If you’ve seen any amount of romantic comedies over the years, you’ve seen some pretty tacky proposals. This isn’t to make light of the beginning of marital bliss, but you have to admit you’ve seen some proposals that cause an involuntary eye-roll and has you thinking “I could’ve done better than that.”

You can put those thoughts to bed because a firefighter from California upped the ante exponentially.

Firefighter Zach Steele has an incendiary sense of humor and didn’t want to have a cliche proposal, so he got to scheming. He and his then-girlfriend Maddison Ridgik live in a house together and his plan was to fake a fire. The trouble with faking a fire is that they’re difficult to successfully fake. There isn’t much grey area here. Fire is fire, no fire is no fire.

Naturally, he stealthily purchased six remote-controlled smoke machines and set them up in their attic. An asphalt shingle roof will last 20 to 50 years, but if your attic is on fire (especially in California), that window sharply closes. Steele supposed that if you’ve got enough smoke pouring out of the attic to look like your roof is going to light up, that seems a reasonable cause for concern.

“Originally I got one smoke machine. I went to test it and there was barely any smoke. One was not going to work, so I had to get more smoke machines,” Steele said.

Kudos for preparedness. Still, Steele got even more into plotting and got his girlfriend’s mother involved. As it turns out, six may have been overkill because he pulled this off while they had guests over and the smoke billowing from the attic definitely caused a fright. His girlfriend’s mother was the one who ended up making the 911 call to report the fire. Once that call came in, Steele and some firefighters — with keen senses of videography — jumped into action.

At the scene, Steele’s girlfriend is freaking out, then quickly realizes he had planned the whole thing. Then, all captured on his body camera, he drops to his knee and asks her to marry him. To which she answers yes, followed by asking if their house is okay — which it was.

The holiday season is here, and with it the chilly winter months. As everyone heads inside to celebrate the holidays and keep warm, the chances of a home fire start to increase. House fires are more common in the winter than in any other season because of the increased amount of indoor activities, electricity and heating usage, and cooking. Keep your family safe this winter with these important fire safety tips.

1. Thoroughly Check Your Fireplace
   When the temperatures drop you’ll want to light up your dormant fireplace immediately, but its best to take some precautions first. Fireplaces create creosote, which can easily ignite. Have a professional chimney sweep service your fireplace before you light it for the first time.
2. Watch Out For Extension Cords
   Hanging Christmas decorations and lights can be a fun family activity, but the extension cords you need for all of the various plugs can pose a serious danger. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, home electrical problems account for 67,800 fires across the country during an average year. Read the label on your extension cord to ensure that it is set up safely and that you are not overusing it this holiday season.
3. Practice Your Fire Escape Plan
   Even if you’ve taken every safety precaution possible, a fire could happen in your home unexpectedly. Make sure you’ve gone over a fire escape plan with your family and that you have practiced it. With your children, identify at least two ways of exiting every room in the house and check for stuck windows regularly. Teach your children to never hide during a fire and call out to firefighters if they need help.
4. Make Sure All Fire Protection Equipment Is Working
   Every home should have working fire detectors and alarms on every level, but your household could also benefit from a home sprinkler system. The combination of a sprinkler system and a warning system can reduce injuries, loss of life, and property damage by at least 50%. If your home is equipped with these systems, have them tested regularly to ensure your safety.
5. Beware Of Space Heaters
   While these portable heating units can make a room more comfortable and block out the cold, they also make for a serious fire hazard. If you use one, make sure that people and pets sit at least three feet away and don’t place them near curtains or tablecloths.

Being prepared for a fire and taking preventative steps are the most important things you can do in terms of fire safety. When you take these steps, you’ll be guaranteeing your family’s safety and a happy holiday season.

Though few couples go into a marriage anticipating that their union will not last, unfortunately, a large percentage of American marriages come to an end. In fact, approximately 40% to 50% of U.S. marriages end in divorce.

Divorce may be common, but it is never easy. Many couples enter divorce with even more trepidation than they entered their marriage, and sometimes, it just isn’t clear whether or not divorce is the right choice.

If you’re struggling with the decision to divorce or continue your marriage, give yourself time to thoroughly evaluate the situation. Before making your choice, try asking yourself the following three questions:

Question 1: Have You Had the Divorce Talk?

Communication is one of the most important pillars of a healthy marriage, so it is likely you’re struggling to share your thoughts and feelings with your partner if you’re considering divorce. Nonetheless, if you’ve been able to have a civil conversation with your partner about divorce, consider holding off the paperwork. While some partnerships use threats of divorce as a tool to express emotions or to manipulate, if you and your partner have been able to speak calmly about divorce, marriage counseling could be a viable option. You might be able to use those communication skills to talk about what is underlying your desire to separate, and you could be able to mend the relationship. Premarital counseling has been shown to reduce divorce likelihood by 50%, and any counseling, in general, will do more good than harm.

