(NewsUSA) - Fans of wholesome television have a double treat in store, as the UPtv network launches its new series, "Design Twins," on Valentine's Day.<br /> <br /> The reality series makes its debut at 8 pm Eastern time (ET) on February 14, and features twin sisters, Heidi and Heather, who team up to start an interior design business aimed at providing families with creative, beautiful and functional spaces. To get the new venture off the ground, the twins move their families in together to save money and increase efficiency.<br /> <br /> Viewers can empathize with their challenges as the twins, together with their husbands and a total of seven children under the age of 6, work to nurture both their families and their growing business, aptly named "Joyful Living."<br /> <br /> The Atlanta, Georgia-based UPtv makes it a full night of love for Valentine's Day this season by also airing the much-anticipated wedding of Josie Bates and Kelton Balka at 9 pm ET on the popular series, "Bringing Up Bates," following the premiere of "Design Twins."<br /> <br /> The wedding features a picturesque outdoor country setting and plenty of family participation in the festivities.<br /> <br /> "At UPtv, we celebrate family and life's biggest moments," says Amy Winter, general manager and evp. "We are excited to add 'Design Twins' to our Thursday night lineup as we continue to bring viewers uplifting and inspiring stories."<br /> <br /> Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate love and romance, but the network keeps heartwarming stories upfront year-round with new episodes of UPtv's hit series on Thursday nights, movie premieres on the weekend and fan-favorite acquired series throughout the week.<br /> <br /> UPtv continues the themes of love and family in 2019 with UP Faith & Family. The streaming service offers a variety of commercial-free, faith- and family-friendly entertainment anytime, anywhere. UP Faith & Family offers endless hours of movies, drama series and kids' programming. It's also the exclusive home for past seasons of UPtv originals.<br /> <br /> In February, UP Faith & Family will be adding the wedding-themed reality series, "Our Wedding Story," and "Crazy Beautiful Weddings," as well as other romance-themed programs, including the movies, "Bridal Bootcamp" and "Love's Last Resort." New titles are added monthly.<br /> <br /> Prospective viewers can enjoy a 14-day free trial of the service by downloading the UP Faith & Family app or visiting Upfaithandfamily.com.<br /> <br /> For more information about UPtv, go to UPtv.com or check for updates on Facebook at facebook.com/Uptv, Twitter on @Uptv and Instagram at UP_TV.<br /> <br /> Ref: Humor - in Blogs

(NewsUSA) - When you combine the acting talent of Thomas Haden Church (Sideways, Spiderman 3, Divorce), Alice Eve (Before We Go, She's Out of My League), and Finn Wittrock (La La Land,The Big Short, Unbroken, American Horror Story) with a twisted tale of deceit, passion, and dark humor, what do you get?<br /> <br /> Deception Road, an upcoming film set for production in the summer of 2019.<br /> <br /> The story gets rolling when the character of Oscar (Wittrock) is traveling through the American Southwest. He hitches a ride with haunted war veteran Hal (Church), but all is not as it seems, and a simple car ride is only the beginning of a complex and mysterious journey. Instead, Oscar finds himself in the middle of a game of cat and mouse with Hal, his lovely, young wife, Jessie, and the situation goes from bizarre to dangerous, but with a dose of dark comedy. The cast is rounded out by newcomer Jack Tynan.<br /> <br /> The film is being produced by Wild Invention Pictures along with George Parra and Michael Goodin. It will be shot on location in Utah, where the stark, stunning landscape serves as an ideal background for the mystery and danger that unfold. The screenplay was written by Dallas Mitchell Brennan and will be directed by Max Mayer, whose credits include Adam and As Cool as I Am.<br /> <br /> "I look forward with great joy to working with such a dynamically gifted team to tell a story I find so darkly funny, compelling, and emotionally truthful," says Mayer.<br /> <br /> The film will be distributed domestically by Smith Global Media, headed by CEO Harry Smith.<br /> <br /> "The Smith Global team is excited to have acquired the domestic distribution rights to Deception Road. This quirky thriller will entertain diverse audiences and the wonderful cast is bound to deliver exceptional performances," says Smith.<br /> <br /> The film is financed by executive producer Neil Shroff and has an excellent shot at artistic and commercial success based on its combination of stellar acting and tight plot. Early analytics suggest that it will be popular with a large range of audiences, which makes the film a great opportunity for investors.<br /> <br /> Investment opportunities are available at deceptionroadmovie.com.<br /> <br /> "We are excited to bring this film from script to screen as it has the potential to become an enduring classic working with Max Mayer and this talented production team and cast," says Brennan.<br /> <br /> Visit deceptionroadmovie.com for more information about the movie, the production team, and investment opportunities.<br /> <br /> Ref: Celebrities - in Blogs

