How to Choose the Best Hotels in Ayodhya Near Ram Mandir: A Complete Guide
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Ayodhya, the sacred city of Lord Shri Ram and one of India’s most revered pilgrimage destinations, has seen a surge in tourism following the grand opening of the Ram Mandir. Thousands of devotees and travelers now flock to Ayodhya, making it essential to find comfortable, convenient, and affordable accommodations. Whether you’re searching for hotels in Ayodhya, hotels in Ayodhya near Ram Mandir, or cheap hotels in Ayodhya, this guide will help you make an informed decision—including a spotlight on the popular Ayodhya Palace Hotel & Restaurant.
Staying close to the Ram Mandir offers several advantages:
Convenience: You can easily attend early morning aarti, visit the temple at your convenience, and avoid long commutes.
Access to Other Attractions: Proximity to Ram Mandir means you’re also close to other key sites such as Hanuman Garhi, Kanak Bhawan, Saryu Ghat, and local markets.
Cultural Immersion: Experience the spiritual and cultural essence of Ayodhya by staying in the heart of the city.
Safety and Comfort: Hotels near major landmarks often provide better security, amenities, and easy access to public transport and dining options.
Here are the key factors to consider when selecting your accommodation in Ayodhya:
1. Location
Proximity to Ram Mandir: Choose a hotel within a 1–2 km radius of the Ram Mandir for maximum convenience. Many travelers recommend Ayodhya Palace Hotel & Restaurant for its strategic location, being just 4 km from the temple and close to other attractions like Saryu River and Hanuman Garhi.
Access to Transport: Ensure the hotel is well-connected to the railway station and airport for hassle-free travel.
2. Amenities and Comfort
Essential Facilities: Look for air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, hot water, clean bedding, and 24-hour room service. Ayodhya Palace Hotel & Restaurant offers all these, along with free parking and in-house laundry.
Dining Options: Many hotels, including Ayodhya Palace, have in-house restaurants serving local and international cuisine, making your stay more enjoyable.
Family-Friendly: If traveling with family, check for spacious rooms and child-friendly amenities.
3. Budget
Affordable Options: Ayodhya offers a wide range of accommodations, from budget homestays to luxury hotels. Cheap hotels in Ayodhya can be found starting from as low as ?299 per night, but for a comfortable stay with good amenities, expect to pay between ?999 and ?5,000 per night.
Value for Money: Ayodhya Palace Hotel & Restaurant is known for its affordable rates, with rooms starting at ?999 for standard accommodations and ?1,999 for AC rooms.
4. Guest Reviews and Ratings
Check Reviews: Before booking, read recent guest reviews on platforms like Tripadvisor, Booking.com, and MakeMyTrip to gauge the quality of service, cleanliness, and staff behavior.
Reputation: Ayodhya Palace Hotel & Restaurant is highly rated for its hospitality, cleanliness, and proximity to major attractions.
5. Safety and Security
CCTV and Security: Choose hotels with CCTV surveillance and secure parking for peace of mind.
24-Hour Reception: A round-the-clock front desk ensures you can get assistance whenever needed.
Ayodhya Palace Hotel & Restaurant stands out as a top choice for travelers seeking comfort, convenience, and value in Ayodhya. Here’s why:
Prime Location: Situated just 4 km from the Ram Mandir and close to Hanuman Garhi, Saryu River, and Janki Mahal Trust, the hotel offers easy access to all major attractions.
Modern Amenities: Guests enjoy air-conditioned rooms, high-speed Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, plush bedding, and attached bathrooms with hot water.
Exceptional Dining: The in-house restaurant serves a variety of cuisines, including local delicacies and international dishes, all prepared by skilled chefs.
Affordable Luxury: Rooms start at ?999, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious travelers seeking quality accommodations.
Family-Friendly: Spacious rooms and attentive staff ensure a comfortable stay for families and groups.
Event Facilities: The hotel offers banquet halls and landscaped lawns for weddings, conferences, and other events.
If you’re looking for cheap hotels in Ayodhya, consider these options:
Homestays and Guest Houses: Properties like Maa Janki Paying Guest House, Shree Sita Ram Paying Guest House, and Nilay House offer clean, affordable rooms within walking distance of the Ram Mandir.
Budget Hotels: Sita Palace Hotel, Hotel Ayodhya Heritage, and Ram Dham Lodge provide basic amenities at low prices, perfect for solo travelers and budget-conscious pilgrims.
Online Deals: Use platforms like MakeMyTrip, Booking.com, and Goibibo to find the best deals and discounts on hotels near Ram Mandir.
Book Early: Ayodhya can get crowded, especially during festivals and weekends. Book your hotel in advance to secure the best rates and availability.
Check for Offers: Look for special offers, free cancellations, and complimentary breakfast when booking online.
Explore Local Cuisine: Don’t miss out on Ayodhya’s traditional vegetarian dishes and sweets.
Plan Your Itinerary: Make a list of must-visit temples and attractions to maximize your time in the city.
Choosing the best hotels in Ayodhya near Ram Mandir is easy when you consider location, amenities, budget, and guest reviews. Ayodhya Palace Hotel & Restaurant is a standout option, offering modern comforts, exceptional dining, and affordable rates—all within easy reach of the city’s most sacred sites. Whether you’re a pilgrim, a family, or a solo traveler, Ayodhya has a wide range of accommodations to suit every need and budget.
Posted in: India,Living,Travel,World
Julia Hair Celebrates 7th Anniversary With Big Sale 2024
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JuliaHair to thank new and old customers for their unwavering support over the past seven years, this anniversary celebration is their way of saying thank you and giving back to the customers who have helped them thrive.
During JuliaHair's 7th-anniversary store celebration, there are a variety of super discounts, trendy new products, buy one get one free wig events and exquisite gifts. Come and find out more.

JuliaHair 7th Anniversary Pre-sale
Time: May 6, 2024 - May 9, 2024
Shop Now, Get 15% Off; Code: JA15
Order 9+, Get 20% Off; Code: JA20

JuliaHair 7th Anniversary Formal Activity
Time: May 10, 2024 - May 12, 2024
1. Shop Now, Get 20% Off; Code: JA20
2. Order 9+, Get 25% Off; Code: JA25
3. Only order on 2024.5.10, you get a free straightening comb or free nightgown.
4. Purchase 9+ on 2024.5.11 - 2024.5.12, you get a free straightening comb or free nightgown.
5. Buy one get one wig free, the second one is .
Join the celebration. Don't miss out on the chance to celebrate with JuliaHair. Visit JuliaHair.com during the anniversary week to take advantage of the special promotions, giveaways, and activities.
Posted in: Celebrity,Fashion & Beauty,Living,Marketing & Sales,News & Current Affairs
JuliaHair Member’s Day Promotions In June 2023

Summer is here, you may feel that the wig you bought before is too thick and airtight, and you want to get a new one. However, due to the fact that there were no large-scale activities in the first half of the year, now I have good news for you. JuliaHair, a wig brand from China, will start its membership day on June 16.
It not only has flash sale wigs but also buys one get one free wig. Wigs are all 100% human hair, available in densities and styles. Popular products include colorful wigs, lace front wigs, human hair with braiding and a series of surprise wigs waiting for you to experience.
1. 2023.6.16-6.20
Shop Now, Get 50% OFF Code: Mem15
2. Clearance Sale:
Girls can buy a 14-inch Medium Brown Wear & Go Hair Wigs at JuliaHair for just .30.
3. Limited Time Sale
There are different types of limited-time sale wigs every day, such as the most popular Honey Blonde Water Wave 13x4 Lace Front Human Hair Wigs, it only costs 0.08, and then restores to 0.89, it is recommended to visit the store.

