On Monday 1st October (which was also St Basils 46th birthday), we launched a new service to help ensure young people in crisis can access the support they need.
This new service led by St Basils Outreach Navigation workers is called the Young Persons Navigation Service and involves outreach workers going out onto the streets to help guide young people to appropriate support and accommodation. Essentially it is taking what we offer here at St Basils direct to young people on the streets. St Basils Outreach Navigation workers will respond to all young people found to be sleeping rough or at risk of sleeping rough.
This new service is part of the local Rough Sleeping Initiative (see diagram below) and has been commissioned by Birmingham City Council. The team will be working alongside the Street Intervention and Rough Sleeping teams to identify rough sleepers or young people at risk and is also able to take self-referrals from young people or referrals from other outreach teams – just call 07557 744079 (under 25's only).
This new phone number does not in any way replace our free text service, it is simply a more direct way to contact this particular team who will then come out to the young person. Young people without credit can still text NEED ST BASILS for free to 62277 to access our services and referrals will be made, where appropriate to this new service.
St Basils Outreach Navigation workers will then be able to refer young people to St Basils own services or other appropriate agencies for support and will accompany young people to appointments where required, including ensuring access to benefits and other provisions. They will also work closely with colleagues at St Basils Birmingham Youth Hub to identify suitable accommodation.
This service is only for under 25s. Rough sleepers who are over 25 can self-refer to the local Rough Sleeping Teams led by Midland Heart. They'll need to call 07483 981 912, any weekday before 11pm. Alternatively concerned members of the public can refer them to Streetlink: https://www.streetlink.org.uk/ and this will then be passed on to the Local Authority Outreach service for the area.


3DTOPO has introduced Oilist 1.0. The $3.99 painting app was designed to automatically generate unique and original works of art based on photos supplied by a user. It analyzes the image using computer vision technology, then paints simulated paint particles that are applied with various brush strokes and techniques. The user may just watch the painting process, or interact with it through various options that allow each style to be customized.
G-Power has unleashed Monster Camp 1.0. It's a "merged pets block puzzle game" that gameplay and controls, monsters, artwork and exquisite graphics. With rotate and drag controls, players need to move the monsters onto the grid with the goal of matching three or more monsters in any direction. Monster Camp is free, but does tout in-app purchases.
Gaming Chef has cooked up Droid Crosser 1.0. In the free traffic direction game, players are challenged to protect their community of robots from speeding spaceships and other hazards that could cost their robots' lives. Users not only have to keep their robots safe from oncoming traffic, but dodge lasers and explosions by tapping the screen and moving robots to safety.
Neonway has launched Chords Compass 1.0. The $8.99 app is designed to help beginning musicians find the chords on the instrument of their choice, and try them out on a virtual fret board or keyboard. For string instruments, users can change the position of their chord on the fret board, and the app will show them how many chords of their selected key and type are available in this new position, as well as their chord diagrams.


The supply and demand for iron in your body can become unbalanced for a number of reasons and this can lead to iron deficiency.
You can also download the "Are you getting enough iron?" article as a PDF.
A lack of iron in your diet.
Iron can be found in both animal products and plant foods. Iron from animal products (known as haem iron) is better absorbed by your body than iron from plant foods (known as non-haem iron).1 If you are vegetarian or vegan it is more likely that you will not be getting enough iron.2 Choosing what you eat wisely can help to keep your iron levels up.
Iron from your food not being absorbed properly in your small intestine.
Other medical conditions and/or therapies, such as haemodialysis for patients with kidney disease.
Stein J, Hartmann F, Dignass AU. Diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anemia in patients with IBD. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010;7(11):599-610. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2010.151.
Miller JL. Iron deficiency anemia: a common and curable disease. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2013;3(7):1-13. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a011866.
Presutti RJ, Cangemi JR, Cassidy HD, Hill D a. Celiac disease. Am Fam Physician. 2007;76(12):1795-802.
Finch CA, Cook JD, Labbe RF, Culala M. Effect of blood donation on iron stores as evaluated by serum ferritin. Blood. 1977;50(3):441-7.
Yip R, Parvanta I, Cogswell M, et al. Recommendations to prevent and control iron deficiency in the United States. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1998;47(RR-3):1-29.
Topley E, Clarke R. The anemia of trauma. Blood. 1956;11(4):357-69.
Foss NB, Kehlet H. Hidden blood loss after surgery for hip fracture. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2006;88(8):1053-9. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.88B8.17534.
Goddard AF, James MW, McIntyre AS, Scott BB. Guidelines for the management of iron deficiency anaemia. Gut. 2011;60(10):1309-16. doi:10.1136/gut.2010.228874.


A Shared Initiative, Inc. is committed to the economic empowerment and mobility of low-to-moderate income families and small businesses. Our collective vision with our sister affiliate, ASI Federal Credit Union, is the elimination of poverty in all the communities we serve. We believe that providing communities access to wealth creation is the greatest and best way to eradicate poverty.
ASII has grown its programming significantly since our inception in 2006. Our Financial Education and Counseling Program has a growing identity within the community. Through the financial education program, we have educated over 1500 households on the concepts of saving and improving credit. In addition, we have counseled over 100 households through foreclosure avoidance approaches.
ASII has an experienced business lending team, which has garnered increased public awareness and growing support from the local business community. We have deployed tens of thousands of dollars to startup and struggling small businesses, helping these entrepreneurs grow their businesses, create jobs and facilitate the provision of goods and services upon which our communities rely. In addition to direct lending, ASII also provides technical assistance and coaching. We recently completed a project through the state of Louisiana's Department of Social Service to provide technical assistance to individuals and businesses affected by the BP Oil Spill. Many of the services offered included: claim filing assistance, tax assistance, bookkeeping, and general financial counseling and advice. Through this initiative we assisted more than 170 individuals and small businesses.
ASII believes that charity first starts at home, and to every extent possible we serve as a community resource for our surrounding neighborhood, the St. Claude community. Since moving into the neighborhood in summer 2009, we have provided our neighbors with Volunteer Income Tax assistance, a back to school drive, and a community-wide health fair. Thus far our community programming has helped 273 households in our own backyard.
We provide education to the public as well as employees of our partners in the private, government, and nonprofit spheres on personal money management and financial products and services.


February | 2017 | This isn't what I had in mind.
No longer be your father's descendant. Neither your mother's.
You are the only warrior on your own personal battlefield. There is no opponent.
You do know how to be free, unencumbered and open. Set down the delusion of confusion, stop pretending you don't know, because you do.
You have seen and heard enough to clear the way. Make peace with the truths of your life for they will never change.
Make space for all of the feelings that you have accumulated in this lifetime. Give them their voices. Feel them fully and they will take flight.
Allow your spirit, your soul, to reach out and gently, warmly take the hand of your human form, bathe it in warm waters and allow the burdens their rightful place, out there aloft in the winds of a time before.
Give this world the gift of your freedom, the only gift you really have.


