text: They are already here. They hide among us. They hunt us. They feed on us. They ARE us. V-Wars is the chronicle of the first Vampire War. From the savage murders committed by patient zero of the plague to full-out battles with vampire terrorist cells, these are the stories of the most terrifying war mankind has ever faced.


text:
As we all know that Apple is looking to introduce three new devices in 2018. We are not sure of what the upcoming iPhones are really called. Despite the naming scheme, but the recent rumors suggest that Samsung is already in plans to start OLED panel production for the iPhone X Plus and iPhone X2.
The iPhone X2 being the 5.8-inch model and the iPhone X Plus will boast a huge 6.5-inches display. Initially, the 6.5-inches OLED panel was rumored to be manufactured by LG. Later on, it was speculated that this firm was unable to meet the requirements of Apple. So, Samsung again became the only supplier of OLED panels. According to the taiwen's Economic Daily News, the South Korean giant may start the OLED production in May with an intention to double the production by June. It is still unknown of why the company is starting off the production so early. Since Apple is about to launch two OLED iPhones in the near future. So, probably the demand would be higher than usual. This could be one of the reasons for early production.
The exclusive iPhone X display was given by Samsung. Though a popular handset with an OLED panel, radical new design and innovative technologies, but it was not a major success for Apple. This recent report confirms the fact that Apple is introducing three new iPhones in 2018 which includes a modified iPhone X, iPhone X Plus Dubai and an iPhone with LCD screen.
The LCD iPhone would probably be the lower pricey option of the three. Apart from the difference in panels, all the three devices may carry similar features. In order to reduce costs, the LCD iPhone may ditch 3D touch technology. It may further feature 3GB RAM with the single camera module. While the OLED models may boast 4GB RAM, dual rear camera, and 3D touch functionality. However, this could be a pricey option. These trio of smartphones are likely to appear sometime in September 2018. Along with this, the tech giant is even rumored to launch foldable iPhone in 2020.
Latest posts by PriceDeals (see all)
- Samsung is rumored to launch the most powerful gaming smartphone - July 26, 2018
- Top 5 upcoming smartphones will release in the end of 2018 - July 26, 2018
- Google Fuchsia is the new operating system to end Android - July 25, 2018

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Your Personal Photographer is Affordable!
We are Gary and Pauline Sugal, a husband and wife team of professional photographers. We specialize in local as well as destination Wedding photography and vidography. Our creative approach to wedding photography has made our studio one of the most sought after in New England.
Wedding Photography by Gary Sugal was created for discerning couples seeking a professional wedding photographer with a style that includes creative candid's, choreographed formals and a photojournalism approach..
In the last few years we have been fortunate enough to travel for destination weddings both inside as well as outside of the US.
When it comes to photography/video at a destination venue a couple will need to decide whether or not to fly their photographer in, or hire the "local" venue photographer. A no-obligation consolation meeting is highly recommended as the difference in photography styles by a "local" on site photographer or us will make your decision MUCH easier .
You will keep and be showing your wedding photos for your entire life – don't regret spending the extra money to bring in a solid professional that you will be able to contact easily after your event. You can look at some of Gary Sugal's vast variety of wedding photography at www.gsugal.com
Local Wedding Photography
The majority of our wedding photography work is of course within New England, Boston, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.
Even though Gary Sugal reside in Massachusetts a strong percentage of the work is in neighboring Rhode Island Connecticut and New York. If you are having a wedding in New England please consider Gary Sugal for your wedding photography.
Sincerely,G.Sugal(401) 751-2501Best time to reach us is: 9-5:OO M-F, Sat 9-12:00 P.M.
11 Tenth Street, East Providence, RI 02914 U.S.A Ph.(401) 751-2501 Fx. (401) 434-7983 email@example.com -
or visit : www.gsugal.com


text:
Huge product rangeOver 140,000 books & equipment products
Rapid shippingUK & Worldwide
Pay in £, € or U.S.$By card, cheque, transfer, draft
Exceptional customer serviceGet specialist help and advice
Revised edition of this classic first published in 1988. Johnsgard has added twelve species of Mexican owls and the volume now covers the entire continent of North America. Also presented is updated information, new and modified figures and range maps, and twelve new colour plates, including illustrations of Mexican owls. The number of citations has nearly doubled to 900, reflecting more than a decade's worth of scientific inquiry and discovery.


text:
In years past, this column has urged conservative Republicans in Congress to shut down the federal government as a way to counter some of the hardline policies and stare down some of the more uncompromising positions taken by President Obama.
But the current row that's brewing among congressional Republicans is a different matter. Debate is raging about a proposed continuing resolution to fund the government, instead of passing a regular budget that would allow new funding for the assimilation of millions of illegal immigrants. This potential GOP strategy could easily turn growing support for the Republicans into opposition.
Don't get me wrong. The president's use of executive orders as a way to sidestep Congress and its constitutional role of lawmaking -- in this case to decree amnesty for illegal aliens -- is every bit a justification for shutting down the normal budget process.
Those who advocate a short extension of the current federal budget, along with a substantial cut in the budget of the Department of Homeland Security, have a justified legal and moral case for their position. If Republicans don't live up to the rhetoric that returned them to control of the House and won a majority in the Senate, they will risk the appearance of being toothless tigers who are willing to say anything to win an election.
I get all of that. In fact, I agree with their position: The president -- any president -- should not go unchallenged when he tries to bypass his constitutional authority by unilaterally decreeing laws.
But I have been down this shutdown road before with the man who first "paved" it, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich. That experience taught me that there is a huge difference between winning a battle and winning the war. In this case, the battle is the one over executive amnesty, but the war could be winning the presidency in 2016, as well as retaining majority control of the Senate. (Given the particular Senate seats up for contention in two years, that could be a taller order for the GOP than many think.)
It would be great to cut off funds to federal agencies and departments that are helping to implement "laws" that were never passed by Congress. And support for both Obamacare and amnesty are weak right now. But waiting on the sidelines is an elite media that is salivating over the prospect of a government shutdown. They know these shutdowns never get the support of the critically important independent and swing voters.
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has joined a group of conservative House members that is demanding a very short period of time for any continuing resolution that would fund the federal government. Cruz is a dedicated conservative member of the Senate, but his motives for pushing another potential shutdown are more likely centered around his own potential run for president in 2016. Ironically, if he were to get his way, a shutdown would most assuredly take place, and Cruz would find his electability as a potential presidential nominee ruined.
That's a shame, because what Barack Obama needs is a swift kick in his posterior from Congress. It skirts the very essence of our Constitution's spirit of a balance of power for the president to arrogantly abuse the use of regulations and executive orders to implement policy that is opposed by both a majority of Americans and by the Republican-majority Congress that will be seated in January.
But it would be a political catastrophe to try to pull off a shutdown before new members of the House and Senate even learn a little bit about how things work in their respective chambers. It would look like overreach -- political showboating. And it would be used as fodder by the liberal media in the 2016 elections.
There are other ways to dismantle at least some of the damage President Obama has done. But it will take careful planning by congressional Republicans to implement any meaningful countermeasures to the president's policies. It's true that the Gingrich shutdown in the '90s actually forced then-President Bill Clinton to push for more conservative policies than he otherwise would have. But Clinton was a more reasonable and pragmatic Democratic president than Obama is.
Sadly, necessarily, this is one shutdown that we need to let pass by.
Matt Towery is author of the book "Paranoid Nation: The Real Story of the 2008 Fight for the Presidency." He has served as an elected official, has advised major national campaigns and heads a non-partisan polling and media company. He is also publisher of the Washington-based Southern Political Report, the nation's oldest active political newsletter. Follow him on Twitter: @matttowery. To find out more about Matt Towery and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.


text:
Powers, Edugyan, Johnson Tipped to Win Man Booker Prize
By JILL LAWLESS
LONDON (AP) — An environmental epic that has been likened to "Moby Dick" for trees, the story of an escaped slave and a powerful debut by a 27-year-old novelist are among favorites to win the Man Booker Prize for fiction on Tuesday.
American writer Richard Powers' arboreal novel "The Overstory," Canadian novelist Esi Edugyan's "Washington Black" — about a slave who escapes from a sugar plantation in a hot-air balloon — and British author Daisy Johnson's Greek tragedy-inspired family saga "Everything Under" are competing for the 50,000 pound ($66,000) prize, which has a reputation for transforming writers' careers.
The other finalists are U.S. novelist Rachel Kushner's "The Mars Room," about a woman serving life in prison; Robin Robertson's "The Long Take," a verse novel about a traumatized D-Day veteran journeying through troubled post-war American cities; and Anna Burns' "Milkman," a story of family, community and violence set during Northern Ireland's deadly "Troubles."
The winner will be announced during a black-tie ceremony at London's medieval Guildhall.
The prize, subject to intense speculation and lively betting, usually brings the victor a huge boost in sales and profile.
Bookmaker Ladbrokes said "The Overstory" was the favorite to win, followed by "Washington Black" and "Everything Under," with Johnson's book closing the gap thanks to a late flurry of bets. Johnson will be the youngest-ever Booker laureate if she wins.
This year's judges have favored new talent over more established names. Of the six finalists, only Edugyan has been nominated before — for "Half-Blood Blues" in 2011 — and favorites including Canada's Michael Ondaatje didn't make the cut from the 13-novel longlist.
Founded in 1969, the prize was originally open to British, Irish and Commonwealth writers. Americans have been eligible since 2014, and there have been two American winners — Paul Beatty's "The Sellout" in 2016 and George Saunders' "Lincoln in the Bardo" in 2017.
This year's finalists include three U.K. authors, two Americans and a Canadian. A third consecutive American victor could revive fears among some U.K. writers and publishers that the prize is becoming too U.S.-centric.