Julia Hair offers the following payment platforms: Afterpay, Sezzle, Klarna, Zip, and Credit Card.
About logistics and after-sales
Logistics: Free home delivery, wigs usually arrive within 2-5 days.
Return and exchange: After receiving the product and inspecting the product, if you are not satisfied, you can directly exchange or refund the product. Log in to your account---click My Orders---click "Return/Exchange" under the order Refund will be issued within 24 hours. Refunds are usually available within 2-3 business days of receipt. (Different banks may have different policies.)
After Sales: If the customer does not receive the refund within 3-5 business days, please contact the credit card company and bank immediately, they may take some time to process the refund. If the customer still has not received the refund, please contact the customer service staff, they are 24 hours online.
Posted in: Europe,Fashion & Beauty,Lifestyle,Living,News & Current Affairs
Adina Brunetti Unveils Exquisite Art at South Florida's Famous 278 Villa
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The 278 Villa provides an unparalleled level of luxurious living with its attention to detail and carefully appointed interior design. Its beautiful and glossy flooring creates a modern aesthetic while the abundance of space and marble fixtures make it particularly striking. Not only is it a convenient place to live but its excellent climate and the nearby beach mean that luxury living is not out of reach.
Its luxurious living comes with a designer touch as well. Leading interior designers and artists have come together to collaborate, offering solutions that would not be achievable alone. Furthermore, Adina Brunetti’s “infinity” collection is showcased at the Villa, reflecting her unique perspectives of the concept of infinity through her abstract expression inspired artwork. Overall, the 278 Villa stands out from the crowd, redefining luxury living.
Adina Brunetti is a globally renowned entrepreneur and creator who has made a name for herself due to her distinct approach by blending conventional visuals with modern techniques. Her artworks present a gorgeous and elegant amalgam of paint and glitters. Her imaginative color palettes and arrangements generate lively manipulation of dimensions, illumination and texture.
You can contemplate Adina's pieces while appreciating the lavishness of the 278 Villa since her works are scattered everywhere across the estate. In the passageways, the dining room, the bedrooms and the office you'll find first-class pieces, each with its own narrative to share. The pieces inspire a romantic notion of infinity but at the same time remain contemporary and practical.
278 Villa is the newest, fantastic addition to the assortment of luxurious residences in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida. This vast two-story villa was created with aesthetic and ease in mind, sporting a modern and chic outer look completed with smooth lines, as well as a toasty and hearty inside feel with generous amounts of natural illumination. There's no doubt that this house is an exciting spot to be!
Posted in: Arts & Entertainment,Celebrity,Lifestyle,Living,Real Estate
Sunber Wednesday Wig And Winter Mega Sale is in Full Swing
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Sunber Hair is an online hair store, which is committed to producing and offering real hair wigs for women. They provide a reasonable return policy to protect the rights and interests of every customer. And if someone finds she doesn’t like the hair, they can contact Sunber by WhatsApp or E-mail at any time.
The five-year-old wig company promises women hundreds of styles, sizes, and colors — many of which last a year or more. Be quick though, as the great wig styles tend to sell out quickly.
The Sunber winter mega sale starts on January 11th and runs until January 19th, and among them, don’t forget about their weekly Wednesday sale. So if you haven’t bought a naturally stylish wig yet, or are looking for a surprise holiday gift for that special someone, you can shop for some winter gear before spring hits.
Time: 1.11-1.19
Sunber Wednesday Flash Sale on 1.11:
Sunber 13×4 lace front wig gets directly factory price: .
Sunber Winter Mega Sale:
Over Get 15% OFF, CODE: SAVE15
Over 9 Get OFF, CODE: SAVE30
Over Get OFF, CODE: SAVE50
Click here to get 0 OFF when your order is over 1.
“I have bought a wig from here. This wig is fabulous! It’s so natural and the lace is perfect for me! The highlights were blended decently overall the wig is good. Now I’m looking forward to the discounts at this store celebration. I can’t wait for buying another.” reported a pleased shopper.
“Shipping was fast. Arrived earlier than expected. The hair looks just like the picture. Thick & full & good quality lace. Easy to pluck & bleach knots. I’ve installed this wig twice already. It’s still holding up to my standards. Very soft & minimal shedding.” shared another grateful girl.
About Sunber:
Sunber Hair is always concerned about everyone’s order during the before-sale, selling, and after-sale. And there are clear classification columns for people to choose from. They are constantly innovating and making progress and want to establish a higher brand image and gain a better reputation. People can also choose to buy now pay later wig on Afterpay, Sezzle, Klarna, or Zip Quadpay at check out, and use the debit or credit card to pay in 4 installments.
For More Information:
Company Name: Sunber Hair Company
Email: sunber@sunberhair.com
Phone: +86 15993671002
Website: https://www.sunberhair.com/
Posted in: Fashion & Beauty,Lifestyle,Living,Shopping & Deal,U.S
Julia Hair Celebrates 5th Anniversary With More Promotions
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This promotion will be held from May 6, 2022, to May 8, 2022. In addition, they will also provide jewelry gift boxes as fifth-anniversary gifts. Julia combines style, fashion, and quality with women's hair, so whenever you have Julia's virgin hair, you will have a good understanding of the boldness of fashion and life, because they believe in "bringing beauty to the world". They always prefer women as their main customers and use special designs to carry warmth, love, and elegance. The use of this name represents the brand's pursuit of perfection and clarity. Choose Julia's hair to make you beautiful forever.
Julia's 5th Anniversary Sale Let's take a look at all our offers:
All wigs can enjoy a 50% discount+an additional 16% discount (code: JULIA).
Exclusive discount JULIA also enjoys multiple benefits.
With the best quality and best service, the product series have received stable evaluation and feedback from customers. Julia is the most famous brand among modern women. Customized service keeps it in the leading position in the market. Their main products include Julia headband wig, Julia ombre wig, Julia hair bundles, Julia u part wig, glueless HD lace wigs, Julia curly wig, Julia frontal wig, and Julia human wigs.
Meanwhile, in order to provide more products for customers to choose from, Julia Hair is committed to exploring new styles and colors of wigs. Julia Hair has its own hair factory, which can manufacture new wig kinks, such as a v part wig with body wave, deep wave, a wide range of brown wigs, and a new series of front stitching-in.
Julia Hair Anniversary will be officially opened on May 6th, and Admiral JuliaHair.com will offer more discounts, gifts, and wig series. Come and join us.
Posted in: Commodity Market,Fashion & Beauty,Living,News & Current Affairs,Shopping & Deal
C60Evo.com ESS60 Increases Mammals Life-Span 90%, Good For "Smiling Depression", and Safe to Consume