text:
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"A Great Blow to All Truth": The Dreyfus Affair of Turn-of-the-Century France
08 October 2019 by Grayson Van Beuren
Eight Centuries (formerly 19th Century Masterfile) | 19th Century | 20th Century | European Studies | History | Political History
"[…] what a spot of mud on your name—I was going to say on your reign—is this abominable Dreyfus affair! A council of war, under order, has just dared to acquit Esterhazy, a great blow to all truth, all justice. And it is finished, France has this stain on her cheek, History will write that it was under your presidency that such a social crime could be committed."
–Section from "J'Accuse…!," open letter from Émile Zola to Félix Faure, President of the French Republic, 1898
We tend to think of public scandal and legal spectacle as a distinct product of the television age. Yet before Watergate, before the O.J. Simpson trial, before the Ken Starr hearings, there was the Dreyfus Affair: an episode that rocked the institutions of the modern world, testing the new French liberal order to its limits. The Affair (as it became known) began with a charge of espionage, followed by a botched cover-up by the French army once the case against their accused spy fell apart.
The army's entire case relied on one shaky analysis of Dreyfus's penmanship
Captain Alfred Dreyfus (1859 – 1935) was a Jewish transplant to Paris from Alsace, a rising star in the French army due to his merit. A family man and proud citizen, in 1894 he was accused of passing army secrets to the German military attaché.1 The army's entire case relied on one shaky analysis of Dreyfus's penmanship compared to a slip of paper found in the attaché's trashcan.2 Nonetheless, after a short court martial Dreyfus was stripped of his rank and carted off to a prison cell on Devil's Island.3
For years, Dreyfus's case went nearly forgotten. It wasn't until 1898 that his plight fully reached the public, but once it did, interest in the case exploded.4 One reason for this resurgence was the obvious sham trial and acquittal of the true spy, Major Walsin Esterhazy. The episode also served as a touchpoint for anti-Semitic sentiments boiling in France at that time.5
Friendships shattered and families fractured, the debates were so heated
Everyone in France had an opinion on Dreyfus's guilt or innocence. The political left, liberals, and (eventually) socialists crowded Dreyfus's corner in support, and conservatives, open anti-Semites, and pro-army supporters formed a coalition against the former captain.6 Friendships shattered and families fractured, the debates were so heated and personal.7 That year, Emilé Zola—an ardent "Dreyfusard," as supporters called themselves—penned his famous letter calling out the miscarriage of justice to the French president: "J'Accuse…!"8
Due to the public outcry of his supporters, Dreyfus received a second trial in 1899. He was again found guilty (though this time with "extenuating circumstances"), with his sentence reduced to ten years. Thankfully, Dreyfus did not serve even this shortened term: he received a pardon from the French president shortly thereafter.9 Finally, in 1906 Dreyfus was exonerated entirely and his full rank restored.10
Users of 19th Century Masterfile: 1106 – 1930 have access to numerous resources on 19th Century European history. Contact your library's history liaison to set up 30 day trial at https://public.paratext.com/customer/.
[1] John Merriman, A History of Modern Europe: From the Renaissance to the Present (New York and London: W. W. Norton & Company, 1996), 940 – 941.
[2] Adam Gopnik, "Trial of the Century," The New Yorker, Sept. 28, 2009, 5; Merriman, 941.
[3] Though imprisoned on a small island, Dreyfus's cell was rebuilt to remove any view of the ocean. He spent his days in isolation reading Shakespeare, receiving almost no news from the outside world. Gopnik, 7.
[4] Gopnik, 10; Merriman, 942.
[5] Gopnik, 10.
[7] The Affair famously broke apart the Impressionists, Pissarro being for Dreyfus and Degas an anti-Dreyfusard. Gopnik, 10.
[8] Émile Zola, "J'Accuse...!," L'Aurore, January 13, 1898, https://en.wikisource.org/?curid=6792; Merriman, 942.
[9] Richard B. Morris and Graham W. Irwin, eds., Harper Encyclopedia of the Modern World: A Concise Reference History from 1760 to the Present (New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc., 1970), 285.
[10] Merriman, 942.
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text:
Soviet industrial plans through the year 2000 have emphasized greater variety and higher quality in metals production to keep heavy industry competitive with the West. But the machinery and production systems available to Soviet metallurgists in 1989 showed no signs of improving the inconsistent record the industry had established in meeting such goals. Following the Stalinist pattern, great success in some areas was hampered by breakdown in others. In the late 1980s, escape from this dilemma seemed no more likely than in earlier years.
Role of Metallurgy
Since the 1970s, the Soviet Union has led the world in the production of iron, steel, and rolled metals. In 1987 it produced about 162 million tons of steel, 114 million tons of rolled metal, and 20 million tons of steel pipe. Each of these figures was an increase of more than 2.5 times over those of 1960. Metallurgy has been the largest and fastest growing branch of Soviet industry, and metals supply remained vital to growth in virtually all other branches of industry. But yearly production increases were becoming more difficult because the cost of raw materials rose consistently in the 1980s, especially for metals such as molybdenum, nickel, magnesium, and rare earth metals, which were in increasing demand for high-quality steel alloys.
In the mid-1980s, the metallurgy industry was not meeting its goals for supplying high-quality finished metal to the manufacturing industries. Those industries were demanding higher-quality and stronger metals for new applications, such as high-pressure pipelines for oil and gas, high-capacity dump trucks and excavators, industrial buildings with large roof spans, corrosion-resistant pipe for the chemical industry, coated and treated rolled metals, and steel with high conductivity for electrical transformers. As military equipment became more sophisticated, it too required improved quality and performance from metal products. On the development side, advances in lightmetal alloys using aluminum, magnesium, and titanium did provide materials for military aircraft and missiles that were among the best in the world.


Melissa Stutzman is a Licensed Massage Therapist in Colorado since 2006. As a Graduate of The Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy she is also a Internationally Certified Neuromuscular Therapist (NMT), Certified Corporate Neuromuscular Therapist (CCNMT), Certified "Trigger Point" Therapist, and a Nurse Aide (CNA) licensed in Colorado since 2009. Melissa is also a paramedical aesthetician (PME) licensed in Colorado since 2007 specializing in dermaplaning and in depth skin care treatments to exact astonishing results!
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text:
Counterpoints is an Australian television series which aired in 1958 on Sydney station TCN-9, debuting circa 29 August of that year. The series featured Norma Martyn and Pamela Page, and featured comment and gossip on what women were doing, buying and wearing in Sydney, Australia. It represents an early example of a Sydney-produced lifestyle-themed television series. At the time most Australian series aired in a single city only, which was also the case with Counterpoints. It is not known if any of the episodes exist as kinescope recordings, the method used to record live and as-live TV in the days before Australian stations had video-tape.

References

External links

Nine Network original programming
1958 Australian television series debuts
1958 Australian television series endings
Australian non-fiction television series
English-language television shows
Black-and-white Australian television shows

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Every year, millions of people in the U.S. are involved in car accidents, and about 8 percent of them involve big rig trucks. Thousands of people are killed because of these accidents. Because 18-wheelers are so large compared to regular cars, the accidents are usually worse than a typical car accident in Chicago. These cases can be quite complex, so you need a truck accident lawyer on your side.
Yes, it is true that some big rig accidents are truly accidents. However, a lawyer will look into that to see if that is the case or not. It is more likely that there is another cause to these accidents, and it is likely negligence, such as loading cargo incorrectly. Other reasons for large truck accidents include fatigue, distracted driving, speeding, tailgating, or bad weather conditions.
There are a number of injuries that a person might get in these types of accidents. For instance, whiplash is a very common injury. This occurs when the neck and head are quickly jerked in one direction. Soft tissue injuries are also very common. This means that the connective tissue in the body, such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons, are injured. Head injuries are also common here, and include concussions, scrapes, lacerations, or even permanent brain damage. Broken bones and other serious injuries might also occur, including amputations, internal damage, and death. Finally, even if there is no physical injury, the psychological injuries from this type of accident could also be life changing.
It doesn't matter what type of injury you might sustain; a truck accident lawyer can help you to get the compensation that you deserve. Even if you feel fine directly after the accident, you should still contact a lawyer to see if you have a case.


1"You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep in which is a blemish, any defect whatever, for that is an abomination to the LORD your God.
2"If there is found among you, within any of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, in transgressing his covenant, 3and has gone and served other gods and worshipped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden, 4and it is told you and you hear of it, then you shall enquire diligently, and if it is true and certain that such an abomination has been done in Israel, 5then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death with stones. 6On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness. 7The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. So you shall purge17:7 Septuagint drive out; also verse 12 the evil17:7 Or evil person; also verse 12 from your midst.
8"If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place that the LORD your God will choose. 9And you shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall consult them, and they shall declare to you the decision. 10Then you shall do according to what they declare to you from that place that the LORD will choose. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they direct you. 11According to the instructions that they give you, and according to the decision which they pronounce to you, you shall do. You shall not turn aside from the verdict that they declare to you, either to the right hand or to the left. 12The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel. 13And all the people shall hear and fear and not act presumptuously again.
14"When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, 'I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me', 15you may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 16Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, 'You shall never return that way again.' 17And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.
18"And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by17:18 Hebrew from before the Levitical priests. 19And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, 20that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.


performing arts cultural continues to thrive, making our region a great place to live, work and play.
UPAF began in 1967 to ensure the financial stability of the organizations that would be performing in the county's new Performing Arts Center (PAC), which began construction that same year. The founding organization included the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Association of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Bel Canto Chorus, Florentine Opera Company, Skylight Theatre and Music for Youth. UPAF launched its first campaign, staffed entirely by volunteers.
UPAF achieved its first $1 million success. In 1978, $2 million was raised, in 1985 $3 million was raised, and in 1986 $4 million dollars was raised to support the performing arts.
UPAF introduced a three-tiered membership structure comprised of Major, Corporate and Associate categories based on criteria including budget size and impact on the community.In 1994, UPAF introduced a grants program to assist non-UPAF members with projects that serve audiences with culturally diverse backgrounds.
Campaign growth reached $8 million. From 1997 to 2000, the Campaign steadily grew, raising more funds each year, reaching $9 million in 1998 and $10 million in 2001.
The UPAF Campaign came in below its goal of $10.5 million at $9.85 million. A study was conducted to address the decline in campaign growth and what Member Groups considered an unfair allocation process. Study results led to a restructuring of the Member Group tier system and a broadening of the UPAF mission to include serving as a community-wide resource for developing the excellence, reputation and impact of the performing arts.
Next Generation UPAF, sponsored by We Energies Foundation, was formed as an affinity program whose members are aged 45 and under. They are dedicated to cultivating awareness of, engagement in and philanthropy for UPAF and the performing arts with the next generation of community leaders.
Title sponsor MillerCoors agreed to rebrand the "Miller Lite Ride for the Arts" to "UPAF Ride for the Arts, sponsored by Miller Lite" to increase awareness of UPAF. In 2011, the event benefited from increased interest thanks to new routes across the Daniel Hoan Memorial Bridge.
A group of local women concerned with the lack of arts education in our schools established UPAF Notable Women in 2011 to raise dollars for arts programming. Today, this donor affinity program now has more than 350 members and is generously sponsored by BMO Harris Bank.
Through the hard work of UPAF's three outstanding Campaign Co-Chairs, hundreds of volunteers and a dedicated staff, UPAF raised a record-setting $12,059,201 for the 2016 UPAF Campaign which is an increase of 27.3% since 2011.
This year marked our 50th Anniversary milestone! We raised a record-setting $12,320,160 in support of the performing arts in Southeastern Wisconsin.
Area businesses, individuals and foundations helped UPAF reach another incredible year with $12,073,795 raised overall. This allowed UPAF to allocate a record-setting $9,045,000 to the Southeastern Wisconsin performing arts.


