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Is it Possible to Separate Your Politics from Your Faith?
Spiritual Life
By Denise Kohlmeyer, Crosswalk.com
The debate on this topic is as wide as the Red Sea parting, with Christians voicing views as extreme as those of the Leftists and Right Wingers and everything in between.
There are those who argue that not only is it possible to separate the two, it's imperative. Politics and faith don't mix. And shouldn't. Politicians and politics, after all, don't save souls, so why waste valuable time, energy, and money? Rather, they proclaim, Christians should channel all of that into evangelism, which has more eternal value. This camp of believers, however, runs the possible risk of becoming ignorant about societal issues and, therefore, unable to address the spiritual needs of those struggling with them.
On the other side, there are those who can't seem to make the delineation between politics and faith and, frankly, don't want to. For them, their politics and their faith are synonymous and melded in such a way as to make them practically indistinguishable. This camp of believers tends toward political idolatry and easy manipulation as they put their trust and hope in politicians and policies rather than in God.
Both extremes can be (and have been) divisive and dangerous, particularly within the Body of Christ, where believers are called to be united, of one mind, and to live at peace and in harmony with one another (1 Peter 3:8, Romans 12:16, 18, Philippians 2:2).
But with the ever-widening gap over ideologies about the environment, race, gender identity, gun control, marriage, and the beginning of life (to name a few), it is becoming increasingly harder and harder for believers not to be affected and then be expected to remain neutral. It is nearly impossible not to get pulled into the vortex of partisan politics, which is consuming our country today.
So, what's a sincere, conscientious Christian to do? I'll get to that in a minute.
First, though, I want to look at Scripture, to see what the "non-partisan platforms" of God are. What is His "agenda" regarding how we're to promote the betterment of our society, our world, and, most importantly, our "neighbor," based on the second greatest commandment (Matthew 22:39)?
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/J.S. Winborne
1. Justice
Justice for and the defense of the poor and oppressed, the afflicted and destitute, the voiceless and overlooked, the alien and marginalized, the orphan and widow—our "neighbors" whom we are to love as ourselves—is uppermost in God's mind and heart. Whatever we can do to help improve these unfortunates' plight and lives (which can involve enacting policies at the local, state, and federal levels) brings God glory and honor (Psalm 82:3, Proverbs, 14:31, 31:8-9; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3; James 1:27).
2. Peace
Our neighborhoods, cities, and nation should be better places because of our presence and witnesses there. As peacemakers—those who actively try to reconcile people to God and to one another—we should not be the cause of divisions, but, rather, offer ourselves as examples through our obedience to our government and its authorities. (Jeremiah 29:7; Romans 12:18)
3. Life
God is not about destroying, damaging, or dehumanizing life, given He is the author of it. As image-bearers, all lives matter, and God highly values each person—the born and the unborn—regardless of race or ethnicity.
4. Government
Believe it or not, government is God's idea; therefore, government is good. It's in place for our societal well-being. God chooses to use human governments to carry out His will in the civil sphere. The basis for this is found in Genesis 9:5-6, where God gives guidelines for dealing with murderers (after Cain killed Abel), thus implying that people collectively should set up governing bodies to administer justice.
Governments are so important, God tells us to obey them and not to rebel against them (unless their laws are contrary to His). He also commands us to pray for rulers (Romans 13:1-2, Timothy 2:2).
Now, to our part.
1. Be firm in our faith
For believers, our faith comes first. That should go without saying, but there are those who have it the other way around. Politics comes first. Says Pastor Andy Stanley, "Evaluate politics through your faith rather than create a version of faith that supports your politics."
If our faith is solid and uncompromising—built on the foundation of God's immutable Word—then it will inform, or determine, our politics. The Bible provides the guiding principles for everything in our lives, including proper and faithful political engagement. Our faith, then, should, by all means, influence our voting, platform, and policy priorities.
Without a firm faith, we open ourselves up to manipulation, indecision, and compromise.
2. Critically evaluate and pray about each party and their platforms
No one political party's platform aligns 100 percent with God's agenda, says Pastor Timothy Keller. Each party champions issues which Christians can get behind.
Democrats: the environment, universal healthcare, social programs, disability rights, criminal justice reform
Republicans: the sanctity of life and marriage, protecting Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms, economic growth, a strong military, and national security
Keller says he intentionally does not advocate for one party over another from the pulpit, for fear it may alienate those on either side from coming to church. And as far as which party to support, he offers this, "Get into whatever party you think you can do the best job in, as Christians. And be critical, don't sell your soul."
As evangelical Christians, we should continually be evaluating and praying about the parties, their platforms, and policies and align ourselves with whichever one holds closest and truest to the Gospel and biblical teaching.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Tinnakorn Jorruang
3. To engage or not to engage
While nowhere in Scripture are we exhorted or commanded to engage in politics (other than to pay taxes, Mark 12:17), nor are there verses prohibiting it. That said, there are actually Scriptural examples that substantiate the need for Christian involvement in the political sphere.
"In the Old Testament, for example, Joseph and Daniel served in foreign administrations and used their influence to implement policies that benefited society. In the case of Joseph, during a devastating famine (Genesis 45:9-12), God used his position in the Egyptian government to protect and provide for his extended family (which would become the nation of Israel). Queen Esther used her influence in the Persian government to save the Jewish people from a state-sanctioned genocide (Esther 8)," notes David Closson, director of Christian Ethics and Biblical Worldview at Family Research Council.
Christians, therefore, have the freedom to engage (or not to engage) in politics, to use their gifts and talents God has entrusted to them there, just as they would in any sphere, business, or industry. However, there is a great need for conservative-holding, Biblically-minded, God-fearing believers to serve as politicians, activists, lobbyists, aides, on town councils and school boards, to be "salt and light" and "ambassadors for Christ" (Matthew 5:13-16, 2 Corinthians 5:20). Our warped world needs to hear counter opinions and suggested policies that align more with God's purposes.
"Christians ought to…leverage their influence for the advancement of laws, policies, and practices that contribute to the flourishing of our neighbors," says Closson.
Jon Kuhrt, former CEO of West London Mission and now a government adviser in the UK, agrees. "As believers in God we have much to bring to politics—a deeper commitment to justice and compassion, which throughout history has made a difference in the political sphere through people like William Wilberforce, Lord Shaftesbury, Elizabeth Fry, Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu, and many others."
Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State and director of the CIA, agrees. "[My faith] undergirds everything that I do. I was America's Secretary of State, my oath was to defend the United States Constitution and people of all faiths, but I also looked at everything from a Christian worldview. That's who I am, that's my grounding, it's my center point. So, it impacted every single decision that I made, there's no doubt about that."
While not all of us are called to run for office, at the very least, we should vote in local, state, and federal elections (Romans 13:6). Through voting, it is possible to influence the outcome of an election and thus an issue. Furthermore, "by voting," Closson says. "Christians are entrusting their "sword-bearing" responsibility to officials who will govern on their behalf. Seen from this perspective, voting is a matter of stewardship; failure to vote is a failure to exercise God-given authority."
Superseding voting is praying for governmental authorities, which is one of God's directives. Everyone in power is there by God's grace and appointment. Whether they know it or not, they are His ministers, set in place to administer civil justice (Daniel 2:21, 1 Timothy 2:1-2). And they need our prayers!
For specific ways in which to pray for political leaders, go to:
- 10 Scriptures to Pray for Our Nation and Our Leaders
- How to pray for your government leaders
- Prayer Guide: How to Pray for Our Country's Leaders
Whether we engage in the political sphere or not, there is the inevitability that we will engage at some point in political conversations. So…
How should Christians handle conversations regarding politics?
Wisely and carefully. Again, our goal is preserving unity, both with our brethren and the unbeliever.
"We can (and will) still disagree about a lot of things, including our political views," says Christine McParland. "But because Christian unity goes deeper than any worldly commonality we could ever share, it transcends our disagreements. Christian unity depends not on how we vote but on a mutual commitment to follow Christ in obedience, love, and the pursuit of righteousness and justice. Can you imagine the impact on our nation and the world if the church was truly and fully united? What an undeniable, unstoppable, and unconquerable witness to the transforming power of the gospel!"
In short, we can disagree politically but still love unconditionally. How? By exercising the Fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, generosity, and—most especially—self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Add to these, forbearance ("allowance, tolerance, sufferance"), particularly when a topic you may have a strong and/or opposing view on is brought up.
Above all, remember Who you represent before you open your mouth. You are God's ambassador, speaking on His behalf, not your own. Therefore, let your speech be "always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (Colossians 4:6). And, when necessary, keep quiet. Practice James 1:19, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry."
Separating one's politics from one's faith is nearly impossible. While we know that Jesus and the Good News is the only hope for this world, that doesn't mean we should withdraw completely or get overly involved in politics. It means we use wisdom and discernment when it comes to our political leanings. We engage with and in our world (including its culture and politics) through the lens of our faith, never compromising or "selling our souls," but being faithful witnesses and ambassadors for God and His kingdom, however that may look for each believer.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/lawcain