text:
If you conduct your wedding in a vacation spot, have a basketful of themed goodies delivered to each guest's room. You will want to include useful items such as a disposable camera, tourist map that shows fun places in the local area, sunglasses and a hat. Providing a restaurant guide will fill your guests in on all of the best places to eat in the area.
If one of your friends or relatives becomes ordained over the Internet, he or she can preside over your wedding ceremony. This can be a wonderful way to honor someone special in your life, and to make them an important part of your big day. Make sure this is a legal practice in your state before you get somebody ordained.
When you are planning your wedding festivities, think hard about the kinds of alcoholic beverages that are going to be available, and also how much of a price tag they will carry. If there's a bar that's open, it can be expensive, especially the longer it's open. Ask the venue about their various alcohol service options.
The bride's mother and her bridesmaids should assist you in getting ready a long time before you have to put on your dress. All attention should be on you, right before you walk down the aisle. If other members of your wedding party aren't ready, then they might prevent you from getting ready.
Instead of elaborate and pricy floral arrangements, consider placing various potted plants around the ceremony and the reception venues. Ceramic pots that have been painted or decorated with ribbons make a wonderful table centerpiece. The guest's wedding favor can be the plants in the pots, or you can put them in your garden.
You have to plan your wedding down to each exacting detail, including the food and the reception schedule. Your friends and family have made a special effort to be there for your big day, so make sure they have an engaging and exciting experience.
Don't hesitate to delegate important tasks to people that can handle it and that you know you can trust. It is natural to want to participate in all aspects of planning, especially since your wedding is such a personal affair. It is nonetheless possible to effectively delegate different tasks in a way that allows you to retain creative control over the event; this also allows you to reap the benefits of more experienced vendors.
Remember the tips and tricks presented here when you start to become overwhelmed by the choices you have, whether it's for the ceremony itself, or the rehearsal beforehand, and the ceremony after. This will give you the ability to plan your wedding and have it go smoothly and memorably; you'll have the day of your dreams!


text:
Atomic Hawx 2.0 100 Blue Men's Ski Boots
Product Reviews
Product Description
The Hawx 2.0 100 from Atomic is a perfect boot for the strong intermediate to advanced skier that wants a ski boot that will be easy to get dialed in for them. The Memory Fit shell can be heated by a proper ski shop. When the shell reaches 117C the bootfitter will help you put the hot shells on your feet, it takes a few minutes to cool. Once the shell cools back down it will adapt to the shape of your foot for a very precise and comfortable fit. The Hawx Shell has always used Sole Flex Technology that has ribs across the forefoot that enables it to flex lower on the boot. A lower flex point will improve your balance, give you a more natural bend, have a better feel for the snow, and give you more control over your skis. Atomic's Silver Liner has Dynashape Foam that will resist packing out, and 3M Thinsulate Insulation will keep your feet warm all day. If you want a boot that will be easy to dial in and make you a better skier, by giving you more comfort and control, the Atomic Hawx 2.0 100 will be a great fit.
- Memory Fit
- Sole Flex
- Silver Liner with 3M Thinsulate Insulation
- 35mm Velcro Strap
- Best Fits Most Foot Shapes and Medium Leg Shapes
- An Aftermarket Footbed Improves the Molding Process, Fit and Performance


text:
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the number of home care aides was projected to grow by 48 percent between 2008 and 2018. This growth is the result of the rise in people over of the age of 65 needing home care and the need to replace those that leave the industry. With numbers on the rise like these, it may be tempting to cut corners and hire a private caregiver, but at what cost? There are significant risks when hiring a private worker, and we feel it's extremely important that seniors and their families are aware of them.
Financial Risks
When hiring a private caregiver, you are assuming the role of an employer and are responsible for withholding and paying all relevant state and federal employment taxes. If you make the risky choice to pay them "under the table" and the IRS conducts an audit, you will face high penalties and fines. Your private caregiver must pay taxes as an independent contractor, and the employer (you, or the senior receiving care) is responsible for issuing an IRS Form 1099 at the end of the year. This involves the responsibility for calculating hours and wages paid for the entire year, and filing the appropriate form with the IRS.
Health Risks
The health risks alone are overwhelming when you hire a private caregiver as opposed to working with an agency. Professional agencies typically do extensive background checks, and at Shepherd's Staff In-Home Care, we go the extra mile when vetting our caregivers. We will do a county, state, and national background check, require and check 4-6 references, and pull driving records to be sure there are no drug or alcohol related incidents or excessive speeding tickets on their records.
Calling in a replacement at any time without a gap in coverage is not possible when hiring a private individual. Whether you need a replacement for a single shift or a permanent replacement due to employee conflicts, an agency can offer a backup of replacement caregivers, giving you peace of mind.
Liability Risks
Liability lies with the senior receiving in-home care and any work-related injuries to the private caregiver. The transmission of communicable diseases can cause liability issues, as well. Private caregivers rarely carry professional liability insurance, and the client may be responsible for paying not only medical bills but also lost wages until they can return to work.
Private caregivers generally come without bonding, which protects the homeowner against theft and breakage. Sadly, some scam artists may pose as caregivers in order to take advantage of older adults. Without a fidelity bond and liability insurance in place, there is little protection for you or your loved one. Finally, caregivers have been known to abuse elderly clients in various ways, ranging from verbal insults to outright theft or even physical harm. If you or someone you know has been a victim of elder crime, there are resources available in Maryland.
Hiring someone to work in your home comes with associated risks that you must protect yourself against. . We recommend hiring a professional care agency to ensure proper care and reduce the risks associated with hiring a private caregiver. If you have any questions or would like more information on how we hire our caregivers, please contact us today.


text:
Patriots tee hand bleached to create unique acid wash blend & enhanced softness.
Men's Medium.
Unisex style. Works well oversized or if you'd prefer this cropped just let us know in the Notes section at checkout!
This piece is part of our Upcycled Collection. By shopping this collection you can be sure you are purchasing a completely unique item, supporting a small business, and saving perfectly good garments from ending up in a landfill.
Thank you for supporting sustainable fashion!


text:
In December 2006 we attended a sparkling wine tasting held at Barcelona, a Spanish tapas-style restaurant in West Hartford, CT. For the first part of the evening, we did a walk-around tasting where we tasted sparkling wines and tasted tapas.
Mionetto Prosecco- $11.99
Prosecco is the name of a style of sparkling wine from Italy - and the grape it's made from is also called prosecco! The mionetto is light, gentle, with appley flavors that can be a bit tart.
Sergio Mionetto- $19.99
Named after the winemaker, this is Mionetto's main wine. It's 90% prosecco along with bits of verdiso and bianchetta. Also fruity, this has a bit of nuttiness and almost buttery smoothness to it. Ironically, it's what friends of ours brought to our tasting the following night, too.
Roderer Estate Anderson Valley- $20.99
We actually had this the next night, too. For our home tasting it was only $17.99, at Sam's Club. It has a light, citrus flavor, tending towards grapefruit. This is made from 100% estate fruit.
2002 Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc- $32.99
Blanc de blanc means that the wine is made with 100% white grapes, 100% chardonnay. The grapes for this come from all over California, although over half are from the Napa Valley. Flavors of yeast and toast.
Gruet Brut Rose, New Mexico- $15.99
We have friends of ours from New Mexico so we've had Gruet wines many times. You might think it's odd to grow grapes in New Mexico, but the French Champagne house Gruet knew they'd spotted a great area when they were visiting New Mexico back in the early 1980s. They don't even need pesticides! It's got fruity flavors of peach, cherry and berry, and a lovely berry-red color.
The restaurant brought in this functional, large, red barn door for atmosphere
What made this part of the tasting a bit challenging is that the tapas restaurant served *spicy* tapas with these sparklers. I'm all for having food with a bit of salt - say, seafood - with sparkling wine. I have sparkling wines with sushi all the time, and with salads and chicken. But Chapagne and sparkling wines are generally light flavors. They have gentle flavors of berry, toast, biscuit, etc. If you have too much spice in your mouth, you just can't taste any of those flavors any more, so you could be drinking any bubbly water with your food.
So I found that the very first dish - a very spicy empanada with thick meat filling - completely overpowered the sparkling wines. It took a lot of water drinking before I could again taste what the sparkling wine was offering. Also, the sparkling wines were all served rather warm. When you serve any wine warm, you taste mostly the alcohol, and this overpowers the flavors in the wine. So between the alcoholy flavors of the wine and the high spice levels of the food, it made this tasting a challenge. The spicy porcini chicken took a great pairing - chicken - and turned it into a palate burner.
By the time we got to a dish that actually would have been great - raw tuna sashimi pieces on potato chips - there had already been too much spice passed around. Never mind that in a situation where you're standing, holding a glass of Champagne and have no plate, to give you raw bits of tuna on a crumbly, too-large-for-one-bite-but-fragmenting-immediately potato chip seemed unwise :)
I have a ton of recommendations on my other pages on what to serve with Champagne. We drink Champagne all year long and have tried all sorts of combinations. The key is really NOT to serve hot-spicy food :) Not if you want to be able to taste the Champagne, in any case!
Champagne Reviews and Tasting Notes
All content on the WineIntro website is personally written by author and wine enthusiast Lisa Shea. WineIntro explores the delicious variety and beautiful history which makes up our world of wine! Lisa loves supporting local wineries and encouraging people to drink whatever they like. We all have different taste buds, and that makes our world wonderful. Always drink responsibly.


text:
DIT, Technical Approval Document, is a voluntary document issued by Construction Science Institute Eduardo Torroja (IETcc), containing a favorable technical assessment of the fitness for use in building non-traditional or innovative construction systems that do not have specific legislation. For all this we have a technical and regulation support for the manufacture and implementation of systems. Since of the Spanish Technical Building Code requirements of building elements are established, but keep open the way that must be solved, so that must be technically justified. The DIT is a recognized document that can justify the installation of the system in any building project. GRAPAMAR currently has 2 profile systems with DIT, PF1011 system, DIT 548/09 (for porcelanic tiles) and PF1025, DIT 513 system (for stone plates).
All our effort is reflected in this document, which recognizes the quality of manufacturing and technical monitoring that GRAPAMAR has always remained as a priority in development of our systems.
GRAPAMAR has a technical department capable of performing studies and calculations previous to respond the requirements of each project. Due to versatility of our systems is possible to adapt to designer needs. Also we can offer a technical advice during installation of our systems.
ISO 9001 it's a international norma that applies to Quality Management System and focuses in all quality administrative elements which has the company to having an effective system that allows to manage and improve the quality of the products and service. In this way we have a complete tracing of all manufacture processes.
Every six month a certification agent makes an external audit to ensure the accomplishment of ISO 9001 norm. In this way, the clients of the companies registered with this system don't have to worry about the quality control of his suppliers and also, these suppliers just have to do one audit. Suppliers of all around the world must accomplish the same norm.
With this certification Anclajes GRAPAMAR get a constant improvement to provide the best service to our clients.