Too many people start their fat loss plan without setting an end date or a realistic goal. You need targets to keep yourself motivated, especially for situations when it would be easy to make bad decisions – when you get offered cake on a colleague's birthday, it'll be easier to turn down if you know you're only two weeks from your goal. Set a finish date that you are 100% confident you can hit. There will inevitably be times where you're tempted to go back to old habits – and having a specific goal, with smaller milestones along the way, can keep you on track.
It's vital to take photos and measurements and keep a training diary that details not just moves you do and weights you lift, but also how the session felt. This will give you the insight to make smart changes to your programme to keep your body guessing so the fat keeps falling off.
Writing down what you eat is a great way of tracking your eating habits. Does your nutrition differ on weekends or under times of stress? To go one step further, you could do this with a training partner and show each other what you're eating. No one wants to write down McDonald's or Krispy Kremes if they're in friendly competition.
If I am trying to get lean I won't keep foods at home I know I should be avoiding. Even if you have amazing willpower it can be almost impossible to get in after a very long day and eat the food you know you should when there's a stack of tasty treats just an open cupboard door away.
Avoid eating fats and simple carbs together, especially once your rate of fat loss begins to stall. When you consume carbs insulin levels spike (the extent depends on the type and amount of carbs), and insulin's job is to shuttle any recently ingested energy to the areas of the body that need it most. If you've been training hard these nutrients will be delivered to muscle cells to repair and rebuild them. But any excess energy you consume, particularly from fats and simple carbs like sugar, will be stored in fat cells, which is the last thing you want.
The number one priority in any fat loss challenge is compliance. If you can't sustain the programme in the long term you'll never achieve your goal – or you'll simply rebound as soon as you do. Calculate your calorie target for the week and allow 10% of that to come from your favourite foods. Most people feel like they're cheating when they eat their favourite foods, so incorporating them into your nutrition plan helps keep you on track without guilt or painful sacrifice. The psychological impact of this is huge.
At best fat burners are an expensive combination of caffeine, green tea and other ingredients designed to raise the metabolism or mobilise fat. At worst you may be taking be something detrimental to your health. Many people take a fat burner as an excuse to skip the gym when they're tired (often because they aren't eating enough) or short on time, in the mistaken belief that it will do the job instead of exercise. But even if your fat burner does mobilise fat you still need to exercise to burn it off or it will just continue to be stored.
Nutrient absorption through the gut is the key to successful fat loss. Inflammation of the gut lining can prevent absorbing nutrients, which can make you more hungry and knock your hormones out of whack, encouraging fat storage. Avoid foods that you've found to cause gut discomfort and eat more fibre (veg) and omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin D3 (oily fish), as well as taking a high-quality probiotic to replenish your gut with good bacteria.
One effective method to get you losing fat is to swap starchy carbohydrates, such as bread, grains, rice and potatoes, for fibrous carb sources like broccoli, cauliflower and dark leafy green vegetables. This will shift your body from fat-storing mode to fat-burning mode. You'll also consume more fibre and more vitamins and minerals essential to good health. And don't skimp on veg portions – load up on it to keep you feeling full.
The crucial factor to success is forming new, healthier habits. When you first learn to drive a car you must focus on changing gear, indicating and braking all at once, which can feel overwhelming – but it soon becomes automatic. Once you start to develop new habits, such as planning your meals, sticking to a structured training programme and getting better-quality sleep, it becomes easier not only to lose body fat but also to keep it off.
At any given time, your body is in either a fed or fasted state, and being in a fasted state offers the best physiological conditions to optimise fat burning. So schedule your eating and training to take advantage of this: avoid eating anything for two hours before and two hours after working out. Just drink water instead.
If you don't prepare your own food then you can only guess at what you're actually eating in terms of calories, macronutrients (carbs, fats and protein), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and fibre. If you don't have a clear idea of what you're eating, you simply can't stick to the daily limits needed to create a calorie deficit, which is when your body has no choice but to burn fat stores.
The most important session of the week for fat loss isn't in the gym, it's in the supermarket. The choices you make when you're food shopping will determine how well you set yourself up for the week ahead so buy, cook and eat real food. Sustainable long-term fat loss is about ingraining good habits and that all starts with what you put in your food basket.


Where dogs can romp, play and waggle all day with fur-iends in our paw-mazing indoor-outdoor daycare facility. We also offer a cage free sleepover service, with 24 hour on site supervision.
Viewings by appointment Monday to Friday Between 12:00 and 14:00.


Fabio is the Managing Director of ECG's Corporate Events team.
With over 20 years invested in travel services and event logistics, Fabio has management experience in diverse company functions including operations, marketing and business development. With an international and multilingual background, he has worked in various multinational organizations, leading travel specialists in the leisure, corporate and events segments of the industry.
In the USA, Fabio has been progressively involved in event management, with particular focus in the pharmaceutical and healthcare arena. He has successfully coordinated key logistics services for various high-profile clients preparing and presenting at FDA Advisory Committee meetings, as well as Advisory Boards and Investigator Meetings, national sales events, incentive and customer appreciation programs.
Involved in all aspects of event planning and on-site fulfillment, Fabio has managed his team of logistics experts through site selection, vendor negotiations and contracting, travel arrangements, food and beverage services, detailed security, hi-tech AV and IT support, registration and professional on-site teams.
Prior to his focus on meeting logistics, Fabio has been responsible for cross-channel marketing and sales tactics that successfully increased customer awareness for multiple-brand, domestic and international travel programs.
Fabio leverages his varied experience and team-leadership skills to maximize productivity and customer service. Fabio holds a degree in Bachelor of Business Administration.


Since I know I have less than six months left in France, at least for now, I'm indulging more often at the boulangerie and buying the good wine while I can. I'll miss that, and my wonderful friends and belle-famille, but I won't miss all the cigarette smoke and the general frustrations that come with being a foreigner. I've grown disillusioned with France, so maybe if we spend some time apart, we'll appreciate each other more when we meet again.
Spring is lovely though, even if enjoying the sunshine in the city almost inevitably means a little secondhand smoke. (For a smoke-free environment, you can either stay inside or go to the countryside and sit on a grassy hill with some cows.) The quais are no longer flooded, and all of Lyon has been out to enjoy the (fickle, but increasingly balmy) weather. I don't know if it's the change of season or the end of the semester or all the chia seeds I've been eating, but I have more energy lately, and it's great! The end of winter feels like a heavy blanket being peeled back to let in the sunlight and the fresh spring air.
IN OTHER MAJOR NEWS I've discovered amazing Tex-Mex in Lyon – Two Amigos! I mourn the months that I lived in ignorance of the delicious tacos and margaritas just a short metro ride away. (Incidentally, I also tried some pretty good Mexican Mexican food this month at Don Taco, in case you're interested.) Two Amigos is just far enough away from my apartment that I can't go there all the time, which is probably good since their margaritas are the best and most dangerous I've ever had. (A far cry from the thimble-sized 10 euro margarita at El Guacamole in Paris!) They describe their style as "California-inspired" so maybe that's why I like it so much! (Should we call it Cal-Mex food then?) If you're wondering why this is blog-worthy news, you've clearly underestimated my love for tacos.
Are you craving tacos and margaritas now? I know I am.
Thank you!! Fingers crossed… Before Paris and Lyon I lived the first half of my 20s in Chicago. I moved to Chicago at 20, Paris at 25, and I'm going back to California a couple months before my 30th birthday. Eek!
I love Chicago, it will always hold a special place in my heart. I don't miss the winters though!
Thank you!!! I can't wait for summer!
I just had another expat friend recommend Two Amigos when I whined about missing mexican food! Now I HAVE to check it out!
You absolutely must, it's great! I've only been once so far but I'm dying to go back.
Hmm… the only place in Lyon I've had my hair cut was Lucie Pham (https://www.yelp.com/biz/lucie-pham-lyon) and I was happy with it, but I have flat, mostly straight hair that limply coorporates. The Yelp community in Lyon is super active so you might find other options there if you haven't already looked. I have heard a lot of foreigners complain that their hairdresser cut off more hair than they had talked about or did something different without asking first, so although I'm sure not all French hairdressers do that, it does seem to be a pattern to watch out for… good luck!
Awesome suggestion about Yelp. Hadn't even thought to check. My hair is thick and frizzy/ curly so I'm always afraid to get it cut by someone who doesn't know what to do. And I feel like that complaint is all I've heard from expats which explains my hesitation. Thanks so much!