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Manual Water Pump with Fixture Size of 55 Millimeters for 3 to 5 Gallons
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subset: commoncrawl


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We've said it before – websites are no longer an optional part of a business. They give you the unique opportunity to present information to your customers and potential customers when they research and compare you to your competitors. Without stellar content, the time your potential customers spend on your website could be a waste.
Creating awesome website content is a process that starts with a good plan. Whether you are creating a new website or updating an existing website, you should complete an evaluation of your organization before digging in and composing your content. Each time we meet with a potential new client, and even when we recently updated our own website, we start with these five questions.
Recently, we worked with ASPELL Recovery Center here in West Tennessee and began with this same process to find out what information was crucial to include on their new website. We also have a number of other new websites in development, so keep an eye out for those launching in the coming months.
Do you know your organization?
- What is your company's history? To clearly communicate who you are to others, you need to know who you are. Spend time with your management teams and employees talking about your past, present, and future as an organization.
- Do you have a Mission or Vision Statement? If you do have one, make sure these statements identify who you are as a company. If you do not have one, consider crafting one before launching or relaunching your site.
What makes your organization unique?
- What do you do, that others don't? Why would you be chosen over your competitors?
- There is always something that makes us unique from others. It is essential to identify that in order to show your customers why your business is the better choice. Once you know this aspect of your company, you are ready to tell the world!
Who are your competitors?
- Name your top competitors – those whom you compete directly with for business on a daily basis.
- Competition drives us to be better. Knowing your competition helps you better determine your strengths and weaknesses. You are also better prepared to make your company stand out, instead of blending into what everyone else is doing.
Who are your customers?
- Is it a busy, working mom? A retired couple? A College student?
- By knowing who your customers are, you can clearly understand and communicate what you do to make their lives better. That message needs to be conveyed immediately. Don't make your customers search for what you do!
What is the goal of the website?
- What do you want your customer to do?
- Make sure to develop a clear Call to Action (CTA). People need to know what you want them to do on your website. Do you want them to buy something? Do you want them to schedule an appointment? Make it clear and make the buttons easy to find and click.
Anyone can put up a website, but one with carefully planned out content that is relevant to your industry, up-to-date, and easy to navigate is a different story. Taking the time to do this will always have you a step ahead of the competition. By spending time on quality content, your website will be at the top of search pages without spending extra advertising dollars.
Ready to conquer a new website but need additional guidance? Make sure to download a copy of our Digital Marketing Checklist and then schedule a meeting with one of our experts here at Adelsberger Marketing. That's what we are here for. Click below and we'll get started.


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Olympic Holidays donate £55,000 to Alder Hey Children's Charity
On Wednesday 3rd October, Clare Tobin, CEO of Olympic Holidays, the UK's leading European Island Holiday company, visited the team at Alder Hey Children's Hospital to hand over a cheque for £55,000 to the Alder Hey Children's Charity.
The Alder Hey Children's Charity raises vital funds to help make the hospital a world-class, patient-friendly hospital for the 275,000 patients and families that they care for every year. The hospital's Neonatal Unit at Alder Hey opened in the 1950's and is one of only five neonatal surgical units in the country. Thousands of babies have benefited from the care given on the unit, many of whom have had or will require a surgical procedure. The hospital continually seeks to improve and provide the best facilities and equipment which makes donations like this absolutely vital.
The money donated by Olympic Holidays has already been earmarked and will not only pay for a sensory room, which will be named 'Ollie's Room', designed to reduce stress during treatment of Alder Hey's young patients, but they will also be able to support the Neonatal Unit with three heated cots.
'Here at Olympic Holidays, we believe that charity work is hugely important and throughout 2018 we have been working hard to raise funds for the Alder Hey Children's Hospital through a series of staff events and charitable donations from our customers. Staff and customers alike have shown great enthusiasm and generosity through organised cake days, BBQ's, sporting achievements and online donations and I am immensely grateful to everyone involved. The team at Alder Hey Children's Hospital work tirelessly to provide the very best care to their patients and we really hope our donation will so go some way to support their amazing efforts' comments Tobin.
Sensory Room
'Ollies Room', a new sensory room will be one of 15 treatment rooms with state-of-the-at immersive distraction technology which has been proven to reduce sedatives, anxiety and pain in children. Distraction equipment such as 4D immersive projection, lighting effects and surround sound has been proven to reduce the need for sedation by 40% meaning children are not exposed to unnecessary medication and staff can treat more children each day.
Heated Cots
The new heated cots in the Neonatal Unit are vital to help premature babies regulate their own body temperature, something which they are unable to do. They will perform a similar function as an incubator but they are incredibly versatile and will also be used for patients who might have cardiac or respiratory problems.


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Visit our museum shop!
The museum shop is on the ground floor of the Norwegian Fisheries Museum and sells inspiring books, toys and maritime gifts for all ages.
You can visit the ground floor without having to buy a ticket. The ground floor has exhibits showing how the old dried fish storage houses were used before. It also houses an activity room for the kids and our charming museum café, Bod 24
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High-profile proponents of value investing, including Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett, have argued that the essence of value investing is buying stocks at less than their intrinsic value. The discount of the market price to the intrinsic value is what Benjamin Graham called the "margin of safety".
Now one of the most important and difficult aspects of stock selection is determining whether the stock you have selected is really a value investment or a value trap.
The price of an actual value investment is low because of temporary factors. Its price is a bargain because it trades below the real or intrinsic value. For example Infosys declined substantially when Mr Sikka quit as MD& CEO, but business dynamics did not changed & in due course someone else took over his position. Thus it was a good value buy. Tata Motors is a good company with a temporary slump in sales & sales are expected to recover in due course. Thus it could be a good value buy at current levels. My experience is a lot of times value investing is synonymous to taking a contra-bet. As Warren Buffet says 'Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful'. SBI was trading at multi year lows ~Rs.150 18 months back as if the bank will close down. We must remember that every business has ups & downs and the best bet would be a buy a good business in bad times. One final example which comes to my mind was when Motherson Sumi Systems crashed due to the Volkswagen fiasco. If you were confident on the business of Motherson Sumi & it turning around. That was the best time to find value in the stock.
A real value investment stock will have consistent or growing cash flow, a business plan for products that have strategic advantages and strong financial statements. The price must be low enough that it provides a margin of safety; therefore the purchase price you are willing to pay should be substantially less that its real worth.
The price of a value trap on the other hand is low because of long term or more permanent factors. Its price appears to be a bargain but in fact is not selling at a price below its intrinsic value. This is usually because something is different, or is going to change, that negatively affects the earnings or cash flow of the company. It appears to be a bargain compared to its previous price, but in reality something has changed and the lower price is discounting or warning of deterioration or change ahead. As the saying goes- never try to catch a falling knife. For example in case of cyclical/agri stocks like sugar/rubber last year was a bumper year for the companies but the cycle might have turned & the coming year profits may be significantly lower. Thus the stocks will look really cheap going by trailing 12 month valuations but may be expensive based on forward earnings. Same with industries with crude derivative raw materials like plastics/airlines. With crude at $30/bbl they made bumper profits but with crude at $70/bbl the situation may be different. Another classic example coming to my mind is investors inquiring about Reliance Communication at Rs, 50/40/30 and the stock finally declining to Rs.10/sh. A similar thing was seen in infrastructure/real estate stocks few years back like IVRCL, GMR Infra, JP Associates, Unitech etc as these stocks declined by 80-90% from their peak.
It is difficult to determine the difference between a real value investment and a value trap. Even the best value investors buy value traps. Making mistakes is a part of investing risk. But keeping in mind aspects like earnings/cash flows, management quality, liquidity/debt-equity ratio and business model/product profile help in distinguishing between a value investment & value trap to some extent and reduce mistakes. The goal is to maximize your probability of purchasing a real value investment, and minimize buying value traps.
The Tortoise Investment Strategy
Mistakes small investors make in a bull market
Sabyasachi Paul has been associated with equity research and advisory on equity markets in India for over 9 years & currently heads the equity research desk of Eastern Financiers Ltd, Kolkata. He also manages a portfolio on the online platform Kristal. Find link to the strategy named 'The Tortoise'


