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Forms Of Love In Two Poems
Although "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell and "A Valediction: Forbidding Morning" by John Donne, are two poems about a men expressing their love for a woman. Marvell differs in that he expresses his love through a sexually more physical way and Donne sees love in more of a spiritual way.Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used to create an expression of art and beauty. Many poetic writings are written individually and range from poetic drama, hymns, lyrics and prose poetry. The usage of repetition, verse form and rhyme is also very common in poetry. The two poems written by Marvell and Donne can be classified as a type of romance poem, but yet differ in how they express the levels of love in each poem.
Each writer's usage of repetitions, word choice and metaphors are used to allow readers to recognize what the main idea is about and the feelings of the speaker.The two poems are written to illustrate a relationship between two people who are both so obsessed with each other, it is expressed in the poems that they are "in love". The word "Coy" in "To His Coy Mistress" is defined as a shy or modest person, illustrating that the poem is being written for a shy and bashful woman. Marvell uses classic carpe diem to write this poem, meaning to 'seize the day'. The speaker in this poem tries to persuade his young mistress to accept his advance "Let us roll all our strength and all our sweetness up into one ball, and tear our pleasures with rough strife through the iron gates of life".
The female seems to be hesitant and plays hard to get, in the way the speaker describes her body gestures "long preserved virginity,' quaint honor"(lines 5, 843). The poem was written during the 1600s in a time when virginity was a sacred thing to treasure before marriage. So the rebellion tone of the story is against traditional practices during the 1600s."A Valediction: Forbidding Morning" by John Donne, is another poem written by a male speaker to his female companion. The poem is a letter written to his wife; explaining to her the current state of his love for her and how he is preparing for his journey without her.
He seems to be stating that he wants his wife not to be sad about him leaving, "No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempest move" (line 6, 916). He does express that he personally feels that his departure from his wife feels like death to him, but not as great because he know he will be with her again alive or in heaven. "As virtuous men pass mildly away … and whisper to their souls to go …twere profanation of our joys---To tell the laity of our love" (lines 1-8). Donne continues to compare the couple's love to the strength of gold. His love for her can expand through distance but it will remain strong "Not a breach, but an expansion …like gold to airy thinness beat" (lines 22-24).
The love for the wife that the speaker has seems to be treasured greatly, in both a physical and spiritual way.Both poems contain abstract relations of mental attachment that builds an understanding of the emotional state that each character metaphorically relates with. "My vegetable love" (line 10, 843), the speaker relates his love with vegetable growth, which is slow and unconscious. The metaphor is ironic because the condition of the situation is tense, but the speaker does know that he does not have enough time and that his impassioned love is growing quickly and consciously. He ends the poem with a 'seize the day' tone, hoping that his mistress accepts his advances.
While Donne's poem uses metaphors of "earthquakes"(line 9, 916) and "celestial spheres" (line 11), to describe the magnitude of the love that the couple share, almost beyond human understanding. He uses this to explain how two different major events can either bring harms and fears, or innocence of silence. The two poems do show familiarity of signifying love, through emotional expressions and emotional attachments. They do differ greatly in how each speaker expresses the magnitude of their love for their mistresses.Andrew Marvell's, "To His Coy Mistress and John Donne's "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning", both are about love but have different magnitudes of it.
Marvell's poem "To His Coy Mistress", the speaker is more focused on the physical attraction he has for his mistress. His only accomplishment is to coitus her rather than waste his time on winning her love. The poem seems to break free from the traditional values that society would have for an unmarried couple. Marvell's free spirited character addresses the fact that life should be lived to the fullest and life should not be taken serious. The speaker does not conceive the true, ardent love and fails to go beyond the realm of physical beauty.
He tries to persuade his mistress to have passionate sex with him and does it seductively, "Now let us sport us while we may, and now, like amorous birds of prey, rather at once our time devour than languish in his slow-chapped power" (line 7, 843). Compared to "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning", Marvell does not express the speakers love for the mistress or how his love will grow after they have these sexual fantasies with each other. The poem is written of a man that is persuading to lure his mistress into his bed rather than a man who is spiritually connected with the female, like Donne's does.In Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" by Donne, the story addresses the true spiritual love that a couple has for one another. The male speaker comforts his wife of the days ahead, that they will be apart from one another. He describes to her that if they shall never see each other again, they will still be together spiritually.
That nothing will ever separate their love they have for each other, and no distance or object will stand in their way. "As stiff twin compasses are two; Thy soul the fixed foot, makes no show-Yet when the other far doth roam, It leans, and hearkens after it, And grows erect, as that comes home" (lines 26-32, 916). The main theme in Donne's poem is that true love will continue on during life and even after death. He illustrates this in lines one through two, in the notion of after life, "A virtuous men pass mildly away, an whisper to their souls to go…"(lines 1-2).Each poem has been wonderfully written by each author to portray certain characters to the reader.
As we read each poem we cannot help but to relate somehow with the characters in the poems. "To His Coy Mistress" could be comprehended as a very adventurous and gutsy person who wants to break free from tradition. Many readers can feel a sense of familiarity with this poem because they might have the same outlook in life and traditional values. Or "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning", was written in regards to a strong love between a man and a woman.
A male or female reader can relate to this poem because it signifies the 'true love' that someone could feel for another person. Often husband and wife know only the physical, earthly love, weep and sob when they are separated during a period of time. But Donne's explains the real, true love that his character has for his wife.
The couple shares a physical and spiritual love that can never be separated in distance.We often find ourselves connected with certain poems that move us in an emotional way, or poems that inspire us mentally. Whatever poem that one could closely relate to, depends on the strong choice of words that the author has chosen to write the poem with. Comparing and Contrasting "To His Coy Mistress" and "Valediction: Forbidding Mourning", has caused me to appreciate both Marvell and Donne's works. They both have been written into beautiful love poems and that contain metaphysical conceits to allow us to appreciate the emotional part of each poem, that both contain drama, tones and rhymes.
The contrast in each poem is like a looking glass into the emotional state of each author and the imagination that led to the creation of the poem. Contrasts also help each poem to be uniquely different from the other. When we do not, " take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide----water-ski across the surface of a poem waving at the author's name on the shore" (lines 2-11, 790), like Collin's asks us to.
We will never know or appreciate the true meaning of each poem that, that author worked so hard to create for his/her readers.
Article name: Forms Of Love In Two Poems essay, research paper, dissertation


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Action continued on day 4 at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Seaman Nigeria Open recording major upsets and emerging champions. Key highlights of the day were top seeds Aruna Quadri and Funke Oshonaike's loss in the round of 16 men and women's singles respectively.
Surprisingly, Quadri was forced to struggle all through his game against his compatriot Bode Abiodun. The number 1 seed had to rally back in the second and fourth set but it was not enough to take him to the next round losing (9-11, 11-7, 5-11, 10-12, 11-9, 9-11)
Oshonaike on the other hand was stopped by the young Italian, Giorgia Piccolin who had already won a gold medal in the finals of the U-21 event. Piccolin beat the number 6 seed in 5 sets (5-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5,17-15). There were early signs in the day for the Nigerian when she also survived an upset against Baah Danso Celia of Ghana in 5 sets.
As expected, number 3 seed Dina Meshref defeated her compatriot in four straight sets.
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For the second year in a row, last year's winner Benedek Olah beat Khalid Assar but this time it was in the round of 16. His journey to another final was however short-lived following his loss in the quarterfinal to Szita Marton in 7 sets.
Omar Assar and Gandhi Sarthak are among the top seeded players that have qualified for the semifinals of the tournament while Bode Abiodun remains the only hope for a medal for Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the doubles event was not left out as Hachard Antione and Jean Gregoire of France knocked out Egyptian duo of El Beiali Mohammed and Saleh Ahmed in 5 sets to set up a final with Romanian duo of Cazacu Alexandrua and Sipos Rares who made light work of Gandhi Sarthark and Shetty Sanil of India in 3 straight sets.
While the women's final will be between Egyptian pair of Dina Meshref and Helmy Yousra and the duo of Balint Bernadett and Pergel Szandra of Hungary. The Hungarians ended the hopes of their Nigerian opponents Ceclia Akpan and Janet Effiom for a place in the final.
While upsets were recorded, new champions emerged in the U-21 final. Abdel Aziz Youssef of Egypt defeated Portugal Francisco Jose Pedro in three straights to go home with 800 dollars while Pedro went home with 400 dollars.
In the women's category, Piccolin Giorgio came from a set down to beat Balint Benadett of Hungary in 5 sets.
Winners of the men's and singles event likewise the double event will be decided on Sunday.
Here are the pictures of the winners below:


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Photography by Kawika Chetron
We heard about the coup d'état on television. The 20-year-old British sitcom dumped on our third world audience was zapped off like a page flipped by an impatient hand. Martial music interrupted our lovemaking and snatched us back down to earth. The tight rhythm of our bodies jolted, and Kelemo prised himself apart from me with a desperate urgency. Bold, block letters across the screen spelled out "Newsflash."
"What?!" Kelemo's eyes popped wide in shock. I should say I was shocked, too, but the coup was not unexpected. At least I didn't think so. A wave of public disaffection had been rumbling against our rulers for some time. The way I saw it, something had to give. And this was it.
Our country's coat of arms filled the small screen. The motifs looked like they had been painted on by a brush dipped in runny palette, thanks to the old television set whose color definition had long lost its sharpness. The coat of arms faded away to reveal an army man whose skin was rendered a pink-dotted brown on our screen, his uniform turned into an unflattering blue. Our flag hung limp, downcast next to the goggled general, whose halting rhetoric informed us we were now under martial law. The Army Ruling Council was being constituted to govern and to set a timeline for return to civilian rule.
"Civilian rule? Not if they can help it." Kelemo flopped back onto the pillow. "The army will want to sit this one out for years and years." He propped himself back on one elbow, the better to see the rising dictator on television.
A nationwide curfew had been imposed, the general intoned in a wooden voice. Any miscreants or saboteurs seeking to destabilize the nation would be arrested or shot on sight.
"Miscreants? We are in for it now, for sure." Kelemo buried his face in his hands. "Now the spectacle! The spectacle of ordinary citizens criminalized into saboteurs before our eyes!" Kelemo's eyes darted around the room. "This is the worst that could happen. Politicians were corrupt, but the army can only be worse. Soldiers belong in the barracks, not in government!" He pointed in frustration at the screen. "How can this, this goon, say the army is doing this for the country's good? Who are they fooling? They are in this for themselves! See the Rolex on his fat wrist?"
The cover sheet peeled away as I slinked up to Kelemo. I let my breasts caress his back as I curled around him. It usually worked, but not this time. He sat up impatiently and planted his feet on the faded black and white of the checkered linoleum floor.
"Civil society must rise against this nascent tyranny. We have to lobby the international community, force them into taking a stand. We must agitate. Strategize. The struggle begins here and now. No time to waste. All right thinking people have a duty to resist this."
It was beginning to sound like the speeches Kelemo delivered on podiums at rallies ringed by the police, their teargas and batons ready. The one thing missing was his signature pose with fist in the air like some god invoking mortal anger to galvanize people into believing they were comrades with one societal vision. I knew it all well. The hiding underground, the imprisonment without charge, the dicey, precarious life we had lived in our four years together. A life to which I was vicariously sentenced. I had grown weary of it. We were lucky to have had some peace and quiet of late, lying low in this rented room, sharing inadequate kitchen and toilet facilities with others in an overcrowded tenement building. I avoided contact with the walls always, to keep the old curling paint from flaking onto my clothes.
But now Kelemo's activist zeal was rising again. It had never died away, no. And this time, the implications for our lives were even more unpredictable.
"Just don't start getting ideas," I said. "This is the army now, you know? The politicians just threw you in jail for kicks now and then. Soldiers are humorless; they will do much worse. I am tired of running, diving, and ducking. And for what, to live in some rundown neighborhood in Nimke?"
"Soldiers are humorless; they will do much worse—your words, Iriola, not mine," Kelemo hissed. "At least we are agreed on one thing."
"But me no buts, Iriola," he cut in. "This neighborhood, this community, has potential. I believe in this place, decrepit as it is. It has given us sanctuary. But it is rundown as you always remind me, not because of what you call our diving and ducking, but because of government mismanagement. You've not been able to get a job since university, not because of my activism, but because of unaccountable leaders who destroyed our economy, and you know it! This country is being run to the ground, and soldiers will only speed up the burial. You, me, and others like us, are going to have to fight—and sacrifice—to turn around the course of this nation!"
"I've already sacrificed, Kelemo!" I cried. "Remember my mother?"
Kelemo looked away. "That's unfair, Iriola," he said softly. "She was like a mother to me, too. Remember that." Kelemo's late father and mother were activists. Personal suffering was in his blood; he'd become inured to it.
"I don't know that I want to do this anymore, Kelemo. Let's just lie low. It's best that way." I avoided his eyes. It was a shameful thing to him, to strive for oneself alone. "Maybe they will hand over to civilians soon, and things can go back to normal. Let's just wait and see, eh?"
"You should know me better than that, Iriola." Kelemo shrugged my hand off his shoulder and rose brusquely from the bed. The soft, natural light from the window cast a silvery glow on his bare skin. His face had a severe aspect now, with determination etched in his features. He stood in front of the television, worked his jaw and racked his brain. Hands on hips, he listened intently, head cocked to one side while the general droned on. The sound faltered, and Kelemo banged the side of the television impatiently. The volume cracked up higher as the general rounded off his address. "God bless our dear motherland," the goggled one concluded. Our national anthem swelled out of the television and filled the room.
Kelemo snatched his Y-fronts and trousers from the bedside chair. "Bastards!"
The countryside zips by in strips of rushing greenery on both sides of the road. The curfew has taken hold. Towns look deserted, their inhabitants harassed into their homes. And everywhere, the fatigued presence of soldiers. Hyenas in camouflage, they prowl to keep the nation compliant. The radio informs crack teams of military officers have been sent to scour locations suspected to harbor subversives. Nimke is one such location, and I am in the clutches of one crack team.
The army jeep gobbles the miles and subdues the potholed road running west to the state capital. There are soldiers in the seats behind me. Now and then, I catch the driver spying on me in the rear view mirror. I hold his gaze steadily till he looks away, discomfited. I smile to myself and steal a quick glance at the senior officer in the front passenger seat. The brigadier has not looked back since we left Nimke.
A stream of news spews from the jeep's radio. New government structures are in place, and shadowy persons who now will steer our nation's destiny are stepping out of the anonymity of their barracks. Two decrees are announced. The constitution is illegal. New laws being made as though on the hoof.
Kelemo had been gone nearly an hour when the corporal kicked our door open. There were other activists to confer with, underground systems to be re-activated. It was war, and Kelemo saw himself on the front lines, to liberate our country from the military, to re-establish democracy, however flawed. He kissed me roughly. With one last look from the doorway, he was gone.
I rolled onto my back and studied the damp stains in the ceiling. My role in the struggle ahead was mapped out for me. I knew the drill. I would support as the loyal partner to the courageous, self-sacrificing activist.
There were many hardships in this activist life, but I was secure in the knowledge the only thing Kelemo loved more than me was the motherland. We had a bond, he and I. I knew this, as did my mother.
Mother realized she would not live to see me wed Kelemo, and so on her deathbed she entrusted us to each other six months before the coup. Kelemo then left the hospital room in search of the administrative office to pay her medical bill. Mother drew her last breath while Kelemo was gone, and so he was not privy to her final words. They were never meant for his ears, anyhow.
"Iriola," Mother's voice was hoarse, her breathing labored."You have no father, and now you will have no mother." She allowed a dramatic pause. "Iriola, this country of ours cannot be helped. No matter what the likes of Kelemo do, no matter the sacrifice, this country can come to no good. No good, you hear me?" Another pause. Her eyes burned into mine from sockets deep in her shrunken face. The light in those eyes tormented me with a vision of an end lurking for me in some dingy hideout someplace. Mother spoke to steer me away from that end.
"Iriola, trust no one. Allow yourself to be pulled down by no one. I mean, no one. Don't be like me, slaving all my life to stand by men and for what? To die of a wasting disease before my time? Iriola, I beg of you. If the house is falling or the boat is sinking, secure for yourself a safe landing. A comfortable patch. Now you will have no mother. The person to watch over you, is you." Mother allowed herself another pause. A lasting pause.
I am yet to see my mother's grave. We left the hospital and returned to our city flat, but there was no room for my grief. A stone on the kitchen window's outer ledge alerted Kelemo to collect a note written in code from a nearby canteen. Such tactics were part of his underground information system. I caught sight of my face in our hallway mirror while he was gone and quickly looked away, repelled by my reddened eyes, swollen from crying.
"What is it now?" I asked, when Kelemo returned.
"Wait..." he raised a hand for silence and closed the door carefully behind him. One hand picked at several days' growth of facial hair as he deciphered the note. "Iriola," he said finally.
Kelemo smirked bitterly. "Judge Bilando has dispensed his special brand of justice again."
"Bilando, that government stooge. What is he up to now? Whose head is on the block this time?"
"It's my head, Iriola." Kelemo drew a deep breath. "He has granted the police an arrest warrant."
I began to shake. "Oh God, not now." Kelemo caught me before I could slump to the floor.
"We'll have to leave this place. Tonight. The police will raid us by the morning, and they won't take prisoners. It will be a show of force for the restive populace. They will claim I was shot while trying to evade arrest. You are not safe, either. We've got to get what we can get, and go."
"Noooo!!!" My cry was like an arrow through my own ears.
"Iriola, the neighbors!"
"Damn the neighbors! What about my mother?! I can't leave her in the morgue and run, Kelemo! You, you, you, see where it's led me? What about my mother?"
"I'm sorry, Iriola. I don't mean to put you through this, but it's better to be safe. What use are we to the struggle if we are killed? And you? You're no use to your mother dead. Think about it! She would want you to get away in these circumstances; she would understand. Listen to what I am telling you!" Kelemo shook me. He spoke in short, urgent bursts. "We have to go. A contact from my student union days will be by the harbor in an hour. We've got to be there."
I cried and cried, hitting Kelemo repeatedly on the chest. He grabbed my hands and held me tighter to him.
"Shhh," he soothed, "there's a safe house waiting for us in Nimke, a small town about two hundred miles from here."
We fled under the veil of night from the harbor The contact kept his dark glasses on the whole time we were there, but he genuflected constantly to Kelemo the activist leader. Three motorbikes zoomed out of the darkness at the contact's signal, the lights rendering me temporarily sightless. Kelemo got on behind the first moped rider, I climbed onto the second, and the contact jumped onto the third. We would be in time to catch the inter-city night haulage vehicles from the motor park. The city's lights shimmered upon the rippling waters of the harbor as we sped off.
In the back of a goods truck later that night, among lumpy sacks of cassava and rice, I found I could not sleep. Kelemo snored heavily while I lay my head on his chest and wept into the dark, musty air. I wished I had not had to go on the run with him, but where else would I go? My mother's old tenement room was no longer there. Her landlord made me collect her things during the final stretch in hospital and locked up the place because of unpaid rent. I had nowhere to go. It was Kelemo or nothing. I was his woman. Stars twinkled in the sky overhead, and Mother's last words came back to me. I wiped my tears and wondered how it would feel to be my own woman.
It was a month after we arrived in Nimke before Kelemo could organize the money to pay someone who paid someone to arrange a burial for my mother in the city. From the window of the Nimke safe house that turned out to be only a single dingy room, I looked down the winding alleyway outside and dreamed of the day I would see my mother's final resting place.
Kelemo was one of the "subversives" whose names were being read out on the corporal's radio as he advanced further into our room. The army man's boots stamped dirty imprints on the floor. I could hear the commotion as other soldiers rampaged through the tenement. I rose from the bed and held the cover to myself. The woman in the next room screamed at the top of her lungs and begged a soldier, please, don't, don't, don't. I heard the laughter as her cries were defeated into whimpers. No use begging hyenas, I thought. I promised myself whatever would be taken from me, I would freely give, of my own will. The corporal's eyes traced a lusty line down the length of my body, and I allowed my cover-cloth to slip to the floor.
Later, the corporal led me through the temporary encampment of the local primary school. Past its low hedges roughly cut by the lone gardener with his machete in the sun. Past the classrooms whose outer walls had in time acquired the color of dust. Past the browning lawn of patchy grass tuft, red earth, and stone. On a normal day at recess the school compound would pulsate with the noise and chatter of scores of pupils. Now silence stretched its hollow fingers over the place as we made for the headmaster's office, over tire tracks freshly etched by army jeeps.
I stood uneasily to one side as the corporal stiffened in a salute to his superior in the headmaster's office. The headmaster's wife and two daughters were in a photo amidst notepads atop the big mahogany desk against which the brigadier leaned. The family were likely under curfew in their home by now. A man in his mid-forties, the brigadier looked too genteel for my usual image of a soldier. I could not imagine him in a war. He had a thin, well groomed moustache over full lips, but was otherwise clean shaven and smooth skinned. His boots shone. They did not look like they had stepped on the grass outside.
"Sir! This young woman was found in premises believed to be the hideout of the activist, Kelemo Vela." The corporal was now at ease. "The subversive is at large, but we have taken his woman prisoner so she can help with our investigations into his whereabouts and activities. With your permission, she is to come with us to the headquarters, sir!"
The corporal saluted again. He threw a secret, reassuring half-wink at me as he exited the office. We had an agreement after all. I would give a routine statement at the barracks in the state capital and then go free. He could arrange it, if I would be his woman.
It was the brigadier's decision I come with them in this jeep, the first in a convoy of five. No need to handcuff me, he instructed. His men obeyed.
The corporal sits to my left, his helmet garnished with shrubbery like he's been fighting in some bush. Yet all he has confronted in this coup so far are the likes of me. The ridiculous posturing amuses me, but I discipline my expression into blankness. I remember his boast to another soldier in the school compound in Nimke. Unaware I was already inside the jeep and could hear, they laughed on the other side of the canvas as he said in Broken English: "I just dey take the girl to go play with am. I go fuck am, fuck am, fuck am—and after that, I go drive am comot."
I am the sexual plaything to be driven out once he is done with me. I smile. If only he knew, the corporal, I view our agreement with as much derision as he. If he knew of my deal with his superior. A deal I negotiated at my shrewd best, on my knees, alone with the brigadier behind the closed door of the headmaster's office. The brigadier's fly was splayed open in front of me, and he gasped as he gave in to spasms. He touched the nape of my neck with such longing. His wedding band was cool on my skin.
He promised me everything I wanted and more when I rose to meet his eyes. I had a degree in Biology. I needed a job. I wanted to live safe and well. I had yet to see my mother's grave. No problem. The state's commissioner of education had just lost his job, along with other top officials. Politicians, they deserved no better. A woman would be a progressive choice for the important post. A fresh young face untainted by the corruption of the ousted government. A good way for the military junta to reassure the masses, to show soldiers in government can bring fresh ideas. The brigadier's family lived overseas. He was not in the habit of going drinking or whoring with fellow officers. His quarters in the army cantonment were spacious but lonely and could use a woman's touch. I always had a fascination for a certain caliber of officer, I had told him.
More news on the radio. The driver turns a knob to increase the volume, so we all hear as the brigadier is named the new military administrator of the state. Soldiers cheer, and though his back is turned, I know the brigadier will be smiling. I am with a winning team. Army men roar in open jeeps behind us. They shoot repeatedly into the air in celebration.
"Are you alright back there, young lady?" the brigadier finally turns round to ask when the noise has died down a little. I nod and lock eyes with him to affirm our pact. Then I lean back in the seat and close my eyes in relief.
More news on the subversives. Kelemo has been apprehended in a nearby town. My eyes remain shut, and I steel myself to keep from wincing. I focus on the motion of the jeep gliding me on to a new life.
I pray Kelemo survives. I suppose he will wonder why, when he learns about the choices I have made. But Kelemo was not in that hospital room when Mother breathed her last. And I always obeyed my mother.


