Creating an email list is the first step in creating notifications. Notifications allow custom emails to be sent to any user with the option of an attachment included. Email lists determine which users receive the email notifications. Email list administration can be accessed by clicking the link under the Workflow/Approval drop down menu.
Here all existing email lists are listed. User can create a new email list by clicking Add New. Specific users are added to email lists. All users an email list receive the notification sent with that email list. Email lists are well integrated with SAP CPQ and provide a high level of customization. All users and user groups added to the SAP CPQ database can be included in an email list. Custom emails not in the SAP CPQ database can also be entered. Dynamic tags can also be used to determine who gets a notification. Tags provide a way to send emails to users performing certain roles rather than specific predetermined users. Tags can be very useful for sending notifications for approval rule violations, supervision, and general updates. The tags are self explanatory and the user(s) fitting the selected tag gets the notification.
Four parameters are available to add email address to the email list: Users, User Groups, Emails, and Tags. All available parameters are displayed on the list boxes on the right, and the selected user/user groups/tags that would receive the email are displayed in the list boxes on the left. To move the appropriate item from the unselected section to the appropriate selected section, select the item and use the navigation button to move it to the selected section on the left. It is possible to use the navigation button to remove an item from the selected sections.
The Emails section allows entering a custom name and email. The name is optional, but a valid email address is required.
Note that moving an email address from the selected section to the unselected section in the Emails lists section deletes the email address.
User viewing the cart – The user that invokes the action requiring the email notification. This could be through the Other Quotes or Waiting for Approval tabs.
Responsible approvers – The user(s) assigned as the approver for the particular violation under Approval Rules.
Waiting approvers – The user(s) assigned as the approver for the particular violation under Approval Rules, who did not take any action yet - neither approve nor reject.
Approve Parent – The user assigned as the current user's Approval Parent under Users.
Managing Parent – The user assigned as the current user's Managing Parent under Users.
Ordering Parent – The user assigned as the current user's Ordering Parent under Users.
Once all the users that should receive an email notification are entered or selected, clicking Save will save the email list. Now notification of that email list can be created.
When you use Responsible Approvers tag in email lists, there is an application parameter that will control if the approver is going to receive a notification per each violated rule or only one notification for all violated rules. The parameter name is Remove duplicate approvers and can be found under Setup→General→Application Parameters, tab Shopping Cart and Quotes. If this parameter is set to yes, only one email will be sent to the approver per notification.
If dynamic tags are used to define recipients (i.e. "Approve parent") it is important to know that this user (i.e. Approve parent) will get a notification only if they are marked as 'active' in the administration.


text:
Bible > 1 Samuel > Chapter 12 > Verse 6
◄ 1 Samuel 12:6 ►
Then Samuel said to the people, "It is the LORD who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors up out of Egypt.
And Samuel said unto the people, It is Jehovah that appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
Then Samuel said to the people, "The LORD is the One who appointed Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
And Samuel said to the people: It is the Lord, who made Moses and Aaron, and brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt.
And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
Samuel said to the people, "It is Yahweh who appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
And Samuel saith unto the people, 'Jehovah -- He who made Moses and Aaron, and who brought up your fathers out of the land of Egypt!
1 Samuel 12:6 Additional Translations ...
1 Samuel 12:6 NIV
1 Samuel 12:6 NLT
1 Samuel 12:6 ESV
1 Samuel 12:6 NASB
1 Samuel 12:6 NKJV
1 Samuel 12:6 KJV

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: How to specify run-time link path on a CMake toolchain file? I am cross-compiling a library on a x86_64 Linux machine for a RaspberryPi using CMake. I have a working cross-compiler environment that works well, but the library I need has many dependencies. Rather than cross-compiling all of them, I have mounted the RaspberryPi filesystem over the network so that CMake can find everything it needs.
The problem is that, at linking time, gcc finds the directly depending libraries but not the runtime libraries and it fails to link, i e, gcc links to libFoo.so but it will complain of undefined symbols for libFoo.so that are in libBar.so. All of it can be resolved telling the linker to consider the runtime path, which in my environment means:
-Wl,-rpath-link,<path/to/libBar.so>
I can type that in my CMake toolchain file:
set(CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS -Wl,-rpath-link,<path/to/libBar.so>)
set(CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS -Wl,-rpath-link,<path/to/libBar.so>)
set(CMAKE_STATIC_LINKER_FLAGS -Wl,-rpath-link,<path/to/libBar.so>)

but I am sure there's a better way to do that. I have tried setting several CMake variables without success. Any help?
In case it helps,
I am using the latest CMake release, v. 3.24.2, I have mounted the RaspberryPi filesystem in <path/to/rootPi>, and I have created an extra folder <path/to/systemLibs> with symbolic links include and lib to <path/to/rootPi>/usr/include and <path/to/rootPi>/usr/lib/aarch64-linux-gnu which seemed to help CMake. My toolchain.cmake file reads:
# the name of the target operating system
set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME Linux)
set(CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR arm)

set(CROSS_DIR $ENV{CROSS_HOME})

# which C and C++ compiler to use
set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER ${CROSS_DIR}/bin/aarch64-linux-gcc)
set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER ${CROSS_DIR}/bin/aarch64-linux-g++)

# location of the target environment
set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH ${CROSS_DIR}/aarch64-linux
                         <path/to/rootPi/usr>
                         <path/to/systemLibs>
                         )

set(CMAKE_SYSROOT <path/to/rootPi>)

# the hardcoded flags I want to get rid of:
set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS -Wl,-rpath-link,<path/to/systemLibs>/lib)
set(CMAKE_MODULE_LINKER_FLAGS -Wl,-rpath-link,<path/to/systemLibs>/lib)
set(CMAKE_SHARED_LINKER_FLAGS -Wl,-rpath-link,<path/to/systemLibs>/lib)
set(CMAKE_STATIC_LINKER_FLAGS -Wl,-rpath-link,<path/to/systemLibs>lib)

set(CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH <path/to/systemLibs>)

set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_PROGRAM NEVER)
set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_PACKAGE ONLY)
set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_LIBRARY ONLY)
set(CMAKE_FIND_ROOT_PATH_MODE_INCLUDE ONLY)

After a fair amount of googling, I found that it could be related to a bug:
https://gitlab.kitware.com/cmake/cmake/-/issues/22953

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


We went to my favorite chain of restaurants in Tagaytay, for lunch we went to Antonio's Grill.
Mrs. Panda's Foodie Views:Antonio's Grill- the food is yummy :) good old home cooked pinoy food :)- the bulalo was served...not hot enought... yup,umuusok siya pero when you take a sip of the soup, its not that hot. E gusto pa naman namin sa bulalo yung super steaming hot. Hihi :)- the calamares was a major fail for me, parang doughnut siya, then the batter tasted like pancakes. - medyo matagal lang ang service that time.
i can totally relate :)) turned 30 last year. now for my birthdays, pabalik na yung bilang, so this year, 29 na ko.hahahaha! happy birthday mrs. panda. i agree, grow wiser and kinder ;) more blessings girl!


Sadly a regression slipped into our Serendipity 2.1.0 release, which made it impossible to reset a plugin configuration variable to a FALSE/empty state and indicate the proper state in the plugin configuration. We have fixed this in 2.1.1 and changed the release announcement to point directly to 2.1.1.
We are happy to announce the availability of the final release for Serendipity 2.1.1.
Rewrites in some older legacy parts of the core (URL routing, template fallback chain, experimental internal caching) as well as PHP 7 compatibility.
(new for final release) Addressed some more PHP 7.1 issues, fixed bugs with missing token for installing plugins and deleting comments. We mainly tested PHP 7.0 compatibility, but PHP 7.1 should work too.
(2.1.1) Fixed displaying the proper plugin configuration value when set to false/empty.
The next version of Serendipity will focus on supporting UTF8MB4 (for full emoji compatibiliy), responsive image insertion, consolidating our plugins. Our github issue tracker now also holds a new label "easyfix" which could be a great way of interested developers to get started with Serendipity and help us with development.
[Security] Improve preventing fetching local files, thanks to Xu Yue.
[Security] Prevent XSS in adding category and directory names, thanks to Edric Teo @smarterbitbybit, CVE-2016-9681.
Alongside a new Serendipity 2.1-beta3 version has been released, with the same fixes plus some more progress on the road to the 2.1 release.
In the past few months we have also worked a lot on rebuilding the presentation page of www.s9y.org. We have moved our infrastructure for this over to Github Pages in the s9y.github.io repository, and reworked a lot of our documentation to streamline and better structurize.
Additionally, this documentation repository is now open for any kind of pull requests and contributions, and will be easier to maintain. Our devs onli and yellowled worked hard on bringing the visual side of things up to par, as well as MarioH for moving a lot of text files, and we hope you like our efforts!