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New Orleans Groceries : 21st Century Style
Local grocery options are reinventing themselves to serve a changing marketplace and clientele.
A native New Orleanian, Poppy Tooker has spent her life devoted to the cultural essence that food brings to Louisiana, a topic she explores weekly on her NPR-affiliated radio show, Louisiana Eats! From farmers markets to the homes and restaurants where our culinary traditions are revered and renewed, Poppy lends the voice of an insider to interested readers everywhere.
A 21st century local grocery store revolution is afoot. While nationally, business is trending toward door-to-door delivery and drive-thru pick-up by national business giants like Walmart and Amazon, locally, a new coterie of independent grocers are reinventing what it means to make groceries in New Orleans.
Simone's Market Welcomes Online Shopping Trend
Simone Reggie is the new face of Uptown groceries. Previously with Good Eggs online delivery service, when that enterprise folded Simone knew that 150 local farmers and food producers had lost a vital outlet for their wares. She set out to help rectify the problem by creating Simone's Market on Oak Street.
Reggie believes that online shopping is going to regrow corner groceries.
"While paper goods and cleaning supplies may be delivered to your door, people want to touch and feel perishables," she says. At Simone's, fresh seafood, prime steaks and specialty Cajun meats from Eunice Superette join beautifully curated seasonal produce, making grocery shopping there an impulse pleasure.
Convenience is paramount to many Simone's Market customers. Basic prepared home-style foods like chicken pot pies, meat loaf and sandwiches made to order from Simone's kitchen account for over a quarter of her revenue. Catering is also available.
With her Lebanese background, she caused a stir at the 2017 Oak Street Po-Boy Festival with her "Lebacajun," a combination of hashweh, tabouli and yogurt sauce on Leidenheimer's French bread that was awarded "Most Original" by a panel of judges.
With subscription meal kits flooding the delivery market, Reggie is currently working with local chefs like Isaac Toups and Justin Devillier to develop meal kits with a distinctly local flair available exclusively at the market.
Dryades Public Market Reinvented
Over in Central City, the Dryades Public Market seems to have hit its stride after some radical experimentation.
Back in 2016, when the market first opened in the former McDonough 38 school building, its goals were as lofty as the grand chandeliers that dominate the space. Individual boutique counters operated by small purveyors sold fresh pasta, pastry and seafood. The Curious Oyster served oysters on the half shell along with menu items like smoked drum-stuffed local cherry tomatoes with preserved lemon pesto. Those high-end offerings, however, simply did not meet the neighborhood's needs. Now, the market is a full-service, value-priced grocery featuring conventional brands.
Chef Allison Dean serves as the market's unofficial ambassador, gregariously greeting customers with tastes of old-school favorites served on the hot and cold lines. For $6.99 a pound, shoppers load up on soul food classics like red beans and rice, smothered greens, fried catfish and cornbread. Dean is one-of-a-kind, and so are his desserts.
New Orleans Food Co-op Transforming
The New Orleans Food Co-op, which opened in the Healing Center on St. Claude Avenue in 2011, is also currently undergoing a transformation. One of the co-op's original founders, John Calhoun took over management earlier this year, intent on increasing revenue with healthy, hard-to-find local products while creating a true community hub.
Stroll the co-op's aisles and you'll find Louisiana-sourced staples like sugar, rice, grits and eggs alongside specialty ingredients like tofu and kombucha. Gulf seafood shares freezer shelf space with beef, pork and lamb all produced within the state. A wellness department includes local soaps and homeopathic CBD oil products. Knife sharpening services are available and some evenings there's live musical entertainment.
There hasn't been such a revolution in local grocery shopping since 1946 when Schwegmann's Brother's Giant Super Markets opened the area's first big-box store, complete with an in-store bar. But some things never change. The Dryades Public Market's bar has been a popular fixture since the day it opened, proving in New Orleans, we make groceries our way, dawlin'.
Catch Poppy Tooker on her radio show, Louisiana Eats! Saturdays at 3 p.m. and Mondays at 8 p.m. on WWNO 89.9 FM.


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2007 Freedom Jazz Festival will feature Afro-Cuban and West African music as well as straight ahead jazz
After arriving in America, African slaves used drums to communicate to each other, sometimes across plantations. "The slave masters didn't know the drums could talk," Lamarr Smith explained, adding that once their real purpose was discovered, the instrument was banned from plantations.
This year's all-day event is scheduled from noon until 8 pm on Saturday, August 11 at Minnehaha Park. For more information on the 2007 Freedom Jazz Festival, call 612-827-2422, or go to www.freedomjazzfestival.org or www.minneapolisparks.org.
First called "swing music," then later became known as jazz, "This music is indigenous to America," added Smith, president of Freedom Jazz Festival, Inc.
For the past eight summers, Smith's organization has hosted the Freedom Jazz Festival at Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis. This year's all-day event is scheduled from noon until 8 pm on Saturday, August 11. Smith recalled, "The first year we had 500 people. We had about 4,000 people last year, our largest crowd ever. Minnehaha Park is a great venue because of the sounds of the water, and it is not too big or too small.
"Every year, we tried to get the best of the African American musicians in different genres," he continued, adding that this year the festival will feature Afro-Cuban and West African music as well as straight ahead jazz. "There's something for everybody," Smith said.
More importantly, the annual late summer event keeps alive an art form that many today, including Blacks, have left behind in favor of other types of music, which greatly saddens Smith.
"We don't even know our history," he surmised, adding that jazz "is the only American musical art form. This music was invented by [Blacks] for us. It always has been a struggle for us to express ourselves in our music. All of our pain and suffering, hopes and dreams, are embedded in our music. What has happened today is people have come along and they have appropriated the best things in our music as their own."
Rarely these days can you find jazz on commercial radio. Most of the top-20 radio markets in the U.S. don't even have a jazz station. In the Twin Cities, for example, not since KTWN (now KQQL) back in the late 1970s and early 1980, then for a time on daytime-only KTCJ-AM (now KFXN, a sports station), has jazz been featured commercially.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, a couple of stations tried and failed programming a "smooth jazz" format. "This whole 'smooth jazz' movement is jazz that has been appropriated and used as musical Prozac," Smith said sadly. "They call it jazz but it's not."
Today, only KBEM (88.5 FM), a non-commercial radio station, calls itself a jazz station. Other than Saturdays from 7 am to 7 pm, and a four-hour blues program on Friday evenings, KBEM plays "straight jazz," according to its business and marketing director Kevin Barnes. Also, one of KZJK-FM's two high-definition stations has a jazz format (you must have a HD radio to receive it, however).
A longtime jazz aficionado, Smith admitted, "God bless KBEM." He recalled once calling the station to inquire about its song list, and someone there told him that they use a preplanned format. "They got a computer picking the songs," he noted.
Growing up in Detroit, Smith's parents first exposed him to jazz, R&B and blues. "What got me into [jazz] was listening to it with my parents — my mother in particular. Sunday mornings was Nina Simone time. When I hear certain songs, it takes me back." From then on, he was hooked on jazz, along with others like him who treasured it like gold. "I remember when a new Miles Davis album came around, we carried our albums with us," he reminisced.
Once upon a time, young musicians would learn how to play an instrument from a "master." Nowadays, musicians would rather incorporate pre-packaged sounds or use "sampling." "They strayed from their musical roots when the electronic music came along, and people didn't have to learn to play anymore," Smith said.
Schools also de-emphasizing music didn't help either. Smith pointed out, "If you didn't play sports, you played in the band. Now most schools either don't have a music program, or the music program they have already is [for advanced music students]. It's not for people who want to come and learn how to play."
Like jazz, even blues isn't heard much: "Black people today seem to be ashamed of blues," Smith said. "It is a dying art." Nonetheless, "Our mission is to create a new generation of jazz lovers."
Smith began with his two teenage sons: "All they hear is jazz when they ride in the car [with me]," Smith said proudly. "They have seen and felt the music."
In simply explaining why Smith and his group work hard to put on the annual festival each summer, he said, "What we really want is for people to bring their kids out. When kids go out and hear good jazz, they will think and remember being out in the park with their parents on a beautiful day, having a great time."
More importantly, it is "to bring Black music and showcase Black musicians in a venue that they would not normally get," said Smith, adding that he wants more Blacks to come and enjoy it. "I don't see enough Black faces in the audience," he said.
He also would like to do a regularly scheduled program on local radio. "I would love to put together a jazz show, where we would be able to play real, honest jazz. Bring in local musicians and talk to them. Do in-depth studies of certain musicians, and constantly remind people of how the music got started."
In addition to the great music, Smith said a practice first introduced at last year's festival again will be featured. He explained, "Because the Minnehaha Creek feeds into the Mississippi, we take a vessel of water and put it up on the stage. That vessel of water absorbs the good vibes from that concert. Then at the end of the concert, we do a New Orleans jazz march and play 'When the Saints Come Marching In.' Everybody in the audience and the musicians on stage all march and pour that water into the falls, and we send a blessing down to New Orleans, where jazz started."
Finally, Smith said that the Freedom Jazz Festival will leave all who attend with a peaceful feeling.
"It's a beautiful thing," he predicted. "Come, enjoy and be a part of it."
Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-re corder.com.