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Carla L. Reyes
Professor Reyes is an Assistant Professor of Law at SMU Dedman School of Law, who teaches and researches at the intersection of law and emerging technology (primarily blockchain technology and artificial intelligence). Professor Reyes was recently appointed the co-Assistant Research Director for the PEB of the UCC. Professor Reyes was also appointed the Chair of the Texas Work Group on Blockchain Matters in September 2021. The work group is charged with considering policy priorities related to blockchain technology in Texas. Professor Reyes was also named an American Bar Foundation Fellow in June 2021 and named one of the Women of Legal Tech 2020, an honor bestowed by the American Bar Association Legal Technology Resource Center.
Professor Reyes currently serves as the Research Director for the Uniform Law Commission's Technology Committee, a member of the Digital Asset Working Group of the Joint ALI/ULC Drafting Committee on the Uniform Commercial Code and Emerging Technologies, an Expert Member of the UNIDROIT Work Group on Private Law and Digital Assets, and an Expert Member of the UNIDROIT Work Group on Best Practices for Effective Enforcement.
Prior to joining SMU Dedman School of Law, Professor Reyes served Michigan State University College of Law as an Assistant Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Law, Technology & Innovation, and taught Business Enterprises, Technology Transactions, Artificial Intelligence & the Law, and Blockchain Law & Policy. Prior to teaching law, Professor Reyes practiced law as an associate in the Blockchain Technology and Digital Currency industry group at Perkins Coie LLP.
A former Fulbright Scholar, Professor Reyes had the opportunity to pursue her research as a Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University from September 2017-August 2019. Professor Reyes also actively contributes to blockchain technology initiatives at the Stanford CodeX as a RegTrax Curator, MIT's Cryptoeconomic Systems program, the University College London's Blockchain Research Centre as a Research Associate, and the American Bar Association. She holds a BA from Whitworth University, a JD and LLM from Duke University School of Law, and an MPP from the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy.