C60Evo.com ESS60 Increases Mammals Life-Span 90%, Good For “Smiling Depression”, and Safe to Consume
By Alfred Lambremont Webre, JD, MEd, CERT Public Health
“As many of you know, I am a graduate Counsellor psychotherapist [MEd University of Texas 1997], as well as a lawyer [JD Yale Law School 1967].
“In my professional opinion, I believe I have made a preliminary working discovery that ESS60 can function in specific individuals as a powerful and beneficial mood stabilizer and enhancer to “Smiling Depression”, and can contribute to high functioning euthymic positive mood and work output among individuals with a situational or chronic mood disorder, such as depression.”
What Exactly is “Smiling Depression”?
“’People with smiling depression often mask the symptoms they are experiencing’” says McKenzie. “’They can get up each day, get dressed, show up for work, and continue to interact with others in a way that belies how badly they are feeling inside.’”
“McKenzie says that smiling depression is essentially another name for high-functioning depression or persistent depressive disorder(PDD), a chronic level of sadness that can include sleep or appetite changes, feelings of hopelessness or fatigue, panic attacks, and loss of interest in favorite activities. So it’s a totally real thing, and it can leave you in serious pain.
“How Do I Know If I Have “Smiling Depression”?
“There’s no single answer here, but there are plenty of signs and symptoms to watch for. If you’re feeling totally drained at the end of every day and have no idea why, McKenzie says you may be doing a lot of emotional legwork to fight through your depression. Here’s a few physical examples of how that might look, according to McKenzie:
“It takes serious effort for you to get up in the morning, do your hair and makeup, and get yourself to work. Once there, you can play the role of happy employee (asking your co-workers about their weekend plans or accepting lunch invites) but you might feel empty and disconnected while participating.
“You can power through your work day, successfully balancing a budget or managing a classroom of kindergarteners, but you struggle to maintain your focus; when you finally get home, you’re so exhausted you neglect all your personal responsibilities and fall into bed (or asleep on the couch) before dinner.
“Your self-care has totally dropped off the charts. You spend so much energy keeping up with the bare minimum that you’re skipping workouts, making unhealthy food choices, and dodging invites to hang with your friends.
“You’re constantly experiencing a cycle of negative emotions, by either feeling guilt or shame for feeling down, or by berating yourself for being lazy when you can’t find the energy to do something.”
SOURCE: Yes, ‘Smiling Depression’ Is a Thing — Here’s How to Know if You Have It
How I blasted through “Smiling Depression” in 2021 to Euthymic Well-being with ESS60
2020-2021 has presented an unexpected set of daily “Smiling Depression” challenges to mood stability and feelings of well-being among all social age and occupations, ranging from elders [“24%”] to working adults [“7 in 10”] to students [“one-third”].
Because of work challenges, I found myself in early 2021 experiencing my own symptoms of “Smiling Depression,” which challenged my focus on my life goals and life legacy work.
As an experiment, because I had taken an 8-week hiatus from ESS60, in June 2021, for about a week, I started out by taking two heaping tablespoons of ESS 60 first thing in the morning and one heaping tablespoon of ESS 60 at night just before bed. After this first week and continuing now I am taking two heaping tablespoons of ESS 60 first thing in the morning.
My report: I blasted through “Smiling Depression” in 2021 to Euthymic Well-being with ESS60, working daily in Joy and Harmony to achieve my Life and Legacy goals – Onward to 4/5D!
FDA NOTE: This is not a clinical or medical diagnosis and does not constitute medical advice.
Rather it is professional observations of myself as a graduate Counsellor psychotherapist who has documented extensively the mood and neural effects on my neural system of “Smiling Depression.”
C60Evo.com Launches ESS60, Carbon 60 (C60) That Increases Life-Span Of Mammals By 90%, And Is Safe For Human Consumption
C60Evo.com, has revolutionized the world of the Carbon 60 (C60) molecule – itself awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996 – that in laboratory experiments almost doubled the life-span of mammals, increasing lab rats life span by 90%, by developing ESS60 that for the first time is a C60 that is safe for human consumption. Life extension in mammals by C60 was demonstrated in the following scientific study in Paris. “The prolongation of the lifespan of rats by repeated oral administration of [60] fullerene May 17, 2020”
C60Evo.com ESS60 is safe for human consumption. What is ESS60? ESS60 is the formulation of C60 used in the original study that showed ESS60 to double the lifespan of rats ESS60 is raw C60 that has been processed for safer human consumption. C60 improperly processed has been shown to be harmful.
C60 Evo delivers pure C60 “ESS60” direct from the lab to the public. The EVOlution of the Carbon 60 Miracle Molecule to ESS60 is a breakthrough in the manufacturing process so that it is safe for human consumption. This molecule has been so successful that it received the Nobel Prize in Science in 1996.
Where is ESS60 Available? Consumers worldwide can access ESS60 at https://www.c60evo.com/alfredlw/ and can
Save an additional 10% off their purchase by using the Special Code: EVALW
How is ESS60 Available? ESS60 is Available as:
How much does ESS60 cost?
The cost of a monthly subscription to a 4oz bottle of ESS60 in Organic Olive Oil, which maximizes the amount of ESS60 in the daily teaspoon dose, and together with the 10% discount given by using Special Code: EVALW is an affordable.
60 MINUTES WATCH ON TRUETUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npLYFyZscVs
READ ARTICLE ON TRUETUBE.INFO: https://exopolitics.blogs.com/truetube/2021/07/c60evocom-ess60-increases-mammals-life-span-90-good-for-smiling-depression-and-safe-to-consume.html
Posted in: Health & Medicine,Lifestyle,Living,Pharmaceuticals & Biotech,Science
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Weston Table (https://westontable.com), America’s online destination for living, giving, and entertaining, has announced its new partnership with OFYR Worldwide in America, featuring the high-end OFYR Grill, designed to inspire immersive, memory-making outdoor dining experiences.
The OFYR Grill takes 8000 years of playing with fire and elevates it into a healthy way to cook, socialize, and be safe together at home and outside.
Entertain outdoors safely six feet apart: a 39” diameter cast iron grill plate provides plenty of room around the grill for a physically distanced, socially connected celebration--the kind we have all been missing.
OFYR Grill 100 Corten (75): Beautifully crafted of weather-ready steel, the wood burning OFYR (pronounced OH-FIRE) is an elevated centerpiece for social outdoor grilling any time of the year. The three-piece design, designed and made in the Netherlands, encourages transport from the backyard to seaside or mountain to take social (distance) gatherings on the road.
To learn more about the OFYR Grill or to be notified of OFYR giveaways and promotions, visit https://westontable.com/collections/ofyr-grill. Contact ofyr@westontable.com or follow Weston Table and their OFYR USA accounts on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/weston_table/ and https://www.instagram.com/ofyr_usa.
ABOUT Weston Table
Known for its beautiful imagery, Weston Table is a lifestyle brand emboldening people to live their best lives through conscious consumerism and inspired living. Weston Table reflects an elevated point of view and less-but-better philosophy with thoughtfully-selected items for living, giving, and entertaining.
Weston Table is leading the movement toward “a new nostalgia” that gives shoppers the opportunity to make thoughtful buying decisions that integrate the past, present, and future.
Posted in: Lifestyle,Living,U.S
Mario Bonds Inspires Millions as a Foster Parent to Four Boys in Spite of Being Totally Blind


Mario Bonds, the multitalented singer, songwriter, and motivational speaker is emerging as the inspiration source for millions. This incredibly talented artist has shown the world that a disability need not become an obstacle in the way of achieving one’s dreams and ambitions. He is a foster father to four children and takes care of them despite being completely blind in both eyes.
“I have had a tough childhood and suffered hardships of unimaginable proportions,” says Mario Bonds while recalling his early days. “I suffered abuse at various levels, was abandoned and became homeless. Yet, even during my worst times, I never lost hope and kept my spirits flying high.”
Bonds is one of nine siblings in his large family. He was born with Morning Glory Syndrome, a degenerative condition that results in loss of vision in both eyes. By the age of nine, Bonds was completely blind. To make matters worse, he lost his parents too. However, Bonds utilized his sorrows and setbacks to propel himself forward.
His passion for helping the unprivileged was evident when he recently adopted four boys. Some questions were raised about how a blind person can care for four young kids and ensure their safety and well-being. However, the judge was convinced that this single father can fully fulfill the responsibilities associated with adopting children.
Bonds holds a foster care license, and that has helped him overcome any potential hurdles in the adoption process. He is keen to serve society through active participation and sponsorship of programs and events for troubled youths.
Bonds started singing and playing the piano at age 5. He got his first professional exposure at 12 while playing the drums for his childhood church, Refuge Temple in Washington, D.C.
Bonds mastered playing the piano and the drums and also quickly added guitar and organ to his skillset. At 14, the musically gifted Bonds got admission to the prestigious Suitland’s School for the Visual and Performing Arts. He later secured a degree in Journalism from George Mason University.