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The Next Big Thing from Netflix Is a Dystopian Thriller Called "3%"
By this point, American audiences have seen pretty much every kind of dystopia: The Walking Dead's zombie apocalypse, The Hunger Games' gladiatorial combat, The Planet of the Apes' monkey revolution, everything. But every now and then, something comes along that changes the game. The Brazilian dystopian thriller series, titled 3%, may be that "something." The concept is simple, but chilling—here's the synopsis Netflix provided for the show:
In a post-apocalyptic world cruelly divided between progress and devastation, you only get one chance to improve your lot - and only 3% will succeed. A world divided into progress and devastation. The link between the two sides – Offshore and Inland – is a rigorous and painstaking system called The Process. Everyone in Inland has a chance to go through The Process to live a better life in Offshore. But only 3% make it through.
Netflix ordered one season of the show back in 2015, but today we got to see the first trailer. The Process, as the trailer shows, is like a mix of IQ puzzles and psychological tests that pit candidates against one another in a desperate, frenzied competition where the rules can change in an instant:
There's a bunch of things that make 3% stand out right off the bat. First is the Brazilian cast and production—it's the first Netflix show produced in a language other than English. Second, the character in the wheelchair—one of the 'interviewers' tells him straight out that there are no special inclusivity laws in the Offshore (or the Process). Few recent shows have had a disabled character with so much emphasis placed on their disability, which makes it interesting to see how he'll deal with other, able-bodied candidates when some of the Process introduces physical violence. Third is the sheer ruthlessness of the whole show—people are already scheming against one another, punching each other in fist fights, and devolving into a Hobbesian nightmare. We may be getting a subtle look at a theme of the Process: what level of humanity and compassion would you give up in order to have a better life?
The whole premise is relatively simple, with a lot of room for twists and human drama. It sounds a lot like a science-fiction short story, similar to The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas. All in all, it's an exciting addition to Netflix's already stellar lineup, and we're looking forward to finding out more about the show.
3% will be released on Netflix on November 25th, 2016 in eight, hour-long episodes.
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This is one of those reviews that I am going to struggle writing as I can find almost nothing to improve upon in this song. When a person has so much respect for the two songwriters who wrote it, it is hard to give them constructive input. Donovan Tucker Mike Gladstone's Yellow King made my day and is why I started Broadjam – to get the opportunity to hear songs like this.
This is an instrumental that begins with an "outlaw surf" guitar sound reminiscent of Eddy, Orbison, etc. It is played so tastefully that I could have stopped the song at 25 seconds and been completely happy with it. Behind the incredible guitar tone, percussion filled the spaces. A ratchet-like sound, along with some other effects, were strategically placed to support the snare landing on 4 (if you count like I do.) Brilliant use of simple instrumentation to make a great piece of music. I don't know if I have ever listened to an instrumental ballad that was produced to this level of quality.
The first guitar continues with a beautiful melody until approximately 47 seconds and then a classy flamenco guitar sound enters and tears it up. The feel of the performance and the tone of this guitar sound and performance is inspiring. As I am listening, many guitar gods are going through my head, Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Mark Knopfler, Lee Ritenour, Joe Walsh, Jon McLaughlin, maybe a little Hendrix, etc. One can always tell when a player has put their 10,000 hours in…..because they know when NOT to play. The spaces between the notes in this piece are as strong as the notes that are played. If this is the same person playing both of these parts, I am blown away. This is some of the best and tasteful work I've have ever heard.
Ok, now on to the song. This could easily find a place in a film. When one closes their eyes and listens to this, the scenery just flies by in your head. Instrumentals need to invoke an emotion or vision to be good, this does both. This made my personal playlist immediately within one minute and will be heard by many of my friends.
It is so hard to find anything constructive to say when a piece is done this well. So I will preface my comments with, "don't change a thing." But I also know that writers of this caliber want that detailed input to make their next project better.
If this was my song, there are just a couple of things that I might consider tweaking (if I was totally bored and didn't have anything else to do.) 1.) The bridge comes in around 1:32 and a backup up synth pad is behind it. (Sounds like an old M1.) Since the tone of the patch is similar to the frequency range of the guitar, I might play a couple inversions up on the keyboard, or an entire octave. 2.) At 2:13 when the song and melody return to the verse, the ratchet-like sound and guitar are slightly off each other – the first time through I thought it might be distortion. So in a re-mix, I would edit these to begin at same time and bring the percussion slightly down in the mix for that first hit. Again, I emphasize that I find myself digging to really find something that I would improve. I am not sure either of these suggestions would advance the song or it would just sound more appealing to my own ears.
Mike Gladstone & Donovan Tucker are both great songwriters on their own. Working together they have produced a home run and certainly captured my attention. Great work to both of these writers and I hope they continue working together.


The Nerf Sidestrike is a Nerf Gun from the Zombie Strike series and comes along with a holster to keep her handy at all times. This small side-nerf gun is a front loader, spring loaded and therefore does not need any batteries. Of course, like a single-shot blaster, she does not approach fly-wheel-driven full-automatic, but she should not. The Sidestrike is rather the last means, which one behind HVZ (Human versus Zombie) behind the back and then the surprised green monster so correctly.
The Nerf Gun is simple to use (arming by retracting the barrel), stable and comes in the usual Zombie Strike colors, therefore. Only the brown as Grifffarbe does not tell us (this is however to taste). Equipped with rear sight and grain and a Tactical Rail, to push on accessories, the Nerf Sidetsrike offers a few basics, but more than a low-budget blaster is not.
Ergonomics and performance are good, the holster can use both left and right hands, and all elements of the Sidestrike are easy to reach for different hand sizes. Also, two darts can be inserted below the mouth as a reserve, as well as four additional darts directly on the outside of the holster (either standard or the elite arrows).
What did not like us so much in the holster is the stability of the plugging system. This is designed so that it can be pushed over a belt, a trouser or pocket and is therefore not closed. This is good for children because they can make the holster much easier, but you are already sacrificing some fixation strength. So you should not beat somersaults. When using the Tactical Rail, you can not push the Nerf Gun into the holster. The Western hero among us is said that you can shoot with holster, but only if the Nerf Gun is already sharp.
The performance for the Zombie Strike Sidestrike is good for their make; they come on a little more than 10 meters when shooting on shoulder height and slightly more than 12 meters at the angled shot. Since the Nerf Sidetrike is a single fire blaster, the fire rate as expected is not breathtaking but okay with about one dart the second – here the quality of the shooter is decisive.
On the other hand, the flight speed of the darts is about 21 meters/second, the darts remain stable. Nevertheless, we had as with all the best Nerf Guns also outliers with up to one meter. Therefore, our biggest criticism is the price, comparable Nerf guns (such as the Firestrike) cost slightly less. On the other hand, you also get a holster at the Sidestrike.
The Nerf Sidestrike is a blaster which fulfills its purpose – who would like for sensitive situations a Nebenarmung would like to grasp calmly. The performance is okay and the handling even better than we thought – you can not go wrong with this blaster.


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Home / Business Productivity & Finance / 7 Compelling Reasons that Make Senior Citizen Health Insurance Mandatory for Your Parents in 2023
7 Compelling Reasons that Make Senior Citizen Health Insurance Mandatory for Your Parents in 2023
Gaurav Jain Last Updated: January 2, 2023 Business Productivity & Finance Comments Off on 7 Compelling Reasons that Make Senior Citizen Health Insurance Mandatory for Your Parents in 2023
India's elderly population (aged 60 and above) is projected to touch 194 million in 2031 from 138 million in 2021, a 41 per cent increase over a decade, according to the National Statistical Office (NSO)'s Elderly in India 2021.
Yes, that's true!
Going by the 2011 Census, the total number of senior citizens in India already touched 104 million. Today, almost a decade later, it can be reasonably expected that the elderly population in the country has risen by a significant margin.
With senior citizens lacking self-sufficiency both in terms of health and finance, the onus to provide necessary medical attention in their advancing age lies with their children. Not to mention, the increasing cost of medical care in India can strain your finances.
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But wait! Why worry when you have options like senior citizen health insurance plans to provide comprehensive care to your elderly parents? These health coverage plans come with extensive benefits that help lift the burden of medical bills off your shoulders.
Below, we have listed some of the compelling reasons that reinstate the importance of buying a health insurance for parents in India.
#1. Increasing Risk of Illness with Advancing Age
#2. The Sum Insured Can be Availed for Covering Alternative Treatment Costs
#3. High Sum Assured to Suffice the Rising Cost of Medical Care
#4. Coverage for Pre and Post Hospitalisation Expenses
#5. In-Home Hospitalisation for Domiciliary Care
#6. Availability of Cashless Treatments
#7. Provision to Save on Taxes
With advancing age and deteriorating health, developing illnesses and lifestyle diseases is prevalent among senior citizens as against other demographics.
Development of cardiovascular diseases, circulatory illnesses, disabilities, etc., is more common among the elderly population.
While such illnesses require immediate treatment, they also involve high costs which can erode the available funds. Availing an insurance policy for parents aged above 60 years thus ensures such diseases are catered to urgently, while putting minimum strain on your finances.
Benefits like treatment of critical illnesses, as well as, covering hospitalisation expenses (both for accidents and illness) ensure the expenditure involved with the increasing risk of diseases is mitigated to the maximum.
Even though we mostly resort to western medicine for treating any disease or ailments, their side effects can become a cause for concern, especially for elderly people.
That is why, many are ditching allopathic medicine in favour of alternative treatment options like Ayurveda, Yoga, Homeopathy, etc.
Worried about the cost for these?
Well, good news! The health insurance for senior citizens covers these costs too under the AYUSH add-on cover!
In the past decade, the average cost of hospitalisation both in rural and urban India rose by approximately 3 times. Given this rise combined with an increasing need for medical attention for senior citizens, the insurance coverage needs to be high-valued too.
Health insurance plans customised for elderly citizens, thus fulfil this requirement of a higher coverage amount with ease. Availing such a scheme for your elderly parents can, therefore, sufficiently meet the rising cost of medical care, especially in cases of accidental hospitalisation and treatment of critical illnesses.
With a senior citizen health insurance plan for your parents, you can now side-line your worries about the cost incurred in due course of treatment, both pre and post hospitalisation.
From the perspective of senior citizens requiring frequent hospitalisations and additional care, the costs incurred during hospitalisation, as well as the adjacent costs for diagnostic tests, OPD visits, etc. can be huge. With an insurance plan in place, such expenses can be claimed conveniently.
Advancing age can result in an inability to travel for hospitalisation. Health cover plans for senior citizens, however, facilitate in-home hospitalisation of elderly patients to provide them with domiciliary care. Such a benefit can be availed on the basis of the health condition of the elderly.
Apart from these, such insurance policies also impart benefits like daily hospital cash cover, coverage of psychiatric treatment expenses, bariatric surgery costs and organ donation, etc.
So, wait no more to gift your parent's health and wellness through improved medical care, courtesy a suitable senior citizen health insurance plan.
A cashless health insurance plan for senior citizens also facilitates cashless treatment of diseases and illnesses. With most health insurance policies, the insured can make claims either as reimbursement or opt for a cashless treatment.
It helps the elderly as they can opt for such treatment at any of the network hospitals without worrying about the immediate availability of cash.
The perk of availing a health insurance plan for your elderly parents also extends to tax benefits. Individuals who have availed a healthcare insurance plan for themselves along with their parents above 60 years of age can claim tax benefits of up to Rs. (25,000+50,000) = Rs. 75,000 on premium payment under section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
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Learn about the best things you can do to ensure your toddler grows up healthy.
Any parent of a child with eczema will tell you that they would try almost anything to help relieve their child's discomfort. It's a pretty common and widespread condition, affecting one in five children under two years of age according to the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy Limited.
Many parents spend hundreds of dollars in their search for something to relieve the symptoms and many will find themselves unsatisfied. That's why the early research coming out of a new US study is giving many people hope.
Dr. Steve Xu, of the department of dermatology at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and his team began a study in 2014 which took 124 babies who were categorised as being at high risk of developing atopic dermatitis (eczema) due to having a sibling or parent who had been diagnosed with eczema, asthma or hay fever.
The parents were all given either an over-the-counter drugstore ointment, moisturising cream or sunflower seed oil and told to moisturise their baby all over their body, except for the scalp five times a week for the first six months of their life. They found that all of these products worked equally well and the simple routine was found to halve the baby's risk of developing the skin condition.
Once the moisturising treatment gave positive results, the researchers tried to find which product might bring the same results for the cheapest price. They found that humble petroleum jelly was the winner.
The Huffington Post reported that in the US where the study was done, a six-month supply of Vaseline petroleum jelly was just $7.30 USD - the cheapest of all the moisturisers in the analysis. And the total cost for the most expensive moisturiser, Vaniply ointment, was $173.39USD for a six-month supply.
"We added the economic argument why prophylactic moisturising is a really really great idea," Xu told the website.
"Plus, it's safe," Xu said. "Petroleum jelly is fragrance-free and doesn't have preservatives or additives that could potentially cause irritation or other allergies."
So should we all slather our babies in it?
Well, it probably won't do much harm, but the researchers have only found it is preventive in high-risk cases. But if there is no history of the condition or similar conditions in your family, that level of moisturising might just be wasting your time and money.
Dr Xu told the Huffington Post that any parent who is concerned that their newborn might be at risk of developing the condition should talk to their doctor before beginning their own treatment.


