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More than 21,000 recordings were submitted, and 13,000 people voted.
Now the Recording Academy has revealed the nominees for the 2019 Grammy Awards.
It's a year of upheaval, with several major artists overlooked in favour of fresh, new, agenda-setting talent.
Holy heck, why are there so many nominees?
The Grammys aren't exactly known for their brevity; and this year's list of nominees runs to 84 categories across a rainforest-destroying 55 pages.
Matters haven't been helped by the decision to expand the marquee categories – album of the year, record of the year, song of the year and best new artist – to eight nominees, instead of the traditional five.
The idea was to improve diversity , following criticism that only one female artist (Lorde) was nominated for best album last year; and that genres like jazz and classical were being overlooked.
Not that you'll actually find any jazz or classical in those categories in 2019 but, hey, it's the thought that counts.
Instead, the extra slots give exposure to some lesser-known artists including RB star H.E.R; experimental vocal group Chloe x Halle; and retro rock band Greta Van Fleet – who are the only guitar-led act to feature in the main categories.
All hail King Kendrick
He didn't even have an album out this year, but Kendrick Lamar wins eight nominations thanks to the soundtrack for Black Panther, which he curated and produced at the start of 2018.
The single All The Stars, featuring the Compton-born rapper his label-mate SZA, is up for both record and song of the year; while the album itself becomes the first movie soundtrack to be nominated for album of the year since 2002.
Back then, it was the Coen Brothers' O Brother Where Art Thou that secured a nomination – and it went on to win the main prize. Can King Kendrick do the same?
Will there be a Beyonce boycott?
Over the years, Beyonce and Jay-Z have had multiple opportunities to practice their "gracious loser" face at the Grammys – with neither artist winning best album, despite multiple nominations.
"What does Beyonce have to do to win album of the year," asked a mystified Adele at the podium in 2017, having just beaten the star's Lemonade record to the main prize.
This year, though, it got worse: The couple's joint album Everything Is Love failed to secure a nomination in any of the big four categories.
Maybe Jay-Z's attack on the Recording Academy made voters uncomfortable ("please inform the Grammys that the 0-for-8 situation is unacceptable," he says, in slightly more colourful language, on the single Apes***).
The record still gets a couple nods in the urban and video categories – but that raises the question of whether the couple, who've historically been a front-row fixture at the ceremony, will see fit to boycott the event?
Kanye and Drake have done it in the past… but we'd be gutted to miss another moment like this.
Cardi B is making money moves
With Bodak Yellow, Cardi B became the first female rapper to top the US charts without a featured artist since Lauryn Hill in 1998.
That song's success earned her two Grammy nominations last year – putting her out of contention for best new artist this year – but she's cleaned up in five other categories.
Her critically-acclaimed debut album, Invasion of Privacy, is up for best rap album and album of the year; while her Latin-flavoured party anthem I Like It is a strong contender for record of the year.
She might not win them all, but as she summarises on Best Life: "Went from small-ass apartments to walking red carpets / I'm like gold, I'm life goals, man, I'm chosen, I'm floatin', ay?"
Was Ariana Grande robbed?
She's one of pop's biggest stars but Ariana Grande has never won a Grammy. That could change this year, with her cathartic, confessional Sweetener album up for best pop record and the single God Is A Woman up for best pop vocal.
But it's a surprise to see her omitted from the big four categories, given the emotional and cultural impact she's had over the past year.
Even more unusual is the total absence of No Tears Left To Cry, her uplifting response to the Manchester Arena bombings, from the nominations list.
Was Taylor Swift also robbed?
Taylor Swift is a darling of the Grammys, with 10 wins under her belt – including two album of the year awards.
But the Academy has no love for her Reputation album, which gains a single nomination in the pop category.
The signs were there last year, when the record's first single, Look What You Made Me Do, failed to secure a nomination – but after selling two million albums, breaking YouTube records and staging the highest-grossing tour of 2018, many assumed Swift would walk away with a clutch of nominations.
It wasn't to be – but voters beware. Swift buries hatchets, but she keeps maps of where she put 'em.
Who on earth is Kacey Musgraves?
The holder of precisely zero top 40 singles in the UK, Kacey Musgraves is nonetheless one of the biggest stars in her home country.
The Texas native wrote songs for Martina McBride and Miranda Lambert before getting a deal with Mercury Records in 2012 – but her new album, Golden Hour, tweaks the traditions and challenges the conventions of country music.
A leisurely, sensual and emotionally-candid record, it was written with one question in mind: "If Sade made a country album, what would it sound like?"
For the crime of dispensing with tradition, Musgraves was frozen out by the small-minded, conservative world of US country radio, receiving almost no airplay – which made it all the more surprising (and gratifying) when she picked up album of the year at the recent Country Music Awards.
That sets her up for a successful Grammys where voters are likely to respond to Golden Hours' timeless melodies and effortless charm.
Will it get political?
There were plenty of political moments at the 2018 Grammys – Kendrick Lamar rapping about black power, Kesha addressing the #MeToo movement and Camila Cabello's poignant speech about immigration. But the awards themselves played it safe – rewarding Bruno Mars's airbrushed RB at the expense of Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar.
This year could be different, with Childish Gambino's powerful and singular This Is America nominated for both song and record of the year. The song's brutally compelling video, meanwhile, is surely the only real contender for video of the year.
There could also be recognition for Dirty Computer – a bold and funky album from Janelle Monae that tackles identity politics, gender fluidity, discrimination and the battle for America's soul.
Responding to her nomination on Friday morning, the singer said: "This album is so much bigger than me. It's not about me, it's about marginalised voices.
"Being a young black queer voice in America, there was something I had to say, and people I had to represent. I hope they feel loved and I hope they feel celebrated."
Other facts and trivia
Guns N' Roses could win their first ever Grammy for the deluxe edition of 1987's Appetite for Destruction – an album which didn't receive a single nomination the year it was released.
Post Malone was barred from competing in the rap field because his album doesn't contain enough rapping. He was also ruled out of the best new artist category for being too popular!
Kanye West – one of hip-hop's most innovative and respected producers – receives his first ever nomination in the producer of the year category for the sequence of five albums he worked on this year – including Pusha T's Daytona, Teyana Taylor's KTSE and his own record, Ye.
Drake is back! After withholding his More Life mixtape from consideration last year, he's all over the 2019 nominations list with his attention-sapping double album Scorpion.
Dua Lipa and Jorja Smith are the first British stars to be nominated for Best New Artist since James Bay in 2016.
The soundtrack to A Star Is Born was released after the eligibility period – but one song, Shallow, was released as a single days before the deadline, and earned nominations for both record of the year (recognising everyone who worked on the track) and song of the year (which goes to the writers). It's likely to be a big Oscar contender, too.
Sting and Shaggy get a nomination for best reggae album for their weird-but-not-awful-but-still-what-were-they-thinking collaboration 44/876.


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When you make a living as a background pianist in a restaurant playing instrumental versions of pop songs and you have an analytical mind, plus a background in music theory, you get to be somewhat of an ace at understanding how the construction of pop songs has changed over the years.
I spent a little time one day last week transcribing the song "Fix You" by Coldplay to play that night and I was thinking, "yep, here's another song with 4 chords of equal length repeating in a loop." It's a trend that has been strengthening since the 80s and now it's pretty much an unbreakable rule. I know you're skeptical.
Let me show you:
One – U2 (1991):
[Am – Dsus2 – Fmaj7 – G6] loop that…
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana (1991):
[E – A – G – C] loop that…
Wonderwall – Oasis (1995):
[Em – G – D – A] loop that…
One Headlight – The Wallflowers (1996):
[G – D – F#m – Bm] loop that…
Clocks – Coldplay (2002):
[D – Am – C6 – G] loop that…
Halo – Beyoncé (2008):
[A – Bm – F#m – D] loop that…
Chandelier – Sia (2014):
[Bbm Ebm Ab Fm] loop that…
Hello – Adele (2015):
[Fm – Ab/Eb – Eb – Db] loop that…
You get the picture. Sometimes it's one 4-chord loop through the whole song, sometimes there's a verse loop, then the chorus works over a different 4-chord loop. But it's always 4 chords of equal value. Without a break, without deviation.
You'd think it's always been that way, but no. Let's go back to The Beatles and have a look at a few of what we think of as their simpler songs.
First, Hey Jude.
Hey Jude is deceptive because it sounds uncomplicated. But that simplicity is achieved through some pretty sophisticated chord structuring, at least it's sophisticated in comparison to 4 chords in a repeated loop.
C G G7 C F C G C… and that's just the first part of the song. The next section ("And any time you feel the pain…") is quite asymmetrical and involves key changes and turnarounds.
Hey Jude is typical of The Beatles, whose songs are so easygoing and organic – but the song structuring is very creative and the chord progressions are shaped by the needs of the melody without any concern for sticking to a pattern. And yet it sounds so simple.
OK, now let's look at a Beatles song that does employ a repeated loop of chords.
Dear Prudence: [D – D/C – D/B – D/Bb] loop that 5 times, then play [D C-G D]
Yes, this song does in a sense use a 4-chord loop, but it's really built on one chord with a moving bassline.
However, this Beatles song differs from current 4-chord songs in an important way. The tension that builds in repeating the Dear Prudence loop over and over again is released and resolved at the end of the progression with a harmonic cadence on "won't you come out to play." That makes a big difference because the chord structure of Dear Prudence employs tension and release, a key compositional component to music.
The Beatles seek to express a narrative in their chord progressions, whereas that practice is almost non-existent in the 4-chord pop songs of today. Not that the Beatles way is better. Well, OK, it is.
It's hard to find other examples of 4-chord loops in Beatles songs. There is a freedom in their writing, a lot of tension and release, and even in their most stoic moods, they still use lots of chords, freely, almost at will. In fact, they do change chords at will because, "why not?"
So what has changed in pop music since those carefree days when recording artists built chord structures into their songs in any way they wanted? When they felt free to momentarily change keys or use cadences or asymmetry in their chord progressions? A lot.
Disco for starters, which while still rooted in tension and release and a lot of traditional harmony, was starting to employ 2-chord loops ("Miss You" by the Rolling Stones, "Good Times" by Chic are prime examples) although "Miss You" does have a release section ("Ooo, baby why you waiting so long?…").
But there still was a lot of room in disco for songs with longer, evolving chord progressions ("I Will Survive," for example) that employ a lot of tension and release, key changes, and even some asymmetry ("Golden Years" by Bowie is firmly in the disco genre but is very free with its harmonic structure).
Another intervening event between then and now is the emergence of Punk Rock – and even more importantly, the Punk Ethos – which eschews harmonic complexity and other trappings of the then status quo as a matter of principle.
And then of course there's Hip Hop but let's put that huge influence aside for now.
The period after Punk and Disco, but before the Common Era, the 80s, is an interesting era for harmonic analysis. There is a strong re-emergence of melody in 80s pop music and still remnants of the harmonic complexity of the preceding eras, but there is a distilling process underway, which is a good subject for another article – chord progressions of the 80s.
Would love to hear your thoughts on the matter. Please, let's continue the conversation in the comments section.
Editor's note: Read part two of this series The Modern Pop Song: A Different Kind of Tension & Release.
David Tobocman is a pianist and songwriter residing in Los Angeles

