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Kashmir hails justice Verma's suggestion on AFSPA
The Justice JS Verma committee's recommendation to review armed forces' impunity in case of sexual violence against women in the garb of the Armed Forces Special Forces Act (AFSPA) has been hailed equally by political parties and civil society groups in Kashmir.
The Justice JS Verma committee's recommendation to review armed forces' impunity in case of sexual violence against women in the garb of the Armed Forces Special Forces Act (AFSPA) has been hailed equally by political parties and civil society groups in Kashmir.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah, who is calling for an all-party meet, said: "Parliament will do what it has to but I promise to the people of J&K that we will look at the Verma committee report with all seriousness…so that as many as possible recommendations are implemented."
Opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) also welcomed the recommendations. "There is no formal invitation (for an all-party meet) from the chief minister so let it come formally first. But we think recommendations, if implemented, will make a difference on the ground," said PDP spokesman Naeem Akhtar.
Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS), a civil society group whose members met Justice Verma on January 18 with their seven-point recommendations, hailed the suggestion to review AFSPA.
"The state government and all mainstream political parties of J&K need to rise above party lines and lobby for the implementation of the suggestions," said KCSDS member Shakeel Qalander.
The group has apprised justice Verma of about 900 documented cases of rape and gangrape, with many allegedly perpetrated by security forces in the past two decades.
The committee on Wednesday suggested that sexual offences by armed forces and uniformed men in conflict areas should be brought under ordinary criminal law.
"Justice Verma has rightly suggested that no person, whether in uniform or in civvies, is above law when it comes to abuse of a woman. Now we expect justice in cases of the past two decades, where Indian civil society has been silent all these years," said Qalander adding "time has come to withdraw AFSPA completely".
Demanding complete withdrawal of the AFSPA, MLA Engineer Rasheed said: "Justice Verma report is woman-specific but the chief minister has promised withdrawal of the AFSPA completely to end impunity to security forces."
Rasheed, while asking New Delhi to enter into a ceasefire with the United Jehad Council, said: "This January 26, India should show magnanimity of a democracy by removing the AFSPA from J&K."
Of late, Kashmir's political parties, including chief minister Omar Abdullah's National Conference, are advocating ending of the AFSPA in the state with the dip in militancy, though the army opposes the idea saying it will affect their operational capabilities while fighting militancy.
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Simple Vintage
Sometimes less really is more — yes, even during such a festive holiday as Christmas. With this charming, simple vintage styling, you can easily blend a traditional look with a fresh and understated decorating approach.
Begin with a 7-foot Blue Spruce, then dot the tree with just a few embellishments. I used the red ornaments from the Noel Ornament Set. This creates a dramatic look which still allows the tree's personality to shine through.
What made you decide to decorate this space with a simple vintage look?
This tree is the BH Blue Spruce, and so I really wanted to keep the decor simpler and let the foliage and twinkling lights be the decoration.
How did you go about choosing ornaments for this theme?
I decided on just pale blue and a couple of small red ornaments for the tree, to play on a traditional vintage Christmas color and look.
Is there a specific area you're fond of in this room?
I love the bed area with the antique door headboard, and since it is a small guest bedroom, it is decorated fairly quietly.
Is there a trick you can share for decorating a vintage theme?
Don't be afraid to let old and new pieces mingle. Bring that old door in as a headboard and use a modern brass lamp on the night stand. If everything in the room is vintage it can feel a little dated, so combine items to create a beautiful and balanced whole.
Is there anything special about this tree you'd like to discuss that you haven't already?
I love the blue color on the foliage – it is gorgeous and a perfect backdrop for ornaments.


