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Charles Band on Shooting Inside His Own Castle and Borrowing a Costume from Bram Stoker's Dracula
The Filmmaker Recalls Making The Pit and the Pendulum and Meridian
Now that Full Moon had risen from Empire's ashes, it was time to get projects rolling again. And Stuart Gordon came to me with an idea. Like all Stuart's ideas, it sounded kind of expensive. He wanted to make Edgar Allan Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum. That hadn't been done as a movie since Roger Corman had done it 30 years before, and it seemed pretty challenging: dungeons, torture chambers, witches burning, medieval courtyards. I mean, those were the kinds of giant sets that'd cost a fortune to build, unless you shot it all at some kind of…
Oh. Right.
In truth, I'd been wanting to shoot stuff at my castle for a while. It had come a long way since '85. Entire wings were now habitable. In fact, I had just done some entertaining there. I'd invited my biggest buyers—the Germans, Japanese, and English—to join me at my castle after the Milan film market. They all jumped at the chance.
This was beyond schmoozing. It was megaschmoozing. Their faces as they were driven up the mountain and escorted into the castle were priceless. These men were accustomed to filmmakers taking them to lunch and maybe giving them a key chain with a logo on it.
I led them to their guest wing. I'm not sure if I carried a candelabra in front of me or not, but it was definitely implied!
In the first two rooms I placed my new, dear friend Nigel Greene and his brother, Trevor. Nigel was a pioneer of the British home video industry. Next to him I put Nigel's parents. My two Germans, a couple, went in the next room, and my three Japanese businessmen, traveling alone, went in the final three. Each room, mind you, was cavernous and beautiful and full of treasures, virtually a museum. Debi and I went off to our chambers and prepared for the evening's feast. The Lord and Lady of Castle Giove had to look their best.
It was a reminder to me: Holy cow, I own a frickin' castle.We wined and dined our guests thoroughly, and then Rolando escorted them all back to their wing. The Lord and Lady retired, giggling like idiots.
In the morning, I met Rolando in the kitchen and asked him how our guests fared. He said there'd been a problem.
"Charlie, your English friends were fine, and I didn't hear a peep from the Germans, but those Japanese men… "
"Oh no. What?"
"They kept running back and forth… and then they all slept in the same bed."
I gently asked them about it at breakfast. Here's what I learned: When you're used to the confines of crowded Tokyo, even a modest European hotel room can seem uncomfortably large. These cavernous castle rooms just flat-out creeped the hell out of my Japanese friends. They freaked out. So they crammed themselves into one bed for the night. When I pressed them in the comforting light of day they were hilarious about it, and we all had a huge laugh and enjoyed the rest of our stay. But it was a reminder to me: Holy cow, I own a frickin' castle. I gotta use this place.
And so we went to shoot two movies in Italy. The first was Stuart's The Pit and the Pendulum. My dad once again came along to produce—as always, Stuart's trusted, more thrifty sidekick. They had come to love each other. Our cast included good ol' Lance Henriksen as Torquemada, who, since Mansion of the Doomed, had become famous for his role of Bishop in the Alien movies. And we had Oliver Reed, the renowned British actor, who years before had actually cut his teeth in Hammer Films productions, the great English B-movie mill of the 1960s.
It was really awesome. A trip. We'd all wake up in our palatial rooms, grab coffee and breakfast, and then descend two flights of stairs to our sets—the beautifully lit dungeons and torture chambers—and work a full, long day, only to ascend back to the great dining hall, where at least 18 of us would feast and laugh for hours, and then return to our rooms to start the whole cycle again.
It wasn't without its problems. Lance was a Method actor, so living inside the role of the monstrous Torquemada wasn't exactly a picnic for him. Or for the crew.
Oliver Reed was a kind of Method actor as well, but his method was constant alcohol intake. He was clearly cut from the Richard Harris–Peter O'Toole mold of British actors. I soon learned that he spent his early mornings down in the village, at the bar, consuming as much beer as possible. On set, though, he was totally lucid and completely professional. Then, at dinner, he would laugh and drink vast quantities and never once get up as he held forth, joking and pontificating for literally hours on end, always the last man at the table as we all retired. It became a joke between Debi and me, because Oliver's routine didn't even seem physically possible, not given the sheer amount of liquid he took in.
A few days later we learned Oliver Reed's dark secret.
It was Rolando who discovered it, learning it from the housekeeping staff. Oliver had rigged up a system where he'd acquire empty bottles, sequester them, and then… relieve himself into them all night, right there at the table as he drank and joked and held forth.
Wait, did I say "dark secret"? I meant "gross secret."
My other movie in the castle was more personal. Just as in the Empire days, my constant hamster wheel of developing, producing, promoting, and selling kept me from doing other things. It had been a year or two since I'd carved out a three-week period to just direct a movie. I remedied that situation with fi.
It wasn't typical Full Moon fare. I mean, there were monsters and magic and mammaries, sure. But Meridian was a Gothic romance. Harlequin novels were huge at the time, and some of them were supernatural themed. Why not grow the Full Moon brand into a market that nobody else was in?
Meridian was essentially a Beauty and the Beast story, the tale of an American woman (who happens to be the heir to an Italian castle!) who falls in love with a magician—who is cursed to turn into a beast-man. It starred Sherilyn Fenn, who—soon after the movie came out—found herself on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine as one of the stars of Twin Peaks. We shot the whole thing in the castle. Except for some of the exteriors, which we filmed at the nearby ancient "Park of the Monsters."
About that…
It was almost certainly the only monster suit in movie history to be featured in two separate roles… and get laid in both.It seems too perfect to be true, but in the nearby town of Bomarzo, there had lived in the 16th century a wealthy mercenary who'd met, fallen in love with, and married a noblewoman. When she died, he commissioned a grand garden for her, a place of wonders, a theme park of sorts. Giant stone carvings are everywhere: Hannibal's enormous war elephants, 30 feet high; goddesses; a monstrous gargoyle whose open mouth you could walk into (and out of, dramatically, while lit from behind at night, for instance!). To this day most tourists don't hear of the Parco dei Mostri, but my neighbors were all too happy to point me toward it. It was bizarre, grotesque, and perfect.
The last element I needed was the Beast. But this couldn't be a Buechler puppet or a Dave Allen stop-motion special. In any romantic Beauty and the Beast tale, after all, at some point, well… Beauty bangs the Beast. And it can't look like a woman humping a marionette (although now that I say that out loud, it gives me an idea for a movie… but I digress!). I needed a costume, a rough, scary, but somehow human-looking and kinda sexy beast.
I called Greg Cannon in Los Angeles. He was at that moment doing effects makeup for Francis Ford Coppola's new horror flick, Bram Stoker's Dracula, starring Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder. Yes, big-budget horror was becoming a thing. What chance did I have?
Greg was more than helpful. He told me of a costume that they'd just used on set, Dracula in beast form, hypnotizing and seducing the helpless Lucy. "Charlie," Greg said, "this thing is perfect. But obviously it belongs to the production. I can't… " Greg seemed to be struggling with something. He was moving into the big-budget movies, but his roots were in my world. I let him talk.
"I'll tell you what I'll do," he said finally, as though I'd been twisting his arm. "I will steal the costume, dye it, change its look just enough, and you can use it in your movie."
"Wow," I said, waiting for the inevitable other shoe to drop. "Just one condition, though, Charlie," he said. Here it comes, I thought. "Yeah?"
"You have to bring me there. I gotta see that castle." Word had gotten out.
Greg got his wish, and I got my sexy beast-man. It was almost certainly the only monster suit in movie history to be featured in two separate roles… and get laid in both.
A couple of years later, Greg would receive the first of his five Oscars for his makeup work on Dracula, as would the guy who built that costume. But as I said, we independents have one advantage, and that is speed: if you were a fan of a certain kind of video rental back in the day, you got to see that award-winning monster in action over a year before the premiere of Dracula.
I've never told that story to the public before, for obvious reasons. But hopefully enough time has passed, so, um, Francis, if you're reading this, er… sorry! Mi despiace.
From the book CONFESSIONS OF A PUPPETMASTER: A Hollywood Memoir of Ghouls, Guts, and Gonzo Filmmaking, by Charles Band with Adam Felber. Copyright © 2021 by Charles Band. From William Morrow, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers. Reprinted by permission.