text:
If you don't want me looking, then don't go showing.
July 29, 2014 May 27, 2015 trishmercer 5 Comments
Once there was an artist who spent a great deal of effort creating a marvelous 3D work of art. The artist carefully selected paints and fabrics and materials, then spent hours combining it all into a masterpiece that the artist happily brought down to a busy city street.
The artist sat back on a bench to see how the work would be received. Soon someone walked by the structure and paused, squinting her eyes as if jealous. To this reaction, the artist smiled in smug satisfaction.
Others walked by completely ignoring the piece, and to that the artist harrumphed, insulted.
Still others came by and stopped, amazed. Some even got closer and said things such as, "Wow, that's amazing. How'd you do that?"
The artist evaluated those people before deciding how to react to their admiration. Sometimes the artist explained in great detail, or even showed off a bit more of the work, or—if the artist didn't deem the observer worth the time—would simply shrug them away and watch for more interesting observers.
Occasionally a particular person walked by, and the artist sat up taller, hoping that the work of art would capture that person's attention. Indeed, the entire project was intended solely in hooking that someone just like that.
However, another group stopped along that busy street, and stared and gawked at the work, to which the artist shrieked and shouted, "What do you think you're doing? Get away! Get away! Don't look!" The group, surprised and thinking that the art was there for everyone, sneered and left, but a few glanced back with sniggers and an unwelcomed comment or two.
By now you're probably wondering, "What the heck is wrong with that artist?" The piece of art was set out deliberately on display for everyone to see, so why did the artist respond in different ways to different people? And why, especially, the insistence that some people do NOT look?
Now, imagine the artist as a woman instead, and the piece of art she created is herself—dressed up, painted up, sexed up. She's spent hours putting herself together, and then by walking out in public, she puts herself on display.
This is something I've never understood, even though I've been a woman for 45 years: women want to be looked at, but only by certain people?
–If other women look at the artist-woman, with envy and even a bit of hatred, the artist-woman feels special, even a bit vindicated because she's become an object that other women wished to aspire to.
–If the artist-woman feels appreciated by those who look at her, she'll occasionally tell where she purchased that awesome top, or give away her secrets for those lush eyelashes—but only to those she deems worthy.
–And if the right man notices her—watch out. What will occur then will be a displaying ritual that would put a peacock or a sage grouse to shame. The woman-artist will preen and strut and bend over and giggle and toss her hair—usually within seconds—all in an attempt to be "noticed."
–However, if they're the wrong kind of man, someone the artist-woman doesn't find attractive (overweight, too old, too young, too ugly, too short, etc.) and he bothers to look, to comment, to even suggest dinner that night, suddenly she cries foul and even claims sexual harassment.
In any other situation, this rationale would border on psychosis—a split personality: you can stare at me, but he can't.
The moment the artist-woman stepped out of her home, she put herself on display. And once she does that, she cannot pick and choose whose gazes she'll welcome, and whose she won't. It's prejudice on the part of the woman to try to get the attention of one kind of man, but not the other, and even more duplicitous to press charges against one man for doing the same thing another did, but happened to be sexy enough to get away with it.
(Click on the photo for a link to the article. Sorry about these half-naked girls. They give me the creeps, too.)
Take, for example, the recent situation at the San Diego ComCon, where a number of women (Geeks for CONsent) were upset that people stared at them (you're in a crazy costume!), took pictures of them (because you're in a crazy costume!), and even groped (Ok, THAT'S crossing the line, I agree). (Click here to see some more of those costumes, and you'll see what I'm talking about.)
However, if you've even been to one of these conventions, you'll realize that costumes (cosplay) is a big factor of the event, and people take pictures of each other in admiration of the effort that went into the elaborate outfit, or in hope to recreate the same costume some day, or because they're shocked that someone would go out in public dressed in Princess Leia's Jabba the Hut gold bikini set. Again, touching is NOT ok, but really—you're going to throw a fit because you created a piece of art that people follow around to admire and take pictures of? So why did you put that art on display in the first place?
When you put yourself on display, you can't control who looks at you, or how, or why. You have the freedom to show off, but you don't have the freedom to control others' reactions to you.
That'd be me there, on the left, in the shadow where I couldn't frighten small children.
Believe it or not, all women are not ogled all the time. Being a frumpy, lumpy middle-aged woman, (I'd have to dress up as Jabba's female counterpart, Gardulla, if I went to Comic Con) I don't have this problem at all, so the argument can be made that I really don't know what I'm talking about.
However, I have beautiful daughters, and as a writer I'm also a people watcher (actually, I'm sort of a Dr. Frankenstein: I stalk people and steal from them physical and personality traits that eventually get pieced together to make up my characters).
What I've noticed is this: some females believe that they are being watched—all the time. While this is generally a teenaged trait, even some grown women are still narcissistic enough to believe every man is obsessed with her. Even if a hapless male just glances in their direction, perhaps mistaking them for someone else, or trying to find the quickest route through the store, these females automatically label him a "perv," while unconsciously still trying to get attention. I've observed this behavior enough to realize that 99% of the time, no male was actively looking at the female, but that's not how the female sees it.
People look at each other all the time. Usually, it means nothing more than, "I don't want to crash into you," or "You're blocking my view of the menu."
But I've observed something else that goes back to my rant last week about feeling guilt: if women feel uncomfortable with others "seeing" them, then they're likely not dressed appropriately. At some level, they are self-conscious; otherwise, they wouldn't be so overly sensitive to others seeing them. (Even Carrie Fisher was very uncomfortable in her Princess Leia gold bikini get-up.)
Here's something to consider: If you feel uncomfortable in how you're dressed, and if you think others staring at you because of how you're dressed, maybe you shouldn't be dressed that way.
As I wrote last week, often we think we shouldn't have to feel guilty about things; the same thing happens here. The women's movement from decades ago convinced us that we should be able to dress as skankily as we want and not suffer from any consequences.
Not so.
The women I know who feel uncomfortable and fear they're being watched do so because—I suspect–deep down they feel inappropriate. Our bodies are gifts—marvelous creations of our Heavenly Father that He wants us to keep as a treasure: sacred and respected. Think about anything you truly love and admire; usually, you keep those things protected and safeguarded. You don't go running around showing it off everywhere, because that cheapens it, sets it up to be denigrated by those who don't appreciate it as much as you do, and also leaves it open to be stolen and abused.
The same thing should go for our bodies. No, I'm not a prude; I have nine children, and enjoy the process of getting them. But I don't have to show off my assets to prove that I have them, nor do I expose parts of me for . . . honestly, I really don't know why women show off their bodies to the world at large. I don't understand why they insist on taking something so personal, so private, so potentially marvelous, and turn it into something average, like turning gold into aluminum.
Now, let me make it perfectly clear that I am not blaming women for the abuse they may suffer by men. There is no free card for allowing rape, or groping, or not accepting "No!" as an answer. Men are solely responsible for their actions. But women—we have to admit, as uncomfortable as it may make us—sometimes, we go advertising. So we can't claim to be surprised when someone answers those ads.
No matter what your cultural/religious/ethnic upbringing, I believe there is something inborn in every female that wants to protect her body and keep it private and sacred, to be shared with only one chosen person in the right ways and at the right times.
But every time we females shove that instinct down, and instead insist that we can—and even should—flaunt that which should be kept precious, we create a conflict within us.
That conflict is the root of our anger, of our frustration, of our guilt, and of our tears. I'll go so far as to suggest this anger, which we so often throw at others who leer and whistle and even grope inappropriately, is misplaced anger.
Our anger, really, is with ourselves, because we cheapened ourselves first, and gave the world permission to gawk.
If we don't want people looking, we shouldn't go showing.
Sareen, beaming and bouncing, with her tunic still embarrassingly low, kneeled in front of Shem in obeisance.
Then he had no choice but to look down at Sareen.
Mahrree considered the angle and winced in empathy for Shem. Sareen had made sure she planted herself right where she could make the most of her exposed—
"Oh honestly, Sareen!" Mahrree murmured in exasperation. "Where's your cloak?"
Despite the chill in the air, Sareen seemed determined to show Shem exactly what she had to offer. Not surprisingly, several soldiers had converged around Shem to share in the view.
. . . For the moment, Sareen was happy for the attention that, someday, she'd realize she didn't really want. ~Book 2, Soldier at the Door
Children, family, Just ranting . . .Comic Con, don't judge me, inappropriate dress, modesty
← Don't judge me=I'm already feeling guilty
Suicide is rational–in its own mind →
5 thoughts on "If you don't want me looking, then don't go showing."
Thank you for writing this! This is exactly what I have thought, and tried to teach my children, but I have never been able to phrase it as well as you did. It is so unreasonable to dress in a way designed to attract sexual attention, and then complain when you get it. I hate it when women act so illogically – it makes the rest of us look bad by association.
Agreed, and seconded.
Denny Sinnoh says:
Now I feel guilty that I was ogling the Fantastic Four's "Invisible Girl".
I truly laughed out loud at that!
Thanks. But just to be clear: I do not want anyone to ever be harassed for any reason. … and unwanted physical contact is a big, big no no.


Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so that they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you really need to do, in order to have what you want.
Imagine for a moment what life could be like if you spent your days doing things that mattered to you. What if you were able to spend your time completely engaged in your daily activities, consumed by a sense of purpose so strong that you were invigorated, motivated, and inspired?
Why is it that some of us manage to lead lives filled with passion and meaning, while the rest of us suffer through corporate 9-5 jobs, wishing the hours away until we are released from the shackles of triviality and drudgery?
Just what is the missing puzzle piece to a good and fulfilling life? To find the answer, you must first answer an important question. A question that can be answered by no one else but you.
You are not who you think you are. You are not your job. You are not the numbers in your bank account. You are not your fears, your thoughts or your emotions. You are not who other people expect you to be. You are not the box society has pigeonholed you into. You are unlimited potential.
Only when you know yourself can you get a sense of what really matters to you, what fulfills you at the core, and what makes your heart sing. If you do not know what you truly seek, then you will be condemned to chasing after the wrong things, only to find that the prize was only an illusion. The key to unlocking fulfillment and happiness is to know what really matters to you, and center your life around pursuing those things.
There is a voice inside you that is constantly guiding you. It pulls you in the right direction and urges to make good choices. How often do you listen to that voice? That voice is not the fearful whisper that keeps you in your comfort zone. It is the voice calling you towards your heart's real desire, towards light and growth. It is the gut instinct you override because you don't trust yourself. But it is always there, has your best interests at heart, and is always speaking to you. Are you ready to hear what your true, authentic self has to say?
You are constantly reacting to the world around you. Have you ever stopped to ponder why you behave the way you do? Suppose you walk by an acquaintance on the street. Do you excitedly say hello, or shrink away hoping he won't notice you? Suppose you promised yourself you would wake up at 8am. Do you hit the snooze button or wake up when the alarm goes off? We are constantly reacting to our environment. Some reactions might be appropriate, others hold us back. Observe yourself. Are your actions taking you in the direction you wish to go, or are you stopping yourself?
Following your bliss isn't about just about doing whatever you like. It is about identifying a cause which you are truly passionate about and putting your all into pursuing it. In doing so, you will unleash your potential, feel yourself come alive, and serve the world in the way only you can. Pursue your true calling and doors will open where none existed before. If you do not yet know what your bliss is, listen to yourself. What excites you to your core? Then act. Take a step towards your dream. Through action comes clarity.
Still feeling stuck? There are ways to overcome that. You don't have to figure this out all by yourself. Sometimes simply having a chat could shine light on your blind spots and bring awareness to your situation, empowering you to move forward. Whether it's a life coach, mentor, or friend, ask for help and be open to whatever shows up for you. You can also deepen this conversation through coaching.
Feeling lost? Here's how to gain clarity.