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Happy dance! Blood of the Vine is back, and the new season — the show's final one — kicks off with an intricate murder mystery story set in Bandol, France.
Watching the Season 5 opener of Blood of the Vine (Le sang de la vigne) was like meeting up with an old friend I hadn't seen in a few years: I didn't realize how much I missed it until I reconnected with it.
The French mystery series, based on the popular novels in the "Winemaker Detective Series" by Jean-Pierre Alaux and Noël Balen, has been a favorite of mine and beaucoup stateside Euro TV fans since MHz Networks began airing it back in 2013, so its return is more than welcome, especially since it's been more than four years since Season 4 debuted here. It's bittersweet, too, as the show's fifth season is also its final one. But before we bid it adieu, we have seven new episodes to savor, starting with "A Rosé That Packs a Punch" ("Un coup de rosé bien frappé").
The titular rosé is the wine produced at Treille Lavande, a 25-acre wine estate located in the Sainte-Baume mountains of Provence. It's owned by Angèle Marcarol (Lio, Jealousy) — but not for long, if she gets her way. Angèle intends to donate Treille Lavande to the monastery of Saint-Sauveur, which is why she's at the notary's office in Bandol. But before the notary can finish reviewing the deed for her to sign, he collapses to the floor.
Meanwhile, internationally-renowned wine expert Benjamin Lebel (Pierre Arditi, Captain Marleau) is in Bandol to meet with Jérémie Casenove (Pierre Cassignard, Maigret), a wealthy investor. Word is out about Angèle's planned gift to the monastery, so Jérémie wants Benjamin to persuade her to sell Treille Lavande to him, as he has promised the winery as a gift to his pregnant fiancée, Manon (Sophie de Fürst, Profilage).
This isn't the type of issue that Benjamin is typically consulted for, yet he nonetheless agrees. It's too intriguing not to, as he's quite familiar with Treille Lavande: It was well known for its remarkable red wine before the switch to rosé. (The check from Jérémie with four zeroes after whatever number Benjamin puts in front of them can't possibly hurt.)
What Benjamin learns from a monk at Saint-Sauveur deepens the mystery as to why Angèle prefers donating Treille Lavande instead of selling it. And while he, with help from wealth manager Loewen (Aladin Reibel, Murder in Cornouaille), delves further into the backstories of the people connected to the estate (and to each other), Angèle and her partner, estate manager Justin Rigaud (Patrick Le Mauff, Mateo Falcone), are being threatened.
And others are being murdered.
Again the question is, why?
Like other stories in Blood of the Vine, "A Rosé That Packs a Punch" is a well-crafted whodunit, one in which blood proves to be thicker than water and wine, a scandal casts a decades-long shadow, and innocent people are both collateral damage and hindrances that must be gotten rid of in a wicked plot. The scenery of the Bandol area is likewise as gorgeous as the wine regions we've seen in earlier episodes.
At the center of it all is Benjamin Lebel, charming and inquisitive as ever. (Pierre Arditi must have such fun playing this guy.) And his street cred as a sleuth is growing, as evidenced by a former reality TV celeb who intends to play Lebel in a TV series about the crime-solving oenologist (should the idea ever get off the ground).
Viewers can count on Blood of the Vine to deliver a solid murder mystery story in each episode, and this one — which features Edouard Collin (Plus belle la vie), Nicolas Bridet (Spin), Alban Casterman (Spiral), and Camille Aguilar (Black Spot) — is no exception.
The thoroughly enjoyable "Blood of the Vine: A Rosé That Packs a Punch" is now available for streaming in the US on MHz Choice and its digital channels, including MHz Choice on Amazon Channels. New episodes will debut on Mondays through January 12, 2021.
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Coffee House is a safe haven where students present their written compositions, poetry, music, photography and art. It meets every third Tuesday of each month. Many students participate in order to display their talents to an audience and receive feedback for further improvement. Ms. Michelle Iskra, the AP English IV and ACC professor, sponsors the group by allowing them to meet in her room while also providing positive reinforcement for the students. Many kids bring in food and beverages to give a more comfortable feel to the whole situation.
Coffee house started because students expressed their want to be able to show their talents to their peers.
"Students came to me a few years ago who wanted to perform but didn't have a venue and asked that I sponsor something after school," Iskra said.
Presenting a creative work to a group of peers can be very nerve racking for some but the club is great practice for the future. Coffee House offers a judgment-free environment to inspire creative expression. A unique quality of this performance forum is that everyone is welcome to come and go as they please. There is no membership requirement or fee to pay; just students with common interests getting together and sharing their passions with the world.
"[I go because] I like to experience the artistic side of many of my fellow students," Doug Duong, senior, said.
Not all the students who show up present something. Many just sit back and enjoy two hours of art and literature. The high levels of skill some of the students possess tend to shock first time attendees.
"It's really cool to see how talented some of the students are. Some of the stories are so good it's hard to believe that students came up with them," Alisha Mehta, senior, said.
Iskra shows her passion for her work by letting students explore their own dreams with the same amount of passion, and believes that Coffee House has influenced her students.
"Kids who are otherwise not heard have a voice (literally). The poets who are not published, the artists with no galleries have an audience and are able to get feedback [for their work]," Iskra said.
Iskra also opened Coffee House because she is so passionate about writing and the opportunities it holds for those who embrace it.
"[Writing] is one of the hardest things we do and most people don't do it because it is so difficult. Writing diffuses emotions and allows a person to express themselves more concretely than just speaking," Iskra said.
Iskra encourages all students to come and enjoy what others have to offer because she believes it will enrich the lives of all students at Cedar Park. Many students have become each other's biggest fans. The room fills up very quickly so being on time is essential. It's a great organization to get kids to open up and share their talents with the world.


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Unai Emery is facing something of a defensive crisis ahead of Arsenal's Premier League clash with Cardiff City on Tuesday.
The Gunners are without Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding for the remainder of the season while Sokratis Papastathopoulos is out for up to a month with an ankle problem suffered in Arsenal's 3-1 defeat by Manchester United in the FA Cup on Friday.
French centre-back Laurent Koscielny is also likely to miss out after picking up an injury in the same game.
The 33-year-old defender challenged Red Devils striker Romelu Lukaku for the ball but came off second best and was stepped on when the Belgian moved backwards.
There were initial fears that Koscielny had suffered a broken jaw, but fortunately for the defender his face is just severely bruised.
His injury is now being monitored daily, but he is very unlikely to feature against the relegation-threatened Bluebirds.
Danny Welbeck (ankle) is another long-term absentee for the Gunners, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan (ankle) is now back in training.
Provisional squad: Leno, Cech, Martinez, Jenkinson, Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Mavropanos, Kolasinac, Monreal, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Elneny, Torreira, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Iwobi, Ozil, Lacazette, Aubameyang, Nketiah.


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By Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
Founded on the philosophy that arts of all genre needs to be supported, it is committed to promoting visual arts, literary arts and performing arts.
The Founders
Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation works extensively in the field of arts. Over the years, the Foundation has supported various artists, by way of mentoring, and providing opportunities to take their work to the next level.
The Foundation extends its support to creative individuals, especially those in diverse fields of art. Author and researcher Manu S. Pillai was extended a grant which enabled him to research and author his second book Rebel Sultans: The Deccan from Khilji to Shivaji, in 2018.
Rebel Sultans cover image (2019-06) by SGMFSandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
Literary & Academic Approval
The book has received endorsements not only from the general press and readers but also from senior academics and historians like Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Muzaffar Alam, Sunil Khilnani, and William Dalrymple.
"Pillai brings together a wide range of sources to weave a fascinating narrative of a historically important and understudied region and period in South Asian history."
— Studies in History, Vol. 35, No 1, February 2019.
The book has also been translated into regional languages.
Rebel Sultans: Marathi translation (2019-06) by EkaSandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
Translations in Marathi & Kannada
"Rebel Sultans is an excellent contribution…from which both scholars and the general public will benefit.
—Studies in History
The book has been translated into Kannada, as well as Marathi languages.
Rebel Sultans: Kannada translation (2019-06) by Eka/JuggernautSandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
Reaching A Regional Audience
"What was an idea in my head was realised and published after a long research journey chiefly with the support of SGMF, for which I remain most thankful. I hope the Foundation continues its work in the fields of art, literature, culture, and supports emerging talent," Pillai.
Rebel Sultans cover image (2019-06) by SGMFSandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
The book is significant not only because it is the first history of the Deccani Sultanates written for a general audience, but also because of the breadth of sources it integrates which gives the work a notable sophistication.
"As a recipient of a research grant I can attest to the commitment the Foundation has made towards promoting not only performative and visual arts but also writing and historical inquiry in India. It was thanks to the SGMF's generous support that I was able to complete my research on the early modern kingdoms of the Deccan and publish what has been described as the "first history of the Deccani Sultanates written for a general audience", Manu S. Pillai.
Sangeeta Abhay
The Foundation supports Sangeeta Abhay, who is also part of the Artists' Initiative Programme, in several endeavours, including facilitating her participation to the XII Florence Biennale in 2019. The artist dedicates her work to the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha.
Floral Illuminated display (2019-10) by Sangeeta AbhaySandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
Peace Messenger
Sangeeta showcased her work Peace Messenger at XII Florence Biennale. Exhibiting her work overseas was a dream come true for Sangeeta.
"It was an eye-opener for me, getting to participate in the Biennale was itself a big occasion and I could not have achieved this without SGMF's support. Getting to see lot of new works, and meeting other talented artists was truly exciting," says Sangeeta Abhay.
Peace Messenger and the Mahatma (2019-10) by Sangeeta AbhaySandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
Buddha & The Mahatma
"Everyone knows about Buddha but my theme for the Florence Biennale was to spread the message of education. Education leads to peace and I believe it is the best answer to curb all the violence and other problems in the world. I am grateful to SGMF for their support."
For the Girl Child
Sangeeta's Peace Messenger garnered attention not just for its skill and beauty, but also for the fact that she was championing the cause of education through her work.
Reincarnation (2019-10) by Sangeeta AbhaySandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
Peace Messenger
The artist explains the purpose and process behind the installation, which earned rave reviews.
Young Viewers (2019-10) by Sangeeta AbhaySandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
Sangeeta Abhay explains her work to young children gathered to watch the exhibit at the Biennale. The peace concept struck a chord among the visitors and other artists. Reputed photographer and special invitee to the Biennale, Rossano B. Maniscalchi became an admirer of her work.
Spreading the message of education (2019-10) by Sangeeta AbhaySandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
A short video highlighting the Peace Messenger.
Buddha With Peace Messages (2019-10) by Sangeeta AbhaySandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
The Buddha's head is engraved with messages in different languages, showcasing the artist's theme that education is the answer to peace.
Peace Messenger - The pencil display (2019-10) by Sangeeta AbhaySandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
Top-5 in Installation Art at Florence
The artist uses pencils to signify the ray of light which can only spread through education. The artist's first-ever solo exhibit overseas proved to be a runaway success as her work was adjudged among the top-5 in the Installation Art category.
Lorenzo il Magnifico award
Sangeeta was conferred the Lorenzo il Magnifico Award in Installation Art category at the XII Florence Biennale. An international jury comprising distinguished scholars, art historians and critics from different countries chose her work amongst the top-5 in that segment.
Priming his canvas (2020-11) by Salman KhanSandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
More Than Just 'Being Human'
Actor Salman Khan is a versatile artist. While his humanitarian work through the Being Human Foundation is well documented, not many know that the actor has chosen another creative medium to express himself.
Salman Khan works on a painting (2020-11) by Salman KhanSandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
When he is not busy with film shootings and brand endorsements, Salman paints large-size canvases with stark images.
Salman Khan at his studio (2020-11) by Salman KhanSandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
His figures are impactful, devoid of emotion, but extremely arresting. Much like the characters he brings to life on this canvas.
Two Faces (2020-11) by Salman KhanSandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
1964 - A Special Year
From the dark background of Salman's canvas emerge two faces. Both are expressionless - its only the red 'bindi' or dot on one's forehead that indicates the gender.
"1964 was a special year for special people. It's the year my parents got married," explains Salman.
The work is intended to be realistic, yet the artist uses abstract strokes, inferencing his views and leaving a strong impression on the viewer which is in sync with the abstract realism style of painting.
Immortal - Selfless in a Selfish World (2020-11) by Salman KhanSandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
Immortal - Selfless In A Selfish World
The artist's deep humanitarian feelings drive him to paint 'Mother Teresa' again. This large-size work is Salman's tribute, artistically expressed, to a person who has strongly influenced him in many ways.
Being a self-taught artist he choses to use bold strokes to present his imagery and draws inspiration from famous Italian masters.
This painting has been displayed by Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation at the exhibition 'The Masters & The Modern', which featured works by artists like Raja Ravi Varma, Abanindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose and Jamini Roy.
Aaj bhi Mandodari, a monodrama (2019-10) by SGMFSandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
Reinventing Mythological Characters
Inspired by Mandodari, the wife of Ravana, the king of Lanka, Anjana Chandak scripted this monodrama bringing to life a new character in modern day setting. She has cleverly used instances from the Ramayana to correlate Mandodari's situations with those faced by women today.
Aaj bhi Mandodari
Anjana Chandak debuted Aaj bhi Mandodari, a monodrama in Hindi under the aegis of the Foundation. It was the artist's interpretation of Mandodari, Ravan's wife, from the epics and juxtaposing it with current reality.
SGMF Founders with Anjana Chandak (2019-10) by SGMFSandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
Founders Sandeep and Gitanjali Maini with Anjana Chandak after the performance of Aaj bhi Mandodari.
Draupadi, a monodrama (2020-03) by SGMFSandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
New Interpretation From The Epics
Portraying Draupadi, the second Panchakanya and wife of the Pandavas, her agony at being passed around between the five brothers like a pawn is brought out by Anjana Chandak in this tragic, yet gut-wrenching dramatic display.
All Eyes On Ahalya
Anjana is now set for the launch of Ahalya, the third play in the series. The five-part series from the epics symbolises the strength and character of these powerful women. The other two characters are Kunti and Tara.
Draupadi, A Monodrama In Hindi (2020-03-12) by Lantern FilmsSandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation
Draupadi - A Monodrama in Hindi
A short capsule of the monodrama by performance artist Anjana Chandak. Anjana adds that her courage to revisit a theme like the 'Panchkanyas' was solely from Gitanjali Maini's belief in the concept.
"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance." - Aristotle
...and this is what SGMF means for me. This foundation helped me to nurture a thought, aided me with authentic research and yet gave me freedom to express myself," Anjana Chandak.
Content & Curation: Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation Archives
Special Acknowledgment: Manu S. Pillai, Sangeeta Abhay, Anjana Chandak, Salman Khan, Ashvin P Gidwani
Images & Videos: Manu S. Pillai, Sangeeta Abhay, Anjana Chandak


