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FabFitFun Review: Editors Box Unboxing – A box full of full-size fun finds that I get to KEEP! It's a lot of fun (pun VERY intended.)
Well it's official. I'm in love with subscription boxes and doing unboxing videos. How did this even happen? I blame Stitch Fix. There was something so fun about the surprise factor every stinking time it arrived on my porch, and now I'm HOOKED.
Although I no longer subscribe to Stitch Fix, I'm now happily subscribed to Trunk Club, Birchbox, and NOW FabFitFun. Oh mylanta… PLEASE don't let me find out about another one. My husband may lose his mind. (Except if you hear about a subscription service that sends kitchen utensils/home decor. Now I'd be all over that like a spider-monkey.)
FabFitFun Review: Editors Box
I wasn't quite sure what to expect with a fabfitfun box, except for those of you on Facebook telling me how awesome it was when I told you that I subscribed. I believed you, but also couldn't wait to see for myself.
Take a look at what all came in this Editors box, and we will chat after!
Fun, right?! Ok, so I'm TOTALLY wearing this necklace all of the time, drinking out of the travel mug when it's clean, and slathering this body butter all of myself until every last drop is gone.
What I'll Use | What's Headed to the Gift Closet:
The nail polish is a gorgeous color, I'm sure I'll be using the face spray soon, and I'm still debating on whether or not to take the scarf out of the packaging, or if I want to save it for a last minute gift for someone.
The colored pencils, and coloring book are definitely going in my gift closet, and I'll ponder more over the lip gloss, $40 off of "hello fresh," and hair oil.
Did I miss anything?
This was so fun. I suppose since my husband and I stopped exchanging gifts years ago for holiday's… this is my surprise weakness that I tend to fall for.
Try FabFitFun:
If you want to subscribe to FabFitFun too, I totally understand! If you want, you can use my referral link, and they may give me a small referral fee/credit. Please don't feel obligated to use it! I just like to put it out there to convince my husband that there's a chance that I may get my subscriptions for free one day. 😉
Try FabFitFun

subset: commoncrawl


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Application Deadline:unspecified
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The Dow Chemical Company is looking for an ambitious University of technology graduates supporting our business who is interested completing a 12 month workplace experience program.
- Graduates who have completed either Ndip or Btech in Analytical Chemistry/Environmental Science/Operations Management/Mechanical Engineering/Chemical Engineering
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West Nile sub-region is a region in North-western Uganda, Northern Uganda. It received its name from being located on the western side of the Albert Nile. The sub-region is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the South and to the West; by Republic of South Sudan to the North and by the Albert Nile to the East. The town of Arua is the largest town in the sub-region and is on a quest to achieve city status. Arua lies approximately 420 kilometers (260 miles) by road, Northwest of Kampala, the capital of Uganda, and the largest city in the country. West Nile gained global notoriety as the origin of the former Ugandan military head of state Idi Amin. The location of West Nile places it at the center of thriving cross border commerce and this region is arguably now one of the fastest growing economic centers in Uganda.
History of West Nile
Throughout the colonial era, West Nile was significantly under-developed in comparison with most of Uganda, and the region has a pre-colonial past characterized by slave-raiding by Turkish slave traders and ivory poaching by Europeans. West Nile was once fought over by the Belgians, French, Germans and British and its fascinating history includes personalities like 'Gordon of Khartoum', Henry Morton Stanley, and President Theodore Roosevelt of America. The changing sovereignty over the years saw the region administered as part of the Anglo Egyptian Sudan (1899) under British and Egyptian condominium administration (as part of modern day South Sudan; as part of Congo Free State and later Belgian Congo (various periods between 1894 – 1910); as autonomous Lado Enclave (1911 -1914); and then in 1914 West Nile became part of the British Uganda Protectorate until Uganda gained independence in 1962 when West Nile became part of Republic of Uganda. A detailed account of the history of West Nile has been commissioned West Nile Web and will be made available online. A good account of the history of West Nile is Mark Leopold's Inside West Nile - Violence, History, & Representation on an African Frontier
Population, Ethnicity and Religion
West Nile has a total projected population of 2,988,300 people living in approximately 500,000 households (as per 2018 Uganda Bureau of Statistics estimates). While the household is the primary unit of social life, the village is the centre of local governance throughout the region.
In terms of ethnic composition, West Nile is composed of the largely Sudanic ethnic groups of Lugbara, Kakwa, Madi, and the Nilotic Alur. Other ethnicities include the Ukebu, Kuku, Nubians. West Nile is also home to a considerable number of other Ugandan tribes, Indians, other Asians, Congolese, South Sudanese and
The people of West Nile are predominantly (80%) rural. The exception is Koboko (34%) and Maracha (34%) districts were more people, even by national standards (23%), live in urban areas. In terms of faith, 52% of the population is Catholic. Anglicans and Muslims constitute only 28% and 18% of the people respectively. District variation exists with Yumbe being largely Muslim and Maracha largely Anglican. Other religious beliefs are also practiced. However, cases of religious conflicts are extremely rare; indicating the strong ecumenical lifestyle of the people.
Economic Activity
With the exception of Adjumani where there are fewer people compared to the Uganda national average engaged in subsistence farming, in all the other districts; especially in Yumbe and Nebbi districts, subsistence farming is the main livelihood activity. With increasing urbanization in the key urban centers; Non-governmental organization activity; and the implementation of decentralization of sub-national government, the number of waged employment is fast rising. Local and cross border trade is a key activity in West Nile. Fishing is practiced along the River Nile with main commercial fishing activities centered around Panyimur, Pakwach, Rhino Camp and Obongi.
West Nile sub-region has a large number of international and national Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs); a large number involved with the approximately 1 million South Sudanese refugees in West Nile. The sub-region also has a huge number of local Community Based Organisations (CBOs). Majority of these CBOs are engaged in food and income security related activities and HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation. A negligible number are undertaking human rights and advocacy and water and sanitation activities. This is in part because these themes depend on high quality technical skills that many CBOs lack.
Administratively West Nile sub-region consists of the following nine districts, which are further sub-divided into urban councils, sub counties, parishes, wards and villages.
- Adjumani District
- Arua District
- Koboko District
- Maracha District
- Moyo District
- Nebbi District
- Pakwach District
- Yumbe District
- Zombo District


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Thinking of visiting Annapolis this summer? Washingtonian.com recently posted a comprehensive list of things to do on Chesapeake Bay, highlighting many of our favorite spots in Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. Check out their article, Your Complete Guide to Exploring the Chesapeake Bay for everything you need to know about the Bay before visiting.
The Chesapeake Bay holds more than 18 trillion gallons of water; sprawls across an area larger than Connecticut; harbors 3,600-plus species of fish, plants and animals; and provides jobs and food for millions of people. You're forgiven if you sometimes forget it's there.
This article was first published on Washingtonian.com. Read the full story from Washingtonian.com HERE.
Downtown Annapolis' Ego Alley at City Dock
Check out VisitAnnapolis.org for everything you need to know about planning a visit, upcoming events, hotel options, things to do, and much more in Annapolis.


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Review: Kyocera Torque for Sprint
Form Performance Basics Extras Wrap-Up Comments 4
The Torque's display measures a tight 4 inches across the diameter and offers but 800 x 480 pixels. Were the screen any bigger, the resolution might be problematic. As it is, the resolution compliments this screen size well, and it looks sharp (enough) for reading text and surfing the web. Brightness levels are adequate, though I found the Torque slightly difficult to read outside under sunny skies. Colors were vibrant and accurate. It's a good little screen.
The Torque performs on par with other Sprint devices when it comes to the network. It had no trouble connecting in most places, but rarely showed more than two or three bars (out of five). Despite what the signal indicator read, the Torque was always able to make cellular and PTT voice calls, as well as surf the web. The Torque did not drop any calls, even when the signal indicator showed no bars, and I never missed any calls. (Due to the limited availability of Sprint's LTE 4G network, we were unable to test the Torque on 4G.)
The Torque has good call quality, for the most part, but there was a hiss audible in the background that bugged me. The earpiece speaker is very good in terms of volume, but I wish it were louder. The speakerphone, however, produces excellent volume. It can easily be heard from several rooms away. The quality of calls sent to the speakerphone was better than the earpiece, as well. The Direct Connect calls I made to other PTT devices sounded quite good - on par with the cellular calls - and volume levels were the same. Thanks to the large speakers on the front of the Torque, ringers and alerts are loud enough to make your neighbor think it's his phone that's ringing.
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Last, the Torque has what Kyocera calls Smart Sonic Receiver technology to make it possible to hear phone calls in even the noisiest environments. The technology eliminates the need for a traditional speaker in a handset, instead using vibrations to transmit sounds directly to the eardrum. Placing the phone in contact with the general area of the ear creates clear sound even in very noisy environments such as construction sites. This tech works automatically, you don't have to do anything to enable it. If you're wearing a helmet, just press the Torque against the helmet and you'll be able to hear calls better. Trust us, it works.
In a word, excellent. Under normal usage (some calls, texting, surfing the web, reading email, checking the weather, and downloading apps) the Torque easily lasted a day and a half between charges. If used sparingly, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Torque last two full days. For the power-conscious user, the Torque also includes some custom software from Kyocera called MaxiMZR. This settings tool will analyze the owner's usage and limit the background data connection of certain apps (such as email, or Facebook) to help conserve power. The tool takes some time (a week or more) to learn your behavior, and will go so far as to automatically shut down apps that haven't been used at all in several days. EcoMode, another Kyocera app, further helps refine its power consumption by shutting down predetermined apps once the battery reaches XX%. The bottom line here is that the Torque offers great battery life that can be extended into days' worth of use with some customization.
The Torque is not rated quite as tough as the toughest phones out there, but it is much tougher than standard Android smartphones. It can get wet with no worries and takes a tumble down concrete stairs rather well. I subjected it to a fair amount of abuse, and it held up just fine. It is meant to survive the trials and tribulations of people who live and work outdoors; it won't survive World War III.
Kyocera was showing off the Torque at Mobile World Congress. This ultra-rugged Android smartphone claims to have it all.
Oct 17, 2014
Sprint and Kyocera today announced the Torque XT, a minor update to the original Torque. The two updates include compatibility with Sprint's Direct Connect walkie-talkie service, and the improvement on onboard storage to 20GB.
Jan 28, 2013
Sprint and Kyocera today announced the Torque, a new ruggedized Android smartphone that includes DirectConnect and LTE 4G. The Torque is rated at mil-spec 810G for protection from dust, shock, vibration, solar radiation, humidity, blowing rain, low pressure, salt fog, and extreme temperatures.
The Asus ROG Phone II is a beast of a phone. It's loaded to the gills with top-end specs and unique extra features that cater to hard-core gamers.
Jan 7, 2020
Kyocera is at CES this year showing off mock-ups of 5G devices under development, including their next rugged smartphone for the US, which will have 5G. Kyocera's Product Planning Manager Curtis Wick confirmed to Phone Scoop that the company is still actively developing rugged smartphones for the US market, similar to the DuraForce Pro 2 that is currently offered by AT&T and Verizon.