text:
Articles in May 2016
40 Contestants Pounce on 800-Pound Wedding Cake to Find the $2K Diamond Engagement Ring Baked Inside
Decked out in their "Star 98 Diamond Dive" T-shirts, 40 wildly enthusiastic contestants pounced on a 6-foot-tall, 800-pound wedding cake to try to find a $2,000 diamond engagement ring that was baked inside.
They destroyed the cake in a matter of seconds as onlookers at the Grand Teton Mall in Idaho Falls, Idaho, this past Saturday watched in amazement. A video of the event shows the cake being enveloped by a sea of humanity.
The 2nd Annual Diamond Dive was sponsored by local radio station Star 98 in conjunction with a local baker, who designed the cake, and a local jeweler, who provided the jewelry. In all, 16 rings were hidden in the cake, 15 of which were non-precious and represented other prizes. The grand prize was a genuine .50-carat princess-cut diamond engagement ring.
In order to qualify for the Diamond Dive, listeners of Star 98 had to call the station at designated times, starting on April 18. Forty people were eventually selected to participate in the messy, no-holds-barred cake-diving event.
To make the massive cake, the baker's team had to use 165 cake mixes, 54 dozen eggs, 192 pounds of sugar, 72 pounds of shortening and a quart of cake flavoring.
As the excitement unfolded on Saturday, the only person who knew the exact location of the diamond ring was the baker.
As if describing an Olympic event, Star 98 program manager Preston Lee joked to Local News 8, "So these are dedicated people. They've been training. They've been warming up for the past few years. Now, all that training is coming together for one moment, for the diamond dive."
All 16 rings were found within 15 minutes, and emerging victorious with the genuine engagement ring was Nick Musetti, who admitted he didn't have a significant other.
"I'm thinking about selling it because I don't have anyone to give it to," he lamented.
Check out the fun video below...
Images: Screen captures via YouTube; Facebook/Sugar Shell; Facebook/Star 98.
Jewelry Remains the Top Gift-Giving Category for Mother's Day; Spending to Exceed $4.2 Billion
Americans will be spending more than $4.2 billion on jewelry gifts for their moms this Mother's Day, according to survey results just released by the National Retail Federation. That dollar amount places "jewelry" at the top of all gift categories — a place it has occupied for four of the past five years.
The survey revealed that 35.4% of adults have jewelry on their Mother's Day shopping lists this year, up from 34.2% in 2015 and 31.7% in 2014. Nearly four in 10 men (39.2%) plan to purchase a jewelry item for the special moms in their world, while 31.7% of woman plan to do the same.
The average cost of a Mother's Day jewelry gift will be $95.71, with men expecting to spend $117.79 and women $69.82.
Total Mother's Day gift spending is expected to reach $21.4 billion in 2016, up slightly from $21.2 billion in 2015. Overall, men will spend $197.77 on Mother's Day gifts this year, while women will spend $147.99.
While jewelry remains to top category in terms of dollars spent, other strong categories include "special outings" ($4.1 billion), flowers ($2.4 billion), gift cards ($2.2 billion), consumer electronics ($1.9 billion), apparel ($1.9 billion) and personal services, such as spa treatments ($1.6 billion).
Mother's Day greeting cards are still a gifting staple, with 78% of consumers reporting that they will buy a card for their moms. Total spending on cards will reach $792 million in 2016, according to the NRF.
The biggest spenders this Mother's Day are expected to be 25- to 34-year-olds ($248.88). Their 18- to 24-year-old counterparts plan to spend an average of $188.87.
Mother's Day continues to draw wide interest and participation across all demographic groups. Overall, 84.4% of adults surveyed said they would be celebrating Mother's Day in 2016. That participation rate grows to about 95% for adults 18 to 34.
"Mother's Day is the time when millions of Americans find special ways to express their love and gratitude for Mom," said analyst Pam Goodfellow of Prosper Insights & Analytics, which conducted the survey of 7,000 consumers for the NRF. "While many will spend a little more than usual to pamper her, some consumers will provide unique experience gifts for the entire family to enjoy together."
Don't forget: Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 8!
Image: Bigstockphoto.com
'Impossibly Rare' Violet Diamond Could Fetch $5 Million or More
Described as "impossibly rare" and "a complete fluke of nature," the largest violet diamond ever found at Australia's Argyle mine could sell for $5 million or more.
The 2.83-carat polished oval-shaped diamond, known as The Argyle Violet, will headline the 2016 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, the annual showcase of the rarest diamonds from the Argyle mine in Western Australia.
The Rio Tinto-owned mine generates more than 90% of the world's pink diamonds, and on rare occasion will yield a violet stone. In the past 32 years, Argyle has produced only 12 carats of polished violet diamonds for its annual tender. In fact, before the discovery of The Argyle Violet, the mine had delivered just one other 1-carat-plus violet-colored diamond — and that was in 2008.
The Argyle Violet is "a complete fluke of nature," Josephine Archer from Argyle Pink Diamonds told Yahoo7 News.
Rio Tinto's general manager of sales Patrick Coppens added, "Impossibly rare and limited by nature, The Argyle Violet will be highly sought after for its beauty, size and provenance."
Argyle's master polisher Richard How Kim Kam worked for more than 80 hours cutting the 9.17-carat oddly-shaped rough diamond into its perfectly symmetrical final form. More than 69% of the diamond's weight was lost during the cutting process.
The Argyle Violet was assessed a color grade of "Fancy Deep Greyish Bluish Violet" by the Gemological Institute of America. Violet diamonds owe their unique color to the presence of hydrogen atoms in the chemical composition of the stone.
Experts believe The Argyle Violet is sure to attract offers of $1 million to $2 million per carat at Argyle's annual tender. That would put its selling price somewhere between $2.8 million and $5.6 million.
Argyle Pink Diamonds manager Josephine Johnson said, "We are very excited to announce this historic diamond ahead of our Tender launch. This stunning violet diamond will capture the imagination of the world's leading collectors and connoisseurs."
Credits: Images courtesy of Rio Tinto.
Smithsonian's 75-Carat Hooker Emerald Was Once Mounted Into a Sultan's Belt Buckle
One of the world's most spectacular examples of May's official birthstone is the 75.47-carat Hooker Emerald, an historic gem that was once mounted into the belt buckle of an Ottoman sultan.
Today, it is beautifully displayed in a platinum brooch adorned with 109 brilliant-cut diamonds weighing approximately 13 carats. When Janet Annenberg Hooker donated the piece in 1977 to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., it was valued at $500,000. Based on inflation alone, today it would be worth $2.03 million.
If the name Janet Annenberg Hooker sounds a bit familiar, it may be because the renowned philanthropist and publishing heiress was the principal benefactor of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Her cash donation to the museum of $5 million allowed for the construction of a fabulous gallery, which was named the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals.
The emerald brooch designed by Tiffany & Co. is an open-ended circular band of platinum. The two ends of the band curl outward into scrolls and are connected by a large round brilliant-cut diamond. Spokes cross the band and converge in the center, forming the setting for the Hooker Emerald.
The emerald was mined in Colombia in the 16th or 17th century and was sent to Europe by Spanish conquistadors to be cut and polished. The gem was sold to the ruling family of the Ottoman Empire and became part of the crown jewels during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II (1876-1909). The sultan reportedly wore the emerald mounted into his belt buckle.
In 1908, the emerald was smuggled to Paris on behalf of the sultan, who hoped the proceeds from its sale would ensure him a comfortable life in exile should he be dethroned by a revolution. The sultan never received the anticipated windfall. The money raised by the sale of the gem went to the succeeding government.
The massive emerald had been auctioned to Tiffany & Co, which initially set it in a tiara. Despite its beauty, the tiara remained unsold for decades. In 1950, the emerald was re-set into a brooch that included matching earrings. Five years later, the brooch was purchased by Hooker. In 1977, she donated it to the Smithsonian.
The Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals that was named in her honor was officially opened in September of 1997, just three months before she passed away at the age of 93.
Lush green emeralds have excited legions of gem admirers for thousands of years. The first emerald mines were in Egypt, and Cleopatra was known to favor this, the most famous member of the beryl family. The name "emerald" comes indirectly from the ancient Greek word for green, "smaragdos." Ancient Romans believed emerald could relieve eyestrain, and the grass-green emerald was said to be one of the four precious stones given by God to King Solomon.
Besides being the birthstone for the month of May, it's also the official gemstone for 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.
Credit: Hooker Emerald by Chip Clark, courtesy Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History; Sultan Abdul Hamid II (public domain).
Music Friday: Teardrops Turn Into Precious Gems in Kelita's Inspirational Song of Inner Healing, 'Tears'
Welcome to Music Friday when we often bring you uplifting songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Canadian recording artist Kelita performs "Tears," an inspirational song about inner healing and overcoming adversity.
In this song, Kelita compares herself to a sparrow with broken wings. But, instead of accepting her fate of never being able to "fly," she describes how the Holy One will take away the pain by cradling her teardrops and transforming them into precious stones.
She sings, "Shimmering diamonds, rubies of red / Bright as the blood that my dear Savior shed / Emeralds of green, sapphires of blue / He'll take away your teardrops / Turn them into jewels."
"Tears" first appeared in 2000 on Kelita's Naked Soul album, a work that earned a nomination for a Juno Award (Canada's version of a Grammy) for Best Gospel Album. Kelita also included the song as the final track of her Heart of a Woman album in 2010.
Born Kelita Haverland in Alberta, Canada, the singer/songwriter/actress/comedian draws her strength from having overcome a series of seemingly insurmountable life challenges. As a child, she suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her sibling. Her alcoholic father committed suicide and then her mother died from cancer. Her abusive sibling later died from a heroin overdose, and Kelita nearly lost her own life in a terrible auto accident.
Kelita's official website explains that the artist writes, sings and speaks what is gleaned from her own life experiences. From a relentless life of tragedy to triumph, the lessons are shared with a transparency and honesty that engages, encourages and inspires. Her ability to touch and penetrate the hearts of audiences is what drives her success.
Kelita is credited with giving the first break to an aspiring 19-year-old singer name Eileen Twain. The teenager from Timmins, Ontario, sang backup on Kelita's hit song, "Too Hot to Handle." Today, that up-and-coming young singer is known as Shania Twain.
We know you will enjoy the audio clip of Kelita singing "Tears." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...
"Tears"
Written and performed by Kelita Haverland.
Tiny little sparrow fell from the tree
Sometimes I feel that little wounded sparrow is me
Tiny broken wings that never will fly
I wonder does her little heart know how to cry
Does her heart know how to cry
Are her tears gently falling inside
Crying tears she's been trying to hide
Does her heart know how to cry like mine
Warm velvet words poured like sweet honey from his tongue
Until tonight I'd never heard the Holy one
He said that he would cradle every teardrop in His hand
He'd take away their pain and turn them into precious gems
Jesus knows the tears that you've cried
And he has seen them falling inside
Crying tears you've been trying to hide
Jesus knows the tears that you've cried like mine
Bridge:
Shimmering diamonds, rubies of red
Bright as the blood that my dear Savior shed
Emeralds of green, sapphires of blue
He'll take away your teardrops
Turn them into jewels
Jesus knows, Jesus knows, Jesus knows the tears that you've cried like mine
Credit: Promotional image via www.kelita.com.
1,109-Carat 'Lesedi la Rona' Diamond Expected to Fetch $70M+ at Sotheby's London on June 29
The greatest diamond find in more than a century — the 1,109-carat gem-quality "Lesedi la Rona" — is expected to fetch at least $70 million when it goes under the hammer at what promises to be an electrifying stand-alone sale at Sotheby's London on June 29.
The $70 million figure would set a record for the highest price ever paid for a gemstone at auction, surpassing the $48.5 million achieved by the 12.03-carat Blue Moon of Josephine diamond at Sotheby's in November of 2015.
In its current rough state, Lesedi La Rona is the size of a tennis ball. When cut and polished, it could yield a D-color diamond weighing more than 400 carats. The current record for the largest top-quality faceted diamond in existence is held by the 530.20-carat Great Star of Africa, which was the largest of nine diamonds carved from the legendary 3,016-carat Cullinan Diamond more than a century ago. The Great Star of Africa is now part of the British Crown Jewels.
Unearthed by Lucara Diamond Corp. at its Karowe mine in Botswana in 2015, Lesedi la Rona means "Our Light" in the Tswana language spoken by the Botswana people. Sotheby's is calling Lesedi la Rona "The Diamond of a Lifetime."
When we first wrote about Lesedi la Rona in November 2015, Lucara had reported its weight to be 1,111 carats. The new weight of 1,109 reflects a loss of 2 carats during the cleaning process, which is normal, a Sotheby's spokesperson told NationalJeweler.com.
According to the Gemological Institute of America, the Lesedi la Rona's "top color and transparency exemplify the 'limpid' appearance commonly associated with Type IIa diamonds" – a rare and coveted subgroup which comprises less than 2% of all gem diamonds. Stones in this group are "the most chemically pure and often show extraordinary optical transparency."
Independent reports on the potential yield of the rough have stated that the Lesedi la Rona may have the potential to yield the largest top-quality diamond that has ever been cut and polished.
"The Lesedi la Rona is simply outstanding and its discovery is the find of a lifetime," commented David Bennett, Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby's Jewelry Division. "It is a huge honor for Sotheby's to have been entrusted with its sale. Every aspect of this auction is unprecedented. Not only is the rough superlative in size and quality, but no rough even remotely of this scale has ever been offered before at public auction."
The Lesedi la Rona will be on view at Sotheby's London from June 18-28, ahead of its auction in the evening of June 29.
Credits: Donald Bowers/Getty Images for Sotheby's.
Utah Man's Romantic Proposal Takes Unexpected Turn When Girlfriend Opens an Empty Ring Box
They say, "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry" and that's certainly the case for Greg Nottingham, whose perfectly planned marriage proposal took an unexpected turn of epic proportions.
The Provo, Utah, resident had picked a glorious day, the perfect diamond engagement ring and a scenic riverside setting for a romanic picnic with his girlfriend of five years, Sax Brinkley, and their dog, Bella. What's more, he also arranged for some friends to secretly photograph the exact moment Nottingham would pop the question to the love of his life.
At first, everything seemed to be going swimmingly.
When the timing was just right, Nottingham smoothly pulled a ring box from his jacket pocket and went down on one knee. As he opened the box, it became frighteningly clear that something very important was missing.
"There's nothing in it," exclaimed Brinkley as her mortified boyfriend froze in horror.
Fortunately for Nottingham, Brinkley has a wonderful sense of humor. All she could do was chuckle at the classic blunder.
Trying to make the best of a bad situation, Nottingham joked, "This is the part where I get down on one knee and show you a really pretty ring."
Nottingham had picked up the wrong box on his way to the picnic and left the actual engagement ring at home.
Despite the epic goof, Nottingham was undaunted as he continued with the marriage proposal — ring or no ring.
"Will you be mine forever and always, and for the rest of your life?" he asked.
"Yes, yes," she answered.
Then he lifted her into his arms.
As their friends filmed the couple, Brinkley wore a wide grin and repeated, "He forgot the ring! He forgot the ring!"
Later, Nottingham explained the circumstance that led to the embarrassing situation...
"I got the wrong box," he said. "Before I left the house, I put this coat on and just felt the pocket, which had a box in it. I didn't think to check it. The box I picked up was the gift box. The box with the ring [was] in another jacket."
After the picnic, the couple dashed home so Nottingham could give Brinkley her engagement ring. From the photo posted on Brinkley's Facebook page, it was clear the bride-to-be loved her new bling.
Despite the happy ending, Nottingham realized that his embarrassing story is now part of marriage proposal folklore.
"I'll have to live with that moment for the rest of my life," he said. Check out the video at The Daily Mail...
Credits: Video screen capture via Mail Online; Facebook/Saxanie Brinkley.
'The Constellation' Sets Rough Diamond Price Record; 813-Carat Stablemate of 'Lesedi la Rona' Sells for $63M
Back in November of 2015, Canada-based Lucara enjoyed an uncanny stroke of good luck when its workers discovered two enormous gem-quality rough diamonds at its Karowe Mine in Botswana. The pair tipped the scales at a combined 1,922 carats — or just shy of a 14 ounces.