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Design and Validation of a Satisfaction Questionnaire with Sports Programmes in Penitentiaries
Gema Ortega Vila
Manuel Tomás Abad Robles
Francisco Javier Giménez Fuentes Guerra
Jorge Franco Martín
Ana Concepción Jiménez Sánchez
José Robles Rodríguez
*Corresponding author: Francisco Javier Giménez Fuentes-Guerra firstname.lastname@example.com
Cite this article
Ortega Vila, G., Abad Robles, M. T., Giménez Fuentes-Guerra, F. J., Durán González, L. J., Franco Martín, J., Jiménez Sánchez, A. C., & Robles Rodríguez, J. (2018). Design and Validation of a Satisfaction Questionnaire with Sports Programmes in Penitentiaries. Apunts. Educación Física y Deportes, 131, 21-33. https://doi.org/10.5672/apunts.2014-0983.es.(2018/1).131.02
The purpose of this study was to design and validate a satisfaction questionnaire with the inmates at penitentiaries where the Real Madrid Foundation carries out sports programmes. The questionnaire was analysed quantitatively and qualitatively by a group of 11 expert judges. The validity of the content was studied through Aiken's V coefficient and the coefficient of variation. The reliability was evaluated by analysing the internal consistency using the Cronbach's alpha method (0.928), and the test-retest reliability was tested using the intraclass correlation coefficient 0.957 (p<0.01). The questionnaire showed sufficient properties to be considered a valid, reliable tool for studying and analysing the inmates' degree of satisfaction with the sports programmes carried out by the Real Madrid Foundation.
Received: October 14, 2016
Accepted: June 8, 2017
Published: January 01, 2018
Editor: © Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de la Presidència Institut Nacional d'Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC)
© Copyright Generalitat de Catalunya (INEFC). This article is available from url https://www.revista-apunts.com/. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.en

subset: commoncrawl


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Zendesk Tips and Tricks
Top 3 IT priorities for hybrid work
While the traditional office work model is getting less popular among leading businesses around the globe, many employees have become comfortable working remotely while maintaining high productivity. What priorities are needed to be followed to secure the efficiency of work processes? In this article, we would like to cover the essentials.
There are significant, long-term implications for how IT is managed and supported. Providing a fully integrated view across end-points, cloud, networking and applications in a hybrid deployment model has become critical for the service desk and businesses they support.
We are going to focus on three top priorities for businesses adopting a hybrid model.
Logistics organization: Keeping track of your assets
Now more than ever it is essential to keep track of all assets (hardware, software, accessories, etc.) associated with all end users, across the entire asset lifecycle. Several complex events are happening at once; companies are scaling their hiring with less emphasis on geographic proximity, fewer companies are returning to pre-pandemic office work models, and employees are not only remote, they're starting to change their location of work because they have the flexibility. These changes boost the processes of business movement to the cloud, enable a dynamic rise in network entities (IoT), and accelerate the risk of cyber attacks.
Coordination of IT logistics in this model has become increasingly complex; the service desk has to not only to be accurately aware of all assets since these assets have become a constantly changing variable. Having a clear understanding of asset status as it moves through its lifecycle not only has financial implications, it also triggers regulatory and HR workflows that will reach across multiple functional areas.
Security enforcement: Minimizing the risks of working from anywhere
Given the increasing potential attack probability associated with the work from anywhere model, enterprises need to track antivirus software, license, and location status on all relevant assets to minimize risks associated with hybrid work models.
When any issue occurs, the first point of contact is the service desk, and many security breaches can be attributed as a user experience — something not working the way it's expected to. It is critical to have a complete and complex view of the user's working environment. (hardware, software, cloud instances, etc.) that are part of a schema used by the service desk to resolve IT support issues. Having this type of perspective not only ties previously disparate systems together around the variable that matters most (the user), it can also show interdependencies that can put the company at risk.
User experience upgrade: Making onboarding and off-boarding a clear process
It is important to employee and customer productivity to deliver a positive onboarding experience, ensuring the right assets are delivered to the right person at the right time, which can be challenging in a "work from anywhere" model. For many employees, a big part of the onboarding process is the experience they have getting set up and up to speed. Everyone wants to onboard fast when starting a new job, and nothing is more frustrating than losing time waiting for a laptop or having a laptop without the proper configuration and software. This can be the difference between a happy, motivated employee or a frustrated one.
The same process applies to the off-boarding of employees. If you remove an employee's credentials from the system, you run a very real risk of deleting all the files they were working on. This has security and compliance implications; being able to track devices and the software they use is critical to ensuring a smooth transition for both the company and the employee. As has happened many times, a disgruntled employee who becomes a former disgruntled employee can be very risky.
Data in motion is data at risk
- There is way more disruptions in the IT ecosystem now than ever before
- More devices with sensitive information are out in the field
- New cybersecurity factors arise and data breaches happen more often
All of this is happening against a background of continued migration to the cloud, digital transformation to a WFA (hybrid) environment, and an explosion of unsecured devices. When things start to be getting more complicated, the first door that gets knocked on is the helpdesk, so having a fully integrated perspective across all your IT assets is integral to the success of any enterprise's service desk.
To enable a powerful asset management process, Zendesk has partnered with Oomnitza. Using Oomnitza and Zendesk together, you can easily track and manage all your assets—and securely interact with everything that powers your business, wherever you are.
So for efficient workflow, use the Zendesk customer relationship tool, which will free up your agents' time for more critical tasks and communication with potential clients. To learn more about the Zendesk tool, contact Cloudfresh experts.
The Cloudfresh team is a unique center of expertise for Google Cloud, Zendesk, and Asana. For these products, we can provide you with the following services:
- Customization;
- Development;
- Integration;
- Training;
- License;
- Support.
Our specialists will help you optimize your IT infrastructure, develop integrations for better system interoperability, and help create entirely new structures and processes for your teams. At the same time, our support center will provide you with the best customer experience!


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Most people are familiar with the Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, but even more, people have had Elon Musk on their radar with Musk's recent acquisition of the major social media platform, Twitter. With the drama surrounding the deal and even more in the aftermath of the purchase, the eyes of the world are watching Elon Musk following the takeover.
There have been many rumors, some confirmed, and others denied, that signal that this new era of Elon Musk is expected to be different from what we have seen from him as the CEO of Tesla. While Musk has always had somewhat of a flair for the dramatics even as the CEO of Tesla, his new role has put him right into the thick of things online.
In this article, we will explore the details of Elon Musk's Twitter acquisition, what this means for Twitter, and what this means for Tesla.
The Elon Musk-Twitter Deal
Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter was somehow both foreseen and shocking. When Musk began buying Twitter stock in large quantities, the writing seemed to be on the wall that Elon Musk wanted to be more involved in the social media company's inner workings. From January 2022 to April 2022, Elon Musk purchased enough of Twitter's stock to become the company's largest shareholder. At this time, his ownership was just under 10% of the company.
This amount of ownership was enough for Twitter to share an invitation to Musk to join their board of directors as a show of respect in April 2022. Their offer was accepted, and then promptly declined, with an offer to buy the company outright coming from Musk which sent the company into apparent turmoil until they agreed to accept the offer of a $44 billion dollar buyout.
The dramatics started early. In July, Elon Musk announced that he planned to pull out of the deal to purchase Twitter. His reason cited was the numerous spam accounts that existed on the site. However, with a hefty lawsuit and trial looming, Elon Musk eventually moved forward with his purchase of Twitter on October 27th for a total of $44 billion dollars as agreed upon earlier in the year. As a result, Twitter, a publicly-traded company, went private.
What is Next For Twitter Under Elon Musk
Since the acquisition, Elon Musk and Twitter have taken up quite a bit of space in the news. With many layoffs and proposed changes for the company, there has been a sense of fear of the unknown for potential investors and users of the platform as well.
Elon Musk's Goals for Twitter
Prior to the purchase of the major social media platform, Musk claimed that his goals for Twitter were to get rid of the overwhelming amount of bot and spam accounts and to reduce the number of limitations on speech on the platform. Previously, Twitter terms and conditions kept a tight leash on Twitter users in order to keep the platform friendly to advertisers and reduce hate speech.
Freedom of Speech on the Platform
Because of these goals, many people fear that Elon Musk's ownership of Twitter will lead to an increase in hate speech on the platform, making Twitter no longer a "safe place" to post online. Notably, he has called for the unbanning of several high-profile Twitter accounts, including Kathy Griffin and former President Donald Trump.
There also seems to be a move toward reconfiguring the current policies on hate speech and what is or isn't allowed on the platform. Notably, Elon Musk tweeted "Comedy is now legal on Twitter" following the purchase of the platform. This tweet seemed to be in reference to the number of people who had received bans on Twitter for making posts that were allegedly jokes which violated the prior set of terms and conditions for the platform.
In the future, people are split on whether or not these decisions will be positive or negative for the platform. There seems to be quite a bit of contention in the opinion columns on whether or not more or less moderation of Twitter posts is better or worse for the platform.
Certainly, the previous leadership of Twitter believed that heavier moderation was better for making money, though there seems to have been budgetary problems according to Elon Musk upon his takeover.
Layoffs, Resignations, and Overall Reduction of Staff
Much of the panic surrounding the takeover has come from the major layoffs and resignations that have come following the acquisition of Twitter. Top executives were the first to be eliminated from Twitter's payroll, including the CEO of Twitter and top employees of the company.
These decisions were made within the first week of Musk's takeover and resulted in a temporary closure of Twitter's in-person offices. Of note, these decisions may just be the most publicly critiqued decisions of Elon Musk since his purchase of Twitter. However, Musk explained that while some of the layoffs were due to changes in expectations for the platform, others were strictly due to cost-cutting and budget necessities.
Since the initial layoffs, Musk has since axed several employees that have criticized Twitter and Musk's decision. Many departures have come from Twitter employees choosing to leave as well. After receiving messages of ultimatums from Musk, a noticeable amount of employees submitted resignations which forced Twitter offices to close due to staffing issues.
What Elon Musk's Acquisition of Twitter Means for Tesla
Immediately following the announcement of the completion of the deal for the Tesla CEO to become the owner of Twitter, Tesla stocks took a downturn. Initially, analysts found this to be surprising as surely the acquisition of a major company would only serve to further Elon Musk's wealth. The purchase would make Musk the owner of another major company that is based in the United States.
However, there were significant fears in the market that Elon Musk would have to offload his shares of Tesla stock in order to be able to afford to pay for the deal. The thought was that in order to further secure funding, he would need to reduce his level of ownership in his own successful company. These fears appeared to be outweighed by the reality of the purchase and Elon Musk did not have to sell a considerable amount of Tesla shares in order to afford the deal.
Elon Musk is thought to have taken out over $12 billion dollars in loans in order to fully finance his purchase of the company, rather than selling stock in Tesla. This doesn't exactly clear Tesla from Elon Musk's financial chopping block, though. Twitter is not a profitable company at the moment, and it hasn't been since 2019. With the loans and the possibility that Twitter could continue to bleed funds under Elon Musk, Tesla stockholders worrying about Elon Musk selling Tesla stock aren't out of the woods just yet.
To conclude, Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter was a risky move, both for himself personally, for Twitter, and potentially for his company, Tesla. While there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the acquisition as a supporter of Elon Musk, there are equally many reasons to view the acquisition with some caution and hesitation. Regardless, for Twitter, there seem to be many changes ahead for the social media company.