Bonds became a famous figure because of NBC Universal's run of his “Glee Project.” That success helped Bonds reveal to the world that a person with a disability can rise and meet any challenge. He has entertained and inspired millions of fans over several years. He has also worked at the Pentagon and is a popular TV host as well. Bonds was a contestant on American Idol as well.
The singer’s single debut ‘Steel’ was released on March 17, 2018. It is a stirring, biographical power ballad that inspires those facing challenges to believe in themselves. The song makes listeners recognize themselves as made of steel, with the power to withstand tough circumstances and any form of adversity.
‘Steel’ is on target to become a crossover modern-day anthem. The song’s soaring vocals and infectious lyrics have incredible motivational powers and deliver a jolt of inspiration to today’s world.
Bonds has a long string of achievements to his credit. He is a tech expert and offers computer guidance to companies and people. He is a proficient voice actor and poet.

Bonds has been conferred with the prestigious Imagination Award for his work with students and the performing arts. His early life and struggles have been captured aptly in "Without Sight but Full of Vision" - a moving memoir.
Through his unforgettable music, keynotes, and live performances, Bonds has demonstrated to the world that it is possible to succeed regardless of all obstacles. All that are needed are courage, creativity, and determination to overcome adversity.
Bonds is a performer and motivational speaker with a passion for delivering a “special surprise” to his listeners and audiences on how to overcome hardships.
Bonds has been conferred with the prestigious Imagination Award for his work with students and the performing arts. His early life and struggles have been captured aptly in "Without Sight but Full of Vision" - a moving memoir.
Through his unforgettable music, keynotes, and live performances, Bonds has demonstrated to the world that it is possible to succeed regardless of all obstacles. All that are needed are courage, creativity, and determination to overcome adversity.
Bonds is a performer and motivational speaker with a passion for delivering a “special surprise” to his listeners and audiences on how to overcome hardships.

This powerful speaker knows how to draw audiences in with his provoking, and inspiring, presentations, which are the perfect blend of education and entertainment. He also provides performances and keynotes in fluent Spanish. Many of his presentations conclude with an inspirational song performance.
Bonds often speaks on the following topics:
His YouTube videos can be accessed here:
Video Link : https://youtu.be/0y8P5Nd7GTM
Video Link: https://youtu.be/Xp4BA5bCxJ0
For more information, visit www.mabspeaks.com.

About:
Mario Bonds is an incredible singer, songwriter, and author. He writes and records songs that inspire and transform listeners. He is also a compelling motivational and inspirational keynote speaker and speaks on a variety of topics aimed at inspiring people. He is a living example of how people can achieve their life goals and dreams despite facing seemingly insurmountable adversities. "The Glee Project," remains his most successful creation to date, one that has inspired millions.
Posted in: Arts & Entertainment,Celebrity,Family & Parenting,Health & Medicine,Living

In 2018, architect, urban planner activist and urban farmer Michael Madfis launched the Fort Lauderdale-based nonprofit Civic Engagement Corporation.
“Too often the community gets left behind in the process of urban planning,” says Madfis. “The purpose of this initiative is to reconnect people with place through hands-on historical, environmental and social justice educational initiatives led by community members.”
Madfis closed his architecture firm after 25 years in 2010, after being declared legally blind with just 2% of his field of vision remaining. This shift came a year after he launched urban farming project Broward County Food Systems Cooperative, in which he leveraged his urban planning and architecture skills and connections to cultivate sustainable urban gardens and food forests in Miramar, Dania Beach, and Fort Lauderdale in collaboration with other nonprofits and community organizations. The Civic Engagement Corporation is deeply rooted in this genre of grassroots organizing and ecology, committed to inclusion and empowerment of the 250,000 visually impaired people in Broward County.
Pedestrian mobility is a fundamental vehicle of the nonprofits’ impact on community cohesion in Fort Lauderdale. Getting people out of their cars and onto the street is essential for street-level retail businesses and interpersonal engagement. It is also the best suited pace for local history, environmental, and social justice education, with slow mindful movement through the spaces often taken for granted. Madfis sees the blind as the perfect ambassadors to bring mindful observation and education to the public. Already, the Civic Engagement Corporation has put this into process through a series of educational walking tours led by blind tour guides, including an Urban Walking Tour and a Brewery Tour.
The nonprofit’s newest project takes this a step further: a blind-accessible geocaching game installation in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. The game centers around five murals painted on public buildings with adjacent tactile displays along the sidewalk to describe the images. The installation will include audio direction cues and an accompanying smartphone app with an audio description and explanation of each mural narrated by a blind storyteller. Clues for the game are hidden in the artwork and accompanying tactile and audio elements, and players will be able to leave their own marks on the game for others to stumble across. The artwork will tell the story of Fort Lauderdale channeled through the Hero’s Journey, with local characters and stories integrated into the game, bringing history to life. At the same time, this installation will create pedestrian movement, interaction, and economic activity for the area, and bring the blind people of Broward County out of isolation and into the community.
The Civic Engagement Corporation is currently seeking out local artists and storytellers to come together and share their visions and ideas for the display, as well as community members who have pieces of local history, stories, and characters to share. The nonprofit is also seeking local videographers to document the project’s entire development process for social media so that other communities can be inspired by and recreate this project.
To be a part of this geocaching initiative, schedule a walking tour, or otherwise get involved with the Civic Engagement Corporation, visit www.civicengagementcorporation.org.


Posted in: Arts & Entertainment,Education,Lifestyle,Living,Society & Culture


Essex Funk Collective, the band that has members from the Baby Boomers to Generation X, has sent out a powerful message with their latest song, ‘Enough Is Enough’. It is the kind of music that can make a difference to everyone’s life. The band members consist of Black, Asian, and White artists, all from different religious faiths.
“At some point in life we all want to do something that will be remembered and helped during these tumultuous times and be the change,” says a prominent member of the band. “The song was inspired by climate change, the pandemic and racism and is a call to action for each individual to do what you can by saying ‘Enough is Enough’.” We hope that the song provides the #inspiration for everyone to say “together we can make a difference.”
The song ‘Enough is Enough’ was co-written by the band’s lead singer Faith Taylor and drummer David Tannebaum. He is also the owner of music production company studio584inc.com where the song was recorded, produced and mixed. Jonathan Glasser is the lead guitarist and co-founder of the band.
Faith Taylor, the co-founder of the band, has been singing and writing since she was a child. She pursued her passion for music all her life and studied and sang at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. She sung for the band Stanfunk while at Stanford University and was a member of the Wharton Follies during her MBA years.
Her CD called “Imani Songs of Faith” was popular and qualified for a Grammy nomination. While at Wyndham Worldwide, Faith was SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility and helped to create their award-winning sustainability program from the ground up. Today, she is a professor teaching about the same. She continues to uplift and inspire change through her music and works.