Question 2: What Exactly Is Making You Want to End the Marriage?

Some relationships are pushed towards their end by obvious contributing factors. For example, domestic violence, drug abuse, and alcoholism are common justifications for separation. Additionally, couples therapists report that 50% of their caseload is due to infidelity. However, not all breakups are so cut-and-dry. If you cannot pinpoint exactly why you want a divorce, spend some time figuring out exact reasons you want to end your marriage. Consider making a list of habits and events that seem significant enough to be deal breakers. Only you can decide what you want, but seeking clarity through journaling and contemplation can make your choice a little easier.

Question 3: Are the Consequences of Divorce Going to Be More Unpleasant Than the Consequences of Staying Married?

While those who are not married or who do not live together can separate with relatively little effort, divorce takes a significant amount of time and money. Many individuals experience financial hardship after a divorce, as well as uncomfortable reactions from friends and family. Divorce may be the best choice for your scenario, but remember that some unpleasant consequences are unavoidable. If you suspect that those consequences will outweigh the unhappiness you feel right now in your marriage, consider seeking therapy or other ways to improve your marriage if your partner is willing to cooperate. In some cases, relationships improve with patience and time, and the heartache of divorce can be avoided.

Deciding to divorce may be one of the toughest decisions of your life. Unfortunately, divorce almost always results in sadness, confusion, and sometimes anger. Try asking these three questions for greater clarity, so that you can make the best decision for yourself, your family, and your future.

Approximately 48 million people in the United States are hospitalized for food poisoning every year, and 2016 is no exception.

An E. coli outbreak at Carbon Live Fire Mexican Grill has affected at least 50 people in the Chicago area, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). At least 14 people who ate at the restaurant have been hospitalized.

Health officials urge anyone who ate at the restaurant and develops symptoms of an E.coli infection to seek medical attention. Common symptoms include abdominal cramping and diarrhea that can be bloody.

Those who need to see a doctor should also mention exposure to shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC), according to the CDPH.

A lawsuit has since been filed in connection with the E. coli outbreak. Attorneys from the national food safety law firm Pritzker-Olsen, who have been contacted by five of the 50 who became ill after eating at the restaurant, filed suit on behalf of Maria Terese Loparco, on July 8.

On June 25, Loparco ate two chicken tacos and two steak tacos from Carbon, according to the case. By June 30, she was experiencing gastrointestinal pain and flu-like symptoms, which had worsened to include bloody diarrhea. By the end of the day on June 30, the “diarrhea was pure blood,” according to her complaint.

Loparco was rushed to the Urgent Care center attached to Ingalls Family Care Center and later transferred by emergency vehicle to Ingalls Memorial Hospital.

“Based on what we know now, the Chicago Department of Public Health is closing in on the precise cause of this massive outbreak,” said Brendan Flaherty, the food safety lawyer representing Loparco.

Loparco is among at least 14 people who were hospitalized for E. coli infections after eating food from the restaurant.

“This is a serious condition that is treatable,” said CDPH Commissioner Julie Morita, M.D. “Anyone who believes they may be symptomatic and ate at this restaurant should see their medical provider immediately.”

A food source has not yet been identified. Other E. coli outbreaks have been linked to under-cooked beef, unpasteurized milk, and unwashed, raw produce. Those most at risk of developing an E. coli infection are younger children, seniors, and those with compromised immune systems.

Workers’ compensation laws and regulations have been an integral part of the American society for many years. They provide security and peace of mind, especially for workers in inherently dangerous environments, such as coal miners and factory workers. According to Inthesetimes.com, the state of Illinois could be facing some drastic changes to the policies currently in place, if Gov. Bruce Rauner is successful in the changes he’s pushing for.

One of the changes Rauner would like to see made is narrowing the scope of workers’ compensation coverage for employers by not including the “work histories” of employees. Traditionally, employers have assumed responsibility for the physical problems employees developed over years of toiling in manual and hard labor. Rauner wants to change this to require that a specific workplace injury account for at least 50% of a workers’ compensation claim.

In other words, it’s Rauner’s belief that this type of coverage is intended only for traumatic injuries, not those that come as the result of long-term, repetitive acts related to work, but that are also likely enhanced through day-to-day living. He believes this is the equivalent to asking employers to “pick up the tab” on non-workplace injuries.