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Man's Search for Meaning Audiobook is a 1946 book by Viktor Frankl recounting his encounter as a prisoner during the Nazi occupation of World War II, and outlining his psychotherapeutic strategy, which included dividing the cause in life to feel good, and then vividly considering that effect.
Man's Search For Meaning Audiobook – Review And Details:
Man's Searching For Meaning Audio has been recognized as one of the most convincing books in the United States. By the time Frankl passed away in 1997, the book had sold more than 10 million copies and had been translated into 24 languages. As far as possible, parts of the book have been analyzed. One of Frankl's main arguments in the letter was that motivation was important in enduring the camps.
Man's Searching For Meaning Audiobook is a popular Biography written by Viktor Frankl. The book was originally published in 1946. It follows the genre of Biography, Novel, Book. The book has a rating of 4.4 Star Review on GoodReads.
Plot Review:
The diary of expert Viktor Frankl has blocked for years the robbers and his life portrayals in Nazi concentration camps and his exercises for endurance abroad. Seeing his understanding and account of his patients, Frankl says we cannot try to be impatient but we can choose how to adapt to it, find value in it, and move forward for a restored cause. The essence of his hypothesis, known as logotherapy, is the belief that an important human drive is not fun but the search for what we find is important.
About the Author (Viktor Frankl):
Viktor Emil Frankl (March 26, 1905 – September 2, 1997) was an Austrian neurologist, therapist, scientist, creator, and survivor of the Holocaust. He was the author of logotherapy, a school of psychotherapy that expresses the need for daily presence as a great motivating force for people.
Listen To Man's Searching For Meaning Audiobook Full Free MP 3:
Man's Searching For Meaning MP 3 is given below in 3 parts which include all the chapters of the book. Start listening to it and enjoy.
Listen To Audiobook


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Two Steak and Kidney Pies, Please
Mmmmm. You think cheesy nachos at half-time are good? How about some Kickin' Chicken Friday?Those delicacies pale in comparison to the stuff served at the English Premier League soccer games.Steak and Kidney, Cheese and Onion, Meat and Potato, and RY's favorite, the Jumbo sausage roll are just a few of the concessionary samplings.Cheers to the NYTimes slideshow and article for reminding me that fake cheese is still better than Cornish pasties.


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I've been looking for a good way to implement multiplayer in an Android strategy game I'm working on, using LibGDX. What I found:
- The embedded LibGDX networking system
- Kryonet
- Google Play Services (I already used this system for a Unity game)
The only problem is that I don't know what system I want to use because I see multiple problems in each of these.
In LibGDX's networking and Kryonet, how can players connect to each other without having to tell each other their IP (which is not easy for everybody) ?
In Google Play Services, I don't know what are the requirement for users. Do the have to have Google Play, or maybe Google+ installed on their devices? Also, how easy is it to get Google Play Services to interface with LibGDX and Scene2D?


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The Jessica Buurman affiliate program offers a wide selection of the most desirable and coveted runway inspired shoes, bags, clothing and accessories available online. Everything we offer is chosen with love and passion, and we truly hope you'll adore it.
Sign up with FlexOffers.com to learn more about the Jessica Buurman affiliate program today!
*Please note we are not currently offering this affiliate program in our system, but similar programs in this category can still be found at FlexOffers.com.


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Financing Options
Dr. Marin offers several financing options for individuals seeking enhancement, correction or restoration. Our office would be happy to help you find the best option.
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Apply today so you can focus on looking, feeling, and being your best. It's easy, affordable, and hassle-free.
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Health Insurance
Typically, purely cosmetic procedures are not covered by health insurance. However, procedures deemed medically necessary may be covered. You will need to contact your insurance company to find out if your procedure qualifies. The Aberdeen Surgicenter does accept most forms of health insurance, but please call to confirm whether yours is currently accepted.


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Physical appearance is always a huge factor in choosing a life partner. Some fall in love at first sight by just looking at the face and looks of the person. These high beauty standards set by society are causing many to lose self-confidence and self-esteem. The world is somewhat an unsafe place for people with imperfections because discrimination is always there around the world. But in spite of this, one couple that love is not defined by the beauty standards and it is more than what the eyes see.
The pictures shared by Polly Robinson, the 21-year-old English girl on Facebook became viral after people saw her with a 26-year-old Indonesian man who is a restaurant owner and certified surfing instructor.
More Info: Instagram\Facebook
Indonesian man Karna Radheya met Polly Robinson, the English girl in Bali in Indonesia in August 2017.
The two saw each other often after that and during Polly's stay in Indonesia, the two fell in love with each other.
After Polly Robinson went back to her home in Manchester, England, the two kept in touch and were in a long distance relationship.
In order to marry Karna, Polly Robinson converted herself into Islam six months before their wedding. The couple married on December 16,2018 in a traditional Muslim ceremony.
The wedding ceremony was only attended by Karna Radheya's family and not by the bride's family. But in spite of that Polly was happy to marry the Indonesian man as according to some reports, Polly's family had already given her their blessing for the marriage.
Karna and Polly did not let distance break their relationship and the best part was that both decided to take this relationship further by marrying each other.
Robinson said, "My only intention is to make our relationship halal. But since our story has already gone viral, I hope it will be an inspirational tale for netizens."
Polly Robinson and Karna Radheya's relationship proves that love knows no boundaries and that love is not defined by the standard of beauty and not even race.
Read More: Couple Proves That Size Doesn't Matter Showing The World What True Love Is!


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Cornell Alliance for Science Calls for Comments for Golden Rice in PH
July 18, 2018 |
The Cornell Alliance for Science calls for supportive written comments and testimony for the field trial of Golden Rice in the Philippines. The public consultations are scheduled on July 18 and 19 in Nueva Ecija and Isabela provinces, respectively.
Golden Rice is a beta-carotene enriched rice developed through genetic engineering to address vitamin A deficiency, a serious health problem faced by millions of children and pregnant women all over the world. This new type of rice is currently understudy by International Rice Research Institute and Philippine Rice Research Institute. The proposal for field trial requires public consultations. The Alliance is seeking the support of those who understand the value of this new product to speak up to ensure that the research about Golden Rice continues to field trials.
Golden Rice has been proven to be safe by leading regulatory agencies, namely the US Food and Drug Administration, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, and Health Canada.
Comments are particularly welcomed from areas where the trials will be held—Brgy. Maligaya and and Brgy. Malasin, as well as nearby localities. Written comments and statements of support can be sent to Mr. George Y. Culaste, OIC-Director, Bureau of Plant Industry, San Andres, Malate, Manila. His telephone number is 02-404-0409 and his email address is email@example.com.
Read the original post from Cornell Alliance for Science.
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The custody battle between ex-spouses Brad Pitt, 57, and Angelina Jolie, 46, is now before the California Supreme Court. Pete has filed an application with the California Supreme Court to challenge an earlier ruling in the protracted court battle, as Fox News and USA Today reported on Thursday, citing court documents.
Jolie won in July when an appeals court granted her request to impeach Special Judge John Oderkerk. Oderkirk had violated his "moral obligations," the court's decision was quoted by US media at the time. There will be doubts about the judge's own impartiality. He did not disclose other working relationships to Pete's attorney. Ouderkirk had previously agreed to extend custody rights to Pitt — and upset Julie.
In the long-running dispute over custody of the ex-couple's six biological and adopted children, Jolie and Pitt turned on the private judge together four years ago. Pitt's lawyers are now protesting Ouderkirk's removal from office, as this would also overturn a previous custody decision in Pitt's favour. Pete Tudor attorney J. USA Today With.
After a long relationship, the actors married in 2014. Two years later, Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt, which became official in 2019. She claimed custody of the six children, who are now between 13 and 20 years old. Since then, negotiations have continued in court over the division of custody and funds. At twenty, eldest son Maddox is no longer a part of the suit.