This spa is dedicated to provide a superior Asian massage where you can expect an incredible service by professional staff. From the moment you walk in to their location, you will have complete privacy from the outside world and can instantly lift your stress away. Here you will find private massage rooms and plenty of FREE parking. If you want to simply pamper yourself in a true Asian-inspired massage, Oriental Massage is your place. Make sure to ask about their $40 ½ hour massage special. Appointments are available and walk-ins are welcomed. They are centrally located two blocks from Bicycle Casino. Open 7 days from 10 am to 10 pm.


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Home - Games
Overwatch – "Cole Cassidy"
Say goodbye to McCree and give a warm welcome to Cole Cassidy. The name change has received mixed reactions from fans, but there's little doubt that this was a necessary step to contain the rapid deterioration of Blizzard's public image.
Overwatch players are no doubt aware that the game's cowboy-themed playable character 'McCree' was in the process of a name change for the last few months. This is due in large part to backlash against the name as it is shared with a former Blizzard employee who is named in a lawsuit filed in the state of California by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing against Activision Blizzard relating to accusations of sexual harassment and discrimination. Players and streamers were avoiding or downright refusing to play as Mcree or even use the name. So with that in mind, it should come as no surprise that Blizzard would simply have to change it.
The most recent update released just a few days ago has finalized the changes, and the cowboy character is now named "Cole Cassidy." The name 'Cassidy' is very likely meant to evoke the notorious 19th century Wild West outlaw, Butch Cassidy, who along with the Sundance Kid robbed banks and trains in the United States, Argentina, and Bolivia. Apparently, it's not just his name that was changed, his voice acting and lines, along with some of the character's emotes and interactions have been changed.
While many have noted that the name 'Cassidy' is a far better choice as far as it comes to naming a fictional cowboy character, there's a fair number of players that are not necessarily resistant to the change, but don't particularly feel excited about the change because it will take a very long time to get used to it. To be honest, after calling him McCree for over 6 years, it's not going to come naturally to a lot of people to remember that the name has been changed.
It should go without saying that there are also some players that will continue to call the character McCree simply out of protest because they disagree with the necessity of changing the name, after all, it's just a name. Just because the character's name is the same as a disgraced former employee doesn't necessarily also mean that the company is endorsing his behavior or actions. That being said, it's no surprise that in order to avoid controversies such as this in the future, Activision Blizzard will no longer be naming any new characters after current or former Activision Blizzard employees.
Aside from this, the update also fixes a few bugs, including one that caused players to not receive full credit towards matches played when playing Junkenstein's Revenge. The remaining bug fixes focused on issues with various heroes, such as a bug that caused Brigitte's mace chain to appear the wrong color when certain skins are equipped, and another that cause Mercy's 'Valkyrie' ultimate ability sounds to not play properly. An issue causing Soldier 76's 'Grillmaster' intro to be erroneously unavailable was fixed, along with another bug that was causing D.Va's 'Black Cat' skin to have a missing decal.
Developed and published by Blizzard, Overwatch is a multiplayer first-person-shooter available for play on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, and Nintendo Switch. Released in 2016, the game is Blizzard's fourth major game franchise after its very popular game series, Warcraft, Diablo, and Starcraft. A sequel to Overwatch is currently in development and is expected to be released sometime in 2022, although the exact date of release is still yet to be announced.
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Television|The Rise of 'Schitt's Creek'
https://nyti.ms/2tBgg2W
Clockwise from left, the stars of "Schitt's Creek": Annie Murphy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara and Daniel Levy.Credit...Ryan Pfluger for The New York Times
The Rise of 'Schitt's Creek'
The series is wrapping up just as it achieved something like mainstream success. For its creators and stars, that's the perfect time to go.
By Lara Zarum
Published Jan. 7, 2020 Updated Jan. 11, 2020
TORONTO — "You take such good care of your hands," Daniel Levy marveled as he waited for the director to call "action."
It was the last day of spring, and the last week of filming for the sixth and final season of "Schitt's Creek," which premiered January 7 on Pop. During a lull between takes, Levy, one of the show's creators and stars, admired his scene partner's nails. "I'm a little obsessed," said the actress, Genelle Williams, who was playing a chef.
His response was swift: "So we all should be!"
Levy wears many hats: showrunner, actor, writer, editor, costume designer. Later that day, during a break on set — a glass-walled cafe ringed by trees in Toronto's East End, which was standing in for a catering business — he sat scrolling through his phone, putting together a playlist for the show's wrap party the next night. Levy's music selection was both an annual tradition and a welcome distraction from the end of an era.
"It's hectic," he said, "which has actually helped a lot."
The Roses, the formerly wealthy, fish-out-of-water family at the heart of "Schitt's Creek," are notoriously allergic to sentiment. But the people who play them — Daniel Levy (David), Annie Murphy (Alexis), Catherine O'Hara (Moira, the imperious matriarch) and Eugene Levy (the paterfamilias, Johnny) — were less so as the show neared its end. A weepy read-through of the final two episodes left O'Hara looking "like Alice Cooper," she said. Others found themselves breaking down more randomly.
"Annie and I just text each other out of the blue," Daniel Levy said. "'So I cried today at the grocery store. How are you?'"
But even though "Schitt's Creek" is wrapping up just as it has achieved something like mainstream success, the stars and creators remain convinced that it's the right time to say goodbye.
"Isn't that the perfect way to go?" Eugene Levy said. "We're on an upward trajectory, and we will be still on an upward trajectory when this series actually wraps."
Johnny (Eugene Levy) and Moira Rose (O'Hara) in a scene from Season 6. The show connected with American viewers once it hit Netflix.Credit...Pop TV
Sweet but never saccharine, the show has tracked the evolution of the Roses — who arrived in Schitt's Creek full of disdain, with nothing but the couture on their backs — as they've been absorbed into the tiny town in the boonies. "Schitt's Creek" premiered in 2015 on CBC in Canada and Pop TV in America, but it wasn't until it landed on Netflix in 2017 that American viewers began to catch on.
Thanks to a daffy charm — a winning combination of its characters' caustic wit and the show's fundamental warmth — and enthusiastic word-of-mouth support, the series rose from humble origins to the pinnacle of TV acclaim. In July 2019, a few months after the creators announced its next season would be its last, "Schitt's Creek" was nominated for four Emmys, including best comedy.
O'Hara and Eugene Levy — Daniel's father onscreen and off — were already familiar faces when "Schitt's Creek" premiered. But the show's success has been a launchpad for the younger Levy, who signed a three-year overall deal with ABC Studios in 2019.
Murphy, mostly unknown before "Schitt's Creek," said the sitcom also has changed her life. "The show has opened a lot of doors," she said, "and I'm trying to look at the future not as a daunting bleak abyss of hell, but an exciting adventure."