subset: commoncrawl


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White Blanket with Royal Blue&Grey Personalisation
Quality twin layer velour dimple blanket with satin trim. Dimple fabric on front, back layer is plain velour. If you wish to order a different embroidery colour, please mention it in the Embroidery Colour box. Size: 80x110cm


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814 total views, 2 views today
I was really shocked seeing my nephews and nieces. Some are already bigger than expected and the others were all first time encounters. My uncle have five children, all are married (some once and twice). Now imagine how their place would look having many kiddos running around. If that was my father, he probably goes berserk. LOL!! Anyway, we have a very good dinner and little camaraderie with my cousins' wives. It went well and good.
When I arrived home, my brother and my sister were still there. We talked at my sister's store which is just outside the compound. We talked about many things like dreams and frustrations in life. Because we were really having fun with our chit chats, we didn't notice that it was already 12 midnight. So, after the talk we bid good bye to each other and I went inside the house.
As I was inside, that is when I opened my PC and started dropping until 7:00 am. Ha! I didn't sleep again. Well, I did, around 7:30am to 3:00pm. Good thing it's Sunday and my parents are not too busy. They could take good care of my children while I was fast asleep.
Anyway, tomorrow is another non-working holiday and probably my kiddos and I will go out and have some good time together. I have been depressed lately and maybe I should get some fun and relaxation. But as for now, back to work!


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Ja'Nel Witt was a winner of Hell's Kitchen and was on her way to become head-chef at one of Gordon Ramsay's famous restaurants at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, but that dream for her has just crashed and burned. Ja'Nel had to take a take a drug test and the results proved that she took cocaine. But because of that she has lost her dream and will not get the job. What an idiot, all that work to get that job and she completely blows it away – oh well, the nose knows.
Caesars Palace are known to reinforce their drug policy and now she has no job, she didn't even get to step into the kitchen at all; it's incredibly embarrassing and a waste of time for her to ever have won the 11th season of Hell's kitchen.
But the good side to this whole story is that Ja'Nel will receive her $250,000 salary; now imagine all the cocaine she can buy – at current street prices she can grab a good 5-10 kilos! Sadly there were probably some other good chefs in that competition that could have gotten this opportunity.
This is why I am not a fan of drug users; they ruin such great opportunities that other people would die to have in their life. Ja'Nel has not only disrespected Gordon Ramsay but has also pretty much given all of her fellow contestants on the show a big slap in the face.
This woman has wasted so much of her time; I highly doubt that she'll find any luck with working in another high-class kitchen. She'll now have to settle for much less, imagine the money she would have made? I'm so amazed at how stupid this woman is; she is a living insult to each and every aspiring chef in the world, why do people like her even exist?


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May 18, 2017 01:00 pm – Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, the Los Angeles nonprofit that is home to the nation's leading Suicide Prevention Center, today launches "Stigma," a nationwide digital campaign that is aimed at erasing the stigma of mental illness.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jif18pZPlDc?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0]
The campaign includes a series of short videos that feature a diverse cross-section of Didi Hirsch clients, staffers, Board members and celebrities talking candidly about their or a family member's experience with mental illness.
The lead video focuses on "Fashion Police" Co-Producer Melissa Rivers, who lost her father to suicide. Melissa emceed Didi Hirsch's Erasing the Stigma Leadership Awards last month and was an honoree in 2016.
"We all hurt. We all have stuff we're embarrassed by. You can't wish these things away. So why hide them?" Rivers says in the video.
Other known personalities in the campaign include actress Eva LaRue, legal scholar Elyn R. Saks, Didi Hirsch's President/CEO Dr. Kita S. Curry, director Maya Forbes and singer/songwriter/entrepreneur Shawn Amos. All the videos are available on Didi Hirsch's social media channels or by clicking here.
Funded by East West Bank Foundation, the video campaign is part of Didi Hirsch's mission to provide mental health, substance use and suicide prevention services to children and adults in communities where stigma or poverty limits access. The videos capture personal stories of hope and inspiration about people who have survived and thrived through a mental health crisis.
Didi Hirsch, which has been serving the community for 75 years, launched its Erasing the Stigma Leadership Awards in 1997, at a time when few people spoke openly about mental health challenges. In the past 21 years, the organization has honored dozens of artists, authors and advocates who have helped erase the stigma of mental illness.
"The videos illustrate that mental illness is no different from any other kind of illness such as diabetes or high blood pressure and can be managed successfully with therapy and medication,"
– says Didi Hirsch President/CEO Kita S. Curry, PhD.
"People aren't typically ashamed to admit they have a physical illness. The same should be true of mental disorders-especially since one in five Americans will experience mental illness in any year."


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Money management for teenagers can be challenging, but with the Money 101 guide, parents can learn how to promote saving over spending.
Infographic Review
Infographic Design: B
The design for this infographic has a professional look to it that shows readers the importance of the information. The colors are bright and standout with the text. The graphs are a little on the boring side like something you would see in a report. I think having a little more fun images and graphs would help to attract more readers.
Infographic Information: A
The information is helpful and has great information for teens that are learning how to handle money. The statistics back up why it is important to learn about money and allows teens to learn from others. The information concludes with tips to help your teen manage their money.
Download this infographic.