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From: The West
2nd March 2009, 13:15 WST
group of Australian scientists is helping to save a tiny central
Pacific island nation from a dangerous byproduct of rising sea
Kiribati is slowly being swamped by salt water,
shrinking the land mass and threatening the islanders' precious supply
of fresh water stored in underground reservoirs.
A team of
experts from the Australian National University in Canberra has devised
a plan to help the small nation of 100,000 secure its water supply
against seawater and other contamination.
"They're living
in a precarious situation in terms of their water resources," said
project leader and environmental expert Professor Ian White.
don't know how much they've got, and what they do have is in danger of
mixing with salt water as the sea level intrudes and making people very
"In that sense, it was vital to come up with a plan to help protect it and therefore the population who rely on it."
Kiribati is made up of 33 atolls, almost all of which sit just six metres or less above sea level.
nation, which has strong ties to Australia and uses the Australian
dollar, is considered one of the most vulnerable to climate change in
the world, along with Tuvalu and the Maldives.
It was one
of the first countries selected by the Global Environment Facility to
trial new strategies to adapt to climate change, but a recent survey
showed water supply was the biggest and most pressing concern.
White said investigations revealed the underground water supply was in
danger of being tainted with salt water or becoming polluted as
reservoir areas became more built up.
This was particularly
true in urban areas with a density of 12,000 people per square
kilometre, significantly more than in Sydney's Kings Cross.
have very limited land areas and they're all living over the fresh
water reserves and because these atolls are very porous, things get in
the water very quickly," Prof White said.
"As a result,
the health issues they face are among the worst in the world in terms
of infant mortality to water-borne diseases."
The new
water policy, developed in partnership with Fiji and France, aims to
conserve water through sustainable use and efficient management.
change experts have warned that countries like Kiribati have just 50 to
100 years before they lose large areas of land to the sea and salt
water renders other land useless for living and farming.


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The RowerTrain RT1000 is an innovative Indoor Rowing Machine built of high-quality materials and designed to ensure minimal sound emissions. The RowerTrain is perfect for commercial gyms, home gyms, and one-off workout equipment to keep fit from the comfort of one's most convenient locations.
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RowerTrain is the industry-leading rowing machine built only with the highest-quality aluminium alloy and stainless steel. One will be able to feel the difference in their quality with one pull on their innovative product. Not only do they offer a premium-feeling when it comes to their machine, the company has also kept the "at-home fitness aficionados" in mind when designing to product to ensure a minimal level of sound is emitted with each stroke. 100% satisfaction guaranteed.
Why Is This Product for everyone?
The rowing machine is one of the fitness industry's best-kept secrets in getting a full-body workout in. With each compound movement, muscles all over one's body is being primed and strengthened. Where all their product differs from traditional rowing machines is in the quality and design – The company has ensured that their product is safe for all their customers at home. From houses, to apartments, the RowerTrain is guaranteed to be a perfect addition to people's home-gym with its high-quality performance, Bluetooth connectivity, and the minimal sound emitted from the machine. No more will one receive noise complaints from the neighbours or family while getting a workout in. Not only is the rowing machine top-of-the-line in terms of performance and sound, but they also offer 10 levels so one can adjust his/her workout intensity throughout the entire session
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/Geb6sh8vGM4
Key Features
Engages all Muscle Groups: The Rowing Machine engages all muscle groups with just one session. No more will to worry about having an unbalanced workout session, the Rowing Machine targets legs, arms, and core, all while maximizing the caloric-burn for quick and visible results.
Suitable for All Fitness Levels: RowerTrain Rowing Machine offers the perfect solution for individuals of all different fitness levels. This machine is perfect for everyone from a veteran in fitness and live an extremely active lifestyle, to a beginner who has recently decided to start their fitness journey.
Premium Performance Monitoring: Great part of the fun in fitness is being able to track one's progress. With the RowerTrain Rowing Machine, the premium performance monitor does all of that while providing real-time reliable data
Ergonomic and User-Friendly Design concepts can be seen with the 14-inch seat and fully adjustable footrests. RowerTrain Rowing Machine also features an ergonomic handle and heavy-duty ABS plastic monitor stand tested to withstand intensive use. The monitor even rotates to the best position for one's ease.
Quick and Easy Assembly: With RowerTrain, people won't have to spend hours reading an instruction manual on how to put the machine together. This machine requires no special tools to assemble, and it disassembles into 2-pieces, so one can set it up wherever he/she goes.
Follow us on:
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Media Contact
Company Name: RowerTrain
Contact Person: Media Relations
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Website: https://www.rowertrain.co/


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Charlie's Angels - 2000 version obvs
What's better than one strong female lead? Three. Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz. I love it. And what makes it even better, is that the second film is just as good as the first. So you're getting two for one here.
Hidden Figures
Hidden Figures is one of those films that you have to keep reminding yourself that it's actually based on a true story. It's an incredible story and definitely one to make you feel empowered and motivated. Plus, it gives a great insight into issues of gender and race in not so distant history. 10/10 worth the watch.
Bend It Like Beckham
We love a rebellious icon. Plus, an underdog story is always good. I love She's The Man (could be on this list as well really) but Bend It Like Beckham feels like a true story - it feels real. Maybe the fact that it's British helps or maybe it's just the fact that she's not dressed a guy and no one second guesses it.
Kill Bill
This Tarantino film definitely has a different vibe to the other films included on this list, but The Bride is iconic. She's determined, fierce and the best at what she does. Albeit killing. But still. Iconic. These films might not be for you if blood isn't your thing though.
Atomic Blonde
Not quite as bloody as Kill Bill but definitely just as action packed. Charlize Theron is amazing in this film and the soundtrack and neon lighting throughout is just so good. The neon lit hotel room was everything. Definitely not to be confused with Legally Blonde though... very different film.
The Princess Diaries
My one true Queen: Mia Thermopolis. I absolutely loved these films growing up and honestly still do. I might be thinking too much into this but I genuinely think Mia is the perfect role model. She never loses her quirky personality despite others efforts, she stands up for herself and what she believes in, she remembers who her real friends are through everything and she deals with all this at a young age. We can't help but stan.
Legally Blonde
Of course. Saving the best for last. Our lord and saviour Elle Woods is a daily inspiration. If that one montage of Elle getting her act together and studying to get into Harvard doesn't motivate you then I don't know what will. You come out the other end of this film feeling empowered enough to get a law degree... even if you have no interest in one.
So, which one are you going to watch?


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LCCC Board of Trustees announces June meetings
CHEYENNE, WYO. — The Laramie County Community College Board of Trustees announced its upcoming meetings for June.
- Facilities and finance committee: 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 10
- Trustees' monthly meeting: 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 17
Due to the COVID-19 virus, these meetings will be held virtually via Zoom. Board meetings are open to the public; executive sessions are not. Full meeting agendas, past meeting minutes, and information to access the meetings can be found at lccc.wy.edu/BoardMeeting.


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How to best reach those millennials, unlock their mindsets and effectively market cruise vacations to those 18- to 35-year-olds—and their multigenerational families—also were topics discussed.
Outlining Avoya Travel's curated statistics on millennials and multi-gen groups, moderator Scott Koepf, Avoya's svp sales, pointed out that 24% of the US population is millennial-aged, the same percentage as baby boomers who are their parents.
Of 17m US millennials, 2.5m have household incomes of more than $100,000, while a third, 36%, have children but only 21% are married. One of five has a same-sex partner.
'Although millennials came of age in a grim US economic climate, they are diverse, expressive and optimistic,' Koepf said. 'They are deal shoppers who like a personal touch. Authenticity is incredibly important.'
With multigenerational vacations, four of 10 grandparents—35% who foot the bill or pay to play with their families—say millennial grandchildren influence vacation planning.
By 2020, there will be 80m US grandparents, Koepf said.
'Kidfluence' is key with family vacations. Millennials who research travel are heavily influenced by social media and their friends, said Nancy Schretter, founder and managing editor, Family Travel Network.
Soft family adventure is family travel's most rapidly-growing segment. 'Build your own cruise experience,' Schretter said. 'Keep those memorable experiences coming.'
Wherever millennials travel with their families, which typically are three generations, connectivity is key and 45% of millennials check their phone every five minutes.
'Wi-Fi is a big button,' said Vicky Garcia, founder and chief operating officer of Cruise Planners, adding that travel agents have to be able to utilize multiple communication tools. 'You have to be able to juggle.'
Defining industry acroynms, Garcia explained several need-to-know terms when marketing to millennials.
For example, 'FOMO' translates to the fear of missing out. 'YOLO': You only live once. 'PANK': Professional aunt, no kids. 'SPANK': Super-professional aunt, no kids. 'PUNK': Professional uncle, no kids. 'FABLET': a large phone but smaller than a tablet.
New ships, like ultra-sleek contemporary hotels, will offer sleek new residential-styled interior design elements and more efficient space, said Fredrik Johansson, partner and art director, Tillberg Design of Sweden.
'In five to 10 years, millennials will be the largest consumers in the hospitality industry,' Johansson said. Because ship designs take five years to execute, 'if you want to address these people, it's time to start now.'
During his design presentation, Johansson also highlighted old-school cruise buffets, including one with a cow's head carved from watermelon. 'Will these people like that?' Johansson asked. 'I don't think so.'
Joni Rein, vp worldwide sales, Carnival Cruise Line, detailed elements of the new 133,500gt, 3,954-passenger Carnival Vista, scheduled to launch next year.
Carnival Vista will offer cruising's first three-story IMAX at sea, family-friendly staterooms with private lanais, Carnival's largest WaterWorks park, alfresco dining, a Havana Bar and Red Frog Brew Pub, with on-board beer brewing.
'We're really finding ways to get people engaged,' Rein said.
Koepf noted the industry has come a long way in the last 30 years —when he and his wife worked on board ships.
So, in 1985, the most popular on-board activity? 'Napkin folding,' Koepf said.
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited. Add Seatrade Cruise News to your Google News feed.