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- A diverse support system that can be designed as a cantilever system, braced system, or tied-back system.
- Low noise and vibration installation when drilling method is selected.
- Ability to place piles with low overhead equipment.
- Design can support extremely deep excavations when bracing and tie-back anchors are used.
- The face of the shoring can be used as a backform for the permanent concrete walls.
- The case of the solder piles & lagging Is a suitable surface for placing waterproofing.
Standard Operations
Soldier beams and lagging is an earth retention system utilized in deep excavations. After soldier beams have been placed and installed, earth excavation begins on the front face of the beam. As soil is removed, lagging walls are installed to bridge and retain the soil, preventing it from entering the excavation area.
Soldier Beams
Soldier beams, also known as soldier piles, are vertically driven into the ground and are usually spaced at regular intervals between 6 and 10 feet, but can go as far as 12 feet apart as well. They're typically steel beams, however, when steel isn't the best solution, alternative sections can include everything from micropiles to precast concrete. Once the piles are in place, the excavation proceeds with lifts.
Depending on the soil type, especially if it's difficult to lift, the height of the excavation may need to be lowered to prevent the soil from moving through the soldier beams. If the soil is non-cohesive, lagging installation won't be conducive to that soil type.
These wall systems are designed to limit or reduce horizontal movement of soil and any other materials behind the wall. Cantilever walls are used when more stability or deeper excavation is needed. In that event, tie backs, bracing, and anchors can be used for additional stability reinforcement.
Lagging Walls
Lagging walls are horizontal supports that prevent soil from moving into the excavation as the excavation proceeds. Some common lagging materials include shotcrete, timber lagging, and precast concrete panels. With these materials, permanent and temporary wall systems are created.
Temporary Walls = Timber Lagging
Permanent Walls = Concrete or Shotcrete
Based on the project you're doing, whether temporary or permanent, that will determine the materials best suited for your lagging wall.
Key Features and Benefits
- Affordability: The construction of soldier pile and lagging is considerably more cost-effective than other earth retention systems, which is very beneficial being that excavations are primarily temporary.
- Minimal Noise Disturbances: Soldier piling and lagging have very laborious installation techniques, however, the actual installation process is comparably soundless to alternative wall retention solutions. This is especially beneficial when working in residential areas.
- Speed: Because soldier beams and lagging walls are short-term projects for construction sites, they're easy to construct and deconstruct.
- Control and Versatility: The versatility of the construction materials allows builders freedom and control over the layout and spacing of the soldier piles, making any type of last-minute change of plans or adjustments feasible.
- Longevity: The soldier piles and lagging walls method is an earth retention system that has been around since the late 18th century. Commonly used in big metro cities like New York and Berlin, the method (known as the Berlin Wall when using steel piles and timber lagging) has seen continued success in construction, which is why it is still used today.
Now, despite these key features and benefits, it's also important to know that soldier beam and lagging isn't always a suitable solution for every project as well. If your construction site has sand or is of a clay-like consistency, you'll be better off using an alternative earth retention wall system. Soldier beams only work best when installed in compact or dense soil.
Another factor to consider is that soldier beam and lagging can horizontally extend as far as you need it on any appropriate piece of land but its stability decreases if you try to build it higher than the standard four to six yards above ground. You could always add more soldier beams at closer regular intervals but that would then remove its cost-effectiveness, causing you to spend more on materials and supplies.
The Soldier Beams and Lagging Solution
The application of soldier beam and lagging earth retention wall systems can be used in a variety of different building plans and for temporary and permanent solutions in both residential and commercial applications.
For short-term solutions, soldier beam and lagging will support excavation during various phases of any construction project using cost-effective materials, which allow for expedited project completion. For long-term solutions, you simply change the construction materials as well as the installation techniques and methods.
Whether you're doing home construction, foundation repairs, or even archaeological digs, soldier beam and lagging can be your temporary or permanent installation solution.
Company & Overview
Blue Iron Foundations & Shoring, LLC, has been trusted for over a decade to install design build & pre-designed sheet pile systems including temporary earth retention, floodwalls, and cut off walls. We have an extensive equipment fleet that gives us flexibility to install sheet pile using vibratory, impact and/or vibration free methods to suit any project need. Sheet pile is widely used for shoring systems in high ground water, seawalls, retaining walls, floodwalls, basement walls for parking structures, cut off walls and drainage canal walls. Sheet pile are capable of cantilevering but can also include bracing and/or tie backs to allow retention of deeper excavations.


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Hanukkah is a time for family, candles, festive traditions, and gifts. This year, we thought we'd make it super simple to stock up on Hanukkah glitter sets and gift packs by bringing you this awesome selection of our flagship Brew Glitter edible glitter! The truly great thing about this range of Kosher certified and 100% FDA-compliant products is that you can rest assured that it is suited to the dietary requirements of just about anyone who may join you for your Hanukkah celebration, whether that be your closest family and friends, or a whole big group of festive invitees who are making their way to your home to celebrate the holiday in style.
Now all you need to do is pick your favorites and get ready to have a ball of a time with all your Hanukkah decorating! With all this inspiration at your fingertips, your creations are sure to shine.