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Much of the horror in "Fishfly Season" results from the fact that Marisol feels like — or is seen as — an outsider, partly because of her background and ethnicity. Why do we find social and emotional isolation so unsettling? Do the horror elements in this story serve as a metaphor for larger social issues?
When I was a kid I used to always dream that there were ghosts in the house we lived in, or that a terrible disaster was about to occur. I would run around and frantically try to get my family out, but no one believed me. They would laugh at me, or ignore me, and I would become more and more desperate as the dream progressed and disaster loomed closer and closer. That to me is the horror of her isolation, that she sees the nastiness in Grand Beach, behind the upscale socially polite faces. She starts out with a physical isolation, as an outsider because she is not from there, is from a different ethnic background, and becomes even more isolated because she sees. So it's a triple threat, outsider because she didn't grow up there, outsider because of race, and finally the most horrible of all, outsider because she sees what no one will ever believe. Not having a voice is perhaps the most frightening of all isolations.
I never write a story with a political or social agenda in mind. The elements come out of my own experiences, what is going on around me (in the media, on the subway, things I overhear) and what has happened to me in the past. However I do think that racism of the type practiced in Grand Beach, so prevalent in "genteel" communities, is the most insidious type of all. How can you protest or cry out against someone politely dismissing you?
There is also a sense that darkness, emptiness, or even evil lurks behind the community's "normal," perfectly manicured facade. Is this a theme you find interesting or explore often in your writing?
The crux of all good horror is what lies beneath. Beneath the innocent facade, or even the typical "scary" setting. But the really frightening experience is when something presents its self in one way, and then is shown to be rotten. All my favorite stories have this sense of something off kilter in the most ordinary of circumstances: Shirley Jackson's "The Summer People," and Joyce Carol Oates' "The Doll" and "The Museum of Dr. Moses." Distrusting your own intuition about what you sense, willful blindness to the underlying meaning of what is happening, what people say, and the circumstances that arise from that are some of the themes I most often find myself writing about. To get the frustration out of my system, I suppose.
In 2005 you established Tightrope Books. Can you tell us a little about Tightrope? Has being a publisher changed your perspective on writing?
Tightrope is an independent literary press. For the most part it focuses on what the grant juries refer to as "urban" literature, which means LGBT, or books that are a bit "grittier" then the standard Canlit fare. We also publish The Best Canadian Poetry anthology and The Best Canadian Essays anthology.
Being a publisher made me much more compassionate to small and independent publishers' travails when it comes to producing and selling a book. It has made me extremely amenable to editing, and much less likely to call my publisher up and complain about my ranking on Amazon. However, after nine years of running with the hares and hunting with the hounds, I sold the press in October 2014 to one of my writers who has no idea what he is getting himself into.
What do you most like to read?
I read constantly so pretty much everything is fair game, though I am not crazy about "Chick Lit" or even deeply meaningful contemporary fiction about, say World War II Paris. I love to reread too, and often fill up the tank by reading short stories by horror's masters that I have read over and over. I love British women writers, Hilary Mantel, A.S. Byatt, Angela Carter. I read tons of mystery and true crime, as well as (very unhealthy) books on serial killers and psychopaths.
What are you working on now?
I am working on a novel about a serial killer groupie with the same setting as "Fishfly Season," also plugging away on edits for my first novel about paranormal investigators, and I'm about halfway through the stories for a psychological horror short story collection with every story having a woman as the central character.
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|Proloquo2Go 4 Core Words
Teaching a child to communicate via augmentative and alternative communication (or to repair unintelligible speech with AAC) is a labor intensive task. Designing and programming a robust and well-researched vocabulary system is also a labor intensive task, but, with the right system, it is a task that has been done for you! Hurray! You will likely need to do some basic customizing like adding the users personal information and user specific frequently used words and phrases. However, the rest of the work has been done for you! Now you can focus on sharpening your language teaching skills, modeling, developing descriptive classroom labels, making low tech versions of high tech displays, training peers, parents and teachers and so much more. You have enough to do without recreating the wheel.
2) It isn't too much!
I know looking at any robust system is overwhelming at first. So many words, so many colors. Maybe it isn't like the other systems you have taught. You are overwhelmed and you fear your staff, the parents and the child will be overwhelmed. You can't wrap your brain around this new system. You try to make a sentence and can't find the words you want. It's frustrating. So you think, maybe I will make something myself. Wait. All new languages are overwhelming at first. You have just landed in the airport in a country where you don't speak the language. The answer isn't to get back on the plane and leave and it isn't to hide in your hotel watching Netflix in your native language while just gesturing and pointing to clarify your wants and needs to the hospitality staff. The answer is to learn the language. Get in there! Make mistakes. Practice. Learn. Language is messy!
3) Choice Boards aren't communication!
Choice boards have their place. They belong alongside robust communication systems for quick, in the moment, decision making. They cannot replace communication robust systems. And if you make your own vocabulary on a speech system there is a decent chance you will, probably, create choice boards. Remind yourself that AAC is for ALL the functions of communication. Not just wants and needs. Not just choices. If you feel like your student isn't ready for "the big time" of using a robust application thing about this: when a child needs to learn to ride a bicycle we don't send them back to practice on a Big Wheels. We put them on a bike! We add supports like training wheels that we quickly fade. We stand beside them and help them learn, running, out of breath, to keep up. We realize they need to be on a bike to learn to ride a bike. And we realize they need to have a robust communication system to learn to use a robust communication system!
4) Evidence Based Practice/Research Based are the words of the decade!
Robust AAC systems have research behind them. Well done, core language based systems, have been researched to show the most frequently words used regardless of the grid size chosen. They attempt to keep symbol placement consistent across pages. Color Coding is deliberate and usually matches either the Fitzgerald Key or Goosens, Elder and Crain color coding. The high quality AAC systems - be they paper based, on a dedicated device or an app - have SLPs and others whose specific job it is to move research into practice. They agonize over whether to allow activity pages (which are not research supported for teaching long term language skills) or how to arrange less frequently used verbs or adjectives. They spend their days and nights deciding on features and grammar access and so much more so that you don't have to and their systems align with best practice/research. In some ways the SLPs and their teams at the companies that make high quality, robust systems are the unsung heroes of the AAC world. They keep current on the research, keep in touch with parents, teachers, therapists and users and somehow put all of that into their language systems. Using their work is working smarter, not harder and guarantees you can defend the vocabulary should the need to do that ever occur.
5) Stuff Happens
Let's face it stuff happens. That kid you spent months creating a vocabulary for might move. And the new district may or may not keep using your work. Or they may go to adult services where all your carefully programmed academic and/or choice making vocabulary is rendered useless. Or the device may crash and you might not have backed it up. Or your hard drive with all the back up crashes at the same time! Or maybe since you are programming so much the next teacher or SLP will as well creating a perfect storm of "too many cooks in the kitchen". (I have had to restart AAC teachingSO MANY times because of "too many cooks in the kitchen"). Stuff happens. Using a robust, high quality AAC system "out of the box" with only changes for personalization increases the chances that your user won't have to learn a brand new system some day. Learning a system with standardized symbols, color coding and organization now will make it easier if he or she DOES need to learn a new system someday. Using the high quality, robust vocabulary that comes with the system supports the user in the future as well as the user you have now.


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What questions do you have about nonprofit email marketing?
On April 5, 2017 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm Eastern, I'll answer 30 questions on nonprofit email marketing in 30 minutes during our next free webinar (registration link coming soon!).
Now I just need the questions!
Got one?
Head on over to our Events Chat Page on Facebook and add your question as a comment. Like other questions too. I'll answer the 30 questions with the most likes.


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We should invoke her assistance at this time, with confidence.
Saint Francesca Cabrini, missionary and tireless servant of the masses of destitute immigrants in the USA at the beginning of the twentieth century, understood real people. She knew how to deal with everybody. She was able to light a fire inside people's hearts.
What was her secret?
Trust in God. Love for Jesus Christ. Prayer and the sacraments. Perseverance beyond the point of "crazy." Prayer. More prayer. Patience, in spades. Willingness to ask God for everything and to do whatever God put in front of her. More prayer. Loving people, ignoring their pretentiousness and/or their self-doubts, and waking them up to how they could serve the Lord and overcome evil with good. Never giving up on loving God and doing good. Knowing when to be persistent and when to be flexible. Total abandonment to Christ. And...did I say prayer?
We can sum it up in one word: Sanctity.
Holiness. It sounds impossible because it is impossible—it is impossible for human beings to do on their own, or even dream about doing. But God makes it possible; God, who came to be with us in Jesus Christ.
We need saints today.
We need saints like Francesca Cabrini to see the real needs of our own time and let Christ work through them. We are all called to be saints. It starts with prayer and trust; the more we open our own hearts to God, the more He will enable us to recognize what He is doing, by His grace, in the hearts of others.
Also, this generation needs some extraordinary saints, like Mother Cabrini or like Mother Teresa or John Paul II (the saints who were the light of my youth). I think we should pray to God to raise up among us these special kinds of saints, who will be inspirations and examples for our children, and who will help us all to live our faith with hope and joy whatever obstacles we might face.
They are already among us, certainly, but we need more of them. We need saints who we can see and hear, who are alive with love. We need to see what love looks like in this world today, and how love can embrace us with our problems, our wounds, our need for healing and renewal.
I know for sure that I can't figure this out for myself. I need help. Don't you?
Let's ask for help: Lord, grant us saints for our time, and make us saints.


text: Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Today's feast is a beautiful reminder that surrender to God's will is an avenue of grace. What courage it takes to say YES to an unknown future. Mary's willingness and humility reminds me that if I fully avail myself to God's grace by surrendering my complete trust I will know God's favor. Grace is God's favor, unmerited. Let my prayer echo Mary's: I am the handmaid of God, may it be done to me according to Your Word.