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Following the historical visit of President Duterte in Israel in September last year, as well as the possibility of the direct flight between Manila and Tel Aviv, 2019 is proving to be an exciting year for the Philippine-Israel bilateral relations. Join us as we talk about business continuity in the Philippines in the new investment environment.
The following topics will be covered while we bond over coffee and light snacks:
When: March 27, 2019, Wednesday (2:00 PM -5:00 PM)
Where: Makati Diamond Residences (view map here)
Attire: Business
The Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ICCP) would like to invite interested companies to partner with us for the 22nd General Membership Meeting: Economic Forecast 2019
Join us as we foster the growing relationship between Israel and the Philippines. Your company is brought to the forefront as an organization that supports the promotion of both Israel and the Philippines as places of opportunity. A great deal of goodwill will be generated for your role in the nation-building of these two countries.
Make the most out of your business. Click this link to download your benefits when you sponsor.


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We are excited to announce the release of our 1st Edition of our Little Scholars Family Cookbook. In Conjuction with our families and the Little Scholars community we have gathered all of our favourite recipes for everyone to share. From our schoolies, to our Chinese teacher, everyone has been involved. We wish to thank everyone for their input and we hope you enjoy our Little Scholars Family Cookbook.
For your copy of the Little Scholars Family Cookbook, please speak with Tayla or Rachel today.


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SYNOPSIS: Batman's strangest case begins as the new creative team of writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Doug Mahnke take over DETECTIVE COMICS!
Commissioner Gordon calls in the Dark Knight Detective when there's a murder at the Gotham City Aquarium—staged to look exactly like Thomas and Martha Wayne's crime scene, right down to the Playbill and pearls. How does this bizarre homicide tie into the shadowy monster that attacks Dr. Leslie Thompkins? This creature looks to wage a war on Batman—and it's using Joker Gas to do it!
Finally, it has arrived. The arc we have all been waiting for. Peter J. Tomasi makes his long-awaited return to Gotham!
James Tynion brewed a fresh batch of Batman with Rebirth's Detective, while Bryan Hill, James Robinson, and Chris Sabella added some Sweet n' Low. But Tomasi takes his all natural: black, no filter.
The writer is a big name, the real deal, hot off the success of the animated DC film The Death of Superman. He even has a Green Lantern named after him (his last name backward, Isamot Kol). Having this guy write Batman should send any comic book fan into euphoria. Doug Mahnke provides the best-drawn Bat-book since "Rebirth". The book is nothing short of stunning to look at. It's simply beautiful from start to finish. We are six issues away from Detective #1000, you know this story is going to be big!
In this week's issue #994, Tomasi nearly writes a perfect Batman story. These 20+ pages are patiently building up to something and serves as a great first step toward Detective Comics #1000. Continuing one of Robinson's strengths last arc is Batman doing actual detective work. The dialogue between the Dark Knight and Gordon is brilliant and better than Robinson. Their relationship feels more complete, instantly showing their mutual respect for one another. Tomasi does bring out emotion in the stoic Batman. It's always refreshing to see a writer show the more human side of our hero.
There is also plenty to sink your teeth into here, with cameos from the fan-favorite Leslie Thompkins, as well as the confusing " Martha and Thomas Wayne". Where Tomasi loses me is in the big action scene. The "rescue" aspect is tremendous, showcasing Batman do what he does best and be the hero. But it's his target that doesn't win me over, this giant monster man. As I said earlier, seeing Batman operate in a last-minute rescue ejected from the Batmobile is nothing short of amazing. But this flesh, grunting, red mass just falls flat. It's a little "out there" for my Gotham sensibilities.
Fortunately, that's my only complaint about the book. The final page will leave you jaw-dropped and speechless. After one issue you can feel we are in for a good time with this one.
Doug Mahnke, where have you been all my comic book life?! Look, I know I praise many artists I review. I like to think that Detective Comics has really been blessed with a great rotation of artists since I have started reviewing the book. Mahnke delivers with every panel. Seeing Batman do detective work gets me every time. There is something to be said for the little things when it comes to drawing a book. Sure, the action is great but seeing Batman investigate the crime scene with Gordon, the attention to detail is a pleasure to see. There is a wondrous splash page of Batman zip-lining with the Bat signal in the air that is to die for. There are some great screenshot pages for the digital crowd. You really won't find a better-drawn book on the shelves of your local comic shop this week.
This is a must-have for your pull list. One weak villain in a fight won't take away from how great this issue is. A world-class writer and a world-class artist are going to bring us a classic. The build-up to Detective Comics #1000 has begun and it's going to be a hell of a ride. Tomasi has the pulse of these characters, everyone. This is some of the best investigative banter I have read in a while. Mahnke matches Tomasi's level of greatness with a stellar looking Batman. I honestly can't wait to hear the reactions to this book. I think everyone is really going to love this!
This is it for Detective Comics in 2018. Issue #995 goes on sale 1/2/2019. Here's to another great year reading Detective with everyone!! – Pete Verra


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Posts Tagged with "push-up variations"
Exercises You Should Be Doing: Renegade Push-Up
Push-ups are an underrated exercise. Meatheads scoff at the notion of adding them to their programs. "Too easy," most will say. "Not not going to make me pecy enough." Athletes roll their eyes at them. "Not going to get me to the show, bro," they'll retort. Au contraire I say. Do Your Fucking Push-Ups Yeah,… Read more


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Baah Store Ltd.
Our Hotties
How are you today? this is our exclusive bags and basket category where you can have a glimpse of our unique design elements featured in tote bags, baskets, canvas bags, laundry bags, fruit baskets and more to come. Jute diversified rugs as an eco-friendly carry-ons, upcycled sustainable bags made out of cotton, denim, jeans or other fabric materials is our inspiration to make the best out of what is that upheaves the nature, the women, us as a nation and the shopping affinity of our progressive shopper base.


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Whether you're working from home, attending classes online, or just trying to manage a Spring full of unexpected free time - there's a good chance that right now, you're trying to adjust to at-home productivity, and that can DEFINITELY be a transition. 😳
While we should all take the time we need to rest, relax, laugh and re-set as needed, tackling that to-do list, buckling down, and crushing our goals can help us feel just a lil bit grounded and in control of our corners of the world. ✨✌
Let's find ways to keep ourselves positive and productive, pandemic or not! Do you think any of these tips will help your days flow better?!?
1. Find daily rhythms that work for you. ⏰👍
It can definitely be tempting to lay in bed ALL day and eat meals whenever you feel hungry (let's be real, does it really feel like specific days and hours are even a THING anymore?!!?). However, if you want to maintain some semblance of normalcy and get your way through your to-do list, it's probably a good idea to get back to a regular schedule.
Find a happy medium between a completely rigid schedule and doing-nothing-all-day by finding comfort in regular rhythms and routines. Wake up, brush your teeth, read a chapter of a book while you eat breakfast, and then dive into work. Take regular breaks, enjoy being close to your own refrigerator and being able to work from your couch... and then get back to it! Repeat as needed!!! 👏
2. Connect with people outside of your home every day.
With the guidance from our governments to stay home and flatten the curve, each of our social circles shrank big time. 🥺 Feeling isolated is neither fun nor good for us - and definitely doesn't make us feel like getting work done. Make a habit of reaching out to your people every day, just as you would if we weren't all sheltering in place.
Think about it: we're living through a very weird situation, but...we're all living through the SAME weird situation. That means everybody can empathize with the strange balance we're all trying to strike between regular productivity and pandemic-induced anxiety. EVERYONE. 🌎 🤯
Create an accountability group with your friends, make a coffee-room-chat with your coworkers, and call your family at night to ask how they've been spending their time. This will be a SUPER healthy outlet for everyone...because we're ALL feeling ALL the feels!! Being there for your people is always productive (and it'll help you be in a good headspace to get stuff done, as well!!).
3. Find fun reasons to be productive.
If you're not used to working or studying from home, it can definitely be hard to get used to the concept of required home-work or set hours during which you need to be available... in a place you usually associate with relaxation. This can be frustrating, confusing, and stressful!!! 😢
To balance out this, pepper your to-do list with fun, life-giving 'assignments' as well as work-related projects.
Need any inspiration? Arrange all your books by color, sort through your bath products and toiletries, learn to make PERFECTLY fluffy pancakes, video-chat with a friend to catch up, do your nails, get a quick stretch in, paint a mural - the limit does not exist!!! 🌈🥞🧘♀
4. Join a community-sourced challenge.
The world is in a TRULY unique, unprecedented situation right now...which means that none of us really know what we're doing. 🤷♀ But (flip side!) guess what that means? We're all just figuring this out together!
All over the world, people are finding creative ways to staying active, healthy, and happy while sheltering in place! Do a self-isolation glow-up routine, quarantine workouts, join global spring-cleaning and organizing initiatives and reward yourself with movie marathons! 🏃♀📺
Doing these challenges and programs will help string the days together, keep you focused on the future, and give you little pockets of satisfaction and success... just enough to get your adrenaline going so you want to get more done!!
5. Get dressed in the morning. Do your hair. Put on makeup if it makes you happy. 💅
If your goals permit it, definitely take advantage of the low-key informality that working or studying from home gives you! It's time for your favorite leggings and tees and activewear to shine. 💫 Remember, though, that what you wear contributes to your mindset for the day. Putting on clothing that's clean and cute as well as comfortable will help prime you to think of each new day as a new opportunity to get stuff done!!!
Think of it as an investment not only in your productivity but your self-care. BONUS: take the time to play around with your wardrobe and your makeup. You may find that dressing just for yourself helps you find a look that feels more genuinely YOU! 💛
Remember: with each day, you get a fresh, new opportunity to care for yourself and for those around you - whether that's by working through projects, reaching out to your community, or simply relaxing.
You don't need to use this time to write the next great novel or clean your entire home! Don't feel pressured to be productive all the time, we ARE in a pandemic, after all. Getting rest and relaxation and remaining as low-stress as possible is part of our national job right now. Find what feels good and remember to stay SAFE while you get your work done!!! 🙌