The larger of the two — the 1,109-carat Lesedi la Rona — will be offered for sale at Sotheby's London on June 29. The smaller of the two — The Constellation — just set a record when the 813-carat gem was purchased by Dubai-based Nemesis International for $63.1 million. It was the highest price ever paid for a rough diamond.
The record is likely to be short lived because the Lesedi la Rona is expected to fetch at least $70 million in London. If Lesedi la Rona earns the same $77,649 per-carat as its Lucara stablemate, it is likely to garner upwards of $86 million.
Both diamonds have been rated Type IIa by the Gemological Institute of America. Diamonds in this rare and coveted subgroup are chemically pure and often show extraordinary optical transparency.
As part of the deal with Nemesis International, Lucara retained a 10% interest in the net profit from the sale of the faceted diamond (or diamonds) The Constellation will yield after cutting and polishing.
Lesedi la Rona is being billed by Sotheby's as "The Diamond of a Lifetime" because it's the biggest rough diamond to be unearthed in more than a century. Only the 3,016-carat Cullinan Diamond, discovered in 1905, was larger. The Constellation, at 813 carats, is the sixth largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, according to NationalJeweler.com.
It's hard to imagine how improbable it was for Lucara to secure two such extraordinary diamonds within days of each other in the same area of a single diamond mine — in this case, the south lobe of the Karowe Mine.
Credits: Facebook/Lucara Diamond Corporation.
Pop the Question, Then Eat the Ring Box — Because It's Made of Pizza
As a clever sequel to his two outrageous pizza innovations — the pizza-topped pizza and the pizza-box pizza — Sean Berthiaume of Vinnie's Pizzeria in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, introduced a mini pizza-box pizza that's designed to hold an engagement ring.
Imagine popping the question using one of Berthiaume's culinary masterpieces and then sealing the deal by gobbling the delicious box like the pooches in the spaghetti scene from Disney's Lady and the Tramp.
Along with a photo of the new creation, Vinnie's Pizzeria posted this caption to its Instagram page: "Mini Pizza Box Pizza for the pizza lover on the go. Handheld, for your pleasure. Great for a quick snack or use it to propose to your significant other, whatever you'd like!"
Berthiaume's engaging personality and outrageous menu items have earned tons of publicity for the Vinnie's Pizzeria locations in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Last June, talk show host Jimmy Kimmel of Jimmy Kimmel Live! called Berthiaume an "American hero" for inventing the pizza-topped pizza. Via a live feed from the Williamsburg pizzeria, Kimmel interviewed the proprietor in a hilarious five-minute segment, during which Berthiaume explained exactly what goes into the pizza and how he came up with the idea.
Then, last month, the innovative pizza proprietor shook up the internet when he revealed the pizza-box pizza, a product that is delicious and environmentally friendly.
"I get ticked off when people ask for a box when they're eating here," Berthiaume told BuzzFeed.com. "There's no point. It fills the trash can. So I thought, 'What if you could just eat the box?'"
So, Berthiaume designed a box made of pizza that holds, you guessed it, another pizza. The pizza-box pizza is composed of three parts: the box, which is a Sicilian pizza; the box top, which is made of garlic bread; and the contents — the requested pizza.
He told BuzzFeed.com that it takes about an hour to make a pizza-box pizza, compared to the normal 10 to 15 minutes for a regular pizza. The pizza-box pizzas are priced accordingly at $40 each.
Before you run out to Vinnie's to get engaged, please note that the mini pizza-box pizza is an off-the-menu item and must be ordered in advance.
Credits: Instagram.com/vinniesbrooklyn.
Music Friday: 'You Give Back Your Ring to Me, And I Will Set You Free,' Sings John Lennon in 'Anna'
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great throwback songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. In today's selection, John Lennon of The Beatles performs the lead vocals to "Anna," the third track of the legendary group's 1963 debut album, Please Please Me.
In the song, Lennon woefully accepts the fact that his girlfriend is in love with another man. He sings, "Anna, just one more thing girl / You give back your ring to me / And I will set you free / Go with him."
Written and originally recorded by Arthur Alexander, "Anna" was a favorite of Lennon, who recommended that The Beatles cover it for Please Please Me. When Alexander released his version in 1962, it peaked on the Billboard chart at a modest #68. One year later, it would be included on one of the most famous albums of all time — a work that would launch the careers of The Fab Four.
The album Please Please Me was released in the U.K. in March 1963 and in the U.S. in January of 1964 by Vee-Jay Records under the name Introducing... The Beatles. Interestingly, the U.S. version stalled for nine weeks at #2 on the Billboard album chart. The #1 album during the same period was Meet The Beatles on Capitol Records.
Music critics noted that Lennon's raspy vocals on "Anna" reflected a "tortured pain." One explanation is that Lennon had a terrible cold during the historic session of February 1, 1963, when The Beatles recorded 11 songs in 10 hours.
Another oddity about the song is its subtitle (Go to Him). The lyrics of both Alexander's and The Beatles' versions clearly state "Go with him."
The Beatles went on to become the best-selling band in history, with 177 million certified records in the U.S. and 600 million records worldwide.
We invite you to enjoy the audio track of Lennon and The Beatles performing "Anna." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along.
"Anna (Go to Him)"
Written by Arthur Alexander. Performed by The Beatles.
Anna, you come and ask me girl
To set you free, girl
You say he loves you more than me
So I will set you free
Go with him
(Anna)
Anna, girl, before you go now
I want you to know now
That I still love you so
But if he loves you more
All of my life
I've been searching for a girl
To love me like I love you
Oh, now
But every girl I've ever had
Breaks my heart and leaves me sad
What am I, what am I supposed to do?
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Anna, just one more thing girl
You give back your ring to me
And I will set you free
But let me tell you now
You can go with him girl
Credit: The Beatles promotional image.
Ultra-Rare 'Aurora Green' Diamond Could Fetch the Highest Price Per Carat Ever for Any Gemstone
And the amazing diamonds just keep coming... On May 31, Christie's Hong Kong will be putting up for bid the "Aurora Green," an ultra-rare fancy vivid green diamond that could set a new auction record for the highest price per carat ever paid for any gemstone.
Christie's estimated the rectangular-shaped 5.03-carat Aurora Green to be valued between $16.2 million and $20.1 million, or at the high end about $4 million per carat. The current record holder is the "Blue Moon of Josephine," a 12.03-carat vivid blue diamond that sold in November 2015 for $48.5 million, or $4.03 million per carat.
Experts believe the Aurora Green has a legitimate shot at breaking the record at Christie's Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale because of its combination of rarity, size, color and quality. The green gem, which owes its color to the natural radiation present during its formation inside the earth, is the largest, natural fancy, vivid green diamond in the world. "Vivid" is the most saturated color intensity for green diamonds, and while "fancy intense" green diamonds come to auction frequently, "fancy vivid" green diamonds are almost unheard of.
Asian bidders might be particularly attracted to the Aurora Green because that color symbolizes health, prosperity and harmony in Chinese culture.
According to the Diamond Investment & Intelligence Center, the only other time a fancy vivid green diamond has come to auction was in the midst of the global financial crisis in 2009. In November of that year, Sotheby's sold a 2.52-carat fancy vivid green diamond at its Geneva event for $3.07 million.
The Aurora Green diamond is presented in a pink diamond halo setting. The Gemological Institute of America described the green gem as a "cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant" with a clarity of VS2.
Vickie Sek, Christie's deputy chairman and head of jewels for Asia, told ARTINFO that the Aurora Green got its name from nature's phenomenal light shows — the aurora borealis and aurora australis, also known as the Northern or Southern Lights. She said the diamond's saturated color and scintillation emulates the "magical display of dancing lights that can only be seen above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres."
"While the auroral displays appear in a spectrum of colors, the vibrant, vivid greens are the most anticipated and admired," she said.
Credits: Aurora Green images courtesy of Christie's. Northern lights by Varjisakka (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons.
Red-Hot Chicago Cubs Slugger Anthony Rizzo Assists With Surprise Marriage Proposal
Chicago Cubs slugger Anthony Rizzo showed off his tender side on Saturday when he assisted lifelong fan, Steve Milsap, with a surprise marriage proposal.
Earlier in the day, the red-hot Rizzo, who is hitting .373 in the month of May for the first-place Cubs, smashed a three-run homer in an 8-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. But even more unforgettable than the game was what happened that same evening at the Fanatics sports memorabilia show in Chicago.
Show organizers had arranged for Milsap and his girlfriend, Leslie, to meet Rizzo for a photo op and autograph signing. The unsuspecting girlfriend was told that the special Rizzo meet-and-greet was a surprise was for her nine-year-old daughter, who idolizes the 26-year-old phenom.
After posing for a few photos with the family, Rizzo turned to Milsap and said, "Steve, do you have any questions you want to ask."
Milsap took a step toward his girlfriend and said, "Leslie, from the day that I met you I knew you were the one."
"No," said Leslie.
"Yes," countered her smiling boyfriend. Then he pulled a ring box from his pocket, went down on one knee and popped the question.
"Will you marry me?" he asked.
"Yes. Oh my, God. Oh my," she answered, as memorabilia show onlookers shouted their approval.
Rizzo then presented the couple with a Cubs jersey with the words "Marry Me" and Rizzo's number "44" embroidered on the back. Milsap asked if Rizzo would sign the jersey and he was happy to oblige.
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound athlete seemed to love his role as Cupid. "She was really excited and she started crying," said Rizzo. "It's awesome for them."
"I'm still in shock right now," said Leslie.
Milsap thanked Rizzo and the show coordinators.
"We couldn't have done it without Fanatics," said Milsap. "We want to thank everybody who helped out. It was amazing."
Check out the heartwarming 67-second video here...
Credits: Screen captures via YouTube/Fanatics
'Unique Pink' Sells for $31.5M, Sets Record for a Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond
The 15.38-carat "Unique Pink," the largest pear-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond ever offered at auction, lived up to its pre-sale fanfare by fetching $31.5 million at Sotheby's Geneva last night. It was the highest price ever paid for a fancy vivid pink diamond.
The much-anticipated final lot of Sotheby's Magnificent Jewels & Noble Jewels sale — Lot #495 — sparked a five-minute bidding war that started with an opening offer of 24 million Swiss francs (about $25.5 million). Six subsequent bids propelled the price up to 27.3 million Swiss francs. With the buyer's commission included, the final price was 30.82 million Swiss francs (or $31.56 million).
Previously, the record for a fancy vivid pink diamond was held by "Sweet Josephine," a 16.08-carat beauty that sold for $28.5 million at Christie's Geneva in November of 2015.
Sotheby's had estimated that the Unique Pink would sell in the range of $27.5 million to $37.3 million.
The Unique Pink, which boasts the highest possible color grading of "fancy vivid," had been characterized as one of the finest pink diamonds of all time. Sotheby's Worldwide Chairman of Sotheby's International Jewelry Division, David Bennett, had described the diamond's color as "simply astonishing."
"It is difficult to imagine a diamond that better illustrates the term 'vivid pink' than this outstanding stone," noted Bennett.
The gem also stood apart because of its impressive size and "exceedingly pure" Type IIa clarity rating.
The Unique Pink was so special that it headlined a multi-city promotional tour that included stops in Hong Kong, London and New York City, before returning to Geneva for the auction.
It is believed that pink diamonds owe their color to the effects of intense pressure and heat while they were still deep within the earth. These factors caused distortions in the diamond's crystal lattice that influence the way the diamond absorbs green light, thus reflecting a pink hue.
Credits: Unique Pink photos courtesy of Sotheby's. Auction screen capture via Sothebys.com.
'Oppenheimer Blue' Claims Title of Priciest Gemstone Ever Auctioned; $57.5M Price Beats 'Blue Moon' by $9M
Last night, the "Oppenheimer Blue" became the highest priced gemstone ever sold at auction. The 14.62-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, dubbed "the gem of gems," fetched an astounding $57.5 million at Christie's Geneva.
Two bidders battled back and forth for more than 20 minutes in a dramatic exchange that included 44 individual offers. The bidding started at 30 million Swiss francs (about $30.4 million) and rushed forward in increments of 1 million, 500,000 and 200,000 Swiss francs.
Watching the action in real-time via streaming video, viewers around the world joined in the excitement as the bidding moved well above the pre-sale high estimate of 45 million Swiss Francs ($45.6 million).
Rahul Kadakia, Christie's International Head of Jewelry, finally put the hammer down at 50.6 million Swiss francs ($51.2 million) to the roar of the showroom crowd. With commissions and fees included, the final price was 56.8 million Swiss francs ($57.5 million). That number was $9 million more than the previous record-holder, the "Blue Moon of Josephine," which sold at Sotheby's Geneva in November 2015 for $48.5 million.
Both diamonds boast the top color grade of "fancy vivid." While the 12.03-carat cushion-shaped Blue Moon of Josephine was rated internally flawless, the rectangular-cut Oppenheimer Blue was one grade below at VVS1 clarity.
The Oppenheimer Blue's price per carat price of $3.93 million came up just shy of the record of $4.03 million held by the Blue Moon of Josephine.
Named after Sir Philip Oppenheimer, one of the leaders of the diamond industry for generations, the Oppenheimer Blue was the largest fancy vivid blue diamond ever offered at auction.
Kadakia had called the Oppenheimer Blue "the gem of gems," and "one of the rarest gems in the world." He was impressed by its perfect hue, impeccable proportions and fabulous rectangular shape. The magnificent gem was offered for sale in its original platinum mounting by Verdura.
During the auction, he encourage the bidding by reminding the audience that this type of gem comes around only once in a lifetime. According to Christie's, less than .0001 percent of all diamonds mined are blue. Blue diamonds owe their color to the presence of boron in the chemical makeup of the gem.
Credit: Image courtesy of Christie's. Screen capture via Christies.com.
Music Friday: The Voice's Emily Ann Roberts Sings, 'I've Got Your Class Ring, But She's Got You'
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you great songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, 17-year-old Emily Ann Roberts — who wowed us on Season 9 of The Voice — sings about a class ring in the Patsy Cline classic, "She's Got You."
Originally a #1 country hit for Cline in 1962 and then again for Loretta Lynn in 1977, "She's Got You" is about a heartbroken woman who reminisces about romantic mementos of a relationship gone bad.
Roberts' rousing rendition of "She's Got You" paid a fitting tribute to the country legends that came before her. She sings, "I've got your class ring that proved you cared / And it still looks the same as when you gave it, dear / The only thing different, the only thing new / I've got these little things, she's got you."
Roberts' outstanding performance earned her accolades from Blake Shelton, her coach on The Voice. "I can't stop smiling right now," said Shelton. "My heart is pounding. That was so good… I want people at home to know I have never had a better collaborator in nine seasons than Emily Ann. She is so smart and knows who she is as an artist."
"She's Got You" was so well received by the viewers of The Voice that the song made it into the iTunes Top 10 and ascended to #21 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Roberts' performance of "She's Got You" was also included in The Complete Season 9 Collection, a compilation album of songs featured on The Voice.
As the runner-up to Season 9 champion Jordan Smith, Roberts is well on her way to a successful music career. The Knoxville, Tenn., native told Extra how she's planning to go for a Dixie Chicks vibe. "They are that perfect mix of country and bluegrass and that's exactly who I am," she said. "So I would definitely have tons of bluegrass influences but it will be a solid country album."
Songwriter Hank Cochran told Patsy Cline biographer Ellis Nassour that in 1961 he called the country star and told her he'd just written her next #1 hit. Cline invited Cochran to come over to her house and play the song on guitar. She immediately fell in love with the song and learned it that same night. Excitedly, she called her producer, Owen Bradley, and sang it to him on the phone. At that point, Cline and Bradley were certain they had a hit — and they did.
Since 1962, "She's Got You" has been covered by an all-star group of music artists, including Rosanne Cash, LeAnn Rimes, Timi Yuro, Jimmy Buffet, Lee Ann Womack and Loretta Lynn.
We know you will enjoy the video of Roberts' live performance of "She's Got You" on The Voice. It's been viewed more than 840,000 times on YouTube. The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...
"She's Got You"
Written by Hank Cochran. Performed by Emily Ann Roberts.
I've got your picture that you gave to me
And it's signed with love, just like it used to be
The only thing different, the only thing new
I've got your picture, she's got you
