text:
Heat Pumps Repair & Installation
Don't let the name fool you. These units pull from the ground or outside air temperature to both heat and cool your home to perfection. Managing the temperature of your home with a heat pump is a reliable, efficient choice. Simply put, a heat pump is a device that uses a small amount of energy to move heat from one location to another. Heat pumps are typically used to pull heat out of the air or ground to heat a home or office building, but they can be reversed to cool a building.
Save money throughout both the summer and the winter by ensuring your heat pump is operating at maximum efficiency. For heat pump repair, replacement, or maintenance, call the experts at Sedgwick!952-881-9000
Heat Pump Services
Heat pumps ensure your HVAC system is energy efficient, saving you money. Make sure your heat pump is operating properly: call Sedgwick today! Whether you need an assessment, repair, or replacement, we're the experts!
Repair Services
When you need your heat pump repaired, Sedgwick will send one of our highly trained service technicians to your home and perform a full equipment inspection, including a diagnostic test.
Our technicians are well trained in isolating the equipment issues. Once he or she has determined the issue with your heat pump, our technician will work quickly to restore the heat pump to proper working order.
Sedgwick technicians are properly supplied with parts to service nearly every repair; we usually have the necessary part right on the service truck. If the correct part is not on the truck, we will work to find it locally, so we can return to your home later for a same-day repair. Most of our repair service calls are finished on the same day.
If we do not have the needed part or we cannot find it locally, Sedgwick will order it for you and set up a return visit to finish restoring your heat pump at no extra cost.
Maintenance Services
Regardless of the brand, year or model of your current heat pump, and no matter if you purchased it from Sedgwick, we will gladly send one of our specialists to your home to service your equipment right away.
Our one-time maintenance service consists of a precision tune-up and complete safety check on your heat equipment.
At Sedgwick, we have constantly have your comfort in mind. If you would prefer a continual maintenance service, we do offer yearly plans for your convenience. By signing up for our annual maintenance plan, you could even get a discount on any new equipment.
Installation Replacement Services
You can purchase the best heat pump on the market, but if it is improperly installed, you could be faced with a useless piece of equipment or, more importantly, a safety hazard in your home.
Sedgwick installation technicians are well trained and have over 50 years worth of installation and replacement service experience. No matter the brand or model, our specialists can install heat pumps in any type of home or interior setting.
Sedgwick does subcontract electrical services, but we never subcontract our projects to other companies. We guarantee your heat pump will work safely, efficiently, and last for many years.
Schedule Appointment
Get a FREE Estimate!
Privacy note: All submitted information will only be shared with Sedgwick HVAC. See our full Privacy Policy.


text:
- Description
About This Game
Cities: Skylines is a modern take on the classic city simulation. The game introduces new game play elements to realize the thrill and hardships of creating and maintaining a real city whilst expanding on some well-established tropes of the city building experience.
From the makers of the Cities in Motion franchise, the game boasts a fully realized transport system. It also includes the ability to mod the game to suit your play style as a fine counter balance to the layered and challenging simulation. You're only limited by your imagination, so take control and reach for the sky!
Main features:
Multi-tiered and challenging simulation:
Constructing your city from the ground up is easy to learn, but hard to master. Playing as the mayor of your city you'll be faced with balancing essential requirements such as education, water electricity, police, fire fighting, healthcare and much more along with your citys real economy system. Citizens within your city react fluidly, with gravitas and with an air of authenticity to a multitude of game play scenarios.
Extensive local traffic simulation:
Colossal Orders extensive experience developing the Cities in Motion series is fully utilized in a fully fleshed out and well-crafted
Districts and Policies:
Be more than just an administrator from city hall. Designating parts of your city as a district results in the application of policies which results in you rising to the status of Mayor for your own city.
Utilize the Day and Night Cycle:
The city changes during the hours of the day and affects citizen schedules. Traffic is visibly slower at night and some zoned areas do not work with full efficiency. This expansion will put you in control of managing the different aspects of the day and night cycles.
Extensive modding support:
Build or improve on existing maps and structures. You can then import them into the game, share them as well as download the creations of other city builders on the Steam workshop.
- Additional Information
Additional Information
Period of Validity No EAN No Download introduction
THE DOWNLOAD METHODS AND STEPS: a) Download steam: http://store.steampowered.com/about/?l=english On the left you are going to find the button: "Install Steam Now". Just click and a pop-up will appear, where you can download Steam. b) Install Steam: Double-click on the downloaded file: SteamInstall.msi Follow the instructions during installation. Important: choose the language steam will be available to you (just select the field in front of your country language selection). Steam will be installed... c) Setup your Steam Account After Steam installation a new window opens: "Open new account" or "log into existing account". If you don´t have a Steam account, please click on "open new account". Read the terms & conditions, accept bei clicking "I agree". Registering a Steam-account is for free! Follow further instructions (setup account name and password). After setting up your account name and password and providing a valid email address, your Steam-account has been opened. The program can be found in the tray-icon and is normally located on the right bottom of the task or symbol bar. d) Register the game at Steam The Steam window shows several tabs on top, one of the tab shows "Games". Please click on "my game" and two new buttons appear on the buttom: "add a non-steam game" and "Register a product at Steam"... Please keep your CD-Key available and click at "Register a product at Steam" and follow the instructions. e) Download the game If your key has been entered successful, the game will be listed below "Games" with the status "install". Klick on the game and the Download will start immediately. The game will be installed and it will start automatically.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Welcome to the 50 Treasures of Kenya website - your new travel and information hub on Kenya!
On the occasion of the Republic of Kenya's 50th Anniversary of Independence, we proudly present to you one Treasure of Kenya's natural and cultural heritage for each year of independence.
Besides numerous images from all over the country, you will also find plenty of travel information and tips.
In this sense, we wish you an interesting and exciting virtual safari through Kenya!
In conjunction with various other stakeholders, the Trust drives the 'Treasure Kenya!' Campaign which reaches out to Kenyans and people abroad. It comprises of social media activities and events...


text:
Built on the SpringCM Platform
Configure and go live in days, not weeks.
* Merge fields from form data or Salesforce fields to MS Word Templates
** Additional fees may apply
In addition to the Professional Edition, Enterprise provides advanced functionality to fully streamline the process around your contracts and documents.
** Additional fees may apply
SpringCM contracts are billed annually. Your success is our top priority and we want to encourage adoption that helps perfect your business processes. While we've found that our smooth implementation and intuitive solutions deliver ROI within the first month, users who make a long-term commitment to SpringCM achieve the greatest results.
Yes. All new SpringCM customers need to buy services to get started on the right foot. We work together to determine business processes, configure solutions to your business needs, train administrators and end users, as well as conduct a post-launch review 30 days after go-live to ensure strong user adoption. The process is also extensible, which allows you to easily add new document or contract types or more complex routing and approval logic, which means your solution can grow as your business grows.
Call us at 888-239-8127.
No matter where you are in the process of researching, selecting or adopting a contract management solution, our 2017 State of Contract Management report will provide you with context for comparing your business to others, and give you crucial insights to plan your next steps on your journey to optimizing your contract management process.


text:
It is pretty much the consensus amongst climate economists that the expected economic impact of climate change is a loss of only a couple percent (see Tol 2009 and IPCC). Mean IPCC forecasts of a few degrees of warming, a few inches of sea level rise, etc. harm some economies but help others. The net effect is small.
However, a number of prominent economists, like Krugman and Weitzman have argued that though the mean estimates are small, it is the black swans in the tails that we should be wary of. The small but non-negligible unquantifiable risk of catastrophe (antarctic melting, irreversible tipping points, reversal of ocean currents, etc.) means that we should essentially buy insurance, implementing cap and trade and other measures to curtail emissions.
My problem with this argument is that there are lots of small but real unquantifiable risks of catastrophe:
My problem with this argument is that there are lots of small but real unquantifiable risks of catastrophe:
- A flu/TB pandemic that decimates the human population.
- Terrorist sparked nuclear armageddon
- Persistent global Depression due to financial system collapse
- Asteroid impact extinction level event
- Computers become sentient and try to exterminate humanity
- Alien Invasion
Bring in a few hollywood screenwriters and I'm sure they can come up with 100 more. If we spend 1% of GDP on each, that's pretty much everything. What makes climate change deserve so much attention? The science that climate change will have some effect is quite strong, but the science of climate change induced catastrophe is not so well established.