The final season is the most ambitious yet, Daniel Levy said. The Roses have finally settled in the town they never thought they'd call home — in fact, they're thriving both professionally and in their relationships. But will their achievements propel them beyond Schitt's Creek?
Levy began thinking about an ending some time in Season 3. When Pop gave the show a two-season extension after Season 4, that struck him as a good opportunity to map out the conclusion he had in mind and go out on a high note.
"From start to finish our show will be exactly what it was intended to be," he said. "The biggest mistake you can make in TV is shifting the focus away from characters and the storytelling to servicing audience expectations. The audience is there because you've done something right."
Levy says the show's distance from the Hollywood hoopla gives him a certain level of freedom as a storyteller. "We operate very much in an isolated bubble up in Canada," he said.
Inspired by a curiosity about the lives of the ultrawealthy — and the time Kim Basinger bought a small town in Georgia in the late 1980s — he created "Schitt's Creek" with his father and shopped it around to American cable and broadcast networks, which all passed. Eventually they cobbled together funding — first they made a deal with the CBC, then Europe's ITV Studios came on as distributor and, finally, Pop rounded out the budget. The arrangement left the Levys with an unusual degree of creative control.
Eugene Levy was in the writers' room for the first couple seasons, but by Season 3, he began to step back and cede authority to his son.
"His instincts were really sharp on story, and his scripting was getting very strong," Eugene recalled, sitting outside the cafe in one of Johnny's sleek suits and a pair of his own running shoes. "Quite frankly I was relieved, because I didn't really want to spend 12 hours in a writers' room."
"At this point," Daniel said, "my family's sort of like, 'If we never talk about this show around the dinner table again, it'll be too soon.'" (His sister, Sarah Levy, plays a waitress at the town's restaurant.)
"Schitt's Creek" has enjoyed a steady if unlikely rise. It's been the rare series to see its audience grow every season — between its first and fourth seasons, the show's ratings on Pop more than doubled. Netflix rarely releases viewership numbers for individual shows, but according to Pop, more than four million people watched at least some of the fifth season on its channel.
The growth was in part thanks to a Webby Award-winning promotional strategy of flooding social media with "Schitt's Creek" references and amplifying fan enthusiasm by having both the stars' Twitter accounts and the show's official one retweet and respond to user-generated GIFs and memes. (When the Emmy nominations were announced, the show tweeted a GIF of Moira declaring that her favorite season is "awards.")
"Schitt's Creek" also has been a beacon for L.G.B.T.Q. viewers, thanks to its casually progressive depiction of a community devoid of homophobia and to the poignant love story between David and his business-partner-turned-fiancé.
"I want to feel like I'm putting something out into the world that's of consequence," Levy said. "It is a comedy, but there's a bit of weight to it. In our own little way we're taking a stand."
Eugene Levy said that his son's "sensibility has really carried the show into a lovely area of recognition, in terms of critical recognition, in terms of emotional recognition, what he's done for the L.G.B.T.Q. community."
Going into the fifth season, the cast began to detect a shift in "Schitt's Creek" awareness. Murphy noticed that more people were recognizing her in public. Eugene Levy found that fans who approached no longer wanted to joke about his infamous role in the 1999 teen sex comedy "American Pie," or to remark that he doesn't actually have two left feet, like his character in the 2000 Christopher Guest mockumentary "Best in Show."
"It's all 'Schitt's Creek' related," he said. "So I know the saturation level on the show is getting thicker."
Fans and Farewells
"Schitt's Creek" grew stronger as the Roses became more enmeshed in the show's namesake town, which Johnny once bought for David as a joke. The humor comes from the contrast between the flamboyant Roses and the pragmatic townspeople, but that's also where "Schitt's Creek" found its heart. Moira joins the town's singing group and directs a play; Alexis falls in love and goes back to school; David opens a posh general store; and Johnny partners with the motel's sardonic receptionist, Stevie (Emily Hampshire), and takes over the inn.
"Over and above, the main thing about this show was how the Roses have developed as a family," Eugene Levy said.
As O'Hara put it during a break in filming, "It's like we're aliens learning how to be humans."
The production had moved to its second location of the day, a small recording studio where Moira had a gig performing voice-overs — a job secured by Alexis, who became her mother's publicist in the fifth season. O'Hara and Murphy took their places in the recording booth.
"You look so professional, Alexis!" O'Hara exclaimed in her signature Moira accent — a mid-Atlantic patois in which certain syllables are inexplicably elongated and others abruptly cut off. "My bébé!"
Murphy was outfitted in a long-sleeve peasant dress and fringed suede boots. O'Hara wore a calf-length black, white and lime-green coat, matching gloves and a silver-gray wig from her character's vast collection. Moira's rotating set of wigs had been her idea, O'Hara said, but it was Levy and the show's costume designer, Debra Hanson, who scoured the internet year-round for discounted couture and one-of-a-kind finds.
"We're able to tell a story just through the clothes," Levy said. "That means we don't have to write bad, expositional dialogue about how I miss my old life. You see it every day."
The resulting looks have earned both critical acclaim and fan worship. Murphy recalled that when the cast toured to several U.S. cities last year in a live show, many attendees came out in costume, mostly in Moira drag. "And lots of people with eyebrows taped to their faces," she said, tributes to the Levy men's famously bushy brows.
For Murphy, who lives in Toronto, the live tour was the first time she came face-to-face with legions of "Schitt's Creek" viewers. "We knew that momentum was building," she said, but being in a theater full of costumed devotees was something else. "Everyone who was there, they were there, and they were completely committed."
A few days earlier, the production had finished shooting on location in the hamlet of Goodwood, Ontario, the site of the Schitt's Creek restaurant, town hall, auto shop and David's general store. On a Sunday afternoon in June, dozens of fans had gathered in Goodwood, about an hour outside Toronto, to bid farewell to "Schitt's Creek" — an event billed as "SchittCon."
Murphy said she and Daniel Levy were emotionally wrecked after leaving those sets. "As cheesy as it sounds," she said, "they have come to be really familiar, happy places over the years."
Back in his trailer, Levy had changed out of his costume — drop-crotch gray sweats and a black sweatshirt emblazoned with "ICON" in white block lettering — and into his own clothes, a gray crew neck and black jeans. His scenes finished for the day, he sat with an iced coffee sweating on the table before him and contemplated the end of "Schitt's Creek."
While he's aware that the show is likely to receive more attention than ever before in its final season, he also knows that stunning twists and big narrative swings have never been the "Schitt's Creek" style. Much like his onscreen alter ego, Levy no longer feels the pressure to prove himself. He's learned that sometimes that simplest approach is best.
"What I wanted for our series finale was just a great [expletive] episode of TV," he said. "I think that's all people want. They don't need a huge fireworks display. They just want to know that the characters are going to be O.K."


Bollywood is fast accepting the shocking reality that actors age, that there is life beyond colleges and pained stories of young love. and that overage actors need not play teenage college students. There was once a time when Baghban was a lone star in the universe of films depicting senior living.