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Baby on board! Tom Hiddleston's fiancée Zawe Ashton revealed that the couple are expecting their first child when she debuted her baby bump on the red carpet.
Ashton — who revealed she was engaged to the "Loki" star in March — rocked a golden gown that shined nearly as brightly as she did while walking the carpet at the premiere of her new film "Mr. Malcolm's List" at the DGA Theatre in New York City on Wednesday.
Ashton posed for photographers and smiled on the carpet in the ethereal ensemble — a tulle gown by Sabina Bilenko Couture which cascaded over her burgeoning baby bump.
READ MORE: Tom Hiddleston on His 'Very Happy' Engagement to Zawe Ashton
The couple's pregnancy was confirmed by Vogue in a special behind-the-scenes pictorial showing her preparing for the premiere.
While Hiddleston was not in attendance at the premiere, Ashton was joined by several of her co-stars, including Sope Dirisu, Freida Pinto and Theo James.
READ MORE: 'Loki' Creator and Tom Hiddleston on Covering 'New Emotional Ground' in Season 2 (Exclusive)
ET learned in March that the pair will be tying the knot after sparking engagement rumors while attending the British Academy Film Awards.
While the couple has been very reserved and private about their romance, Hiddleston expressed his excitement over his relationship back in April after ET's Rachel Smith congratulated him on his engagement while on "The Essex Serpent" red carpet.
"Thank you very much. Yes, I'm very happy," Hiddleston gushed while at the premiere for the Apple TV+ series. "I'm so happy."
READ MORE: Tom Hiddleston Is Engaged to Zawe Ashton
Hiddleston and Ashton met on the set of the 2019 play "Betrayal", which premiered in London's West End before they brought it to Broadway. Though they didn't confirm their relationship status at the time, some reports claim they started dating after working together on the production.
In September 2021, the couple was spotted packing on the PDA while going for a swim in Ibiza, Spain. Later that month, they walked their first red carpet together at the Tony Awards.
Congrats to the happy couple!
More From ET:
Machine Gun Kelly Jokes About Why He Smashed Champagne Glass on His Head Following MSG Concert
Ray Liotta's 'Black Bird' Co-Stars Share Heartfelt Memories of Late Actor at Premiere (Exclusive)
Ricky Martin's Former Manager Sues Him for More Than $3 Million in Unpaid Commissions


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Texas candidates just filed their semiannual campaign finance reports, giving voters a behind-the-scenes look into their fundraising as they head into the final stretch before the November elections.
To give you a fair comparison, we pulled the numbers from the same time frame in 2018. The headline from the data was easy: donations to Democratic candidates for the Texas House and Senate have skyrocketed — up 69 percent over 2018 to be precise. In contrast, donations to Republicans have dropped 44 percent. It's worth noting that the number of Democratic candidates has remained level while total Democratic fundraising has increased. On the other hand, there are 11 percent fewer Republican candidates this time around, accounting for some — but certainly not all — of the 44 percent decline in donations.
|Texas House and Senate – Party of Candidate/Legislator
|January 1, 2017– June 30, 2018
|January 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020
|Percentage Change
|Democratic Donations
|Democratic Candidates
|Republican Donations
|Republican Candidates
People usually don't give a reason why they do or don't click "Donate," but here are some possible explanations given the current political climate. Some we've seen before. Some, like many things in 2020, are new.
Yes, Republicans are still ahead in total donations to their Texas House and Senate candidates — $28 million compared to $25 million — but the momentum appears to be with the Democrats. In the last election cycle, Republican candidates to the Texas legislature had out-raised their Democratic counterparts more than 3-to-1 by this time, not surprising in a state that has been solidly red for decades. This time around, Democrats are gaining rapidly and could easily out-raise their Republican counterparts by election day.
If Democrats can turn their increased fundraising into increased turnout at the polls, November could be difficult for Republicans in Texas.
Join us as we bring you up-to-the-minute numbers and analysis from the money in Texas politics as we head toward November. Ready to dig deeper? The latest reports are live. Explore any Texas candidate, PAC, donor and track what's happening on the road to Austin in 2020.


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Maybe you've felt this way. Overwhelmed. You know it's not just the day. It's not that no one seems to care what you say or do anymore. It's not that you feel empty and confused. It's not that your smile is plastic and your gut is permanently twisted like a pretzel. It's not even the avalanche of activities, people and decisions cramping your time, energy and space. You just feel no longer in control.
The great physicist Stephen Hawking may be overwhelmed after passing away and meeting the God he denied his whole life. He did leave us a good quote when he said "people need not be limited by physical handicaps as long as they are not disabled in spirit."
Feeling disabled in spirit can happen in a family context, a work environment, in the middle of a shopping trip, or while we're stuck in traffic. It might even happen in a church where you are bombarded with thoughts, emotions, convictions, reactions you don't know how to handle.
For those of us in the trenches of life it wouldn't be unlikely to have consultants, counselors or advisors tells us to limit what we put on our to do list to only the things we can manage effectively – Delegate, trust others to take some of the load, let go of the most stressful challenges. They might also tell us to limit purposeless meetings or conversations that suck up our valuable time.
Finding space to process, to call on our personal support system and to determine what we will eliminate or refuse on our agendas will also be something that we will be told to consider. Each of us has a different capacity in carrying our loads and it is important not to compare who we are and what we can do with others around us.
I feel overwhelmed frequently. My recent evaluation says that others notice I am overwhelmed. Taking the advice of others to limit myself sounds like wisdom. It doesn't work to lecture a person who is overwhelmed, I've been through that. It doesn't work to guilt, shame or scare someone who is overwhelmed, I've been through that as well.
The gospel of Mark records Jesus' response to his disciples after he'd sent them on an overwhelming road trip. They'd gone out two by two with no bread, no bag, no money and no extra tunic – only a walking stick. They preached repentance, drove out demons and healed the sick, trusting God to meet all their needs. In Mark 6:30-31 we read what happened after their return to Jesus. "The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have time to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'"
Perhaps this is the best idea. Coming away with Jesus by ourselves to a quiet place and getting some rest. I think being overwhelmed happens when we don't get enough of this.
What do you do when you're feeling overwhelmed? Or, what do you do to avoid feeling overwhelmed? Being part of a supportive community is definitely something that helps a lot.


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Kennebec Pass to Durango is a ripping enduro-style descent starting high above tree line and dropping down gnarly singletrack all the way to town.
Durango is one of the OG mountain bike destinations, so why is it still so underrated? We may never know.
For some reason, the town of Durango, Colorado, manages to fly well below the mountain bike tourism radar. Granted, there are a few good reasons for this: there's literally nothing else of note in southwestern Colorado, aside from big-ass mountains, thousands of miles of trail, a few world-class ski resorts, and a national park. It's hours to the closest interstate highway, and flights into the small airport are limited.
But mountain bikers are known for sniffing out the best places to ride, regardless of how difficult they are to reach. So what keeps Durango so hidden?
Well, it actually isn't that hidden. "Durango was not put 'on' the cycling map, the cycling map was built around Durango," says local Ed Zink of Durango's Mountain Bike Specialists on Singletracks.com. In many ways, Durango was one of the original mountain bike destinations. The 1990 World Mountain Bike Championships catapulted Durango onto center stage, and a venerable list of world-class racers like Ned Overend, John Tomac, Greg Herbold, Juli Furtado, and Todd Wells have called Durango home. Yet towns like Fruita, Crested Butte, and Steamboat Springs receive far more mountain bike tourists than Durango.
My personal theory? Mountain bikers and mountain bike media have a propensity to keep looking for the new and shiny, and they forget that some of the classic destinations are still the best. At the time of this writing (2020), Bentonville, Arkansas, is the trendiest mountain bike destination on the continent. And while Bentonville is building singletrack at a mind-bending rate, it is a long way from being the "Mountain Bike Capital of the World," as they claim.
At the same time that Bentonville is the "in" place to ride, I meet mountain bikers who haven't been to Moab since the mid-90s because they've already "checked that box." Never mind the fact that Moab has built hundreds of miles of new singletrack since the 90s, and many of the original trails still deliver the best riding experience in the world.
I think the same phenomenon has struck Durango. While places like Bentonville have had to work (and market) to make a name for themselves, the Durango locals have quietly gone about their business. In addition to the hundreds of miles of historic world-class singletrack found in the San Juan National Forest, local trail building organization Trails 2000 has built over 300 miles of singletrack close to town, according to Marty Grabijas on Singletracks.com.
How many total miles of mountain bike trails can you ride near Durango? It's impossible to list an accurate number, as the town of Durango is essentially the jumping off point for the entirety of southwestern Colorado. Even long-time locals call the massive web of singletrack "limitless."
Wrapping your head around a network so vast, so complex, is next to impossible, so in this guidebook, I've whittled this expansive network of singletrack down to a short greatest hits list. Linked below, you'll find 8 of the top mountain bike rides close to Durango that are loved and ridden by tourists and locals alike.
For highly technical in-town mountain biking, head to Raider's Ridge, the Hogsback, and Animas Mountain. If you want to ride from downtown but prefer buff, flowy singletrack, try out the Grandview Ridge Loop instead.
From here, the guidebook heads deep into the San Juans. While you could choose to bikepack the entire section of the Colorado Trail from Silverton to Durango, this guidebook focuses on logical day ride itineraries instead. The final section of the COT dropping into Durango from Kennebec Pass is a popular shuttle run and a must-do ride. While lesser-known, the Blackhawk Pass COT segment is regarded by some locals as one of the best sections of trail in the San Juans. The Molas Pass -> Engineer Mountain route combines one of the best high alpine sections of the COT with a burly descent down a connector trail. Last but not least, Hermosa Creek is a classic point-to-point shuttle that's served as a popular mountain bike ride since the dawn of the sport.
As you work your way through this greatest hits list, you'll soon begin to realize all the other ride combinations that you can stitch together in this massive trail system. Once you begin looking at the trail map near Engineer Mountain or Raider's Ridge, you'll be blown away by the ride combinations you can put together. So start with these recommendations, and once you've checked them all off, begin creating your own epic routes. The sky is the limit!
Kennebec Pass to Durango is a ripping enduro-style descent starting high above tree line and dropping down gnarly singletrack all the way to town.
World-class alpine scenery capped with a 4,000-foot descent!
Hands-down the most technical trail in Durango.
A classic mountain bike ride through a gorgeous mountain valley.
A stunningly beautiful section of the Colorado Trail running through the rugged San Juan Mountains.
A beautiful cross country ride with a flowy finish.
Stunning views and a ripping descent, right in Durango.
Face extreme exposure on one of Durango's classic rides.