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The angel said, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary home as your wife. The baby inside her is from the Holy Spirit. She is going to have a son. You must give him the name Jesus. That is because he will save his people from their sins." ...From this, we learn that after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph began having normal marital relations. And so they had several more children. The Bible names four sons (in addition to Jesus).
Joseph woke up. He did what the angel of the Lord commanded him to do. He took Mary home as his wife. But he did not make love to her until after she gave birth to a son.
(Scripture quotations are from the New International Readers' Version)
The Bible also mentions that Mary and Joseph had daughters, but it does not tell us how many or their names.
The Greek spelling is "Iakobos".
We would say, "Joseph, Jr." Sometimes also spelled "Joses".
This was a very common and honorable name for Jewish boys, named after Judah, the patriarch of the tribe. Sometimes his name is translated as "Jude", so as not to confuse readers with Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.
Jesus finished telling these stories. Then he moved on from there. He came to his hometown of Nazareth. There he began teaching the people in their synagogue. They were amazed.
"Where did this man get this wisdom? Where did he get this power to do miracles?" they asked. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary? Aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us?..." (Matthew 13:53-56; also see Mark 6:1-6)
Even Jesus' own brothers did not believe in him. (John 7:5)And sometimes they thought Jesus was crazy.
Jesus entered a house. Again a crowd gathered. It was so large that Jesus and his disciples were not even able to eat. His family heard about this. So they went to take charge of him. They said, "He is out of his mind." (Mark 3:20-21)That is a reasonable reaction. How would you feel if your brother said things like:
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)But after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension, we see that His brothers changed their opinion about Him.
The apostles... all came together regularly to pray. The women joined them too. So did Jesus' mother Mary and his brothers. (Acts 1:12,14)What caused their change in attitude about their brother Jesus? Paul gives us a hint in 1 Corinthians 15:3-7.
What I received I passed on to you. And it is the most important of all. Here is what it is:
- Christ died for our sins, just as Scripture said he would.
- He was buried.
- He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as Scripture said he would be.
- He appeared to Peter.
- Then he appeared to the Twelve.
- After that, he appeared to more than 500 believers at the same time...
- He appeared to James.
- Then he appeared to all the apostles.
King Herod arrested some people who belonged to the church. He planned to make them suffer greatly. He had James killed with a sword. James was John's brother. (Acts 12:1,2)Luke names James the son of Alphaeus in the list of the disciples in Acts 1:13. But after that James the son of Alphaeus fades from view. The Bible doesn't mention him again. But it does often mention James the brother of Jesus, because he became the leader, the bishop, of the Jerusalem church.
...I went up to Jerusalem. I went there to get to know Peter. I stayed with him for 15 days. I didn't see any of the other apostles. I only saw James, the Lord's brother. (Galatians 1:18-19)Several stories in the New Testament describe James' leadership role in the Jerusalem church:
Acts 12:17James had a top leadership role in the Jerusalem church. So we may safely guess that the author of the New Testament letter of James was written by Jesus' younger brother.
Acts 15 (see verse 13)
Acts 21:18
Galatians 2:11-12
I, James, am writing this letter. I serve God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am sending this letter to you, the 12 tribes that are scattered among the nations. (James 1:1)
Don't we have the right to take a believing wife with us when we travel? The other apostles do. The Lord's brothers do. Peter does. (1 Corinthians 9:5)Judas (son of Joseph and Mary) is probably the author of the New Testament letter of "Jude" (the original Greek text says the author is "Judas")
I, Jude [Judas], am writing this letter. I serve Jesus Christ. I am a brother of James. (Jude 1)Notice how both James and Judas, do not mention that they are Jesus' brothers. Rather, they humbly describe themselves as His servants.


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Alaska Glacial Mud Co. sustainably hand-harvests glacial mud from the Copper River Delta where timeless glaciers have ground remote mountains into pure mineral-rich powder. They combine the glacial mineral mud with traditional botanicals from plants indigenous to the Pacific Northwest and do not use synthetics, animal byproducts or animal testing. The product is biodegradable and the packaging is recyclable. In addition to being eco-friendly, they are philanthropic – as advocates for the Copper River Delta/Watershed they pledge 10% of their profits to local organizations that love, work and fight for its protection. With today's Alaska Rewards offer you get (2) travel packs of lavender-peppermint and (2) travel packs of vanilla-lavender, plus a premium application brush for only $10 ($20 Value).
Their glacial masque detoxifies, exfoliates and softens skin while more than 60 nourishing major and trace elements promote healthy skin cell regeneration. Gentle and balanced for all skin types. Laboratory-tested, allergy-free, and does not cause irritation. The premium application brush features a wooden handle and nylon bristles. It has Alaska Glacial Mud Co. printed on the side and it measures 4.5 inches in length. It's great for even distribution of masques — no messy fingers. Replicate a decadent spa experience at home, and obtain more applications from a single jar of Alaska Glacial Mud.


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The North American Leadership Conference & Product Safety Summit
This week saw PPAI's North American Leadership Conference and first-ever Product Safety Summit in Denver. We worked closely with PPAI staff to coordinate some exclusive interviews with key players at both conferences, so for those of you who may have missed something, here's a quick recap of some of the week's events.
Promo Marketing Interviews North American Leadership Conference Keynote Speaker Annie Xu: Annie Xu, general manager for Alibaba.com, gave the keynote speech at the North American Leadership Conference on Monday, and after she spoke with Michael Cornnell. They discussed the company's objectives and Xu's thoughts on the current global marketplace and the state of e-commerce in this Q&A.
PPAI Unveils Promotional Products TurboTest: Our editorial director Nichole Stella sat in on an preview of PPAI's new product compliance tool last week prior to its unveiling Tuesday. The program will allow distributors to easily identify what laws, such as CPSIA and various state regulations, apply to a particular product and help to make sure you're compliant and that you, and your clients, are covered.
Podcast: Geiger and Prime Line CEOs Discuss the PPAI Product Safety Summit: On Wednesday I spoke with Rick Brenner of Prime Line and Gene Geiger of Geiger, the co-chairs of the inaugural Product Safety Summit. In this podcast we discussed how the PSS was formed and what the promotional product community is doing to accomodate changing laws and regulations. Gene and Rick were also on the committee that developed TurboTest, and they touch upon where they think it fits into our industry.
One last related note: this Sunday, August 14, marks the third anniversary of the passing of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, and the beginning of the 100 part-per-million lead limit on children's toys. Next week, I'll try to put something together discussing CPSIA's history and its impact on promotional products.
Kyle A. Richardson is the editorial director of Promo Marketing. He joined the company in 2006 brings more than a decade of publishing, marketing and media experience to the magazine. If you see him, buy him a drink.


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Dolce & Gabbana Fragrances unveils its newest face: the French model and actress, Laetitia Casta. Laetitia's unparalleled beauty, sensuality and femininity brought her to the attention of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana who chose her to embody the Dolce & Gabbana woman for the launch of their newest fragrance Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme.
"Laetitia has always bewitched us with her sensual and natural charisma: she is the perfect interpretation of the Dolce&Gabbana woman of today." says the famous designer duo.
Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana launched their first scent Dolce & Gabbana Pour Femme in 1992 that marked the decade of the nineties. In 2012, the designers have decided to re-launch their rich floral perfume in a new version.
Top notes: Neroli, raspberry and tangerine
Heart notes: Jasmine and orange blossom
Base notes: Marshmallow, vanilla, sandalwood and heliotrope
The advertising campaign was shot by Mario Testino in Sicily with Laetitia Casta and Noah Mills. The fragrance is available from July 2012 – as 25, 50 and 100 ml Eau de Parfum for women.
LoL, Sandra
Photos: Courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana Fragrances


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Protect SLA
We understand that everything that's important to you begins with light; from the start of your day to your business operations, therefore we understand the asset that good lighting means to you. Let us ensure the optimum functionality of your luminaires at all times with our PROTECT SLA. This service offers protection of your asset, your people, and your reputation - because what's important to you, is important to us. Email firstname.lastname@example.com for more information.