I've got the records that we used to share
And they still sound the same as when you were here
I've got the records, she's got you
I've got your memory, or has it got me
I really don't know, but I know it won't let me be
I've got your class ring that proved you cared
And it still looks the same as when you gave it, dear
I've got these little things, she's got you
I've got your class ring that proved you cared And it still looks the same as when you gave it, dear The only thing different, the only thing new
Credits: Screen captures via YouTube/The Voice
Times Square Jumbotron Proposal Gets a Shout-Out From Host Jimmy Fallon on 'The Tonight Show'
When Jimmy Fallon mentions your marriage proposal during his opening monologue on The Tonight Show, you know you've done something momentous.
Last weekend, New York City television producer A.J. Hall enlisted the help of his girlfriend's boss and the Sony Jumbotron in Times Square to deliver an epic proposal to Nicole Pagano.
Pagano, who is a communications associate for The Daily Mail, was out with some friends when her boss called saying he unexpectedly had to leave town. He asked Pagano if she would like to have his reservations at the swank Polo Bar, a place she's always wanted to go. In addition, he asked her to be in Times Square at exactly 9:15 to view a Daily Mail video that would be debuting at that time on the mammoth Jumbotron at 1 Times Square, the same building that hosts the descending Apple on New Year's Eve.
Pagano called Hall with the good news and the two planned for an exciting night on the town. The date marked the two-year anniversary of their first date. Unbeknownst to Pagano, the Polo Bar/Jumbotron story was an elaborate ruse devised by Hall.
She and Hall arrived at the the four-story-tall video board at exactly the right time, but it was showing an odd piece that made no mention of The Daily Mail. The video depicted images of New York City landmarks and then a series of titles that completed a message: "We Fell In Love — Tonight — History — Happens — Again — Are You Ready?"
"I was just thinking, 'I can't believe they approved this! It has nothing to do with the brand!'" Pagano told madworldnews.com
But, then a bunch of images looked very familiar. Hall, a producer for Fox & Friends, had created a video that was a story of their relationship. The next image showed Hall kissing Pagano on the cheek and then one of Hall holding a large cue card with the phrase, "Marry Me?"
Pagano screamed, "Oh my god!' and held her hand over her mouth in disbelief as her boyfriend of two years knelt down in the middle of Times Square and popped the question with a diamond engagement ring in hand. Pagano's answer was a resounding "Yes," as onlookers cheered their approval.
With the ring safely on her finger, Pagano kissed her fiancé and stared wide-eyed at the raucous Times Square crowd, which included a larger-than-life Elmo and Cookie Monster.
A moment later, Pagano's parents — who had been hiding out of site — emerged on the scene to offer the couple hugs and their congratulations.
"She's the best and she deserves the best, so I wanted the best possible idea," A.J. told The Daily Mail. "I wanted to go big or go home."
Last Wednesday night, the story caught the attention of Fallon and the comedy writers of The Tonight Show.
"Here's a local story. I saw that a man from New York proposed to his girlfriend by playing a video on one of the giant billboards in Times Square," Fallon said to the "awws" of his studio audience.
"It was a beautiful moment until Times Square Elmo said (at this point, Fallon takes a puff from an invisible cigarette and transitions into his toughest New York City accent), 'I give it two months. They don't look like they like each other... Wanna take a picture?'"
Pagano noted the awesomeness of the moment with this post on her Facebook page...
See Fallon's monologue here...
See the Times Square proposal below...
Credits: Screen captures via YouTube/Inside Edition and YouTube/Brian Michael Tully, NBC/Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; Instagram/Nicole Pagano; Facebook/AJ Hall.
Hidden for 70 Years: Gold Jewelry Found Under the False Bottom of a Mug at The Auschwitz Museum
Staffers of The Auschwitz Museum in southern Poland made a stunning discovery last week when an enameled mug's carefully constructed false bottom shook loose, revealing a small stash of gold jewelry.
It's been more than 70 years since the liberation of the notorious Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in southern Poland, and staffers at the museum dedicated to the memory of those murdered at the camp are still uncovering fascinating secrets of how desperate families tried to preserve their valuables.
"[The jewelry] was very well hidden," noted Hanna Kubik of the Memorial Collections. "However, due to the passage of time, the materials underwent gradual degradation, and the second bottom separated from the mug."
Under the false bottom was a women's ring and a necklace wrapped in a piece of canvas. Both were made of 14-karat gold and fabricated in Poland between the years of 1921 and 1931.
The German Nazis of World War II routinely lied to deportees, telling them that they were being resettled in new locations and that they should take some luggage. The deportees, most of whom were Jews, were actually being transported to concentration camps for extermination. By allowing them to travel with luggage, the Nazis were certain the deportees would bring their valuables, which could be easily confiscated.
The innovative ways in which the victims hid their most valuable possessions reflects their understanding of the "robbery nature of the deportation" as well as the "ray of hope that these items would be required for their existence," stressed Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum director Dr. Piotr M. A. Cywiński.
The Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp claimed an estimated 1.1 million lives during the Holocaust. While most of the victims were Jewish, the Germans also killed Poles, Gypsies, Byelorussians, Ukrainians, French, Soviets and others at the camp.
The Collections of the Memorial comprises more than 12,000-enameled kitchenware items, including cups, pots, bowls, kettles, jugs and crockery, many decorated with images of animals and children playing. The jewelry discovery occurred during routine maintenance of the collection.
Museum curators will be returning the jewelry of the false-bottom mug to its original state, reflecting the manner in which it had been hidden by its original owner.
Photos courtesy of the State Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau, auschwitz.org.
Why Is the Wedding Ring Worn on the Ring Finger? The Chinese Offer This Cool Explanation...
For thousands of years, wedding rings have been worn on the ring finger of the left hand, but do you know the origin of this worldwide tradition?
Some give credit to the ancient Romans and Greeks, who believed that the vein in the fourth finger of the left hand (the vena amoris or vein of love) ran directly to the heart. Although the "vein of love" story is compelling and widely cited, a contemporary understanding of the circulatory systems has soundly debunked the science behind the legend.
We love the Chinese ring-finger hypothesis because it comes with a sweet explanation and even cooler demonstration.
The Chinese believe that each finger is a representation of the past, present and future generations of you and your family members. The thumb represents your parents, the index finger represents your siblings, the middle finger represents you, the ring finger represents your partner and the pinky represents your children.
Now give this a try...
1. Place your palms together as if you were praying.
2. Then, with all the fingertips still touching, bend the middle fingers toward each other until their tips are pointing downward into your palm and the second knuckle of each middle finger is touching the other. Remember, the middle fingers represent you.
3. Now, attempt to separate the pinkies. You certainly can, because the pinkies represent your children, who will eventually leave your home and build families of their own.
4. The thumbs that represent your parents can separate easily, as well, because your parents are not destined to live with you forever.
5. Your index fingers separate with no resistance, as these represent your siblings, who will go on to live life on their own.
6. Now, attempt to separate the ring fingers, which represent you and your partner. They don't budge. No matter how much you try, they won't come apart.
The Chinese explanation, of course, is that the union between you and your partner is unbreakable, and a wedding ring worn on the ring finger represents a marriage that is meant to last forever.
Anatomically, here's how phenomenon works... There is a common muscle called Extensor Digitorum that has little connectors between the tendons that go to the backs of each finger that allow them to extend all the way. The thumb is separate, but in addition to this muscle, the pinky has a second muscle called Extensor Digiti Minimi and the pointer has a second muscle called Extensor Indicis. When you bend the middle fingers, you fix the tendons of the Extensor Digitorum and without a second muscle to assist, the ring finger is stuck.
A practical explanation of why the wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand focuses on the practicality of keeping the ring out of harm's way. Since most people of right-handed, wearing the ring of the left hand would make it less susceptible to damage. Also, the ring finger doesn't get as much work as, say, the thumb and index finger, so the little-used ring finger is a good place to display the bridal jewelry.
Credits: Bridal image by Bigstockphoto.com; Hand images by The Jeweler Blog.
The 'Cullinan Dream,' Another Wondrous Blue Diamond, Comes to Auction in June; 24.18-Carat Gem Could Fetch $29M
The 24.18-carat "Cullinan Dream," the largest fancy intense blue diamond ever to be offered at auction, could fetch upwards of $29 million at Christie's New York on June 9.
Barely a week ago, the 14.62-carat "Oppenheimer Blue" set a new world record for any jewel sold at auction when it yielded $57.5 million at Christie's Geneva.
Even though the Cullinan Dream is nearly 10 carats larger than the Oppenheimer Blue, its likely selling price will be about half. This is because the Cullinan Dream's fancy intense blue color, VS2 clarity and Type IIb purity rating lies a tier below the Oppenheimer Blue's fancy vivid blue color, VVS1 clarity and Type IIa purity rating.
Still, the Cullinan Dream is a very special diamond. Billed as the top lot of Christie's Magnificent Jewels auction at Rockefeller Plaza, the Cullinan Dream is the largest of four polished diamonds cut from a 122.52-carat rough stone discovered by Petra Diamonds at its famed Cullinan Mine in South Africa back in June of 2014. Petra reportedly sold the rough diamond for an incredible $23.5 million.
A master gem cutter meticulously analyzed the rough gem to determine the best yield. He eventually produced four notably sized blue diamonds: a cushion-cut gem of 7.00 carats, a radiant-cut gem of 10.30 carats, a pear-shaped gem of 11.30 carats, and finally, the Cullinan Dream, a cut-cornered rectangular mixed-cut gem of 24.18 carats. Christie's set the pre-sale estimate at $23 million to $29 million.
Set as a ring, the June 9 headliner, Lot 261, is flanked by tapered baguettes in a platinum mounting inscribed "Cullinan Dream." The baguettes have a total weight of 2.36 carats.
Discovered in 1902, the Cullinan Mine is famous for being the source of many of the world's most famous diamonds, including a 3,106.75-carat Cullinan diamond that produced the 530.20-carat pear-shaped Cullinan I (also known as the Star of Africa), the largest polished white diamond in existence. The Cullinan I is housed in the Tower of London as part of the Crown Jewels of England.
The mine's production statistics are extraordinary: 750 stones weighing more than 100 carats, 130 stones weighing more than 200 carats, and more than a quarter of all diamonds in existence weighing more than 400 carats.
The mine is also a leading source for exceptional pink and blue diamonds. The Cullinan Dream owes its blue color to traces of boron in the diamond's chemical structure.
Credit: Image courtesy of Christie's.
Music Friday: 'You Sparkle Like a Diamond Ring,' Sings Jon Pardi in 'Head Over Boots'
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you awesome songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, up-and-coming music star Jon Pardi sings about falling in love and growing old together in the easy-listening country hit, "Head Over Boots."
He sings, "The way you sparkle like a diamond ring / Maybe one day we can make it a thing / Test time and grow old together / Rock in our chairs and talk about the weather, yeah."
The song was inspired by the loving couples Pardi observed in the dance halls near his father's home in Hill County, Texas. He said that everyone — both old and young alike — seemed so happy two-stepping around a circle, so he decided to write "Head Over Boots" with an old-school vibe energized by a fiddle accompaniment.
"I was sitting in Spring Branch, Texas, at my dad's house and I started kinda strummin' this little old-sounding country thing in his living room, and I recorded it on my phone," the 31-year-old Pardi said. "I was thinking, 'Man, I need a good love song for the ladies out there.'"
And that's when he came up with the idea of "head over boots," a country version of the term "head over heels."
"I went to [co-writer] Luke Laird and we kind of threw out the title and we came up with a cool little old-school modern new love song, and it's my first love song on Country radio," he said.
Pardi and Laird revealed to Billboard magazine that their feel-good song is actually written from two perspectives. The unwed Pardi sees the song from the point of view of someone looking for a long-term relationship, while his married writing partner approached the song from the vantage point of a family man who is dedicated to keeping the romantic spark alive in his relationship.
"Head Over Boots," which was released in 2015 and continues to make gains on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, is the lead single from Pardi's upcoming second studio album, California Sunrise. While the single has ascended to #13 on the Hot Country Songs chart, it has also gained cross-over appeal with a #77 placement on the mainstream U.S. Billboard Hot 100 list. The album is scheduled for a June 17 release.
Please check out the acoustic version of Pardi's "Head Over Boots." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along...
"Head Over Boots"
Written by Jon Pardi and Luke Laird. Performed by Jon Pardi.
I wanna sweep you off your feet tonight
I wanna love you and hold you tight
Spin you around on some old dance floor
Act like we never met before for fun, 'cause
You're the one I want, you're the one I need
Baby, if I was a king, ah, you would be my queen
You're the rock in my roll
You're good for my soul, it's true
I'm head over boots for you
The way you sparkle like a diamond ring
Maybe one day we can make it a thing
Test time and grow old together
Rock in our chairs and talk about the weather, yeah
So, bring it on in for that angel kiss
Put that feel good on my lips, 'cause
Yeah, I'm here to pick you up
And I hope I don't let you down, no, 'cause
Credit: Image via umgnashville.com (pressroom).
Adorable Super Mario Bros. Proposal Takes Arkansas Couple's Relationship to the Next Level
Self-proclaimed master gamer Shane Birkinbine took his relationship with girlfriend Pam Edwards to the next level by building a marriage proposal into a custom level of their favorite video game using "Super Mario Maker."
In a video that's been viewed on YouTube nearly one million times, we observe Edwards being coached by her boyfriend through a custom course he designed for the classic Super Mario Bros. video game. She carefully maneuvers through the level, earning gold coins along the way, but she's so intent on successfully completing the course that she's unaware that the last leg includes a special message spelled out in blocks.
As her screen character earns "star power" and knocks out a few of the lower blocks that make up the bottom of the "P" in the word "Pam," Edwards is asked by her boyfriend to take a closer look at the screen.
"Babe, what does that say?" he asks.
"Where?" she responds.
"The blocks," he says. "It spells out your name, I think."
"How did you do that?" the surprise girlfriend asks.
"Master gamer," he responds. "It says, 'Pam.'"
"Babe! How did you do that?" asks the girlfriend, this time with a more excited tone.
Knowing that the blocks are spelling out a message, she carefully guides her character around them, instead of crashing through them. "I don't want to break it," she says.
She laughs and blissfully screams "babe" four times as her game character runs across the course revealing the rest of the message: "Will you marry me."
"Yes, of course," affirms Edwards as she breaks into tears.
Birkinbine declares, "Yay. She said, 'Yes.' I love you, babe."
"I love you," she says.
Birkinbine posted the video to YouTube on May 21 with the caption, "Hope everyone enjoys just a bit of our special moment. Geeks do it better!" The touching display of creativity and affection quickly went viral, with viewership heading toward one million and media outlets picking up the story from every corner of the world. Among them were the Huffington Post, Time, NPR, Mashable, USA Today, Inquirer, Daily Mail and Yahoo News.
The romantic gamer acknowledged that the viral nature of the video can be credited to his fiancée's reaction.
"The positive comments make it all worth it... people like a feel-good story," wrote Birkinbine in the comments section of his YouTube video. "Just never thought it would come from our little corner of the world. This video is nothing without her reaction. She is the star."
The romantic groom-to-be appropriately proposed with an engagement ring balanced atop a Super Mushroom, also known as a Power-Up Mushroom, originated in Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Maker, which was released in September of 2015, allows players to create and play their own custom levels based on Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World and New Super Mario Bros. U. A neat publishing tool allows the custom courses to be shared to the Internet. In May 2016, Nintendo announced that more than 7.2 million courses had been created worldwide.
Check out Birkinbine's viral video below...
Credits: Screen captures via YouTube/Retro Shanerator; Facebook/Shane Birkinbine; Super Mario Maker graphic by Nintendo.