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Where coders connect
by Marisa Whitaker
April '14
While developing the website that hosts the world's largest open-source community, Chris Wanstrath, co-founder of GitHub, came to appreciate the power of collaboration. At last check, he had shared it with more than 3.4 million users.
In just five years since launching GitHub.com (a site that claims to be "the best place to share code with friends, co-workers, classmates, and complete strangers"), 27-year-old Wanstrath, a former University of Cincinnati student, has seen a simple idea grow into perhaps the most powerful software-development tool on the planet. GitHub is valued somewhere in the neighborhood of $750 million. Not bad for an English-major dropout, who decided he'd rather write code than go to class.
Akin to a blend of Wikipedia and Facebook, but for the programming world, GitHub has exploded into a center for developers to share and contribute to one another's coding simply. In other words, the tool allows multiple contributors to work on the same piece of software without losing track of the changes or stepping on one another's progress. Where GitHub has experienced financial success is by allowing companies the option to pay to use the tool privately, where developers can work together on proprietary software. Even WalMart is a customer.
Wanstrath and his co-founders never intended for GitHub to become so big. Nonetheless, they are proud of how well the website has helped so many people build better software programs together. GitHub has grown into the largest code host in the world with 5.9 million repositories and about 10,000 new users and 20,000 new repositories each day.
"I don't think anyone else is close," Wanstrath says.
From the beginning, what became most apparent was not just the need to share code, but the need to work with someone over the Internet.
"Collaboration was the real problem we were solving," Wanstrath said during a return trip to UC to help launch the university's mobile applications incubator on campus in February 2013, a move he hopes will inspire more people to take an interest in coding.
It has been a wild ride since he last left Cincinnati's campus. After attempting a degree in English at UC, but instead spending all his time programming in his apartment, Wanstrath, minus a college degree, applied for a job in San Francisco at CNET taking a leap into professional programming.
"I didn't go to class, and I programmed," he laughs when asked how he spent his time at UC. "I don't ever think I thought that a degree was going to be necessary. I thought skills were necessary. All I wanted to do was start learning a lot."
He had taken one or two UC programming classes and even considered switching to a computer-science major, but with all the free time college life afforded him, Wanstrath got seriously invested in coding and realized he could make it into a job. Since he had been completely self-taught until moving to San Francisco, he knew CNET had taken a big chance on him.
"I didn't think I was going to cut it as a programmer, but I'm sort of addicted to it," he admits.
His former Cincinnati roommate, Mark Wilson, doesn't let Wanstrath forget who did all the work around the apartment to give him ample opportunity at the biggest success of his life.
"He was always coding," says Wilson. The two are still good friends and even played in bands together while Wanstrath lived in Cincinnati. Wilson describes Wanstrath as "kind, generous, hilarious and loyal."
From a young age, Wanstrath loved video games and had aspirations to create some of his own until he realized how much math goes into making a video game. He played around on a computer at his grandparent's house making it perform simple tasks, and in high school he was impressed by gamers setting up websites to coordinate online battles.
Wanstrath is thankful to have a family that was 100 percent supportive of his goals every step of the way. When he had the "I'm dropping out of college" talk with his dad, he never felt like his parents were disappointed.
"Do 20 year olds think about risks?" he wonders when asked about taking on a career without a degree. Wanstrath's fear was that he wouldn't succeed at CNET and he would have to move back in with his mom. Although, he concedes, he does have "a very cool mom."
During his move to San Francisco, Wanstrath resolved that he would not let himself be tied down to unfulfilling projects in his professional life. The chance to work on really great things and interact with smart people on the same level pushed him to make his career into something wholly gratifying. He even dumped his World of Warcraft account to eliminate any chance of distractions.
He and GitHub co-founder Tom Preston-Werner came together in 2007 to solve the online collaboration problem as a side project. They had both been developers working on the Ruby on Rails web development community.
Their goal at first was to improve Git, a version control system, that allowed for online collaboration, but lacked easy of use. Along the way they added two more co-founders in PJ Hyett (whom Wanstrath met at CNET while working on the Chow and Chowhound projects) and Scott Chacon. Their site became not only a functioning collaboration tool, but it also looked great and provided a unique customer experience. The uniqueness of their startup may be best represented by the mutant company mascot, the "Octocat" — a cat head with tentacles for a body and often found wearing a space suit on site graphics.
Equally as hip as the Octocat is their office space — a 14,000-square-foot loft — where 150 GitHub workers spend their days. The office, complete with air hockey, ping-pong, gaming systems, a Kegerator, standing desks and even a café where both employees and guests can bring their laptops and work on projects.
Before they had a physical space, work was mainly conducted through Campfire, a private chat service accessible with a browser, desktop application and mobile apps.
"We have about 100 rooms (in Campfire)," says Wanstrath. "Most of them are specialized rooms, but we also have regional and topical rooms — rooms for people who exercise together, or make music together, or live in the same part of the country or work with similar technologies."
In full respect to the collaboration philosophy, there are no formal managers at GitHub. The projects are fueled simply by individuals with their own goals and motivation. Employees are not made to focus on deadlines and are instead encouraged to complete their projects promptly and comfortably. All public projects are viewable and if a programmer wants to help someone working on a separate project, they are allowed to offer insights and assistance.
Wanstrath's well-worn style of tan jackets, pale face and shaggy reddish hair makes him look more the part of a blues-rock star than a programmer. He claims to be introverted, yet he has a genuine interest in working face-to-face with people and listening to their needs with earnest consideration.
Everyone around him – as soon as they realize who he is – scrambles to put a bug in his ear and a chance for that big connection. When talking, Wanstrath speaks so rapidly, it is easy to get lost in his discourse. When not the center of attention, he is reserved, plays a guitar and enjoys reading science fiction and physics books.
"Trying to be a writer and coder uses the same parts -- in front of a monitor, hands on a keyboard -- all day," he laments. "Music is a different part of the brain."
He likes going to shows and dabbling in electronic dance music, as well. Among alternative career goals, Wanstrath wanted to become a musician.
Upon every return trip to Cincinnati, like the good Queen City native he is, Wanstrath gets Skyline Chili about five times, he says. He also has his parents send Graeter's ice cream and seriously considered opening a franchise in San Francisco even though he has zero restaurant experience.
Today, Wanstrath doesn't directly work with his co-founders but they continue to collaborate over GitHub and are still close friends. Although he has not felt a big change in his life as a result of his success, he has traveled all over the world and loves the camaraderie between GitHub users that he comes in contact with. He thinks it is remarkable that people are using his site all over the world.
"It's really awesome that people like GitHub," he says with unequivocal modesty.
GitHub hosts events at local bars around the country called "drinkups" and going to those events has become one of Wanstrath's favorite things to do.
"Everyone will say 'Hi' to you and you don't have to worry about any social anxiety," he says. "It's just a really welcoming environment."
At a drinkup in Austin, he was chatting with a man who was enthusiastically using Resque, a program Wanstrath wrote. Turns out, the man had no idea he was talking to the brains behind the program.
"I've met people who are way more technical than me," he says. "Being able to meet other smart people is a huge job perk and some even like GitHub."
As for the future, Wanstrath is not really sure what is ahead. If anything, he hopes more people become involved in personalizing their technological experience.
"I think that's how you get to technological breakthroughs -- by focusing on real issues," says Wanstrath. "Now we have millions of people signing up; it's unbelievable the scope of GitHub."
The culture of professional programming has grown from convoluted and boring to an engaging hub in which people enjoy their work. Wanstrath and his co-founders were able to breathe new life into working as a coder and simplified the process for people all over the world.
He puts it this way: "It's really cool to get up every day and know that you're making people's lives better."
Marisa Whitaker is a writing intern with UC Magazine.
Associate editor John Bach contributed to this article.
Read more about Wanstrath's company at GitHub.com
UC App Lab on Main


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Accelerate your performance and stay protected from the elements with the ASICS Accelerate running jacket for women. Ideal for layering, this running jacket is made from lightweight, noiseless fabric offering distraction free running and protection from rain and wind.
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IRIS Appoints Shaiful Subhan as New Group CEO
16 October 2017
Kuala Lumpur, 16 October 2017 – The Board of IRIS Corporation Berhad (IRIS), a world leader in Trusted Identification, hereby announce the appointment of Mr. Shaiful Subhan as the new Group CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of IRIS effective today.
Shaiful is an accomplished leader with great operational expertise and customer insights across multiple industries. He was previously the COO (Chief Operating Officer) of Malaysia Organising Committee (MASOC) under the Ministry of Youth & Sports to oversee all organisational aspects of the 29th SEA Games and 9th ASEAN Para Games hosted in Kuala Lumpur, on a 1-year secondment basis from MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd (Astro). In Astro, he was the Vice President, Customer Division where he led a number of key business units for their TV operations. Before joining Astro, Shaiful had stints with Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, Privasia Technology Bhd and the United Engineers (M) Bhd Group.
Shaiful holds a Bachelor of Accounting from Birmingham University, UK and a MBA (Master of Business Administration) from the University of New England, Australia. He is also a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) and a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), UK.
"I am looking forward to this wonderful opportunity to serve the Malaysian company that invented the world's first ePassport. There is great opportunity ahead for IRIS, but to seize it, we must focus clearly, move swiftly and evolve continuously." said Shaiful Subhan.
Mr. Choong Choo Hock, the current Acting CEO, will assume a new role as CEO of IRIS Trusted Identification and Information Technology Division commencing 16 October 2017.
The Board also wishes to announce on the resignation of Datuk Tan Say Jim as a member of the Company's Board of Director with effect from 16 October 2017, in conjuction with his mandatory retirement as Managing Director/Chief Executive Director at the age 60.


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Kitten4191: Got a question
nomorefr0y0: perhaps I have an answer!
Kitten4191: Why did Kate call me?
nomorefr0y0: Because she wanted to know what Aaron told you about the marks on his neck, because he was lying to you and her.
Kitten4191: how did he supposedly get them
nomorefr0y0: She said he told you that his brother choked him but the truth is she gave them to him
nomorefr0y0: Because he kept trying stuff with her even though she told him they're just friends but he keeps doing and saying all this shit anyway
Kitten4191 signed off at 7:17:08 PM.


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2021 Update: This post about Kat's experience with dry eyes was originally published on Apr. 4, 2012, but we've updated links and images below… so we're changing the date to allow for newer commentary. If you're working from home temporarily, it's a GREAT time to give your eyes a break from frequent contact lens wear — these are some of our favorite for
This isn't entirely a "beauty Wednesday" feature, but as we head into spring allergy season I thought I'd remind everyone to take very good care of your eyes, particularly if you wear contacts. You see, I had a serious scare with my eyes because when I first started working at my law firm, I didn't know four things:
a) how dry the office air was
b) how dry my eyes were naturally
c) how much allergies affected my eyes — it never occurred to me to check beneath the lids of my eyes to see all the little raised bumps that allergies put there
d) how surprisingly easy to do serious damage to your eyes if you have the above 3 conditions and are also not taking the best care of your contacts
{related: online eyeglasses for women}
The first year at my law firm, I wore contacts about 90% of the time (contacts I was supposed to wear for 8-12 hours a day and throw away every 2 weeks… neither of which happened), and loved (LOVED) to get home after a long day at the office and rub my eyes for like a minute. Aaaaah – felt so good! When allergy season hit, my lack of knowledge (those damned little bumps!) meant I was done for — unbeknownst to me, I was basically exfoliating my corneas.
It probably didn't help that I was working long hours — 16-18 hour days weren't that uncommon. Over the course of a few weeks, my eyes turned a little pink, then got watery. Then I noticed that my vision was blurry, even if I was just wearing my glasses. (Actually, especially if I was wearing my glasses — so I wore my contacts more.) One day, I met my younger brother for lunch near the office, and he grabbed my shoulders, leaned close to inspect my eyes, and said, "Kat, your eyes look sick. Like, yellow and dull." I went back to the office and found an eye doctor.
The next day, the ophthalmologist took one look and sent me to a cornea specialist. He looked through his scope, and began drawing what he said was my eyeball — first a big circle, then lots and lots and lots of little circles. He started dotting at the paper, almost making jabbing motions.
"This is what you're doing to your eyes," he said. I hadn't hit the cornea — yet — but I was very close to rubbing through the layer that protects your cornea. He ordered me to stop wearing all eye makeup, to wear nothing but glasses, to rest my eyes whenever I wasn't using them, and — oh yes — to keep a pretty vigorous, semi-hourly routine of drops, some OTC, some prescribed.
(For years after this I kept using the OTC stuff — Theratears Gel — every night before I went to bed, and highly recommend them to anyone who has dry eyes.) Leaving his office in my eyeglasses, I realized I could barely see the difference between the street and the curb.
Long story short: after about two weeks of this routine, I was back in eye makeup and contacts, and could pack my audiobooks away, but I learned a lifelong lesson: never take your eyes for granted! According to my cornea specialist (who I still see every six months), it took about a year for my eyes to recover completely. I consider myself very, very lucky.
What I Learned about Caring for Dry Eyes
Some major tips I learned from the experience:
1. If your eyes are itchy because of allergies, avoid rubbing your eyes.
I still remember how much I loved to rub my eyes — but these days if I'm not removing eye-makeup, I'm not touching my eyes.
2. Blink! If you have dry eyes, try to blink more often.
If you're using a computer frequently you're probably blinking less — there are actually apps you can download to help you remember to blink. Take a break every hour from the computer and try to really focus on blinking more frequently.
3. Be wary of using Visine to get the red out if your eyes are red — at least, not on a daily basis.
If you have a big meeting and want your red eyes (either from allergies, dryness, or whatever reason) to go away, maybe break out the Visine — but it's actually drying to your eyes, which only exacerbates the problem.
Use a product like Theratears to keep your eyes moist throughout the day, and talk with your eye doctor about whether prescription drops are appropriate to help with your symptoms.
This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!
4. Reconsider wearing daily contacts if you have dry eyes, a dry office, allergies, or all of the above.
At the very least, get a pair of glasses to keep at the office so you can take your contacts out if you're working late. 2017 Update: Here's our latest discussion on affordable eyeglasses you can get online.
5. Consider getting a humidifier if your office air is dry.
Humidifiers can really help with dry office air — but be careful to clean it regularly — the mold can be even worse for your health.
6. Follow the directions on your contact use.
While my contact use wasn't egregious (I wasn't sleeping in them, although I did probably wear them for 16 hours, and keep a pair about 4x longer than directed), my eye doctor recommended I wear glasses most of the time after this incident.
I tried rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses for a while, but now I ultimately prefer single-use contacts for dry eyes. (I looked into LASIK for myself, and while my regular doctor thought I could do the procedure, a doctor I saw for a second opinion said he wouldn't chance it, considering how dry my eyes are.)
2021 update: I also haven't found a lash booster serum that works with my dry eyes — if you find one please let me know! (And if you're using one and having trouble with dry eyes… maybe stop that.)
Ladies, have you had any health scares caused by seemingly normal activities? Do you suffer from allergies, dry eyes, or other eye woes?