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The Batch registration process allows the operators to register the produced batch, its quantity, and all the consumed ingredients registered during the ingredient registration. The Batch registration is confirmed to the external system if any external system is assigned to the manufacturer site. However, if no channel is configured at the manufacturer site or at the application level, the orders are stored in the DB.
Before You Begin
The administrator must ensure the following settings in the Manufacturer for Agro admin application:
- Assign you as an operator.
- Assign you with the Batch registration privilege.
- At least one manufacturer site is assigned to you.
- Orders are created and are in Ingredient registration completed or Batch registration in progress status.
1. Open the Manufacturer for Agro application in Movilitas Mobile.
2. Tap Batch registration. The production orders in Ingredient registration completed or Batch registration in progress statuses are displayed.
3. Tap an order. The Order screen appears with the following options:
- Order details
- Complete registration option
- Line items
4. Tap each line item. The Enter quantity screen appears with order details.
5. In the Actual quantity consumed field, enter the quantity and click Save. A message, Bill of materials quantity consumed displays on the screen.
6. Tap Complete registration. A confirmation message, Are you sure you want to complete registration for order: Order ID? displays.
7. Tap Yes. A message, Batch registration completed displays.
You can view the completed batches in the Batches tab of the Movilitas.Cloud admin application.


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Are you getting tired of mowing your lawn every week? Or perhaps, you're getting annoyed with the brown patches in your yard? If you are, then it may be high time that you made the switch to synthetic grass. Artificial turfs have been gaining more popularity over the past few years because of their practicality and the many benefits they offer.
Here are four reasons why you should use artificial grass for your lawn:
1. It's Easy to Maintain
One of the biggest benefits of synthetic turf is that it doesn't require much maintenance, and it's easy to care for. You don't even need to water it! When you want to maintain it, all you need to do is clear the leaves, branches, and other debris off the lawn.
2. It's a Versatile Alternative
Do you have a spot in your yard that just can't grow grass no matter what you do? In the end, you are left with a bald spot that you had to fill with foliage so that people don't notice it. With synthetic turf, rest assured that you never have to worry about bald spots anymore because you will get an even lawn with zero bare patches.
3. It's Cost-Effective
One of the best aspects of synthetic turf is you only need to pay for it once at the store, and that's it! You no longer have to worry about maintenance costs, such as irrigation and fertiliser. Moreover, since it doesn't require watering, you save big on water per month, which means you also get reduced your water bills.
4. It's Safe to Use
When it comes to the safety of artificial grass, keep in mind that it is even safer than a natural yard. With this type of turf, you don't deal with rocks, stones, or soil that may be breeding ground for pests. Synthetic grass is softer because it is made from non-toxic materials to ensure that children and the environment will not be harmed. Aside from that, seeing that it's artificial, you don't need to put fertilisers and other pesticides, which makes it safe for children and pets to play on.
These 4 reasons are why many homeowners are making the switch to artificial turfs. They are more practical and are much easier to maintain compared to natural grass. Moreover, synthetic turf has that long-lasting green effect, which means you don't have to worry about any brown patches anymore.
Due to the growing popularity of artificial grass, you won't have a hard time finding one for your yard. That said, the price for this is also reasonable, so you don't have to worry about breaking the bank when you decide to make a purchase for your garden. The only aspect that you need to think of is to find a reliable company to ensure you get high-quality products.
Aside from your yard, you can place this type of grass in other areas of your home, such as your balcony or even your kid's space. Beautify your outdoor space with synthetic turf, and you won't regret your decisions.
If you are looking for high-quality artificial grass on the Gold Coast for your home, we have got you covered. At Luxe Turf, we have an extensive range of projects to suit any synthetic turf project. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!


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Apothecary Glass Kit - 8-piece alchemy set - Enver
We called it Enver - from French, C'est en Verre, which means 'it is out of glass'. It is pure as glass should be and delicately sophisticated, as most beautiful things are.
To take advantage of natural ingredients for the best skincare treatment, nothing should interfere with the ingredients' natural healing powers. Mixing and storing beauty recipes in neutral (inert) environment will create the best result. Not only our set is custom handmade out of pure, lab-grade glass without ANY plastic mixed in, there is ZERO plastic in the entire set. We use high quality cork and glass only.
The 8-piece frosted glass kit contains the following:
1. Funnel - for pouring liquids and powders
2. Straw - use as a stirring stick or a dropper (by inserting bottom of the straw into any liquid and plugging the top with your thumb to hold on to the liquid on the other end of the straw while transferring this liquid to another container); take care not to cross-contaminate liquids.
3. Mixing bowl - add any liquids, powders and butters to create your own unique beauty recipe
4. Measuring spoon - scoop out powders or liquids before mixing them.
5. 30 ml jar with mini spoon - great for storing clay powders, lotions, scrubs, mixed masques and other recipes that are not very liquid and are easier to scoop out than pour out.
6. 30 ml bottle - wonderful for storing facial tonics or mixtures of various oils
7. 15 ml bottle - great for oils and flower waters (just a smaller quantity)
8. 5 ml amphorae bottle - travel size mini container for 'on the go / travel' beauty regimen or for some precious oil, similar to Katari Barie.
Storage & handling
The kit is packed in a craft box in a way that it will make to you safely. We are working on options for beautiful and sustainable presentation. We are looking at an option which will minimize packaging you will need to recycle and that will maximize your enjoyment of this exquisite beautifully made glass.
You can clean and sanitize this stunning set just as you would any glass product. Though, we must caution that we are now used to very sturdy glass (think Pyrex) and it is not. En Ver can break. Please treat it as a beautiful piece of stunning yet somewhat fragile glass.
100% pure lab-grade hand blown artisanal glass.
Funny we have to talk about ingredients in glass. SHOCKER! Bottom line is that it is all pure, lab-grade glass, handblown by Katari Artisans. Our glass does not have ANY plastic mixed in. Just PURE glass.
Here is how our beautiful glass is made - it is not a huge manufacturing facility, but families of incredible artisans who make it. Please meet Ali, Katari's head master glassmaker and his littler 'helper'! :)
Here are some ideas on how to use the set:
- You can use straw as a dropper for oils
- Use jars and bottles to create and store recipes you made
- Get additional jars and bottles from us and sell your recipes to your customers; they will be grateful to take a stunning work of art home to use on their skin in-between treatments
- Use funnel for powders, oils and liquids or perfumes
- Our corks are the highest grade, which means you can use them for home made essential oil blends and fragrances