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Construction work involves dangerous machinery and often working at heights. It can be a hazardous profession, and workers often receive injuries on the job. If you have suffered an injury while working, you are likely eligible for workers' compensation benefits.
If a faulty product caused your injury, consult a Construction Site Accident Lawyer in Livonia about pursuing a product liability lawsuit.
Construction site accidents can result in severe injuries and cause long-term disabilities. To ensure you receive the compensation you deserve, contact Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C., an experienced law firm based in metro Detroit, Michigan, serving Livonia and the surrounding areas.
Immediately following an injury, seek medical care. Even if the injury was mild, it could take several days for problems to appear after an accident. An official report from a doctor on the day of the accident can serve as proof that your injuries occurred at work, even if your symptoms appeared later.
After receiving medical treatment, report the accident and injury to your supervisor. Although you have 90 days to report a workplace injury in Michigan, it's better to notify your employer or human resources department as soon as possible. Workers' compensation laws state that a company must cover your medical bills and provide coverage for lost wages only if the accident happened at work. Reporting quickly gives your employer less leeway to argue that the injuries occurred elsewhere. For the first 28 days, you are required to use a doctor recommended by your employer.
Keep a detailed record of your expenses. Note down every doctor's appointment, prescription, and diagnosis. A Construction Site Accident Lawyer in Livonia will use your records to ensure you receive full compensation.
Lastly, contact a construction accident attorney. They can help you file your claim and determine if you are eligible for more than workers' compensation benefits.
All employers in Michigan with more than three employees must hold workers' compensation insurance. If your accident was merely bad luck, you'll need to file a workers' compensation claim within two years of the date of the injury.
If your employer is a subcontractor without workers' comp insurance, the general contractor's insurance company must cover your expenses.
Some injury cases happen because of faulty equipment. If a malfunctioning tool or poorly designed ladder caused your injury, you might be able to file a product liability claim. Manufacturers are often large companies with a permanent legal team. To ensure your product liability claim's success, work with a law office experienced in product liability.
If a third party's negligence caused your injury, you might be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. offer a wide range of legal services. We specialize in personal injury claims, workers' compensation, and product liability.
To determine how to get the most compensation, contact our team today at 866-MICH-LAW. Our experienced legal team will analyze your situation at your free consultation and make a plan to fight for your right to compensation.
Monroe, Michigan
A young couple from Monroe, Michigan, was awarded a $15.8 million verdict as the result of their baby son, Jason, being inflicted with Cerebral Palsy as the result of an error during the final stages of a labor.
Oakland County, Michigan
While in the hospital a mother of three was not properly treated for a closed-head injury causing her untimely death.
Livonia, Michigan
A Livonia pedestrian recovered $1.4 million when he was struck by a commercial van resulting in a traumatic brain injury in Redford, Michigan.
Wayne County, Michigan
Patient suffered cardiac arrest and brain damage when a hospital failed to recognize internal bleeding and treatment was delayed for more than 14 hours.
Tuscola County, Michigan
A Tuscola County jury awarded $3.3 million to a severely brain injured motorist as the result of a defective Michigan highway.
Flint, Michigan
A seventeen-year-old construction worker suffered a traumatic brain injury resulting from a fall in Flint, Michigan, and was awarded $1.25 million.
Wayne County, Michigan
Middle-aged woman suffered severe disfiguring facial burns from a simple surgical procedure.
Southern Michigan
Child developed cerebral palsy with developmental delays due to lack of oxygen and brain injury during labor and delivery.
Westland, Michigan
A Westland construction worker recovered $1.5 million after sustaining a traumatic brain injury while on a construction site in Detroit, Michigan.
Marlette, Michigan
A Marlette, Michigan, family reached a $1.3 million settlement in the traffic death of their 5-year-old son when they were struck by a semi truck.
Redford, Michigan
The misdiagnosis of breast cancer resulted in a Redford, Michigan, woman recovering $225,000.
Detroit, Michigan
A construction worker redeemed his worker's compensation case for $125,000 in Detroit, Michigan.
Monroe, Michigan
A paraplegic woman from Monroe, Michigan, recovered Michigan no-fault benefits including the purchase of a new home and attendant care in excess of $400,000.
Brighton, Michigan; Detroit, Michigan
A Brighton family recovered $1.3 million and a Detroit family recovered $900,000 as the result of birth injuries and medical malpractice to their children.
Bay City, Michigan
A Bay City grandmother was awarded $80,000 following an auto accident resulting in a broken leg.


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columbia peds blog
What is teletherapy?
Teletherapy is using video technology to deliver speech and language services by connecting the clinician and client for treatment, assessment, and/or consultation. Both adults and children can participate in teletherapy.
What is the difference between telepractice, teletherapy, telehealth, and telemedicine?
There is no difference between telepractice, teletherapy, and telehealth. However, telemedicine is the practice of medicine using technology to deliver care. A physician will use telecommunications to deliver care at a distance to their patients.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association uses the phrase "telepractice" because not all services are being provided in healthcare settings.
Why use telepractice?
Research has shown that telepractice is as effective and equivalent to in-person therapy.
Some benefits of telepractice include:
How does telepractice work?
Telepractice uses video to connect your child and the clinician. A link will be sent to open the video to start the telepractice session. There are many different video sources that follow HIPAA regulations.
How can I support my child during a telepractice session?
As the parent/caregiver, you will be helping support your child during the telepractice session. Your therapist may provide parent coaching and guidance on how to use materials and how to prompt your child verbally or physically.
Some helpful tips are:
At Columbia Pediatrics, we offer a flexible approach to our therapy sessions. Whether you are interested in teletherapy, in person therapy, or both, please contact us at (360) 989-7347.
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July 2023