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Murder trial leaves emotional scars on families of Sam DuBose, Ray Tensing
Sister of man Tensing shot convinced jury will convict former officer of murder
Sister of man Tensing shot convinced jury will convict former officer of murder
Sister of man Tensing shot convinced jury will convict former officer of murder
Now that both sides have rested in Ray Tensing's second murder trial, the toll the trial has taken on the loved ones of those involved is becoming clearer.
When Tensing was on the witness stand Friday, his mother wiped away tears.
For Sam DuBose's family, tears flowed during court and after the trial's testimony came to an end.
"He needs to be convicted of murder," DuBose's sister Terina Allen said. "I cannot wait for the jury to get this decision, get this case next week."
Allen did not hold back after she watched Tensing on the witness stand.
"I do not believe Tensing has any remorse," Allen said. "Because he has never reached out to us. He has never reached out to this family to (say) anything about, 'I'm even sorry I took the life,' if he didn't mean it or whatever. He executed my brother on July 19. He's been accusing my brother of trying to kill him. Today he continued with that lie."
On July 19, 2015, Tensing shot DuBose during a traffic stop. When questioned by prosecutors Friday, the former University of Cincinnati police officer admitted he never checked to see if DuBose was dead or alive.
"Tensing's not acknowledging Sam's life, thinking about him, saying he didn't know he was dead or alive, but yet he didn't go check a pulse," Allen said. "He didn't go do anything. They pulled guns on Sam while he was laying in that car, and just that whole visual really broke me down."
Speaking with a heavy heart, Allen, her sister and their mother were also thinking about the brother and son they've lost.
"The worst of Sam, if they want to say it, is that he smoked weed or sold it," Allen said. "And this man shot him in the head. .. He is a better man than Tensing will ever be. And so he had a kind heart. He trusted everybody. He'd help you no matter how many times you did a wrong. He helped people in the community. He would give away everything he had, his last of everything he had. He was a good guy."
"The jury got to see Sam," his mother, Audrey DuBose, said. "We represented Sam. And we are all Sam."


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Acceptance and rejection are the two sides of the story for any filmmaker, and in fact for anyone who takes chances and puts themselves out there, whether artistically or otherwise.
It's been a little over a week that our EVERTHING IS FOREVER campaign launched, and it has already been an emotional roller coaster on a daily basis.
As I write this at 5:30 AM, I can attest to one crowdfunding side effect: You don't sleep. It used to be that I would rise to feed our four cats at 5 AM and fall blissfully back to sleep for another two hours, but these days I just toss and turn as my mind races, obviously eager to see if any donations came in during the night, but primarily trying to come up with new and creative ways to appeal to potential contributors.
Giving up on sleep entirely, and eager to put my new theories to the test, I take the stairs to my edit room at a dead run, plotting out little videos, photos, and enticing copy like some kind of carnival barker, anything to get 'em in the tent motivated to donate.
We've got outtakes from our previous films for people's amusement; quizzes for Rory Gallagher fans to puzzle over or get it right, driven by a desire for their own download of SONGS & STORIES along with an exclusive and revealing interview with Rory's brother Donal.
An Ozzie Virgil baseball card was recently posted, along with some copy on his Facebook timeline in the hopes of luring his friends into the tent with a promised look at what his life was like in baseball's minor leagues, via a download of CHASING A DREAM.
This morning's pre-dawn hours were spent planning my "virtual birthday party and fund-raising event." My night terrors involve the dread of turning on the computer at sun-up to find that nary a soul has showed up to Indiegogo, with the attendant sinking feeling that 24 hours have passed and we've raised not a dime.
Now, these crowdfunding campaigns are time sensitive — time is money, or more accurately in the case of EVERYTHING IS FOREVER today, time ISN'T money.
My first instinct is to give way to utter depression and real fear that we will not make our goal. The reality is that it will be much harder to finish the film without contributions, and we now have a commitment to all the people who have generously donated so far.
But what I'm learning is that rather than giving way to discouragement, I can instead turn that energy to creating solutions; it's not just going hat-in-hand and hitting up friends and family and strangers alike for money. It's more like ensuring a collaboration with people out there who "get it." Who want to be a partner in a project which has value not measurable in dollars and cents.
We certainly don't expect excited crowds to stampede in like a Toys R Us sale on Christmas Eve, but if idle hands make the devil's work, my idea crunching in the small hours drives the demons away. It allows me to keep doing what we've been doing all along to make the film — you roll up your sleeves and get to work. And maybe, just maybe, in the process enjoy the ride.


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Biden will take a break from his Iowa efforts to campaign in South Carolina.
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) - The presidential campaigns of Democratic Sen. Joseph Biden and Republican Sen. John McCain announced today that their candidates will stump in the Palmetto State next week.
Biden, who is focusing most of his resources on Iowa, will hold a meet and greet in Rock Hill in the morning, then head to Columbia for a press conference at the State House.
McCain, returning to South Carolina for the second time in two weeks, will spend three days here starting Tuesday. He'll make stops in Westminster, Camden, Orangeburg, Charleston, and Pawley's Island.
UPDATE: The Biden campaign tells CNN the senator will announce some state endorsements at his State House press conference on Monday.
- CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby


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To view original article click here
The Mirror
By Bruce Thain
Eighteen-year-old Ezgi Serce, who was studying at Kingston University in Surrey, was found dead at the house she shared with other students
A university student died taking an overdose of antidepressants after recording emotional videos on her laptop about her boyfriend, an inquest heard.
Ezgi Serce, a first year pharmaceutical student at Kingston University in Surrey, was found dead in her shared student house.
The 18-year-old had overdosed on an antidepressant, a hearing was told at West London Coroner's Court today.
Her family became concerned for her well-being when her cousin said she was "upset" the day before her death in January this year.
Her family went to the shared house in New Malden, south west London, from their home in Hackney before police entered her room.
They found her lifeless on the floor wearing a grey onesie.
An ambulance was called, but paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.
Police officers searched her room and found a laptop, on which were three videos made using a web-cam the previous evening.
In one of the short videos Ms Serce was visibly angry and upset.
She was talking and shouting in Turkish and English about her relationship with her boyfriend.
In another video she was heard speaking in Turkish again about someone else who she wanted to call.
However she said she knew they wouldn't pick up.
A third video found on her laptop saw her refer to her relationship and that she was "very upset".
She added that her boyfriend "should go and be happy with anyone he likes."
Her last words heard in the video were "f*** this, f*** this".
PC Richard Borries, who examined the video, told the inquest that they heard a "popping" noise in the background which was similar to the sound of pills being removed from packaging.
Evidence from her medical history revealed she had been in therapy sessions with her family on several occasions.
The inquest also heard she had suffered several failed pregnancies.
Tributes were paid to the daughter of businessman İsmet Serce at her funeral at the Alevi Cultural Centre in Dalston, east London. Other family members attended from Germany, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Turkey's Consul General in London Emirhan Yorulmazlar was among those paying his condolences at the packed service.
West London Coroner Chinyere Inyama said: "It is quite clear to me from these details, by her taking the medication to excess, there was an intention and it is quite clear she had concerns in her life and stresses in her life.
"Just before she did this act she made videos, found on her laptop, concerning her boyfriend."
He also noted that she had previously tried to take her own life "using the same medication before" and there was no third party involvement.
The coroner added: "I am satisfied to the point I can be sure that she died as a result of suicide."
None of Ezgi's family were present at the inquest.