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Simple Guide How To Get The Perfect Photo, Every Time, With Any Camera (Great for Husbands!)
Why is it that other people's photos look flawless every single time? Getting the right photo can feel like an impossible task. And while you're battling with bad lighting, hair in your face, awkward arms, and stiff smiles, other people are out there looking like they've been modeling their whole lives. You can't scroll down your Facebook feed without getting an eyeful of Susie's perfect pics from Sunday's BBQ.
And when you try, you always seem to end up handing your phone over for photo nightmares - we're looking at you, husbands!
So what makes other people's photos flawless? Is it magic?
Nope - it's just some super simple tips and tricks that anyone can use. And luckily for you, we've put them all nice and neatly in one place. You don't need any experience or photography gadgets - just your phone camera.
This is a Husband-Approved Guide, too. So whenever you need him to take that perfect snap, this guide will ensure he knows exactly how you should be standing to give your photos that professional edge.
Tip One - Elongate the Body
We're all guilty of bad posture sometimes - how many hours have we spent hunching over our laptops and phones? - but stretching out the body is essential for creating that perfect snap. What we have to say might sound crazy, but just bear with us - there's a method to this madness.
Yep, we told you it would sound crazy. But, it's not! This is actually something professional photographers encourage their models to do every single time they shoot. So husbands, if you're reading this, be on the lookout for that invisible string.
Imagine it's pulling you right up to the sky. This will stretch all those limbs out, making your entire body look - and feel - taller.
This is exactly what we want.
Dropping the shoulders will make this pose look so much more natural. You won't be left with any odd hunches or strange shapes.
Tip Two - The Closer Something Is To The Camera, The Bigger It Is
That means, if you've been overindulging during lockdown, you probably won't want to put your hips forward. (Don't worry - we've all been doing it.) But the great thing about this is you can use this tip to your advantage - and we'll teach you exactly how! It all comes down to the legs.
Make sure to angle your foot slightly. You don't want to look like you're balancing on a tightrope! And you especially don't want to fall over. That's a one-way ticket to a photo nightmare.
This will help you keep your balance and automatically elongate the legs (and who doesn't want longer legs?) Elongated limbs are great for posing in photos.
But we'll get into that more later...
This will naturally create an 's' curve, something photographers utilize when they do professional shoots. It gives their models that feminine edge, and it'll do exactly the same for you.
Bonus Step
If you're looking for a more curvy, Beyonce-type shot, turn your butt towards the camera ever-so-slightly. Remember when we said that the closer the body part is to the camera, the bigger it is?
Tip Three - Use Those Hands!
The last thing you want to do is stand limply in your photos, arms dangling by your sides. But it's not always that easy. Suddenly someone is shoving a camera in our face, and we don't have time to think about our hand placement. We're just flashing a smile and then it's over - only to be plastered all over Facebook later that night for everyone to see. Yikes.
Just follow these handy (see what we did there?) tips and you'll nail it every single time.
As mentioned above, putting your hands on those hips is always a great go-to. Trust us, your photos will look so much better for it. You can also put your hands in your pockets, lightly touch your face, or play with your hair. These subtle tips will help you bring some life to your photos.
Hey husbands! Let's imagine you're in front of the camera for once. If you're a man, you probably don't want to use the old hands-on-hips method. But not to worry - there are a million other things you can do. Try putting your hands on your pockets, or folding your arms. You can even check your watch or lightly adjust your jacket.
Tip Four - Grab a Prop
Right. Dig out your sparkly top hat and-
Don't worry! We're just joking.
We're not talking about anything crazy. But this is another great tip that'll give your hands something to do, and help you focus on something other than the dreaded camera that's pointing your way.
We're talking about your phone, your purse, a photo book - or even a coffee cup! You can play around with how you hold them, finding the best angles for you. Using these items will immediately make your photos feel more natural and less staged.
Who doesn't love a good pet picture? If you're still at a loss with what to do, or you're looking for something more natural, pose with your pooch, pick up your cat, or roll out the hamster ball. Not only will you end up with some great, candid shots, but you'll also be creating memories with your furry friends.
Tip Five - Elongate the Neck
Why is it that even with the pose down, sometimes we always seem to end up with scrunched-up necks and that dreaded (dare we say it) double chin on show? Luckily, there's a simple way to fix it.
All it takes are a few directions.
1. Put your chin forward and tilt it down
Be aware, this pose will probably feel very uncomfortable and unnatural, but it just means you're doing it right. No matter how awkward you feel at the time, you'll end up with a good-looking photo.
2. Put the tongue on the roof of your mouth
Sounds strange, doesn't it? But this is also another quick tip to help elongate your neck.
Tip Six - Get Moving
Standing still can feel super awkward, whether you're striking that perfect pose or not. Sometimes it's just hard to get the rigidity out of our muscles and create something natural. That's why one of the top tips from professional photographers is to move - especially if you're looking for a more candid shot.
Take a few steps forward. This is also known as the "Fake Model Walk". When the photo is taken mid-walk, it'll help create something more natural.
Make sure your arms are loose. Let them float naturally beside you with each turn. If you're wearing a dress, this will look even better. You'll be able to capture the flowing movement of the dress with this action. Get those Goddess vibes.
Tip Seven - Create Shapes
Always aim to create shapes in your poses. And no, we're not talking about octagons or hexagons, and you don't have to dig out the Twister mat.
Let's get technical. Finding shapes will help you create negative space, which will then detract from the width of whoever's in the photo. Still with us? Let us show you how…
Look for triangle shapes
Women should always be on the lookout to create triangle shapes because they're seen as the most feminine. Putting your hand on your hip and turning slightly towards the camera will help create that perfect triangle shape.
Tip Eight - Find that Perfect Smile
We know, we know. Sometimes we hate smiling too. But revealing those pearly whites will just make everything feel so much more natural, and create the perfect, radiant photo you've been looking for.
Give a fake laugh
If your smile feels too stiff or unnatural, this is a great way to draw out something more candid. It should be easier than you think - after all, we've all suffered through a bad joke with a fake smile.
Attention, husbands! If you're behind the camera, make 'em laugh This will reveal the teeth and create a beautiful shot.
Tip Nine - Extenuate Limbs and Curves
Okay, so we may have mentioned this briefly earlier, but there's a reason for that. It's probably the most important tip on this list, and you won't want to forget about it. Trust us.
Find that 'S' shape. It'll make every single photo you take look so much more feminine and professional.
Don't forget what we said earlier! Tilt the foot slightly to avoid that tightrope look.
What we might have forgotten to mention is that not only will this start to create that stunning 's' shape, but it'll also elongate your leg. Elongating your limbs will help achieve a more feminine and professional-looking picture.
Rest your hand on your leg and bend the below slightly - this is the second part of the 's' shape.
If you're bending your right elbow, roll back your left, and vice versa. This is the final step to achieving that perfect 's' shape.
Tip Ten - Use the Chin-to-Shoulder Method
This is a great technique if you're standing to the side of the camera, but need to turn your head towards it. The wide-eyed look this pose creates can run the risk of you looking like…
Well, an owl.
But don't worry; here's how you can fix that.
1. Fold your arms
That avoids any of those limp arms we mentioned before. Play around with the placing of your hand; put it on your shoulder, arm, or torso.
Hey husbands - us again! If you're behind the camera, you'll have a good idea of which hand placements look better. Get her to try out a few different things and judge which one looks the best. No pressure.
2. Tuck your chin into your shoulder
Kind of like you're giving yourself a well-deserved hug. Be careful not to tuck too much, though - you don't want to look like you're hiding! (Even those of you who're camera shy). This will immediately get rid of any startled owl-like looks.
So, there you have it. Ten tips and tricks to help you take the perfect picture any time, with any camera. Capture the perfect photo worry-free.
Save all your new found pictures into your own custom photo book, with Printed Memories. Click here to build your first book today.


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American Way / January 2016
What strikes you first are the red-pink sunsets, the vast open spaces, the jagged mountains, the beautifully twisted saguaro cactuses, the overwhelmingly brilliant light. Ever since it was founded in the 1860s, Phoenix has faced the prospect of being permanently overshadowed by its natural surroundings. Here, after all, was a hot and dusty settlement whose developers long maintained a steadfast commitment to selling the concept of suburban expansion. "Forget the city," they seemed to be saying. "Choose cheap land, open space, easy living."
National Geographic Traveler / November 2015
On a wintry day in Kallio, a bohemian neighborhood in Helsinki, a group of Finns huddle outside on wooden benches, clad only in towels, steam rising from their bodies, drinking beer, relaxed. This is the conclusion of their ritual at Kotiharjun Sauna, a wood-heated sauna built in 1928 for local factory workers. Here and everywhere in Finland, Finns take their sauna experience seriously.
Smithsonian Magazine online: November 2014
On November 25, 1963, the nation's gaze was transfixed by the horse-drawn caisson and final burial of President John F. Kennedy. But in the shadow of this grim but stirring procession—on that same Monday—Lee Harvey Oswald was quietly buried in Fort Worth, Texas.
Oswald's wife Marina, two daughters, brother Robert and mother Marguerite were the only mourners. The public was prohibited from Rose Hill Cemetery, and no friends or other relatives showed up. To avoid argument, the gravediggers were told they were digging a hole for "William Bobo."
July 19, 2013, The New Yorker online
In 1942, at the New York mansion of the American industrialist John Pierpont Morgan, crowds filed past a large mural titled "Automatic Hitler-Kicking Machine," which depicted a complex and satisfying contraption involving a cat, a mouse, a stripteaser, and the Führer. It was the first solo exhibition of the inventor and cartoonist Reuben Lucius "Rube" Goldberg, who was, by then, already famous for designing overly complicated machines that fixed everyday problems with wit and madness. A decade earlier, in 1931, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary had listed "Rube Goldberg" as an adjective, defining it as "accomplishing by complex means what seemingly could be done simply."
Originally released November 2013, updated edition November 2023
This was his moment, the fulfillment of the Grand Plan. He had worked it out in his head: this would be his new beginning, a world where he could not be harmed, where workers were not treated like slaves, where there was no mother to bother him, and he could become the historical figure he knew he was. He was only twenty, a boy, a scared and lonely one, in fact, who barely left his hotel room upon landing in the capital of the Soviet Union.
A brief excerpt (Prometheus Books, July 2011)
It was a tiny speck in the black night sky, 560 miles from earth and traveling at a speed of 18,000 miles an hour. Sputnik 1, a shiny aluminum sphere about twice the size of a basketball and weighing just 184 pounds, rocketed into space on October 4, 1957. Launched by the Soviets, the silver satellite with four radio antennae ushered in the Space Age with a simple message: beep,beep, beep.
The New Republic, November 2013
It was a happy moment when twelve-year-old Lee Harvey Oswald and his half-brother, John Edward Pic, met up in the streets of New York in 1952. Born in New Orleans two months after his father died, Lee hadn't seen John in the two years since the latter left to join the Coast Guard. "I was real glad to see him and he was real glad to see me," recalled John, who was seven years older. "We were real good friends."
Forward Magazine, May/June 2013
For three months, 26-year-old Fan Meng pushed his wheelchair-bound mother nearly 3,500 kilometers from Beijing to Xishuangbanna in Yunnan province to fulfill her long-held dream of visiting the idyllic travel destination. This epic journey, widely covered last year by the Chinese media, is an inspiring tale that harked back six centuries to the beloved folk classic, The 24 Paragons of Filial Piety. Among its fables: The son who strangles a tiger to save his father and the 8-year-old who lets a swarm of mosquitoes bite him to protect his parents.
Four Seasons Magazine, Dec. 2012-Feb. 2013
In St. Petersburg's State Hermitage Museum, it's easy to drift into a dreamscape, to be overtaken by this mysterious palace of bygone eras, once home to Catherine the Great, Alexander I and Russia's last tsar, Nicholas II. Founded by Catherine in 1764 and first made public in 1852, this imperial museum is a singular expression of Baroque architecture and design, a gilded showcase of nearly incomprehensible wealth, beauty and artistic achievement.
Four Seasons Magazine, March 2012
He was the most famous man in Russia, the author of War and Peace, whose ornate life traversed a complex path from lustful aristocrat to spiritual leader. By 1882, the last thing 54-year-old Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy wanted was to live in Moscow and join his wife Sonya at fancy soirees. In a capital city defined by its grand scale and lively society, Tolstoy sought simplicity and quiet.
American Way cover story, Nov. 15, 2010
As I gaze in the distance, a hot blast of wind and dust whips across my face, clouding my vision. My eyes tear up as I strain to see. What is that scrawny creature tucked into the shadow? The blistering desert sun doesn't help. I move closer, then watch a gangly coyote emerge from the underbelly of an airplane fuselage and amble away. For just a moment, this seems like his natural habitat. A typical desert scene. Until I look around and regain my senses.
Four Seasons Magazine, 2009
Greg Mortenson married his wife six days after they met. He entrusted his fate to warring tribal leaders in Afghanistan, men who would be shooting at each other if he were not there. He has witnessed extreme poverty and fierce brutality, yet considers himself an eternal optimist and believes that paradise is on Earth.
American Way Magazine, 2009
When Jerry Stark was 28, he had been working on the General Motors assembly line in Kansas City for four years. The job was not resembling anything like a long-term plan, and Stark was unhappy. "I had no desire to work on the assembly line the rest of my life," he says. "It was just a job. I wanted something different."
The Ritz-Carlton Magazine, 2007
Nearing midnight, the city blanketed in snow, I barrel through the dark streets of Moscow in a brand-new black Mercedes, the passenger of a wealthy Russian businessman determined to show me the high-flying shape of post-Soviet life. It's December 1992. "I used to be followed by the KGB," he says. "Now 12 of them work for me." He laughs proudly, and hands me his new cell phone. "Go ahead, call your fiancée in Finland." As I punch in the number, a blizzard of white swirling around us, I make out the glow of a red star above the Kremlin.
Twenty years ago, I took my chance to live and work in London. Armed with a precious year-long research pass to the British Library, I visited its main Reading Room, housed inside the British Museum, nearly every day. This was heaven for a writer: I would enter the Reading Room's massive, high-domed circular space lined with books, hear the hushed sounds of movement, breathe in the sweet and musty smells of the room's long-stored tomes, and let a magnificent rush of history wash over me.
The New Republic, 1995
When Mats Dummel fell, there was a big noise in Finland. Headlines, debate, a court verdict of high treason. He had passed letters from Denmark to a Russian 'friend,' and was found guily in 1982 of spying for the Soviets. He lost his TV reporting job, his family, his apartment. He went to prison in 1984 for four months. He didn't know what hit him.
The Ritz-Carlton Magazine, 2009
Whimsically idiosyncratic, Mark Twain's 19-room red brick Victorian mansion was, by the author's own account, the site of his happiest and most productive years. Completed in 1874 and designed for Twain, wife Livy and their three daughters, the house is topped by asymmetrical chimneys, gables and towers. Much like the author's writing, it is experimental and modern, both outside and in. Among its progressive features: seven bathrooms with flush toilets and one of the first telephones installed in a private home.


