CTV British Columbia | Steele On Your Side

Steele On Your Side Top Story

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  Inflatable seat belts, built-in vacuums among hottest new car features

  From tires that let you know when their pressure is correct to inflatable seatbelts, car companies keep coming up with innovative new features that are supposed to make cars safer and easier to use. 1

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  Does the Fasta Pasta make pasta cooking easier?

  The Fasta Pasta promises to make al dente pasta to perfection, but do you really need a microwavable container to simplify an otherwise straightforward task? 1

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  Securing your smart phone

  If you store sensitive information on your smart phone, losing track of it could spell disaster. A recently released survey by Consumer Reports projects more than seven million North American smart-phone owners had a phone that was lost, stolen, or ruined in the last year. 1 1

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  Pint-sized porkers as pets? Micro pig craze hits B.C.

  With their wrinkled snouts, tiny hooves and bristled hair, micro pigs are becoming a trendy new pet in B.C. But the petite porkers come with a big price tag and they’re not the right pet for everyone. 9 1

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  Walking the walk to test the best pedometers

  Consumer Reports just tested a handful of popular pedometers, GPS watches and cell phone apps that claim to measure steps and distance through movement - for as low as $3. 1

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  High tech help for aging seniors

  Many adult children take on the responsibility of caring for aging parents, and there’s a lot of technology out there to help them stay connected. The only problem is many seniors are intimidated to use it. 2 1

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  Dangerous bacteria found in ground turkey

  Many people are using ground turkey as an alternative to beef, but a just-released Consumer Reports investigation revealed it could also be a breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. 2 1

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  Will the HST factor into how people vote in B.C.?

  Budget deficits, job creation and fracking are key issues in the 2013 B.C. provincial election campaign, but many say the highly contentious HST will still play a role in voters’ decisions as they head to the polls. 12 1

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  How fair are fare evasion fines?

  Failing to stop for police, driving without insurance and driving through a red light are all serious offenses that carry a hefty fine, but you may be surprised to learn those fines are not as high as failing to pay your transit fare. 29 1

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  Does your vehicle registration put you at risk for identity theft?

  If a criminal gets their hands on key pieces of personal information they can use it to impersonate you or commit other crimes, but detailed information is required on many documents that could get into the wrong hands. 10

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  Buyers’ insurance policy protects homeowners from price drops

  Housing sales in Metro Vancouver have dropped this spring as many buyers hold off on purchasing a home for fear the prices will continue to drop. 20 1

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  Mother’s Day roses that last

  Flowers are a popular Mother’s Day gift, but it can be disappointing to spend your hard earned cash on roses for mom, only to have them wilt and die after a few days. 2 1

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  Is it worth trying to fix your cracked iPhone screen?

  Online do-it-yourself kits to repair a cracked iPhone screen can save you a costly visit to a repair service, but there are questions about how complicated the DIY process is. 4 1

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  Bike helmets you can really count on

  A helmet can be the difference between life and death in a bicycle crash. Consumer Reports just tested helmets to see which ones deliver the protection you can count on. 1

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  Angry customers launch class action lawsuit against Aeroplan

  A class action lawsuit is underway against Aeroplan to force the rewards program to reinstate lost points and compensate angry consumers who were shocked to discover their points had an expiry date. 1