text:
Information on the Issues
2017 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011
Chamber Biz...Update from South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
Added on: June 7, 2012
More Information >> http://data.scchamber.net/CBizMobileText.aspx
Upstate Chamber Coalition Legislative Update
Added on: June 5, 2012
More Information >> http://www.upstatechamber.org/weekly-update-6112.php
Competitiveness Update
Added on: June 5, 2012
More Information >> http://capwiz.com/scchamber/utr/1/DWRIRUKHEU/FUFWRUKHHL/8354012566
Upstate Chamber Coalition Legislative Update
Added on: March 30, 2012
More Information >> http://www.upstatechamber.org/weekly-update-33012.php
SC Chamber Competitiveness Update
Added on: March 30, 2012
Update from Upstate Chamber Coalition
Added on: March 27, 2012
More Information >> http://www.upstatechamber.org/weekly-update-32312.php
SC Competitiveness Update
Added on: March 27, 2012
More Information >> http://www.scchamber.net/UserFiles/scchcom/Documents/Advocacy/Competitiveness%20Update/CU_3-23-2012Web.pdf
House Approves State Budget
Added on: March 20, 2012
Tax relief, port dredging, teacher raises included in a balanced budget
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The House of Representatives approved a balanced 2012-2013 general fund state budget today, sending more than $600 million in tax relief, prioritizing teacher raises, and adhering to the House's spending limit legislation.
The highlight of the budget is an increase of the "base student cost" to $2,012 in 2012, sending more money down to our state's classrooms. That increase is designated to give teachers their first pay raise in four years. The budget also sets aside $180 million to dredge the Port of Charleston to assist with economic expansion. It also includes funding for 50 new state law enforcement officers and fully funds the reserve fund requirements approved by voters in 2008.
Other budget items of note:
· The total General Fund budget (recurring and non-recurring) is $6.5 billion.
· The total budget from all funds (general fund, federal, and "other") is $23.3 billion.
· There is $549 million in the budget for property tax relief for homeowners.
· The budget includes $77 million in unemployment tax relief for businesses.
· Funded Medicaid at current levels.
· Budget growth falls nearly 1% below the spending cap approved by the House last year.
· More than 50 agencies are funded at or below last year's levels.
· Since the GOP took control of the House in 1994, we have cut the number of funded state employee positions by 15%.
Update from Rita Allison
Added on: March 20, 2012
The 2012/2013 State Appropriations Bill was given 3rd Reading in the SC House this Thursday, March 15, 2012. It will now go to the Senate for debate.
Below are some key points concerning the House Budget:
Total Budget
General Fund (Part 1A) expenditures - $5,978,786,084
Total Budget (Recurring, Nonrecurring, Federal, Other, and CRF) - $23 billion
Reserve Accounts
A total of $573 million is placed into reserve accounts
o Nearly $400 million in Constitutionally and Statutorily required reserve accounts (General Reserve Fund and Capital Reserve Fund)
o $180 million in the Charleston Harbor Deepening Reserve Fund
State Employee Pay Raise
Granted at 2% state employee pay raise - $28.25 million.
Added an additional $152 million to K-12 education to increase the Base Student Cost to $2,012 per student.
By proviso, the districts are directed to insure that the additional funding will be used to provide district staff with pay increases.
Health Care
Fully funded the Medicaid program's Maintenance of Effort which allows the program to continue to offer services at the current level.
Restored over $18 million in funding to the Department of Mental Health.
Provided $3.6 million to Vocational Rehabilitation to nearly fully match federal funds available.
Economic Development
Provided $77 million worth of tax relief to businesses across the State by contributing funds to repay the SUTA debt. (State Unemployment Debt)
This $77 million means all businesses in SC will see an average savings in their UI taxes of 12.3% or $51.11 per worker.
Funded programs that have proven successful in helping put people back to work:
Over $24 million to help train workers through the ReadySC program at the Technical Colleges.
Increased funding for the Deal Closing fund at the Department of Commerce by $10 million on the line with the positional to direct an additional $30 million to the Closing Fund by proviso.
Increased funding for the Destination Specific tourism advertising program. This is a public/private partnership that has been proven successful in boosting South Carolina's tourism economy.
Law Enforcement
Over $21 million in new money to the State's two primary law enforcement departments (SLED, Department of Public Safety).
Provided an additional 3% pay raise for class one officers at DNR, DPS, and PPP - a total raise of 5%.
Local Government Fund
Like 50 other state agencies the Local Government Fund was not provided any additional funds - the fund remains at the current level of $182 million.
In the coming weeks the SC House will be debating the SC Retirement Legislation, the Department of Administration Legislation and the Public/Private Choice Legislation.
I will be filing for re-election to the SC House on Friday, March 16th at 12:00 noon. I appreciate the support you have given me over these last two years and I look forward to continuing to serve you and the State of South Carolina with good conservative government. We are moving forward in South Carolina with new jobs, less government, tax reform, good education for all students, and an a atmosphere of transparency and accountability. You are why I serve and I welcome your input, ideas and concerns at all times. My experience is used to serve you in an effective and meaningful way.
April 12th is the 60 day window for putting campaign signs up, except on private property. If you would honor me with putting a yard sign in your yard, or if you have an area to put up a large sign….please email or call me and we will have one delivered to you. I thank you in advance for this consideration.
Because I care,
Legislative Update from Tommy Stringer
Added on: March 20, 2012
Hello all,
Last week was very busy with the budget debate and the introduction of the tax reform bills. I have posted several articles on these issues to my website that you might of interest.
My website can be found at www.tommystringer.com.
I appreciate the opportunity to represent you all.
Best Regards, Tommy
Legislative Update
Added on: March 20, 2012
More Information >> http://www.upstatechamber.org/weekly-update-31612.php
SC Competitiveness Update
Added on: March 20, 2012
More Information >> http://www.scchamber.net/UserFiles/scchcom/Documents/Advocacy/Competitiveness%20Update/CU_3-16-2012Web.pdf
Upstate likely to feel power shift in Senate
Added on: March 15, 2012
The Upstate's influence could grow as the result of Tuesday's leadership changes in the South Carolina Senate, some senators and political observers say.
While much of Tuesday's political drama concerned the elevation of Sen. Glenn McConnell of Charleston to lieutenant governor and the election of Sen. John Courson of Columbia as president pro tempore, three Senate committees changed chairmen, based on seniority.
Sen. Larry Martin of Pickens, the former chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, became chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, while Sen. Jake Knotts of Lexington County becomes chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and Sen. Billy Odell of Ware Shoals becomes chairman of the Senate Invitations Committee.
Martin said he believes he is the first senator from the Greenville-Pickens area, perhaps from the Upstate, to serve as chairman of the judiciary committee, one of the Senate's two most powerful panels.
"Obviously the influence of the Upstate I think, will be more greatly felt from the standpoint that we've never had someone in that position," Martin told GreenvilleOnline.com.
Chip Felkel, a Greenville Republican political consultant, agreed.
"Certainly it gives the Upstate some added juice, if you will, that it may have been lacking on the Senate side for a while," he said. "Just about everything has to come through judiciary so I think that goes a long way toward helping us regain some of that lost clout."
That clout at one time included legislators such as former U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins, who served as House speaker, former House Speaker Rex Carter of Greenville, the late House Speaker Pro Tempore Terry Haskins and the late Sen. Verne Smith of Greer, one of the Senate's ranking Republicans at the time he resigned due to poor health.
Governors from the Upstate's included former Gov. Dick Riley, a Democrat, and the late Carroll Campbell, a Republican.
Upstate powers
In addition to Martin, five other chairmanships belong to Upstate senators: Sen. David Thomas of Fountain Inn, chairman of the Banking and Insurance Committee; Sen. Mike Fair of Greenville, chairman of the Corrections and Penology Committee; Sen. Danny Verdin of Laurens, chairman of the Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee; Sen. Thomas Alexander of Walhalla, chairman of the General Committee; and Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler of Gaffney, who chairs the Medical Affairs Committee.
Peeler lost to Courson for president pro tempore by a vote of 27-17 Tuesday.
In the House, Rep. Bruce Bannister of Greenville serves as assistant House majority leader, Rep. Brian White of Anderson is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. William Sandifer of Seneca is chairman of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, Rep. Phil Owens of Easley is chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee and Rep. Garry Smith of Simpsonville is chairman of the House Operations and Management Committee.
Thomas said Martin's chairmanship is almost as big for the Upstate as when Wilkins became speaker.
He said it means so much because in the Senate, a chairmanship is obtained by seniority, meaning that it takes a long time to earn and a chairman cannot be replaced unless he or she leaves office.
'Major move'
"This is a major move for us," he said. "We've looked for this for a long time."
Tuesday's reshuffling of Senate leadership posts was the result of the resignation of former Lt. Gov. Ken Ard last week.
Ard resigned before State Attorney General Alan Wilson announced he had been indicted on seven counts of ethics violations related to his campaign fund.
Ard was sentenced Friday to five years probation and 300 hours community service.
The state's constitution says the Senate's president pro tempore is next in line if the lieutenant governor leaves office.
But that did not make the choice easy for McConnell, the Senate's top leader since 2001 who had dreaded the scenario of being forced to leave his post for the much less powerful lieutenant governor's job.
On Tuesday, senators, some with emotion in their voices, walked to the podium in a packed chamber that included Gov. Nikki Haley, to praise McConnell's act and service.
South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal, who administered the oath to McConnell Tuesday, praised McConnell for agreeing to become lieutenant governor, lauding his "courage, integrity and intense sense of responsibility."
She called McConnell "our bright and shining star."
McConnell said giving up his Senate seat was "a sad moment for me."
"Today we remind the public that oaths of office matter," McConnell told the Senate, "and people should and can expect that whoever takes the oath of office as president pro tempore will do as they swore to do and fulfill the constitutional duty of becoming lieutenant governor, if there is a permanent vacancy."
Update from Rita Allison
Added on: March 13, 2012
A bill designed to fix SC's pension system was approved this week in full committee and will be heading to the House floor for debate after the budget week. About 220,000 public workers are affected. The bill requires newly hired employees to work an additional two years to collect full retirement benefits, while current employees could still retire after 28 years. It requires workers to contribute more towards their retirement; increasing the contribution from 6.5 percent of their salary to 7.5 percent, phasing in over two years. A bipartisan panel crafted this plan over months of deliberation. It will likely be amended as it travels through the House and Senate process.
While many people around the state have been calling for reform of the SC Department of Transportation to stay on the front burner, the flame was doused this week. The DOT reform legislation was kicked back to committee after heated floor debate. It's unlikely we see it again this session. The SCDOT needs reforming, but we must make sure that we do not make a bad system, worse in the process of reform. This week Gov. Haley met privately with House Republicans expressing her desire to work with us to accomplish major reform. The next day she used a different approach. The Governor delivered a speech accusing the House GOP Caucus of not acting like Republicans because budget writers rejected her proposal to cut taxes by $140 million. There was swift reaction from Speaker Bobby Harrell: "The truth is, we have cut taxes over $20 billion since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives, and this year's budget has over $500 million in tax relief. But we are also acting like South Carolinians by protecting our state's ports and funding $180 million to deepen the Charleston Harbor. This is contrary to Governor Haley and her DHEC Board and the state of Georgia over the Savannah River dredging. We understand what is important to Republicans, and we understand what is important to South Carolinians."
The SC House Budget will be debated on the floor this week. It will likely take the full week, as we vote on each line item in the budget. This is a part of the Transparency Law. To watch us go to www.scstatehouse.gov.
The House Ways and Means Committee approved the Public/Private home-grown school choice bill on a vote of 16-8. It was a major step for H.4894 which primarily supports low-income students and students with exceptional needs. The plan offers tax credit funded scholarships for those children to attend the independent school of their parents' choice. Tax deductions are offered to parents who send their child to an independent school, home-school or send their child across district lines. Schools accepting these students much post their test scores on line and meet the graduation requirements. House debate will come in the weeks following the budget.
S.C. has open primary elections allowing voters to cross-over to vote in opposing parties primaries. That would change with the passage of H.3110 which would require party registration to vote in partisan primary. Thirty states currently have closed or semi-closed partisan primaries.
The full House approved the bill (H.4451) that bans texting while driving. The bill calls for violators to receive stiff fines, particularly if they are in an accident with injuries while texting. SC is one of only 8 states with no statewide texting while driving ban. The bill now goes to the Senate.
Another House committee has approved the bill to ban teens from "sexting". The Judiciary Committee voted to send the bill to the House floor. Teens 16 and under could be fined $100 if they forward a "sext."
The South Carolina Department of Commerce has launched a new service called the SC Business Network at SCBizNetwork.com. The service provides 24-7 resources to small businesses and entrepreneurs interested in turning their business concepts into reality. Its goal is to be a web hub of information and resources to better serve the small business community and unleash the job-creating power of entrepreneurs.
Because I care,
SC Competitiveness Update
Added on: March 13, 2012
More Information >> http://www.scchamber.net/UserFiles/scchcom/Documents/Advocacy/Competitiveness%20Update/CU_3-9-2012Web.pdf
Update from Upstate Chamber Coalition
Added on: March 13, 2012
More Information >> http://www.upstatechamber.org/weekly-update-3912.php
Washington Update
Added on: March 8, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Poinsett Club Greenville, SC
Noon-1:00 pm
Registration & networking will begin at 11:30 am
Seating is limited. Register here today!
Update from Rita Allison
Added on: March 5, 2012
Legislation to reform the state retirement system will soon be dropped in the SC House. An ad-hoc committee made up of House and Senate members have been working on solutions to reduce its $13 billion deficit. The proposal calls for state workers to pay an extra 1% from each paycheck into the retirement fund - an average increase of $408 a year. Current employees will see little change, but new hires would have to work 30 years, or reach age 65 with five years of service, in order to retire with benefits. Additionally, new hires would be ineligible for the TERI program, the controversial program that allows employees to retire and receive benefits while still working. All of the changes would apply to members of the S.C. Retirement System, the largest of the state's five pension systems, which includes state employees, local government employees and teachers. Police officers, firefighters and other law enforcement officers have their own retirement system.
The S.C. House members joined in overturning the Governor's veto of a resolution concerning port expansion. The vote was 111 to 1. Yesterday, the Senate also voted unanimously to overturn her veto. The resolution becomes law.
The bill to ban teens from "sexting" cleared its first legislative hurdle this week. Teens 16 and under could be fined $100 if they forward to others a "sext." The boy or girl who sends or receives the "sext" would not be penalized. But if they forward it on to a third party, they could be fined by a Family Court judge.
The SC House will take up the Budget the week of March 12th. Many of the highlights of the House budget include raises for public employees, including teachers and certain law enforcement officers. Medicaid will be funded to maintain services at the current level. Funds will be provided for workforce training and reducing the unemployment debt. $180 million will be set aside for deepening of the Charleston Harbor and $30 million will go to County Transportation Committees to maintain road infrastructure. We have fully funded state reserve funds and provided $182 million to local governments.
I welcome your input, ideas and concerns. Please call on me anytime! You are why I serve and it has never been more important to get the full information and true facts, than in today's world of "special interest."
Because I care,
SC Competiveness Update
Added on: March 5, 2012
More Information >> http://www.scchamber.net/UserFiles/scchcom/Documents/Advocacy/Competitiveness%20Update/CU_3-2-2012-Web.pdf
Upstate Chamber Coalition Weekly Update
Added on: March 5, 2012
More Information >> http://www.upstatechamber.org/weekly-update-3212.php
SC Competitiveness Update
Added on: February 17, 2012
More Information >> http://www.scchamber.net/UserFiles/scchcom/Documents/Advocacy/Competitiveness%20Update/CU_2-10-2012Web.pdf
ChamberBiz - S.C. Chamber Taking the Fight to Big Labor
Added on: February 17, 2012
More Information >> http://data.scchamber.net/CBizMobileText.aspx
Legislatve Update from Tommy Stringer
Added on: February 17, 2012
Hello all,
I have posted several articles to my website describing my efforts over the last few weeks.
In addition to my regular weekly updates, you might find the following of interest -
SC K-12 Education Statistics - I personally compiled these from the National Center for Education Statistics.
SC Benefit Corporation Act - An innovative bill that encourages increased corporate support of charities.
The Official SC House GOP Agenda - A further description of tax reform, pension reform and right-to-work efforts.
I appreciate the opportunity to represent you all.
Best Regards,
Upstate from Rita Allison
Added on: February 14, 2012
The top item on this year's Majority Caucus agenda is systemic tax reform. The committee, which I served on and met during the interim without compensation, focused on creating a fairer tax code and examined each of the sales tax exemptions on their merit. It then searched the tax code for ways we could be fairer to taxpayers and stimulate the economy. The legislation being written will eliminate nearly two-thirds of the special interest sales tax exemptions, flatten income taxes, lower the sales tax, reform property taxes, and lower burdensome taxes on small businesses.
SC Competitiveness Update
Added on: February 3, 2012
More Information >> http://www.scchamber.net/UserFiles/scchcom/Documents/Advocacy/Competitiveness%20Update/CU_2-3-2012Web.pdf
Upstate Chamber Coalition
Added on: February 3, 2012
More Information >> http://www.upstatechamber.org/weekly-update-2312.php
New S.C. immigration law to affect employers
Added on: January 3, 2012
More Information >> http://www.gsabusiness.com/news/42120-new-s-c-immigration-law-to-affect-employers