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Catching Up With: Stefano Domenicali, Automobili Lamborghini CEO
One-time Ferrari F1 team principal discusses raging bulls
Stefano Domenicali was a familiar face on the Ferrari Formula 1 pit wall for years, succeeding Jean Todt as team principal in the Scuderia's immediate post-Michael Schumacher/Ross Brawn reign. The 51-year-old Italian, son of a banker, graduated from Bologna University and subsequently joined Ferrari's financial department before soon becoming a player in the motorsports management realm. He resigned from his Maranello post in the spring of 2014, joining German powerhouse Audi that fall. But it didn't take long before the four rings decided to return him to his Italian roots as the man charged with leading a reinvigorated Lamborghini into a new era.
AM: How has the transition been from Maranello, first to Audi and now to Lamborghini?
SD: After one and a half years' with Audi, the CEO called me and said, 'Your next challenge: Lamborghini.' It's [a big] responsibility because it's a brand that is growing. Now we have Aventador, the Huracán, and the one-off series — these are closely related, but they need to look to the future with the SUV that will be ready in 2018 that will be a game changer for us.
AM: How much do you expect to see Lamborghini change?
SD: You know we are thinking of future products. What will be the right technology applied in this segment? Lamborghini is recognizable for the lines, for the design, but also for the engine music and for the technology.
AM: Ah yes, the sound. How long can you do these naturally aspirated V-12s and V-10s?
SD: The first comment I received when I met with dealers and customers was, "Please do not touch the V-12. Please." We are a niche market, so in the short-term we have the duty to not betray our customers. In the short-term, the V-12 will be there. What is important is to see when would be the right moment to be flexible enough [to change], when there is the right moment with the right costs, with the right approach.
AM: Ferrari doesn't currently do a four-door or an SUV, but the latter will work for Lamborghini?
SD: I think it fits very well. In a way, that segment will be complimentary to the one that we have now. [That means] great design, cutting-edge design, good dimensions, good presence. I'm expecting our customers who have our sports cars will have also the SUV because they want to be proud of having all of the family. But we will be in a segment where the major manufacturers are already there, so the competition will be very, very high. But the demand for this product is huge.
AM: You recently revealed the Centenario roadster during Monterey Car Week. Do you want to do more ultra-low-volume products like this?
SD: The one-off [car] approach will stay in the future, because it's a way to give value to certain cars but also to show some technology that will be applied in the future models.
AM: Decades ago Lamborghini was a pioneer with carbon fiber, and now you might be considering things like making internal engine parts from it …
SD: Carbon fiber is part of our DNA now, because we were the first to invest in these kinds of cars with the chassis, with the other technology, and now we are working on step two of that side of the forged carbon fiber. And we have just opened a new laboratory in Seattle. Great attention there, because there are a lot of people, a lot of companies that recognize the value of what is really the technology we have achieved in that respect.
AM: The plug-in hybrid Asterion coupe concept car is another route of attack. Plug-in hybrids, using electric power — how much is that technology part of your future as well?
SD: Why not? Not in the short-term, because we have to concentrate our efforts on [what we have]. This year will be a record year for us, touch wood. But we want to keep the market aspirational, and so we don't want to push for volume. We want to keep an exclusivity, but with an SUV we're going to double the numbers we are talking about, so it's a huge challenge for us. If we are able to achieve success, then we can think about another model [and that sort of technology], but not in the short-term. Wait and see. What I can say for sure is, what you are going to see from Lamborghini always will be a car that gives you passion to drive. This is fundamental. You cannot be in the mobility world with our brand. If you have a Lamborghini, you need to have the passion to drive.


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Wood is a natural material and variations in its characteristics are beautiful. These are a result of tree growth patterns, as well as differences in wood color and grain due to variations in forest growing conditions. Our multiple step finishing process creates a hard durable product which requires very little maintenance and simple care.
Basic cleaning: Use a mild cleaner and water then dry. Wipe with the grain of the wood using a soft towel. Do not use paper towels and do not dry dust as this may scratch the finish. Polishes and waxes can actually degrade the finish. Avoid using cleaners containing bleach, ammonia, citrus products, mineral oil, harsh detergents, abrasives or silicone.
Excessive moisture is one of the worst enemies of any finish. Cabinetry near the sink and dishwasher, and baseboards are the most susceptible. Dry off any areas immediately where water has spilled. Avoid draping dishtowels or other wet items over doors or placing coffee makers where steam vents directly onto cabinet surfaces.
Extremes in temperature and humidity can cause wood to expand and contract, swell or warp, and dry out – possibly damaging the finish of your cabinetry. It is important to control the temperature and humidity in your home all year long. You should allow for minor warping as you go through one heating cycle before considering an issue.


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Food. Curated. host Liza de Guia provides a window into the lives and passions of local food artisans, farmers, fishermen, and chefs as they share their stories about the origins of good food.
Liza de Guia is a Webby Award-winning and James Beard-nominated director/producer and editor of original online video content, specializing in food and human-interest storytelling. After three years managing marketing promotions at ABC Television, she turned to a career in journalism in 2003, launching Plum TV's lifestyle channel in the Hamptons with her local, environmental coverage and sustainable food show What's Fresh. In 2007, Liza joined Titan TV to become the producer and host of Titan Greens, a weekly online environmental series on the web. After only six months with the company, she was nominated and received a Webby Award for her green series.
Now Liza is filming and directing content that is close to her heart - and her stomach. Food has always been a passion that she wanted to pursue more in-depth, and her dreams are coming true with her online documentary series food. curated. Her stories have been spotlighted by The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Huffington Post, Serious Eats, and The Village Voice, and nominated for a prestigious 2010 James Beard Foundation Award for Best Video Webcast. Liza lives in Brooklyn and plans to dedicate her life to telling stories with passion.


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Reviewed & updated: October 19, 2022 by Jamie Wilson BA
Are you a fan of Bob Marley? Do you like his character on your T-shirts, mugs, as well as towels? Well, now, you can get it even over your everyday shoulder bag! If you want a Bob Marley logo designed bag for yourself or your loved one, you will enjoy this article. Here, we will review our top 10 beautiful bags that will suit everyone's preference and budget. Keep on reading and find your ultimate bag!
Editors Pick: Bob Marley Marley Messenger Bag Green
If you are a fan of shoulder or messenger bags you will enjoy this one. It is a heavy-duty canvas bag that will hold your laptop as well as any other necessities with ease. It also features a front flap pocket enclosure screen print, contrast stitching, two accessory pockets, and Bob Marley logo tag. This bag measures 18″ long, 12″ tall and 5″ width. You will like its army green color as well as an affordable price point.
- Great bag for men and women
- Good price point
- Easy to carry around
- Closes easily
- Perfect for your laptop
- The color is a bit darker in person
Who Was Bob Marley?
Bob Marley was a Jamaican singer, a songwriter, as well as a musician. He was considered as one of the pioneers of reggae, and everyone loved his work back in the 60s!
———— Our Top 10 Best Bob Marley Bags ————
Bob Marley Rasta Natty Dread Messenger Handbag
If you want a bag that is easy to carry around and that is a practical messenger bag, you will enjoy this one. It comes in a noticeable grey color and it has a lot of space which means that it will easily hold your everyday items. This messenger handbag has the character of Bob Marley on top, and it is made with 100% cotton.
- You can carry your laptop in it
- Made with 100% cotton
- Lightweight model
- For men and women
- Good price point
- Not for you if you dislike bigger bags
Bob Marley Roots Rock Classic Backpack
No products found.
Do you want a backpack instead of a bag? If so, you will enjoy this Bob Marley inspired backpack. It measures 11.8 x 5.9 x 17.7in and it even has the 20-liter capacity. You will also love it because it is ultra-padded and it has a lot of space which means that it can carry most of your items. There are also some spacious front pockets and a discrete inner zip compartment. You will enjoy this backpack for your everyday wear, but you can also carry it to the gym with you.
- Spacious
- Has discrete inner zip compartments
- Great for different events
- Easy to carry around
- Not as big as some other bags
BEST Designs | 50 Smell Proof Mylar Bags | Clear Resealable Ziplock Bags
No products found.
If you want an unusual "bag", why not surprise someone with these cute little resealable ziplock bags? They are inspired by Bob Marley and they will easily trap water and moisture out. These bags are also heat-sealable and smell-proof. There are several different sizes for you to choose from and you can use them for food items, as well as weed! Also, there is a 100% money-back guarantee with these bags.
- Practical for food & snacks
- You can use them for weed
- Funny birthday present
- Will keep water and moisture out
- Not an actual bag for you to have, just a zip-lock
Bob Marley Collage Classic Backpack
Are you on a lookout for a beautiful backpack? If so, you might love this cool & unusual one that was inspired by Bob Marley! Although not being the most colorful bag, this item will suit minimalists. It measures 11.8 x 5.9 x 17.7in and it has a 20-liter capacity. You will also enjoy its ultra-padded part, along with its spacious front pocket. You can carry around most of your items, as well as laptops & tablets.
- Affordable
- Beautiful & stylish backpack
- Can hold your laptop
- Ultra-padded & lightweight model
- Not as highly-sold or loved since it doesn't have the "typical" Bob Marley colors
HBCali California Rasta Backpack with Padded Straps
- Front large pocket with inside mesh specific organizer
- Internal padded sleeve provides protection for 15" laptop
- One large main compartment . Two additional large front pockets
- Two Mesh side pockets Fabric is of superior durability
Do you want a true Bob Marley inspired backpack? This one has all the colors that you will like, and you will also enjoy its spacious fit. This colorful backpack has padded straps, as well as a large front pocket with an inside mesh organizer. There are also the padded sleeves, along with two large front pockets. You will like this backpack for your everyday use, especially if you are still in school or college. This backpack is quite durable and stylish at the same time.
- Colorful & bright
- Great for younger guys
- Stylish & spacious backpack
- Lightweight & had padded straps
- A bit smaller in person
PINZON Large Unisex Boho Aztec Schoolbag Foldable Rucksack
Are you a fan of larger bags that have a unique shape to them? This one by Pinzon is a large unisex bag that will suit both men and women. It is a rucksack hippie bag that you can wear for daytime and nighttime activities. This bag is also handmade in Mexico, and it is quite affordable when compared to other Bob Marley bags. You will enjoy it reinforced backpack straps, as well as the handy front zip pocket. There is a practical drawstring closure, and the bag itself is perfect for men and women.
- Unique shape
- For men and women
- Small and lightweight
- Made in Mexico
- Bright and colorful
- Doesn't have a lot of space when compared to other Bob Marley bags
- Not the manliest bag
FYDELITY- Ultra-Slim Fanny Pack: FUNKY FESTIVAL
- SMALL FESTIVAL FANNY PACK: Measuring 9"x5.5"x1" it's not the large fanny pack for women. Our music festival fanny pack have an adjustable belt bag strap that ranges from 28" to 44".The retro fanny...
- Old School FANNY PACK: It's the perfect 80s 90s fanny pack for you. The retro fanny pack is great for use as a crossbody rave fanny pack, glitter fanny pack, concert bag, hip bag, 80s festival bag,...
- FESTIVAL WAIST BAG FOR WOMEN OR MEN: A fun two pocket fanny pack for year round use that fits most woman or man. Its definitely a cute fanny pack that features a main large pocket interior that holds...
- RAVE OUTFITS FOR WOMEN AND MEN: Wear the FYDELITY fashionable fanny packs to work, dance music festivals, parties,night clubs, pool, beach. Our unisex fanny pack is a trending fanny pack and the...
If you want an ultra-slim fanny pack and you prefer lightweight bags, go for this one! It reminds a lot of Bob Marley because of its color scheme and you will enjoy it since it is quite spacious – it can hold your phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses & other items. This fanny pack measures 9″ x 5.5″ x 1″ (24cm x 14cm x 3cm) and you will like its practical belt strap length. Both men and women will enjoy this bag since it is unisex + perfect for any weather season.
- Lightweight bag
- Stylish
- Colorful
- Perfect if you are a minimalist
- Will hold a lot of your items
- Not for you if you need an actual bag/messenger bag
Large Rasta Peruvian Multicolored Bohemian Tribal Print Pattern
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Do you like tribal & Bohemian bags? If so, this one is the perfect bag for you. This is a Rasta/Bob Marley inspired bag that is also available in 6 different colors. You will like it since it is a unique piece that's been made in Peru. You will also love its lightweight fit and the fact that you can carry it with you anywhere you go. This bag measures 18″ x 16″ x 5.5″ | 33″ (straps) and you will enjoy its practical string closure.
- Lightweight bag
- For men and women
- Available in different colors as well
- Easy to close with string closure
- Doesn't have a picture of Bob Marley over the bag
- Not the manliest bag either
Full Funk Hemp Tube Shoulder Bag with Rasta Colours
Would you rather settle for a shoulder bag than any other bag? If so, this is the one for you. This is a unique tube shoulder bag that has all the colors of the rainbow as well as a picture of Bob Marley on one side. You will enjoy its wide shoulder straps for comfortable wear, along with its comfy fabrics. This bag is made with 100% pure cotton and you can get it in two different sizes.
- Cotton bag
- Comfortable to carry around
- Has wide shoulder straps
- Beautiful colors + picture of Bob Marley
- Two different sizes available
- Not as highly sold or loved when compared to some other bags
Bob Marley Drawstring Backpack Sports Athletic Gym
No products found.
Last, but not least, you may like this sporty backpack that was inspired by Bob Marley! You can carry this bag with you to your gym practice, or whenever you're headed out somewhere casual. This back was designed with double lining which is very durable. It measures 45cm*35cm/18″*14″ and you will enjoy its adjustable string, as well as the lightweight feel. It can fit most of your key essentials, but it is not as big as some other Bob Marley inspired bags.
- Lightweight bag
- Perfect for sporty events
- Can hold most of your stuff
- Has a Bob Marley picture in the front
- For men and women
- Not as durable as some other bags
- May not suit everyone's preference since it is a sporty bag
And there you have it! Which of these top 10 Bob Marley inspired bags was your favorite? Let us know your favorite bag down below, and also let us know where you'll be headed out with this bag!
Feature image from Pinterest