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Sunday, November 18, 2012
"I want to bring a bit of Snoop to things."
It may soon become a lot more of a doggy-dogg world. Rapper, entrepreneur, soccer coach... Celtic owner? Beckham thief? Stay tuned.
- Greg Seltzer
7 comments:
- dallen said...
Much like the LeBron James/Liverpool/Kanye Vegas party comments, these quotes don't ring true.
He may be interested in investing, but the comments sound bogus.
- November 19, 2012 at 9:30 AM
- Greg Seltzer said...
Why's that?
- November 19, 2012 at 9:33 AM
- dallen said...
Only the most ardent Euro snob would say things like:
"I am passionate about my sport"
"he looks like a proper athlete"
"if we are to go far in Europe"
None of that sounds like anything a very casual American soccer fan would say, let alone someone with the unique, one-of-a-kind conversational flow that Snoop has.
I'm not saying he's not investing, I'm not even saying most of that legit, it just reads to me like someone took some major liberties editing that for UK readers. That said, I wouldn't be surprised if all of the quotes were either made up by the author or if maybe Snoop has a UK publicist that did it for him.
- November 19, 2012 at 10:12 AM
- Greg Seltzer said...
Ummm... Snoop is not a casual soccer fan. He's been a nut for quite a long while now, and does spend a good bit of time in Europe. I even heard him reflexively call it football several times while guesting on a Dutch talk show.
- November 19, 2012 at 10:15 AM
- dallen said...
To have to ask David Beckham whether or not Celtic is a big club sounds pretty casual to me :)
Listen, I don't feel strongly about this, it just reads false to me, that's all.
Snoop is a brilliant, savvy guy, so it's definitely possible he adopted some British flavor when he's spoke to a British journalist, especially considering the PR nightmares potential and actual American owners have experienced when approaching clubs about buying an ownership share (Hicks & Gillette, Glazers and the dude who tried to buy Rangers).
- November 19, 2012 at 10:24 AM
- BTM said...
I had a similar thought to Dallen, although I wouldn't have framed it as "Euro snob" vs casual fan. American fans of all levels of interest will adopt soccer-specific British expressions, but it's rare to see such a change in everyday idiom. "Sport" over "sports"? "Proper" instead of any number of adjectives an American would naturally use there? It's hard to believe those quotes came directly from Snoop, and if they did he was really working at speaking in an affected manner.
Reminds me of an Irvine Welsh short story set in Chicago. He had American characters talking about turning on the "air con", going over to "Chicago Uni" then catching a game at "Wrigley Fields". Terrible stuff.
- November 19, 2012 at 12:59 PM
- Greg Seltzer said...
Frankly, I assumed the "sport" thing was the writer dropping the s from habit. I've seen that before.
- November 19, 2012 at 1:04 PM


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In this week's issue, Alex Ross's reviews the new production of Wagner's "Das Rheingold" at the Met. In the opening scene, three Rhinemaidens are suspended from cables above the stage, as if floating in water.
In the startling Martin Schoeller photograph that accompanies Ross's column, the Rhinemaidens, dressed in their formal flippers, take flight over the Lincoln Center's Revson Fountain. (Subscribers can read Ross's piece, as well as John Seabrook's story on Revson Fountain, from January.) Here's video of the photo shoot, by Natalie Jacoby.


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The Sponsor Couple Marriage Preparation Program uses "like-to-like" ministry to help prepare engaged couples to increase their knowledge and awareness of each other's values and attitudes, as well as improve their communication skills and the expression of their shared spirituality. This offers much benefit to engaged couples due to the modeling relationship they experience with their Sponsor Couple. The Sponsor Couple benefits by continued insight into their own marriage, derived from sharing their life's experiences and love's responses.
The Sponsor Couple must have a valid Catholic marriage, solid, open communication, respect, the willingness to share marriage with others, a good sense of humor, must be a living witness to the value of a Christian marriage, and must exercise the rule of confidentiality.
We are always looking for new, dedicated sponsor couples. If interested, please call...
Ellen and Vincent DeWind ● 634-0269


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General Hospital's Ryan Paevey in Unleashing Mr. Darcy
Hallmark movie.
Updated January 15:
Watch a preview of Ryan Paevey's upcoming Hallmark Channel film "Unleashing Mr. Darcy," and be sure to catch it on January 23 at 9:00 PM.
Updated December 21, 2015:
"Unleashing Mr. Darcy" staring "General Hospital's" Ryan Paevey (Port Charles' Nathan West) will premiere on January 23 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on the Hallmark Channel. The movie's premise has been slightly changed from Teri Wilson's book on which it is based on. In this updated version Elizabeth Scott (Cindy Busby) gets the opportunity to professionally show her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a fancy New York dog show, where she meets the aristocratic and rude dog judge Donovan Darcy (Paevey). A chain of misunderstandings unfolds during the competition, complicating their mutual attraction, though it turns out Mr. Darcy is far more kind and interesting than Elizabeth ever imagined.
Check out a gallery from the movie right here on Soaps.com
Original Story November 23, 2015:
"General Hospital's" Ryan Paevey (Port Charles' Nathan West) has been busy up in Canada filming the upcoming Hallmark Channel film "Unleashing Mr. Darcy." The movie is based on Teri Wilson's book of the same name which centers around Manhattanite Elizabeth Scott who heads to England to escape a work scandal and care for a pack of show dogs. Scott believes she doesn't need a man in her life, that is until she meets the charming yet arrogant billionaire dog breeder Donovan Darcy (Paevey).
Wilson has been tweeting about the movie adaptation of her novel, which is expected to wrap filming this Wednesday.
Can't quite believe I'm saying this, but Unleashing Mr. Darcy has been optioned for film by The Hallmark Channel. ? pic.twitter.com/xbDsMuwUzJ
— Teri Wilson (@TeriWilsonauthr) April 15, 2015
*BIG NEWS* Unleashing Mr. Darcy the movie is totally happening! To air on Hallmark Channel. Casting begins next wk, filming in Canada in Nov
— Teri Wilson (@TeriWilsonauthr) October 2, 2015
Frances Fisher (Suzette Saxon, "Guiding Light") plays Paevey's aunt in the movie and shared the following photo on Twitter. Paevey also shared a photo of himself in character on his Instagram.
Having a blast working with my "nephew" @RyanPaevey ?#UnleashingMrDarcy @hallmarkchannel pic.twitter.com/EZKZk0kk2I
— Frances Fisher I❤99 (@Frances_Fisher) November 20, 2015
No release date is set for the film, but Soaps.com will keep you up to date as more is known. Be sure to tune in for Donna Mills in The 12 Gifts of Christmas which airs this week.
Follow Soaps.com on Twitter and Soaps.com on Facebook.
Photo credit: Jill Johnson/JPI, Bettina Strauss/Crown Media
– Dustin Cushman


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Get our Monthly Update
Pasture Raised Chicken
Here at Liberty Hill Farm, it is our desire to raise the purest and most delicious food available. We start the chickens at one day old. They are Pasture-Raised which means that they live in the fresh air and sunshine and are regularly rotated over fresh pastures. In addition to their diet of grass and insects, they receive organically grown non-gmo feed. The chickens are humanely processed and packaged on our farm.
They are mainly sold as frozen whole chickens, boneless breasts, leg quarters, thighs, drumsticks, wings, and drummettes and wingettes. In the summer and fall months, the chicken is sold fresh at the farmer's markets and on request.


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Ranking the Best Opponents for Nathan Cleverly's Next Big FightOctober 19, 2015
Ranking the Best Opponents for Nathan Cleverly's Next Big Fight
Nathan Cleverly turned in a brave display in losing on points to Andrzej Fonfara in Chicago.
The Welshman played his part in a light heavyweight bout that has to be considered a strong contender for fight of the year honours.
Over 12 absorbing rounds, Clev stood in front of Fonfara and traded shots. The pair combined to throw 2,524 punches, a new record according to CompuBox stats.
Cleverly suffered a broken nose in the middle rounds but still made it through to the final bell, though Fonfara was awarded the win by scores of 116-112 (twice) and 115-113.
However, the 28-year-old (29-3, 15 KOs) can take great heart from his performance in defeat.
He proved to still have the stomach for the fight and, despite now being beaten in three of his last six contests, Cleverly's future in the ring looks a little brighter.
Here Bleacher Report picks out five potential names for Cleverly to face in the future, ranking them in order of most likely to happen.
Honourable Mentions
There are a number of intriguing names at light heavyweight who did not make it into the top five, for reasons that shall now be explained.
Eleider Alvarez and Isaac Chilemba are both highly ranked in the division, but the duo are due to face each other at the end of November in a final eliminator for the WBC title.
Artur Beterbiev, meanwhile, is scheduled to fight on the same card in Quebec, Canada.
The Russian has only had nine professional fights but enjoyed a long amateur career that included winning a gold medal at the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships.
Jean Pascal is already booked to face Sergey Kovalev, while Bernard Hopkins has yet to make his future plans known.
The 50-year-old Hopkins is looking for one final fight, telling Andreas Hale of Yahoo Sports, "I'm looking to go somewhere in January, I guess before the Super Bowl at the Barclays Center, which has set aside a date for me and do my last one."
Finally, while a third showdown between Cleverly and Tony Bellew may appeal to some, it seems highly unlikely to happen.
Bellew is now settled at cruiserweight, and Cleverly is not likely to make a move back up after losing to his long-time rival at the 200-pound limit last year.
5. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Cleverly have one thing in common—they have both lost to Andrzej Fonfara.
Mexican Chavez (49-2-1, 32 KOs) quit on his stool after nine rounds against Fonfara in April.
He has since returned to winning ways, recording a comfortable points triumph over compatriot Marcos Reyes.
That 10-round bout had been due to be at the super-middleweight limit. However, Chavez failed to make the weight, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.
Both he and Cleverly have faced questions over their long-term futures, so a fight between the pair would be an intriguing clash that could spell curtains for the loser at 170 pounds.
Cleverly has never been afraid to travel, so what chance of a bout on American soil? Slim, probably.
4. Sergey Kovalev
Cleverly has made clear his desire to have a second crack at Sergey Kovalev.
The first fight between the pair did not go well for the Welshman—he lost the WBO light heavyweight title when he was stopped in the fourth round.
However, Cleverly is determined to get his revenge against Krusher, who has since added the WBA and IBF belts to his collection.
He told BBC Sport Wales, "I'll try my best to get it [a rematch], I'll go to America for it. It's not about the money for me - it's not about the pay-day - it's about having that chance to get my title back."
Kovalev (28-0-1, 25 KOs) is scheduled to take on Jean Pascal at the start of next year.
3. Adonis Stevenson
Adonis Stevenson—the reigning WBC champion—was an interested spectator when Cleverly fought Andrzej Fonfara.
Superman has already beaten Fonfara, but he took to Twitter to announce how he would "KO" Cleverly if the pair were to ever meet in the ring.
Born in Haiti but now based in Canada, Stevenson (27-1, 22 KOs) successfully defended his belt against Tommy Karpency in September.
Per Sky Sports, Stevenson called out Sergey Kovalev after the quick victory in Toronto.
However, with his Russian rival tied up until early next year, Stevenson will have to look elsewhere for an opponent.
That is where Cleverly could come in, giving the Welshman the chance to succeed where his great rival, Tony Bellew, failed. Bellew was stopped inside six rounds when he took on Stevenson in 2013.
2. Juergen Braehmer
Cleverly was given the opportunity to take on current WBA champion Juergen Braehmer, but he opted to face Andrzej Fonfara instead.
Clev admitted he was close to signing a deal with Braehmer, only to change his mind when he felt he had received a better offer.
Prior to the bout with Fonfara on American soil, the Welshman told Sky Sports:
Suddenly I was presented with this fantastic opportunity to come to America and showcase in a big fight against Fonfara.
So ultimately, I just feel fighting here in America on this big stage, I just feel it was too much of a big opportunity to turn away.
I declined the world title fight and I believe this is a bigger fight. It's probably a more difficult fight but it's on a bigger platform. It's in the States and I like fighting here, so let's do it.
Braehmer (47-2, 35 KOs) will now defend his crown against Thomas Oosthuizen in Monaco next month.
A bout with Cleverly could be next up, though the pair have a little bit of history.
They were meant to go toe-to-toe back in 2011, only for Braehmer to pull out at short notice due to injury. He was subsequently stripped of the WBO title, with the belt being awarded to Cleverly.
1. Andrzej Fonfara
Seen as it was so good first time around, why not do it all over again?
Cleverly is keen to have a second crack at Andrzej Fonfara, per BBC Sport: "Would I do it again? Why not—it's what we are here to do, put on entertaining fights for great fans, and I am sure there will be the demand for it."
Their epic encounter at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago saw both men refuse to take a backward step.
Fonfara was defending the lightly regarded WBC International title, but the belt really didn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
Both fighters have been in with current world champions before (Fonfara lost to Adonis Stevenson on points), and they will have their eyes on claiming a major belt in the light heavyweight division.
However, sometimes a title doesn't need to be on the line to make a fight an attractive, and profitable, proposition.
A rematch, potentially somewhere in Britain, would be a must-watch fight for all boxing fans.
First, though, the two warriors deserve a little time to recover from their bruising first meeting.
Would you like to see a Fonfara-Cleverly rematch? Tell us your thoughts by using the comments section.