A few years ago, the Walloon public broadcaster aired a breaking news item, on the occasion of the 1st of April, announcing Flanders had declared its independence. The reactions to this fictional news item varied greatly: while some viewers were outraged, others were panicking and internationally, not all media outlets understood the joke. Since 2007, when international media were covering the elections and the subsequent struggle to form a government and get out of the political padlock, the end of this tiny country has been the focus in many discussions. Belgium seemed unable to resolve its disputes and lost a lot of international confidence. To make things worse, the Flemish Liberal Party (Open VLD), after months of unsuccessful negotiations, stepped out of the federal government, causing its fall early this year. At exactly the moment that Belgium became president of the European Union and needs to help Europe find a solution for the deep economic crisis it is facing, the country is struggling, yet again, to assemble its own government. And with the surprising victory of the NVA, the New Flemish Alliance, could this be the end of Belgium as we know it?
Belgium is divided into linguistic areas. If we exclude the German-speaking area for a moment, we can say that the North (Flanders) is unilingual Dutch, the South (Wallonia) unilingual French and the capital, Brussels, bilingual. The country consists of 10 provinces, which also form the constituencies, with one exception: Flemish-Brabant. This province, part of the Flemish linguistic area, has been split into two constituencies, Leuven and Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde (B-H-V). B-H-V consists of the capital Brussels and its agglomeration, grouped under the name Halle-Vilvoorde (H-V). As Brussels is bilingual, many of the inhabitants in the surrounding H-V area speak French. Francophones in both Brussels and H-V are allowed to vote for Francophone parties from Wallonia and Brussels, despite the fact that H-V is unilingual Dutch. The other way around is impossible: Flemish parties that stand for election in B-H-V cannot get votes across the linguistic border for their list. In the fifties, Wallonia was renown for its thriving mining and steel industry. As this industry did not modernize its infrastructure adequately, it lost its ability to compete at an international level, while Flanders' industry was rising around the same time. During the last decennia unemployment and subsequently poverty in Wallonia have grown steadily and many Walloons have to be supported by social security, provided by the federal government of Belgium. The money for this is mainly provided by the Flemish industry and Flanders' taxpayers. The Flemish part of the country is growing tired of this one-way sponsorship, while Wallonia does not seem to want to change the current situation: it is neither able to provide the social security its inhabitants need, with unemployment rates twice as high as the national average, nor to improve their weak economy.
Belgium has been struggling for years to find an agreement on these issues, which is a prerequisite for many parties to even start talking about other issues. These problems can only be resolved by changing the constitution, which requires a two thirds majority in the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives; this majority also only counts if it consists of a majority in both linguistic communities. The search for an agreement on these topics has paralyzed Belgian politics and put governing the nation on hold, exacerbating problems such as the growing national economic deficit. Earlier this year, the Flemish Liberal party decided to step out of the coalition, causing the government to fall and new elections to be held earlier than anticipated. This action added to the voters' frustration about the political mess.
Combining all these elements, one should have noticed the signs of the "tsunami" that was about to hit Belgium. Many Flemish voters sought refuge to the one party that had been criticizing this situation all along: the New Flemish Alliance (NVA). This center-right oriented party, which only held a few seats in the Senate or the Chamber of Representatives until now, won the elections in Flanders with nearly 30% of the votes. In Wallonia, almost 40% of the voters have put their hopes in the the Socialist Party (PS). And still, the outcome of these elections was a wake-up call for everybody. The floodwave changed the political landscape completely and left a lot of casualties behind in every political party including budget cuts and resigning politicians. The two parts of the country have spoken with a clear voice and it is more obvious than ever that Belgian people live in a country with two completely different democracies, two different cultures and two different opinions. The presidents of both parties embody what the different linguistic communities feel the other one stands for: Bart De Wever (president of the NVA) sees nationalism and separatism as the solution to the current chaos and represents a Flemish part that is clearly in search of its identity; Elio Di Rupo (president of the PS) on the other hand embodies the kind of socialism the Flemish voters dislike, the long-term social security and support, which they perceive as the opposite of change and progress.
The international media often describes the NVA as a separatist party, with its only goal being Flemish independence. There is no denying that their programme reflects this idea, Bart De Wever claims he does not strive for complete independence at this stage. In the run-up to the elections, he clearly stated that his first priority is to find a solution for the problems that paralyze Belgium and at a later stage consider how Flanders can gain greater independence. Looking for a solution all political players are likely to support is probably the smartest move. He might have won the battle around the elections, but hasn't won the war yet.
With such a strong political voice in each part of the country, asking for the exact opposite, a solution seems very hard to find. However, both parties seem to realize that a profound change is necessary and that these elections could very well be the last opportunity. The extreme right party as an example lost a tremendous amount of voters to the NVA, a sign that Belgians are not asking for the end of Belgium as a country as we know it, but are giving the politicians a final chance to work it out. As long as Belgians are looking for a compromise, they are still looking for a solution as one country. With one strong voice on each side, a two thirds majority – necessary for the constitutional changes needed to stabilize Belgium – seems much more possible than with a large number of political voices that are in complete disarray.
The parties now face the challenge of finding a compromise. The NVA will have to prove that its main goal is indeed bringing back stability to Belgium and not only striving for Flemish independence. The PS on the other hand will have to show that they want to move forward and have understood that Flanders is asking for change in order to be willing to keep negotiating in the future. There is more at stake than just securing a victory in the next elections.
The Tsunami has left many casualties and changed the political landscape completely. It is too early to say how Belgium will recover, but whatever the outcome of the ongoing negotations will be, it will define the future of Belgium. "Historical" is a word that is used much too often, but there is no other word that better emphasizes the importance of this situation.


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Kelly Lawrence joins St. Augustine Realty
St. Augustine Realty is pleased to announce its association with Kelly Lawrence as a broker associate. Lawrence's extensive real estate experience blends her customer service background with a specialty in the use of technology and the internet for real estate listings and sales. She has a B.S. in marketing and communications from Regis University in Colorado. For exceptional service buying or selling a home, Lawrence may be reached by cell phone at 495-4300, the office at 824-3331 or on her website at Kelly.StAugustineRealty.com.
Cathleen Thomson joins St. Augustine Realty
St. Augustine Realty is pleased to welcome Cathleen "Cat" Thomson as a sales professional. Thomson brings more than 20 years of experience in business in Northeast Florida to the firm. With a background in running her own business, she understands how to deliver successful results. Her communication skills and attention to detail are already an asset to St. Augustine Realty as she brings her quality service to those selling or buying a home. Thomson may be reached directly by phone at 237-2440, the office at 824-3331 or on her website at Cat.StAugustineRealty.com.
Century 21 St. Augustine welcomes Bernard Wagner
Century 21 St. Augustine Properties Inc. recently announced that Bernard Wagner has joined their team of professionals. He comes with over 15 years of real estate experience with Century 21 in Southern California, selling mostly homes and vacant land.
Wagner and his wife moved to the St. Augustine area a few months ago and he joined Century 21 as soon as he completed licensure. Wagner comes from a long career in hotel management, from New York to Texas, Florida, California and Geneva, Switzerland. Swiss born, he is fluent in French and English and also has good knowledge of German and Spanish.
"Bernard is picking up all of the local details quickly in training sessions," said Dirk Schroeder, broker. "His background with Century 21 certainly puts him way ahead of the curve in terms of technology and gives him an edge in marketing properties. My observation is that he carries himself very professionally and has excellent communication skills. He will do very well in our profession. He is very excited to continue his career in real estate and to share his commitment to quality and guest satisfaction."
To reach Wagner, call the main office at 797-6000 or his cell phone at 760-242-6035 or email begnins9@hotmail.com.
Toni Smith joins Olde Carriage Realty
Michael DeLorenzo, broker of Olde Carriage Realty Inc., recently introduced Toni Smith as a new sales associate.
Smith will work out of the historic downtown office of Olde Carriage Realty, located at 92 Charlotte Street.
A St. Augustine native, Smith has a homegrown appreciation for the diverse landscape and abundant outdoor activities of our area. From the beaches, to the waterways, to historic downtown, the beauty of St. Augustine is exploring the many different terrains, whether you run, bike, fish or just want to enjoy the scenery.
Being a Realtor is a dream job for Smith, who gains personal and professional satisfaction from working with people to find their ideal home. Whether it is a first home or an investment property, buying real estate is an exciting process, and Smith is thrilled to draw on her extensive connections within the real estate industry to ensure customers access to the best opportunities. She encourages buyers to take their time finding a property to fit their lifestyle, and she provides them with the essential research to make a savvy decision.
Smith volunteers with children's charities and organizations, such as Give Kids a Smile, Sunshine Kids, Reading Readiness and Head Start. She is also an avid traveler, but always glad to come home to St. Augustine.
For more information, call Toni Smith at 392-8010 or email tsmith@oldecarriage.com.
Former Realtor of the Year joins Parkside Realty Group
Broker/owner Sam Perkovich is pleased to announce that Gail Downs has joined Parkside Realty Group.
"We are thrilled to have Gail join our office," Perkovich said. "She has lived in Flagler County for nearly two decades, so her knowledge of the area is invaluable."
Downs grew up in Central Florida and has an extensive knowledge of the coastal cities throughout Flagler and Volusia Counties. She moved from the Daytona Beach area to Palm Coast with her husband and son in 1998. She received her real estate license in 2001 and broker's license in 2002. She has earned specialty training in many different areas. She is involved in Rotary and was Realtor of the Year for Flagler County in 2015. She is a member and past board secretary, from 2014 to 2015, for the Flagler County Association of Realtors; a member and past club secretary for the Rotary Club of Flagler County; an alum of Leadership Daytona, class XX; and a former board member of the Flagler County Education Foundation.
Parkside Realty Group is located at 210 Old Kings Road, Suite 500, in Flagler Beach. For more information, call 386-693-4804 or go to palmcoasthomesforsale.net.
Markland to host Hard Hat Tour
Markland will host a Hard Hat Tour from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27.
Join a select group to preview Markland, which currently has the first phase of construction well underway. Come and meet Markland homebuilders, Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Cottage Home Company, Dream Finders Homes, Drees Homes, Providence Homes and Riverside Homes.
Get a sneak peek at floor plans, renderings and pricing information.
Bring the whole family. There will be a balloon artist, bounce house and face painter, along with shaved ice and food trucks.
RSVP by Feb. 26 for your chance to win a $500 VISA Gift Card.


This short video reviews how to drill down to uncover top candidates that are poised to outperform the markets. The concepts that are introduced are based on a proven system that was developed following many years of researching the common characteristics of winning stocks.
In addition to learning how to spot top stocks, you'll uncover how to pinpoint your entry point by buying these winning stocks as they pullback to key areas of support. Even more important, this video covers how to exit the stock so that you retain your profits and limit your losses. There are many examples that are reviewed in detail to help you in your trading.