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The countdown is on towards the completion of Blackpool's £28m new conference and exhibition centre which is due to be handed over to the council in November.
Workers are now on the final stretch of the contract to deliver state-of-the art facilities designed to put the Grade II* listed Winter Gardens back on the conferencing map.
Contractors McLaughlin & Harvey have around 106 people working on site as the deadline for completion approaches.
While it is still a construction site, the scale and detail of what will be delivered to delegates across two main floors plus mezzanine areas is clear.
More: 19-year-old man killed in Warton crash and four people arrested
Visitors arriving through a dedicated entrance on Leopold Grove will be swept upstairs on escalators to vast spaces which can be divided into different sized meeting or exhibition areas.
Modern cladding, acoustic sliding walls and humidity controlled rooms reflect the top end technology employed in construction.
But an exposed brick wall reminds visitors they are just a step away from the rest of the Victorian Winter Gardens complex.
And it is this aspect of the building – combining Blackpool's heritage with its desire for progress – that will offer delegates a unique experience and hopefully put the conferencing offer ahead of rivals around the country.
Architects have designed the centre to seamlessly connect with its older neighbour, with access on a single level right through from Leopold Grove to the Empress Ballroom and the Floral Hall, as well as connections to the Opera House.
There will be ground floor capacity for around 430 delegates and first floor capacity for 1,200, bringing the total for the whole Winter Gardens complex to 7,000.
The main meeting space on the first floor can be split into four rooms using fully acoustic sliding walls boasting sound block boards to prevent noise slippage between partitions.
But pull back the walls, bring out the tables and chairs stored in rooms behind, and the same space can be transformed for a gala dinner with on-site kitchens.
A smaller convention area on the ground floor can be similarly divided, while break-out rooms offer a glazed outlook for when delegates need to switch-off.
But just as vital as space, is technology and engineers are busy fitting out reams of cable into the specialist IT room where there will also be a control centre for broadcasters.
Broadband fibre connections will be the best available along with state-of-the-art audio visual equipment.
Behind the scenes, a heavy duty air conditioning system has been installed, while toilets, cloakrooms, kitchens and staff quarters are also taking shape.
An undercover loading bay has been built with capacity for two articulated trucks to enable exhibits and scenery to be unloaded straight into the conference centre or onto the back of the Opera House stage.
Meanwhile a vehicle lift can carry a four tonne fully loaded transit van to the upper floors to unload.
Michael Williams, managing director of the Winter Gardens, says the investment is already attracting conference organisers back to Blackpool.
He said: "We're on track for November and the finishing trades are now in fitting out things like the cabling.
"It's an exciting part of the development seeing all the equipment starting to arrive right down to the big ovens and chillers for the kitchen. We've also just ordered the 1,700 chairs which will be needed.
"Connectivity with the rest of the Winter Gardens has been key throughout the design and building process.
"That's why we have left in a feature brick wall to the Empress Ballroom balcony, which has been restored and repointed.
"The idea is people can relate to where they are, to the Empress Ballroom and to that 120-year tradition which is just behind the wall.
"That will be part of the unique selling point for our conference centre.
"We are going to have a 21st century conference centre with all the modern facilities and technology available, but people can walk through to the Empress Ballroom or the other rooms in the Winter Gardens and see the link to that heritage as well."
Building work began in 2018 and has been disrupted by the Covid pandemic, although lockdown meant gatherings were off limits anyway.
A fresh appetite for conferences, as people have missed meeting, up is expected but lessons have also been learned from the restrictions put in place.
Mr Williams said: "We will be set up to hold hybrid conferences so some delegates could attend remotely from anywhere in the world.
"One thing Covid has taught us is that we have to be able to do things differently.
"If some international guests cannot travel, they can still attend the conference due to the technology we have put in."
Proposals are also already in place for more investment which could further enhance the setting of the conference centre.
Planning permission was granted in June for a five storey, 160 bedroom hotel on Leopold Grove including an enclosed bridge linking the second floor of the hotel with the new development.
Meanwhile Blackpool Council's £20m bid to the Government's Levelling Up Fund includes new convention space with retail within the Olympia area of the Winter Gardens.
The Conservative Party will host its Spring Forum in the conference centre in 2022, which will be one of the first big events and will be the first time the Conservative Party has hosted a major conference in Blackpool since 2007.
Funding has included £15m from the government's Growth Deal, £7m from Blackpool Council, and £2.9m from the Coastal Communities Fund (also government funding).
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You can sign up for free daily updates with the LancsLive newsletter here.


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Date: 02-16-2022
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created by gbSnippets
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'Date: 03-10-2012
created by gbSnippets


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It's been a busy few months since I posted my last blog! Between my book launch, beauty judging and consulting along with some exciting new brands, projects, live TV appearances and exciting offers like the upcoming one from Liz Earle – time has just flown by!
While I am thrilled that some of my consultancy projects are finally able to happen to face to face, between my busy work schedule and businesses using my consulting services, I needed another horse for having some downtime (dog walking and riding for me, are what make me tick and keep me relaxed). So, here's welcoming Blue to our family – an Irish Draught sports horse who has fitted in very well so far…
With so many of us now able to see family and friends and starting to go back to work in this new normal way of living, one thing I'm sure you, like myself, have not welcomed back is the traffic! It seems to be worse than ever so my top tip is to use that time effectively. I do work calls, use it as thinking time or try a different radio station or even an audio book to make the several hours feel like a joy rather than a chore.
Thank you for all your great reviews and messages on my book, do keep them coming!
Liz Earle
Now is the time at a season change to re-evaluate your beauty routine and prioritise your next three months of products and makeup. If you haven't already done so you can buy this fantastic skincare collection from Liz Earle here. It's great as a feel-good gift for a friend too.
Liz Earle
This collection is perfect for a top to toe makeover, including a sensorial bathing experience! It not only includes the three core essentials – Cleanse and Polish, Instant Boost Skin Tonic and your choice of Skin Repair Moisturiser but also has three fragranced body products in the Bourbon Vanilla and Clove Bud Body Wash and Body Cream. Both inspired by botanical essence No.15 EDP with a lovely bag.
It's certainly a treat to lock yourself in the bathroom with an inspiring drink! I like to choose ones to go with the fragrances, so I made a long rum cocktail with vanilla, clove, strawberries, mint, and lavender from the garden. The No.15 has has a different, almost comforting cashmere aroma when combined with the Bourbon Vanilla and Clove. It really does have different aroma on individuals and a softness when combined with the Bourbon Vanilla and Clove Bud Body treatment. Do join my live over on the Liz Earle Instagram page tonight at 6pm with Sarah to celebrate this great brand.
Farm Life and Updates
A few other things that have happened since I last posted a blog. I celebrated my lavender season this year with triumphant lavender biscuits – shortbread recipes with fresh moist flowers rolled in!
I have also started a newsletter and recently ran a competition to win a beauty consultation with me as well as a beauty hamper. I'll be bringing loads of beauty discount codes and news so if you haven't already then do sign up here.
This blog post contains some affiliate marketing links, which means I may get paid commission on sales of those products should you purchase through my link. My content is not influenced by advertisers, affiliate partnerships or brands. As a qualified beauty expert, I have worked in the beauty industry for over 30 years. To find out more about me and see my full T&C's here: https://alisonyoungbeauty.com/website-terms-and-conditions/