The Essex Funk Collective is an eclectic group of talented individuals who love to get down, have fun and spread joy wherever they perform. They reside in the Essex County community which is home to many musicians and artists.
The band plays a range of music from old school funk to contemporary R&B to their original song “Enough is Enough”. The band has musicians who have toured or worked with acts such as Peter Frampton, Metallica and Art Garfunkle. They have produced albums that have been Grammy nominated and worked with some of the big names in the world of music such as Robert Irving III, Danny Leake, Maroon 5 and OAR among others.
The band has many fans worldwide who express their views about the music on various social channels. Here are some of them:
“It is so great to hear a live band play our favorite loved songs.”
“Your music makes me feel good.”
“I enjoy watching you perform, we had an amazing time.”
This is the link to the ‘Enough is Enough’ video: https://youtu.be/H6DwBgfm7Gk

About:
Essex Funk Collective is a popular band with members who are part of the Baby Boomers demographic and Generation X. The band is known for its wide range of music that covers everything from old school funk to contemporary R&B to their original song “enoughisenough”. The latest release is a message to the world to stay together and support each other during the coronavirus pandemic. The core message of the song is – Together we can make a difference. The band also spreads awareness about global issues such as climate change and racism.
Posted in: Arts & Entertainment,Government & Politics,Leisure Activities,Lifestyle,Living

Long before Covid-19, survivors of domestic violence knew all too well what it was like to endure days of social distancing, to suffer years of isolation, and to yearn desperately for a cure for their lives. They longed for someone to see them, to hear them, to help them. Being Brave 2020 calls for an end to the pandemic of domestic violence by listening to survivors and then giving them the comprehensive support they need to changes their lives.
“Preliminary research shows that domestic violence has worsened during Covid-19, but we will not know the full effect for years,” says Reverend Susan Kramer-Mills, executive director of the Town Clock Community Development Corporation. TCCDC is one of only 40 facilities in the US providing permanent, affordable housing with supportive services to survivors of domestic violence.
“What I do know is that we empower survivors of domestic violence to transform their lives when we provide them a safe place to live, allow them time to heal, and give them the skills they need to succeed,” points out Kramer-Mills. Being Brave 2020 raises awareness for this housing-first solution.
Being Brave 2020 will be an online event (Thursday, October 22, 2020, at 7:30 p.m.) celebrating the inspiring stories of Town Clock CDC residents and other survivors. Entertainer Sheryl Lee Ralph will be honored with the Being Brave Award for empowering women through her philanthropy. New Jersey heroes to be honored for helping survivors through their community service will be: Leslie Maxie, OLY, Maxie Media Group, (Outstanding Advocate Award); Det. Danny Gallardo, New Brunswick Police Department, (Outstanding Provider Award), and Debbie Maddock, Sophie's Bistro, (Outstanding Volunteer Award). Honoree bios. The event will highlight, #HearMeSeeMe a unique art program that is helping residents find their voices. #TheManStand will feature the stories of men who stand up to domestic violence.
Returning as Being Brave’s Presenting Sponsor is Cadillac. The Gold Sponsor is Sandra Soriano, Vice President, Town Clock CDC Board of Directors. The Champion Sponsor: Bentley Dock. Full sponsor list.
“We are honored to partner again with Town Clock CDC on Being Brave, especially in the midst of a global pandemic as we purpose to never stop arriving. Unprecedented times and difficult circumstances are not new to us and the community of domestic violence survivors. During times like this, we must continue to demonstrate flexibility, agility and resilience as we’re on a journey to redefining the boundaries and limits of mobility through groundbreaking innovation,” said Alexis Kerr, head of Multicultural Marketing at Cadillac.
Hosting again this year will be Lisa Guerrero, Inside Edition’s award-winning, internationally acclaimed chief investigative journalist. Featured advocates and entertainers include: Dr. Arabia Mollette, Covid-19 physician, health expert and survivor; Melonie Daniels, international singer and performer; Dr. Melanie R. Hill, Gospel Soul violinist; Ahmed "JKing" Wallace, performer, and Lauren Weinstein, award-winning artist & cartoonist. Full lineup and bios. Initial press release.
Domestic Violence
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. It can include physical and sexual violence, psychological abuse and financial control. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence finds that 57% of homeless women cite Domestic Violence as cause of their homelessness, and 33% of women have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime. The Childhood Domestic Violence Association cites that children of domestic violence are six times more likely to commit suicide, 50% more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, 74% more likely to commit a violent crime and three times more likely to repeat the cycle of abuse in adulthood.
Town Clock CDC – 1 of 40 in US
Town Clock Community Development Corporation is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization http://www.TownClockCDC.org. Town Clock CDC’s facility (Dina's Dwellings) opened in April 2016 after the sanctuary of the 200-year-old First Reformed Church of New Brunswick was transformed into 10 long-term affordable housing units with supportive services for survivors. In October 2020, Town Clock CDC expanded its facility by transforming the church’s sexton house into a home for a mother and up to five children. This housing model is one of only 40 establishments of its kind in the entire United States, and remains the largest, permanent housing program for survivors of domestic violence and their children in New Jersey. In 2019, Town Clock CDC launched the Being Brave Event & Award.
Posted in: Law & Legal,Lifestyle,Living,News & Current Affairs,U.S
Little Steps Opens New Glenview Location, Launches Florida Company to Reach More Patients
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Little Steps Pediatric Therapy has opened a second location in Glenview, Illinois and launched a new sister company in Florida to expand educational programs and reach new patients in need of therapeutic services. The new space in Glenview also allows for social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
After the pandemic prompted many schools to switch to virtual learning earlier this year, the Little Steps team decided to develop programming to help parents and supplement remote education. The pediatric therapy provider already offered a preschool readiness program to promote early learning and skills like social interaction, fine and gross motor skills, pre-writing, pre-language and more. As of this fall, Little Steps also assists children with skills like reading, handwriting and speech via enrichment pods for Pre-K through 5th-grade students.
The pods deliver supplemental instruction in core areas and are limited to eight participants each to allow for proper distancing. Each pod meets for 2.5 hours per session and is led by a team of Little Steps therapists. Please visit the enrichment pods section of the therapy provider’s website for more information.
The new Glenview site – located at 1850 Johns Dr. – allows Little Steps to deliver that socially distanced programming to assist children with e-learning, explained Jaime Passaglia, founder of Little Steps.
“It’s been tough for parents trying to help their kids with remote learning,” Passaglia said. “We felt there was a need to bridge the gap with our enrichment pods. Our team has worked some of their e-learning instructions into the programming as well.”
Passaglia also launched a sister company, Little Steps Florida LLC, in Florida in August after team member Erica Vitaliano moved there. Vitaliano is a pediatric speech therapist and has served as the director of speech therapy services and Early Intervention therapy services for Little Steps. She now offers Early Intervention services and teletherapy in Florida. Passaglia plans to secure office space for the new company soon.
In addition to the two new locations, Little Steps already had sites in Chicago, Highland Park, Wilmette and Glenview to serve children throughout the Chicago metro area. The company focuses on delivering compassionate and comprehensive care – including pediatric physical, occupational and speech therapy – to children of all ages. For more information, please call 847-707-6744 or email info@littlestepspt.com.
About Little Steps
Little Steps Pediatric Therapy is a privately-owned company composed of pediatric professionals focused on delivering physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and behavior therapy to children of all ages in the Chicago area. Our team is determined to provide comprehensive and educational care to change the lives of children one step at a time. To learn more, visit littlestepspt.com.
Posted in: Health & Medicine,Lifestyle,Living,News & Current Affairs,U.S
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The Executive Women's Forum on Information Security, Risk Management & Privacy (EWF) is thrilled to announce that the 2020 EWF Virtual Conference "Empowering Women In Cybersecurity, Risk & Privacy: Enhancing Business, Resilience & Trust" agenda is LIVE! For the first time, the EWF is introducing EWF Conference Scholarships, as part of our commitment to breaking down barriers that prevent underrepresented women.
The EWF Conference is an exclusive opportunity to interact with more than 500 thought leaders GLOBALLY in Information Security, Risk Management, and Privacy. Join us for a three-day event, including a Leadership Track, to equip you with the skills you need for advancement. Attendees will learn from the most accomplished and influential women in our field. Gaining exposure to new ideas and approaches, developing best practices, and building trusted relationships with the best and brightest is an excellent and abundant investment return. The deadline to register for the EWF Virtual Conference is October 7, 2020. To register, view the agenda, learn more about the conference and our speakers, please visit our Conference page here. Save 0 by using discount code: EWFVIRTUAL20.
"In this unique year, the EWF is excited to show our resilience and our community's resilience with a completely virtual conference," said Lynn Terwoerds, Executive Director, EWF. "As always, we have a great lineup of speakers, networking events, and a platform that supports a compelling conference experience."
Scholarship recipients will receive a full conference pass to the 2020 EWF Virtual Conference giving them access to the 3-day programming, including pre/post sessions, Rising Leaders Forum Workshop for millennials, an on-demand library of recorded content, and the conference platform and app.
"The EWF believes in diversity and inclusion in our membership, program offerings, and events," said Mary Wei, Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement. "We have established scholarships to the EWF Annual Conference as part of our commitment to breaking down barriers for underrepresented women in our industry."
The deadline to submit for the EWF Conference Scholarships is September 30, 2020! To apply, see eligibility, and to learn more about the EWF Conference Scholarships, please visit https://www.ewf-usa.com/page/EWFConferenceScholarships.
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About the Executive Women's Forum on Information Security, Risk Management & Privacy:
Founded in 2002, the Executive Women's Forum on Information Security, Risk Management & Privacy (EWF) is the largest member organization dedicated to engaging, advancing, and developing women leaders in Cybersecurity, IT Risk Management, Governance Risk & Compliance, and Privacy. The EWF serves emerging leaders and the most prominent and influential women in our field by facilitating programs and events throughout the year, including an Annual Conference, regional meetings, leadership development, and mentorship programs and interaction with global thought leaders through an online community. For more information, visit http://www.ewf-usa.com.
Posted in: Family & Parenting,Law & Legal,Lifestyle,Living,News & Current Affairs
Personal Tech Concierge Simplifies Life for Seniors