text:
Rock that relaxed, athleisure look in the sleek and stylish Feel It Pullover. With dryCELL moisture-wicking technology, flatlock seams for reduced friction and a trendy, street-ready fit, you'll look cool and keep comfortable both in and out of the gym.
- dryCELL: PUMA's designation for moisture-wicking properties that help keep you dry and comfortable
- Flatlock Stitching: PUMA's solution for less friction and higher comfort
- Loose, relaxed fit for comfort and ease of movement
- Half zip construction
- Kangaroo pocket for convenient storage solutions
- Breathable French terry fabric that is perfect to take you to and from your workout
- PUMA Cat Logo at left chest
- PUMA taping on hood
Material Information
- Inserts: 49% polyester, 10% elastane, 41% nylon
- Cuff: 39% polyester, 57% cotton, 4% elastane
- Shell: 46% polyester, 54% cotton
Care Instructions
- Do Not Use Fabric Softener
- Use Only Mild Detergent
- Wash Garment Inside Out
- Wash With Similar Colours


text:
An orange crossbody bag to conveniently hold all your belongings in style. It's made of a faux leather material and features an adjustable diagonal striped shoulder strap, two zippered pockets, and a front pouch with magnet closure.
- Fits up to 6" tablet
- 7" width x 10" height x 8" depth
- Man-made materials
- Imported
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including BPA, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov


text:
Health Insurance
Ana Baeza Insurance
Our Location:
Midland, TX 79701
Call Us : 4322125078
Business Hours:
Ana Baeza Insurance is proud to provide affordable health insurance in Midland, TX to those who need it. If you are in need of health insurance coverage but are uncertain of the process to obtain it, give us a call, and we will be happy to help.
The Affordable Care Act allows any person living in the United States the right to health care coverage. Because you never know where life will take you, it is important to have some form of health insurance to ensure you live a happier and healthier life.
Depending on your needs, there are a variety of different health insurances available that can help with current or future health concerns. By contacting us here at Ana Baeza Insurance, we can help walk you through the process to get you the best coverage possible.
With our support you can go through the tools and resources to help manage your health insurance finances. Some people require disease-specific treatment programs that require certain coverage you most definitely want to have when you choose a plan.
We have connections to some of the nation's top health insurance providers, and our team of dedicated professionals is ready to provide you with thorough customer service. That way you can save money and find the proper coverage you need to protect you when illness strikes.
Along with health insurance options, Ana Baeza Insurance can also help you with life insurance and supplemental insurance options to protect your loved ones in the event of an unforeseen demise. Whatever it is you need, we are here to help reduce out-of-pocket costs and keep you covered no matter what.
To get a list of health insurance quotes from Ana Baeza Insurance, please reach out to us right away. We hope you take advantage of our amazing offers and get yourself and your loved ones protected when it comes to affordable health insurance.


text:
I love this necklace – the two tone style is my fave! And what a great price, too – this Sterling Silver "Be Inspirational" Necklace is only $8.99 Shipped (Reg. $40)!
This sterling silver pendant is engraved with an inspirational message which can make a thoughtful present for a birthday or graduation.
- Sterling silver/rose gold plated sterling silver
- Chain length: 18″
- Pendant: 20mm


text:
'Khuda Gawah' is one of the most memorable Amitabh Bachchan movies.
There might not be one corner in the world where Amitabh Bachchan is not known. Big B is loved wherever he goes but this man is a phenomenon and we will tell you why. Khuda Gawah, a film starring Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi was released in 1992.
Then President of Afghanistan- Najibullah Ahmadazi was a huge fan of the star. He was looking into the security and he made sure it was excellent. Big B was provided with half of the country's Airforce for security. Khuda Gawah is one of the most loved Indian movies in Afghanistan.
Amitabh Bachchan mentioned about it in an interview in 2010.
"When we were discussing the script of Khuda Gawah, I said let us go to Afghanistan to shoot. We went to Mazar-e-Sharif to shoot the sequence of traditional Afghan spot of Buzkashi."
"The President provided us excellent security when the shooting was on. Fighter Jet planes were keeping vigil in the sky and Army tanks were at the side of the sets. It just felt like a battle field,"
If this isn't what we call being a humungous superstar, then we don't know what is.
Feature image has been used for representational purposes.


text:
A social enterprise is a business that, rather than just focused on making money, tries to address a social problem.
It has a double bottom line — to be financially sustainable and to have a measurable impact on a societal issues such as poverty, health and the environment.
In this podcast, Rupert Scofield explores the challenges of starting, building and running a social enterprise. Guests include other social entrepreneurs and impact investors who share their insights and experience.
Recent Podcasts
Episode 25: Transforming Last-Mile Distribution in Southern India (48:44)
Jackie Stenson and Prashanth Venkataramana, co-founders of Essmart Global, chat with Rupert Scofield about challenges and opportunities in last-mile distribution to family-owned businesses in southern India. This episode: How did Essmart get started? What is compelling about the business model? How is it improving lives?
Episode 24: INGOs Unlocking Patient Capital for Social Enterprises (43:41)
Stephanie Turpin (FHI 360), Brian Vo (Pact) and Chris Walker (Mercy Corps) chat with Rupert Scofield about the role that INGOs play in unlocking access to patient capital for social enterprises operating in the world's emerging markets. This episode: Is it realistic to always aim to do well while doing good? What hypothesis underpins INGO involvement in impact investing? How can nonprofits collaborate better to leverage their unique strengths for greater impact?
Episode 23: Tech-Enabled Health Care for Africa's Next Billion – Co-Founders, MDaaS Global (39:37)
Oluwasoga Oni, Genevieve Barnard Oni and Joe McCord, co-founders of MDaaS Global, speak with Rupert Scofield about tech-enabled health care for Africa's next billion. MDaaS builds and operates modern, convenient and affordable diagnostic centers in clinically underserved communities to identify health issues earlier and more accurately for effective treatment. This episode: How did the social enterprise get started? In what ways did the business model pivot over time? What's the vision for future growth and scale?
About Rupert
Rupert Scofield is a social entrepreneur and an agricultural economist with over 40 years of experience in developing countries.
He is President, CEO and Co-founder of FINCA International, the founder and majority owner of 20 community-based microfinance institutions and banks across Africa, Eurasia, Latin America, the Middle East and South Asia. Rupert now leads FINCA International on the next leg of its journey: supporting the rise of social enterprises delivering basic service and financial innovation.
An expert on microfinance, social enterprise and impact investing, Rupert is an author, podcast presenter and frequent speaker, offering insights and guidance on market-based solutions to global poverty.


text: Join us for an exciting panel discussion bringing together diplomats, entrepreneurs and leading change-makers! The Greater NY Fulbright Chapter and Stella invite you to join us for a panel discussion centered on leveling the playing field through initiatives in entrepreneurship, technology and policy. Featuring examples from policy implementation in Iceland to the Man Up Campaign, as well as the latest actions being taken by entrepreneurs around the globe, this event aims to spark original ideas and highlight the crucial role of mentorship in these fields. After the debate, you will have the opportunity to network over drinks and light refreshments and enjoy the view from the 44th floor of The New York Times building. Space is limited and will be first come, first served. Speakers: Einar Gunnarsson – Ambassador of Iceland to the UN Flynn Coleman – Founding Fellow, NYU Grunin Center for Law and Social Entrepreneurship Jimmie Briggs – Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Man Up Campaign Catalina Daniels – Angel Investor, CEO of multiple companies, and former partner at McKinsey & Company Please RSVP here. What: Entrepreneurship and Diplomacy Debate When: Tuesday, April 3rd 6:30 pm – 8.30 pm Where: Flanders House, 620 8th Avenue, 44th Floor (between 40th/41st Streets) RSVP: Tickets required. Space is limited.]]>


text:
Tahitian Village POA and BCWCID#2. Environmental doc needed due to Houston Toad. No HOA dues BUT BCWCID#2 collects road tax fee ($204/lot/year) in Lieu of HOA fee. $100 transfer fee and $150 resale certificate fee. Street surface Dirt
Electricity Available, Above Ground
Property Listed by: Re/max Suburbia
The information being provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Based on information from the Austin Board of REALTORS® (alternatively, from ACTRIS) from September 14th, 2020 at 4:00pm CDT. Neither the Board nor ACTRIS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. The Austin Board of REALTORS®, ACTRIS and their affiliates provide the MLS and all content therein "AS IS" and without any warranty, express or implied. Data maintained by the Board or ACTRIS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.
All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.