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Pain & Gain is a 2013 American action comedy film[1][3] directed by Michael Bay and starring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, and Anthony Mackie. It is based on the activities of the Sun Gym gang, a group of ex-convicts and bodybuilders convicted of kidnapping, extortion, torture, and murder in Miami in the mid-1990s. Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely's screenplay is adapted from a 1999 series of Miami New Times articles by Pete Collins, which were compiled in the book Pain & Gain: This Is a True Story, released concurrently with the film.[4][5] The film's title is a play on a common adage frequently used in fitness: "No pain, no gain".
|Pain & Gain
|Directed by
|Michael Bay
|Screenplay by
|Christopher Markus
Stephen McFeely
|Based on
|Pain & Gain
by Pete Collins
|Produced by
|Ben Seresin
|Edited by
|Music by
|Steve Jablonsky
De Line Pictures
|Distributed by
|Paramount Pictures
Release dates
Running time
|129 minutes[1]
|United States
|$22 million
|Box office
|$86.2 million[2]
Released on April 11, 2013, Pain & Gain received generally mixed reviews, praised for its script but criticized for the violence, directing, and historical inaccuracies. Against a $22 million budget, the film grossed $86 million worldwide. Sun Gym gang victim Marc Schiller (depicted in the film as 'Victor Kershaw') sued the production company over his portrayal.[6][7]
This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (March 2022)
In 1994, ex-con and bodybuilder Daniel Lugo is hired by Sun Gym owner John Mese as a manager. Lugo befriends trainer and bodybuilder Adrian Doorbal, rendered impotent from steroids. He envies the earnings and lifestyle of Victor Kershaw, a member he begins to train.
Inspired to be a "doer" by a motivational speaker, Lugo plans to extort Kershaw for his assets. He recruits Doorbal and Paul Doyle, another ex-con and born again-Christian struggling with drug use.
The "Sun Gym gang" kidnaps Kershaw, taking him to a small warehouse. Although Kershaw identifies Lugo, the scheme proceeds as planned. Under duress, Kershaw makes calls to provide explanations for his disappearance and transfers his assets to Lugo. Mese is bribed to notarize documents in Kershaw's absence. After collecting Kershaw's money and assets, the gang attempts to kill Kershaw. They stage a drunk driving accident, then burn his car, then run him over.
The gang members spoil themselves with Kershaw's riches. Lugo takes over Kershaw's car and home; Doorbal marries Robin, the nurse treating his impotence; Doyle abandons his restraints, blowing his money on cocaine and his new stripper girlfriend.
Unbeknownst to the gang, Kershaw survives and is hospitalized. He informs the police, who dismiss his story because of Kershaw's manner, blood alcohol level and him being from a South American country known for drug trafficking. Kershaw contacts Ed Du Bois, III, a retired private investigator, who warns Kershaw to leave the hospital. Kershaw takes his advice and hides in a cheap motel. Du Bois tails the gang and meets Lugo, who becomes suspicious at the mention of Kershaw.
After Kershaw furiously calls Mese about his stolen money, the gang identifies the motel he stays at. They go to kill him, but he has already checked out. They discover Du Bois' link to Kershaw and plan to kidnap him, but the plan falls through.
Doyle and Doorbal, having gone broke after excessive spending, plan another kidnapping with Lugo. They target Frank Griga, owner of a phone sex operation. They lure Griga and his wife Krisztina Furton to Doorbal's to propose an investment scheme. The discussion breaks down and a physical fistfight ensues. One of Doorbal's weights falls on Griga's head, killing him. Doorbal accidentally kills Krisztina by overdosing her with tranquilizer.
They dismember the bodies and dispose of them in a swamp. Doyle, perturbed by the violence, leaves the gang and returns to the priest's church. The police learn of Griga and Krisztina's disappearances and, with evidence from Du Bois, plan to arrest the Sun Gym gang.
The police arrest Doyle at the church, Doorbal at home, and Mese at the Sun Gym. Lugo flees in Kershaw's speedboat. Deducing his move, the police rush to a bank in Nassau, Bahamas to catch him. Lugo slips away again, but gets runs over by Kershaw and is finally arrested.
At the trial, Doyle gives a full confession incriminating Doorbal and Lugo; Robin also testifies against Doorbal. Lugo and Doorbal are sentenced to death. Doyle and Mese are sentenced to 15 years. Doyle served 7 years and converted back to Christianity while Mese died in prison.
- Mark Wahlberg as Daniel Lugo
- Dwayne Johnson as Paul Doyle (based on Carl Weekes, Stevenson Pierre, and Jorge Delgado)
- Anthony Mackie as Adrian 'Noel' Doorbal
- Tony Shalhoub as Victor Kershaw (based on Marc Schiller)
- Ed Harris as Detective Ed Du Bois, III
- Rob Corddry as John Mese
- Rebel Wilson as Robin Peck (based on Cindy Eldridge)
- Ken Jeong as Jonny Wu (based on Tom Vu)
- Bar Paly as Sorina Luminita (based on Sabina Petrescu)
- Michael Rispoli as Frank Griga
- Tony Plana as Captain Lopez
- Emily Rutherfurd as Carolyn 'Cissy' DuBois
- Yolanthe Sneijder-Cabau as Analee Calvera
- Larry Hankin as Pastor Randy
- Peter Stormare as Dr. Bjornson
- Brian Stepanek as Brad MacCalister
- Kurt Angle as Benjamin Rowe
Michael Bay first announced the film after the release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009). Bay stated he wanted to do Pain & Gain between the second and third Transformers films. The project was put on hold when Paramount gave the third film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, a 2011 release date.[citation needed]
On February 13, 2012, it was confirmed that the budget for the film would be funded by Paramount Pictures as part of a two-picture deal with Bay, and the budget would be $35 million, making it the cheapest film he has ever directed, since his first feature film Bad Boys (1995), thanks in part to Bay, Johnson, and Wahlberg not taking salaries. They instead signed on in exchange for back ends on the film's profits.[8] Bay later confirmed that production would begin in Miami the following April, stating: "I'm extremely excited to simplify my film career this spring with a great character piece."[9] On February 17, reports surfaced that Ed Harris had officially joined the cast and Rob Corddry was rumored to play John Mese, a former competitive bodybuilder who now owns the gym where Wahlberg's character works as a personal trainer.[10] On February 23, it was confirmed that Anthony Mackie had joined the cast as "a bodybuilder and workout partner of Wahlberg's character Adrian Doorbal, who has little to show for his time in the gym and decides to get involved with the twisted plan."[11]
On February 28, 2012, it was reported that Israeli model Bar Paly and Lebanese-American actor Tony Shalhoub had joined the cast. Paly is cast as "an illegal immigrant and former beauty queen who dreams of becoming the next Marilyn Monroe. Wahlberg's character promises to make her a star, and she in turn agrees to do whatever he asks in the service of her new country." Shalhoub's role in the film is that of "Marc Schiller, the target of the kidnapping scheme."[12] On March 5, it was reported that Scott Rosenberg was brought on board to punch up the script. Rosenberg had worked with Bay previously on Armageddon (1998).[13] In a statement on March 7, Bay reported the budget was $22 million and said he was taking director's scale for the film.[14]
On March 27, 2012, Rebel Wilson joined the cast as Robin Peck,[15] and principal photography began in Miami on March 31, 2012. On April 4, Dutch actress Yolanthe Sneijder-Cabau joined the cast as Wahlberg's character's object of desire.[16][17] On April 5, Ken Jeong joined the cast as a character named Jonny Wu.[18] The official trailer for the film was released on December 19.[19]
Steve Jablonsky who worked with Michael Bay in his previous films, has composed the film score. Varese Sarabande has released the soundtrack.
Pain & Gain received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 50% rating, based on 204 reviews, with an average rating of 5.40/10. The site's consensus reads, "It may be his most thought-provoking film to date, but Michael Bay's Pain & Gain ultimately loses its satirical edge in a stylized flurry of violent spectacles."[20] Metacritic gave the film a score of 45 out of 100, based on reviews from 42 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[21] Audiences surveyed by Cinemascore gave the film a grade of C+.[22]
British critic Mark Kermode described the film as "grotesquely inappropriate" and "every bit as pumped up and steroidal as the appalling characters it is attempting to portray".[23] Scott Foundas of Variety writes" "the violence mostly lands with a sickening thud, which is fitting, one supposes, but also ultimately numbing."[24] Philip French writing for The Observer said of the violent black comedy that he "rather enjoyed it" with particular praise for Ed Harris.[25] Referring to the movie as "a Bay botch job", Rolling Stone gave the film 1/2 star out of 4, noting: "he (director Bay) once claimed he wanted to make a small, personal film that would reveal the real Bay. And, I'm here to report, that Pain and Gain is that film. It's dumb, shallow, deeply cynical and creatively bereft."[26] Simon Abrams writing for RogerEbert.com gave the film 2.5 out of 4 stars.[27]
Real-life outcomesEdit
Francisco Alvarado's Miami New Times article, "Pain & Gain: Where the Real-Life Sun Gym Gang Characters Are Now" (April 4, 2013), details the actual crimes, the real-life gang members' sentences, and the characters' post-trial experiences and current status.[28]
Additionally, the Florida State Commission on Capital Cases publishes and regularly updates the trial summaries, court information, and information about the offenses, criminal sentences, and post-trial legal and prison developments for defendants. This information is cross-posted with that of the Florida Department of Corrections, Prison Offender Network, which posts regularly updated Inmate Population Information Detail and the Death Row Roster.[29] Details from those sources pertinent to the Sun Gym gang are summarized below:
- Noel "Adrian" Doorbal (DC# M16320, DOB: December 21, 1971, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Dade County Case # 95-17381-B);[30] Sentenced to death July 17, 1998. Currently incarcerated in Florida State Prison, awaiting appeal.[29][31]
- Daniel Lugo (DC #M16321, DOB: June 4, 1963, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Dade County, Case# 95-17381C);[31] Sentenced to death July 17, 1998. Currently incarcerated in Florida State Prison, awaiting appeal.[29][30]
- John Mese (DC# M15699): "Mese was indicted on October 2, 1996 (Case# 95-17381-F) for the kidnapping, extortion, and murders of Griga and Furton and the kidnapping and extortion of Marc Schiller. A jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment; however, the judge set aside the convictions pertaining to the Griga/Furton crimes. On July 20, 1998, Mese was sentenced to 56 years imprisonment for the kidnapping and extortion of Schiller. Mese appealed and the State cross-appealed the sentence to the Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District. On 06/19/02, the DCA ruled that the trial judge improperly set aside the two RICO convictions and ordered a new sentencing hearing to be conducted on those counts. On January 15, 2003, Mese was sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment for one count of Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering. In 2004, Mese died in prison from a stroke."[30][31]
- John Raimondo (DC# 198195): "Raimondo was indicted on October 2, 1996 (Case# 95-17381-I) on one count each of Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, First-Degree Murder (Furton), Kidnapping (Furton), and Attempted Extortion. The State declined to prosecute all but the kidnapping charge, and Raimondo was convicted and sentenced to eight years imprisonment for the crime."[30][31]
- Jorge Delgado (DC# 198219): "In return for testifying for the State, Delgado was sentenced to two prison terms of 15 and 5 years for his role in the murders of Griga and Furton and the attempted murder of Schiller."[30][31]
Slash Film reporter David Chen shares a real-life twist related to Marc Schiller (portrayed onscreen as Victor Kershaw) that was excluded from the film: "The Schiller Twist – Reading through Pete Collins' Pain & Gain story, I thought I had a pretty good handle on the direction it was going in. I was shocked to discover that at the end, in an M. Night Shyamalan-like twist, the Kershaw character is arrested immediately after he testifies against the Sun Gym gang and charged with a fraudulent Medicare scheme that generated $14 million. It's stunning and a little bit heartbreaking. As Collins writes, '[A]ll he could think was that [the State Attorney General] had sold him out. For three years she had used him, forced him to relive every excruciating detail of his confinement: the starvation, the burns and electric shocks, the beatings, the abject terror, the absolute physical and psychological mortification. She had extracted everything she could, and then she had disposed of him.'"[32]
Comparisons between the film and actual eventsEdit
Multiple media properties compare and contrast details shown in the film versus actual events. History v. Hollywood also shows the headshot photograph, name, birthdate, and birthplace of the principals in a "Reel Face" v. "Real Face" lineup.[33] As David Haglund and Forrest Wickman wrote in Slate's culture blog, Browbeat: "the film more or less adheres to a very rough outline provided by the novella-length, three-part, highly detailed series written by Pete Collins and published in the Miami New Times over a decade ago. Not surprisingly, many details, and a number of significant characters, are dropped from the movie. A lot of new, fictional detail – and one largely made-up character – takes its place. When the movie first tells us that it's a true story, we're seeing something that didn't happen. When we're told it's 'still a true story,' we're watching one invented character watch a semi-fictional character do something that sorta kinda took place."[34]
The film portrayed the Sun Gym gang as consisting of three primary members: the Irish-American Daniel Lugo, African-American Adrian Noel Doorbal, and Samoan/African-American Paul Doyle; and two accomplices (John Mese, the Sun Gym owner and Miami Shores accountant[35] who notarized Kershaw's – in reality, Marc Schiller's – documents for Lugo; and stripper Sorina Luminita - based on Sabina Petrescu - whom Lugo claimed to have recruited to serve as the gang's femme fatale). In reality, the gang was much larger, Daniel Lugo was of Puerto Rican descent, Noel Doorbal was a native of Trinidad, and Doyle's character is a composite of several real life individuals of different nationalities who were not depicted in the film, such as Carl Weekes, Jorge Delgado, and Stevenson Pierre. Additionally, Doorbal's real-life girlfriend (Cindy Eldridge) helped scrub blood off Doorbal's condominium walls after Doorbal had dismembered Griga and Furton's bodies. Unlike Sorina, who in the film Lugo passes on to Doyle, the real-life Sabina and Lugo remained together as a couple and became engaged, and they fled together to the Bahamas (with Lugo's parents).[34][36] Additional real-life players in the events are detailed in the Miami New Times article, "Sidebar: Cast of Characters".[37]
In the film, Victor Kershaw states he was born in Bogotá, Colombia. His real life counterpart, Marc Schiller, was born in Argentina.[38] Schiller and Lugo did not befriend each other; Schiller actually distrusted Lugo. It was Delgado (who worked for Schiller, as did Delgado's wife) who befriended Lugo and targeted Schiller, and it was at Delgado's (not Schiller's) warehouse where the kidnappers held and tortured Schiller for a full month, while extorting him and before trying to kill him.[36]
Sabina Elena Petrescu (portrayed onscreen by Bar Paly as Sorina Luminita) was in fact a Solid Gold center-stage stripper. She was a Miss Romania finalist in 1990 and a former Penthouse model.[35] Lugo really did convince Petrescu that he was a CIA operative, who was working to kidnap enemies of the U.S. government. In the film, a blindfolded Victor Kershaw recognized Lugo by his cologne. In reality, Marc Schiller recognized his voice.[34]
The car with which the gang tried to kill Schiller, by crashing it (into a construction vehicle in the film; into a utility pole in reality) and then by setting Schiller and it ablaze, was a Toyota 4Runner, not a BMW. In contrast to the film, the gang did not secure Schiller's seat-belt before crashing the car, and Schiller did not survive the crash from inside the car; rather, Schiller bailed out of the car, rolling onto the ground, before it hit the pole. When crashing the car and setting Schiller ablaze failed, the real-life gang ran over Schiller's body twice, but with a Toyota Camry, not a van.[36][39]
The movie portrays Paul Doyle as first running into a demeaning Frank Griga at a strip club. In reality, Doorbal first discovered Griga when Doorbal spotted a picture of a Lamborghini Diablo in a photo album belonging to his Hungarian stripper girlfriend, Beatriz Weiland. He asked her who owned it. It turned out that Griga was one of Weiland's former generous boyfriends. It was she who introduced Griga to the gang. In reality, Frank Griga was Hungarian and therefore lacked an American accent, in contrast to his onscreen portrayal.
The gang did meet at Frank Griga's home as in the movie. In reality, they met three times; the final instance at Doorbal's Miami Lakes apartment, where the murders actually took place. In reality, Lugo did not kill Griga—Doorbal did, by first cracking the side of his head with a blunt object, then strangling him with a headlock, and finally injecting him with Rompun. Krisztina Furton ran to see what had happened, and screamed. Lugo covered her mouth and tackled her. She had no gun, contrary to the movie portrayal. She was bound, then Doorbal injected her with the drug. Overall, Doorbal injected her three separate times, instead of twice.
Miami New Times reporter Francisco Alvarado reports the facts associated with the power tools purchased by the gang, the cause of the chainsaw's failure, and the ensuing details, some of which differed from their film portrayal:[34][39]
They bought a gas-powered chainsaw from Home Depot to cut off body parts but forgot to fill it with motor oil, so it broke the first time they cranked the power tool on. Lugo returned the chainsaw to Home Depot, demanding a refund. He left the home-improvement store with an electric Remington Power Cutter, which came with a one-year guarantee to 'handle all your cutting chores quickly and easily.' He went back to the warehouse and handed the chainsaw to Doorbal, who took charge of the grisly dismemberment. When the power tool's teeth got caught in Furton's hair, Doorbal had Lugo chop off her head with a hatchet. The two murderers then used a curved blade and pliers to remove the faces and teeth off the heads.
The movie depicted Lugo and Doorbal dumping the body parts in several barrels into a lake located somewhere in what appears to be the Everglades. In reality, Lugo, Doorbal, and "Little Mario" Gray dumped Griga and Furton's torsos-in-drums into a drainage ditch in southwest Miami.
Details in the scene in which Paul was shown incinerating the victims' severed hands on a barbecue grill (to remove the fingerprints) were changed; in reality, Lugo did the grilling, using a steel drum with an iron grate laid on top, not a barbecue grill. Lugo tossed Griga and Furton's hands, feet, and skull fragments onto the grate, doused them in gasoline, and began to grill. When Delgado returned to the warehouse, he yelled at Lugo, who reluctantly agreed to move his operation from in front of the warehouse to the rear alley.[34][36]
In the film, Doyle robbed an armored truck and got his toe shot off while escaping. That sequence is entirely fictional; no member of the Sun Gym gang actually robbed an armored truck or had their toe shot off.[34]
Robin Peck (Rebel Wilson's character), Doorbal's girlfriend, then wife, in the film, is based on Cindy Eldridge, who did refer Doorbal to a doctor. Contrary to events in the film, they did not meet at a medical office, they did not have a whirlwind courtship or marry at home, and Doorbal did not need to commit further crimes to fund his injections. Furthermore, Doorbal was violent and sadistic in real life, unlike Anthony Mackie's mild-mannered character in the movie.[34]
In the movie, the police arrest:
- Mese at the Sun Gym—In reality, Mese was arrested at his own bodybuilding competition in Downtown Miami.
- Doyle at the church—Doyle's real composite counterparts were all arrested at home.
In the film, Lugo escapes in Kershaw's go-fast boat, and at Du Bois' house, Kershaw asserts that he owns a boat. In reality, Schiller did not own a boat. Only Griga owned a boat; it was a tall yacht christened Foreplay.
Near the end of the movie, Lugo is seen getting hit by a car driven by Kershaw, in the Bahamas. This event did not happen. In reality, Lugo fled to the Bahamas with his fiancée and his parents, and neither Schiller nor the detective, Du Bois, was there during his capture. Instead, a multi-agency task force apprehended Lugo at the Hotel Montague in Nassau.[36]
At the end of the movie, Doyle has an attack of conscience, confesses, and testifies against Lugo and Doorbal. Instead of the death penalty, he gets 15 years but only serves 7½. Carl Weekes, the religious and recurring drug-abuser part of Doyle's composite, drove the car that ran over Schiller and got 10 years for attempted murder; he served 7 years. Jorge Delgado, who actually testified against the rest of the gang, did so in order to avoid the death penalty.
In the film, DuBois is portrayed as a retired police officer who takes over his "old man's detective agency" when he accepts Kershaw's case. In reality, Ed Du Bois III has been a licensed private investigator since 1960 and took over his father's agency in 1968. Du Bois continues in this capacity to this day.[citation needed][40]
The end credits of the film state that John Mese was sentenced to 15 years and died in prison. While he did die of a stroke in 2004, his sentence was actually 56 years.
Among the multiple major differences between the film and the real-life story, writer David Chen notes that the real-life gang member whose temperament is most like that of the character, Paul Doyle (played by Dwayne Johnson):[32]
In reality, the third man in the Sun Gym Gang was a man named Carl Weekes, who most closely resembles the Paul Doyle character in the film — both are trying to make a new life in Miami, and both are born again Christians. But Weekes is a weakling; Collins describes him as "a lightweight" who weighed only 140. Moreover, he's almost totally excluded from the later events in the story, in which sex mogul Frank Griga is killed.
The Associated Press published an article interviewing survivors and investigators of the Sun Gym gang. Miami-Dade Police Sgt. Felix Jimenez stated: "You are talking about real people. And in this particular case, especially when you're talking about the murder victims, these were innocent victims." Zsuzsanna Griga, whose brother and brother's girlfriend the gang killed and dismembered, said she didn't want the American public to sympathize with the killers.[41]
David Haglund and Forrest Wickman of Slate wrote, in a post titled "How True Is Pain & Gain?": "In addition to the usual Hollywood streamlining and the amping up of certain scenes, the changes seem largely designed to make the central criminals more sympathetic. Whether you think that's a respectable thing to do will depend on what you think of their actual story – and perhaps, of the movies in general."[34]
In popular cultureEdit
- Writer Pete Collins parlayed his three-part Miami New Times article series, that inspired the film, into a consultancy for film's screenwriting team,[40] a book titled Pain & Gain – This Is a True Story (2013),[42] multiple post-film articles (such as those in Miami New Times),[35] and media appearances.
- Private Investigator Ed Du Bois, III (portrayed by Ed Harris in the film) released a single on iTunes titled "Pain and Gain - Retribution Song" which he wrote and recorded in 2012 as an homage to his client, Marc Schiller.[43]
- Judge Alex Ferrer, who heard the Sun Gym gang case and subsequently provided supportive testimony in Marc Schiller's Medicare fraud trial,[44] is a former local policeman and attorney who stars in the arbitration-based reality court television show Judge Alex.[45]
- Marc Schiller (portrayed in the film as Victor Kershaw) has published multiple books about the ordeal and its aftermath.
Home mediaEdit
In the United States, Pain & Gain was released on digital formats such as iTunes and UltraViolet on August 13, 2013, and on Blu-ray and DVD August 27, 2013.[48]
- ^ a b "PAIN & GAIN (15)". British Board of Film Classification. April 30, 2013. Archived from the original on May 4, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
- ^ "Pain & Gain (2013)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
- ^ "Pain & Gain (2013) - Michael Bay". AllMovie.
- ^ Collins, Pete. "the articles in question". Miaminewtimes.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ "Full Details on Michael Bay's "Small Movie" Project | /Film". Slashfilm.com. April 19, 2009. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ "Miami Gets Suit Over Man's Portrayal In 'Pain & Gain' Film". June 8, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
- ^ Yousefi, Ryan. "Lawsuit Over Marc Schiller's Portrayal in Pain and Gain Moves To Miami". Miami New Times. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
- ^ "2013 Feature Film Production Report" (PDF). FilmL.A. p. 14. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
- ^ "Michael Bay Talks Transformers 4, Pain & Gain". MichaelBay. February 13, 2012. Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ "Rob Corddry In Talks for Michael Bay's Action-Less 'Pain and Gain'; Mark Feuerstein Is 'In Your Eyes'". Thefilmstage.com. February 17, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ "It's 'Pain And Gain' For Anthony Mackie As He Joins Michael Bay's Crime Caper | The Playlist". Blogs.indiewire.com. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ "Supermodel Bar Paly and Tony Shalhoub Joining Bay's 'Pain & Gain'". FirstShowing.net. February 28, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ Kit, Borys. "Writer Scott Rosenberg Boards Michael Bay's 'Pain & Gain' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ "Pain and Gain Info / Hollywood Reporter Correction". MichaelBay. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ "Rebel Wilson Latest for 'Pain and Gain'; Bridget Moynahan Goes 'Small Time'". Thefilmstage.com. March 28, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ "Yolanthe Sneijder-Cabau in Hollywoodfilm? – Privé | Het laatste Privé nieuws leest u op Prive.nl van De Telegraaf [prive]". Telegraaf.nl. April 4, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ "Britten smullen van Yolanthe Sneijder-Cabau – Privé | Het laatste Privé nieuws leest u op Prive.nl van De Telegraaf [prive]". Telegraaf.nl. April 6, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
- ^ Kit, Borys (April 5, 2012). "'Community' Star Ken Jeong Joins Michael Bay's 'Pain and Gain' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ "Pain and Gain Official Trailer #1 (2013) – Michael Bay Movie HD". YouTube. December 19, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
- ^ "Pain and Gain". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ "Pain & Gain". Metacritic.
- ^ "Cinemascore :: Movie Title Search". Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
- ^ Mark Kermode reviews Pain & Gain. BBC 5 Live. August 30, 2013.
- ^ Foundas, Scott (April 23, 2013). "Film Review: 'Pain & Gain'". variety.com. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
- ^ Philip French (September 1, 2013). "Pain & gain review". The Observer.
- ^ Travers, Peter (May 2, 2013). "Pain and Gain". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
- ^ "Pain & Gain movie review & film summary (2013) | Roger Ebert".
- ^ Francisco Alvarado (April 4, 2013). "Pain & Gain: Where the Real-Life Sun Gym Gang Characters Are Now". Miami New Times.
- ^ a b c Florida Department of Corrections. "Death Row Roster". Corrections Offender Network. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e The Florida State Commission on Capital Cases. "Judicial Circuit, Dade County Case # 95-17381-B". Florida Capital Cases, Case Updates. Retrieved May 8, 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d e "Inmate: Daniel Lugo, Case Updates". The Commission on Capital Cases. Florida Department of Corrections.
- ^ a b David Chen (April 26, 2013). "Four Differences Between 'Pain and Gain' and Real Life, and What They Say About Michael Bay". Slash Film.
- ^ "Pain & Gain (2013)". History v. Hollywood.
- ^ a b c d e f g h David Haglund; Forrest Wickman (April 26, 2013). "How True Is Pain & Gain?". Slate.
- ^ a b c Pete Collins (April 25, 2013). "'Pain & Gain' Writer Pete Collins' 15 Minutes of Fame Have Arrived". Miami New Times.
- ^ a b c d e Francisco Alvarado (April 4, 2013). "Pain & Gain: Where the Real-Life Sun Gym Gang Characters Are Now".
- ^ "Sidebar". Miami New Times. December 30, 1999. Archived from the original on August 23, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ Francisco Alvarado (April 3, 2013). "Pain & Gain: A Pictorial Dummy's Guide to the Real-Life Tale". Miami New Times.
- ^ a b Francisco Alvarado (April 3, 2013). "Pain & Gain: A Pictorial Dummy's Guide to the Real-Life Tale". Miami New Times.
- ^ a b Francisco Alvarado (April 4, 2013). "Pain & Gain: Where the Real-Life Sun Gym Gang Characters Are Now". Miami New Times.
- ^ "'Pain & Gain' Real-Life Survivors Furious With Movie's Comic Take On Ordeal". The Huffington Post. April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
- ^ Pete Collins (April 5, 2013). Pain & Gain – This Is a True Story. Premier Digital Publishing, Inc.
- ^ "Pain and Gain - Redemption Song". eddubois.com. 2012.
- ^ Pete Collines (January 6, 2000). "Pain & Gain, Part 3: A wealthy couple disappears, the slumbering Metro-Dade Police Department awakens, and the ghastly deeds of Miami's Sun Gym gang at last come to an end". Miami New Times.
- ^ Chuck Strouse (April 26, 2012). "New Times' 'Pain and Gain': Murder, Drugs, and a Major Motion Picture". Miami New Times.
- ^ Marc Schiller (January 25, 2013). Pain and Gain – The Untold True Story (1 ed.). Star of Hope Inc. ISBN 978-0615740065.
- ^ Marc Schiller (March 30, 2013). Pain and Gain – How I Survived and Triumphed. Star of Hope Inc. ASIN B00C4BI1LS.
- ^ "Pain and Gain Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
External linksEdit
- Official website
- Pain & Gain at Box Office Mojo
- Pain & Gain at IMDb
- Pain & Gain at Metacritic
- Pain & Gain at Rotten Tomatoes
The original Miami New Times articles by Pete Collins (Referred to collectively, in the references, as "the articles in question")
- "Pain & Gain, Part 1" – December 23, 1999 Archived March 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- "Pain & Gain, Part 2" – December 30, 1999 Archived March 10, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
- "Pain & Gain, Part 3" – January 6, 2000 Archived March 11, 2015, at the Wayback Machine


