put all electrical tools like fuses, switches, voltmeters, ties, and the like, in another toolbox. When your tools are organized in this fashion, all you have to do the next time you are starting a project is pull out the appropriate toolbox.

Would you like a new dresser? You can easily revamp any piece of furniture with a little sanding and refinishing. It is a great way to get a new look in your home and save a ton of money. You can choose from a variety of stain colors.

Using your eyes to judge a measurement, angle or surface to determine how level it is should always be avoiding when you are doing woodworking. No matter how perfect you may think you are, using a speed square, level and tape measuring will make your work better.

Gas lines can be dangerous, so make sure that the gas is shut off before taking on any home improvement projects near gas lines. Proceeding with extreme caution is essential in these situations. You can be seriously injured or start a fire during the project.

Before winter gets here, take the time to insulate your pipes. Weatherizing tape is an easy, affordable and effective option for insulating your plumbing. This will keep plumbing lines from freezing and having to be replaced if they burst.

By following these effective tips, you can begin to create the home that you have always wanted for yourself and your family. Hopefully, the process of improving your home will be as easy and enjoyable as reading this article.

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