text:
Ruther Glen, VA Hotels
Choose dates of your desired stay and Get Rates to display currently available nightly rates.*
Comfort Inn Ruther Glen Near Kings Dominion
24058 Welcome Way Drive
Ruther Glen, VA 25546
Rates Recently Found: ($70.00 - $95.00)
3 Star
Behind every great day is a great night at the Comfort Inn Ruther Glen near Kings Dominion hotel in Ruther Glen, VA when corporate travel sends you on the road. We are conveniently located off I-95, n ... Click for More Info
Super 8 By Wyndham Ruther Glen Kings Dominion Area
24011 Ruther Glen Rd
Ruther Glen, VA 22546
Rates Recently Found: ($58.99 - $65.99)
2 Star
Welcome to the Super 8 Kings Dominion/Ruther Glen, VA. We are at Exit #104 off I-95 and very accessible to Rtf 301. You will find we are the closest Super 8 to Kings Dominion, Mattaponi Springs Golf ... Click for More Info
Econo Lodge Ruther Glen
24368 Rogers Clark Blvd
Ruther Glen, VA 22546
Rates Recently Found: ($69.99 - $69.99)
1 Star
The pet-friendly Econo Lodge hotel in Ruther Glen, VA is an easy stop on the road. Our hotel is situated right off Interstate 95 near Lake Caroline, Virginia Sports Complex, Kings Dominion amusement p ... Click for More Info
Days Inn By Wyndham Ruther Glen Kings Dominion Area
24320 Rogers Clark Boulevard
Ruther Glen, VA 22546
Rates Recently Found: ($63.96 - $102.99)
2 Star
Free Hot cooked Breakfast and In-room WIFI are include with every room. The Days Inn is located just 5 miles from Kings Dominion and conveniently located at exit # 104 off Interstate 95 with easy acc ... Click for More Info
Knights Inn - Ruther Glen
23786 Rogers Clark Blvd
Ruther Glen, VA 22546
Rates Recently Found: ($58.46 - $74.95)
0 Star
Book your next adventure at this Knights Inn Ruther Glenn with easy access to Fort A.P. Hill Military Base. Play a round of golf at one of the finest courses in the region, Mattaponi Springs Golf Club ... Click for More Info
Virginia Offbeat Attraction Map
Quirky Tourist Attractions in or near Virginia
While in Virginia, you might enjoy a visit to:
Petersburg, Virginia: Pamplin Historical Park - Virtual Civil War Battle
Videos of soldiers attacking, sub-woofers in the floor recreate the sensation of explosions.
Fairfax, Virginia: National Firearms Museum
Self-described "crown jewel of firearms museums in the world" is loaded for bear, criminals, and storm troopers. Has the 1878 Gatling Gun that Clint Eastwood fired in The Outlaw Josie Wales.
Alexandria, Virginia: George Washington Masonic National Memorial
Lots of odd stuff collected by Masons on display, from a replica Ark of the Covenant to George Washington's Clock of Death.
© RoadsideAmerica.com, Doug Kirby, Ken Smith, Mike Wilkins. Information provided as an unofficial resource on attractions as a convenience to our visitors.
Ruther Glen Hotel ChainsComfort Inn
Days Inn
Econo Lodge
Red Lion
Super 8
Accommodations Near Ruther GlenAshland, VA Hotels
Doswell, VA Hotels
Glen Allen, VA Hotels
King George, VA Hotels
Mechanicsville, VA Hotels
Ruther Glen, VA Hotels
Thornburg, VA Hotels
Most Desired Travel Destinations:New York, NY
Chicago, IL
Orlando, FL
San Antonio, TX
San Diego, CA
Boston, MA
Washington, DC
Atlanta, GA
Houston, TX
Los Angeles, CA
Dallas, TX
Seattle, WA
Memphis, TN
San Francisco, CA
Saint Louis, MO
Nashville, TN
Miami, FL
Kansas City, MO
Philadelphia, PA
Baltimore, MD
Pittsburgh, PA
Anaheim, CA
Austin, TX
New Orleans, LA
Denver, CO
Sacramento, CA
Indianapolis, IN
Hollywood, CA
Tampa, FL
Phoenix, AZ
Charlotte, NC
Louisville, KY
Cincinnati, OH
Detroit, MI
Portland, OR
Jacksonville, FL
Las_Vegas, NV
Milwaukee, WI
Cleveland, OH
Birmingham, AL


text:
The funeral mass for the retired Marquette Catholic bishop who passed away last week is taking place at this hour at St. Peter Cathedral.
Bishop Emeritus Mark Schmitt died last Wednesday in DePere, Wisconsin.
He was 88 years old.
Bishop Schmitt's body lay in state at the cathedral yesterday.
He served as bishop from May 1978 until his retirement in November 1992.
Bishop Schmitt then lived near Big Bay and served St. Mary Mission in Big Bay until moving to Wisconsin in 2005.
The diocese says the establishment of the Lay Ministries Leadership School, the implementation of the Permanent Diaconate Program and the provision of several faith development programs are among the highlights of his tenure as bishop.
Current Marquette Bishop Alexander Sample was one of the 28 priests that Bishop Schmitt ordained over the years.


text:
Need for a fresh shot from this just-gone summer. Quietness and peace, on the seaside.
Welcome Mr. Fall but, please, do quick what you have to do, and then go back. And tell Mr. Winter to be sure to call before he comes.
Born in italy in 1976
more or less at dinner time.
Currenly based in Rome.
Above a self-portrait taken in the toilet of a cinema.


text:
NEW VIDEO - ( Travis Scott - HIGHEST IN THE ROOM )
Travis Scott has premiered the video for " HIGHEST IN THE ROOM ", a song that belong to his next album "Jack Boys". (Travis Scott – HIGHEST IN THE ROOM)
Jacques Webster (born April 30, 1992), better known by his stage name Travis Scott (formerly stylized as Travi$ Scott), is an American rapper and record producer from Houston, Texas.
The musical short of less than three minutes was directed by Scott himself in collaboration with Dave Meyers, showing a series of psychedelic images that travel from the smoke inside the rapper's mouth to a strip club.
Watch the video ( Travis Scott – HIGHEST IN THE ROOM ) and tell us what you think!
Travis Scott - HIGHEST IN THE ROOM
- 1. Lyrics - 8.4/108.4/10
- 2. Music - 8.4/108.4/10
- 3. Video - 8.7/108.7/10
SOCIAL NETWORKS Travis Scott
LYRICS - ( Travis Scott - HIGHEST IN THE ROOM )


text:
Search for help on enabling JavaScript
Event Date
Monday, August 13, 2018
Event Location
Canterbury Golf Club
22000 South Woodland
Cleveland, OH 44122
Michael Stanley, Honorary Chair
Musician and Radio Personality
Larry Morrow, Honorary Chair
Cleveland Radio Legend
Dr. Tom Mihaljevic, Honoree
CEO & President, Cleveland Clinic
5:30 p.m. Cocktails & Mingling
6:30 p.m. Putting Contest
7:00 p.m. Golf Classic Announcement & check presentation from Metro Lexus
For additional information, please contact:
American Cancer Society
Greater Cleveland Golf Classic
10501 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106
Shari Green
Phone: 1-888-227-6446, ext. 1223
Fax: Fax Number
Email: email@example.com
Tournament Schedule:
9:00 am
Tournament Check-In begins
10:45 am
Tournament Welcome & Rules
11:00 am
Shot-gun Start
For more than a 100 years, The American Cancer Society has been leading the fight to end cancer. With your support, we have helped usher in an era where more people survive cancer than ever before. By translating our research findings into action, we've seen a 20% decline in US cancer death rates since the early 1990s. Join us to help finish the fight.
10501 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106
888.227.6446 x1223


text:
Battleborn Births New Details On Incursion Mode
With an impressive roster and already impressive gameplay, 2K and Gearbox are looking to add even more fuel to fire for Battleborn.
Revealing new details today about the game's Incursion Mode, the player is dropped into the middle of the action with juggling both enemy destruction and defensive strategies. In order to succeed, players will need to take advantages of their surroundings, have proper team makeup for providing the right mix of healers and attackers and craft the proper defense structures in order to win the battle. Coming to PS4 on May 3, 2016, Battleborn is looking to deliver a definitive next-gen shooter experience.
Take a look at some Incursion Mode screenshots in the gallery.
Checkout the trailer here.
Read the press release below.
The path to victory is paved with opportunities for strategic players to take advantage of their environment, such as recruiting powerful Thrall mercenaries to fight for your team, or using Shards to activate buildable tactical structures, including Automatic Turrets to attack the enemy, or Healing Stations which regenerate health over time for the team that activates them. Team composition is also critical, and although offensive attackers are important, a good support or healer can be vital to keeping teammates in the fight for the last star in the universe.
Battleborn launches with a roster of 25 playable heroes on PS4, Xbox One and PC on May 3, 2016.


text:
Dangerous information for American Airways' Benefit program members, as the airlines is cutting some widespread routes. The airline operates to 34 locations, with its fleet of 13 planes together with model new B737 MAX 8 aircraft. Enterprise class meals on AC are thankfully extra prepared and served on actual china (excuse the pun), and whereas these business class meals are usually not among the biggest within the region, they're nonetheless good enough to advantage a number of the fare.
The cabin attendants merely said the 2 obtainable choices for dinner (seafood with rice, or rooster with potatoes) as they pushed the cart down the aisle. In my first ever Flight Battle article, I'm going to take a detailed have a look at two of South East Asia's sleeping giants: Vietnam Airways and Philippine Airlines.
Along with booking of flights, these sites cater to automotive rent and airport automobile rental, sightseeing, custom-made cheap vacation packages contemplating your price range, lodging and travel insurance coverage alternate options. Amusement park areas: With great amusement parks discovered the world over, airline tickets to locations comparable to Florida, California, Europe and extra can have you on a curler coaster very quickly.
On the flagship B777 plane, Philippine Airlines' Fiesta Class seats have a width of 18.5″ and leg room of 33″, which makes it barely (and only barely) more comfy than Vietnam Airlines, particularly when you a bigger-sized person. Air China has an extremely diversified fleet of aircraft, primarily utilizing Airbus and Boeing metal.
Air China just isn't recognized for the modernity of its fleet, and it may do with simplifying some of its aircraft fashions, starting by phasing out the older frames. Air China flies all around the world, including to Sao Paulo in Brazil, although it focuses most on European and North American flights.
Along with a flight booking issued by one of the participating carriers, you will need to point out a paid ticket for the AREX express rail service from Seoul Station to ICN. 2. The entire airline fleet consists of enormous physique vessels which permit all of the users to have adequate personal space while flying out to their destinations.


text:
Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory with an awful presentation and interview
It is a mistake to underestimate the importance of the tender interview and oral presentation.
In my own experience as a procurement consultant running the interview process, I have learnt one thing and that is to expect a huge gap in the performance of bidders at the interview.
You just cannot predict the quality of a presentation or how well a bid team will handle a question and answer session.
I have had high expectations for some companies based on the quality of their written submissions but have been really disappointed at how badly they have come across at the interview.
I know nerves can play a part but as an experienced interviewer I can usually put the bid team at ease and give them every chance to show their best if they are well enough prepared, but they still bomb out!
These are all examples that I have seen of the things that bidders just shouldn't do, such as:
1. Turning up at the wrong office
2. Arriving late
3. Bringing people who don't speak
4. Trying to take over the chair of the interview
5. Waffling and Bulls**ting
6. Leaving key people behind
7. Bringing the wrong people
8. Dressing inappropriately
9. Disregarding instructions
10. Over-running their time slot
11. Death by power-point
At times, my colleagues on evaluation panels and I have been delighted and surprised at how well some companies have performed at the interview and you are left with a strong feeling that you really want to work with these people, not just because you like them but also because you are impressed with their capabilities and how well they understand the customer's needs.
There are things that bidders should do to give themselves the best possible chance of success. This is an area that I advise and coach bidders on but is a huge subject in its own right and needs to be the subject of another blog. However, in general it is essential that you prepare properly, practice, be clear on the messages you want to put across and create a favourable first impression. If you do these things right then you should be OK. Good luck!


