It's difficult to imagine a place more ideal for a thief than an airport. The barely controlled chaos and the legions of distracted and tired travelers present many opportunities for experienced pickpockets and thieves. But preventing airport theft is really just a matter of common sense.
First, never let a bag out of your sight anywhere in the terminal, including bathrooms and restaurants.
At the security checkpoint, don't dump valuables such as wallets and watches into a tray. Instead, place them in the side pocket of a carry-on bag before you even get to security. When you go through the metal detector, keep a close eye on your carry-on items (especially laptops, which are among the most desirable objects for thieves) as they're X-rayed.
At your destination, get to the baggage carousel without delay. Few airports have attendants checking baggage tags at these points, which means that anyone can theoretically walk up and take whatever bag they like. But that won't happen to you if you're there when the bags come out.
Vitamin D, heart hero
First, the news was that too little vitamin D makes you more prone to cancer and fragile bones. Now, researchers say people with low blood levels of vitamin D are more apt to have cardiovascular problems.
In an analysis of more than 15,000 Americans, those with low blood vitamin D were 30% more likely to have high blood pressure, 47% more apt to have high triglycerides, 98% more likely to be diabetic and 129% more apt to be obese. Researchers noted that low vitamin D also may be a culprit in fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Where to get D: Foods high in D are oily fish (like salmon), egg yolks and liver. Vitamin D supplements are safe up to a daily dose of 10,000 IU, experts say.
Given how competitive, expensive and time-consuming the college application process can be, it's crucial to make the most of school visits. Beyond sitting through the information session and taking the tour, here's how to maximize your look-see: Be weather-wise. It's easy to fall in love with a school on a gorgeous day or reject it after a rainy slog through the quad. Remember to think in terms of year-round averages. Get a second opinion. If you have a question or concern, you can ask the tour guide. But also find at least one other student who can offer his two cents, says William Shain, dean of admissions at Maine's Bowdoin College. Grab a local nosh. Eat lunch at the cafeteria (many colleges will pay for it), but also snack at other student hangouts. Is there a range of options available? Or is there only one popular spot in town, and it touts its beer pong tournaments? Bonus: You may be able to observe student interactions and even eavesdrop on a few conversations. Read all about it. To suss out what students do in their free time, check out campus bulletin boards, and grab copies of the local paper and any area entertainment publication.
Have a sleepover. Find out if your child can bunk in the dorms with a student host while you stay at a local motel. An overnight stay on campus is one of the best ways to really get a feel for college life. Ann Pleshette Murphy is ABC's Good Morning America parenting expert.
Most interest-bearing checking accounts pay a slim annual percentage yield (APY) of about 2.32%*. But now there are banks that help you earn more while your money sits in checking:
Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking (schwab.com) offers an APY of 4.25%, as well as no monthly service fees, minimum balance or deposit requirements. E*Trade's Max-Rate Checking (etrade.com) has an APY of 4% for balances of $5,000 and up. (Lower balances get just 0.5%.)
Some online banks offer even better rates. EverBank (everbank.com) FreeNet checking account requires a $1,500 deposit and has a three-month introductory rate of 6.01% APY. Then the yield will fall to between 3.41% and 5.01%, based on your monthly balance. ING Direct's Electric Orange checking account (ingdirect.com) has an APY of 4% with no minimum balance required. You also can access your funds at no charge at 32,000 ATMs across the country. *Note: All rates are as of Sept. 07.