In PHP if you want to delete a directory there is security against deleting a directory which has files in it. Therefore you need to delete all the files in the folder before you can delete the directory. Below is a small function which will look in a directory if there are files in it they will be deleted and then the directory will be deleted. This function will even delete sub-directories. You can expand on this function by adding extra logic to see if the $dirname isn't a directory to simply delete the file.
Just pass the function the directory path you want to delete. This first checks to see if this directory exists, if it does exist it will open the directory so we can check to see if any files exist in the directory. If files do exist then it will loop through all the files except the . and .. files and delete them by using the unlink function. After all the files have been deleted then it can remove the directory by using the rmdir function.
After seeing this PHP snippet Lewis went away and improved the code by reducing it to only 9 lines of code. This is great when people take these snippets and improve them as it helps everyone learn a bit more about the code. Here's the snippet that Lewis was able to come up with.


It's that tie of year again when you drive though midtown and see all these people on the sidewalk crawling around and putting down artwork on the cement. Chalk it Up happens in Fremont Park and is an annual event when children and adults break out the chalk sticks and create some art on the sidewalks. Go check it out in person until it fades away.
Walk calmly. Don't run. It's just a few zombies.
It's a full afternoon/evening of Zombie fun starting in Roosevelt Park before the Zombie Walk on R Street to be followed up with a screening of Night of the Living Dead. Try not to die here.