text:
Looking for the perfect sauce for your juicy steaks, moist and succulent chicken or tender pork that you purchased from Farm & Table? Parion BBQ Sauce! Comes in 4 flavours to tantalize your taste buds! Pick some up today and make your next meal a flavour filled hit with the family!
Parion BBQ SauceTanya Vander Vecht


text:
MAXXI Auditorium – entrance 5 euros – ticket to 4 events 15 euro
Free to myMAXXI card holders, with possibility to book for 10 people on a first come first served basis, by writing to firstname.lastname@example.com until the day before the event
After tackling the subjects of interior decor products and domestic living in the first two editions, we are back with Design Stories to discuss several types of applications with experts in the field. Design –and Italian design especially- is characterised by the wide breadth of design areas and for its cross-disciplinarity, spanning from what we wear and what we eat to how we get information and communicate.
Four events to tell how design is present in our daily lives, in any product that requires a reflection on the conditions and purpose of an action.
At our fourth event, we will meet Paolo Ferrarini, researcher, professor and editor.
Fashion and product design are areas of the project that coexist in harmony and opposition at the same time. Starting from the Industrial Revolution, they had similar and often overlapping stories as well as fluctuating fortune of critics. Despite some obvious differences, what they have in common is the pivotal role of the body around which experiments and revolutions, technical and material innovations, safeguarding of tradition and pioneering visions, mass productions and niche phenomena take place.
Introduced by
Domitilla Dardi MAXXI Architecture design curator
Paolo Ferrarini researcher, professor at the University of Bologna
With the support of ADI Lazio


text:
Product Description
Super Saiyan Vegeta Dragon Ball Dragon Stars - 17cm
Calling all fans, players and collectors of the Dragon Ball super saga: Dragon Stars are made for you! These 17cm figures are highly detailed can take countless positions thanks to over 16 points of articulation. Each figure comes in Premium collector packaging. Collect them all! (Each sold separately)


text:
In a world where violence seems to be growing; terrorism threatens our freedoms; and public safety comes into question, sports should act as a welcomed and needed respite. The old adage rings true that when the world is unkind, sports provides us with a break from reality. NFL Sunday after 9-11, the World Series in 1989 in the Bay
Area after the earthquake, even as far back as the 1936 Olympic Games where Jesse Owens gave hope and pride to a people and a country when Europe was teetering on the brink of combustion.
We have always looked to sports to take us away from our problems—the world's problems – because, and this may be hard for some to understand, sports isn't real life. What happens on the court or the field is a game. It should be fun – for the players and athletes who are competing as well as for all us fans who cheer and pay attention.
A prime example of how sports does not behave like real life came this past weekend in the Chicago White Sox clubhouse.
Before we get on with the details of the whacky, unbelievable events from Saturday in Chicago, let me first ask how many of you have at one point or another disliked or disagreed with a boss's expectation, mandate, or directive? Probably all of us fit in this boat. White Sox All-Star pitcher Chris Sale certainly fits in. The lefty hurler disapproved of management's decision to put the players in 1976 throwback uniforms for Saturday night's game at home against the Detroit Tigers. Fine. Probably not the only person unhappy or irritated about it – the unis are not the same breathable material they're used to, they're baggy, and I'm sure not all that comfortable. However, all teams in all sports do it – it's called marketing and making money – and many players in all sports probably don't particularly care for it. That's an understatement when it comes to describing how Sale felt about it.
The Sox ace, reportedly, expressed his desire to not wear the jersey, and when the organization dismissed his opinion, Sale proceeded to shred his jersey as well as teammates' jerseys with a knife. Yeah. That sounds like normal behavior. When's the last time you took a machete to your work attire because you didn't like it or it was uncomfortable? Can't say I've ever heard of a guy on Wall Street ripping up his three-piece suit that the CEO wants him to wear because he's uncomfortable. Not sure the last time I witnessed a UPS or FedEx driver pull out a Swiss Army knife on his uniform because he didn't care for it.
The result: Sale was suspended 5 games (misses 1 start).
I don't care about the suspension for the act – the team's official statement was Sale was suspended and sent home for "destroying team equipment". How about we just all be honest and suspend the guy or dock his pay or make him take classes for acting like a spoiled brat, like a child who didn't get his way. You make millions of dollars (and I'm not arguing that he should abandon his principles or ethics or morals for the money) and you can't throw on a jersey for a couple hours to go and do your job? And if you absolutely cannot, you couldn't at least find another way of expressing yourself besides taking a shank to a bunch of shirts?
Of course, Sale's agent immediately spun it in a positive way for his client – how Chris cares only about winning and no one wants to win more than Chris and no one's a better teammate than Chris. (No mention of how no one is more immature than Chris or how no one has a shorter fuse than Chris.) Sale, himself, couldn't even muster up one of those "celebrity apologies" we've all grown so accustomed to hearing. Basically, "if I offended anyone, I'm sorry". No, his was more like, "I don't regret standing up for my beliefs and I don't regret putting winning first". So what exactly are you apologizing for?
How is this real life? Where in the world does this story occur – aside from the sports world or Hollywood (which also is not real life)?
I love sports, pay attention to sports, play sports when I can and have played them since I was a kid. I will encourage my son to play sports. There are tremendous life lessons that can be learned from sports. But let's not confuse sports for real life. When the buzzer sounds and the whistle blows, it's back to reality. There's absolutely nothing wrong with losing yourself in a game (playing or watching), but know that when it's over real life is still there. Games are called games for a reason.
Feedback is always welcome through the website in the comments box or on my Twitter feed — @brian22goodwin.


text:
|Full Team Name
|St Tropez Pirates
|Team Riders
Edwina Tops-Alexander
Pieter Devos
Athina Onassis
Dani G. Waldman
Olivier Robert
Laura Klaphake | U25
The St Tropez Pirates sail into the fourth season of the GCL with an intimidating line up at their helm. Featuring top Australian rider and two time LGCT Champion Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS), top Greek athlete Athina Onassis (GRE), Pieter Devos (BEL), Olivier Robert (FRA), Dani G. Waldman (ISR) and U25 star Laura Klaphake (GER). Keep an eye out for this combination, as the St Tropez Pirates set sail for the Championship title and a place in the finals of the GC Playoffs.


text:
Reception 2020-2021
Welcome to Reception's class page for 2020-2021!
The Class Teacher is Mrs Williams and the Teaching Assistant is Mrs Booth.
Reception 2019 - 2020
The Reception Class Teacher is Mrs Moore and the Teaching Assistant is Mrs Dunne.
"Nothing lights up a child's brain like play."
Dr Stuart Brown
Reception 2018-2019
The Reception Class Teacher is Mrs Williams and the Teaching Assistant is Mrs Dunne.
Reception 2017-2018
The Reception class teacher is Mrs Williams and the Teaching Assistant is Mrs Anderson.
During the Autumn term, we have been finding out about Ourselves, Autumn and Harvest.
We have started our phonics using Read Write Inc.
Our Mathematics has focused mostly on number.
Reception parents and children also enjoyed a welcome mass in church- photographs are in the RE folder underneath.
Reception 2016-2017
During Spring term, we found out about Winter. We discussed what happens during winter, what the weather is like and what clothes we wear. We read 'Jack Frost' and'Stickman'. We used the story sacks for each story to retell the stories.
In our RE, we have found out about 'Celebrations'. We had a 'Welcome back to school' party for the new year. We wrote invitations, made decorations and party hats. We planned what we would do before, during and after the party. Look in the RE page to see the photographs!
We also made lanterns for Chinese New Year and diva pots for Diwali.
During Autumn 2, in RE we found out about Baptism and Advent.
We read the story of 'We're going on a Bear Hunt' . We changed our reading area into a bear cave- complete with a huge bear for the children to read stories to- if they were not too scared!
During Autumn 1 term, our topics were Ourselves and Autumn.
Through our topic of 'Ourselves', we talked about our names, what makes us special, our families and celebrating our differences.
As the weather became more Autumnal, we read the story 'Leaf Man' and used natural objects to create our own pictures.
Reception parents enjoyed coming into school to work with their child on Maths activities.
Activities focused on what Reception children need to know, and, be able to show confidence in by the end of Reception to achieve the Early Learning Goals.
Both parents and children had lots of fun!


text:
This Pecan Pie Fudge is an easy microwave fudge recipe that tastes just like pecan pie! It's one of the best easy fudge recipes and perfect for holiday platters and gift-giving or just enjoying at any point during the year.
Fudge has always been an indulgent dessert in my mind. Rich and creamy and decadent, I've always thought that delicious fudge was difficult to make.
It turns out, that's not true. Did you know you can make microwave fudge? As in, make an entire batch of fudge in the microwave with just a few ingredients? You can! I didn't believe it at first but easy fudge recipes do exist and they often only require a few ingredients.
That revelation led to a lot of experimenting on my part, which brings us to this Pecan Pie Fudge, a delicious fudge with white chocolate.
This Pecan Pie Fudge is one of my new favorite easy fudge recipes. It's not a 100% microwave fudge because it does include a pie crust that needs to be baked but you can prepare the rest of the ingredients in the microwave while the pie crust is baking.
Microwave fudge is typically made with chocolate chips and evaporated milk. For this Pecan Pie Fudge, I added a few extra ingredients to capture the true pecan pie flavor, most notably brown sugar, vanilla extract, and maple extract.
I opted to make this a fudge with white chocolate instead of using regular chocolate chips because there's no chocolate in traditional pecan pie and I didn't want the chocolate to overpower the other flavors. Fudge with white chocolate just works with this Pecan Pie Fudge.
One important thing to note while making this recipe is that you should prepare all ingredients with the pie crust is cooking and pour the fudge mixture over the pie crust while both are still hot. Waiting until the pie crust cools may result in the fudge not completely sticking to the crust.
If you love pecan pie but are looking for something less time-consuming to make, Pecan Pie Fudge is a great option. All of your favorite pecan pie flavor in an easy fudge recipe.
And, if you're one of those people who love to give edible gifts, this Pecan Pie Fudge is a great gift. It's simple to make but no one will ever guess you didn't spend hours meticulously adding in each ingredient. Plus, it's a nice change from traditional chocolate and peanut butter fudge! I love to put it in nice packaging and give to neighbors and other acquaintances.
Whether it's for yourself, a party or a gift, the Pecan Pie Fudge is one easy fudge recipe you'll want to try!
Pecan Pie fudge
This Pecan Pie Fudge is an easy microwave fudge recipe that tastes just like pecan pie! It's one of the best easy fudge recipes and perfect for holiday platters and gift-giving or just enjoying at any point during the year.
- 1 pre-made pie crust
- 1 1/2 C pecan chips
- 1/4 C unsalted sweet cream butter
- 1 can (14oz) evaporated milk mine was low-fat
- 3 C white chocolate chips
- 1/2 C brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp maple extract
- Preheat oven to 400F. Line an 8x8 with parchment paper and spray with pan baking spray
- Unroll pie crust and cut an 8x8 square and place in pan and poke with a fork several times.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until the crust is golden around the edges.
- Using a large mixing bowl add butter, evaporated milk, and white chocolate chips and melt in the microwave in increments of 30-45 seconds until melted
- Once melted, mix in the brown sugar, vanilla, and maple extract.
- Pour fudge onto the top of the crust and cover the top with the pecan chips
- Allow to firm up overnight before enjoying!