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Wondering how to cut a watermelon? It's easy with these simple tips, step-by-step photos, and video! Plus, you'll learn how to pick a melon, store it, use it in recipes, and so much more!
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
I don't know about you, but I LOVE watermelon. There isn't a more summery fruit. Anytime I take a bite, I feel like I'm being transported back to my childhood ... probably with that sweet juice dripping down my chin!
Dealing with a whole watermelon can be intimidating though. First, you need to pick the right one, then you have to cut it ... and what to do with all the leftovers?
After eating a lot of watermelon this summer, I have tons of easy tips to share with you. I'm breaking them all down below. Plus, I created a video, so you can see exactly how to peel a watermelon and cut into into four different shapes.
Ready to dive into all things watermelon? Then, keep reading for all the juicy details!
Watermelon 101
This guide covers everything you could possible want know about this favorite fruit. To read everything and become a watermelon expert, just keep scrolling. Otherwise, can use these links to navigate:
- How to Pick a Watermelon
- Peeling Watermelon
- How to Cut a Watermelon: Cutting Tools | Cutting Cubes | Slicing Triangles / Wedges | Cutting Sticks | Making Balls | Cutting Shapes | Making a Basket
- How to Store Watermelon
- How to Eat Watermelon (Recipes)
- FAQs
How to Pick a Watermelon
Watermelon is in season during summer. Peak season will vary depending on where you live, but look for it in stores and at the farmers market from May through September.
The most popular types of melon here in the U.S. are seeded, seedless, and mini. If you shop at specialty stores or farmers market, you may be able to find melons with yellow or orange flesh, too. If you grow your own watermelon, you can even buy special molds to shape them into hearts or squares!
Personally, I prefer seedless melons. In my experience, they taste just as sweet as the seeded kind. No seeds means they're so much easier to deal with though (especially for recipes).
Choosing the best watermelon may seem tricky, but it doesn't have to be. Try these simple tips the next time you go shopping:
- Don't rush the season. Can you find watermelon year round? Sometimes, but it's never going to taste the best. Save it for summer!
- Pick it up. A juicy melon should feel quite heavy for its size.
- Find the field spot. This is the spot where it rested on the ground in the field. A creamy, yellow spot (versus a pale, white one) is a sign that it was allowed to fully ripen before picking.
- Check the rind. The best melons will have a smooth, firm rind. Dry webbing and a few blemishes are okay, but you should avoid fruit with cracks, mushy spots, and bruises, as well as melons with irregular shapes and bumps.
- Look for a dried out stem. If the stem is attached, it should be dry, not green. This indicates that it was allowed to ripen on the vine and wasn't picked too early.
- Give it a thump. The surface should be firm, and a juicy watermelon should have a deep hollow sound. If it sounds dull, it may be mushy inside.
Tip: Did you find a crack in the watermelon flesh when you cut it open? Don't worry, it's still okay to eat, and it may even taste sweeter than usual. The crack most likely indicates that it was subjected to changing weather during growing season (such as a hot or cold snap).
Peeling Watermelon (The Easy Way)
Cutting through the thick rind is the trickiest thing about dealing with watermelon. To make it easier, you will need a knife with a long, sharp blade. I like to sharpen mine right before starting, which makes the job a million times easier.
There are different ways to peel a watermelon, plus lots of crazy hacks that you might have seen on YouTube or Pinterest. However, this is the easiest and safest method:
- Wash it under running water, then blot dry.
- Cut a thin slice off both ends.
- Slice the watermelon in half crosswise, through the middle. If your melon is longer than your knife, carefully rotate the melon as you cut it.
- Place one of the halves, cut side down, on the cutting board.
- Cut around the melon, slicing off the peel in strips.
- Repeat with the other half.
Check out the pictures below to see exactly how to do this step-by-step.
Tip: if you're working with a smaller melon, you can skip step three (cutting it in half crosswise). In which case, you'd stand the melon on one of its ends in step four before peeling it. In general though, it's easier (and much safer) to work with smaller pieces.
Best Way to Cut Watermelon: Cubes, Triangles / Wedges, Sticks, Balls + More!
Now that you know how to peel a watermelon, let's talk about how to cut it. I'm showing you four easy cutting methods below (cubes, triangles / wedges, sticks, and balls), plus I'm sharing tips for cutting shapes (like stars) and making a basket.
By the way, you can use these methods on any melon, whether it has an oval, round, or mini shape.
Cutting Tools ... Do you need a special cutter, slicer, or knife?
If you've ever searched Amazon for watermelon cutting tools, you might be surprised by how many special gadgets you find. There's everything from special knives to keg taps!
Truthfully though, you really don't need any special tools. A sharp knife, preferably with a long blade, is the most important. The one I used has a thin (but very sturdy) 6-inch blade. I've had this knife for ages, and I'm not sure where I got it, but this Chicago Cutlery 6-inch knife looks pretty similar.
If you're planning to make a basket or would like to make balls though, this cutting tool set would come in handy for sure. Love gadgets? Two tools that get a lot of positive reviews are this Round Watermelon Slicer and this Windmill Cutter, which I have to admit, looks very fun to use!
Cutting Watermelon into Cubes
Cubes are probably the most versatile shape. And they're as perfect for snacks, as they are for using in recipes.
To cut a watermelon into cubes, follow these steps:
- Cut the melon into slices.
- Stack slices, then make a series of cuts parallel to each other.
- Cut perpendicular to the first cuts you made to create the cubes.
Tip: You can easily change the size of the cubes, from a small dice to larger chunks, simply by slicing the melon thinner or wider.
How to Slice Watermelon into Triangles / Wedges
Watermelon slices are the classic party shape that's so much fun to eat! Triangles and wedges are also incredibly easy to make.
I'd recommend keeping the rind on when cutting wedges. That way, you've got a natural handle, which makes them less messy to eat.
To slice watermelon, follow these steps:
- Starting with a whole melon, cut it in half crosswise. Then, cut the halves in half. You should have four quarters at this point.
- Place one of the quarters cut side down on your cutting board, then cut it into slices.
- Cut the slices into triangle-shaped wedges.
How to Cut Watermelon into Sticks
Sticks are a fun alternative to wedges, and they're equally great for parties and snacking!
Plus, they take minute minutes to cut ... here's how to do it:
- Cut watermelon into slices.
- Keeping slices intact, turn the melon, then cut perpendicular to original cuts.
Tip: You can leave the rind on sticks, if you'd prefer. That way, you have a built in handle, making them less messy to eat.
Making Watermelon Balls
Cute balls are the perfect shape for all your summer fruit salads! They also make colorful, delicious ice cubes for drinks when frozen. Best of all, they're so easy to make.
You will need a melon baller or a rounded teaspoon, like I'm using below. Once you've gathered that, simply press the melon baller down into the surface of the watermelon, then turn it and scoop out the ball.
Don't worry if your balls aren't 100% round. One side will always be a little flat, but no one will notice.
Tip: You will have some pulp leftover after scooping. Instead of throwing it out, chop it up to make Watermelon Salsa or blend it to make Watermelon Juice.
Cutting Stars, Hearts + More
Want to cut your watermelon into shapes? Stars, hearts, and more are very easy to make, and your kids will enjoy helping you out.
Simply cut a slice of melon, then press the cutter into it. You can find all sorts of fun shapes, like this set of eight cutters or these cute popsicles (check them out below). Another option is this Vegetit Fruit and Vegetable Cutter, which can even be used to make fruit bouquets!
When cutting shapes, the only thing you need to avoid is slicing the melon too thick ... if you do, the cutter won't go all the way through the slice. Experiment with one slice before committing to the whole fruit.
Making a Watermelon Basket + Other Carving Ideas
Baskets look impressive and are perfect for holding fruit salad for parties, plus they're a great way to use the whole melon.
To cut a basket without a handle, simply cut the watermelon in half vertically. Then, scoop it out. Remove a thin slice from the bottom to keep it from rolling around.
To cut a basket with a handle, check out this easy tutorial which has lots of helpful photos and tips.
Of course, these simple baskets are just the tip of the iceberg. You can carve melons into many different shapes. The Watermelon Board's website has tons of cool carving ideas ... you'll find everything from cactus baskets to animals to BBQ grills!
How to Store Watermelon
A whole melon should keep for at least one week. I'd recommend refrigerating it, to be on the safe side, especially if it was refrigerated at the store.
Once cut, watermelon is good for about 3 to 5 days. Store it in an airtight container or zip top bag in your refrigerator.
You can also freeze watermelon. Cut it into chunks and remove the seeds, then place it on a foil (or parchment) lined pan in a single layer. Once frozen, transfer the fruit to a container or bag and freeze until you're ready to eat it. The thawed fruit it won't be as crisp as fresh melon, but you can use the chunks as ice cubes in drinks, blend it into smoothies, or use it to make juice.
How to Eat (Recipes Ideas)
Do you ever avoid buying watermelon, because you're not sure how to eat the whole thing?
Same here. It's only my husband and I, so one melon is A LOT! Thankfully, there are tons of delicious ways to eat watermelon, besides just snacking.
Here are some ideas to inspire you:
- Watermelon Salsa
- Watermelon Gazpacho
- Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint
- Watermelon Quinoa Salad
- Watermelon Popsicles
- Watermelon Sorbet
- Watermelon Lemonade
- Watermelon Mojitos
- Watermelon Juice
- Watermelon Punch
You can also use the rind in recipes, so don't throw it out! Try pickling it, chopping it up for stir fries, or even using it in homemade kimchi.
Frequently Asked Questions
I hope you enjoyed reading all about this delicious summer fruit! If you still have questions, leave me comment below or check out these FAQs.
Watermelon can be considered a fruit and a vegetable, according to the Watermelon Board. Botanically, it's a fruit, however it's from the cucurbitaceae plant family of gourds, and it's related to the cucumber, squash, and pumpkin. It's typically treated as fruit here in the U.S., however it can be used in savory ways, too.
The easiest way to cut a watermelon is by removing a thin slice from either end, then slicing it in half through the middle (horizontally). Once you've done that, you can remove the peel and cut it into all kinds of shapes. Find more tips above.
Use a knife with a long, sharp blade to cut watermelon. This 6-inch knife is similar to the one I use. I'd also recommend sharpening the knife just before cutting, which will make it easier to cut through the thick rind.
Yes, you can freeze watermelon. Cut it into chunks, then place it on a foil or parchment lined pan in a single layer. Once frozen, transfer the chunks to an airtight container or zip top bag, then keep frozen until you're ready to eat it.
Watermelon is in season in summer, typically from May through September. You can often find it year round, but winter melons are imported and won't be as sweet.
Once cut, watermelon will keep for three to five days when stored in an airtight container.
A whole watermelon should keep for at least one week. Although not 100% necessary, I'd recommend refrigerating it to be on the safe side, especially if it was kept cold at the store.
Besides snacking, you can use watermelon in salsa, salads, drinks, desserts, and even soups. You can also use the rind. Check out the recipe section above for ideas and tips.
There are a few ways to sweeten watermelon if you buy one that's underripe. First, try sprinkling it with salt, which will bring out the sweetness. You could also make a fruit salad and mix it with a sweet dressing, like this honey-citrus dressing. Finally, try turning it into juice or sorbet, adding sugar to taste.
How to Cut a Watermelon
- 1 watermelon
- cutting board and sharp knife
- Cut ends off watermelon, then cut in half through middle (crosswise).
- Working with one piece of melon, place cut side down on cutting board. Slice around edges of melon, removing peel.
- Cut melon into slices, then cut slices into a grid, creating cubes. Repeat with other melon half.
- Serve melon or immediately or refrigerate until ready to eat. Enjoy!