(NewsUSA) - Is your dog bad to the bone? Does your sweet Jack Russel guard all doors from intruders -- friends and family included? Or is it your Boxer puppy that won't stop shredding socks and underwear? Some of the cutest pooches have the worst manners. Whether you're at work or just in another room, their mischievous play may lead to anything from home repairs to staggering vet bills.<br /> <br /> Pooches and owners alike can relate to this common problem, and getting the magical, behavioral transformation you've always fantasized about is closer than you think -- pet care authority Camp Bow Wow held a contest, "Bad to The Bone: Camp Bow Wow's Worst Behaved Dog Contest," to discover North America's most ill-mannered dog. The winning pooch received a full year of free services ($3,000 value) at a local Camp or Home Buddies (an in-home care service offered by Camp Bow Wow) of their choice. Most importantly, the winning dog also received free dog training to correct those bad habits.<br /> <br /> If you are a frustrated pet owner who doesn't have time to wait to win a contest like this, here are five dog-training tips straight from the Behavior Buddies experts at Camp Bow Wow to get you started:<br /> <br /> 1. Proper exercise is key! A majority of behavior issues stem from a lack of proper exercise. At least one 30-minute walk per day is sufficient for most dogs. Playing in the backyard or in the house does not count as exercise.<br /> <br /> 2. Buy a dog backpack for walks. This allows your dog to have a job and adds weight with objects like water bottles or hand weights so the dog expends more energy.<br /> <br /> 3. Challenge your dog with brain puzzles. A mentally tired dog will not spend time thinking about how to get in the garbage or waste breath yipping at neighbors.<br /> <br /> 4. Take a training class. Getting your dog to respect you is critical to having your dog listen to you.<br /> <br /> 5. Send your dog to Camp Bow Wow or hire a Home Buddies Care Giver to take Fido on a walk. A tired dog is a good dog!<br /> <br /> If your beloved Fido is still opening cabinets and devouring furniture, enter him or her in Camp Bow Wow.<br /> <br /> For more information, visit www.campbowwow.com to see the location finder for the nearest Camp Bow Wow or Home Buddies near you.<br /> <br /> Ref: Funny - in Blogs

(NewsUSA) - When business giants Target, Home Depot and Sony got hacked, and personal information was compromised, data security, once again, became a hot topic and household word.<br /> <br /> Sure, you know you need to do more to shield your identity, but let's face it, you can only do so much to protect yourself, and even that is reliant on other people or companies. Unfortunately, these same entities can clearly be careless.<br /> <br /> When people aren't careful, the Internet can become a playground for criminal activity. Whether you're checking your email, banking information or doing some online shopping, you have already put yourself at risk of having your identity stolen.<br /> <br /> Criminals have developed several ways to obtain personal data from innocent Internet users. According to the United States Department of Justice, cyber criminals can take over an individual's identity to conduct a wide range of crimes. Criminals like to make fraudulent withdrawals from bank accounts because victims usually don't become aware of the criminal activity until substantial and irreversible damage has already been done.<br /> <br /> Enter Gabriel, a set of secure communication apps derived from a U.S. Department of Defense project and created by VirnetX, an Internet security software and technology company.<br /> <br /> Gabriel transmits information using automatic virtual private networks with military-grade encryption. Think Cryptograms.<br /> <br /> "Gabriel has been designed and built with personal privacy and security as a foundational principle," says Dr. Robert Short, VirnetX Chief Technical Officer and Chief Scientist. "As a result, Gabriel provides uncompromising data security? users do not have to transmit data to, or store data with, any third party, including VirnetX. Users can therefore rest easy that their data is stored only on their devices."<br /> <br /> Other benefits from using Gabriel include:<br /> <br /> * Making free voice or video calls or sending instant messages to other Gabriel members in your network.<br /> <br /> * Receiving spamless e-mail.<br /> <br /> * Allowing for person-to-person messages that disappear once the session has ended.<br /> <br /> * Sharing pictures or files with other trusted Gabriel users in your network directly from your personal device.<br /> <br /> All of the above is done with other members of your network with the assurance that the transmissions are secured with end-to-end encryption.<br /> <br /> Simply put, Gabriel makes your online communications invisible. Think of it this way: if the bad guys can't see you, they can't attack you.<br /> <br /> Gabriel is free to try. For more information, please visit www.gabrielsecure.com.<br /> <br /> Ref: Computers - in Blogs