text:
I want you to imagine that you're back in college and halfway through the current semester. In three months there's a final exam that every student is required to take. Your professor warned you early on that the final would be difficult, and recommended that you start studying early. To assist you in the process, your professor promised additional office hours, easy-to-understand study guides, and a large pool of graduate student instructors familiar with the information.
Unfortunately, that large pool of graduate student instructors didn't pan out as planned, so you were left to your own devices. To make sure you're prepared for the exam, you attend all the study sessions, ask all the right questions, and even do some additional research.
After all of your preparation, today is the day you've been waiting for. You walk into the classroom to take the exam, but once the professor hands out the test you notice something is different. Even though you've done everything in your power to prepare for the exam, all of the questions are in Spanish. Confused, you ask your professor if there's mistake.
Instead of directly answering your question, she assures you that an English version of the exam will be available soon, and encourages you to try and take the Spanish version anyway. She offers her help with translating the exam, but with 150 students, you won't have her undivided attention. Knowing this, you decide it's not worth the effort, and quietly pack up your belongings and leave. Unsure of what the consequences of your actions will be, you patiently wait.
Seem bizarre? Well, this is precisely what's happening in California's state health exchange, Covered California.
As of December 31, 2013, nearly 2.2 million people signed up for health insurance through either federal or state exchanges. Californians represent 22 percent of enrollees, with approximately 500,000 people enrolling in health care coverage under Covered California. While this is promising news, limited-English proficiency communities, most notably Spanish-speaking communities, aren't enrolling. Latinos are the largest uninsured ethnic group in California, and are poised to surpass whites as the most populous racial/ethnic group in the state in March, so their low enrollment numbers are a sign that something isn't right.
Part of the problem may be which age groups are actually signing up for health insurance. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, only 25 percent of enrollees in California were between the ages of 18 and 34 – well below the federal government's 40 percent target. That's actually not bad, as younger people were expected to be slow to sign up, but it does mean there's some catching up to do.
In California, the average age for Latinos is 27, compared to an average of 44 for whites. Since they're younger, more effective outreach to Latinos is an essential component of ensuring that the age and ethnic diversity of consumers enrolling in plans reflect larger state trends.
But if Covered California wants enrollment figures to mirror the state's ethnic diversity, officials need to place a greater emphasis on making enrollment information available in multiple languages. Spanish-speakers, for example, represent almost 30 percent of the state's population but only 5 percent of those who've signed up for health coverage. While Covered California has a Spanish website consumers can access, officials have been encouraging consumers to sign up by phone to avoid website crashes. But calls to Covered California's Spanish hotline have waiting times of approximately 30 minutes, making it difficult for Spanish-speaking families and working people to enroll in health care coverage in a timely manner.
To make matters worse, only 1,800 certified enrollment counselors in the state are fluent in Spanish. Certified enrollment counselors were originally supposed to serve as important resources for uninsured and underserved communities, but the results have been mixed. Covered California has been slow to approve certified enrollment counselors, with only 3,000 ready to enroll consumers in health care coverage as of January 3, 2014. This lack of engagement only makes it harder for Californians with limited-English proficiency to get the coverage they desperately need.
But not all hope is lost. Covered California officials recognize the lack of Latino engagement, and are taking steps to make it easier for Spanish-speakers to enroll. Earlier this month, Covered California released a Spanish language enrollment form for those who wish to apply via mail. Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese language applications are also available.
Covered California officials are also committed to increasing the number of certified enrollment counselors, with many nonprofit and local agencies committing to work with the agency to increase community outreach efforts.
To increase consumer diversity, Covered California is also shifting its advertising focus. Instead of explaining why health care coverage is important, television and internet ads are now focused on telling consumers how to enroll in insurance plans. The new ads began airing this month, and are available in multiple languages. The federal government has also changed its advertising approach, enlisting celebrities and popular sports figures to encourage young Americans to buy health insurance.
The open enrollment period to shop for health insurance lasts until the end of March, which means that Covered California has a little more than two months to increase its outreach efforts to non-English proficient communities. The agency has already reached its enrollment goal for the year, so hopefully going forward more time will be dedicated to increasing enrollment in underrepresented communities.
Although slow in its efforts to engage non-English proficient communities, it appears that Covered California is learning from its past mistakes. Let's hope that when the open enrollment period ends in March, consumers in California's health exchange represent all of the state's communities, and not just one monolithic group.


text:
5-Minute Morning Routine: Beauty Products For The Daily
What products do you use on the daily? When getting ready for work (or school or the like), we're all about saving time while still giving our face a quick pick-me-up. Of most importance is that we don't actually look made up and, as most beauty aficionados are aware, the no-makeup-makeup look can actually prove more timely. But not this one. We've rounded up the daily essentials you'll need to create a gorgeously natural 5-minute morning makeup routine. It's all you, just a bit touched up!
Start with a tinted moisturizer or BB cream. Most are multitasking, meaning you can get your SPF in with a few essential anti-aging ingredients and light to medium coverage. A healthy complexion is key every.single.day… and so is our sun protection!
TRY: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 ($44), comes in 15 oil-free shades and 15 sheer and dewy shades, too, or Dr. Jart+ Illuminating BB Brush Broad Spectrum SPF 30 ($39) for a convenient brush-on BB application.
Filling in brows really does give your face a polished look — and you only need one – two – products at the most. This step shouldn't take more than 30 seconds… and it'll make all the difference.
TRY: Nudestix Eyebrow Stylus Pencil & Gel ($24) for a genius pencil-and-gel combo, or Ardell Brow Building Fiber, which is a tinted brow gel that fills in sparse areas with a hint of smudge-proof hue ($8) (genius, too!).
Mascara can be messy and, for some, it takes a few minutes to apply (cough, cough over here). Instead, opt for a multipurpose balm to give eyelashes a natural sheen. A balm can be added to brow and cheek bones as well to highlight the area, while also moisturizing. And, of course, a balm gives great natural gloss to the pout too. (Psst: Leaving your lashes mascara-free will actually make you look younger, try it!)
TRY: Lanolin Lano 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbly ($19), the OG of all-natural everything balms, or the fan-favorite Rosebud Perfume Co. Rosebud Salve ($6), which applies with a very sheer petal pink finish.
A light flush awakens tired, lackluster skin. A cream blush in a universally flattering pinkish shade will give your complexion a healthy glow. Use this same creamy formula on lips to pull the look together and offer a pop of color to the pout.
TRY: Tata Harper Volumizing Lip & Cheek Tint in Very Sweet ($36), a sheer, buildable and all-natural powder rose pink, or Nars The Multiple ($39) in the coveted Orgasm, a peachy-pink shimmer or Riviera, a sheer pink.
Finish it all off with a corrector stick. Yes, this can cover imperfections like pimples or sun spots. It'll also neutralize under-eye dark circles. But you can actually lightly – and effortlessly – open up your entire face by adding dabs of a corrector stick to bridge of nose, center of chin and forehead, and directly below cheekbones. Consider this a contour hack. Know your colors: pink cancels out blue and purple on fair skin; yellow cancels it out on olive and deep skin. To create a highlighting formula with your corrector, add a dab of multipurpose balm before applying to areas like under-eyes and brow bone. Voila! TIP: choose a hue that is one shade lighter than your actual skin tone.
TRY: Cle de Peau Concealer ($70), the coveted concealer comes in six shades; Smashbox Color Correcting Stick in Look Less Tired ($23), a light peach for fair skin tones; Cover FX Correct Click Color Corrector in Yellow ($18) for medium skin tones.
What are your morning makeup routine quick tips? Let us know in the comment section below.
Shop The Story:


text:
On 24-26 February, a delegation from the Venice Commission visited the Republic of Moldova. The delegation's visit was part of a task to support Moldova's ongoing constitutional reform process, initiated by the governing Moldovan coalition, Alliance for European Integration
As the name of the Republic of Moldova's new governing coalition implies, the Alliance for European Integration has as its main goal the improvement of Moldovan-European Union relations
In 2009, the economic crisis was aggravated by the difficult political situation in the country. The ruling Alliance for European Integration had to present an austere budget, characterised by tax raises and cuts in subsidies
Tomorrow, the Moldovan Parliament will vote for a new president. The governing coalition, The Alliance for European Integration, needs the support of at least some communist MPs in order to finally elect a new president and continue on the path of political reform
The Republic of Moldova on 29 July will hold new parliamentary elections. Despite the opposition leaders' demand not to hold elections in the summer but to postpone them until the autumn, the communist authorities decided to organise the elections as soon as possible
The recently elected parliament failed twice to elect a president. The situation throws the Republic of Moldova into new parliamentary elections, as the parliament is constitutionally obliged to dissolve after the second failure to elect a president
Following the post-electoral violence in Moldova, Romanian authorities approved an urgent act which simplifies the procedures to obtain Romanian citizenship. Despite the tough reactions of Chişinău's authorities, thousands of Moldovans rushed to apply for a Romanian passport
After the elections' violent ending, that saw the symbols of the official power devastated and a violent repression of young protesters, political opponents, and independent media, an equally tense aftermath threatens to polarise Moldovan society


text:
Do not miss The Barcelona Feeling on Instagram! Get inspired for your next trip: Gaudí, Modernism, Nature, Wine Tasting or History – we have it all.
Private Guided Tours off the beaten path. Available in German, English and Dutch. See Barcelona through the eyes of a local!
Michael is our passionate photographer. Thus all the photos we are posting of our walking tours or Barcelona impressions like Park Guëll, Sagrada Familia, Casa Battló, Las Ramblas have been shot with his skilled eye.