text:
Water Law in Wyoming
Water Law encompasses everything related to water in Wyoming. The State Engineer's Office is responsible for the management of both surface and underground water in Wyoming. They administer and are responsible for appropriate, distribution, and management.
If you are interested in obtaining water rights the State Engineer has the authority to approve or reject your application. The application process is often confusing and the attorneys at Greear Clark King, P.C. can help you through the difficult process.
Additionally, Greear Clark King, P.C. can help you with issues such as Point of Diversion, Change of Use Procedures, Adjudications, Instream Flows, Recognized Beneficial Uses, and Quantification Requirements and Procedures.
Wyoming water law is founded on the principal of "Prior Appropriation" this means "First in Time, First in Right." If you need to apply for a permit or would like to upgrade a water system, the attorneys at Greear Clark King, P.C. can help guide you through the often confusing application process.
Water right holders in Wyoming are limited to withdrawals related to beneficial purposes. Wyoming recognizes several purposes as beneficial. These include: Stock, Domestic, Instream flows, irrigation, power generation, recreational, municipal, industrial, pollution control and miscellaneous uses.
There are no restrictions on who can hold a water right in Wyoming with the exception of instream flows which may only be held by the State of Wyoming. This means any entity, including federal, state boards, corporations, individuals and districts may all hold water rights. In some situations water rights may also be held jointly by a group of individuals.


text:
Summit High golf team opens season at Battlement Mesa
staff report
The 2013 Summit High School golf season got underway Thursday with a 19 team tournament hosted by Grand Valley and played at Battlement Mesa. Ten 3A, six 4A and three 5A schools competed in this event. The 3A division was won by Vail Christian with a score of 224. The 5A was won by Grand Junction-223, and 4A was won by Steamboat-235. Individual leaders were Clayton Crawford (Aspen)-69, Tristan Rohrbraugh (Basalt)-70, and Trevor Olkowski (Grand Junction)-71
Summit High, who plays in 4A, finished third in their division with a 244. They were eighth of 19 overall. These scores were the result of playing five and counting the three best scores.
"I was pleased and encouraged with today's performance, particularly because there have been only three qualifying days and no official practices in the season thus far," said coach Gary Sorensen.
Four of the five SHS golfers played in the event last year. Nick Wittrock shot an 82 at this year's tournament, an improvement of seven strokes over last year.
Mike Magnuson shot 85 for a four stroke improvement. Jack Bilenduke's 89 shot seven better, and Garrison Ortega shot 94 for an 18 stroke gain. Summit's fifth player, Dave Metzger, who didn't play the event last year, shot a team leading 77. Dave's round included nine pars, two birds, and nothing higher than bogy.
Competition continues next week with three consecutive tournaments: Monday at Lakota Canyon, Tuesday at Eagle Vail, and Wednesday at Gypsum Creek.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


text:
White Gift Sunday – Donations to St Marys Food Bank
1st SUNDAY OF ADVENT
1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2 In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
5 Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
36″No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;
39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.
41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42″Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.