text: Holiday house in Stolberg, in Sachsen-Anhalt. Holiday houses Germany » Sachsen-Anhalt » Stolberg » D06.002 General information Number of persons : 2-3 Bedrooms: 1 bathrooms: 1 Internet Pets allowed 8,0 Click for reviews Ask a question Bekijk alle foto's 8,0 Click for reviews Ask a question General information Number of persons : 2-3 Bedrooms: 1 bathrooms: 1 Internet Pets allowed Rating Our representative Anneke has rated this house as category 3. Distance to airportLeipzig 135 kmHannover 180 km Distance toNordhausen 19 kmQuedlinburg 36 kmWernigerode 52 km Home and location Fully detached small holiday house., There is a terrace., You share the garden with another residence., You share the grounds with the house of the owner., The residence is 0.5 km from the city Stolberg., The centre of the city is within walking distance., There is a public pool and/or tennis courts., There are lots of opportunities for day trips in the area: Joseph Kreuz am Grosser Auerberg, Rappbodestausee., In terms of nature trips to Rübelandgrotte and Brocken are definitely recommended., Shops can be found in Stolberg., A supermarket can be found in Stolberg., Restaurants can be found in Stolberg., Castles: Schloss Stolberg, It is a nice point of departure for walks through the surrounding natural area.. Accommodations The accommodation: Ground floor: Living room: sitting area. Open kitchen. Bathroom: shower(s), washbasin(s), toilet. Floor: Bedroom: double bed: width 1,60 m. single bed: width 0,90 m. Exterior Area: (1000 m2), Communal area: to be shared with the owner. Patio: The patio is for privat use. Garden furniture. 2 Relaxing chair(s). Metal barbecue. Interior Cooking rings: 2 electric cooking rings Fridge Television Radio Internet connection