text:
Exodus: Gods and Kings
Christian Movie Review
[Note: after you read my review for "Exodus" below, if you're a fan of C.S. Lewis, please check out my new blog Stabs of Joy or my podcast Aslan's Paw. Both seek to crack open the surprising treasures of Christian belief — the things that Western society has forgotten, ignored, or never encountered — with the help of logic, literature, film, music, and one very unsafe Lion.]
In the Bible, when Moses encounters God for the first time, Moses removes his sandals before he dares tread on the ground where God has appeared. The Presence of God is depicted as something holy, worthy of the utmost respect, frightening, but also sublime. Moses senses the holiness and dares not make a wrong move; he removes his sandals.
In Ridley Scott's film, when the script isn't portraying God as quasi-villainous or throwing little darts of critical questions and subtext at Heaven, it has Moses lecturing God and talking down to Him — literally. God, portrayed as a boy, looks small, sneering, and conniving in Moses' oft-critical presence. The boy has a British accent, he comes off as calloused, and he's often shouting orders at Moses. The Great I Am sounds more like one of those angry British youths who sang in that Pink Floyd song, "Another Brick In The Wall." I was expecting God to break out in song at any moment with his thick English accent: "We don't need no education…"
No one is taking off any sandals for God in this version of the Exodus, in other words.
Now, I have a confession to make. In July, I speculated with sunny optimism how, despite his atheistic (now agnostic) beliefs, Ridley Scott would make a film that would capture the hearts of people of faith. I was wrong, unfortunately, and this saddens me. I'm such a huge fan of Scott's directing style and Bale's acting that when I heard the two were collaborating on the Exodus story, I jumped for joy.
Not so much now. Not even close.
This is a very in-depth article about the film, but before I dive into everything, let's cover any parental guidance issues.
And also, since people have been asking, here are the consummation vows (can't find the wedding vows anywhere) that Moses and Zipporah recite in the film:
What makes you happy? You do. Whats the most important thing in your life? You are. Where would you rather be? No where. When will you leave me? Never. Proceed!
Parental Guidance Issues at a Glance…
Sexual Content/Nudity: A newly married couple kiss in their private quarters. Nothing else happens (there's a fade out before the couple goes any further). An Egyptian woman wears revealing clothing.
Violence/Gore: The film was (I'm fairly certain) downgraded from R to PG-13. I went in thinking it was R because I'm pretty sure that's how it was first listed on IMDB months ago, and I was expecting some graphic violence like Ridley Scott has done in his previous films. But all of the action scenes cut away from gory wounds or only showed the general idea of how a soldier died without splattering the screen with detailed shots. The most violent scene was when crocodiles devour a boat of fishermen, and we see the crocs chomping down on their legs and pulling them in. All of the plagues are fairly gross (toads, flies, locust, etc.). We also see families — men, women, and children — getting hanged at the gallows, and their bodies flail and jerk (though from a distance). None of the violence is in detail, but it's intense enough to warrant a PG-13.
Language: None.
Alcohol/Drug/Smoking Content: None, though I suppose the Pharaoh drinks wine in a few scenes.
Frightening/Intense/Emotionally Painful Content: The scene of the death angel drawing the life out of children — all the first born of Egypt — might be too emotionally intense for some people. It's portrayed almost like Sudden Infant Death syndrome, so any parents sensitive to that will be strongly affected — though the film clearly depicts a supernatural force behind it. Also, the hanging of Hebrew families together — the husband, wife, and child side-by-side — was emotionally intense and very sad to watch.
(Review continues below)
Please Support Our Affiliates!
"The film feels bitter, resentful, gloomy, and sometimes critical of God. There's no tenderness and rapturous joy in God's relationship with, well, anybody. God's a spiteful little boy. He's not the Good Shepherd who leads the Hebrews by the hand as we see in the Biblical account, where He personally escorts them through the desert with his protective pillar of cloud by day and His comforting pillar of fire by night. In this film we meet a very different God."
Entertainment Value and Film Craft
Sure, the actors are all superb, the special effects are amazing, and the way the film brings ancient Egypt to life
on the big screen is breathtaking. But the film was oddly edited. It felt mashed up. I then find out that the film was originally four hours long! Well, no wonder. The studio made Scott bludgeon the thing to death to shrink it down to two-and-a-half hours. A reader named Dara made this comment on my previous Exodus article with some interesting points about the editing (and with an awesome suggestion for an alternative title):
I think they should change the name to Edit Us: Gods and Kings. Some of the scenes are not edited together well. I think they wanted to cram everything into two and a half hours, so they put a patchwork of scenes together, in parts of the film. In some instances it worked and others it didn't. The film did suffer from a lack of character development, in places. I am hoping they put the the whole 4 hours on DVD.
Dara also wrote a great review of the film in an additional comment that covered more of the entertainment craft end of things.
God On Trial: A Look at the Film's Portrait of God (Contains Major Spoilers)
This film took extensive license with the Biblical text — much more so than I had expected. Creative license doesn't bother me as much as it bothers others. I understand why art sometimes colors outside the lines, and sometimes it can lead to a meaningful contemplation of the subject material. But in Biblical material, it's a problem for me when the God of the Bible is misrepresented. This film, at subtle moments that come and go quickly on-screen, criticizes the God of the Bible by the way it depicts Moses' interactions with God. I'm not opposed to asking hard theological questions and exploring those with intellectual honesty, but in this case the film doesn't give God a fair hearing, and it subverts the Biblical account to achieve certain dramatic effects. It feels, in a subtle way, more like a quiet character assassination. For example, Moses accuses God of being calloused and uncaring because he had to leave his family behind to go to Egypt. In the Bible, nothing of the sort ever happens: Moses brought his family with him to Egypt. Moses never left his family behind. In the film, Moses lectures God and says something along the lines of, "The Hebrews are suffering as much as the Egyptians from your plagues. How is it a punishment for the Egyptians if both are suffering?" But in the Bible, God supernaturally directed the impact of the plagues away from the land of Goshen, where all of the Hebrew slaves were kept, and He sheltered the Hebrews. Even when He cast the whole land into darkness, it states "but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings" (Ex 10:23, NKJV). In the film, Pharaoh criticizes God in front of Moses (who, tellingly, says nothing to defend God), and says, "What kind of fanatic serves a God who kills children" — referring to God's killing of all of Egypt's first born. Although that does certainly happen in the Biblical account, God declares it a just retribution for what the Egyptians did to the Hebrews decades earlier when the Pharaoh ordered all male Hebrew babies be drowned in the Nile.
Biblical Inaccuracies (Contains Major Spoilers)
Here's a breakdown of some of those most notable departures from the Biblical account (10 points in all): 1. The Bible's version: Nothing about Moses' upbringing is mentioned, other than him being adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. There is no mention of him having any brotherly bond with any of the other members of Pharaoh's family. Nor does it mention Moses having any special position in the government. For all we know, the royal family disliked him or persecuted him because he was not blood related. None of the Pharaohs are named. The film's version: Moses grows up as a close friend of his half-brother Ramses who is next in line to Pharaoh. Moses also has an affectionate bond with the Pharaoh. Moses has a high military ranking, and he even advises the Pharaoh. In true "Gladiator" style, the Pharaoh wishes that Moses would be the next Pharaoh and not his son Ramses. This obvious preference makes Ramses insecure. 2. When Moses sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave, Moses kills the Egyptian. The Pharaoh finds out and tries to kill Moses immediately. The film's version: Moses is mistaken for a Hebrew slave by an Egyptian guard. The guard attacks Moses, and Moses angrily kills the guard in response. When Ramses finds out, he tries to defend Moses and do what he can to keep Moses in Egypt. But then Ramses finds out that Moses is a Hebrew. Moses is banished, though Ramses doesn't try to kill him (at least at that point in the story) because of the bond they share. 3. Moses flees into the desert, meets Zipporah after saving her from bullying shepherds, marries her, has sons, and becomes a shepherd himself. The film's version: They actually portray this exactly as the Bible describes — though he only has one son in the film. 4. After living as a shepherd for 40 years, Moses encounters God at the burning bush and removes his sandals in great reverence. God tells Moses to go to Egypt and enter Pharaoh's court to speak with him and demand he let the Hebrews go free. God turns Moses' staff into a snake and turns his hand leprous (temporarily) to prove to Moses that He has the power to help Moses succeed. The film's version: Moses never physically encounters God. He has a fever dream after getting injured in a rock slide. In the hallucinatory vision, he sees a burning bush, and then speaks with God who appears in the form of a boy. God never shows Moses any signs such as the changing of the staff to a snake. He simply tells Moses that He needs "a general" to go and free the Hebrews. 5. After the burning bush encounter, Moses takes his wife and sons and travels to Egypt to obey God's directions. The film's version: Moses never takes his family with him, and this causes him great pain. He thinks he has to go alone, and he later accuses God of being calloused and cruel because of this, and God says in his annoyed British boy accent, "I never told you to leave your family behind." Moses looks at God with contempt, as if thinking, "Well, why didn't you SAY something when you saw me leaving without my family!" 6. Moses arrives in Egypt with his family and meets with the Hebrews and convinces them that God has sent him. Moses convinces them by showing them the miraculous sign of his staff turning into a snake and the leprous hand. The Hebrew people are amazed, and they believe Moses that God really did send him. The film's version: Moses goes to Egypt alone, meets secretly with the Hebrew elders, brings them weapons, starts training them in war, and begins to plan a military strategy. It's like Braveheart or Ben Hur. He then sneaks into Pharaoh's palace, threatens Ramses with a sword to let the Hebrews go. Ramses refuses. 7. After meeting with Hebrew elders, Moses and his brother Aaron go to Pharaoh's palace openly. It is not the same Pharaoh as before. While Moses spent 40 years as a shepherd, all of the people in power who knew Moses personally had died. No one recognizes Moses when he returns. Moses never organizes any kind of Hebrew army nor does he do anything other than speak to Pharaoh and show the Pharaoh miraculous signs. The plagues begin almost right away when Moses arrives in Egypt, and in between each plague Moses and Aaron go and explain to Pharaoh what is happening and give him a chance to repent before the next plague comes. The film's v