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Obesity and severe obesity do not appear to increase the risk of surgical failure of the transobturator tape procedure (TOT) over 3 years, a new study finds.
Tarik Yonguc, MD, and colleagues of Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital in Izmir, Turkey, reviewed outcomes for 470 women (average age 53) with stress or mixed urinary incontinence who underwent a TOT procedure. (Women with urge-predominant mixed incontinence were excluded.)
The investigators divided patients into 3 groups by body mass index (BMI) for analysis: the normal-weight group (BMI less than 25 kg/m2), obese group (BMI 30–34 kg/m2), and severely obese group (BMI 35-39 kg/m2). Morbidly obese women with a BMI above 40 were not studied. The investigators also chose to omit overweight women (BMI 25–29 kg/m2) to clarify differences associated with obesity.
Continue Reading
Average operative time was significantly longer in the obese groups, according to results published in Urology. Passing the needle through the obturator foramen in obese women is more difficult than in slimmer patients, the researchers noted.
The rates of objective cure, subjective success, and patient satisfaction were similar between groups, however. Objective cure meant there was no need for re-operation, negative cough test results, and no need for pads. Subjective success was determined by lack of additional treatment, slight or moderate symptom scores on the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form, and satisfaction with surgery, as assessed by the visual analog scale (score of 80 or above). More women in the severely obese group showed improvement instead of cure.
"The high satisfaction rate of both obese and severely obese women from surgery is respectable and encouraging for the surgeons who will perform anti-incontinence surgery in women in both these groups in the future," according to the investigators.
They observed no meaningful differences in intra-operative and post-operative complications. Overall complication rates were similar at 10.4%, 11.1%, and 9.3% for the normal-weight, obese, and severely obese groups, respectively. New onset of urge urinary incontinence occurred in 1.9%, 2.7%, and 3.1%, respectively, with more severely obese women experiencing it. Urinary retention requiring catheterization was seen only in 1 normal-weight patient. No bladder or intestinal perforation occurred.
Groin and leg pain was the most common post-operative complication, occurring in 4.2% of patients. These symptoms resolved with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
In an accompanying editorial, Steven P. Petrou, MD, of Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., commented that the next hurdle will be management of the extremely obese (BMI greater than 40 kg/m2), who now constitute 8% of the U.S. female population.
- Yonguc, T; Degirmenci, T; Bozkurt, IH; et al. Urology; doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2015.03.048.
- Steven P. Petrou. Urology; doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2015.03.051.


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15 Things That Bisexuals Wish They Could Say Bye-Bye to for Forever
Oh what a wonderful day it will be when bisexuals no longer have to deal with any of the following thorns in our sides:
1) "The Top 10 Openly Bi Celebrities!"
Articles about bisexuality mostly being about which pop-culture stars are bisexual, while our horrid statistics go unaddressed.
2) Celebrities who don't say the word 'bisexual'
Famous people who come out as "I don't like labels," but describe their love lives as being what everyone would consider bisexual, when owning the word would have been such a welcome help to bi-visibility.
3) The idea that bisexuality = confusion
Bisexuals being encouraged to wait before we come out as bisexual until we are really, really, sure because maybe we're just confused, or going through a phase. As many Still Bisexual videos illustrate — all the insistence that there's a good chance that people who understand themselves to be bisexual, are really just confused leads to… well, unnecessarily confusing bisexuals.
4) People who think everyone is either gay or straight
People assuming they know what someone's sexual orientation is, because they know who we they are partnered with.
5) Bi phobia from gay and lesbian people
Gays and lesbians criticizing bisexuals for not dating or marrying same-sex people more often, and then also saying — practically in the same breath — that they would never date or marry a bisexual.
6) The old (and incorrect) definition of "bisexual"
People thinking that the dictionary's definition of bisexual (which assumes there's only two genders) should take precedence over the definition every bisexual group uses (which acknowledges "an attraction to more than one gender").
7) The lie that bi people are transphobes
The ugly notion that bisexuals are transphobic by nature, which for one thing erases a whole bunch of bisexuals who are trans.
8) The idea that bisexuality is a phase
The idea that once a bisexual gets into a monogamous relationship we have picked a side and have grown out of our "bisexual phase."
9) The idea that bisexuals are like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster
People debating whether bisexual men exist.
10) "Tests" requiring others to prove their bisexuality
The idea that a person cannot call themselves bi if they have not been in multiple relationships and had multiple sexual experiences with multiple genders.
11) Silence from and erasure by LGBTQ organizations
The word bisexual being used incredibly often by the porn industry and almost never by many LGBTQ organization.
12) The presumed "straight-privilege" of bi people
The admonishment that bisexuals ought to be just fine, because we have straight-privilege.
13) The media's habit of mislabelling bi people
Bisexuals being labeled as gay or straight by both the straight and LGBT press.
14) The media's refusal to label people as bi after they die
The LGBT press refusing to say that a famous dead person is bisexual because the deceased person never said that word about themselves, yet having no problem labeling famous dead people as gay or lesbian based only on a same-gender relationship.
15) The hetero male fantasy of bi female threesomes
Straight men thinking "bisexual female" is a term that means: "Is totally game to have a threesome with me and my woman."


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Nanodac™ Recorder/Controller
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Monthly Archives: September 2018
What's So Great About Auto Repair Franchises?
There are many articles you can read on this blog that point to all the benefits of owning an auto repair franchise. Why the automotive business is strong. Why auto repair franchises are superior to both dealerships and completely independent … Continue reading
Some Ins and Outs of the Automotive Business
Automotive business franchise opportunities can be very valuable. But why is that? What is it about the automotive business that makes it such a good area in which to invest your money as well as your hard work? Well, this … Continue reading
Why You Should Search for Automotive Franchise Opportunities
Franchise ownership offers a lot. It offers independence and autonomy for those who work best as their own boss. At the same time, it offers more safety and risk minimization than would going out and starting a completely independent business. … Continue reading
How to Choose a Tire Repair Shop for Sale
If you are thinking about getting into franchise ownership, or are looking to add to your franchise portfolio, you should be looking at tire repair shops for sale. When it comes to franchises, a tire repair shop is one of … Continue reading