text:
Need of hiring property management services
All those who currently own a rental property, or those looking to buy a rental property, they might know that it takes a lot of effort to find suitable tenants. Every landowner desires to find a tenant who would take good care of their property and maintain the same living standards that were offered to them when they became tenants. If landowners are unable to manage their property on their own, then they should look for an alternative solution. Perhaps, a great way to manage a property and ensure that it is maintained properly is to hire the services of a reputable property management agency.
Preferably, it would be best to hire an agency that specializes in the type of property that is owned by the landlord, or they are looking to buy, whether it is rental home or apartment, condo or commercial property.
Property owners are solely responsible for property maintenance. If, however, they find it difficult to do it themselves, then it would be best to outsource the task to professionals. In every state, the property law mandates that landowners are responsible for carrying out any repairs, if required to make their property habitable. While looking for a reliable property management agency, one can seek referrals from existing clients who have already utilized their maintenance services. Landowners need to find out from the existing clients, if they really hold good reputation.
All those property owners who have no experience and desire to manage their own rental properties should make their decision to hire a professional realty management agency to supervise their facility. It could take long time for property owners to learn the techniques about how to manage their properties.
If one really has a heart to manage their properties, then they need to do a simple thing right from the beginning and this would be to set up Doing Business As (DBA). They should first select a name for their property management agency, and then get it registered. They might have to rent a postal box at their nearest post office, where tenants can drop their rental payments. They might also have to open a bank account. However, this could turn out to be disaster, if landowners do not have enough time and patience to deal with various issues.
In the long term, one can save huge money by having their own real estate management agency, and performing all the maintenance and repairing tasks. Obviously, they need to have some experience when it comes to replacing sinks, toilets, faucets, and so on. Plumbing could be one of the biggest expenditures that one would be having in their rental properties. So, learning something about plumbing could possibly help landowners to save a few hundred dollars. It would be helpful to invest in books that provide good information on home repairs. Individuals can also pay visit to libraries and check out books and journals on plumbing repairs.
In a nutshell, for all those landowners who require managing two or more properties, it would be best to hire service of a trustworthy property management agency. This would allow them to spend most of their time searching for and investing in more rental properties. Harji Realtors is one of the leading real estate agents in the region of Chandigarh, Mohali and Kharar. For more information on great deals in Flat in Mohali and the best Plot in Mohali check out our website