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Lisa Lucas on Diversifying the Publishing Industry and the Power of Books
Ariana Proehl
Lisa Lucas
Four years ago, Lisa Lucas became the first African American to lead the National Book Foundation, the organization that runs the National Book Awards and promotes reading and writing. Lucas will move into a new job in January as senior vice president at Penguin Random House. As she wraps up her current role, she has called on the book industry to take more risks, publish and advocate for more writers of color, and in general, "do better." She joined the foundation after serving as publisher of arts magazine Guernica and director of education at the Tribeca Film Institute. We'll talk with her about her career, diversity in the publishing industry and her holiday book picks.
Lisa Lucas, outgoing executive director, National Book Foundation; incoming publisher, Pantheon & Schocken Books


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Alt Rockers Grayscale And Point North To Play The Aquarium In April
Fargo Underground· March 2, 2020
Events WireMusic
Two alternative rock groups, Grayscale and Point North, will play The Aquarium in downtown Fargo on Monday, April 27, 2020.
Whether it be backseat post-coital promises between young lovers, the aftershocks of a parent's addiction on a child, or a proclamation to celebrate life before death, these moments echo with the sincerity of a chat among best friends in the music of Grayscale. The Philadelphia quintet—Collin Walsh (vocals), Dallas Molster (guitar, vocals), Andrew Kyne (guitar), Nick Ventimiglia )bass) and Nick Veno (drums)—align nostalgic confessions, nineties alternative homage, and 21st century playlist-busting ambition on their second full-length, Nella Vita (Fearless Records). These 12 tracks urge pensive pondering, rock catharsis and danceable elation all at once.
The group quietly inched towards crystallizing this style since their 2011 formation. Along the way, they went from Philly stalwarts to a critically acclaimed contender on 2017's full-length debut Adornment. As "Atlantic" clocked over 4.3 million Spotify streams and "Forever Yours" eclipsed 3.5 million, "Let It Rain" and "Beautiful Things" also leapt past the one million-mark with the total stream tally exceeding 11 million by 2019. The group logged thousands of miles on the road alongside everyone from State Champs to Real Friends to The Maine in addition to The Vans Warped Tour. Critical acclaim also came from Alternative Press, Rock Sound, Idobi and more. Under a heavy influence of everything from nineties alt rock to funk and modern pop as well as rotating through modern hip-hop, they recorded Nella Vita in Austin, Texas alongside producer MACHINE (Lamb of God, Armor For Sleep, Four Year Strong, As It Is). Tracks such as "Painkiller Weather" and "In Violet" detail the ups and downs of love, sex, teenage nostalgia, addiction, pain, joy, grief, death and everything in between, urging tears, dancing, bliss and even hope.
Point North
California-based progressive rock band Point North
Point North is a Los Angeles-based progressive and instrumental rock trio. The band's most recent album is Points North. Led by guitarist Eric Barnett, Point North is also comprised of bassist Uriah Duffy and drummer Kevin Aiello.
GRAYSCALE WITH POINT NORTH
MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2020 | 7 P.M. DOORS | 8 P.M. SHOW | ALL-AGES
THE AQUARIUM | 226 Broadway North, Fargo, 58102
General admission tickets $18 in advance; $20 day-of-show. Additional fees may apply.
Event link: https://jadepresents.com/event/2020-grayscale-fargo/
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We are independent voices who want to promote the fine dining, great bars and live music venues in Fargo-Moorhead. The downtown district has an eclectic mix of shopping, entertainment and great places to work and live. While we love or cities, we wanted a place to tell the authentic stories of our towns without the filter of a corporate-owned publication.
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Post-Traumatic Funk Syndrome To Play 3 Christmas Shows at Sanctuary Events Center
Church of Cash Bringing Sound Of The Man In Black To Christmas In Fargo
Formative Fairytales Call for Entries
Tue Dec 29, 2020, 8:00 am - Fri Jan 15, 2021, 5:00 pm
Tornado Shelter Improv
Fri Jan 15, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Trivia at Vic's
Friday Night DJ Sessions
Fri Jan 15, 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm