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Online GED Classes
Simple, Fast & Easy Way of Preparing for the GED Test
- 4 GED® Subjects Lessons and Practice Tests
- Complex Topics Simply Explained
- GED Ready® Vouchers
- TI-30 XS Calculator Course
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- Fast-Track and Quitting Protection
We offer a 7-day money-back guarantee, and we are ready to help you get started!
You could be already preparing for your GED!
The Road to Your Success
When you pass the four GED subject tests, your state gives you a High School Equivalency diploma. The easiest and fastest way to prepare for these tests is by taking Onsego's online GED classes.
Then, when you are prepared, you simply schedule the GED test at GED.com, and you get your diploma.
GED Testing Service, the sole provider of the official GED Test, recognizes our course as 100% aligned with the GED test.
Easy but Powerful Prep
The Advantage plans are the complete GED Prep programs that include 4 GED subject courses: Math, Social Studies, Science, and Language Arts. Additionally, we add 4 bonuses, such as a TI-30 XS Calculator course, GED Ready Vouchers for the official practice test, a Quitting Protection program, and a Confidence Booster.
Short Lessons and Quizzes
Every subject includes video lessons with text. All lessons are designed to provide short, bite-sized pieces of information so you don't get bored or overwhelmed. After each lesson, a short quiz enforces active learning and boosts your confidence.
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Onsego publishes 800+ practice test questions that have a structure similar to the real GED test. Our practice tests also have full explanations, so you learn how to approach and solve the GED test problems. Our practice tests additionally include Strong & Weak Areas reports.
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A notepad is included in every lesson, so you can take and save notes as you progress through the course. Then, you can download and print these notes to extend your learning outside the Onsego prep course.
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Your progress is recorded every time you take a lesson, read a text, or answer practice questions. Your progress is displayed on the screen, and you can save it as a PDF or print it.
Dedicated Support
Our support team answers your questions 7 days a week. You can reach out to us by phone, chat, or email. We are ready to help you get started and offer support when you need us.
Skills To Improve Report Integration
When you take the GED Ready test, you receive a report that shows your score and a list of skills to improve. You can connect this list with Onsego, and you will know precisely which Onsego lessons you need to take to improve your score.
GED Ready Vouchers
A GED Ready Voucher allows you to get a free GED Ready Official Practice Test. This test tells you if you are likely to pass the GED subject test or not and that you should keep studying. You get 4 vouchers for free if you choose the "My Advantage" Plan. ($28 Value)
TI-30 XS Calculator Course
The GED Calculator Course is a short course that teaches you how to effectively use the GED scientific calculator to solve most of the GED Math questions. If you follow this course, you will decrease your GED Math prep time by 70%. This course is included in the "My Advantage" plan. ($69 Value)
Quitting Protection Program
The biggest obstacle to getting the GED diploma is quitting the course and stopping learning regularly. Nothing else. If you follow the lessons included in this course, you will pass all four tests. We guarantee it. But what to do if you hit a roadblock? Our Quitting Protection system explains what to do and how to move forward. This course is included in the "My Advantage" plan. ($49 Value)
Boosting Confidence & Study Tips
Strategies for reaching your full potential. This is a short 5-lesson course that explains how to boost your confidence and study effectively. Among other things, you will identify your learning style and learn how to change your mindset to achieve what you want. This course is included in the "My Advantage" plan. ($45 Value).
The Onsego experts, who have years of experience in preparing students for the GED test, created a repeatable learning process that supports accelerating learning. Onsego's courses are designed by master's teachers and Ph.D. students from Stanford, Harvard, UC Berkeley, and other top universities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Onsego Reviews
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You are completely protected by our 100% No-Risk Guarantee. We believe you're going to love Onsego. But over the next 7 days, if you find it's not a good fit, we'll refund 100% of your money. No questions asked.
Steve Gory, Co-Founder & CEO of Onsego


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Setting toilet bowls
I have been reading a lot of tips about setting toilet bowls. My tip uses no tools — but when setting a bowl, just look through the seat holes to ensure they line up with the flange bolts. You don't have to try to look around the bowl. I have been doing that for 40-plus years.
Robert DiCioccio
Alpine Plumbing
Montrose, New York
Send Us Your Tool Tips
If you have an idea that has saved you time and money, Plumbing & Mechanical would like to share your tip with our readers. The first-place winner each month will receive a Kinetic Water Ram from General Pipe Cleaners with a retail value of $325. Read here for more details


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New Horizons team pieces together the best images they have of Pluto's far side
Pluto was discovered in 1930 by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. For decades, not much detail was known about the erstwhile planet. We assumed it was a frozen, dormant world.
Once the Hubble Telescope was operational, we started to become more acquainted with Pluto. We discovered that Pluto has moons, although their planet-moon arrangement is unusual. Then, in 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefined what planet means, and Pluto was relegated to dwarf planet status (ice dwarf planet, to be exact).
After years of trying to understand Pluto with the Hubble, NASA's New Horizons mission was launched. The New Horizons spacecraft arrived at Pluto in the summer of 2015, making its closest approach on July 14th, 2015. New Horizons was a game-changer when it comes to our understanding of Pluto and its moons.
New Horizons' cameras gave us high-resolution images of Pluto that were far more detailed than Hubble images. And those images cover a lot of the surface of Pluto. But New Horizons was traveling quickly, at 50,700 kilometers per hour (31,500 miles per hour). Since Pluto's length of day is longer than six Earth days, New Horizons was gone before the far side came into close-range view. It never entered orbit around Pluto.
As a result, the best images of Pluto are of what's called the "encounter hemisphere." That's the side of Pluto that contains Sputnik Planitia, and that doesn't face Pluto's moon Charon. (Pluto and Charon are tidally locked to one another.)
The relative dearth of high-resolution images from Pluto's far side has frustrated scientists. There are images from New Horizons' approach to Pluto, they're just not as high-resolution as the images from the encounter side, since the spacecraft was further away when that side of Pluto was visible.
A new study called "Pluto's Far Side" looks at Pluto's non-encounter side, and tries to create an integrated understanding of the terrain and features there. The study's authors come from a variety of institutions, including the Lunar and Planetary Institute, the NASA Ames Research Center, and Johns Hopkins University. The first author is Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute.
New Horizons has a suite of instruments on board, including the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) and the Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera (MVIC.) Those instruments gave us the high resolution view of Pluto's encounter side that we've all enjoyed. New Horizons was much further away when it captured images of Pluto's far side, but it still gave us much better images than we had before.
The study shows that the encounter side of Pluto is quite a bit different from the far side. The encounter side is dominated by a feature called Sputnik Planitia, an ice-covered, high-albedo basin. The far side has nothing like it.
In other ways, both sides are similar. New Horizons found features called "bladed terrains" on the encounter side's eastern regions. These same features, which are vertical shards of methane ice up to 300 meters (1000 feet) tall, were found on the far side, too. In fact, they seem to be widespread on Pluto, and are found across half the planet's surface.
Scientists think that Pluto's bladed terrain features form in a way similar to the penitentes features found in the Chilean Andes. Those features are formed when snow sublimates. However, penitentes are much smaller and only reach a height of about five meters (16 feet.).
The authors of the new paper point out the difficulty in characterizing those features due to the low resolution of the images. In the paper, they say, "…unit characterization for the FS [far side] must be based primarily on albedo variations seen in low-phase approach imaging, somewhat aided by interpretation from near side images." It helps that New Horizons took images of Pluto as it eclipsed the sun, revealing the planet's limb, and the research team used these images to infer the altitude of features on the far side.
The new research also shows a region on Pluto's far side that's full of dark blotches and intersecting lines. The team of researchers was able to characterize this region with the help of the far side images themselves, but also by examining the features on the opposite side of the planet. In this case, the blotches and intersecting lines are opposite the prominent Sputnik Planitia feature.
Sputnik Planitia may be an impact crater, and that impact would've sent shockwaves around the dwarf planet that might have created the region of dark features and linear features on the opposite side. Mercury has a similar situation, where the Caloris Basin, one of the largest impact craters in the solar system, lies directly opposite what's called Mercury's "weird terrain." The weird terrain has linear features much like Pluto's far side, and may have been formed when the Caloris Basin impact sent shockwaves around Mercury, meeting up on the opposite side.
These results are only a tantalizing taste of Pluto's far side. As the authors say in their paper, "Future progress on far-side geology, geophysics and compositional studies would benefit tremendously from a Pluto orbiter."
There are questions about the ice dwarf that only an orbiter can answer:
- What is the global distribution of Pluto's volatile units, and how does this relate to Pluto's climatic history?
- What is the nature of Pluto's great ridge-trough system (RTS), and is it truly global?
- How did Sputnik Planitia form, and did its formation play a significant role in shaping the far side geology of Pluto?
There's some talk of sending an orbiter to Pluto, though the authors say such a mission is at least two decades away. But one proposal could cut that time down.
The Fusion-Enabled Pluto Orbiter and Lander was a 2017 proposal funded by NASA that suggested that a direct fusion drive (DFD) could send a 1,000 kg. (2200 lb.) orbiter to Pluto in only four years travel time, which is more than twice as fast as New Horizons. DFDs are being developed, but we don't have them yet.
In the nearer term, it's up to the next generation of telescopes being built to give us a better look at Pluto. These telescopes, like the 30 Meter Telescope and the Giant Magellan Telescope, will give us views of the ice dwarf planet at much greater resolution the Hubble has.
Source Universe Today


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The Latest issue of Fibre and Stitch is out. As usual its great treat and it was with pleasure I made a cuppa, printed out the 84 page PDF file and settled back for a good read and visual feast.
This is the fourth issue so still relatively young but Sue Bleiweiss and her team have put together yet again a richly interesting ezine for anyone who is interested in contemporary textiles. If you have ever wondered how to apply foil, use alcohol inks or add metallic effects to your fabrics this issues explores some ideas for you to try.
Also if you have ever wondered what Abaca paper is and how to use it or how mud cloth is made this issue tells you
Guest author Mary Sleigh writes about Africa as her inspirational source of textile works
Jackie Cardy shows us how to create a folded panel opens to reveal a hidden surprise in her piece 18 Hidden Treasures and Margaret Roberts has produced an article that really appealed to me on how to make Pyramid Journals
This is just a few of the topics and articles that are covered in Fibre and Stitch's fourth issue. If you have not subscribed yet this ezine and you are interested in contemporary fiber techniques in textiles it is well worth it.