Germany - Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt was filled with innovations and exciting experiences at the d&b stand and demo room this year. Featured on the stand was the d&b SL Series - GSL and KSL Systems, the d&b Soundscape, and new 'little wonder', the B8-SUB/Bi8-SUB, as well as the d&b enabling technologies, proving it's not just the big things that matter.
Visitors to the d&b booth had the opportunity to see the small B8-SUB/ Bi8-SUB for the first time. At a mere 170mm tall the subwoofer's low profile belies an exceptionally high performance to size ratio. It's a suitable fit for tight spaces, be they fixed installation or mobile production environments, reproducing frequencies from 43 Hz to 170 Hz.
In the d&b Soundscape demo room there was a real buzz with some very special guests; renowned theatre designer Sebastian Frost, Grammy award winning artist and engineer Imogen Heap, and Serge Gräfe, sound engineer and designer for Kraftwerk, all offering unique insights into their experiences with the d&b Soundscape in the My Soundscape sessions.
The daily Art and Engineering with the d&b Soundscape sessions also proved to be popular amongst guests eager to hear artists, sound designers and FoH mixers discuss their working experience with the d&b Soundscape.
Germany - MDG celebrated Prolight+Sound 2019 in Frankfurt with the first presentation in the country of its IP55-rated WPE Series of fog and haze generators. The ATMe WPE haze generator and Me1 WPE and Me2 WPE fog generators are rugged, non-stop, variable output, outdoor versions of their successful counterparts.
Housed in new black enclosures, the WPE Series has been designed to encase all the benefits of standard MDG haze and fog generators in a sturdy, yet discreet, black housing that can blend unobtrusively into a stage set up, indoors and outdoors. The WPE Series provides the ideal fog and haze solutions for theme parks, outdoor laser shows and the enormous number of outdoor festivals around the world.
The stand was packed with visitors for the duration of the show who witnessed demonstrations of a range of MDG atmospheric effects which included the full Me Series of fog generators, the ATMe haze generator and the award-winning theONE dual mode haze and fog generator. Also drawing the attention of young and old were the ICE FOG Series of low fog generators which were demonstrated in conjunction with a D-Verter and, to the amusement of young and old, the award-winning RFP Round Floor Pocket.
Germany - Portuguese acoustic treatment specialists Artnovion (distributed in the UK by Audio-Technica) unveiled two new product ranges at Prolight+Sound 2019.
The latest addition to the company's Pro Audio and Studio range, Orion is the culmination of extensive research into the optimisation of MLS sequences for calibrated acoustic absorption. An array of Orion absorbers create areas with a distinct acoustic response, each calibrated to work at a certain frequency range – the panel's performance begins at 315Hz and offers effective, even absorption to 3150Hz.
Using Helmholtz-style absorption techniques boosts mid-low and mid-range absorption, whilst the open areas of the panel are enough to guarantee high-frequency control. Designed for the studio world, where each surface is critical, the new Orion panels have been created to enable producers and engineers to maximise the sonic potential of their recording space.
Artnovion's new Antares absorber is the latest addition to studio designer Jan Morel's signature product line-up. The tapered slots of the panel create balanced mid-range absorption, whilst the panels' deceptively large absorption area guarantees high performance, high frequency absorption.
Germany - Robert Juliat, which celebrates its centenary in 2019, presented its SpotMe system at Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt. Robert Juliat's award-winning SpotMe bespoke solution for followspot technology was demonstrated with a new interface, the SpotMe Maestro, developed in partnership with zactrack of Austria. SpotMe Maestro allows the SpotMe system to operate universally with all DMX lighting consoles on the market.
USA - Focusrite has released RedNet Control 2.3, a free update that unifies RedNet Control with configuration, status monitoring, metering and extended operational control of the Red 4Pre, Red 8Pre, Red 16Line – Focusrite's range of audio interfaces offering up to 64 in / 64 out Thunderbolt™ I/O with Pro Tools | HD and Dante network audio connectivity.
Focusrite RedNet Control's Device View features a graphical representation of each device on the local network, giving critical feedback such as signal metering, clock status, power supply state and primary/secondary network connection state. RedNet Control is completely customizable, which allows for several users on the same network to have completely different views.
RedNet Control now also provides parameter control. This includes clock source selection, sample rate converter configuration and reference level setup. All the functions of Red mic pres can be controlled from the software.
USA - At this week's NAB Show in Las Vegas, Genelec is demonstrating a selection of its active monitors in an immersive 7.1.4 Atmos configuration.
USA - At NAB 2019, Shure has unveiled TwinPlex, the company's new line of premium subminiature (5 mm) omnidirectional lavalier and headset microphones. Designed to stand up to the toughest conditions, TwinPlex provides natural audio at both high and low frequency when professional vocal performance is a must.
The new patent pending capsule technology offers "best-in-class sound in an easy-to-conceal package, ideal for quick costume changes or discreetly placed under wardrobe with no impact on sound quality". Developed with input from leading audio professionals, TwinPlex supports the diverse needs of theatre, broadcast, film and television, and corporate presentations to produce high-quality audio production with superior dependability, says the company.
TwinPlex consists of four lavaliers (TL45, TL46, TL47, TL48) and an ultra-light, fully-adjustable headset microphone (TH53) in multiple colours with extensive accessories and options.
The dual-diaphragm omnidirectional design yields "extraordinary off-axis consistency and industry-leading low self-noise creating lifelike vocal clarity and warmth".
Germany - In step to streamlining the d&b workflow, d&b audiotechnik has launched d&b ArrayCalc Exchange software to simplify the import of complex venue geometry data from CAD and EASE into the ArrayCalc simulation software.
d&b ArrayCalc Exchange is a SketchUp extension that allows users to convert CAD and EASE files into an ArrayCalc venue file (*.dbacv) that can be imported directly into ArrayCalc.
d&b ArrayCalc Exchange supports system designers in mobile and fixed applications by simplifying the creation of complex venues in ArrayCalc. Selected elements are divided into triangles or quadrangles and converted into corresponding triangular or quadrangular planes that are used in ArrayCalc. Different layer name extensions are available, which will determine the input type of the single components from SketchUp in ArrayCalc.
ArrayCalc Exchange and a corresponding video tutorial are available as a free download via dbaudio.com.
Germany - The new RCF Business Music Solutions series offers a complete, matched family of products, with full processing power, to enable the design of commercial audio systems for both background and foreground music.
The integrated product suite has been conceived for applications requiring a high audio quality and flexible and scalable architecture, allowing distribution of different audio channels in different environments, each with their specific volume level and equalization needs.
The range was formally launched at this year's Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt where the full range of amps was on demo, in its own dedicated space.
The series is made up of compact DMA (Digital Mixing Amplifiers) and DPA (Digital Power Amplifiers). Fed by two channels amplifier modules, DMA and DPA drive either WMR (Wall Monitor speakers) or CMR (Ceiling Monitors), these two-way speakers equipped with either 4", 5" and 6" transducers, combined with 1" dome tweeter. Expanding the features further, and completing the set-up are the RC 401 Remote Control and BM 404 Paging Console.
The criteria set at the design stage were: uncompromised sound quality; full processing features; market leading power to size ratio; easy configuration and high scalability. The speakers also needed to have high aesthetic values - elegant when on display, discreet when not - while the amplifiers had to be rugged, highly efficient and with impressive thermal dissipation.
USA/Europe - Elation Professional has announced a new warranty policy that extends its standard limited product warranty to five years on LED light engine sources for some of its latest and most popular LED luminaires. In addition, warranty coverage on fixture components has been extended to three years for products used in registered indoor fixed installation projects.
The five-year/three-year limited warranty applies to Elation's Artiste, Fuze, KL Fresnel, Seven and Profile LED product series for indoor installation projects installed and maintained by an authorized reseller. Products used on temporary indoor rental projects also benefit from the extended five-year warranty on LED engine sources with warranty coverage on fixture components remaining at two years. All exterior-rated lighting products continue to be covered by Elation's standard two-year limited product warranty for the LED source and fixture components.


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Best Buy has an Xbox One X deal that's perfect for gamers
Image source: Xbox Wire
By Chris Smith @chris_writes
December 21st, 2017 at 8:00 PM
The Xbox One X may not be as hot a gift as Nintendo's Switch or the PS4, but it is the only one of the three that lets you play PlayerUnkown's Battlegrounds.
In case you don't know what PUBG stands for, then this Best Buy Xbox One X deal isn't for you. But you should still check it out, even if you're not a gamer. Someone in your family may be a PUBG enthusiast, and Christmas is almost here.
The Xbox One X costs $499.99 over at Best Buy, but the retailer is ready to throw in a code for a free digital download of PlayerUnkown's Battlegrounds: Game Preview Edition, as well as a $50 Best Buy e-gift card that you can use for other purchases. The deal is valid both in stores and online, and you might be lucky enough to get one for Christmas.
We'll point out that Microsoft also offers PUBG as a free download when you purchase a new Xbox One X, so this isn't a Best Buy-only sale. It's just that Best Buy offers a free gift card on top of the game download.
PUBG retails for $29.99, so you're looking at $80 in savings. Yes, you still have to pay $499.99 for Microsoft's best console, but the Best Buy gift card could pay for a different Christmas gift or a portion of it. Xbox Live Gold, which is required to play PUBG, costs $60 per year.
Head over to this link to check out Best Buy's Xbox One X sale. And be prepared to act fast. There's no telling when it expires.
Tags: Best Buy, PUBG, xbox one x
Chris Smith started writing about gadgets as a hobby, and before he knew it he was sharing his views on tech stuff with readers around the world. Whenever he's not writing about gadgets he miserably fails to stay away from them, although he desperately tries. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Face ID is the iPhone X feature users enjoy the most
By Yoni Heisler 1 day ago


The REDTOP high-performance AGM battery is the ultimate starting battery and is designed to deliver a strong burst of ignition power for a reliable start-up every time. It has high-power delivery and extreme resistance to the most common causes of battery failure.
The REDTOP high-performance AGM battery is ideal for trucks, SUVs, hot rods, street cars and other high-performance applications that require a spill-proof starting battery.


Would he keep his cool?
Would he pray for you?
Davy: Gene, he plays football.
?: Have a cool yule!
Jon Andersen: Come on in, Les. Les Fresholtz.
Davy: Les Fresholtz, the sound man.
Can't you hear the holy songs?
Merry Christmas, everybody! And a Happy New Year!