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Ramrod Overboard Waterproof Phone Case
Ramrod Overboard Waterproof Phone Case
Stay connected with a waterproof phone case that allows you to use your touchscreen phone while it is safely protected against water damage.
With a waterproof phone pouch, including the waterproof iPhone case, you can make or take calls while your phone is safely sealed. Above water, you have full use of touchscreen functions, so you never need to miss essential calls. And while submerged, your device can be used to take photos or videos when it is sealed inside the waterproof pouch.
The cases feature a transparent front, and the back has a LENZFLEX window so you can capture crystal clear photos and videos. Each waterproof phone case is submersible to up to 19ft / 6m. We have a variety of different sizes available for a range of mobile phones, so choose the large waterproof phone pouch if you own a larger phone.
- 100% waterproof phone case
- Will float "most" phone models safely*
- Guaranteed submersible to 19ft / 6m
- LENZFLEX back window for ultra clear photos
- Clear front for full use of phone features
- Make & take phone calls through the waterproof case
- High Frequency welded construction
- Keeps out dust, sand, dirt and water
- Made from eco-friendly TPU fabrics
- Perfect for iPhones, most small phones and handheld GPS


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What is cedar-apple rust? Cedar-apple rust is the name of a group of closely related diseases caused by fungi that infect both junipers and woody rosaceous plants such as apple, crabapple, hawthorn and quince.
What does cedar-apple rust look like? On junipers, the cedar-apple rust fungus causes formation of irregularly-shaped brown galls (roughly 1∕2 to two inches in diameter). During moist periods in spring, these galls produce a distinctive orange, gelatinous slime. Symptoms on rosaceous hosts appear in late May as circular, yellow-orange areas on leaves. The undersurfaces of these diseased areas often have a fringed appearance.
Where does cedar-apple rust come from? Several fungi in the genus Gymnosporangium cause cedar-apple rust. These fungi overwinter as galls on junipers.
How do I save a tree or shrub with cedar-apple rust? Junipers can easily be treated for cedar-apple rust by pruning branches about four to six inches below the galls. Clean
pruning shears between cuts by dipping them for at least 30 seconds in a 10% bleach solution or alcohol (spray disinfectants that contain at least 70% alcohol can also be used). This will prevent movement of the fungus from branch to branch, or from plant to plan during pruning. To prevent future infections, you can apply fungicides containing triadimefon or ferbam every seven to 21 days from early July through August. You can control cedar-apple rust on rosaceous hosts using fungicides containing chlorothalonil, ferbam, dithiocarbamates, mancozeb, metiram, sulfur, thiram, triadimefon, triforine, or zineb. Apply treatments when flower buds first show color, when half of the flowers are open, at petal-fall, seven to 10 days after petal fall and again 10 to 14 days later. Be sure to read and follow all label instructions of the fungicide that you select to insure that you use the fungicide in the safest and most effective manner possible.
How do I avoid problems with cedar-apple rust in the future? The best way to avoid cedar-apple rust is to plant trees and shrubs that are resistant to the disease. Check at your local nursery for resistant varieties of juniper, apple, crabapple, hawthorn, and quince that are available in your area and that will satisfy your landscaping needs.
For more information on cedar-apple rust: See UW-Extension Bulletins A2598 and A8KS711 or contact your county Extension agent.
© 1999 the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System doing business as the division of Cooperative Extension of the University of Wisconsin Extension.
An EEO/Affirmative Action employer, University of Wisconsin Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA requirements. This document can be provided in an alternative format by calling Brian Hudelson at (608) 262-2863 (711 for Wisconsin Relay).
References to pesticide products in this publication are for your convenience and are not an endorsement or criticism of one product over similar products. You are responsible for using pesticides according to the manufacturer's current label directions. Follow directions exactly to protect the environment and people from pesticide exposure. Failure to do so violates the law.
Thanks to Laura Jull and Sharon Morrisey for reviewing this document.
A complete inventory of University of Wisconsin Garden Facts is available at the University of Wisconsin-Madison/Extension Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic website: http://pddc.wisc.edu.