text:
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Oh boy are we Baltimoreans possessive of our Old Bay seasoning! As far back as I can remember, it was coveted by just about everyone I knew. After all most of my friends and family loved to steam and eat the bountiful blue crabs of the Chesapeake Bay region. Gosh we were so proud to have the spice manufactured right here and equally delighted to share our secret with outsiders. Many families shipped the cheerful yellow tins to the less fortunate who lived outside the area where Old Bay was nowhere to be found. I seem to remember an air of mystery about the ingredients. My best, childhood-friend Charlotte, who still loves food, and I studied the box and considered duplicating the spicy seasoning. Somehow we never attempted this in either of our mothers' kitchens.
The original recipe was invented by a German immigrant named Gustav Brunn. According to the Old Bay web site, the original name was "Delicious Brand Shrimp and Crab Seasoning." It was wisely renamed "Old Bay" which was the name of the steamship line that had a huge building located on Light Street -- approximately where the Harborplace pavilion now sits.
Of course in my personal collection of old spice tins, which are mainly the McCormick and Bee Brand products, I have an assortment of Old Bay and related tins. Here is an interesting observation assisted by memory. The 1950 container of " Old Bay Seafood Seasoning" features a crab, a shrimp and a lobster on the cardboard package. The lid is a gold colored tin. Baltimore Spice Company is given credit as the manufacturer. I remember that McCormick at the time had their brand of Seafood seasoning which was supposed to mirror the flavor of Old Bay. It was not popular around these parts for obvious reasons. The packaging was colorful and had a nice illustration of a red crab and some shrimp on the label. But to loyal Old Bay lovers it felt unreliable and uncool.
Not sure when Old Bay decided to change the label from "Seafood Seasoning" to "Seasoning for Seafood, Poultry, Salads and Meats" but it is there on the shelf with its red plastic lid. (see it for yourself on your own pantry shelf - I rarely paint objects that are still available) I have read that in 1990 the Baltimore Spice Company let go of their precious Old Bay and laid it in the responsible hands of our McCormick and Company now located in Hunt Valley, MD. Thank goodness we still make this precious commodity right here on the outskirts of Crabtown. I shudder to imagine the uproar if ever the manufacturing of"our" beloved spice was relocated.
And here is a sample of one of my other spice tin paintings:
Thursday, October 28, 2010
MCCORMICK FACTORY, Baltimore
Most Baltimoreans reminisce about the 1989 exodus of the McCormick spice factory from Baltimore,Maryland's inner harbor. It was an olfactory overload to be in the neighborhood of the Light Street building and inhale the aroma of whatever spice they were making that day. During the Sunday drives of my childhood I often requested to include a pass-by of the giant white building with the huge spice tins on the roof top. It still gives me a thrill to remember the cheerfulness it added to the harbor with its jumble of sagging buildings, steaming ships and hulking boxcars. Today you can often get a whiff of the spices but in a different location. Just drive towards Hunt Valley, MD on I 83, roll down your window and breathe in the fragrance!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The Old Commander Hotel - Ocean City, MD
"The Commander Hotel" 2008
oil on canvas (12" x 24")
The long-gone, original Commander Hotel at 14th St. & Boardwalk was the scene of the first and last time I had to wear starched crinolines underneath my organdy dress while vacationing in Ocean City, MD. One day at the age of five I decided to leave our family's apartment which we rented for half a season that summer. I wanted to join my grandmother at her elegant retreat on the boardwalk. There we took an afternoon nap prior to dining in the formal restaurant. In the days before air-conditioning we relied on sea breezes to cool us. The guests' rooms had a latching louvered door for privacy so that air could flow freely throughout the hotel. The two foot gap at the bottom allowed me to eavesdrop on the activity in the hallway while pretending to nap before eating dinner in my best Sunday dress. Nana loved to live properly in public and so later we dined sitting up straight while using the correct flatware. After dinner we sat on the porch and rocked in the wicker chairs while watching all the families "walk the boards." The next morning I was glad to return to the chaotic apartment where I could wear my bathing suit and matching beach jacket as I had my lunch at the kitchen table. More than likely I was barefoot as well.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
At least five or more generations of the Trimper family have kept the amusement rides and arcades operating at the end of the boardwalk near the inlet in Ocean City, MD. Until recent times, the late Mr. Granville Trimper's antique ferris wheel was located next to the boardwalk across from the Life-Saving Station Museum. This gorgeous ferris wheel might be a much milder ride than the Zipper perhaps but it was hard to beat the view of the resort when perched on top while waiting for the operator to load another passenger below. It was fun to rock it back and forth ever so slightly as you circled around and around high above the din of the thousands of vacationers. I loved to hear the whirring sound of the mechanical gears as we swooped close to the ground and then up and away.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
VIADUCT HOTEL- Relay, MD
The Thomas Viaduct is being honored this year with many exhibits and celebrations. On July 5 of this year I attended the Friends of the Patapsco Valley's celebration commemorating the completion of the Viaduct on July 4, 1835. Although it was a very hot day in the Patapsco State Park, an abundance of people showed up for the wonderful exhibition with Civil War re-enactors, model railroad displays, and a wonderful performance by the men's chorus who sang Irish Railroad songs.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Baltimore's Block - Midway Bar
Baltimore's "Block" was much larger in 1987 when this painting was completed. In those days I could walk and sketch up and down Baltimore Street at night for about 30 minutes before I knew it was time to leave. While the first floor of each building was brimming with activity I always wondered what the upstairs rooms were like. For example what would that pizza taste like if one had climbed the steps next to Charlie's Tattoo parlor and asked for a slice? In all my visits to the Block I never entered any of the bars or clubs. I preferred to imagine the activities from the street.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
D-Day June 6, 1944
It is humbling at the very least to visit the Norman coast of France and stand on the beaches where the allies landed on June 6, 1944. The beaches are more often than not referred to by their wartime code names that include Omaha, Utah, Juno, Gold and Sword. We call it the invasion, the French call it La Libération...you see they had already been invaded by Germany and now the allies from the United States, England, Canada and many countries arrived to stop the enemy. They were successful but at a great price. Over 100,000 soldiers and many innocent citizens lost their lives as this allied foothold in Europe was established. I doubt anyone has stood on these gorgeous, peaceful beaches and not imagined the horror that occurred in our parents' and grandparents' lifetime. The sacrifice was immense and is recognized daily by the towns such as St. Lo, Caen, Bayeux, Arromanches and many more. It is moving to see how many businesses and private french homes display not only the French bleu, blanc, rouge flag but they also fly the American red white and blue Flag. Visiting Normandie has forever changed the way I see life and death. When you tour the landmarks and museums you wonder over and over and over why make a war? No one wins it. Peace is the answer.
We were fortunate enough to be in Bayeux on Veterans's Day where the cardinal said a mass in honor of le Débarquement et Bataille de Normandie. Many countries were represented by the veterans holding flags in the ceremony.
Friday, May 28, 2010
9th Street Hangout - O.C., MD
So the car radio reports that the Chesapeake Bay Bridge traffic is backed-up today. This is normal for the start of the Memorial Holiday weekend. After all, our families in the greater Baltimore area have been going there for almost one-hundred years. I imagine this scene of 9th Street at the boardwalk in Ocean City, MD taking place around 1964. We were coming of age and it was our first summer to act cool playing the pinball machines. The Beach Club had its live "jam sessions" every weekend afternoon and that was the only time that summer when we did not hear "House of the Rising Sun" drifting into the salty air from the jukebox. Hess Apparel was on the corner though we were not yet appreciative of their tasteful fashions. However we did love the Alaska stand with its milk shakes and hot dogs for lunch when we were allowed that special treat. The big old George Washington Hotel was always a welcome sight because it marked our 9th Street hang-out at least for a few more summers.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Our relationship with the Charles Chips man began one day when he spontaneously pulled into our drive-way in his cheerful yellow truck and offered our family some samples of his wares. Who could resist those large yellow tins with the potato chips and pretzels painted on the labels? And these snacks were so exotic as to have been made in Pennsylvania! So we paid the deposit on the tins and about every two weeks our Charles Chip man kept us well stocked in chips and pretzels. We would trade him the old tin back for a new one with fresh chips and pretzels. What a tasty way to recycle.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Saying Good-bye to Vince
Our biggest contributor to this modest blog is no longer behind his keyboard. We lost Baltimore native Vince Spence, 61, in early May. He was a very generous and thoughtful man. And if you have read his posts you know he was naturally funny. A friend recently referred to him as a spark plug and I agree. I am going to miss him and his entertaining posts very much. Many knew Vince as the One-Eyed Golfer from his blog which he maintained with great professionalism and attention to detail. Not being a golfer myself I knew Vince as a Baltimorean with whom I shared memories of our bygone city. He loved to reminisce from a slightly quirky angle. He could usually add a "bad boy" observation to most of the roadside paintings presented. Beyond everything, the man knew how to use his precious gift for bringing comedy into peoples' lives. He usually made me laugh into my computer screen with his clever posts and e mails. The previous entry here about the Hilton Dairy Cottage was in direct response to a request from Vince. I hope he was able to read it. I know he remains with all of us in spirit. My sincere condolences to his loving family for whom he cared very, very deeply. Rest in Peace, dear man. You did it right.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
However, older students from the neighboring Catonsville Senior High used this place as their beloved hangout. Recently some former students bragged to me that they dined on coke, cigarettes and donuts for breakfast until 1969 when it closed. Others reported to me that the truant officer Mr. T would hide in the driver's education car by lying down in the back seat and force the student and driver's ed teacher to turn into the cottage driveway while school was in session. When the driver's ed car pulled up to the "cottage" door, class cutting teenagers ran outside to give a cheery hello but Mr. T the truant officer popped up from the back seat and took names. It was a clever trick for him but the students had quite a different name for it.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Another source of embarrassment for this blogger occurred when I was paged in the middle of the Steve McQueen thriller, "Bullitt." There was no proper way for the theatre manager to find someone other than to interrupt the film on the sound system and announce your name for all the movie watchers to hear. It never occurred to me that some trouble had happened at home. After all, who tells their parents they are going to the drive in on a date? I had a hunch that my girl friend was on the other end of the line. This friend would often track me down in public places. This time she was bored at home and wanted to know how my date was going. The pay off for this embarrassment was that I was instructed by the concession stand clerk to go into the projection booth to accept the call on the wall mounted telephone. The room itself was spare and modest. I think the floor was concrete but I am not sure. It was manned only by one projectionist. The experience was thrilling--seeing the huge flickering projectors and hearing the clicking of the gigantic 70mm reels. So I have to say thank you to my old friend for obsessing over my Saturday night date at the Edmondson Drive-In Movie.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
ELKRIDGE DRIVE-IN - The Passion Pit
digitally altered photograph
The men have different memories of the old Elkridge. I will ask now. How many boys did you pack inside the trunk of your father's car while passing through the admission booth of a drive-in movie? I know the theatre received its share of these non-paying customers until it closed for good in the early 1980s. I have received numerous confessions from grown men who relish in the recounting of how they "got in for free" while sharing a dark, cramped space with other dare-devil boys from surrounding public schools such as Catonsville, Woodlawn and Glen Burnie. The Catholic school boys from schools such as Mount St. Joe, Cardinal Gibbons, Loyola, Calvert Hall and Archbishop Curley participated in this unlawful past time as well. I have never heard from any women who as girls, were asked to behave in such an unladylike manner.
My last check on the visual status of the theatre occurred in 1999. A sorry looking hole on the side of the road was all that remained of the behemoth drive-in. Conflicting stories of the Elkridge's demise still survive. Some have said it was a bankrupt contractor's deed while others blame nature's fury. I tend to believe the couple who told me that a tornado ripped through in the late 1980s and tore a down the giant screen. Presently I have heard it is being developed but have not seen it myself.
"Elkridge Drive-In Admission Booth-1984"
digitally altered photo
"Elkridge Drive-In Concession Stand-1984"
digitally altered photo
Monday, April 5, 2010
(18" x 24")
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Esskay also used the illustration of the portly butcher on the Ocean City Clocks in the 1950's and 60's. Who did not meet their friends on the boardwalk under his watchful eye?
Let's not forget all the baseball hot dogs they have sold to the Oriole fans for many, many years. And I am looking here at their packaging in this layout. The color combinations are outrageous and work very well. I never knew they sold eggs or Hollywood lunch meat. But I did love their bacon and still do. We usually had our Esskay ham on Easter Sunday and the sausage links were served for breakfast regularly at our house. However I always preferred their bacon. There are also forgotten products like Skeat and Esko pictured here. And when is the last time you saw a can of lard in the regular grocery store? I have news for you. Lard makes cookies and pastries and all kinds of meat dishes delicious so don't turn up your nose just dig in!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
It had a tone of fun and amusement but there was also an air of elegance to the stores and so we had to dress up to shop there. Not quite wearing our crinolines, but no shorts or pants were permitted. We always parked in the rear of Hochschild's because it was shady in the summertime and rarely congested like the front lots were. The escalator ride to the second floor toy department was a joyful ascent. They had the Tiny Tears doll that I coveted in 1957 and I would often visit her and dream of being her nurse. The Tommy Tucker Five and Dime was another favorite spot for children. They had all kinds of toys and novelties that were affordable for just about everyone. I wonder how many paddle-ball sets they sold in one year? Near Tommy Tucker there was a snazzy French restaurant called Mischanton's where my school classmates would meet for Saturday lunch when we were old enough to dine without our parents. It had the hustle - bustle atmosphere of a Parisian Brasserie.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
People still rave about the "Mighty Mo" hamburger served at the Hot Shoppes restaurants. Recently someone gave me the recipe for the much revered sauce. I cannot say if this is the authentic version but it sure looks good to me. Bon appetit!
•1/2 cup ketchup
•1/4 cup chili sauce
•1-1/2 teaspoons A-1 Sauce
•1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
•2 drops Tabasco Sauce
•1/2 cup chopped sweet pickle
•1-1/4 cups mayonnaise
Combine ketchup, chili sauce, A1,Worcestershire and Tabasco . Add pickle to sauce mixture. Combine the sauce-pickle mixture with mayonnaise until well-blended. Store in a tightly covered container in refrigerator.


text:
My Book
Lovely: How I Learned to Love the Body God Gave Me
My first book, published in December 2018, is the story of my life mixed in with what the Church teaches about bodies and how good they are, no matter their size or ability.
May 11, 2018
I Feel Pretty, The Greatest Showman, and The God Who Sees
Learning how to respond to movies that have both good and bad elements about bodies.
February 8, 2018
Womanhood Series: My Body for God's Kingdom
In this inaugural post for Morningbymorning.org's Womanhood series--asking the question of what does it mean to exist in the image of God as a woman--I tackle the biggest roadblock for my faith journey: my body.
January 1, 2018
Starting the New Year with Rest
How would life be different if I started every day (and week and year) with rest instead of striving?
October 30, 2017
A Priest for All Seasons: Murder, Mystery, and Contentment in Father Brown and Grantchester
My three literary loves: mystery, England, and the Church, and two sleuthing priests who live among all of them.
July 6, 2017
Listening for the Whole Song of God
The importance of getting the whole context of a verse
April 28, 2017
Fat, Faithful, Fruitful: Bodies in the Church
J. Nicole Morgan interviewed me for this panel discussion on my experience as a woman with a fat body in the Church. The other women interviewed also bring wisdom to the conversation.
March 27, 2017
Resolved: A Neighborly 2017
In my piece for the 'Your Best Year Now' issue of the Christ and Pop Culture Magazine (January 23, 2017), I write about how New Year's resolutions fail because we are missing something integral: our neighbor.
January 12, 2017
Welcomed as Refugees
This is my first-ever article published in print, in the magazine for the Diocese of Tyler, Catholic East Texas. It's the story of my father's family leaving Cuba, and the Christian hospitality they received as refugees in Colombia, en route to the United States.
November 29, 2016
I'm Trying to Forgive Fidel Castro
Christianity Today Women published my response as a Cuban American Christian to the death of the dictator Fidel Castro.
November 13, 2016
Dignity at Every Size
Don Clemmer wrote this piece for Our Sunday Visitor and I had the chance to be interviewed. I love what other people are saying about the goodness of our bodies as well as what I got to contribute.
October 20, 2016
Is Christian Weight Loss a Prosperity Gospel?
I had the privilege to write a post for Evangelicals for Social Action about how weight loss is treated in church and what the just response from Christians should be.
June 22, 2016
The 25 Episode 16: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anthony Bourdain, and 'Love and Friendship'
Jonathan Clauson and Sarah Kelley host this CAPC podcast where I face off against Kevin McLenithan and Sarah herself to see what gets nominated to the infamous 25--a list of the greatest pop culture contributions of 2016.
June 9, 2016
The CAPC Digest: Christians and 'The Real O'Neals' with Amanda Martinez Beck
Tyler Burns and Drew Dixon host me on the CAPC Digest podcast about my Real O'Neals article and how Christians can engage with media that portrays values different than the ones held by orthodox Christianity. 43 minutes.
May 27, 2016
Real God, Messy People: Christians and ABC's 'The Real O'Neals'
ABC's sitcom 'The Real O'Neals' is about a teenage boy coming out as gay in his very Catholic family. Is it worth watching, particularly for Christians?
May 23, 2016
Christians and Plastic Surgery
Is it right for Christians to get plastic surgery? If our bodies tell our stories, what story are we letting our body tell?
March 2, 2016
CaPC Digest, episode 25: Oprah's Best Body and the Body of Christ with Amanda Beck
Drew Dixon and Tyler Burns interviewed me for the Christ and Pop Culture Digest about my article on Oprah. We had a great conversation on what it might look like to love people who struggle with their weight in the setting of the Church. 36 minutes.
February 25, 2016
Oprah's Best Body and the Body of Christ
Is it the job our churches to proclaim the year of our best bodies, or is it to proclaim the year of the favor of the Lord?
September 11, 2015
Christian Hospitality and the Abortion Industry
What would it look like if Christians opened up their schedules, checkbooks, and homes to share life with those at risk for unexpected pregnancy?