ersion: Ramses is ruling Egypt when Moses arrives, and he is beginning to execute Hebrew slaves. Moses, in response, mobilizes the army of slaves he has trained and even does acts of "terrorism" by setting on fire various civilian structures in Egypt. All of this takes up much of the film's first half. God shows up and lectures Moses for not achieving results "fast enough," and then that's when God decides to start sending the plagues. They come in rapid succession, and Ridley Scott uses natural explanations to show that each plague (except for the last couple plagues) could have happened without any supernatural cause. Moses only goes to speak with Pharaoh once more, just before the final plague of the death angel. 8. After the plagues, when the Hebrews finally leave Egypt, God travels with them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to lead them and protect them so that they don't get lost or hurt. The Hebrews never get lost, and this is portrayed as if God is shepherding His people with great care and attention and providing a personal escort. The film's version: There is no pillar of cloud by day or fire by night that leads the Hebrews. It's just Moses walking in front of them deciding where to go. At one point, Moses gets lost in the mountains as he leads his people out of Egypt, and he basically leads them onto rocky crags on accident. He kneels and begs God to appear and tell him where to go, but God ignores Moses. Moses is left to deal with it alone, and he eventually leads them down the other side of the mountain to the Red Sea. 9. God parts the Red Sea using a supernatural manipulation of wind after He commands Moses to stretch his staff over the sea, and He essentially cuts a path through it. The text says that the Hebrews walked through the middle of the Red Sea, with walls of water on either side of them. The film Prince of Egypt depicted this with astonishing beauty and artfulness — particularly when the Hebrews walking by the walls of water see marine life still swimming in the water as if they were walking by a giant aquarium. By comparison, the Red Sea parting in Exodus is lifeless and grim — though the "wave" that finally comes is impressive. The film's version: A tsunami in the Red Sea — apparently caused by a meteor or an earthquake of some kind — causes the water to recede just long enough for the Hebrews to walk across the Red Sea. There are no walls of water on either side — just open, wet ground. 10. After the Red Sea miracle, Israel camps at the base of a mountain as Moses ascends the mountain. God supernaturally writes the Law using "the finger of God" onto stone tablets. The film's version. Moses sits in a cave and chisels the Laws into the tablets himself. God — i.e. the little English boy who seems more like a schizophrenic delusion in Moses' mind — has apparently told Moses what to write on the tablets, but Moses creates the tablets himself. The film ends by fast-forwarding to when Moses is an old man. This scene exposes some serious lack of research on the filmmakers' part. The film shows the Hebrews hauling the Ark of the Covenant across the desert in a wagon on wheels. By this time, the Hebrews had built their elaborate tabernacle system according to God's detailed instructions, and the Ark was always carried on poles that rested on the shoulders of consecrated priests. It was forbidden for them to carry the Ark in any other way — certainly not in the back of a wagon. This wasn't some small, easily overlooked detail either. It becomes a central issue in the Old Testament, and it carries some significant symbolism that I won't get into in this review.
10 Things I Liked About the Movie
1. The relationship between Moses and his wife Zipporah is genuinely moving and perhaps the most affecting relationship in the film. Their wedding vows were tear-inducing, as were the consummation vows, which were the following words:
What makes you happy? You do. Whats the most important thing in your life? You are. Where would you rather be? No where. When will you leave me? Never. Proceed!
2. The film does, in a few scenes, capture the stormy relationship that Moses had with God at times, which was certainly in the Biblical text — though Moses in the Bible was far more respectful and fearful of God. 3. Ben Kingsley is wonderful in this movie as Nun. He only has a few scenes, but in every one he lifts the entire atmosphere of the film to something more affecting and real. 4. The sets and details given to ancient Egypt are breathtaking to behold. It really gives the mind a larger-than-life, vivid experience of what the ancient world — from a visual standpoint — was like. 5. Ridley Scott provides the imagination with stunning visuals of what these Biblical plagues could have looked like. 6. Some of the warfare scenes were jaw-dropping — especially when the Egyptian armies did their battle charges combined with their archer attacks. Wow! 7. Some of the desert panorama shots were absolutely stunning and beautiful to behold. 8. The depiction of the Pharaoh's pride really matches the Bible. We see a wildly hypocritical ruler: one moment he is a doting father who checks on his baby son at night to make sure he's still breathing well, and the next moment he's ordering his soldiers to murder all the Hebrew babies in the land. He worships himself as God and refuses to acknowledge any higher authority, and his stubborn pride drives him to a form of madness. But in the end God forcibly humbles the unrepentant Pharaoh and exposes the fallacy of his pride. The movie got that mindset of Pharaoh spot-on. 9. Despite the things I mentioned above, there are some cool moments in the parting of the Red Sea. I especially liked how Moses, out of despair, throws his Egyptian sword into the Red Sea when he realizes he has accidentally led the people into a trap. The tossing of the sword from his princely life is symbolic of him shedding some of his baggage, self-reliance, and pride. 10. The film does look at the tendencies of stubbornness and self-reliance in Moses in a way that matches the tone of some of the issues that Moses had in the Bible. When the Red Sea recedes during the night, Moses wakes up and sees his sword, now visible on the sea floor. It's a poetic, powerful moment as he realizes that he has not failed and God has not abandoned them as he thought the night before when he tossed the sword into the sea. The reappearance of the sword symbolizes the rebirth of his hope and faith in God. This was a powerful moment, and it will linger in my memory as a highlight from the film.
Should Christians Really Be So Insistent About the Biblical Accuracy of Films? (And the Real Reason Why We Should)
This section is in response to many people I've met — both Christians and non-Christians alike — who attack people of faith for being concerned about a film's Biblical accuracy. I realize that sometimes we Christians go about it in a less-than-graceful way or in a way that lacks nuanced analysis, but there is an element to the whole thing that so many people miss. Consider the following: if someone took your favorite biography in the world about your favorite person and adapted it into a film, but then:
1. subverted the intent of the biography
2. changed some of the significant facts about that person and their life
3. used the biography to advance a worldview that would be a slap in the face to the person in the biography
Wouldn't that bother you? In a worst-case scenario, that's what films that butcher the Bible do when they change the content and subvert it to communicate a different intent that exists in the text. I'm not saying that Exodus: Gods and Kings falls into this worst-case scen
ario category, but its portrayal of God's relationship with Moses was deeply disappointing to me. Of course, there's no law that says artists can't do that. Artists can say whatever they want in our country; we're blessed with free speech. But if a major film studio is going to invest hundreds of millions of dollars, and then market it to the faith-based crowd, they should understand the value of Biblical accuracy. But it's far more personal than that for a Christian. It's not about going down a long list of check marks, with the cold, lifeless spirit of austere legalism, and looking for anything in a film that — SHOCK, is not exactly matching the text! Ask any passionate Christian, and they will tell you that the most important treasure in their life is their relationship with God. And they don't mean that in some figurative, abstract way. They mean it literally:
1. The God of the Bible not only exists, He is intimately aware of us as individuals and wants to interact with us on a personal level. (And many people of faith, including myself, can tell you stories of this interaction — some of which even involves miracles and hard-to-explain events — that they have witnessed.)
2. He has paid the price Himself on the Cross to heal the divorce that humanity initiated when we broke covenant with Him in the beginning.
3. However, He respects our free will and will not force Himself into our lives if we want nothing to do with Him.
In other words, the God of the Bible — the One you find when you the entire Bible, not just the bits and pieces that people pull out of context — has done something shocking. He has initiated a personal relationship with humanity that He pursues with zeal. Not only that, but He, through the redeeming power of Jesus' sacrifice, wants to extend that relationship beyond this temporary, fallen world and continue it into eternity with anyone who believes these things and who freely chooses them (He will not force anyone into an eternal relationship with Him against their free will). The account of Exodus is one of the major moments in the Bible where God initiates a relationship with people — a whole nation, in fact — on earth. In addition, Exodus has overwhelming symbolism in it. For example, there's the lamb's blood on the door posts that saved the Hebrews from God's judgment during the last plague against Egypt. That points to Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose blood He shed to save us from the judgment of God and to tear away the veil of separation between us and God. In other words, the Exodus is about the thing most precious to a person of faith: their personal relationship with God. So when a filmmaker comes along — someone who doesn't identify with or relate to the experiences above — and just casually subverts, changes, or even slanders the Bible and its biography about God, it's a little like watching someone make a movie about a member of your family or your best friend that insults and disrespects that person. In that situation, we would feel a strong urge to stick up for our family member or friend and say, "No, that person is not like that at all. This movie is misrepresenting that person." I mention all this in hopes that readers would have more empathy and less derision when they see Christians rush to examine the Biblical accuracy of a film.
Conclusion: The Good Shepherd Has Gone Missing
Moses' attitude toward God borders on contempt in some scenes. In the first half of the movie, he doesn't believe in omens or the Egyptian gods or the Hebrew god or any god — he's essentially an atheist. And throughout the entire film, he throws out random criticisms that sound like things I've heard from angry atheistic professors at my alma mater, UC Santa Barbara. But in the end, God and Moses reconcile and come to terms with each other — and, don't get me wrong, the Bible does show a stormy relationship between God and Moses — but this film goes about all of it with an angry tone and an attitude that eyes God with resentment. And that really sums up the general atmosphere of the film. Although, to be fair, there were definitely things I loved about the movie — and it was certainly an entertaining, powerful film — but its general atmosphere feels bitter, resentful, gloomy, and sometimes critical of God. There's no tenderness and rapturous joy in God's relationship with, well, anybody. God's a spiteful little boy. He's not the Good Shepherd who leads the Hebrews by the hand as we see in the Biblical account, where He personally escorts them through the desert with his protective pillar of cloud by day and comforting pillar of fire by night. No, in this film we meet a very different God, and this greatly disappointed me. The film felt like a missed opportunity.
If you are planning on seeing a movie soon, please consider purchasing your tickets online through our affiliate link above with Fandango, a high-quality vendor for online movie tickets. This will allow us to keep our site online and continue providing you with quality reviews.