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About Us
The Albany 4WD Club brings together a range of people who share an interest in exploring our spectacular and diverse Great Southern coastal and bush regions.
We cater for all types of 4WD's and welcome you whether you're a beginner or an experienced 4WD driver.
With us you can…
– Gain essentials skills and knowledge in a safe and encouraging environment
– Take part in members only organised day trips, overnighters and more (families welcome)
– Attend driver training workshops, get equipment advice
– Receive updates on the state of tracks and trails. Hear about upcoming legislation changes and what's changing in our area that might affect what you do and where you can go
– Get special member offers from local businesses


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Maple Farm Sanctuary is an animal sanctuary providing lifelong homes for abused, abandoned and unwanted farmed animals while promoting veganism and respect for all life through public information. Maple Farm Sanctuary has taken in a fraction of the billions of farmed animals that are bought, sold, tormented and slaughtered by the meat, dairy and fur industries.
At Maple Farm Sanctuary, we strive to treat both humans and non-humans as individuals who are worthy of compassion and respect, where we pursue a vegan diet and a non-violent lifestyle and where our stewardship of these 120 acres of beautiful Massachusetts farmland and wildlife habitat is a sacred trust.
We ourselves once raised and sent to slaughter animals as a means of making a living. As a result of a profound change of consciousness, we now choose to see the world and animals in a very different light. We have dedicated our lives to completing our transformation from animal farmers to animal rescuers and caretakers, and to sharing what we have discovered along the way with as many people as possible.
At Maple Farm Sanctuary we have made a special commitment to serve animals whose lot in life is especially difficult, those with a need for extraordinary consideration and commitment. Our goal is to create an evermore safe, loving and healthy environment for these special beings, and for all the residents of Maple Farm Sanctuary.
website design by Two Trick Pony & development by PixelPoint Productions
Maple Farm Sanctuary is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization with tax-exempt status.
Maple Farm Sanctuary 101 North Avenue, Mendon, MA 01756


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FACES Finances Entrepreneurs in Ecuador
Written by Lynn Hamerlinck on 18 April 2022
The newest addition to Lendahand is microfinance institution FACES - short for Fundación de Apoyo Comunitario y Social del Ecuador - and checks off all the boxes regarding our intended social impact. FACES is an NGO set up in 1991 to support small entrepreneurs with microloans. The non-profit MFI mainly serves women, making up 54% of their client base, and operates for 57% of their portfolio in rural areas.
Reaching the Bottom of the Pyramid
To fulfill their goal of successfully combating poverty and unemployment in Ecuador, FACES supports SME entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses and generate more income.
Ecuador has approximately 900,000 businesses, 99% of which are microenterprises and SMEs, which create 60% of all jobs1.
Via their network of 19 branches, FACES currently serves small entrepreneurs in 4 provinces offering individual and group loans. The provinces they operate in are among the poorest in Ecuador, with almost half the population living below the poverty line. Most economically active people work in agriculture, raising cattle, sugar production, woodworking, or the handicraft sector.
In a previous blog post, we elaborated on how financial inclusion is essential for the growth of entrepreneurs at the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) in emerging markets. The BoP is the largest and poorest socio-economic group in a community. By offering them access to capital, entrepreneurs can improve their financial situation, resulting in more income, job creation, and economic prosperity. In other words, it allows people to work their way out of poverty.
Microfinance Institutions such as FACES are Lendahand's gateway to reach the people at the Bottom of the Pyramid, thanks to their local presence. Lendahand investors already crowdfunded €1 million for Ecuadorian company BWISE, which offers mobile payment solutions to SMEs in Latin America, allowing entrepreneurs to have digital track records of their transactions to apply for formal loans to grow their business.
Ecuador: World Leader in Female-led Enterprises
According to the WorldBank, Ecuador is a world leader in female-led enterprises. However, access to financing is more limited for these enterprises than for similar enterprises led by men. FACES focuses on addressing this gender gap identified in the financial sector.
In 2020, 53.88% of their clients were women. 50.55% of the microenterprises financed are managed by women, who mainly operate in the informal economy. One of them is María Hortensia, whose exquisite family recipe for peanut sandwiches grew fame and traveled all over Ecuador thanks to access to credit.
She applied for her first microcredit with the FACES Foundation 25 years ago to start her sandwich business "Bocadillos Los Molinos". With a loan of $1,000, she bought the necessary raw materials to start her business. A second and third loan allowed her to purchase toasting machines and mixers, which has allowed her to produce more sandwiches and reduce costs. With the financial support and advice from FACES, María Hortensia managed to create work for herself and her family.
Creating Social Impact on Ecuadorian Society
In many ways, the NGO is committed to generating a meaningful social impact within the Ecuadorian Society by providing its services to the most vulnerable sectors of the population. Besides having their loans go mainly to women to support their entrepreneurial activities, FACES supports farmers with green loans to develop sustainable agriculture.
Within the organization, they also engage in a high presence of female staff members (55%) and female management board members (45%). During the pandemic, the whole team committed to ensuring their free training program for customers to provide financial, technical, social, and health education. They carried out the training program virtually and managed to train 1,617 people. Of those, 61% were women.
FACES' gender focus and social engagement also translated to their social responsibility program called "My First Cradle", to prevent premature death due to newborn asphyxia. 2020 was the third year FACES delivered around 64 cradles to clients and employees. All to contribute to a good start to life for newborns of customers, regardless of their social status.
We're excited to welcome this microfinance institution and NGO organisation on our crowdfunding platform today. Are you looking for a tool to empower SME entrepreneurs in emerging markets like Ecuador? A way to encourage (female) entrepreneurs? Sign up for your free account today and visit our projects page for FACES's first project.


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Back in the day, Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz were some of the most fan-favorite welterweights in the sport hands down.
Condit came up under the WEC banner, and he was one of the most highly anticipated UFC crossovers of his day.
Nick Diaz is the elder of the Diaz brothers, and though his younger brother Nate has eclipsed him in popularity, he's the original.
When these two fought it was a must watch attraction. It ended with Carlos Condit getting his hand raised, but many onlookers thought that Nick Diaz was the rightful winner.
It's been an MMA debate for years, and now that Nick Diaz is eligible to return to action next week, Carlos Condit wants in.
The former UFC interim welterweight champion in Condit answered questions about a returning Nick Diaz, and more, in the video below.
Here's his comments:


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With deep roots in the art world, coffee has become our palette. We are dedicated to re-humanizing the coffee supply chain, and have formed strong friendships across the Coffee world in our exploration and adventure into the unknown.
We continually strive to better partner with our coffee growers, through initiatives such as Fairtrade, the Cafe Femenino Project, and helping farmers with the Yirgacheffe Kochore Project in Ethiopia, in partnership with World Vision Australia.
We are honored to be welcomed into these communities to learn about their culture, communities and farming practices.
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