text:
Swimming Pool and Spa Finance Available
We have teamed up with finance companies to help make your dream pool or spa a reality! Rates may vary and are based on your credit profile. Applications meeting the excellent and substantial credit profile may qualify for the lowest rates.
The application process is handled directly by the company you submit your application to. You can apply directly online below and may even get approved today, so what are you waiting for? If you need help working out how much you need to borrow for your swimming pool project, contact us today.
Lightstream Financing
- Competitive Interest rates very low and with AutoPay
- Get rate discounts over the life of the loan
- No fees/processing charges, or penalties for early payment.
- Get approval and receive funds the same day.
- For U.S. Residents who have good to excellent credit
Paramount Capital
- Low fixed or variable rates and no pre-pay penalties
- Unsecured Term Loan with zero or low closing costs
- Finance all your pool, spa and water features together
- Paramount searches multiple lenders for the best deal
- U.S. Residents: Paramount does not pull your credit!
As well as Lightstream and Paramount, Lyon Financial also has a secure online application process, from where you can typically get a decision in less than 48 hours.


text:
418607 New Blue Black Fox Rabbit Fur Bolero Jacket Coat Stroller Large
Overall Length: 19 inches
Sweep at Bottom: 45 inches
Shoulder to Shoulder: 19.5 inches
Sleeve Length from Neck Seam: 24.5
Across Back from Armpit to Armpit: 23 inches
Chest at Fullest Point with Coat Closed: 46 inches
Closure Type: Hooks/Eyes
Fur garment sizing is not always accurate. Although a size may be provided, to ensure a proper fit, measure one of your own garments and compare the measurements to those provided above.
|ARW Brand


text:
Consumer: Room to roam should now mean no more charges that border on ridiculous
Consumers living in border areas of Northern Ireland often pay inflated bills simply because their mobile phone roams on to a Republic of Ireland (RoI) network. This expensive annoyance --known as inadvertent roaming -- can cost some users £300-plus a year in extra charges, according to watchdog Ofcom, which promised to raise the issue with operators.
Although it has taken some time for the regulator to report back, the good news is that there are now ways to avoid or reduce these charges.
Back in 2012 there were no useful options available.
Consumers had to pay up or adjust the settings on their phone to stop it from roaming onto a RoI network; but neither was satisfactory.
Now, though, Ofcom claims that's all changed and some UK operators have moved to introduce special tariffs that can significantly reduce the cost of roaming on to a RoI network. For instance, Vodafone recently halved the price of its Ireland Plus tariff to £5 a month.
Available to customers in Northern Ireland only, this allows you to roam into any RoI network using your UK inclusive minutes/text and data allowance.
Another operator, Three, has abolished roaming charges altogether for UK customers roaming onto an RoI network and vice versa.
It is worth noting that these tariffs not only help deal with the problem of inadvertent roaming, but will also provide savings for consumers who holiday or travel a lot in the Republic.
James Stinson from Ofcom says these and other initiatives are very welcome for consumers.
"If you regularly incur charges for inadvertent roaming, you should seek advice from your provider on how you could reduce these costs," he said.
"If you are nearing or have passed your minimum contract term, you might want to consider whether to switch your provider and to a deal that better suits all of your needs."
At a European level, there are moves to abolish roaming charges across the European Union, but that is some years away. unfortunately.
In the meantime, Ofcom has published a handy consumer leaflet on its website highlighting the different approaches operators are taking to tackle the problem of inadvertent roaming and what consumers can do to protect themselves.
You can find it in the 'Guides and Tools' section of its website at www.ofcom.org.uk.
Five ways... to save a few pounds:
More than half of Northern Ireland people are cutting back on heating, takeaways and clothes shopping, with the number worrying about making ends meet having risen for the first time in three years.
The personal cutbacks come as consumer confidence recorded its first drop since the last quarter of 2011.
A recent poll of 30,000 people by market research firm Neilsen found that 60% are seeking to reduce their electricity bills, 58% have cut back on expanding their wardrobes, 57% have cut out takeaways and 55% are switching to cheaper brands in the supermarket. Here are five simple ways to save cash — and it all starts with cutting back on needless waste.
1. BUDGET. Nip monthly overspending in the bud by drawing up a budget. Add up all the cash coming in and all the payments going out.
2. DON'T OVERHEAT. Use individual radiator controls rather than the thermostat. Don't cover radiators with furniture or curtains as this blocks a surprising amount of heat. Get your boiler serviced annually or replace the old model.
3. WASTE NOT. The average household throws away a staggering £18.57 of uneaten food very week. That amounts to nearly £1,000 a year, according to figures from Vouchercloud.com. Avoid this by checking your fridge and storage cupboards so that products don't pass their sell-by dates.
4. DON'T FRITTER. The average UK adult wastes £99 a month on takeaway meals, sandwiches at lunchtime, and nights out, a family finance expert at Standard Life said. Forgoing your daily latte, taking a packed lunch to work and going home after work rather than nipping to the pub could save hundred of pounds a year. Bigger steps, such as quitting smoking, will save you even more money.
5. AVOID HOARDING. Don't clutter your house with stuff you never use, turn it into extra cash instead. Almost one in three people in the UK now sell things on sites such as Gumtree and eBay, according to research from Standard Life.
- - - - - -
So, what's your story? Let us know if you have any consumer concerns. Contact: email@example.com
Belfast Telegraph Digital


text:
Dressage Dilemma
Carl Hester's Horse & Hound comment is always good value and can cause controversy. So it would seem from the activities of Twitter and Facebook in recent days and what seemed a fairly harmless remark was seized upon and then (to my mind) taken out of context in the Letters Page the following week. This has caused something of a furore in some quarters and it will be interesting to see if Horse & Hound publishes any more letters this forthcoming week, i.e. on Thursday, 15th January. Here we reproduce the Comment and the Letter - with the latter of which, we firmly disagree. As regards a closer look at the interpretation of the FEI ruling - clearly Carl has made a good point, since too many confuse the height of the horse's crest with the height of the poll - and this is regrettable. CRC's position is that this calls for better clarification on biomechanical issues at judge training - as opposed to a change in the Rules themselves.
This is the letter by Dr Susan Kempson which was published in Horse and Hound, 5th February 2015.
'I am writing to support Carl Hester's request to the FEI that the rule of the poll being the highest point for a dressage horse be removed. Looking at the photographs of the dressage horses in the same edition, only one had the poll as the highest point. This horse was the one who looked the most unhappy.
Anatomically, the only way a horse can fully engage and move through his back is with the neck round and the head very slightly behind the vertical. Watching all the top dressage horses, including the magical Valegro, the poll is never the highest point.
As I watched the horses at Aachen last Summer, there was only one with the poll as the highest point, and his head and neck had been pulled backwards. It was horrible to watch as the horse was clearly very unhappy.
Despite this, he did receive good marks from the judges. It is definitely time this was removed from the FEI rules.'


text:
Where will I go next?
Where am I headed?
Wondered the young girl,
Turning to bed.
Is there a prince for me?
Will there be castle?
Magic and sorcerers,
Marriage and wealth?
Where will I go next?
Where am I headed?
Asked the young woman,
Reading her book.
Will he be honest?
How will he treat me?
Travel together?
Stay home and drink?
Where will I go next?
Where am I headed?
Rocked tired mother,
Her baby to sleep.
Will he keep own vows?
Love and respect me?
Help crying baby,
In trying long nights?
Where will he go next?
Where is he headed?
Laid skillful woman,
In empty bed wide.
Will he be a good man?
Loving and trusted?
Caring for loved ones,
Truthful through life?
What will I teach love?
How do convey trust?
Can my hug transfer,
Wisdom and wish?
Cruel is the world,
Stronger the people,
Hope love eternal,
Dreams lost awake.
Heartbroken mended,
New love horizon,
Daybreak, fresh morning,
Headed success.