While this may be true in some instances, opponents of his proposed changes argue that what he’s really trying to do is reshape and overhaul the workers’ compensation standards that have been on the books for years. According to the National Academy of Social Insurance, workers’ compensation pays 100% of medical costs for injured workers from the day of injury, and cash benefits for lost work time after a three- to seven-day waiting period.

“What the governor is proposing is to take a lot of cases that have been compensable for the last 50 years and to throw them out,” said John Burton, a veteran workers’ compensation industry expert.

Despite all the rhetoric, both sides appear to have good intentions, just different ways of viewing the world. Rauner argues that changing the laws will help promote business and the economy in general. He claims the current policies and associated high costs are helping to drive businesses out of Illinois. Proponents on the other side say that the type of changes Rauner is pushing for would be a big step back for the working person.

Whose side are you on? Sound off in the comments section below.

Over 95% of individuals in the United States wear t-shirts, but not everyone can say their shirts are from a tech-savvy fashion company. Yet one fashion company in Chicago is changing the way technology impacts their business.

Whoever said the Chicago technology scene was an ordinary cluster of B2B contenders has clearly never met the team at Trunk Club.

Headquartered in River North, the on-demand fashion tech company has become somewhat of an institution in Chicago, a city often criticized for its lack of flashy, consumer-facing products.

Since its launch in 2009, the company has grown into one of Chicago’s key tech triumphs. With a $350 million sale to Nordstrom in 2014 and a growing headcount that’s landed the company on more than one Top 100 Digital Tech Employers list, Trunk Club’s tech-driven approach has lead it to the forefront of technology, fashion, and future of commerce.

“The world is splitting into two halves: a cheap-fast-now, commoditized world that Amazon is going to win at, and the other side is the service and experience-focused commerce world,” said Mike Cruz, Trunk Club’s VP of Engineering. “We don’t sell you what you need. We ask you where you want to be and give you clothes to achieve that goal.”

And to add even more innovation and excitement, the company has recently expanded its sales to include women.

Officially launched in Fall 2015, the program allows customers to try on Trunk Club’s suggestions, and then pick and choose which items they want to pay to keep. They can return any unwanted items free of charge, as long as they’re returned within 10 days, just like the established system for the company’s men’s service.

But the fashion-forward powerhouse doesn’t stop there.

Trunk Club has been an advocate of simplicity since the start, and they’re constantly working to make their technology and internal architecture reflect that.

“We’re making and resizing services because simplicity is a lot easier,” Cruz said. “The goal is to be able to keep the architecture in your head. We’re not there yet, but we’re getting close.”

Cruz said the engineering team alone today sits at about 30, with an additional 70 team members like designers and IP rounding out the team. And that’s in addition to a chic army of personal stylists who curate each trunk and a number of other positions, such as marketing and sales.

In addition to their online presence, Trunk Club also operates five physical locations throughout the country in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, and Washington, D.C.

Signal, a Chicago-based marketing technology company, has recently closed a $30 million Series E round of funding to expand its product in global markets.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the funding round was led by I2A, a Chicago-based venture fund, along with investors such as Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Baird Capital, Epic Ventures, and Silicon Valley Bank.

More than 20,000 companies already use Signal’s platform, including powerhouses like Crate and Barrel, Macy’s, and Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

The six-year-old company runs a platform that has changed the game for companies everywhere.

The platform patches together data from different sources to help its clients recognize and track individual customers. The information can come from a variety of sources and can help brands get a comprehensive look at individual customers across multiple mediums.

“It’s not enough these days to know what (customers are) looking at, and then making a recommendation,” CEO and co-founder Mike Sands said.

Countless businesses rely on online marketing strategies to expand their reach, and technology like Signal’s could help them tremendously. The funding that Signal has now will allow them to expand globally, including opening spaces in the U.K., Australia, and even the Asian Pacific regions.

However, many companies aren’t even yet aware of the impact that good marketing technology and strategy can have on their business.

More and more companies are realizing the importance of video marketing as part of their strategy, and for good reason. People are no longer phased by ads on buses, and technology allows them to speed through television commercials. Even business phone systems have evolved to meet new customer and marketing needs.

When consumers need or want something, they reach for their phones. In fact, 62% of companies that designed a website specifically for mobile use reported increased sales across the board.

According to Marketing Tech, video is the most shared content type on Facebook for almost every industry. Sharing is essentially word of mouth marketing, and with minimal spending on a business’s part, is just as effective.

Companies like Signal are revolutionizing online marketing strategy with their software, and with Signal’s initiative to go global, countless companies worldwide will be able to benefit from their services.