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Adobe's Project VoCo is a thing to fear in the age of fake news
Adobe is pushing the limits of what audio editing should become.
The software developer announced last November that it is developing what it calls, "Photoshop for your voice." Its official name is "Project VoCo." With it, you can add words to an audio file which were not originally present.
This is a frightening tool which could only mean bad news in the age of fake news and social media.
A staggering 65 percent of voters already believe there is a lot of fake news in the media so having a tool which can add and change certain aspects of audio files seems like a very dangerous thing which could certainly do more harm than good.
Whole sentences can be altered, words can be erased and phrases can be mixed around to make it completely different than what was originally said. If voters already do not trust the mainstream media, having a tool that can alter important aspects of media will most likely decline even further.
English freshman Adriana Palacios-Blanco fears what consequences could come with using Project VoCo.
"This program seems like a very dangerous thing to have regarding what could happen with news and politics," Palacios-Blanco said. "I can only expect really negative things to come from this program because it seems like it will be so easy to manipulate words with it."
This is an extremely irresponsible thing to bestow on people, and if they are given this power, they are bound to severely abuse it.
In the age of fake news and hyper-active social media, news is constantly being labeled as fake and biased. If there is an outlet that can actually make news completely falsified, it is going to spiral into complete and utter chaos. This program can only further widen the gap of the distrust of citizens with the media.
International Studies freshman Soledad Vazquez also has some serious worries regarding Project VoCo.
"Trump has so much effect on the media as it is with his fake news rants that, if something is actually there to make the news fake, it will be a disastrous affair," Vazquez said. "If VoCo really takes off, the news is likely to be accused of never being trustworthy ever again, and then what will we do?"
The program is still in development, but Project VoCo is a tool that could make trust in the news and journalism stray even further away from the level that it needs to be. There are so many issues that could stem from this project, I am struggling to find any redeeming qualities about it.
It is a tool that does not need to be pushed into the mainstream media and anything that can be done to avoid that, should be. Keep Project VoCo out of the mainstream media and just maybe a little more trust can be restored in the news.
Featured illustration by Max Raign


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Tips for Giving Antibiotics to Children
Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They may be used as a short- or long-term treatment, depending on whether the problem is acute (started all of a sudden) or chronic (an ongoing condition).
Tips on taking antibiotics
To work, antibiotics must be taken correctly. Follow these tips for the best results.
Ask if your child can be given a prescription that needs to be taken only once or twice a day.
Ask if doses should be given with meals or spaced equally throughout the day.
Ask if your child should stop eating certain foods while on the antibiotic.
Be sure your child takes the medication as prescribed while attending day care or school or while staying in another household. Send a note with instructions to the teacher or other responsible adult.
Store the antibiotic correctly.
Measure liquid doses carefully.
Make sure your child takes the entire prescription.
Call your health care provider
Most children can take antibiotics without a problem. However, side effects can occur. Call your health care provider if your child shows any of the following:
Stomach upset, including vomiting or diarrhea
Rashes, hives, or puffy eyes
Yeast infections
In rare cases, an allergic reaction may cause breathing problems that require immediate medical care. If your child develops problems breathing, has swelling of the lips or tongue, or collapses, call 911.


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Lung cancer can be defined as a type of cancer that is often caused when cell growth happens uncontrollably in the lungs. If lung cancer is not treated in time, it can easily spread to other parts of the body and cause damage. The majority of these cancers are referred to as carcinomas; there are different types, like non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC).
Normally, lung cancer has no obvious symptoms when it is still in its early stages. People who smoke normally ignore a common cough, although it can indicate something more serious. When the cough persists or when you notice the presence of blood, urgent medical attention is needed and your doctor will do a few checks and scans to determine the severity of the condition.
Some of the popular lung cancer symptoms are:
- Chronic coughing or coughing with blood present
- Infections that keep recurring
- Pain in the chest
- Welling in the face or neck
- A loss of appetite, fatigue or a fever
- Consistent headaches
Stages of Lung Cancer
They are different stages of lung cancer, and opinion on which stage the patient's particular cancer is, it will help to determine the appropriate treatment. There are five different stages of lung cancer; Stage 0 starts when the cancer is confirmed in the lungs. Stage I happens when the cancer started to grow, and Stages II and III refers to cancer that is confined to the lungs only. Stage IV means that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
To help prevent lung cancer they all sit in things that you can do on a daily basis to improve your overall health and well-being. The first and most important of all is to avoid smoking. Smoking significantly increases your risk of lung cancer, so this should be avoided at all costs. You should also maintain a healthy diet and a moderate exercise program to keep your body and your immune system optimize and healthy at all times. By doing this you will help to reduce your chances of lung cancer.