Did your computer update and now something doesn’t work? Virus on your smartphone? Is your car’s technology a bit overwhelming to understand? Did you buy a new device or program and just cannot for the life of you figure it out? Printer won’t talk to your laptop? These are all common problems that a personal tech concierge can help you solve and improve your tech literacy along the way.
Instead of calling the Geek Squad or dropping hundreds of dollars for an Apple Genius, you can stay home and get a personalized solution fast. Work with a personal tech concierge to address your unique problem in your best learning style and find a solution on your budget.
“My job is teaching people how to use new technology based on their specific challenges, questions, and complaints, and to identify the best, easiest, and most cost-effective solution,” explains New Jersey-based personal tech concierge Steven Kohn, of SJK Consulting. “I also provide follow-up instructions and other reference resources at the end of each session.”
Tech concierges like Kohn can work with clients in person, or remotely. Unlike common technology resources found at Best Buy, The Apple Store, and other retailers whose motive is sales, education and simplifying are always at the forefront of Kohn’s services. If the goal is to learn how to troubleshoot, or how to use a specific program or device, he will work with each client based on their needs and learning style. As technology grows increasingly complex each day, Kohn’s objective is to make it as transparent as possible while his clients reap the benefits that it provides.
“Steven helped me fix my 12-year-old computer over the phone,” said customer Sheila Danzig. “If he can teach this 72-year-old woman how to be computer-savvy, imagine what he can do for you!”
Kohn also assists with installation and setup of devices, malware and virus remediation, and a long list of other repair and maintenance services for PC, Mac, iPhone, and Android devices with all operating systems.
Another offering in his arsenal enables his clients to save tons of money by “cutting the cord” – essentially replacing expensive cable TV with state-of-the-art streaming devices and services. “I called Steve to help us become a cable free home. He suggested the equipment, installed it, and explained, with great patience, how to make the most of it. We are now saving monthly dollars,” explains client Jeffrey Wallach. Kohn says, “Customers can often cut their cable bill in half by cutting the cord.”
On the subject of state-of-the-art, Kohn also help you make your home “smart“. In a “Smart Home” you can control things like security access, lighting, temperature and even home theater devices through voice commands or with automation. His client, Douglas Weiss said, “Steve has helped us turn our home into a Smart Home. He recommended equipment, helped us install it, and debugs issues when they arise.”
“Mr. Kohn has encyclopedic knowledge of the tech field, and he is a good and patient teacher,” reviews customer Lucille Uhlman. “He says that there is a solution to every problem, and, so far, he’s right.”
For educational, cost-effective solutions to tech woes, contact Steven Kohn and SJK Consulting at 862-234-5646 or info@sjkconsulting.net.
Client Lucille Uhlman is happy with her new found knowledge from SJK Consulting
Steven Kohn explaining Smart TV features to Jeff and Jane Scheetz
Steven Kohn teaching new iPad features to Jeff and Jane Scheetz
In-Person visits are safe as all parties wear masks
Posted in: Computers & Software,Education,Living,Professional Services,Technology
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You know who they are. The guys are walking tall and stand out in a crowd. And, when it’s time to play and relax with friends, they put on the styles that let everyone know they’re reaching for the brass ring. Now’s the time to help make them famous.
It’s one of the most talked about new men’s clothing labels and Chuck Brass is seeking Millennial and Gen Z men who are interested in a career as social fashion influencers. This announcement is a rare opportunity to launch a rising star across all social media platforms. Winners can be Brass Ringleaders, interacting not just with their friends and social channels, but with nationally recognized creative agencies, stylists, and photographers who conduct award-winning campaigns.
It’s easy to get started too. We have all of the assets for publication and media awareness on our website. Potential Brass Ring candidates can visit chuckbrass.com beginning August 1, and apply there for the chance to share with the world all the buzz about Chuck Brass clothes.
Here’s what we want potential Brass Ringleaders to know:
Aspiring Ringleaders can apply at https://www.chuckbrass.com/pages/the-brass-ring.
Posted in: Lifestyle,Living,News & Current Affairs,Shopping & Deal,U.S
Story of Sisterhood, Friendship Wins Silver for Arbonne at the 2020 Telly Awards
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- Ad was part of rebranding campaign aimed at Latin, African-American and general markets
The video production company Sinema Films spot ‘Sisters and Friends’ has won a Silver trophy at the 41st Annual Telly Awards. The spot was produced for the global, holistic lifestyle brand and social selling giant, Arbonne. It tells the real-life story of two Arbonne Independent Consultants, as they help each other build their social selling business with the Arbonne brand. One of the Consultants plays mentor and business advisor to the mentee, and as their businesses flourish, they forge a strong, steadfast friendship. The story is an intimate, feel-good narrative about the experiences of entrepreneurs, and it plays particularly well for the mobile screen.
“This is a big honor for Arbonne. We are very proud that the warmth of our Consultants’ story resonated with our audience and is recognized by the Telly Awards Judging Council. Sinema Films did an excellent job in producing this campaign,” said Arbonne CMO, Carole Diarra. The Tellys are one of the most competitive awards to win with more than 12,000 entries each year. Previous winners include BET Networks, Bloomberg, CBS Interactive, Comcast and Conde Nast.
The spot is part of a rebranding campaign aimed at sharing the brand values of Arbonne through the stories of its' diverse community. In the campaign, Diarra was committed to telling honest, authentic stories about the Arbonne community. “Our Independent Consultants come from all walks of life. They are nurses, accountants, students, parents, triathletes and more. They are truly a global community coming from around the world, and in many ways, they are also from right next door. Each one of them brings a unique story to the table and that’s what makes our community so special. We wanted to capture the true experience of using and selling Arbonne products within a circle of friends. We wanted to tell their stories without any fabrications because the stories are inspiring on their own.” Indeed. Diarra’s aim at authenticity seems to have hit the mark, the larger rebrand campaign won three more Gold statuettes.
“’Sisters and Friends’ is a brief look into how these two amazing Arbonne women have supported and celebrated each other in their personal and career growth. When women support other women, incredible things happen. We were very humbled to be invited to work on this campaign, it is beauty, friendship, and community – it is magic,” said Noel Maimu, Sinema Films’ executive producer. The commercial production company handled both creative concept and production, taking the campaign from copy to final videos. “Clients are increasingly looking for a one-stop agency that does both – creative and production. As a production agency, we are faster, and more cost-effective, our clients are happy with our capabilities,’ Maimu added.
Since 1980, Arbonne International, LLC, has been creating personal care, beauty and wellness products crafted with plant-based ingredients, and grounded in science and clinical research. Arbonne’s philosophy of healthy living to improve Mind. Body. Skin.™ combined with the entrepreneurial business opportunity fosters a holistic approach, focusing on the whole person to flourish inside and out. Earlier this year, Arbonne became a Certified B CorporationTM, reinforcing its commitment to balance people, planet and profit.
This is the 6th Telly Award for Sinema Films. Other wins include a global ad campaign for an energy drink starring Bruce Willis and Miss Universe and an Olympics television spot.
Posted in: Arts & Entertainment,Lifestyle,Living,News & Current Affairs,U.S
Marci Brockmann Shares Life Experiences Through An Intimate Memoir and Healing Journey