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But why is it green? Spirulina!
What is spirulina? A herb? A green leafy vegetable? One of the most nutrient-rich foods on earth?
Spirulina belongs to the bacteria kingdom, not the plant kingdom. Although widely called blue-green algae, it's a cyanobacteria (meaning blue bacteria) and is partly responsible for producing the oxygen in the planet's atmosphere. Spirulina grows naturally in the wild in warm, fresh water lakes and is also cultivated and harvested in man-made reservoirs.
Spirulina has between 55 and 70 per cent protein (more than beef, chicken, and soybeans), eight essential and 10 non-essential amino acids, as well as high levels of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), beta-carotene, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, vitamin B12, iron, calcium, phosphorus, nucleic acids RNA and DNA, chlorophyll, and phycocyanin, a pigment-protein complex that is found only in blue-green algae.
This vibrant ingredient provides a wide range of health benefits including an energy boost and reduced fatigue. It helps improve the immune system, and provides exceptional support for the heart, liver, and kidneys. Spirulina is also a natural detoxifier, oxygenating the blood, and helping cleanse the body of toxins and other impurities that may be causing illnesses or other health complications.
Spirulina is also a natural appetite suppressant and helps to improve the body's digestive system. It contains powerful antioxidant properties to balance the body's pH, thereby reducing inflammation throughout the body, as well as improve your immune system and brain function.
And there's even more good news! Whether you freeze it, refrigerate it, leave it at room temperature, or process it, you will still get all of its nutrients.
almond milk
hemp seed
bee pollen
Blend spinach, avocado, pineapple, banana, maca, spirulina and almond milk until smooth. Sprinkle hemp seed, coconut and bee pollen on top and add sliced banana and pineapple. Enjoy!


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St. Anne (St. Ann)
St. Anne, or Ann is the mother of Mary. There is not much history passed down concerning the life of St. Ann. It is speculated that St. Ann lived a simple life of poverty and purity as an Essene. St. Ann was visited by an Angel, who announced that she would give birth to Mary the Mother of God despite being sterile. The believed relics of St. Ann were brought from the Holy Land to Constantinople in 710. St. Ann is the patroness of housekeepers and mothers. Her feast day is celebrated on July 26th.


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OK! Giveaway: Win Andy Grammer Concert Tickets!
Feb. 4 2015, Updated 5:22 p.m. ET
If you're a fan of Andy Grammer and Alex & Sierra, you're in luck because you can with concert tickers on OKMagazine.com!
The "Honey, I'm Good" singer will co-headline a tour with Alex & Sierra, kicking off in Seattle on Feb. 24.
The singer/songwriter's hit song is currently the #28 track on the iTunes Pop chart!
OKMagazine.com will be awarding two grand prize winners and two VIP winners with Andy Grammer goods!
Grand prize winners will receive: a t-shirt, an autographed cd, two show tickets to market of winner's choice and two VIP passes.
VIP winners will receive two GA tickets to any of his shows. The contest starts Monday, February 2nd and ends February 15th 11:59 EST.
To enter, tweet @OKMagazine the amount of couples in his video you spot with #AndyGrammer. Correct answers only win! Good luck!
ANDY GRAMMER + ALEX & SIERRA Tour
February 2015
24 – Seattle, WA The Showbox
25 – Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
26 – San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
27 – Anaheim, CA House of Blues
28 – Anaheim, CA House of Blues (SOLD OUT)
March 2015
1 – Tempe, AZ The Marquee
3 – Houston, TX House of Blues
4 – Dallas, TX House of Blues
5 - New Orleans, LA House of Blues
6 - Pensacola, FL Vinyl Music Hall
7 - Tampa, FL The Orpheum
8 – Orlando, FL The Beacham
10 – Charleston, SC Music Farm
11 – Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre
12 – Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
13 – Charlotte, NC The Fillmore
14 – Silver Spring, MD The Fillmore
15 – Pittsburgh, PA The Altar Bar
18 – Portland, ME Port City Music Hall
19 – Boston, MA House of Blues
20 – New York, NY Webster Hall
21 – Philadelphia, PA Theatre of The Living Arts
22 – Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse
25 – Cincinnati, OH 20th Century Theatre
26 – Pontiac, MI The Crofoot
27 – Chicago, IL House of Blues
28 – St. Louis, MO Old Rock House
29 – Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater
31 – Englewood, CO Gothic Theater
April 2015
1 – Salt Lake City, UT The Complex
3 – West Hollywood, CA House of Blues


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Danbury Mayor Talks Renovation Of Hearthstone Castle + COVID-19
There's always a lot of things happening in the City of Danbury, and every week Mayor Mark Boughton fills us in on what's going on.
This week the Mayor talks about a small COVID-19 spike, and the renovation of Hearthstone Castle at Tarrywile Park.
So I heard there was a small up-tick in COVID-19 cases, what can you tell us about this weeks numbers?
"We had a busy weekend, and our COVID numbers were up a bit as of Saturday, but you can't always go by a single days numbers, but what it does show us is the numbers have plateaued, and now we really have to work to get the numbers down. Once the numbers start dropping and get to a percentage of about one percent, we can start opening some of the things people have been concerned about, like schools. The school sports issue is being handled by the Connecticut Department of Health, and the CIAC, the city has nothing to do with that. Once we can get our numbers down we can start doing the re-opening of schools again. We are taking direction from our doctors and from our health director. We know that wearing a mask is the best vaccine you can have, despite what some people will tell you. It's important, and it works. Within the next week and a half we'll be doing an evaluation on the schools, and if things seem good and we're at the percentage we want to be, and our doctor approves it, we'll then move to a hybrid form. We need about two weeks, so the re-opening would take place in the mid part of October".
There's something else happening in the city and that's the renovation of Hearthstone Castle at Tarrywile Park.
"I am so excited about this project. It was hard to understand and conceptualize while the place was so full of junk, but we've got it cleaned out, and are in the process of stabilizing the walls, and then what I think we're going to do is fill the basement in and build an observation tower inside the castle. Once it's complete, you'll be able to go into the castle, head up a set of steel stairs to an observation deck that will be above the castle, there you'll be able to get a nice 360 degree view of the City of Danbury. It's about as good of use that you ever going to have of that facility, and hikers for generations will be able to enjoy it. The project won't be done this fall, figure the fall of 2021".