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My trip to Rome earlier this month was, gastronomically, very much of an auld lang syne experience. Beloved Spouse and I dined only at restaurants we've known and loved for years, and mostly on dishes that we've often eaten there and that are a large part of the reason we love them. Here are what we had on three of the days.
Fortunato al Pantheon is a slightly austere establishment, favored by politicians from the nearby national Parliament. It was a modest trattoria years ago, when we first discovered it, but it has grown in elegance while still retaining its basic honesty.
The moment we walked into the dining room, we smelled truffles. Wow! We hadn't expected the season to have started yet. We couldn't resist them, but first we had to have antipasti: a pair of carciofi alla romana and a plate of salume.
Then came the truffles. For Tom, tagliarini topped at tableside with shavings of a single large white truffle; and for me tagliarini already dressed with a sauce of black truffle and porcini mushrooms. By our waiter's courtesy, I also received the last little bits of Tom's white truffle.
These were both stunningly rich dishes, but after them we felt we could manage a little dessert: a dish of fragoline con panna and a small tiramisù.
Walking back to our hotel, we pondered one of the enduring mysteries of Roman dining: How do you get fresh artichokes, wild strawberries, and truffles at the same season?
Another evening found us at Checchino dal 1887. It's in Testaccio, the epicenter of Rome's ancient quinto quarto cuisine – i.e., variety meats, or more simply, offal. Testaccio used to be the butcher's section of the city, and the "fifth quarter" of the animal was what the poor got, after the best cuts went to the aristocracy, the clergy, the bourgeoisie, and the military. Dishes made from those innards, though not for today's faint-hearted eater, are central to Rome's traditional cuisine.
Here, Tom always starts with the same pasta dish: rigatoni con pajata. Pajata is the small intestine of milk-fed lamb, still filled with partially digested milk. Tied into little sausages and cooked in tomato sauce, it's delicious beyond what you would expect. That evening I chose an equally traditional, though meatless, first course: pasta e ceci (chickpeas).
I made up for that reticence with my second course, padellotto alla macellara. This "butcher's platter" was a sauté of pajata, liver, sweetbreads, and testicolo. (Yes, testicle). Not your everyday plate of protein. Tom had a bollito misto – mixed boiled meats – including on this occasion beef, calf's tongue, and a small pig's foot.
I must admit, we couldn't finish either of these ample plates.
Osteria da Zi' Umberto is a small, lively, bustling, casual eating place in Trastevere. Though not strong on atmosphere and looking a little run-down, it turns out very good, mostly rustic food at relatively modest prices. After starting with a few fiori fritti (batter-fried zucchini flowers stuffed with cheese and anchovies), we had first courses of pappardelle with wild boar sauce and fettuccine with porcini mushrooms.
Then Tom had oxtails – coda alla vaccinara – and I had suckling pig – maialino arrosto con patate. Both were beautifully prepared.
At all these meals we drank wine, of course – mostly wines of Rome's Lazio region, which aren't commonly available in New York – and ended with espressos and grappa. Many interesting kinds of grappa. Tom has written a post about the wines for his blog, which you can see here.
Our remaining three dinners in Rome are described in my next post.


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So my distilled day
sits on pavements,
learning the lines
between our worlds
and the ways the sun
sinks in alternate ways.
shedding, learn the flaw
and love her
whole, like there is
no reason to believe
the boundaries of before
peel exteriors, the circles
of truth emerge like scars.
this is who you really are.


text:
MAY LIFE & LIVE is an entertainment news portal and social network for talents, newcomers and artists from all around the world.
Nothing brings people together more than a common interest. May Life & Live is a new creative approach to the promotion of art,
we provide new solutions that set new standards for artist promotion.


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Select a folio in Manuscript A
Ms A 24v
[24v°] said: "My dear, embrace your Aunt!" The doll was in such a rush to embrace me tenderly that her two little arms went up my nose. Céline, who hadn't done it purposely, looked at me stupefied; the doll was dangling from my nose. Aunt, of course, was not long in warding [5] off the excessively tender embraces of her niece and began laughing heartily at such a strange incident.
It was most amusing to see us buying our New Year's presents together at the bazaar, carefully staying out of each other's way. Having ten sous to spend, we had to buy at least five or six different objects, and the [10] contest was to see who would buy the most beautiful things. Delighted with our purchases, we waited impatiently for the first day of the year in order to offer each other our magnificent presents. The one who awakened before the other rushed to wish her a Happy New Year, and then they gave each other the gifts; each went into ecstasy over the treasures we bought for ten sous![15] These little gifts afforded us almost as much pleasure as Uncle's beautiful presents. But this was only the beginning of these joys. That day we were dressed as quickly as possible, and then we were on the watch to jump up on Papa's neck; as soon as he came out of his room our shrieks of joy resounded through the whole house and this poor little Father appeared happy to [20] see us so content. The gifts Marie and Pauline gave their little girls also gave them great joy, though the gifts had no great value. Ah! it was because we were not blasé at this age; our soul in all its freshness was expanding like a flower content to receive the morning's dew. Our petals were swayed by the same breeze; what gave one joy or pain did
© Washington Province of Discalced Carmelite Friars, Inc
View the embedded image gallery online at:


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2:52 p.m. - A sculpture to celebrate family will be unveiled near the Centennial Trail by Kendall Yards, on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 1 P.M.
11:49 a.m. - Take a spin on the Spooky Looff and hang out with Z Nation zombies at Riverfront's first teen-only event at the Looff Carrousel.
12:48 p.m. - Riverfront Redevelopment Open House: progress on construction, preliminary concepts for the North Bank including the destination playground.
12:40 p.m. - Two events at Riverfront this weekend provide free and affordable family entertainment. Join us to celebrate fall!


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NH: Public Hearing November 7 on Proposed Snowmobile Weekend Reciprcocity Rules
CONCORD, N.H. — More good news may be in store for snowmobile
enthusiasts who enjoy the reciprocal Vermont-New Hampshire
snowmobile weekend in January. The New Hampshire Fish and Game
Department is proposing to expand reciprocity for that weekend to
include the state of Maine. A public hearing on the proposal is set
for Monday, November 7, 2011, at 6:30 p.m., at the New Hampshire
Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, N.H. 03301.
The proposal would establish the fourth full weekend in January
as the period when all snowmobiles registered in Maine may ride any
trail in New Hampshire. The reciprocal weekend would include
Friday, Saturday and Sunday. N.H. Fish and Game's intent is to
adopt this rule if Maine allows New Hampshire-registered
snowmobiles on all Maine snowmobile trails during the same weekend.
This is the same weekend during which there is already reciprocity
between New Hampshire and Vermont.
The complete rulemaking notices, with original and proposed rule
language, can be viewed on the Fish and Game website. Go to
http://www.wildnh.com/Legislative/Notices_summary.htm and click on
"Snowmobile Reciprocity."
Written comments must be received by November 17, 2011. Send to:
firstname.lastname@example.com (put "comment on snowmobile rules" in
subject line); or write to Executive Director, N.H. Fish and Game
Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301; or fax to (603)
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of
the state's fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats.
Visit http://www.wildnh.com.


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8 things you (probably) didn't know about OneNote
Educator - Author - Keynote speaker - Global Teacher Prize 2017 finalist
No need to say OneNote is a great tool. OneNote goes further than taking one note. It allows you to save documents in the cloud, share and collaborate with peers, to present, to create multimedial documents and much much more.This is how I use OneNote in my classroom. In this article I'll show some features you probable never heard of. For those who want to get started with OneNote, read this quick guide.
Use OneNote to save a tree (or a forest)
1. Convert handwriting to text
I absolutely love the ability to write, sketch and draw in OneNote. But did you know OneNote allows to convert your handwriting to text?
- Write
- Select
- Hit the button Ink to Text
2. Add new features to OneNote
OneTastic adds lots of great feature to OneNote: cropping images, selecting text from images, customs styles, adding favorites, etc. It allows you to automate tasks via macro's. Via OneCalendar you're able to create calendars. https://omeratay.com/onetastic/
3. Insert images from your smartphone directly in your OneNote document (and convert to text)
This feature is just crazy. Office Lens is an app which you can install on your smartphone. It allows you to take a picture, put this image directly in your OneNote document. Some kind of sci fi scan function.
4. OneNote calculates
When you insert an equation and end with an equal sign, after pressing the space bar you will automatically get the result.
5. Wiki style: inserting links
You're able to add internal link to text via wiki-tags. Let's say you want to link the page "calendar". You can link via [[calendar]]. The square brackets will disappear and the link will turn blue and become clickable.
Special thanks to my pal Kurt Söser who taught me this trick.
6. Taking notes while recording audio
You can record audio and take notes in OneNote. But what if you combine both features? Exactly! OneNote will show synchronically the notes with the audio while playing. Next to notes and drawings audio icons will appear.
7. The search form searches handwriting and images
This will blow your mind. Search form isn't only searching typed texts, it also searches your handwriting and images like screenshots.
8. Take notes without having OneNote open
The Send-to-OneNote tool comes with OneNote. It allows you to create fast screenshots or take notes which will then be automatically saved to OneNote.
Thank you Marjolein for your input!


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What Is Emotional Abuse?
Emotional abuse is any kind of abuse that is psychological rather than physical in nature. It can include anything from verbal abuse, constant criticism, intimidation or more subtle tactics, such as manipulation, or constant displeasure with you. It is an on-going process in which an individual diminishes and erodes the self-esteem of another. Similar to brain-washing, constant abuse can wear away at a victim's self-confidence, sense of self-worth, trust in their own perceptions, and self-concept. It may include belittling, threats of abandonment or harm, or may be more subtle, such as on-going critical "advice" or "guidance."
The result is that eventually the recipient of the abuse loses all sense of self and feels very vulnerable. Emotional abuse cuts to the core of a person, creating scars that may be far deeper and more lasting that physical ones (Engel.1992).
Emotional abuse can be inflicted by both men and women in relationships. It is about power and control, not about respect and love. Emotional abuse can occur in all types of relationships, but is most frequently seen in caregiver/child relationships and intimate partner relationships.
- Does someone in your life frequently criticize you, humiliate you, or undermine your self-esteem?
- Do they ridicule you for expressing yourself?
- Do they isolate you from friends, family, or groups?
- Do they limit your access to work, money, or material resources?
- Do you feel the relationship swings between extreme closeness and emotional distance?
- Have they ever destroyed things of yours or thrown objects?
- Do they ever threaten you or threaten to hurt themselves?
Many people assume that if they are not being physically abused, then they are not experiencing abuse. That is not the case. An intimate or familial relationship in which a person consistently behaves in a way that erodes another's self-esteem and happiness may be an emotionally abusive relationship
Types of Emotional Abuse
Rejecting – Telling someone that they are worthless or that no one else will want them. Telling a child in a variety of ways that he or she is unwanted.
Ignoring – Being physically present but emotionally unavailable or failing to provide nurturance. Denying that both individual's needs are important in the relationship.
Isolating — Keeping someone through manipulation or intimidation from friends and family or peers and independent activities.
Humiliation or Degradation – Calling someone names, making fun of them in private or public situations, forcing someone to engage in embarrassing behaviors.
Demonstration of power and threats — Using threats to reinforce control such as threatening to leave, threatening to kill themselves or you. Using intimidation tactics to instill fear, such as pulling the phone out of the wall, punching holes in walls, shaking one's fist in the other's face.
Discounting – An abuser may minimize the recipient's emotional experience or reaction to an event. "You're too sensitive," or "You're blowing this out of proportion."
Accusing and blaming — Turning something around on the recipient, accusing them or blaming them for causing the abuser's anger.
Judging/Criticizing — Telling someone how stupid, fat, or ugly they are.
Basic rights in a relationship
In a healthy relationship, you and your partner have the following basic rights (Evans, 1992):
- The right to good will from the other.
- The right to emotional support.
- The right to be heard by the other and to be responded to with courtesy.
- The right to have your own view, even if your partner has a different view.
- The right to have your feelings and experience acknowledged as real.
- The right to receive a sincere apology for any jokes you may find offensive.
- The right to clear and informative answers to questions that concern what is legitimately your business.
- The right to live free from accusation and blame.
- The right to live free from criticism and judgment.
- The right to have your work and your interests spoken of with respect.
- The right to encouragement.
- The right to live free from emotional and physical threat.
- The right to live free from angry outburst and rage.
- The right to be called by no name that devalues you.
- The right to be respectfully asked rather than ordered.
What can you do?
- Realize that emotional abuse is a serious problem and you can get help.
- Recognize that emotional abuse is as bad as physical abuse.
- Take your safety seriously.
- Know that you are not to blame for someone else's abusive behavior.
- Find people to talk to that can support you.
- Consider seeing a mental health professional.
- Recognize that you have the right to make your own decisions, in your own time, and that dealing with any form of abuse may take time.
- Trust yourself and your own experiences and believe in your own strengths.