Marci Brockman, the renowned artist, author, and teacher, has shared an intimate memoir and the healing journey of her life. The memoir shares her own trauma and how she helped herself and others deal with pain and how overcoming mental illness and addiction is a distinct possibility through expressive writing.
“I believe that we all need hope and inspiration to break the destructive bonds of trauma,” says Marci Brockmann. “I have authored a memoir and a guided expressive writing journal, both aimed at healing trauma and pain and helping people connect with their past. I want people to understand and make sense of their memories and beautiful patterns and discover the truest hopes and dreams to make their lives truly beautiful.”

The two books that Brockmann has authored are – ‘Permission To Land: Searching For Love, Home & Belonging - a memoir about surviving and thriving mental illness and addiction and learning to love yourself and your life and ‘Permission To Land: Personal Transformation Through Writing’ - a guided expressive writing journal with over 100 pages of writing prompts. The journal aims to help people overcome their past experiences and move ahead with more clarity, awareness, and confidence.
According to Brockmann, expressive writing has the power to heal and also helps create a secure future that creates a sense of love and belonging. She has been sharing stories with others and wants people to know about their past, illuminate the present, and take firm steps towards a bright future with more clarity, awareness, and confidence through writing. The aim is to help people improve their mental health.
The new author believes that expressive writing is the cornerstone of wellness and writing connections. She has designed a video workshop that can help people learn at their own pace. They can use numerous writing prompts and inspiring photographs to discover their deepest emotions, memories, and motivations, continue their wellness journey, and achieve personal growth.
Both her books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book stores. Signed copies of the book can be purchased at www.Marcibrockmann.com along with customized paintings, prints, scarves, and now fashionable face masks.

Brockmann is also offering her Expressive Writing Video Workshop as a free gift on https://youtu.be/1gjKcMLb3xM
Here’s what Barbara Kanal, DSW had to say about her book:
‘In Permission to Land: Personal Transformation Through Writing’ Marci Brockmann has created an excellent tool for reflection and self-improvement. The thought-provoking writing prompts will take you on a valuable journey through your own life, experiences, and memories. It is a beautiful addition to the memoir Permission to Land: Searching for Love, Home & Belonging. Her psychological knowledge is evident as the writing prompts to encourage us all to tell our own stories.”
For more information, visit www.MarciBrockmann.com
Her other online links are:
What’s up, Marci? - The blog - www.whatsupMarci.com
YouTube Channel - What’s up, Marci? - https://www.youtube.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Marcibrockmannartist
https://www.facebook.com/Marci527
Facebook Group - Permission to Heal...Safe to Fly
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Marcibrockmann
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/
Book Trailer Video -

About Marci Brockmann:
Marci Brockmann has been writing expressively in journals for 35 years. She has drawn from her rich journaling experiences to write the two new books. She also hosts her own YouTube Channel – What’s up, Marci?
She grew up as a child with low self-esteem because of her tough family circumstances. Because of her high sense of insecurity, she yearned for love, a safe home, and a sense of real connection. She realized she had all these inside her while she was always looking outside for the same. Brockmann soon explored the idea of growth and healing through expressive writing and was able to soon realize her dreams and goals.
Marci lives in New York with her husband, their grown kids, frisky cats, and many fishes. Her mission is to empower people to understand their past and make sense of it while creating a future of love, home, and belonging.
Posted in: Books & Literature,Family & Parenting,Health & Medicine,Living,Website & Blog
APT212 - Search, Find And Book Furnished Apartments Today

