MACON, Ga., July 14 (UPI) — Alana Thompson, the 7-year-old TLC star, and her mother, said they visited Macon, Ga. to promote the second season of “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” and a new book. …read more
Tag Archives: TLC
A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Aegon N.V. U.S. and Canadian Subsidiaries
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
A.M. Best Affirms Ratings of Aegon N.V. U.S. and Canadian Subsidiaries
OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of the U.S. life/health subsidiaries of Aegon N.V. (Aegon) (Netherlands) [NYSE: AEG]. Aegon’s U.S. life/health companies are collectively referred to as Aegon USA Group (Aegon USA). In addition, A.M. Best has affirmed the debt ratings of “aa-” on the outstanding notes issued under the funding agreement-backed securities (FABS) programs sponsored by Monumental Life Insurance Company (Cedar Rapids, IA), a member of Aegon USA. Concurrently, A.M. Best has affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) and ICR of “a” of Stonebridge Casualty InsuranceCompany (Stonebridge Casualty), the property/casualty member of Aegon USA.
A.M. Best also has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and ICR of “a-” of Transamerica Life Canada (TLC) (Toronto, Ontario) a wholly owned subsidiary of Aegon and the FSR of A (Excellent) and ICR of “a” of Canadian Premier Life Insurance Company (CPL), a subsidiary of TLC. The outlook for all ratings is stable. (See below for a detailed listing of the companies and ratings.)
The rating affirmations of Aegon USA reflect its favorable earnings performance and risk-adjusted capitalization during 2012. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) earnings for Aegon Americas (which includes its U.S., Canadian and Latin American operations) were $1.3 billion for year-end 2012.
Aegon USA recorded U.S. statutory net income of $1.8 billion for year-end 2012. The group’s risk-adjusted capitalization remained strong as its year-end 2012 regulatory capital ratio improved slightly over the previous year and is significantly higher than historical levels.
Aegon USA’s stand-alone credit profile considers its strong market position in a number of U.S. life and annuity market segments, a large multi-channel distribution platform, its diversified sources of earnings and a strong positive cash flow. The organization also benefits from meaningful economies of scale, strong brand name recognition and effective asset/liability and liquidity management. Aegon USA’s ratings also recognize A.M. Best’s assessment of the financial strength and support of Aegon. As a result, the stand-alone ratings of Aegon USA receive rating enhancement in consideration of Aegon’s overall creditworthiness and the strategic and financial importance of the U.S. operations to Aegon.
A.M. Best notes that Aegon USA has taken various initiatives to de-risk its balance sheet and improve its risk profile. The quality of its investment portfolio has been upgraded by reducing hedge fund holdings and increasing positions in treasuries and other short-term investments. The institutional spread-based business (primarily guaranteed interest contracts, funding agreements …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
Kate Gosselin’s Style Evolution: From Spiky Hair And Mom Jeans To Sleek Dresses And Self Tanner (PHOTOS)
By The Huffington Post News Editors
“My kids are the reason I have always done everything.” That is a statement that Kate Gosselin has lived by every day since giving birth to sextuplets back in 2004. The mother of eight, who got her own reality series “Jon & Kate Plus 8” after the birth of her children, quickly skyrocketed to fame and found herself, along with her family, on the cover of every major tabloid in America.
Following a messy divorce and the cancellation of her TLC show, Kate’s life turned upside down, and so did her style. Gosselin, a former devotee to mom jeans, turned to slinky dresses and stilettos (otherwise known as a fashion 180).
Her hair has also been a major topic of conversation. “The Gosselin” didn’t exactly inspire women like “The Rachel,” but countless memes and articles have been dedicated to the short and spiky ‘do.
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Pete Rose Stars In Commercial With Kiana Kim For Muenchen’s Furniture (VIDEO)
By The Huffington Post News Editors
Pete Rose certainly doesn’t knock it out of the park in a local spot for Muenchen’s Furniture, outlets seem to agree.
AdWeek calls the new commercial and companion ad “awesomely awkward, sublimely stilted.” And Rose’s Playboy model fiancee, Kiana Kim, isn’t spared criticism from the publication, either.
AdWeek said Kim, who starred with the banned baseball great in a now-canceled TLC reality show, was “overemoting in the last seconds of her 15 minutes of fame.”
‘What Not To Wear’ Canceled: TLC Series Ending After 10 Years
By The Huffington Post News Editors
“What Not To Wear” is ending. TLC announced its long-running makeover show will end its run after 10 years in July 2013.
“After 10 incredible seasons, we felt that it was the right time to end the series,” Amy Winter, EVP and General Manager of TLC, said in a statement. “Stacy and Clinton have also become two of the most sought after fashion experts and TV personalities in the industry. We’re so proud to have had the two of them along with Carmindy and Ted as the glam squad behind this fan-favorite show, and the final episodes will definitely be a celebration of this monumental run.”
“What Not To Wear” featured Stacy London and Clinton Kelly ambushing an unsuspecting “fashion victim” who was nominated by friends and family for a makeover. The show premiered on January 18, 2003. Over the 10 seasons, Stacy and Clinton gave over 325 makeovers to men, women, celebrities and families.