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I have dry skin and I wanted to enter the promised land of retinol use. I've heard that retinol can make dry skin worse. Retinol is one of the skincare ingredients that every dermatologist recommends, even for dry skin.
So I wanted to know . .
Does Retinol Make Dry Skin Worse?
Retinol makes your skin cells turn over faster. This is an intense process for your skin and as a result, it can make your dry skin worse. But this added dryness should only be temporary while your skin adjusts to retinol. The uptick in cell turnover is one of the things about retinol that makes it a skincare superstar.
While it's true that retinol can make dry skin worse, that doesn't' mean you and retinol can't be friends.
In fact, the benefits of retinol far outweigh the negatives of adding retinol to your skincare routine.
Why Does Retinol Make Your Skin Dry?
Retinol is the scientific name for Vitamin A. Retinol is part of a family of retinol derivates also known as retinoids.
These vary in strength. The strongest form of retinol is retinoic acids, one of which is Tretinoin.
Tretinoin is a prescription-only medication. It was developed in the 1960s to treat acne. You might know it as Retin A.
People using tretinoin for acne started to notice that not only did the acne go away – but their skin looked more even, less wrinkled and had a glow.
The cosmetics industry took notice and started researching and developing skin care products that contained retinol.
The reason that retinol makes your skin smoother, glowy and lessens hyperpigmentation, is the same reasons it makes your skin dry.
Retinol speeds up your skin cells reproduction. This means it makes new cells quicker and pushes the top layer of old skin cells off your skin faster.
Because your skin is not used to the rapid production of new skin cells being formed it reacts by increasing inflammation markers.
These inflammation markers pull histamine to the skin cells and histamine further irritates your skin. Inflammation caused by retinol can result in increased redness, dryness and skin flakiness.
You might have heard this called retinol rash or skin purging. It is a totally normal process when you start using retinol for the first time.
Strangely retinol is often used by dermatologists to treat inflammatory conditions like acne as well as fine lines and wrinkles. This is because retinol also boosts collagen production.
What You Can Do To Lessen The Drying Effects of Retinol.
The best thing you can do is start slowly and with low strength retinol. I mentioned at the start of this article that retinol is part of the retinoid family.
Retinols come in differing strengths. The lower the strength of the retinoid the least irritating it will be.
The less irritating, the less it will dry out your skin. When looking to add retinol into your skincare routine this chart shows you where retinol and the other retinoids go, in terms of strength.
It's All About Balance
The weaker the retinoid the less drying it will be. Also the less effective it will be at doing what retinol does best.
That is speeding up new skin cells, plumping out fine lines, boosting hydration, and increasing collagen.
The reason that retinol is the most popular retinoid is that it gives the most amount of benefits, with the least amount of dryness and irritation.
However, retinol doesn't work for everyone straight away.
What you want to do is gently acclimatise your skin to retinol. Here are a few more things you can do to work retinol into your skincare routine without it drying out your dry skin more.
Start Low, Start Slow and Start Sparingly
Seriously please don't go and buy the strongest retinol on the market and slap it on your face hoping for great results! You will regret it and end up with more problems than you started with.
Start with low strength retinol. Retinol comes in 0.025% all the way up to 2.0%.
2.0% retinol is the highest concentration you can buy OTC.
To get stronger retinol than 2.0% requires a prescription from a dermatologist.
If you have sensitive skin or have never used retinol before then start with 0.25% and put it on at night twice a week.
Don't slap on a palm-full either! We are talking a few drops gently smoothed over your skin.
Retinol makes your skin more sensitive to the sun so it's very important you wear an SPF 30 sunscreen on your face every day.
But you already doing that, right?
If your skin is tolerating the low dose twice a week then move up to every other day. As your skin gets used to retinol you can start applying it every night.
Should I Apply Moisturizer before or after retinol?
Because you've got dry skin, you should be using a moisturizer morning and night. You'll definitely need to apply moisturizer when using retinol.
If your skin is dry and sensitive then it is recommended that you apply moisturizer before retinol. Let it absorb and dry on your skin and then apply moisturizer.
You may need to go in with a second layer of moisturizer after you've applied retinol as well. This will depend on how your skin reacts.
As your skin gets acclimatised to retinol you can put it directly on after cleansing. Then apply moisturizer on top of the retinol.
It's a great idea to use a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid, as this is super hydrating for your skin.
Should I Even Need To Use Retinol?
Retinol has a lot of benefits for the skin, and it is raved about and recommended by nearly every dermatologist and skinfluencer on the web.
You do you though. If you're at all concerned about using retinol then you should seek advice from a dermatologist.
Retinol is amazing at reducing fine lines and wrinkles and reversing sun damage and collagen loss and making skin glow.
These are some of the things that we all want to achieve with our skin.
Remember not everyone can use retinol and if that you then there are other products you can try.
Is There A Less Drying Alternative To Retinol?
There are many less irritating alternatives to retinol, in fact, some of them are still in the retinoid family.
You can try using products that contain retinyl esters.
These contain a milder form of retinoids.
It will take longer to see improvements, but a slow improvement without increasing dryness, redness and peeling is a better option for some people.
There is also a relatively new kid on the skincare block called Bakuchiol.
Bakuchiol is a plant-based alternative to retinol and is perfect for sensitive skin that may become drier with retinol.
There was an impressive study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science that found bakuchiol was as effective as retinol in anti-ageing.
Our only concern when it comes to bakuchiol and dry skin is that just because something is 'natural' doesn't mean it won't irritate and dry your skin out as well.
However, as you can't use retinoids when your pregnant and some scientific studies have shown that bakuchiol was much less irritating to the skin it might be worth trying if you can't handle retinoids.
The Verdict on Retinol and Dry Skin.
There is no doubting that retinol is the 'gold standard' when it comes to being a skincare hero.
This is largely due to the many clinical trials that retinoids have been subjected through since the 1970s.
Very few cosmetic ingredients have been studied as much as retinoids.
The anti-ageing, skin plumping and smoothing and hyperpigmentation reversal make it a holy grail for many.
If you can find a way to work it into your skincare routine without it causing too much dryness, then it is definitely a good ingredient to try.
The drying and irritating effects should only last one to two weeks.
If you can persevere with retinol or one of it's less potent derivates you will be rewarded with healthier, brighter skin.
The Retinol Products We Recommend For Dry Skin.
You can learn more about the retinols we recommend here.
Some of the links we use are affiliate links. This means that we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.