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In his article in Christian Research Journal,1 Charles Strohmer warns us that attempting to find the gospel story in the original meaning of the zodiac is like "trying to get round the cherubim's flaming sword in Eden." Mr. Strohmer is a warm-hearted servant of the Lord who wants to protect the Kingdom from the many perverse influences of our age. But is his caution reasonable in this case, or does he misinterpret what "the gospel in the stars" is really about?
If someone thinks that investigation of this area is encouraging Christians to check their horoscopes, then the concern is legitimate. But in avoiding anything that he thinks smells funny, he may be tarring a legitimate area of historical and Biblical investigation. And similar arguments could be used to forbid investigation of the flood stories of many ancient and isolated peoples (which actually corroborate the true story of the Flood of Noah). Or amazing evidences of God's grace in the Celtic world might be declared off limits because old pagan symbols were sanctified and used in conveying that truth. In fact, because certain charismatic gifts are also seen in false religions, they might be automatically disqualified by one of that mindset. Caution and discernment are indeed called for but not necessarily snap judgements.
One set of pertinent facts remains abundantly clear in Scripture. The Magi knew from the stars that the King of the Jews was born and that He deserved to be worshipped, even if it required a long and risky journey. Their quest was allowed to succeed and their praise was accepted. These were clearly "good guys" who also received special direction from God to avoid going back to Herod after finding Jesus. And they were stargazers!
The fact that astrology today is a tool in the hands of the enemy does not mean that it was always so. Satan does not create but distorts, and a good counterfeit is always very close to the truth. Although the arts are not completely perverted today, many areas of creative expression are being used in the service of evil. Yet music, drama and visual representation can also be powerful tools for good and fruitfully used in communicating the gospel. We need not reject these uses just because of the misuses.
A few specific points deserve mention. Mr. Strohmer seems to think that proponents of the gospel story in the Zodiac think that it was known to Adam before the Fall. He quotes a passage from Seiss' "The Gospel in the Stars" 2 about the intellect and knowledge of our first parents to support this assertion. Yet Seiss actually believes that the meaning of the Zodiac came to man in the time of Seth. This is because, in his opinion, the placement of the vowels in the first alphabet is related to the position of the planets in the constellations at the date 3447 BC 3
Strohmer's main thesis is that if Adam knew about the Fall ahead of time, then he was not free. Aside from his misreading of Seiss, the problem here is a much broader one of God's foreknowledge and man's free will. Although many bright scholars stumble on this mystery, it is not really hard to believe that God created us with free will at the same time as He knew the outcome of our decisions. After all, He inhabits eternity and sees the end from the beginning. Of course, we can ask why He chose to create this particular world, but that question gets us nowhere.
And, in addition, prophecies in general might be interpreted as controlling the outcome if prediction in general is felt to usurp our decisions, but rarely does anyone make that claim. To be sure, some prophecies are in the form of an "either/or" depending on whether the people repent, and in the case of the Fall, there is nothing that could undo it, only the possibility of redemption.
By being convinced that if the "gospel in the Stars" message were already on the marquee of heaven before sin entered the world, Strohmer also questions whether God would have created a message in the sky for a contingency. The problems with this conclusion are many. First of all, God could have changed the stars after the Fall. A lot did change and we are told that the whole of creation groans in travail. But mainly, the message is a hidden one. This is not an endorsement of occult religion but an acknowledgment that the Zodiac is not obvious by looking at the stars. Yes, you can sort of imagine Orion's belt and sword, but you don't really see a man. Those of us brought up with the simplified version of the sky can see a Big and Little Dipper, but how about seeing them as the Greater and Lesser Bears (or Sheep, as they were originally)?
No, the stars had to be given meanings. The pictures and the stories that go with them were imposed on them. They had to be made into celestial object lessons and memory devices whose significance was agreed upon and disseminated from one original source. Therefore, it could have been like this: As Adam was growing old and the knowledge that he possessed was going to lose its primary human source (besides the fact that the population was getting pretty large for ordinary family reunions) perhaps God spoke to a prophet, perhaps Seth. What knowledge did Adam have? He knew for sure about the coming seed of the woman who would bruise the head of the serpent while being bruised in the heel. To make the telling of the story easier, it was tied to something visible to all, the stars.
Remember that this was long before our Scripture was recorded in the time of Moses. Did God have no other way of communicating prior to that time? Of course not! We know of the priest Melchizedek in the time of Abraham and that Noah both heard and spoke the words of the Lord. Enoch walked the walk and talked the talk as well. Also there most probably were written records handed down to Moses from the patriarchs of the pre-flood world (recorded by moses as "these are the generations of...), but oral tradition is also common and can be quite reliable, especially if tied to some sort of a memory device, and what better than a book you can't lose, like the sky?
After the flood, the very brief summary of Genesis 11 indicates that there was something terribly wrong about the Tower of Babel but does not give us a lot of detail. What is significance of the phrase "reaching the heavens?" Descendents of the generation that walked off the Ark resting on a 14,000-foot mountain would hardly think that a building a few hundred feet high would reach some heavenly place. But perhaps the phrase refers to an observatory. If their goal was to alter the message of the stars and assume the authority of that message, it makes more sense and there is abundant evidence that looking at the stars was for some reason very important to many early civilizations.
God then dispersed the people, who still carried with them the true stories of Creation, the Fall and the Flood, and the story of the Zodiac as well. The Creation and Flood stories are indeed conveyed down through the ages and found as remnants, with greater or lesser distortions, among tribal peoples predating their contact with the Bible and even in the great ancient pictographic written language of the Chinese. 4
By the time our Scripture was recorded, the use of the Gospel in the Stars was very limited because so much distortion had been introduced. Yet some elements of truth were preserved amidst the false uses of it. It may well have been, as astronomer Kepler proposed, that a conjunction of planets alerted Egypt's astrologers that a protector of Israel was to be born and this prediction led to the Pharaoh's order to kill the baby boys. Yet Moses lived anyway. And through him, the Law was recorded and the marvelous preservation of that written record became the main vehicle for communicating God's will. The rabbinical tradition and the commentaries on Moses came even later, by which time there was very little left of the original message in the stars so it is no wonder that it is not an area endorsed or even much addressed.
There were prophets, of course, but also false prophets. God gave credentials to the true prophets and then inspired the apostles to record His complete message. Yet even God's Holy Word is perverted by false teachers so that in some churches, the truth is barely recognizable and many are led astray. We do not reject the Scripture because some misuse it. And in the case of "The Gospel in the Stars," an important remnant of the truth was still clear to a small group of devout and scholarly Magi whose story got recorded in the Bible for us to see. Why did God do that? The Christmas narrative could have been told without that particular detail.
For one thing, God showed us how He reveals His plan in many different ways. The Magi found out about the central event of all time and eternity by multigenerational scholarship and painstaking observation. Mary and Joseph were visited by individual angels. Anna and Simeon, devoted and saintly followers of the Lord, were told in the manner they were accustomed to hearing from God. The shepherds got a spectacular light show in the sky that they could not possibly mistake. Clearly God has more than one method of revealing His plan and purpose, and those receiving one kind should not automatically discount the methods God may have used to speak to others.
1 Charles Strohmer, "Is There A Christian Zodiac, A Gospel In The Stars?" Christian Research Journal Volume 22, number 4, page 22 - 25, 40 - 44
2 Joseph Seiss, The Gospel in the Stars, Philadelphia, E. Claxton and Company 1882, Republished, Grand Rapids, Kregel, 1972, p. 158
3 Seiss, p. 23
4 Ethel Nelson, Richard Broadberry and Ginger Tong Chock, God's Promise to the Chinese, Dunlap Tennessee, Read Books Published, 1997


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Exploring the Arsenal will run prior to each game, providing you with a brief scouting report on the starting pitcher expected to oppose the Pirates. The chart below shows the horizontal and vertical movement of every pitch thrown by that particular pitcher in 2012. This chart is from the catcher's point of view. For a general guide to pitch types for a right-handed pitcher, please check out this image created by Sons of Sam Horn. Graphs are courtesy of Brooks Baseball and The Hardball Times , unless otherwise specified.
|Pitch Types
|FA: Four-Seam Fastball
|FT: Two-Seam Fastball
|FC: Cutter
|CU: Curveball
|SL: Slider
|CH: Changeup
|FS: Splitter
|SI: Sinker
Monday, 8:40 PM – Jeff Francis
Francis is the definition of a finesse left-hander, although he pretty much relies on only three pitches. He has never had much velocity, but it has gotten even worse the past couple years. His two-seam sinker has sat around 85-87 MPH this year, maxing out in the upper 80's. Despite the mediocre velocity, Francis' sinker is not as hittable as one would expect. His breaking ball is an extremely slow 67-69 MPH curve. He also throws a 77-78 MPH changeup with solid sink, which he leans on heavily against both righties and lefties. Francis has missed a good number of bats with his off-speed stuff in 2012, albeit in a small sample size. His curve has been very effective, with a whiff rate approaching 40% and a ground ball rate around 64%.


