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11 messaging apps that'll improve your relationship
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People are really into messaging apps right now. That includes programs like Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook messenger.

According to The New York Times Mike Isaaac and Michael J de la Merced, this is because of cultures shift to sharing content across mobile devices.

The most popular apps that sustain themselves day after day, month after month, at the top of the leader board are messengers, said Fred Wilson, who invested in Kik, a messaging app popular among teens. Thats a reflection of what people do on their phones.

Texting might be fun to do with friends, but studies say it could hurt your relationship. According to a study from Brigham Young University, too much texting can cause a disconnect between couples. For example, one partner will feel annoyed or upset by the constant texting, and thus not respond to their partner, the study said.

Texting also lessens the amount of face-to-face interaction between partners, which can also hurt the relationship, according to the study.

Reaction to disappointment and reality testing occurs more quickly face to face, one of the BYU researchers, Jonathan Sandberg, said. There is a narrowness with texting and you dont get to see the breadth of a person that you need to see.

But there are some texting apps thatll help your relationship. It may not always encourage face-to-face interaction, but it could inspire new and different ways of texting, which could help you avoid the aforementioned disconnect.

Couple

Cost: Free

This is the go-to app for messaging couples. Send your significant other a text theyll enjoy, or even use the unique Thumbkiss feature, which allows you and your partner to share a virtual kiss by hitting the same spot of your screens simultaneously.

You&Me

Cost: Free

This app allows you to store all the videos, photos and texts youve shared with your partner. You can also share secrets, songs and even voice messages with each other, providing a unique experience to messaging your loved one.

Avocado

Cost: Free

If youre interested in chatting with your partner privately, then Avocado is the app for you since its designed specifically for couples to share their messages privately. It also allows you to share calendars and lists with each other, helping partners stay up to date on their schedules.

Between

Cost: Free

Between is another messaging app for you and your partner that saves private photo albums, texts and lists. It also keeps track of the weather, which can help couples plan out their weekly events.

Glide

Cost: Free

Photos arent your style? Glide is a video messaging app for you and your partner. Send your partner the funny jokes and things you see, making their day a little brighter.

Send with Love

Cost: Free

Driving down the road and need to send a quick text to your love? Try the Send with Love app, which allows you to store different text responses to send to your lover. The app includes texts like I love you! and I miss you!, which are perfect to send to your loved one during the day even when youre busy.

Love SMS

Cost: Free

Need to send your significant other a love poem or quote? Love SMS will help you do that. The app comes installed with love quotes, poems and stories to send to your partner. It also has some cute and mushy text messages for your partners reading pleasure.

Love Emoji

Cost: $0.99

Sometimes, the pre-installed emojis just arent enough for you and your partner. But the Love Emojis app gives several emoji stickers to send to your loved ones, including hearts, flowers and love letters, which can all be posted in your texts.

FlipText

Cost: Free

Turn your relationship upside down with FlipText, which literally makes you type out your texts upside down. You and your partner will probably have a blast sending these texts back and forth to each other.

Instagram

Cost: Free

Did you know Instagram has a messaging service? Just click the upper right portion of the app and youll be in a direct messaging application. Instead of simple text messages to your partner, you two can send lovely photos back and forth, which will help you see a little more into each others days.

Snapchat

Cost: Free

Yes, Snapchat has faced scrutiny for privacy issues in the past, as Deseret News Nationals Chandra Johnson reported. But the app, much like Instagram, offers partners a chance to send photos back and forth in a creative way. Want to make your spouse laugh? Snap a selfie and draw a mustache on your face. Thatll do.

And for the single ladies ...

Invisible Boyfriend

Cost: $25/month

This is for the single ladies. The boyfriend app costs $25 a month, but it does give you all the makings of a real boyfriend. Youll get the texts and smartphone interactions youve always wanted from a boy you barely know. But be careful what you wish for.
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Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program announces grant
Funds earmarked for Share the Road initiatives
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Grant funding totaling $93,458 has been awarded to the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (GMSP) by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The approved funding will be used to increase motorcycle safety awareness and outreach by encouraging all motorists and motorcyclists to Share the Road.

“The need for motorcycle safety programs is greater than ever, and this support from GOHS enables motorcycle safety programs and impaired riding initiatives to reach riders and non-riders alike” said Commissioner Spencer R. Moore. “Thank you GOHS for helping (the Department of Driver Services) and GMSP educate and encourage all Georgia drivers to ‘Share the Road.’”

The grant allows DDS to further develop the Motorcycle Safety Outreach Program by continuing to fund a position to promote state and national safety initiatives. The GMSP outreach coordinator researches, coordinates and helps maintain an adequate presence at industry events, local schools and colleges, regional meetings and festivals to increase awareness of motorcycles on the roadways and provide the most current information on motorcycle safety initiatives.

Visitors to a GMSP event display are also encouraged to sign up for regular newsletters which provide additional safety information, as well as review the motorcycle safety message on other social media platforms.

GMSP regulates motorcycle training for new riders, as well as seasoned riders, who want to learn how to ride a motorcycle legally and safely. The program is based on a continuum of learning and therefore offers three entry points to rider education.

Students participating in the Basic Riders Course do not need specialized motorcycle equipment, as the GMSP provides both a motorcycle and a helmet to class participants. Upon successful completion of the course, participants receive a 90-day license waiver card that exempts them from both the written and on-cycle skills tests needed to obtain a Class M license in the state of Georgia.

Please visit the DDS website at www.dds.georgia.gov for many online services including the convenience of enrolling in a GMSP training class and accessing many licensing services.

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