text: Here's something that rarely happens, courtesy of Amazon: The online retailer has bought the naming rights to a Seattle sports stadium, but will refrain from putting its name on the structure. \r\n\r\n\r\nInstead, the facility will be named the Climate Pledge Arena. Its previous name was KeyArena. \r\n\r\n\r\nSeattle's new — and still unnamed — NHL team will call the arena home, as will the city's WBNA team, called the Seattle Squad. \r\n\r\n"We've secured naming rights to the historic arena previously known as KeyArena. Instead of naming it after Amazon, we're calling it Climate Pledge Arena as a regular reminder of the importance of fighting climate change," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO. "We look forward to working together with Oak View Group, a new Climate Pledge signatory, and NHL Seattle to inspire global climate action."\r\n\r\nAmazon, of course, has its headquarters in Seattle. The news about the renamed stadium comes amid ongoing pushes toward "sustainability" among retailers of all types. \r\n\r\n\r\nThe online retailer made waves last year when it released its "climate pledge," a plan to end its net carbon emissions by 2040. "With significant investment from Amazon and Oak View Group, the [stadium] is expected to be the first net-zero carbon-certified arena in the world and set a new sustainability bar for the sports and events industry," Amazon said. Oak View Group, a global sports and entertainment company founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, will redevelop and operate the renamed stadium. \r\n\r\n\r\nIt's not hard to think of stadiums named after retailers — think of Target Field in Minneapolis, or Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, or Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky, among many others. \r\n\r\nThe Climate Pledge Arena will not only go against that trend but will, according to Amazon, "have all-electric operations and be powered with 100% renewable electricity, both from on-site solar panels and off-site renewable energy.\u0026quot; Other features include: \r\n\r\n\r\n\tFirst arena in the world targeting net Zero Carbon certification by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), a leading non-profit organization dedicated to advancing sustainable building practices.\r\n\tCarbon emissions and sustainability performance of the arena and all events will be measured and publicly disclosed.\r\n\tAll operations and events at the arena will be 'zero waste' with durable and compostable containers. A minimum of 95% of all arena waste will be diverted from landfills on a weight basis.\r\n\tArena will use reclaimed rainwater in the ice system to create the greenest ice in the NHL.\r\n\tOriginal 44-million-pound roof from the arena will be reused in construction to significantly reduce the embodied carbon of the building.\r\n\tAt least 75% of the arena's food program will be sourced locally on a seasonal basis to support regional farmers and producers, and all viable unused food from events will be donated to local community food programs.\r\n\tNHL Seattle and WNBA Storm tickets will double as free public transit passes to promote use of public transportation for attendees, including on the refurbished Seattle Monorail.\r\n\tAmazon and OVG will form the Climate Pledge Arena Sustainability Advisory Council in partnership with community groups to support local environmental initiatives.\r\n\r\n\r\n"There is no question that the state of our planet is a critical issue for all of us," said Tim Leiweke, CEO, Oak View Group. "We have a responsibility to future generations to try to leave them with a better world. We love that Amazon is using its naming rights for a cause we care deeply about—this partnership is a visionary step for the facilities business and sport and music industries. Our goal is to be the most progressive, responsible, and sustainable venue in the world. It is not just about one arena—it's a platform for us to step up and heal our planet."


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The SM7B Mic: A Review Of The Best Microphones For Beginners The shure sm7b microphone is a model used for various applications. It has a comprehensive range of frequency responses, and many recording engineers believe that you have to use the most expensive condenser mic you can find to get the best sound. But this […]Continue reading
Here are five reasons to buy the Audio Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Studio Microphone that should be at the top of your list. 1. It has a cardioid polar pattern, which means that it rejects off-axis noise and delivers sound focused on the front of the mic. This microphone is ideal for recording vocals and […]Continue reading
The Heil PR40 is a dynamic microphone designed with kick drums, guitar cabs, and vocals. Given its extended low-end response and physical attributes, this model offers a lot in sound and recording quality. Most engineers are familiar with Heil but tend to steer clear of their products in a professional environment because their mics don't […]Continue reading
Professional sound engineers know that choosing the best studio microphone is essential when it comes to recording quality. If you're relatively new to recording, how to choose the best mic for studio recording is probably still a mystery to you. But with a bit of experience in the studio, you'll learn that there are certain […]Continue reading


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I use Guayadeque Music Player (Ver. 0.4.6) in LinuxMint 20.1.
The control panel of Guayadeque Music Player has cover art.
But I'd like to separate cover art and control panel, becaues the cover art space makes dead space.
ScreenShot: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Mje6JDjHv2xYHGmC7 (Dead space is indicated by red rectangle area.)
Is there any way to place a simpler control panel?
Minimize control panel
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Being a marine food source, abalones harness concentrated nutritional elements from the seas. They contain protein which provides essential amino acids to aid in the building and maintenance of bodily tissues.
Weight: 750g / 2pcs. DW 180g
Ingredients: water, abalone (haliotis iris), salt, sugar, flavour enhancer (E621), (E220), and sequestrant (E385)
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Product Storage & Expiry: Store in room temperature, dry environment & avoid direct sunlight. Keep in refrigerate after opened and consume as soon as possible.
Certification: halal
Allergen: Contains shellfish and sulphites.


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Metabolic Maintenance
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BackPack packets contain a unique combination of nutrients designed to maintain healthy joints. Our new formula packets contain two Glucosamine/Chondroitin and Hyaluronic Acid for improved cartilage lubrication, resiliency, and shock absorption properties. Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA, Omega-6) is a precursor for prostaglandins-important compounds linked to muscle contraction and the regulation of normal healthy inflammatory response. Studies show Omega 3s support normal flexibility and joint comfort. A powerful antioxidant, Vitamin E has also been shown to support joint comfort.
One packet daily with a meal as a dietary supplement, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.
Serving Size: 1 packet (5 capsules)
Amount Per Serving
Calories ... 25
Calories from Fat ... 20
Total Fat ... 2.3g
Vitamin E ... 400IU
(as Mixed Tocopherols)
Glucosamine Sulfate ... 1000mg
(as 1350mg of d-Glucosamine Sulfate 2KCI)
Chondroitin Sulfate ... 800mg
(as 850mg of Chondroitin Sulfate Na)
Hyaluronic Acid ... 80mg
(as Sodium Hyaluronate)
Concentrated Fish Oil ... 1000mg
EPA ... 450mg
(Eicosapentaenoic Acid)
DHA ... 340mg
(Docosahexaenoic Acid)
Borage Oil ... 1000mg
GLA ... 200mg
(Gamma linoleic acid)
Other Ingredients: gelatin, glycerin, water (all softgels), soybean oil (vitamin E softgel), vegetarian cellulose capsules (glucosamine/chondroitin/HA).
Glucosamine sulfate is derived from shellfish. Contains oil from one or more of the following fish species: sardines, anchovies, mackerel, sprat, salmon, culpea.
Gluten and Excipient-free
Caution: Pregnant or lactating women, consult your healthcare professional before taking this product.
Keep tightly closed in a cool, dry place, out of the reach of children.
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Mining 4
Abstract No.:
On the use of MultiGaussian Kriging for
Grade Domaining in Mineral Resource Characterization
O. Leuangthong, SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. (CA)R. M. Srivastava, FSS Canada (CA)
Geological domaining or modeling is a pre-requisite to resource characterization. Early in the exploration phase of a project, geologists integrate geological logs with drill hole assay data to generate a conceptual geological model. This facilitates geologic understanding and interpretation as more drill data becomes available. Later, when a resource model is initiated, these domains may be used to constrain grade estimation/simulation and often satisfy the need for stationary domains. In the mining sector, grade domains are often also considered to further control the distribution of grades during resource estimation. This is usually achieved by wireframe modeling on sections displaying grade assays or composites, indicator kriging, and/or via boundary modeling software such as Leapfrog.
This paper proposes an alternative approach to conventional grade domaining, an approach that is based on MultiGaussian kriging. The method consists of estimation of grades using MultiGaussian kriging; however, instead of back transforming to obtain a grade estimate at each location, the probability to exceed certain grade thresholds are determined and grade domains are categorized accordingly. This permits uncertainty assessment of grade domains by post-processing for various grade thresholds. Other post-processing algorithms such as image cleaning to achieve reasonably continuous grade domains may also be required. The benefits of such an approach include: (1)sensitivity assessment on appropriate grade threshold(s) can be performed since this decision is made post-estimation; (2) inference of normal scores variogram is often easier than original units and/or indicators, and requires little additional effort; (3) extension to multiple grade domains, such as low, medium and high grade is not only easy but naturally progressive using this approach; (4) the method is computationally more efficient than manual wireframing, and; (5) the method is tractable and repeatable. An example to a mineral deposit is provided. Visual comparisons against indicator kriging for grade domaining and wireframed solids are shown. Grade distributions from the different domains are compared, between the different methods, to determine the statistical significance of the resulting domains.
Copyright 2012 International Geostatistics Congress
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