text:
A recent High Court case[1] provides for an insightful reminder that conduct alone can lead to the acceptance of a contract and its terms, without observing the requirement of signing a formal document.
The facts
In this particular case the parties had been involved in negotiations for the sale of goods. The Buyer had not signed the contract which included a signature block which was followed by the words "accepted (Buyer)" at the end of it, however the Buyer had provided the Seller with a number of direct instructions through e-mail correspondence requesting that a fixed purchase price for the goods was set by the Seller. The Seller replied setting out fixed price for the goods.
The Judge held that the fact the contract included the word "accepted" on the Buyer's signature did not result in the offer only being accepted on the signing of that document. He stated that the words simply "express what is implicit in leaving a space for a party to sign a contract by way of acceptance. They do not introduce either prescription or conditionality". It was held that the Buyer had, through its actions, unequivocally accepted the contractual terms.
What does this mean for you?
The ruling provides for a cautionary note to all contractual parties that the courts are prepared to look past the written contracts between parties and the signature formalities and to consider the parties' conduct in ascertaining whether a contract has been accepted. Parties must ensure that care is taken when negotiating contractual terms to ensure that legally binding contracts do not take effect until the parties have agreed to all the relevant terms.
It is a common dilemma that many parties are left facing when the actions of an employee or agent constitute acceptance of a contractual offer. Should you have any queries regarding the issues discussed in this article our Corporate and Commercial team can give you all the assistance you need in understanding the implications of acceptance to contractual terms by party conduct. Please contact our Commercial Contracts Partner, Liz Appleyard on 01908 306 950.
[1] A Ltd v B Ltd [2015] EWHC 137 (Comm)


text:
On Saturday Lloyd had a bunch of graduation parties to attend in Lincoln, and I had some things I wanted to get done in Lincoln, so we shared a ride.
"Why didn't you just go to the parties?" I hear some of you ask, to which I answer, "Social Avoidance Syndrome." Going to a social event is akin to punishment for me. Uncomfortableness, fidgeting, and the-mumbling-of-stupid-things-followed-by-awkward-silence are the main symptoms of my attending social functions, so I prefer to just not go.
Most of his parties synced up with places I wanted to go (Kohl's, Southpointe Mall), but one was in the middle of town where there are no stores. It was, however, close to the zoo, which has some gardens all around. We have lived here….. 17 years? and I have never gone here. It was beautiful!
I was only there about a half-hour, but I took a ton of photos.
I walked through all the roses and flowers. They had several statues and nice benches to relax on. At one of the bench areas I looked over and there was a labyrinth! I walked it.
There is a big fountain thing that looks like buildings with water spewing from the top. Two girls had just ridden their bikes there and looked at me cautiously. I said, "You're going to put your feet in there, aren't you? It's hot today." What do I care? It's the cops' job to keep their feet out.
Walking back I saw a giant bicycle sculpture. Lincoln has art-inspired bicycles all over town, similar to the cows in Chicago, but this one was different. I went over to explore.
Hey! It's a pic-a-nic spot! With a place for three friends to park their bikes and sit for a spell.
And also to plan their next place to go. This is the tabletop:
I have more photos, but I'll stop now. This would be a nice spot to visit on a warm (not hot and muggy) spring/summer day. (*cough* Lloyd *cough* hint *cough*)


text:
A Rustic-Meets-Vintage Wedding at Vinewood Plantation in Newnan, Georgia
Chante Zaworski (33 and a registered nurse) and Crystal White (30 and a paramedic) went on a cruise to Alaska to celebrate Crystal's 30th birthday. They took a tour with Chante's parents, and when they landed on top of a glacier, Crystal popped the question with a custom cushion-cut engagement ring. The pair drew inspiration for their nuptials from her vintage-style ring and spent the next 11 months planning their rustic-meets-vintage affair at Vinewood Plantation in Newnan, Georgia. "Vinewood is a beautiful home and horse stables set on a lovely property of long beautiful grasses and hills," says Chante. "We chose this location because we were looking for a place that would meet Crystal's simplistic way of life and my desire for a rustic-elegant feel." The pair lined the aisles with tree trunks, candles and greenery and hung votives in the trees. The newlyweds decided to use a color palette of burgundy, jasper and champagne and incorporated peonies (Chante's favorite flower) with burgundy calla lilies (Crystal's favorite) with ranunculus and hydrangea. "The colors were perfect for a winter wedding, and while we didn't want a holiday theme, they gave a small nod to the season while keeping with the vintage-meets-rustic theme that we were going for," says Chante. From the sash on Chante's gown to the custom drapes that hung over the barn's dance floor, champagne warmed the vintage celebration. "The day was a perfect display of Crystal and I," says Chante. "It had the warmth and simplicity that I feel Crystal and I really have always had in our relationship, while also remaining elegant and beautiful."


text:
Join 2019 Gas Asia Summit Conference & Exhibition
From 30 – 31 October 2019, Gas Asia Summit Conference & Exhibition (GAS) returns for its 7th year as an integral part of the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW). GAS is the only natural gas-focused commercial conference within the SIEW framework and has been developed under the theme: Your Gateway to Asia's Natural Gas & LNG Opportunities.
Asia presents vast opportunities in natural gas & LNG, driven by rapid urbanization and economic growth. Emerging supply sources, deployment and integration of technologies, and new business models are transforming the energy landscape. Policy makers, investors and industry leaders are determined to ride the wave of natural gas & LNG opportunities, so as to secure clean, affordable and competitive energy for a sustainable energy future.
GAS 2019 will firmly position Singapore as a leading trading, services and innovation hub and serve as a key platform for developing new business and knowledge exchange within the natural gas and LNG community.
Join us at GAS 2019 and connect with the most influential energy leaders in Singapore and the region shaping the natural gas and LNG industry.


text:
20 May 2015 | Posted in Gardening by The Marshalls Family
We paid a visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show at the start of the week to see the latest gardening innovations and plants at the horticultural event of the year.
Yes, it rained but this didn't dampen the spirits of garden designers and exhibitors and the sun soon came out which served to shine on the 'rain-cleaned' gardens. Beautiful.
There was plenty to see and lots of great ideas we were able to take on board. If you can get to the show, be sure to pay a visit to the central marquee, The Great Pavilion, where the colour and lovely scent will blow you away. So much to see, it's great.
Here are some highlights that caught our eye when we were there.
Blanching artichokes
Pennard Plants put on a wonderful display 'The Glory of the Garden' and picked up a Gold Award. Ornamentals grow side-by-side with edibles, like lettuces growing with flowering perennials.
You may be used to the gorgeous, almost meaty, texture of globe artichokes hearts. From Cynara scolymus, a fantastic plant that puts out big bold blooms in the flowerbed atop large architectural leaves. The insects love it and you'll love the flower display from mid-summer to autumn.
It's not just the heads you can harvest though for the succulent leaf scales – there's more to this plant still. For every head that you harvest, harvest the stems too – they're tender and perfectly edible.
On the 'Pennard Plants' display the ornamental artichokes are wrapped loosely in corrugated cardboard (right). Indulging our curiosity we asked about this and found out this was to blanch the stems, excluding them of light making them paler, tenderer and more tasty.
Try it for yourself – keep an eye on the weather though and replace the cardboard once it gets too wet.
Cultivating kiwis
On the same display, kiwis are growing strongly. If you have a greenhouse it might be worth giving this a go. You'll notice this climber has lovely rounded leaves (right) with attractive edges, and some understated but pretty single white/ cream flowers.
If the kiwi variety is self-fertile, like kiwi 'Jenny', you'll just need the one plant too for successful fruiting. Just provide the climbing kiwi plants with supports and grow in acid soil and you'll be rewarded with full juicy fruits packed with vitamin C.
Vibrant peppers
Chillies and sweet peppers (right) are great for the ornamental garden, just as much as they are great for the allotment. Look at these stand-out pepper varieties, shown by Robinsons Seeds and Plants, who collected a Silver-Gilt Award. Big, bold and brilliant.
At this time of year, growers can get caught out with a late-season frost on a particularly cold night. If it's forecasted and your chillies and sweet peppers are in pots outdoors, protect with horticultural fleece or a cloche.
Cloches and covers to covet
Pennard Plants showed some lovely crops but some attractive accessories too. A traditional cloche is both attractive and functional. You can bring on earlier harvests by providing vegetables with a protective climate like this.
Coldframes (right) are ornamental and useful structures too for bringing on earlier harvests. These courgette plants are ready to be planted outdoors after their initial stage of growing.
But it's not just attractive glass jars you can use to offer a protective environment. To bring on an early harvest of vegetables invest in some horticultural fleece. A cheaper option.
Or why not have a mixture of the two? Fleece to protect a line of crops, and individual cloches for vegetable plants you're growing in a container or in a flowerbed with ornamentals.
A rainbow of colours
Want to attract pollinating insects to your veg plot and add a splash of colour? There's a whole host of plants you can choose from to do this job. What about a nearby decorative trug of nasturtiums, - attractive to bees, easy to sow and plant up and the flowers are great in salads for a sweet, zingy, peppery flavour.
We love chrysanthemums (right) in particular – for late-summer colour and the wealth of shapes and sizes you can choose from. They vary in form so much, that you can mix and match to suit you and create captivating colour contrasts. Here, Silver-Gilt Award winner Chrysanthemums Direct offers some ideas.
And want to grow for exhibiting? – do like the professionals and protect individual blooms with plastic bags and a loose clip to fix in place.
Celebrate the strawberry season
The strawberry season will soon be upon us, and it's an exciting time to anticipate British-grown fresh strawberries that look good and taste divine. Get strawberries that have been specially chilled and you could have a crop by mid-July.
In the Great Pavilion we saw all the different ways you can grow strawberries (right) including growing in troughs or pots or growing vertically on pillars (like on the Ken Muir exhibit that won a Silver Award) – a fantastic method to use when you're tight on space. Vertical planting is great, not just for saving on space but to bring the captivating scent of strawberry plants to head-height.
And what's more is that you can harvest the juicy and luscious fruits without having to bend down to ground level. Consider growing strawberries in hanging baskets or trugs.
Splendid spuds
This is truly the most rewarding part of growing your own crops.
It's coming up to the harvesting season of first-early potatoes so here's a tip on knowing when your potatoes are ripe for the picking. If the flowers of the potato plants are fully open and/or are starting to drop, that's your first indicator.
Lift the plants gently with a border fork to remove the soil and inspect the potatoes. Are they the size of hens' eggs? This is the ideal size.
Morrice and Ann Innes showed their beautiful display of potatoes in the Great Pavilion, and picked up a coveted Gold Award. An array of different colours, different textures and different markings. If you're at the show, take a look at the great display and read up on the history and cultivation of this great crop.