Surprising Household Items That Can Make Fresh Flowers Last — Savings Experiment
Filed under: Savings Experiment
Grow Delicious Bargains in Your Own Veggie Garden — Savings ExperimentA fresh bouquet of flowers will brighten up any room, especially if they last. Surprisingly, a number of household items will help do the trick. Here are a few interesting products and tips that can help your blooms stay fresh longer.
First, cut your stems with a knife instead of scissors. “The gauge on scissors is set for paper or fabric, not for flower stems, which are bulkier,” reports CBS News. “Using scissors will crush their vascular systems and prevent proper water uptake.”
Then it’s all about what you put in your water. Dissolved aspirin is a tried and true method to keeping your flowers fresh, but lemon-lime soda can work too. Mix one part of the soda with three parts water. Then add 1/4 teaspoon of household bleach per quart, which will help the water stay clear.
Lemon juice is another great ingredient to put in your vase. CBS News says to mix 2 teaspoons of lemon juice or ReaLemon brand lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of bleach in a quart of warm water. Another 1/4 teaspoon of bleach can be added to the vase water every four days.
One of the strangest products that will help your bouquet last is Listerine. According to Plantea.com, just 2 ounces of the mouthwash added to every gallon of water will act as plant food and create a bacteria-fighting environment for the flowers. It’s also acidic like many of the other solutions, which helps water move up cut stems.
For super long-lasting flowers, though, you may want to invest in a household plant. With a little TLC and proper care, you could have it for months, if not years, depending on the variety. If you have a black thumb, make sure you avoid overwatering, which is the number one killer of houseplants. Give it sufficient light, plant food when necessary, and watch out for pests. Of course, these are just general rules to follow. Read up on your plant variety and research the best way to suit its needs, and you’ll be able to enjoy a little greenery in your home.
'What Not to Wear' wrapping up after 10 seasons on TLC
NEW YORK, March 6 (UPI) — The U.S. fashion reality show “What Not to Wear” is to end its 10-season run on TLC this summer, its hosts Clinton Kelly and Stacy London confirmed Wednesday.
Kate Gosselin Wants Jon Gosselin To Go To Jail Over Tell-All Book (REPORT)
By The Huffington Post News Editors
Back in October, Kate Gosselin succeeded in halting the sale of a nasty tell-all by Robert Hoffman, a friend of her estranged husband, Jon Gosselin. The book, “Kate Gosslin: How She Fooled The World,” was pulled from Amazon shortly after its release due to charges of inappropriately obtained confidential documents — including a series of private emails exchanged between the “Kate Plus 8″ star and the Discovery network that troubled TLC.
In January, Hoffman told HuffPost Celebrity of plans to rework the manuscript and move forward with its release.
But now come reports that Kate, 37, is attempting to put together a lawsuit against her ex-husband, as she believes Jon gave Hoffman the computer hard drive with her personal information and private journals, which provided fodder for the book.
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Upping Your Mileage For a Race? Keep These Tips in Mind!
By Emily Bibb 
There comes a time in every athlete’s training regimen when it’s time to flee from the comfortable and up the mileage. Whether you’re a runner, swimmer, or biker there is general protocol to follow when amplifying workouts. As always, with this type of commitment, TLC between training sessions is key. From stretching to sleep, here are a few tips to keep in mind leading up to race day.
- Add more stretching: Soreness comes with the territory whenever taking a workout to the next level. Rather than looking at this as a bad thing, recognize it as your body’s way of getting better. To prevent injury and minimize the aches and pains between workouts, it’s essential to stretch. Follow these tips to maximize your stretches before and after every workout.
- Take time for TLC: If you’ve become serious about training, proper recovery is key to go the extra mile. Although massages seem like an unnecessary luxury, they are crucial for athletes. Not only do massages help your body recover quickly, they boost the immune system. The frequency and access to massage therapy will depend on your time and budget. But, you can also continue to foam roll or follow these tips to get similar massage benefits at home.
- Increase your caloric intake: Like any high-powered machine, proper fuel is critical for you to be at your best – especially complex carbs and lean protein. To keep energy levels high and allow the body to build muscle and recover properly, pre- and post-workout fuel must be a priority. Replace highly processed foods with greens, protein shakes, and healthy gym bag snacks.
- Invest in proper equipment: Increasing your mileage isn’t just tough on your body, it’s tough on your equipment too. For safety, make sure all your biking equipment is up to par or your running shoes can handle more than the treadmill. Over time, running shoes lose their ability to absorb shocks, properly cushion your steps, and support your arches. Before you know it, you could have easily racked up enough mileage to spring for a new pair. Aside from offering proper support, a new pair of runners can be just the motivation you need to finish strong.
- Get enough sleep: Sleep is vital to maximize training and performance. Our body uses sleep, like it uses nutrition, to repair and recover. A full night’s rest will leave you feeling energized each morning to be at your best and make the most of your workout.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at fashionologie