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Millions of people will be able to claim hundreds of pounds back ahead of the new tax year, but time is running out.
Those who have been saving, preparing for retirement, or have had to work from home in the last year are among those eligible to claim money before Tuesday (April 6), reports the Mirror.
The last-minute HMRC refunds also extend to those who are required to wear a uniform to work.
If you have to wear a specific item of clothing due to your employer, you could get a uniform rebate.
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It couldn't be simpler and it takes seconds - simply press here, enter your email address and follow the instructions. You can also enter your email address in the box below the picture on most desktop and mobile platforms.
You can also sign up to our website and comment on our stories by pressing here and signing in.
For more ways to get a quick buck before the end of the tax year, read on.
1. Claim £125 work from home relief
It's not every day that the tax man dishes out cash, so if you've worked from home for even just one day in the past year due to COVID, make sure you claim your work from home relief as soon as possible.
The deadline to claim the rebate is midnight on April 5 - and those who do so could get up to £125 back.
The 'work from home' rebate applies even if you've only worked one day from home - and it's easy to claim online.
The money can be used to cover broadband and heating costs and other expenses incurred from working from home. You don't need to submit receipts to make a claim.
Once verified, it will automatically be returned in your next pay slip with your tax code adjusted accordingly.
The rebate is paid based on the rate at which you pay tax.
For example, a worker that pays the 20 per cent basic rate of tax and claims tax relief on £6 a week, would receive £1.20 a week in tax relief (20 per cent of £6 a week) towards the cost of their household bills.
You can claim £2.40 a week if you pay the higher 40 per cent tax rate.
Over the course of a year, this means workers could reduce the tax they pay by £62.40 or £124.80.
If you miss the deadline, you won't be locked out completely. HMRC told The Mirror you will have to claim it separately and will receive a lump sum payment instead.
2. Use up your Isa allowance
The 2020-21 tax year Isa allowance is £20,000 - and as usual, all returns are tax-free.
However, before you move your money or open an account, check that an Isa is the best savings type for you.
That's because Isas are in addition to the Personal Savings Allowance (PSA) which came into effect on April 6, 2016.
If you're a basic rate taxpayer you can earn up to £1,000 in savings income tax-free. For higher rate taxpayers, this is £500.
In short, this means you can choose a non-Isa savings account and still benefit.
For example, if your current account provider has a savings account with a high rate, you might find it more convenient to pop your cash in there instead. Either way, it'll be tax-free.
If you're opting for an Isa, you'll need to move your money before April 5 to take advantage of the full tax-free year.
3. Make use of the marriage allowance
Millions of couples may be eligible for a £250 tax break thanks to a little known law that lets you share your allowance with your partner.
It's known as the Marriage Allowance and allows anyone with an income of £12,500 or less to transfer up to £1,250 of their Personal Allowance to their husband, wife or civil partner – if their income is higher.
This reduces their tax by up to £250 for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. Claims can also be backdated four years to April 2016. After April 5, 2021, couples will only be able to claim back to the 2017 to 2018 year.
If a claim is backdated, the couple could receive up to £1,150 back.
4. Top up your Lifetime Isa
The Lifetime Isa is one of the best savings options out there because it offers free cash from the government to put towards your first home or retirement.
Through it, you can get up to £1,000 a year in the form of a government bonus up until the age of 50.
If you opened a Lifetime Isa at age 18, that is a maximum government bonus of £33,000 (or £32,000 if you're unlucky enough to have your birthday on April 6).
The Lifetime Isa can be opened by those aged 18 up to the day before their 40th birthday, and you can save up to £4,000 each year – either in one or more lump sums or as a regular monthly saving.
You can withdraw Lifetime Isa money once you've reached age 60 or earlier to buy your first property, but any other withdrawals will involve a penalty - currently 20 per cent.
The deadline to contribute for this tax year is April 5, 2021. On this day, the withdrawal penalty will also rise back up to 25 per cent.
5. Check your child benefit entitlement
The high income child benefit charge (HICBC) leaves thousands of parents with a tax-bill every single year in the UK, but a little planning ahead could get on top of it.
All parents are entitled to child benefit, but as soon as one of them earns more than £50,000, the amount starts to fall. This is then completely withdrawn when they hit the £60,000 salary threshold.
You can of course withdraw from the payments completely to avoid filling in a tax-return each year, but remember to do so via HMRC as otherwise it could affect your state pension credits.
If you're earning just slightly over the threshold, there is one way around it - and that's by increasing your pension contributions.
HICBC is based on your salary after any pension deductions. This means if you contribute enough to your pension to get your salary back to £49,999 then you'll get the full child benefit again.
Another option is to make charitable donations from the income over the £50,000 limit, which you'll need to declare to HMRC on your tax return.
Don't forget child benefit payments are also rising next month.
6. Claim back cash for work uniform
Millions of hospital workers, shop staff and hairdressers are unaware they could get their expenses back from HMRC if they've had to pay for uniform in the past tax year.
It's simple to claim and the average payout is around £60.
You can find out exactly how much you are owed by following the steps on this online tool - each claim takes around three weeks.
Who can claim it?
You might be able to claim tax relief if:
You use your own money for things that you must buy for your job
You only use these things for your work
What can I claim it on?
Repairing or replacing small tools needed to do their job (for example, scissors or an electric drill)
Cleaning, repairing or replacing specialist clothing (for example, a branded uniform or safety boots)
Business mileage (not commuting)
Travel and overnight expenses
Professional fees and subscriptions
7. Boost your pension contributions
As with your Isa, it may be worthwhile considering topping up your pension to increase your savings for retirement where you can afford it.
When saving in a pension you receive income tax relief, depending on your personal circumstances.
The annual allowance for 2020/21 for pension contributions is £40,000. It's also worth noting that you can bring forward unused allowances from previous three tax years, as long as you were a member of the pension scheme within those years.
If you've been automatically enrolled into a workplace pension, the window is about to open for any changes to your contributions.
You and your employer must pay a percentage of your earnings into your workplace pension scheme. These minimums are currently 5% from you and 3% from your employer. If you can afford to increase your payments, now is the time to do so.


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Popular fashion brands are selling clothing contaminated with hazardous chemicals that break down to form hormone-disrupting or even cancer-causing chemicals when released into the environment, according to a report released by Greenpeace.
"We found that 20 of the world's favorite brands are making and selling clothes containing hazardous chemicals which contribute to toxic water pollution where the clothes are made and washed" said Greenpeace Toxics Campaigner John Deans. "The use of these toxic chemicals is an industry wide problem that is turning us all into fashion victims."
The new investigatory report, "Toxic Threads – The Big Fashion Stitch-Up," reveals the results of tests done on 141 clothing items and exposes the links between textile manufacturing facilities using hazardous chemicals and the presence of chemicals in final products.
The Greenpeace investigation found hazardous chemicals in clothes from all 20 of the leading fashion brands that were examined [1]. Zara, the leading brand of worlds largest fashion retailer, is alone in the study for having clothes that contain chemicals from certain dyes which can break down into cancer-causing amines [2].
One of the key findings is that all tested brands had at least several items containing NPEs, which break down into hormone disrupting chemicals, with the highest concentrations – above 1,000 ppm – in clothing items from Zara, Metersbonwe, Levi's, C&A, Mango, Calvin Klein, Jack & Jones and Marks & Spencer (M&S). Other chemicals identified included high levels of toxic phthalates in four of the products, and traces of a cancer-causing amine from the use of certain azo dyes [3] in two products from Zara. The presence of many other types of potentially hazardous industrial chemicals were found in many of the items tested.
"As the world's largest fashion retailer Zara can lead the industry in change by taking urgent, ambitious and transparent action to Detox their clothes and supply chains," Deans said. "H&M and Marks & Spencer have committed to zero discharge of toxic chemicals by 2020. There is no reason Zara can't do the same."
The items tested were manufactured mainly in the Global South, and included jeans, trousers, t-shirts, dresses and underwear designed for men, women and children and made from both artificial and natural fibers. Hazardous chemicals are incorporated deliberately within the materials or left as unwanted residues remaining from their use during the manufacturing process.
"The textile industry continues to treat public waterways as little more than their private sewers. But our fashion doesn't have to cost the earth: Our clothes don't have to be manufactured with hazardous chemicals," said Yifang Li, Detox campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia.
Greenpeace demands fashion brands commit to zero discharge of all hazardous chemicals by 2020 – as seven brands including H&M and Marks & Spencer have already done – and require their suppliers to disclose all releases of toxic chemicals from their facilities to communities at the site of water pollution.
Enviroshop is maintained by dedicated NetSys Interactive Inc. owners & employees who generously contribute their time to maintenance & editing, web design, custom programming, & website hosting for Enviroshop.


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2018 Bass Awards PostponedEntertainment, News November 9, 2018, Comments Off
Last month, there was speculation by a section of the entertainment media about the possible postponement of this year's edition of Bass Awards, the only awards scheme which focuses entirely on Dancehall and Reggae music.
This week, organizers of the awards, Solid Multimedia and Bullhaus Entertainment during a media briefing in Accra dropped the bomb, confirming that this year's edition of the annual event will not be held.
Making his comments, Mr. Ezekiel Tetteh, the Chief Executive Officer of Solid Multimedia indicated that "after the maiden edition of Bass Awards five years ago, the awards have grown to become Africa's biggest Reggae and Dancehall awards platform celebrating exceptional talents and awarding others who have contributed to the growth of the Reggae and Dancehall genre and the music space in general".
Mr. Tetteh further added that "the cost of organizing the awards keeps rising each year and we have done our very best to ensure we have a great show each year in spite of all the challenges we have encountered. Unfortunately, we are not in the position to pay the bill for the awards this year and most of the companies we have approached for partnership and sponsorship have declined due to the current economic conditions. This leaves us with no other option than to postpone the awards to next year after extensive consultations with all relevant and key stakeholders".
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Bullhaus Entertainment, Kendrick Yehowada, urged all Reggae and Dancehall musicians to continue pushing the genre and promoting their works as he thanked them and all other stakeholders who have assisted in diverse ways in sustaining the awards over the period. He expressed his optimism of a better and bigger Bass Awards in 2019.
Source: Chris Koney


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Tsunami Files #18: A Garden in the Sand
November 15, 2011
By Simon Chambers
The 2004 tsunami had long-term effects on the land around the village of Periathazhai, India. All the soil was washed away and the ground water salinated. PWRDF has been working with a small group of fifteen women from the village to mitigate these effects.
In 2010 the group launched a community nursery in their village. They had received 60,000 rupees ($1200 Cdn) in seed money from the Churches' Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), a PWRDF partner working with the village since the tsunami. Half of this money was used to rent land and purchase fruit trees and vegetable seeds to start the garden. The other half is being held in reserve for emergencies or to expand the program.
The women received training from the forest department in soil management, how to prepare the beds for the vegetables, and the long-term planning of a sustainable garden. "First we will develop shade trees to help retain water and protect the vegetables, then we will plant kitchen gardens," said Mrs. Jemita, the president of the group.
The group made a gift of the first ten saplings to the local church, and are selling the rest of the trees to other members of the community for 35 rupees each""just enough to cover their costs. Once the trees have taken root, the group will make vegetables available: beans, radishes, tomatoes, brinjal (eggplant), lady's finger, spinach, and more.
In time, they hope to improve the land around their village to make it able to support the villagers' home gardens. The trees will help to keep the rain water in the soil, and will provide shelter from the harsh sun for the vegetables. From the barren sands around Periathazhai, gardens will grow.
For media requests please contact Communications Coordinator Janice Biehn at (416) 924-9199;366.