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Creating software, and getting it into the hands of consumers, used to be an expensive proposition. Not just any tech geek could crank out a video game, package it and sell it. Only large gaming companies had the marketing muscle to make that happen.
With the rise of mobile computing, that equation has changed. Mobile applications, or apps, represent an egalitarian ideal. Anyone with software developing skills and a good idea can create and sell apps directly to mobile device users via outlets such as Apple's app store. As smartphones such as the BlackBerry and the iPhone — as well as devices that run the Android operating system — become more widely used, the market balloons for crisp, clever and useful apps.
As of September, the Apple store offered more than 250,000 apps for its products, including the iPad and the iPod touch. That's up from 3000 apps in September 2008 — a more than 8000 percent increase.
In Vermont, we might not have universal broadband access, but we have plenty of developers, both professional and hobbyist, who have entered the app arena. They're making everything from birding guides to alien battle games and all that lies in between.
And there are more on the way — nonprofit bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organization Local Motion will soon launch an app for its web-based Trail Finder map program. University of Vermont researchers are developing an avalanche risk assessment app called Stabilitron. And web developers Matt Sisson and Chris Lei are creating an app for their new venture, Burlington Source, a website that aggregates music events at venues around Burlington. It will list all the shows happening on a given day in Burlington, along with cover and ticket prices and drink specials.
That Vermont programmers are suddenly app-happy is no surprise to Dev Jana, a game developer who recently moved from Arizona to take a faculty position in Champlain College's electronic game design program. Jana began making mobile apps during what he calls the "iPhone app gold rush of 2006," and he understands the fickle mobile market. "I believe that our proximity to the northern border and eastern shore, coupled with Vermont's reputation for quality and creativity, puts us in a unique spot," Jana says.
UVM also recognizes the potential in this burgeoning field; the university's new Integrative Computing program, or iCompute, focuses heavily on mobile technology. Currently, says associate professor of computer science Robert Snapp, there are four billion cellphones in the world but not nearly as many personal computers. But in the future, Snapp says, those basic cellphones will be replaced by billions of smartphones, and they will all use apps.
The goal of UVM's iCompute program is to get students prepared for that future. "There is an opportunity to reach a significant portion of the world through these apps," Snapp says. "We want [students] to make apps that are socially beneficial and not just shoot-'em-up games."
Vermont app developers do both. Here's a smattering of what some of them have to offer.
This password manager created by Ascendo stores confidential information about credit cards, bank accounts, logins, etc. Synchronize between mobile devices and laptops and never get locked out of your accounts again. www.ascendo-inc.com
Language Suite
With Burlington-based Ascendo's Spanish, French, German and Italian phrasebooks and dictionaries, you'll never have to say "No comprende," "Ne comprends pas," "Nicht begreifen" or "Non capisco" again. The apps contain hundreds of thousands of entries with long definitions composed of context, part of speech, noun gender and multiple meanings for most keywords. www.ascendo-inc.com
According to its creator, UVM student Galen Wilkerson, FakeSpeare generates "fake" plays using the actual language of the bard himself. The app analyzes word-pair frequencies to generate something that looks like Shakespearean English using a "Markov Parody Generator" — software that uses a statistical modeling process developed by 19th-century Russian mathematician Andrey Markov. www.cadagastudio.com
What could be more calming than floating through endless space? Nothing, according to Small Rock Software, which used advanced physics to create this app. It lets you watch five different rag dolls drift among magically generated orbs. Guide them on their journey using tilt and touch controls. www.smallrocksoftware.com
Brand Master
This game, designed by Tom Jaros at Empower Mobility for Brandthropology, tests players' ability to recognize the evolution of well-known brand logos — Kodak, Bell and Ford, for example. It's integrated with the social gaming network OpenFeint, so you can post your scores on the Internet. www.empowermobility.com
Fridge Magnets
From Essex Junction software developer Small Rock Software comes an iPhone version of the ubiquitous fridge magnets. Drag words around to create your own literary masterpieces — you know, just like Robert Frost did. www.smallrocksoftware.com
Last Portal: Defense
The goal of this iPhone app, developed by Champlain College electronic game design faculty member Dev Jana, is to prevent the evil Kryl from taking over your home dimension. One reviewer called it the "perfect iPhone game" for its simplicity and entertainment value. www.devjana.net
Sea Snake
This game, which garnered an iTunes staff favorite pick when it was released in 2009, is a play on classic snake games of yesteryear. Designed by Dev Jana, Sea Snake challenges users to add body segments to the snake while avoiding enemies, walls and the snake itself. www.devjana.net
This iPhone game, created by Dev Jana, "excites puzzle-loving strategists with color mixing and touch-screen madness," according to the online iTunes store. www.devjana.net
Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor
In 2009, this game, developed by Randy Smith of Huntington's Tiger Style Games, won just about every accolade a mobile app could win. It has been praised as one of iPhone's "most beautiful games." In it, you play a spider roaming around an abandoned Vermont-y mansion. Build webs and eat bugs surrounded by the artfully depicted ruins of the Bryce family estate. www.tigerstylegames.com
Doomsday Terminal
"Lost" fans will love this game, created by Essex Junction software developer Small Rock Software. The world is connected to a doomsday device. Players enter a deactivation code every 108 minutes to prevent a virtual catastrophe. Scores are automatically synched with other players around the world, so you can easily talk smack about who is the true savior of the world. www.smallrocksoftware.com
Sir Revs-a-Lot
Defeat aliens with your trusty little car in this game by Small Rock Software. But be careful — running out of gas will cause a "cataclysmic chain reaction." And we don't want that happening, now, do we? www.smallrocksoftware.com
Audubon New England Nature
This is one of many Audubon apps, including African Wildlife, Birds of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and Bird of Central Park developed by Green Mountain Digital in Woodstock. Identify thousands of species of birds, butterflies, fish, insects and spiders, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, seashells, trees, and wildflowers, and then record your field experience. www.greenmountaindigital.com
This app from Green Mountain Digital in Woodstock is a fly fisherman's dream. It provides casting lessons, video and animated knot instructions, a guide to the top trout flies, and updated fishing condition reports for more than 200 of the best fishing locations in North America. www.greenmountaindigital.com
For ShopRite shoppers in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, Colchester-based MyWebGrocer created an app that delivers weekly specials in real time from the shopper's home store. The grocery e-commerce and marketing company also makes similar apps for Brookshire's in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, and Roche Bros. in Massachusetts. www.mywebgrocer.com
Wallpapers of Vermont
Paul Moody, a Vermont photographer who researches the design of collaboration and social software at IBM, created an app showcasing his nature, landscape and animal photography. But the app isn't just a bunch of pretty pictures; it allows you to put contact information on your wallpaper so that if you ever lose your iPhone, it can be returned to you. www.wallpapersvermont.blogspot.com
Gesture Dial
This app from Small Rock Software allows users to maximize their mobile device's touch screen when dialing the phone. Create personal gestures — swipe straight down to dial Bobby, swipe in a curve to text Cindy — for each of your friends. www.smallrocksoftware.com


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Singing News fans pick their favorites
Southern Gospel Music fans gathered by the thousands at the National Quartet Convention in September of this year in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The 47th Annual Singing News Fan Awards were presented on the Main Stage on Sept. 28. Subscribers of Singing News Magazine voted for their favorites in 19 categories.
The 2016 Fan Awards winners are:
- Favorite soloist: Ivan Parker
- Favorite new artists: Goodman Revival
- Favorite band: Kingdom Heirs Band
- Favorite mixed group: Collingsworth Family
- Favorite soprano: Kim Hopper
- Favorite tenor: Michael Booth
- Favorite Southern Gospel radio station: WJBZ (Knoxville, TN)
- Favorite musician: Kim Collingsworth
- Favorite songwriter: Rodney Griffin
- Favorite alto: Connie Hopper
- Favorite lead: Ronnie Booth
- Favorite trio: Booth Brothers
- Favorite young artist: Riley Harrison Clark (Tribute Quartet)
- Favorite bass: Eric Bennett
- Favorite baritone: Mark Trammell
- Favorite traditional quartet: Triumphant Quartet
- Favorite song: "Amazing God" (Triumphant Quartet)
- Favorite album: "Living In Harmony" (Triumphant Quartet)
- Favorite artist: Booth Brothers.
Joe Mullins, host of "Front Porch Fellowship," recently received Broadcaster of the Year award and The Radio Ramblers the best Gospel Recorded Performance award. Both were presented at the International Bluegrass Music Association conference in Raleigh.
Mark Lowry was honored by receiving the Golden Note Award at the 38th Annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards in Nashville. His career spans over four decades.
At the 47th Annual Dove Awards in October, Karen Peck & New River were honored for Southern Gospel Artist of the Year and Southern Gospel Song of the Year ("I Am Blessed"). The Booth Brothers were awarded Southern Gospel Album of the Year ("Still"). Jeff and Sherri Easter received awards for Bluegrass/Country Album of the Year ("Small Town, Celebrating 30 Years of Music & Marriage") and Country Recorded Song of the Year ("Small Town Someone").
Cockman Family Appalachian Christmas, 6 p.m. Dec. 17, Lowesville Gospel Concerts, 1062 S. NC. 16, Lowesville (Stanley). 704-618-9762.
Ranlo Baptist and Love Memorial Baptist combined Adult Choirs, 11 a.m. Dec. 18, present "The Dawn of Redeeming Grace," Ranlo Baptist, 1517 Spencer Mountain Road, Ranlo. 704-824-1146.
Pisgah Associate Reformed Presbyterian Sanctuary Choir, 11 a.m. Dec. 18, presents "Together for Christmas," Pisgah A.R.P., 3600 Linwood Road, Gastonia. 704-865-7611.
First United Methodist Adult Choirs, 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 18, present "Handel's Messiah," First United Methodist, 190 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia. 704-864-4371.
Carolina Quartet, 6 p.m. Dec. 18, First Baptist, Bessemer City. Also, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Town & Country Church, 101 E. Virginia Ave., Bessemer City. Free meal. 704-678-1683.
Blessed Hope Ministries, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 19, Brookdale Union, 1700 Union Road, Gastonia. 704-867-5665.
Consider this: There are quite a few Christmas cantatas, plays, and other Christmas offerings this weekend and next. I hope each of you will be able to attend one or two of them. Check the listings in the Gaston Gazette and Shelby Star for locations and details.
Send gospel music announcements to Jack Kimbro, 644 Archie Whitesides Road, Gastonia, N.C., 28052 or call 704-864-9185.


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Toyota Aygo Ice
Toyota has presented Aygo Ice, which is nicely equipped and offers unique style and comfort.
The new model in the range is the next level after Aygo+ and comes with AC, a leather-upholstered steering wheel and gear knob. The seats are also finished in leather and Alcantara. All these extras come as standard. Aygo Ice also features a six-speaker audio system, electric windows and colour-matched door mirrors.
Toyota Aygo Ice is availble in three metallic paint finishes: Dark Forest, Vermillion Red and Crystal Silver. Side protection mouldings are also provided to guard against the rough and tumble of city driving. All this comes at just an extra £655 compared to the equivalent Aygo+, reinforcing the built-in value customers can enjoy. Both body variants are available – three and five-door models.
Aygo Ice is powered by the Year Award-winning 1.0 litre VVT-i petrol engine, which is mated to a manual or Multimode transmissions. The small engine offers quite good performance and returns 61.4 mpg on combined cycle. It is also classified in Band B road tax and a 3E insurance group rating.
Toyota Aygo Ice is priced at £9 750 – a perfect value for money, so if you need a good city car, which offers nice comfort and style, do not hesitate!
Toyota Aygo Ice
|AYGO Ice 3-door M/T
|AYGO Ice 3-door M/M
|AYGO Ice 5-door M/T
|AYGO Ice 5-door M/M
Source: Toyota