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This fellow wanted to have something shipped to his house in LA. It started off in Union City, California. Should have only taken a few days, right? Try two weeks—because USPS sent it across the entire continent. Twice.
Why was the package routed thousand and thousands of miles instead of a few hundred? Why would the USPS, an entity with some serious financial troubles (death rattles?) go so, so far out of its way? Redditors, as usual, have some speculation:
The system isn't designed so that your package is shipped in the most efficient manner, it's designed so the whole system is efficient. That sometimes means packages take odd routes do to space on trucks, planes, and trains. I used to work at a shipper and had a few friends in logistics, they constantly joked about some of the crazy routes packages would take because it saved the company money.
The mail was flown there most likely. Strangely enough, it is sometimes cheaper to send things far away than to do it nearby/ in-house. Those large sorting factories most likely process most of the U.S. mail.
And since the USPS is practically bankrupt, cheap always comes before efficiency
Are absurdly indirect routes like this really the best way for the Post Office to deliver mail in a timely way and not die? I find that hard to believe, if please chime in below. There has to be some reasoning to this—it's a government bureaucracy, after all.


text:
From Jim Jamieson at The Province:
Ex-Canucks winger Jeff Tambellini has signed a three-year deal to play for Zurich of the Swiss League, where he'll be playing for former NHL head coach Bob Hartley.
Tambellini, a free agent signing by the Canucks a year ago, had 9-8-17 in 62 games and was a plus-10 for Vancouver, largely in a fourth-line role. He played six games in the playoffs with no points and was a minus-3.
Update 12:04pm PT: From Ian Walker of the Vancouver Sun, via Twitter—
Jeff Tambellini a prime example of a tweener. Too good 4 AHL, yet can't stick in the bigs. Wish him all the best in Switzerland.
Probably not an unfair assessment. But a very solid player, really, and a 3 year deal (quite the commitment there) in the Swiss League will be a great opportunity and experience for him.
As for the fact he'll be playing for Bob Hartley… well, I'll just be generous and reserve comment on that point. (Just hearing that name gives me slightly irrational Avalanche: They Be Evil flashbacks…)


text:
Hey, give us more info Amy/Colleen! Did you fly, drive?
You all need to get the low down of amy's long long long weekend in Florida! YES! Disneyworld, Universal Studios, Temple, Hotel with her girlfriend and plenty of boys to keep them both happy! Living the life of a Beauty Queen she is being pampered to say the least! Love you amy!


text:
It's no secret that the European Union wants a further crackdown on tech giants, and it may use a simple shortlist to decide which companies face new restrictions. Financial Times sources say the EU is drafting a "hit list" of up to 20 big tech firms that would face harsher regulations than smaller rivals, such as mandatory data sharing and greater transparency. The list would be based on criteria like market share, user counts, and the dependency others have on their platforms.
Just who's on the list isn't clear. However, it's believed to be very US-centric and would likely include known heavyweights like Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google. That likely wouldn't help tensions with the current American leadership, but it would also dovetail with a US House subcommittee investigation that accused those same companies of holding monopoly power that needed regulation.
It's not certain when the list would be ready. Proposals for the Digital Services Act that would revamp the EU's internet regulation are due in early December, but it's not certain if the list would be ready at the same time.
Whatever the timing, the aim would remain the same. The EU reportedly wants to go beyond fining tech companies and instead find a way to make those companies quickly change their behavior, whether it's opening access to the competition or even forcing them to split up. In theory, it would pressure corporations to mend their ways where they'd otherwise shrug off penalties.


text: On 17 Jan 2012 09h13 WET, nginx-forum at nginx.us wrote: > Hi guys, > > I have an entry cache with nginx : AFAIK there are two ways to purge the Nginx cache. 1. Using grep throughout the cache directories to find and then remove the file. 2. Using an HTTP "method" PURGE. For the first this might be helpful: https://github.com/perusio/nginx-cache-purge and for the later use this: https://github.com/FRiCKLE/ngx_cache_purge --- appa


text:
1. Bernard Herrmann: The Day the Earth Stood Still Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (10/10)
Though Herrmann definitely set the bar high for himself with Citizen Kane, this is the first time, to my knowledge, that he really stretched outside his comfort zone. (Herrmann had been doing radio music for years before Kane.)
Though the theremin had been used on a few scores in the 1940s by other composers, I'm not sure anyone had yet used it so distinctively, and this has to qualify as one of the most "electronic" of Hollywood film scores to date.
The opening is utterly fantastic, conjuring up another world in a way that a traditional orchestra never could. And that mood is maintained throughout the rather brief score. And this sound has become so much part of our movie DNA that it sounds utterly cliche at this point, but, honestly, I can't think of too many movies before this one that featured such an otherworldly sound.
A true landmark in film score composition. Essential.
2. Thelonius Monk: Genius of Modern Music: Volume One (9?/10)
B.B. King: "She's Dynamite" (7/10)
This is a strong, strident song that is basically R and B. I don't know the original version but this is gritty and aggressive and surprising it wasn't a hit.


text: A key accountability requirement of the state's Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), the LCAP is a three-year plan, which every district and charter school must create and update annually with input from the community. The LCAP is intended to explain how the district will use state funds to improve educational outcomes for all students based on eight state priorities, with special attention to high-needs students for whom the district received additional money. The State Board of Education approved a template for the LCAP in January 2014.


text:
Gillette Fusion Razor For Men
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Use the Gillette Fusion Razor for a smooth and comfortable shaving experience. With the 5-blade Shaving Technology and the Precision Trimmer, this razor is designed to provide a neat and well-groomed look. This razor fits all fusion handles, adding to your convenience. Gillette Fusion Razor comes with an advanced shaving technology that is an essential in the contemporary man's grooming kit to give him a clean and clear skin.
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text:
Help us decorate Gloucester's first (annual?) origami Christmas (or "Fishmas") tree with 1000 origami fish!
For years, people have been decorating Christmas trees with origami for public display in cities around the world. For example, New York City has two famous origami-decorated trees every year: one in the American Museum of Natural History, and another in the Japan Airlines offices on 5th Avenue. I met with David Brooks of Art Haven and The Hive, and he loved the idea of doing one here in Gloucester! The current plan is to display it in the front window of The Hive on Pleasant Street.
Our project has two special characteristics. First, we are making the whole thing – tree included – out of origami. It's not the first time it's been done, but it's not so common! Secondly, we want it to be Gloucester-themed, so it will be decorated with origami fish. This honors both Gloucester's spirit and history as a fishing port, and the ancient Christian tradition in which the fish is a symbol of Christ, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas.
We want to get as many people involved as possible. In the spirit of the Japanese tradition of folding 1000 origami cranes, we are aiming for 1000 fish, so, we need a lot of help! Come to The Hive on Saturday, starting at 10AM, to help us fold origami
fish! We are folding a specific origami fish model – the "Twist Fish" by Gay Merrill Gross (from her book Minigami). It's very easy to fold. I will be there teaching for a few hours, and I will teach a few other people so they can teach others when I'm not there. We will have plain paper at The Hive that you can use, but you can bring your own paper too if you want to use fancier origami paper. (You can get paper at Island Art and Hobby on Main Street, or at other art and craft stores.) Also, you can decorate the fish after you fold it – draw a face or scales, paint it bright colors, or whatever!
The tree itself is already in production. I spent several hours yesterday folding with David Brooks and Mary Ann DeLouise to get our origami conifer off the ground:
Plus, next week I will be teaching two classes on origami holiday decorations! We will fold Christmas and Hanukkah themed models and geometric decorations (the variety of models depends on how we do for time). Folding materials will be supplied.
- Here are the dates:
- Friday Dec. 14, 6:30-8PM at the Hive, for teens and adults ($15)
- Tuesday Dec. 18, 6:30-8PM at Art Haven, for children ($10)
I will try to post a more detailed menu of models I hope we can fold.


text:
Thousands of Regal theaters to provide devices for hard-of-hearing moviegoers
KNOXVILLE, TN–Regal Cinemas, the country's largest chain of movie houses, has announced that by the end of May it will have distributed caption-displaying Access Glasses for patrons with hearing loss to more than 6000 of its theaters nationwide. When moviegoers use this technology, captions are projected onto the Access Glasses, but the words look as…Read More
New test seeks to identify hearing loss among over 1 billion Chinese
SOUTHAMPTON, UK—In China, the world's most populous country, an estimated 10% or more of its 1.35 billion people suffer from hearing loss. Yet, only about 1% of them wear hearing aids. Despite the enormous growth in its economy, China remains largely a developing nation in which hearing care is a luxury available to only a…Read More


text:
The Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, named the Yaroslavsk
Commemorated on July 8
The Kazan Icon of
the Mother of God, named the Yaroslavsk, was found in the year 1588 in a
journey to Kazan by Gerasim, whose hand had become crippled. The Mother of God,
appearing to him, gave orders at a directed place to take up Her icon,
transport it to the city of Romanov, and put it within a church. The invalid
fulfilled these directions precisely and his hand was healed.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.