For the second consecutive year, Battelle, a global nonprofit research and development organization, has made a significant investment in the undergraduate research program in the College of Science at Eastern Kentucky University.
Led by Mark Needham, site manager for Battelle at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant, representatives from theRichmond site came to EKU recently to present a $20,000 check to the college.
Other members of the Battelle team present were Steve Downing, laboratory manager; Dr. George Lucier, deputy chief scientist; Heather Grant, chemical personnel reliability program coordinator; Dr. Lindy Dejarme, senior chemist; and Dr. Glenn Hong, supercritical water oxidation engineer.
Students participating in the summer research program who will be supported by Battelle funds this year include Gregory Hopper, a senior mathematics/statistics major (Dr. Amanda Ellis, mentor), Trevor Clemons, a senior geology major (Dr. Jonathan Malzone, mentor) and Abidell Thomas, a junior biomedical sciences major (Dr. Patrick Calie, mentor). Those to be supported by the College of Science are Tanya Cifranik, a senior biology major (Dr. David Hayes, mentor), Austin Owens, a sophomore biology major (Dr. Stephen Richter, mentor) and Love Richburg, a senior physics/mathematics double major (Dr. Thomas Jarvis, mentor).
After the check presentation, the Battelle representatives enjoyed an opportunity to interact with students, faculty and staff in attendance. For Dejarme and Richburg, it was an unexpected but welcome reunion. As a senior at Madison Central High School, Richburg was a member of the school's Science Olympiad team. As part of his outreach activities to the community, Dejarme served as a mentor to Richburg and her sister, Renee, who were both participating in the Mission Possible event in the Olympiad. They placed third in the state, and Richburg said that Dejarme's encouragement contributed to their success.
Front Row: Dr. Lindy Dejarme, senior chemist, Battelle; Mark Needham, site manager, Battelle; Heather Grant, chemical personnel reliability program coordinator, Battelle; Dr. Glenn Hong, supercritical water oxidation engineer, Battelle; Dr. George Lucier, deputy chief scientist, Battelle; Steve Downing, laboratory manager, Battelle; and Dr. Tom Otieno, dean of College of Science.
Back Row (all from EKU): Austin Owens, sophomore biology major; Dr. Stephen Richter, professor of biology; Abidell Thomas, junior biomedical sciences major; Dr. Patrick Calie, professor of biology; Love Richburg, senior physics/mathematics double major; Tanya Cifranik, senior biology major; Dr. David Hayes, associate professor of biology; Amanda Ellis, assistant professor of mathematics; Trevor Clemons, senior geology major; and Dr. Jonathan Malzone, assistant professor of geology.
Not pictured are: Dr. Thomas Jarvis, assistant professor of physics, and Gregory Hopper, senior mathematics major.


A stunning brochure, both in layout and finish. A website is a difficult place to show you the finished result of a brochure of this kind, as you need to pick it up and feel the quality of the print, the paper, the matt lamination and spot UV, but we'll try. This is the latest in many brochures, flyers, posters and leaflets we have produced for ACUK over a number of years.
Take a look at the landscape layout and amount of white space, giving a non-cluttered feel to the brochure. The images running across the pages allow a sense of space and size. The open out sections ensured we made the most of the photography, as well as adding another dimension to the brochure, subtly separating the three centres owned by the organisation.
We colour coded the edges of the pages to differentiate between the centres further helping the readers to find their chosen centre easily, as well as adding another nice touch to the design. Each colour representing the branding of each centre and the organisation as a whole. As ever with our print work we provide the service from initial meeting to the finished printed product.


A few things have been making me think about high school lately. I just saw the movie "Eighth Grade", which is awkward and cringe-worthy but important. It covers a social outcast's (wow, I hate that term, but its the most succinct way to describe her in this case) last week of eighth grade, in a school where's she basically invisible, and dreams about how much better high school will be.
At the same time, I've been catching up on the podcast Still Buffering, and they recently did an episode about high school as the littlest sister on the podcast just graduated. They all agreed that high school was not all the movies hyped it up to be. And that if they were to give a commencement speech, they would say that the best years of life are ahead of you, and to not worry if high school wasn't amazing, the rest of your life still can be.


Modern villa in the urbanization Montesano Perigall de Bétera, with a plot of 500m2 and modern housing on 2 floors with 185m2 built. The villa is located in a very quiet area, with quick access to the city of Valencia, less than 15 minutes by car. The interior of the house offers a cheerful and bright atmosphere, with large doors and windows overlooking the pool.


Dewing Grain are able to offer a wide range of organic raw materials for use in the food and feed sector. We have a well-established grower/ supplier base whom we have built up good relationships with over a long period of time.
We source our organic products locally and internationally to suit the customer's needs.
Dewing Grain provide a full service to ensure that the goods are fully traceable, tested, meet consumers standards and are delivered on time from our registered store network.
If you require a specific product to meet a certain standard then please contact the office for further information.