text:
I have the most experience with writing music itself. Composing with pencil, paper, and later with my computer, MIDI Keyboard and Finale is something that I've been doing for years.
With that in mind, my priority is to, of course, write original music. However, when I write for my preferred ensembles (concert band, symphony orchestra), it's difficult to have it played because of the lack of my "personal orchestra." Hence, my necessity of some sort of software to synthesize and make my music sound realistic without the need for a live recording of an orchestra. That's where Cubase comes in.
Ideally, that would be my top priority: learning to use Cubase for the purpose of synthesizing my compositions. However, Cubase is simply so powerful that there are so many other things I'd like to do, such as compose right on the software itself instead of importing from Finale, or matching my scores to film. Hopefully I'll get to those things in time to help a friend out with his movie project by scoring his film.


text:
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A mission of international lenders will return to Greece later this week to review progress made in delivering on the country's reforms that are key for further loans, the chairman of euro zone finance ministers Jeroen Dijsselbloem said on Monday.
International lenders - the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Commission and the European Central Bank - interrupted a visit to Athens last year because there was no progress in discussions with Greek authorities.
This has held up disbursements of loans due since September 2013, with the main sticking point being how Athens would plug a gap in this year's budget, which had been estimated at 1 billion euros.
Sources directly involved in the talks told Reuters earlier this month that Greece and its foreign lenders have largely bridged differences over the issue.
In a separate statement, the IMF said on Monday that discussions with Athens would start on February 24.
"The purpose of the talks is to seek agreement on the set of policies needed to complete the fifth review of the country's economic program supported by an Extended Fund Facility (EFF)," IMF spokeswoman Ángela Gaviria said.
Reporting by Martin Santa; Additional reporting by Anna Yukhananov; Editing by Nick Zieminski


text: Usain Bolt Could Lose One of His Gold Medals 2008 teammate allegedly tested positive for banned substance By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff Posted Jun 3, 2016 12:52 PM CDT 9 comments Jamaica's men's 4x100 meters relay team, from left, Michael Fraser, Usain Bolt, Nesta Carter and Asafa Powell show their gold medals during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing... (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Newser) – Usain Bolt could lose one of his three gold medals from the 2008 Beijing Olympics thanks to another member of Jamaica's 400-meter relay team from that year. Amid a crackdown during which Olympic officials have been re-testing samples from the past two Summer Games with new technology, Jamaican team member Nesta Carter was discovered to have a banned stimulant in his system during the Beijing games, two sources tell Reuters. There's no official word, but as the Los Angeles Times notes, "There is precedent for stripping medals from an entire squad when one member is caught cheating," including the 2012 US men's 400-meter relay team. However, Reuters only has word so far that Carter's "A" sample was allegedly tainted; he would only face sanctions if his "B" sample also tests positive. (Read more Usain Bolt stories.) My Take on This Story Report a story error Show results | 15% Hilarious 6% Intriguing 21% Depressing 26% Brilliant 4% Scary 28% Ridiculous


text:
Like the last time when I talked about the "roll up one pant leg" style, today it's about sagging your pants. I don't understand why ANYONE'S pants should be THIS low. Not that I prefer guys who pull up their pants up to their necks with a tucked in stained t-shirt or anything, but putting them on this low just seems ridiculous. Guys who sag their pants a bit are are perfectly fine in my book! but when it becomes a hindrance to your ability to walk and your butt is completely showing, please pull up your pants! This is a style I just can't comprehend. Not only do most the people who do this look like ducks waddling, but it just seems to defeat the purpose of wearing pants/shorts at all.
I sound like an old lady haha


text:
Transitional in design, the Delia is an example of elegance with clean and contemporary lines. Designed to mount on a wall, with a solid maple frame and luxurious upholstery, this stunning headboard can be a fabulous addition to any bedroom. Space saving, modern and versatile.
* Our furniture is hand crafted. Measurements are approximate due to variation in padding and fabric thicknesses.
Style Options and Dimensions


text:
Let there be cake!
By Ben Nitkin on
My girlfriend's birthday was a few weeks ago. Her 21st, to be exact. This was also the first birthday I'd be present for: she didn't celebrate anything the first year I knew her, the second year was in Germany, and this is the third year we've known each other. In the spirit of the occasion, I wanted to make sure she'd be happy with the party she had.


text:
Year in Review 2012
LYSA ALLMAN-BALDWIN | 1/10/2013, 1:55 p.m.
Exploring the magic of Hollywood is a vibrant, energizing, over-the-top experience undeniably befitting the lofty worldwide reputation L.A. has as the entertainment capital of the world at Universal Studios Hollywood. We checked out many of the great rides ("Revenge of the Mummy" and "Jurassic Park: The Ride" were awesome!), explored the gamut of food and shopping options (even an All You Can Eat Pass, if desired) and found plenty of stores to satisfy your movie and specialty collectibles, clothing, toy, film and camera supplies and other needs. We also embarked upon the world-famous Universal Studios Tour, billed as Hollywood's most famous back lot in the world's largest working movie studio. And who could forget our home away from home at the Sheraton Universal Hotel, a Los Angeles landmark known as the "Hotel of the Stars"?
Each year, the state of Alabama sets its sights on a particular aspect of the state, and in 2012, it was to celebrate The Year of Alabama Food. We enjoyed amazing culinary adventures in Huntsville at Cotton Row, Blue Plate Cafe, 1892 East Restaurant and Tavern and Rosie's Mexican Cantina; in Decatur at Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que, one of the most famous barbecue restaurants in the country; and in Birmingham at Rib-It-Up, Bottega, Highlands Bar and Grill and Hot and Hot Fish Club. And who could forget our luxurious stay at the Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa, one of the states premier resorts. To learn more about all the wonderful eateries the state has to offer, check out their brochure, 100 Places to Eat in Alabama Before You Die.
2012 was a historic year, as it was the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, which pitted free states against slave states, the Union versus the Confederate Army from 1861-1865.
African-Americans made significant contributions to the war efforts. Some of their most noteworthy battle efforts included New Market Heights (Virginia), Port Hudson (Louisiana), Fort Wagner (South Carolina) and Honey Springs (Oklahoma). A great deal more about Black Civil War soldiers can be found at the African American Civil War Memorial in Washington, D.C., whose mission is "to preserve and tell the stories of the United States Colored Troops and African-American involvement in the American Civil War," which they accomplish through a variety of exhibits, online forums, programming, special projects and events and more. To learn more, check out the National Park Service's Civil War-themed web page at www.nps.gov/civilwar.
This was only the beginning of our 2012 adventures, but alas, 2013 is calling so let's get ready for another spectacular year of travel!
Lysa Allman-Baldwin writes for numerous online and print publications, including as the cultural travel writer for www.Examiner.com and as a senior travel writer for SoulOfAmerica.com, an Afrocentric travel website. Lysa can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: February 21, 2014 THE FLY ROOM IN POST-PRODUCTION February 21, 2014/ Alexis Gambis January 3, 2014 · UncategorizedThe Fly Room feature is now in post-production. After, color correction and sound mixing in January and February, it will be submitted to festivals starting early March. Stay tuned for more information and visit The Fly Room website for additional updates and documentary material that will be trickling out over the next few weeks.


text:
Mission & History
Mission and Vision
META (Making Education the Answer) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides college scholarships and mentorship to Latino youth in Southern California with the vision of increasing the opportunities for Latinos to become successful business and community leaders.
Our History
META was founded in 2000 to address the community need that existed to increase the number of Latinos in Southern California attending and graduating from four year colleges and universities. Bob Mairena, CEO of Office Solutions, one of the top 100 Hispanic owned businesses in the nation, provided the impetus for the organization's founding, reached out to a select group of business associates, and META was born. Today, the organization has grown from a handful of friends interested in raising scholarship funds for local Latino students, to an organization that has the vision to make a large scale impact in the Southern California community.
Mairena recalls, "META evolved out of a mounting need in the Hispanic community to educate our children. The percentage of Hispanic kids who were completing their 4-year education was considerably lower than the average American. Hispanics were also less likely to graduate than Asian, Afro-American and almost all other major ethnic groups. When you consider that parents with four-year degrees are more likely to have children who complete their degrees it is brutally shocking to realize that we will exponentially lag in education with every subsequent generation. Consequently we will also fall behind in economic wealth. A reason that I felt compelled to start this endowment is because I would like to encourage and enable talented Hispanic youths to pursue college educations by offering scholarships and mentorship. This was my motivation, to give our youth the opportunities that come with higher education."
Today, META provides scholarships and mentoring to students attending colleges across the country. META scholarship recipients are active participants in their communities and share the desire to continue to provide more students the opportunities that were afforded to them by META.