text:
by Calculated Risk on 9/06/2013 01:59:00 PM
Friday, September 06, 2013
Update: Four Charts to Track Timing for QE3 Tapering
With the release of the August employment report we can update the unemployment rate chart that I'm using to track when the Fed will start tapering the QE3 purchases.
The September FOMC meeting is on the 17th and 18th. The employment report was the last key data that will be released before the September FOMC meeting.
At the June FOMC press conference, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said:
"If the incoming data are broadly consistent with this forecast, the Committee currently anticipates that it would be appropriate to moderate the monthly pace of purchases later this year. And if the subsequent data remain broadly aligned with our current expectations for the economy, we would continue to reduce the pace of purchases in measured steps through the first half of next year, ending purchases around midyear. In this scenario, when asset purchases ultimately come to an end, the unemployment rate would likely be in the vicinity of 7%, with solid economic growth supporting further job gains, a substantial improvement from the 8.1% unemployment rate that prevailed when the committee announced this program."Click on graph for larger image.
The first graph is for the unemployment rate.
The current forecast is for the unemployment rate to decline to 7.2% to 7.3% in Q4 2013.
We only have data through August, and so far the unemployment rate is tracking at the bottom of the forecast (lower is better).
However, in July, Bernanke said that the unemployment rate "probably understates the weakness of the labor market." He suggested he is watching other employment indicators too, and I think the decline in the participation rate offsets the decline in the unemployment rate.
The second graph is for GDP.
The current forecast is for GDP to increase between 2.3% and 2.6% from Q4 2012 to Q4 2013.
Combined the first and second quarter were below the FOMC projections. GDP would have to increase at a 2.8% annual rate in the 2nd half to reach the FOMC lower projection, and at a 3.3% rate to reach the higher projection.
The third graph is for PCE prices.
The current forecast is for prices to increase 0.8% to 1.2% from Q4 2012 to Q4 2013.
So far PCE prices are close to this projection - however this projection is significantly below the FOMC target of 2%. Clearly the FOMC expects inflation to pickup, and a key is if the recent decline in inflation is "transitory".
PCE prices wouldn't have to increase much over the next five months to reach the upper FOMC projection.
The fourth graph is for core PCE prices
The current forecast is for core prices to increase 1.2% to 1.3% from Q4 2012 to Q4 2013.
So far core PCE prices are below this projection - and, once again, this projection is significantly below the FOMC target of 2%.
It now looks the year-end data might be "broadly consistent" with the June FOMC projections. However I think the decline in the participation rate will factor into the discussions.
Posted by Calculated Risk on 9/06/2013 01:59:00 PM


text:
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text:
There is a book written in the 80's called Phobia Free by Dr. Harold N Levinson where he claims that the vast majority of phobic or uncomfortable reaction to stimulus like flying, driving, noise, motion, small or open spaces, stairs, bright lights, water, phones, crowds, public speaking and so on, "is physiologically determined by a malfunction within the inner ear system".
Essentially with the Inner Ear (which acts as our inner gyroscope), any problem creates balance and perspective issues, which trigger sensory scrambling which results in discomfort, which may range from mild nausea or full on panic syndrome that stops one leaving the house.
He recommends the use of basically anti-histamines. Some people don't like to use meds. I found Brandt Daroffs technique (included below) was the best. But all these following are possible treatments.
Yoga and other treatments for Vertigo
ASANA (Postures)
Do these very slowly and gently and do not go to the point where you feel any discomfort. If it aggravates problems, then stop.
To do them in the yogic way, (1 and 2)Inhale with head at normal position, exhale letting chin come forwards to chest. Inhale to centre and exhale tilting chin up towards ceiling. Repeat 3 times up and down. Keep the teeth together when moving the head.
(3)Inhale with head in normal position. Exhale dropping right ear slowly towards right shoulder. Inhale to centre. Exhale dropping left ear slowly towards left shoulder. Repeat 3 times to each side.
(4) Inhale with head in normal position. Exhale turning head to right as if to look over right shoulder. Only head and neck moves, not any part of upper trunk. Inhale back to centre. Exhale slowly turn head to left etc. Inhale to centre. Repeat 3 times to each side.
FOR ALL ASANA when you have Vertigo..
Move slowly and gently. Stand near a wall so that if you feel dizzy/imbalanced you can use the wall for support. Head down asana are generally not recommended, especially in acute phase.
TADASANA (Mountain Pose)
Stand with the feet shoulder width apart. Feet flat on the floor. Feel the contact between the foot-soles and the floor.
Arms hang loosely down by sides. Shoulders relaxed. Body at ease.
Open eyes and focus on a point at Eye level in front of you.
Interlock fingers in front of belly.
INHALE and begin to move joined hands up the front of body. Turn the hands at face level, so that the palms face upwards, fingers still interlocked. Keep the eyes focused.
As you stretch the hands up and straighten the arms come up onto your toes. Hold the breath briefly in and lengthen the body.
EXHALE and begin to reverse the arm movement, bringing them slowly down to in front of the belly again. Meanwhile slowly lower feet, so that at the end of the movement your heels touch the floor.
Relax, pause and breath.
Repeat the movement 5 times SLOWLY.
EKA PRANAMASA (One footed prayer pose)
Stand as before, arms loosely down by the sides. Relax the body.
Open the eyes and focus on one point at Eye level on the wall in front of you.
Join hands in front of chest in prayer pose, shoulders stay relaxed.
Shift all the weight of your body to your Right foot. Let the left foot slowly leave the floor, until just the tip of the left toes touch the ground.
Then place the left foot on top of the right foot so that you are balancing only on the right foot. Keep your eyes focussed. Breath slowly and evenly for 3 to 5 breaths in this pose, then place the left foot back on the ground.
Repeat to the other side.
Note: the image shows an advanced form, so gradually as you become comfortable you can try moving the foot further up, first with the foot-sole against the opposite calf, then knee, then thigh.
But don't worry if you stay with the practice where you settle one foot on top of the other. This will still have therapeutic benefit.
Stand as before.
Join the hands in front of the belly .
Eyes open and focused on a point on the wall at about your waist height.
INHALE and bring both arms above head. Hands still flat together.
EXHALE and shift the weight of the body onto the right foot.
Inhale and lengthen upwards through the spine and up-stretched arms.
EXHALE and bend forwards from the hips, and raise the left leg behind you. It does not matter how high it comes.
Look forwards with the head so that you can still see the point of focus on the wall.
Stay there for a breath or two.
INHALE and raise the upper body and arms again and bring left foot to the floor.
Exhale and let the arms come down to rest comfortably at the sides of the body.
Rest and when ready, repeat to the other side.
Repeat the whole thing once more to each side. Don't worry if you wobble. If it feels difficult modify the practice in a way that seems feasible for you. You could for example use a chair to balance your out-stretched arms on.
ARDHA MAYSYENDRASANA ( Spinal Twist)
Sit with the legs stretched straight out in front of you.
Pull back the buttocks slightly so that your back is straight, your tail bone is slightly curved back and you are directly on top of your sitting bones.
Bend the right leg. Place the right foot on the far side of the left knee.
Relax the body. Close the eyes. Breathe freely and easily.
Turn the spine so that you place the left arm on the outside of the right knee as shown in the illustration. Bring the right arm behind you and place palm down on the floor. Turn the whole upper body including neck and head till you are in a comfortable twist.
Remain here breathing calmly and slowly for 3 to 7 breaths.
Come out of the twist slowly and in your own time repeat to the other side.
This pose is useful for stretching parts of the spine, shoulders, chest, neck etc. which may be contracted and contributing to Vertigo.
Lie down flat on your back.
Spine neck and head are in a straight line.
If you need to, place a flat cushion under the back of your head.
Arms are straight and rolled slightly away from the body so that the palms face upwards or slightly inwards.
Let there be some space between the legs and let the feet fall out to the sides naturally.
Eyes and mouth gently closed.
Tuck chin SLIGHTLY towards chest to lengthen back of neck ( a little).
Focus on the soft natural rise of the belly as you breathe.
If thoughts come, be aware of them, but don't try to follow them and return to awareness of the natural abdominal breath.
Remain here for 5 to 10 minutes, the longer the better.
Wiggle hands and feet and turn neck slowly side to side when you are ready to sit up.
BRANDT DAROFF Manoeuvre.
Begin by sitting upright on bed or on a couch that is long enough for you to lie down to either side when you sit in the middle.
• Lie down onto right side. Take no more than 1-2 seconds to do this
• Keep head looking up at 45 degree angle. Imagine someone standing about six feet in front of you, and keep looking at the person's head at all times
• Remain on this side for thirty seconds, or until dizziness subsides.
• Return to an upright position and wait for thirty seconds
• Now lie down onto the other side.
Again, it should take one or two seconds to get into position
• Keep the head at a 45 degree angle
• Stay down for another thirty seconds, or until vertigo subsides
• Return to an upright position and wait for another thirty seconds.
It is recommended to practice this technique up to ten times each side twice a day. I found it extremely beneficial for Labyrinthitis which is a common cause of Vertigo.
BRAHMARI PRANAYAMA (The Humming breath)
Sit in a comfortable position, spine straight, head and neck relaxed and well- balanced, shoulders soft, arms loose and palms resting in lap. Eyes closed.
Note : You do NOT have to sit on the floor. A straight backed chair is fine.
Inhale from the belly (with no strain) and bring arms out to sides ..bend at elbows and with middle/index finger GENTLY block ears.
As you EXHALE Hum on one steady, even note like the sound of a bumble bee. Do not let the note go up and down. A low comfortable noise is best. Hum out loud for the whole length of the exhalation and when finished bring the hands back down to the lap and rest. Breathe normally.
When ready do another round.
Rest Between rounds or do 3 rounds and then rest.
Do NINE rounds in total. Either nine singly or 3×3.
While you are humming concentrate on the vibration in the centre of the head. The feeling in the upper palate and nose, the feeling deep in the ears, also in the forehead. Be completely aware of this gentle vibration.
When you are finished all rounds rest for a while with the hands in the lap and eyes closed.
TRATAK ( Candle Gazing)
Sit on the floor as above
Sit on a chair.
Set up a lighted candle in front of you on the table. The room should be draught free and dim.
The candle should be an arms-length away from you and the flame about the same level as your eyes.
Close your eyes first and let the body settle and be completely relaxed.
When you are ready, open your eyes half way, and gaze into the brightest part of the flame. The flame should be unflickering.
At first this may be hard and you will blink and that is fine. Keep trying until your eyes become accustomed to steadily gazing for some moments.
When your eyes feel tired (or after a minute) close your eyes and concentrate on the after image of the burning candle flame in the space behind the closed eyes. Keep the image steady. It may tend to drop, but raise and centre the image and hold it in this space, and look at it until it begins to fade.
When the afterimage is fading, again open the eyes softly and look into the brightest part of the flame. Do not blink. Hold the gaze steady (This takes some practice. Watering of the eyes is normal)
Gaze steadily for some time and when the eyes become tired, close them and focus again on the steady centred after-image.
Repeat this in total about 3 to 5 times. And afterwards keep the eyes closed when the after image has faded and remain still and quiet for a few minutes.
Vertigo can often be alleviated by eating a more alkaline diet, eliminating or restricting white carbohydrates, sugar, alcohol, and eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Sometimes Vertigo is as a result of a food allergy and gluten (*wheat) and dairy would be the first to suspect. See how you feel after eliminating these for a period of time.
Drink enough water or herbal tea – 2 litres a day.
In a warm climate sometimes all that is required is a bit more salt in the diet to compensate for perspiration.
Boosting the immune system over all can alleviate Vertigo. To this end take daily Echinecea for 3-6 months as prescribed on the bottle. Occasionally take a high dose Vitamin C booster.
Vitamin B supplementation is advised.
Magnesium rich foods are recommended, such dark leafy greens, nuts and seeds, fish, pulses, wholegrains, avocados, dried fruits and bananas.
Sometimes "trigger points" on the neck or further away contribute to Vestibular disorders.
The main ones possible are sternocleidomastoid (sternal or clavicular branch)
These can often be self-treated. A book I recommend is 'The Trigger Point therapy Workbook" by Clair Davies.