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Dressing up a Garage Window
I've always loved window boxes and have wanted a few for the longest time. We've never installed any, we've just lacked time to make them. This spring I decided that I'd at least like to dress up the garage window with some annuals in pots. Since we didn't have time to make a proper window box, I had Mr Chiots move a shelf that used to house birdhouses from the back of the garage to the front window. Then I potted up a few annuals in a variety of pots from my collection. With a few minutes of work the garage window looks 10 times better. I may use this idea on others windows on the house after seeing how well this works throughout the summer. I'll see how much watering needs done and how the shelf holds up to the weather.
At first, I wasn't sure if I'd like it as much as a proper window box, but now that it's finished I think I like it more. I love the little details with all the different shapes, sizes and colors of pots. It's a great way to use all those pots I've been collecting throughout the years and was storing in the garage.
I filled the pots with a few different kinds of begonias. They're perfect for this shady spot and they'll bloom all season long. I may try to keep starts of these in the basement so I can save some money next spring.
For less than $10 in plants, I think this really dresses up the window on the garage! It makes me smile every time I pass by heading to the back garden.
Do you use potted plants or window boxes for added color in the garden?
24 Comments to "Dressing up a Garage Window"
that turned out so nice. what a great idea.
.-= liane´s last blog ..more nightwood ny and life =-.
to liane's comment
.-= Barbara´s last blog ..Busy as a Bee =-.
to Barbara's comment
Begonias are some of my favorites, but I can never grow them. Yours look really beautiful, and I love the shelves!
.-= rcakewalk´s last blog ..My Bravest Adventure Yet: Kombucha =-.
to rcakewalk's comment
awesome idea!! another fun idea for a window box is an old wooden tool box with the cover ripped off. I have one on my porch but I may have to find some room to do a shelf too… adorable!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..DIY (cement candleholders) =-.
to Heather's comment
I have also been wanting window boxes (though we're renting until this fall, then I'll be buying the house we're in, so nothing needs to happen just yet), when I first saw the picture I thought the same thing you said… I kind of like it better! I love the eclectic charm it brings, funky and chic at the same time. Very cute, what a great idea!
to Kim's comment
I think I like it much better than a window box. It looks great!
.-= Dave´s last blog ..The Garden Blooms of June (in Tennessee) =-.
to Dave's comment
What a great idea. This is something I could do, with the left over wood and some shelf brackets, build a planter box…. not so much, right angles are supposed to be flush?
.-= Tree´s last blog ..Neglected Duties and Burn Out! =-.
to Tree's comment
I agree, I believe the shelf adds a lot more interest with the pots then would a window box. Unfortunately, at this point, we don't have either shelves or window boxes! You may have motivated me, though.
.-= Turling´s last blog ..Result =-.
to Turling's comment
I have several potted plants, but no window boxes. I agree with you, I like the way the different pots look on the shelf as much or perhaps more than a window box.
.-= Sense of Home´s last blog ..A Moment in the Sun =-.
to Sense of Home's comment
I love it!
.-= pam´s last blog ..PFA – A Public Foodie Announcement =-.
to pam's comment
We have only recently started planting flowers at all…and they do add a nice touch. We used to have big beds in TN but it got to be a mulch+weed nightmare so we got rid of them all. Here in WV we are starting again with a more manageable flower bed…
Yours are lovely!
.-= warren´s last blog ..My daughter…the author =-.
to warren's comment
The soil here in suburban Southern CA is so poor that I mostly plant in pots and wine barrels. While I sometimes wish I had a veggie-dedicate plot, the pots work just fine and add some whimsy to the yard!
I love what you've done with the garage window, might have to pull a copycat on you. : )
.-= Morgan G´s last blog ..Guest Bloggin' at IDD: Buttah =-.
to Morgan G's comment
I have a window box that I tried planting flowers in this year. I've had ivy in it previously. I planted seeds and now have scraggly plants that aren't blooming. Very disappointing. Hanging baskets and window boxes are hard here in Dallas because it gets so hot, sometimes watering twice a day isn't enough. Anyway, I was watering my window box the other day and a very upset little bird comes swooping out, fussing like mad. I took a peek and sure enough – a nest with 5 eggs!
Best I can tell from the eggs it is a Carolina Wren.
Here is a photo:
Your window looks beautiful. Great solution.
to Seren Dippity's comment
What a terrific idea – I'd been considering putting up a window box but this looks much better – easier to maintain and easy to change and update as the flowers die back… off to get some brackets!
to WiderSky's comment
I've been saying for years I wanted to put a window box on our garage window. This looks so great! What a sweet little row of flowers. It's things like this that keep me loving gardening so much. Just sweet little things.
.-= Lelo´s last blog ..Dear frustrated Pacific Northwest Gardeners, =-.
to Lelo's comment
Stunning. I love your pots!
.-= Kjirsti´s last blog ..Analyzing ones gardens =-.
to Kjirsti's comment
This is lovely! Great idea.
to Christine's comment
[…] how I dressed up the garage window with my collection of flowerpots filled with a variety of begonias? They did really well all […]
to I Must Do This Again Next Year | Chiot's Run's comment
[…] nasturtiums (also edible) and those window box sweet peas are adorable, perhaps I'll get those to dress up my garage window! Of course I didn't want to keep all these lovely seeds to myself, so I'll be giving three […]
to Edible or Ornamental +free seeds | Chiot's Run's comment
Now, ain't that the sweetest thing? I just loved your little pots and linked this up to my window boxes post too over at my blog, well done!
to Inspire Me Heather's comment
I'm so happy to find your blog about these today! I have had a window that I wasn't sure what I wanted to do..I have several cute pots with herbs and a kitchen window inside a screen room..I think they belong under my kitchen window..I love this idea! Thanks for sharing!
to Beth's comment
Somebody named Mis Flores on Facebook has stolen your picture of the flowershelf!
Mis Flores has stolen lots of photos from many other.
Thougt you wanted to know that!
Best regards
to Karina Andreasen's comment
I found your ledge over on Pinterest a few weeks ago and I'm finally getting my own! Thank you so much for sharing this idea.
to Jennifer's comment


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If you're looking for my book, please click the link below.
If you're looking for my most recent musings.
This is the personal blog for Jim Gersetich. Those who know me know … I like to talk. They also know that that sentence is a gross understatement.
But, I also like to write. I like to write about pretty much anything, but my passions are:
- The Bible1
- The Bible's book of Job
- Genesis and Creation
- A devotional-style read-along for Philippians
- The prophecies about Jesus's first coming2
- Computers
- Writing
- Living as a Christian
- And who knows what else
So, I thought I would start collecting thoughts in one place. At my age, I could go see Jesus at any time, and then HE will be the one doing the talking. 🙂 So, I have to get it out of my system now, before that half hour of silence in Revelation 8:1.
There should be no random ads on this page. I directly add the only ads you should see. For the ads that I have added, my disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- This is pretty loosely defined. Any subject or question that could be primarily taken from Scripture is included.
- I'm just getting started on this project. There isn't even an opening page yet.
- Primarily about raided beds and how to build them.
- This is no longer being updated. I've decided there are too many books on dieting for me to try to break into that field. Perhaps if people comment and ask questions on my pages, I'll change my mind, but for now ….


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Capital gains tax (CGT) is payable on the sale not solely of stocks and shares but additionally of anything aside from household goods and personal effects as much as the value of £6,000 and private motor autos. Budgeting app Mint has expanded its purview to cover credit score scores and investing. It has been stated by monetary planners that diversification is a vital facet to investing. P2P lending helps provide simply that. You are investing in an entire completely different asset class, consumer credit score, as asset class that isn't accessible in most traditional investments. In 2008, nearly each asset class misplaced worth, making investing traditionally an even bigger risk. With peer to peer lending you might be including more diversification to your investment portfolio.
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Even though they are plentiful available on the market, they've got quite a few distinct variances from standard financial institution loans. These specialized loans normally carry larger interest rates and extra fees. To not mention they usually demand a assure to get the mortgage as nicely. Potential RV buyers with poor credit score ought to take these components into consideration earlier than you apply for a mortgage. A shock month-to-month rate of interest or service cost can reshape a monetary budget quickly, making an inexpensive cost flip right into a monthly financial downside.