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(NewsUSA) - Cold brew coffee continues to be a hot trend. Recent market research shows an increase in sales of 580 percent between 2011 and 2016 as coffee drinkers have embraced the smooth flavor of cold brew.<br /> <br /> Cold brew is coffee made with cold water. It sounds simple, but making cold brew concentrate from ground coffee at home can be a messy and time-consuming process. Most devices on the market require 12 to 24 hours of steep time at room temperature to brew a coffee concentrate suitable for cold brew coffee, so serving cold brew coffee has traditionally required advance planning. But now a specialized coffee press allows cold brew coffee lovers to get their fix in a couple of minutes.<br /> <br /> By briskly stirring coffee grounds and room temperature water together in the AeroPress coffee maker, you can cut brewing time from many hours to just two minutes. Simply add finely ground coffee and room-temperature water, stir, press, and enjoy a cup of smooth, flavorful cold brew coffee.<br /> <br /> Another advantage of the AeroPress is a quick and easy cleanup. Unlike typical cold brewers, the AeroPress does not leave a large filter full of messy coffee grounds after brewing. It is designed to consolidate the used grounds and filter into a small, neat puck that pops out ready for composting.<br /> <br /> A huge advantage of cold brewing is it can be done where there is that no access to hot water. When traveling, hiking, biking, or doing other activities away from the home kitchen, there is almost always a source of water but often no way to heat it. However with a lightweight, portable AeroPress, it is easy to brew a cup of smooth rich cold brew using tap water in about two minutes.<br /> <br /> Not only does the AeroPress brew delicious hot coffee in addtion to cold brew, but as a multipurpose coffeemaker, it helps cut kitchen clutter by eliminating the need for separate machines.<br /> <br /> Visit aeropress.com for more information about how to enjoy cold brew (or hot) coffee with ease in the comfort of your home.<br /> <br /> Ref: Drinks - in Blogs

(NewsUSA) - Sometimes we're so caught up in all the pro sports stars whose lives have been wrecked by misusing prescription painkillers that we forget the problem extends down to the amateur level.<br /> <br /> And, yes, that does mean college and even high-school sports.<br /> <br /> At least one study put the number of college student athletes who've used prescription medications to enhance their performance at as high as 53.3 percent. And another recent study on high school athletes, published online in the Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, reported that 12 percent of male seniors and 8 percent of female seniors admitted to abusing painkillers.<br /> <br /> To former ESPN.com columnist Gregg Easterbrook -- who wrote about painkillers in his book "The King of Sports: Football's Impact on America -- it's no surprise that the largest percentage of those young abusers play football.<br /> <br /> "Youth and high-school players see an example that appears to be of men so tough, they laugh at pain," he wrote. "The message sent is that young players should use their own bodies recklessly."<br /> <br /> So what's a concerned parent to do?<br /> <br /> Well, if your child is experiencing neuro-musculoskeletal-related pain from playing sports-- spinal pain, say, from too many tackles or strained soccer kicks --first know that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last March began urging physicians to avoid prescribing opioids for chronic pain in response to a record high 28,647 deaths involving the highly addictive drugs in 2014.<br /> <br /> Know, too, that the most popular non-pharmacologic alternative to routine care is drug-free chiropractic care.<br /> <br /> "Doctors of chiropractic play a key role in sports health care by providing hands-on care that help improve range of motion, flexibility, muscle strength, and other key performance factors," notes the not-for-profit Foundation for Chiropractic Progress' Sherry McAllister.<br /> <br /> Ref: Exercise - in Blogs