text:
After months of staying home in fear of roving gangs of looters and US checkpoints, Baghdad's night-owls are coming out again.
If you're the sort of Baghdadi man addicted to conversation and languid evenings - whether a Baathist sympathizer angry at the US occupation or a Shia merchant delighted by Saddam Hussein's ouster - you're once more heading out after night has fallen.
The US invasion briefly shut down Baghdad's cafe culture. It has suffered since because of the plague of nighttime carjackings and theft that swept the capital after the collapse of the regime.
But in one sign last week that security is improving, the US-led coalition authority moved the start of curfew from 11 to midnight. Thousands took advantage of the extended evening last Thursday, the end of the Iraqi workweek.
Though far from the prewar war throngs, business is picking up at Baghdad's cafes, where men have gathered around tiny glasses of cardamom-flavored coffee to trade gossip and political rumors for centuries. Many Baghdadi's say they're free to speak their minds in the cafes these days, without fear of being denounced by the informers that were everywhere under Saddam.
The Arabic Cafe at the Babylon Hotel, a place bathed in dim red lights and Lebanese MTV, is having its busiest night since the war.
"Praises be to God, it's finally safe to come out again,'' says Haider Saffa, a beetle-browed tool salesman who left his house at night for the first time since a few days after the invasion, when a young tough with a rifle pushed him from his car. Tonight, he is kicking back with a few pals and a strong cup of cardamom- flavored coffee.
Spreading his girth on his low-couch, Saffa says he loves everything about the cafe: the burgundy Persian carpets, the red-velvet wallhangings, the fruit-flavored smell. A Saddam loyalist, he hates the American presence in the city, but concedes that conditions have improved in recent months.
"They've got more Iraqis out on the streets as police now, and that's making a difference,'' he says. "We've got to return to a normal life."
Carjackings and lootings have decreased. Another sign of nighttime normality is the resumption of evening shopping. As recently as a month ago, shopkeepers were pulling down their grates and hustling home at nightfall.
Now, the Keradeh neighborhood near central Baghdad bustles with nighttime commerce. Smoke curls upwards from kebab grills at the curb, pomegranates and apples are piled high at casual open-air markets, and rug merchants adjust the displays in front of their stores. As we pass, bright light spills out from the shops into the crowded streets - though that's subject to change, as the power is still off half the time.
Of course, violence is still a daily fact of life on Baghdad's streets.
On Saturday, one Iraqi man was killed when US troops and Iraqi police disbursed a stone-throwing mob of former Iraqi soldiers with gunfire. The soldiers had gathered to collect their pay, which has been provided by the US since May. They were angry over rumors that their payments are going to be cut off, and they also burned four nearby liquor stores and destroyed a police car.
And while the murder rate has dropped from as many as 60 a day in Baghdad immediately after the invasion to something closer to about 16 a day, that is still almost double the prewar crime rate, according to the Baghdad morgue and human rights groups.
Nothing could be more peaceful than the veranda of the Beiruti Casino overlooking the Tigris. About 50 men - from a high-spirited group of 20-somethings in jeans and T-shirts to two graybeards in robes playing an intense game of backgammon - trade stories in the cool air of the nighttime desert.
The Beiruti has been a Baghdad institution since it opened in the 70s. Before the war, hundreds of men would have been spread out in the glow of its lamps on a night like tonight. No gambling goes on here beyond the risk of having to pay the bill of a dollar or two if you lose to your companion. The place remained open during the war, but did very little business until now.
"Three weeks ago we had two drunks with AKs firing like crazy right down there,'' says a waiter, gesturing to the riverbank. "That's not really the sort of atmosphere our customers are looking for."
Shortly before 11 tonight at the Beiruti, the closest thing to gunfire is the satisfied slap of domino tiles on the tables, and the shouts of men delighted to have rolled double-sixes at backgammon. Conversation is carried on amid Arab pop music.
"We'd stay out until dawn if we could,'' says Ali Abdul Latief, a 20-year old ex-soldier who now works as a butcher. Gesturing at the river with a fourth finger severed at the first joint - a result of an accident while still an apprentice butcher - Latief says: "This is one of the most beautiful countries in the world."
Then the power goes out, and everything is plunged into darkness. Baghdad isn't quite back to normal yet. It's time to go home.


text:
A story of a young boy from the South Side of Chicago, who eventually makes musical history sounds like something from a movie. But this isn't a movie. This is real. This is the real life story of Anthony McGill.
McGill, the first African American Principal Player of the New York Philharmonic, shared his journey with the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper.
"I grew up in the South Side of Chicago. My parents wanted to expose my brother and I to music, " McGill told the L.A Sentinel.
"So then, I started getting involved in the music programs with other kids," said McGill.
Those interactions with community kids sparked his musical journey. They exposed him to opportunities to travel and learn various musical instruments.
"I studied with great teachers of Chicago. I traveled to Japan, Italy, and all over the world. The sound, the beauty of the instruments, and just the world of music made me fall in love."
That love led him into his classical music pursuit. He's often asked why he developed a love for classical music. Many assume the reason was due to his parents.
"We grew up listening to all types of music in the house. We just didn't grow up listening to classical music," laughed McGill.
"I often get asked that question. People think that growing up you have a choice of what you get into. I don't think that really happens. I think you gravitate towards what appeals to you in that moment."
It was the moment he picked up a clarinet that he realized the instrument was something different. The clarinet became more than an instrument. It became a lifestyle of learning the notes and perfecting his craft.
His passion led him to perform for shows such as Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, NBC Nightly News, and the Steve Harvey Show. McGill also performed at the 2009 inauguration of former President Barack Obama.
With an abundance of success, McGill never forgot his duty as a Black man in America. Classical music does not have many people of color performing at large venues. McGill noticed the lack of representation at a young age.
"I began to notice that in youth orchestra. It wasn't like I got into professional orchestra and said, 'wow there aren't any Black people. I've known since I was young.'"
McGill continued describing his experience. Racist comments were still prominent, even with his professional success. Though they were not directly hateful, McGill described the overall ignorance behind some racially charged comments.
"It was more like someone coming to you saying something racist and not knowing it because they are ignorant. Funny thing is, I've never in my life been mistaken as a classical clarinet player. There is always a moment of shock from everyone when I tell them my profession."
Black success should be celebrated across all platforms and not just popular professions according to McGill. He's not a fan of only celebrating one area of Black achievements.
"Just because it's not popular, doesn't mean we haven't already done it. Knowledge is the fact that Black success has reached into almost every corner of humanity," McGill sternly said.
"Because if you think about, you ask what are we good at? Well, it's normally the big sports, movies, and singers but we also have excellence in other professions. Do the younger generation know about these people? If they don't, they might not think they can do it. Black kids around the world know they can become president thanks to Obama. We have to continue the conversations of seeing someone on stage that looks like you because it can inspire a whole generation."
McGill made his Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra debut this past weekend. Led by guest conductor Thomas Dausgaard, McGill was celebrated as part of his role as LACO guest artist-in-residence.
"I'm in control of what I can do. There are lots of barriers such as racism and prejudices, but the one thing I can do is believe in myself."
For more information on McGill, please visit anthonymcgill.com.


text:
Kenneth Bowers – Associate Pastor
Joined SCCOG Staff: January 2012
Family: Wife – Donna, Son – Jeff Bowers & Wife Kendell, Daughter – Keisha, Son – Daniel Bowers & Wife Kristen, Grandchildren – Hannah, Zack, JR
Saved: August 1983
What do you like to do in your free time? I like to fish and going to the Nascar track as well as dirt track racing.
Who has made the biggest impact on your life? My dad instilled values into me as I grew up that I still am reminded of and live by even though he has been in heaven since 2001.
What's the best advice you've ever received? To stay humble and true to God, pray and walk close to Him and even though tough times come my way, God is always right there with me in life.