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Tony Stanford isn"t sure if one week will be enough.
The Columbus High School football coach will get a chance to see just how much a week off has helped his team when it takes on New Hope at 7:30 tonight.
Stanford said Columbus (1-1), which had an off week last week, will be without junior quarterback Cedrick Jackson and junior running back Damian Baker for at least another week. He said the Falcons also will be without sophomore running back/defensive back Quan Latham, sophomore linebacker Gemriah Williams, and senior defensive lineman/tight end Ian Williams. The players are out with an assortment of ankle or foot injuries.
The veteran coach, who is in his first season as head coach at Columbus, said he doesn"t think he has seen this many ankle injuries in more than 30 years of coaching.
Still, he said injuries are part of the game and Columbus will have to answer the challenge of playing a Lowndes County rival.
"We"re still trying to recuperate," Stanford said. "I don"t think the week off has done very much. When it comes to feet we are in bad shape."
Columbus, which defeated Aberdeen and lost to Noxubee County in its first two games, earned a week off after West Point was forced to cancel their scheduled game for Sept. 3 in Columbus. The Green Wave had to cancel the game because they had 12 regular-season games, one more than the Mississippi High School Activities Association limit, on their schedule.
Columbus and New Hope high schools then worked out an arrangement that capitalized on the fact both schools had an open week this week to resume a rivalry that took a one-year hiatus.
"It is a major challenge for us," Stanford said. "They"re a playoff team that played for the (Class 5A) North Half last year and got close. We"re sitting here trying to win football games to even have a chance to get to the playoffs."
Stanford never imagined all of the injuries would impact his team"s depth this early in the season. He said the injuries have put it behind schedule. A poor start this week in practice also worked to put the Falcons in a bad spot.
"This is probably the worst week we have had," Stanford said Wednesday. "I don"t know if they are going through the motions, if they are down because we don"t have everybody healthy, or if they are scared because we have New Hope (tonight)."
Stanford has watched tapes of New Hope"s games against Tupelo and Amory and said his team will be challenged to control the Trojans" offensive and defensive lines and their stable of players at the skill positions.
"It is going to be a struggle," Stanford said. "I hope the kids show up and hope that we can hang in there with them. I think we"re about 70 percent with both of our safeties out, our outside linebacker out, our defensive end out. We"re struggling."
New Hope coach Michael Bradley isn"t sure if his team will be able to capitalize on Columbus" injuries. He said his team hasn"t played to its potential, even after a 37-6 victory last week against Amory.
Despite the margin of victory, Bradley said his team didn"t execute like it is capable.
"We haven"t played to the level we have to play to beat Oxford, Hernando, and to play on the same field as West Point," said Bradley, referring to three of his district rivals. "I think the potential is there, but we haven"t played like that."
Bradley said improved play from the offensive line will help get the Trojans closer to their potential. He said the offensive line has done a "great job" as a group in pass protection but has had too many blown assignment in the running game.
"We"re blowing easy assignments and not making the right blocks," Bradley said. "It seems like they are drawing straws to take turns (making mistakes). It is not one guy, but it is not like they"re not trying. Maybe they"re pushing too hard. Hopefully we"ll get it worked out this week."
Bradley said his team is OK injury wise and doesn"t have any serious issues. He also said junior linebacker/tight end JoJo Reeves, who missed the Amory game serving a one game suspension after he was ejected from the Tupelo game, will be in the lineup.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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As a rule, students who pursue a degree in history know that studying the past can help them make better decisions in the present. Students learn valuable critical thinking and research skills through analyzing past events, and drawing connections to pressing issues of today.
Gulf Coast State College's History University Transfer Track is a popular degree program, because it is broadly designed to allow students to cater the major to their own interests. History touches upon all forms of human endeavor - from arts and languages to economics and science. A history graduate is prepared for a wide variety of career options including research, teaching, politics, law, marketing and communications.
The study of history is more than learning "a bunch of stuff that already happened". The study of history remains vitally important to today's society, to not only remember the past, but also to use that insight to shape the future. Find out more about Gulf Coast State College's History Liberal Arts A.A. degree transfer track program, and start shaping your future today!


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Teenage Ketamine-Alcohol Fatality Risks & the Need for Treatment
Many teenagers and young adults tend to gravitate towards the party scene, be it concerts, house parties, nightclubs or raves. Within these settings, ketamine has become quite popular as far as party drugs go with alcohol being a mainstay as always.
Consequently, the use of ketamine and alcohol together is a common practice among teenagers within these environments.
Ketamine, one of a handful of dissociative-type hallucinogens, is an anesthetic agent capable of producing "out-of-body" experiences while alcohol acts as a central nervous system depressant. When used together, the combined effects of an anesthetic and central nervous system depressant can bring on dangerous effects, including death. Over time, this practice can set the stage for addiction problems to develop.
Ketamine and the Party Scene
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, ketamine's intended use works as an anesthetic used in veterinary medicine. When used for recreational purposes, ketamine's effects make for unusual shifts in consciousness, including:
- Hallucinations
- Changes in body perception
- Feelings of floating
- Enhanced sensory experience
- A mixing of the senses, such as "hearing" light or "seeing" sound
These effects combined with the loud music and activity that characterizes raves and concerts enhance the overall party experience, but can also leave a teenager completely vulnerable to his or her surroundings.
With ketamine's known effects being regularly put to use by predators as a "date rape" agent, combining ketamine and alcohol only works to make a bad situation worse.
For more information on teenage ketamine-alcohol abuse, call 800-601-3889 (Who Answers?).
Ketamine-Alcohol Fatality Risks
Ketamine and alcohol share certain similarities that make for dangerous effects when used together. While most types of hallucinogen drugs carry a low potential for addiction, the brain quickly develops a tolerance for ketamine's effects. The same goes for alcohol.
Both ketamine and alcohol produce depressant-like effects that reinforce one another when used together. Under these conditions, the risk of respiratory failure and even death increases considerably. Overall, ketamine and alcohol both work to slow brain activity, placing teenagers at serious risk of developing physical and psychological problems over time, including:
- High blood pressure
- Hallucinations
- Psychotic-like behaviors
- Coma
- Depression
- Seizures
- Flashback episodes
- Weakened immune system
- Stroke
- Irregular heartbeat
Lifestyle Effects
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, an estimated four percent of 8th to 12th grades reported using ketamine in 2001, with nearly 70 percent of 12th graders reporting using alcohol in 2013. This practice of combining ketamine and alcohol predisposes teenagers to certain lifestyles that can have long-term effects in their lives, including:
- Impaired brain development
- Sexually-transmitted diseases from having unprotected sex
- Car accidents
- Poor performance in school
- Legal problems
- Memory impairment
- Alcoholism
- Ketamine addiction
The Need for Treatment
As ketamine and alcohol both carry a high potential for addiction, their combined effects can only speed the rate of a developing addiction along. Add to this the ongoing risk of overdose and fatality and the need for treatment help becomes glaringly apparent.
If you have concerns that your teen is engaging in ketamine-alcohol abuse and have questions about available treatment options in your area, please feel free to call our toll-free helpline at 800-601-3889 (Who Answers?) to speak with one of our addictions specialists.


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Jazzschool-Online Technical Requirements for Vocal Classes:
Required equipment:
Recommended but not required equipment:
Recommended internet connection speed to avoid lag and dropouts: Minimum 5 Mbps upload. Visit speedtest.net to check your connection.
For users with some technical savvy, there are other options you may be interested in exploring, including use of loopback software and/or an audio mixer/interface with USB capabilities to mix vocal and track signal before sending to Zoom. This is not required.
Combining Vocal Technique and Ear TrainingBuild essential singing skills by learning vocal technique. Improve range, pitch, vocal quality, breath support, articulation, and register coordination through targeted exercises and vocal warm-ups. Combine vocal technique exercises with necessary basic ear training patterns to strengthen musicianship skills. This class will boost vocal technique and musicianship while providing the necessary tools to master many styles of music and improvisation.
Tuesdays, 5:30 – 7:00 pm9/22 – 12/1 (10 weeks) no class 11/24Ellen Johnson, $395
Musicianship Fundamentals for Singers NEW!Whatever style of singing speaks to you, learning the fundamentals of music enhances performance skills, enables better communication with instrumentalists and accompanists and provides greater confidence on and off stage. In this class, Roseanna guides singers through a "No Fear" zone in music fundamentals covering: basic theory, reading and explaining charts, song form, understanding and feeling rhythm in different time signatures and choosing the right keys and songs for your sound and personality.
Mondays, 1:00 – 2:30 pm9/21 – 11/30 (10 weeks) no class 11/23 Roseanna Vitro, $395
Songwriters' Circle NEW!No matter where you are in your songwriting journey, the Songwriters' Circle will jumpstart creativity and get you writing. This class is for all skill levels, whether you write lyrics, melodies, harmony, or any combination thereof and whether you're just getting started, or are an experienced songwriter looking for new ideas and motivation. An assignment or prompt will be given the week before each class; you'll write during the week and then share your work in class to receive constructive feedback. Together we'll explore the elements of good songwriting, looking at the variety of forms, melodic devices, and lyrics that inspire. There will be an optional performance with invited guests for the last week of class.
Tuesdays, 4:00 – 5:30 pm9/22 – 12/1 (10 weeks) no class 11/24Andrea Wolper, $395
Lyric Writing––A Toolbox for CreativityCalifornia Jazz Conservatory Vocal Chair, Laurie Antonioli, has been writing and recording her original lyrics for over 30 years. You'll find her unique texts from her first release, "Soul Eyes," through her latest, "The Constant Passage of Time." Through the years, she has come to value the aspect of craft that goes into lyric writing, as much as she does original ideas or personal stories. Laurie's class includes short lectures on the lyricists from the Great American Songbook, to Jon Hendricks, Joni Mitchell, Dave Frishberg, Bob Dylan, Kendrick Lamar and beyond, in addition to in-class writing assignments and homework. Topics include: Getting started; Rhyming; Collaborating; Differentiating between poetry and lyrics; Examining both universal and personal stories; Looking at some fun angles, exercises, and perspectives to produce a provocative lyric. This will be a highly interactive class and students will compose several sets of lyrics by the end of the term. Required Text: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron from your preferred online retailer.
Wednesdays, 4:00 – 5:30 pm9/23 – 12/2 (10 weeks) no class 11/25Laurie Antonioli, $395
Bebop Spoken Here––Improv for SingersThere are many elements involved with learning to improvise. From the song form to the chord changes, ideas, interaction, and historical aspects of the music that make something sound like "jazz." But one thing's for sure––it's not just the notes. Accents, inflections, phrasing, and articulation all influence the sound and style of a solo, in addition to the choice of syllables and vowel sounds when "scat singing." In this fun course, you'll learn several well-known bebop tunes that will enable participation in jam sessions while building a vocabulary of great melodies, licks and ideas. Prerequisites: open to all, beginners welcome!
Tuesdays, 4:00 – 5:30 pm9/22 – 12/1 (10 weeks) no class 11/24Laurie Antonioli, $395
Guitar Self-Accompaniment for Jazz VocalistsExplore the basic skills essential to becoming your own accompanist! In this class, students will learn the basic jazz chord shapes on guitar, which will enable them to easily play most standard tunes. Learn chord progressions and harmony, how to read lead sheets, and how to use the guitar to help support your voice and guide you through the melody of a song. Prerequisites: all levels welcome.
Mondays, 4:00 – 5:30 pm9/21 – 11/30 (10 weeks) no class 11/23 Ian Faquini, $395
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