Though it started off as a traditional brokerage, APT212 has evolved to become the go-to source & service for finding furnished and well-maintained rental homes in New York. New York's rental policies and industry landscape are constantly changing, but APT212 has continued adapting and improving to consistently bring the best customer experience, from fit to price. APT212's mission is to always bring customers a perfect home away from home.
The APT212 online experience is seamless and very user friendly, clients can easily find and book apartments on their own. In addition, the APT212 staff is dedicated to working with their customers to ensure that every home is a match. The thing that sets APT212 apart from competitors is their commitment to service throughout the entire rental process. Also, APT212 serves a wide clientele, from families looking for luxury apartments to first-year students looking for private rooms.
There is always a reasonable fear of scams and fraud, especially when it comes to renting shared apartments. Landlords may charge outrageous rent for shabby housing or even disappear altogether after initial payment. With APT212, there's never a compromise on quality of service, and they practice strict verification processes for all partnered landlords and properties. The offered properties are stylish and popular amongst students, interns, and professionals alike. Plus, affordable selections are located all across Manhattan's popular neighborhoods, even the typically pricier ones! All properties are furnished, move-in ready, and optimized for work, study, or anything else the client needs.
APT212 recognizes it's already a struggle to find both affordable and reliable housing, which is why they are serious about making their customer experience as stress-free as possible. The rentals on offer are comprehensive and vary from spacious, fully furnished 6-bed luxury homes to cozy, 2-bed options. Some spaces offer comfy lounging areas designed for co-working, socializing, or even cooking in a fully-equipped kitchen. At the end of the day, APT212 prioritizes customer needs over rushing profits.
Available rentals come with hassle-free amenities like included Wi-Fi internet and cable TV. Considering all services and amenities included, APT212 apartments are some of the most budget-friendly, cost-effective, and custom offerings on the market. The rooms run as cheap as 00 for studio apartments, with the option to split costs between multiple tenants. In most cases, even utility costs are divided per room and are conveniently deducted from the security deposit.
Whether you are new to the city, between leases, or a student only here for a semester, leases run from a month minimum to as long as you wish. To streamline the booking process, APT212 minimizes paperwork and handles negotiations.
Another thing worth mentioning is the APT212 site, which offers easy navigation and comprehensive information on properties, neighborhoods, booking process, and more. They also provide a nifty FAQ section, just to save everyone time.
So here comes the big question: Why APT212 and not another marketplace? Let's review. A streamlined amd hassle-free booking process. A wide range of affordable properties with reliable availability. Enthusiastic staff that is dedicated to customer experience, fit, and satisfaction. Lastly, APT212 is well reviewed across multiple rental platforms, particularly for excellent communication and service. You can choose to trust this article or trust other customers, but it looks like we've got our answer.
APT212's service is worth writing home about. From the competence of their agents to the company's understanding of the New York market, they're the number one source for New York furnished apartments for a reason. From answering customer concerns to inspecting and ensuring your rental is up to spec – they’ve got you covered on all fronts. So don't miss this chance to find the perfect New York rental. See the amazing selection at apt212.com.
Posted in: Living
Sweet-Hart Deal! Hollywood’s Kevin Hart partners with Detroit Beverage Maker Nailah Ellis
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Superstar comedian Kevin Hart is investing in Detroit beverage maker Nailah Ellis and Ellis Island Tea.
Ellis Island Tea is an all-natural beverage, handcrafted from a recipe inspired by Ellis’s Jamaican great-grandfather, who came to America through Ellis Island more than 100 years ago. Made with real herbs, including hibiscus, Ellis Island Tea is rich, red, smooth and flavorful.
The story always matters to Hart. An artist and an author, Hart knows an audience looks for truth and a way to connect. So, when Ellis introduced him to her family tea, he was intrigued.
The tea’s history and Ellis’s own backstory of starting with nothing at the age of 20, brewing tea in her mother’s kitchen and selling it from the trunk of her car around Detroit resonated with Hart. Hart’s own story is one of resilience and perseverance – working small clubs and honing his craft for years before becoming a bankable star who commands million-plus a movie.
“There were a lot of people pulling for Nailah,” said Hart, who was impressed by the Detroiter’s determination and hustle. “Her name just kept coming up and coming across my radar. So, I figured there had to be something to it.”
Ellis won BET’s Queen Boss business competition and her company’s growth has been chronicled in national media, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, MSNBC, The Financial Times, The Root 100 and Black Enterprise. Accolades and awards have poured in, but Ellis has always focused on building a business that endures.
Today, Ellis has her own Detroit beverage production facility and is the largest Black female beverage manufacturer in the United States. Her tea is an emerging national brand sold by retail giants Sam’s Club and Costco and airport concessioners across the country.
Hart’s investment comes at a critical time – Ellis Island Tea will be rolling out in Walmart this month and will soon debut in Target and CVS. With Hart’s backing, sleek new packaging, competitive pricing, and new e-commerce options, Ellis expects rapid growth.
Ellis has always given a nod to the man who inspired the recipe for Ellis Island Tea – her Jamaican Great-Grandfather Cyril Byron.
“Cyril’s story is one of a true risk taker. He came here with nothing but his dreams,” Ellis said. “He went on to become a head chef on Marcus Garvey’s Black Star Line and then the owner of Byron Caterers, one of the most successful Black-owned catering businesses in the Bronx.”
Cyril was an optimist, an activist, an entrepreneur and a pragmatist, she said. When he passed down his tea recipe for future generations, Cyril said ‘This recipe is to be sold, not told.’
Hart also is a big believer in building for the future. The soon-to-be father of four has said that “You’re supposed to set up for the next generation…if you’re not doing that, you’re not doing your part.”
Ellis takes that seriously as well. She is building upon the dreams of her ancestors, hoping to pass on a legacy to her two young daughters. She’s also proud to be providing jobs for Detroiters like herself.
“We all need opportunity,” she said. “I’ve been given mine and now I’m paying it forward and providing that for others.”
ABOUT ELLIS ISLAND TEA
Ellis Island Tea is the only Jamaican Sweet Tea made in America. It is an all-natural bottled tea made from hibiscus with a smooth, refreshing flavor. Ellis Island Tea comes sweetened with pure sugar cane and honey or in an unsweetened version that is crisp and tart.
When she founded her company back in 2008, Nailah Ellis realized a lifelong dream to become an entrepreneur. Brewing Ellis Island Tea continues a family legacy. The tea is based on a recipe created by her Great-Grandfather Cyril Byron, a Jamaican immigrant, chef and entrepreneur who told his family the recipe was to be “Sold, not told.” Ellis-Brown honors those words every day working from her company headquarters in Detroit where the tea is brewed.
Posted in: Food & Beverage,Living,News & Current Affairs,U.S
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Cleanliness and friendliness, the hallmarks of the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa in Lake Placid for over 40 years, are back on display once again as the iconic lodging property started welcoming guests for full-time service on June 26. The Inn just completed soft openings over the weekends of June 12-14 and June 19-21.
The AAA Four Diamond property, offering an authentic Adirondack experience, felt a moral and civic responsibility to do their part in flattening the curve and therefore made the decision to temporarily shut down the resort on March 16. But now, as Upstate New York advances through the state’s four phases of reopening, the staff’s friendliness has started greeting guests once again with open arms. When those visitors now walk through the doors, they notice an elevated level of cleanliness that is noteworthy.
“With the health and safety of our staff and guests uppermost on our minds, we have taken the concept of cleaning, that was thorough enough to help us achieve 36 consecutive AAA Four Diamond awards, and invested time, energy and money into making it even better,” said Ed Weibrecht, Mirror Lake Inn owner. “The past three months have landed us in a completely new and different world thanks to COVID-19. But our guests can rest assured that since March 16 when we closed, we have researched new methods and invested in state-of-the-art hospital-grade cleaning equipment. Equally as important, we have made a commitment to everyone who enters our resort, be they visitors or staff, that they should have the utmost confidence in our consideration of their health.”
In conjunction with the Inn’s return to daily operation, the Northern region of New York is set to enter phase four, also on June 26. To mark the “welcome back”, the Mirror Lake Inn is offering several new packages for stays through December 20, 2020.
These offers must be booked directly with the hotel. Please call the onsite reservations team at 518-523-2544. They will help you make the best decision for your group or family, and can inform you of the myriad of activities that you can enjoy while in Lake Placid.
For a complete listing of Mirror Lake Inn packages, please log on to: https://mirrorlakeinn.com/our-packages/
The luxury seven-acre property offers 130 units all overlooking Mirror Lake and the Adirondack High Peaks. The “single-loaded” construction and design concept of the magnificent resort naturally lends itself to better social distancing as there are less guests in the hallways than traditional lodging properties where rooms are placed on both sides of the corridor. No other Adirondack region hotel is designed in this manner.
With health and safety front and center, here’s what guests and hotel staff can expect when they enter the Inn:
To review the entirety of the Inn’s new policies and protocols, please log on to: https://mirrorlakeinn.com/covid-19-safety/
The pandemic has also resulted in a change to the dining scene inside the Mirror Lake Inn. The View Restaurant, AAA Four Diamond rated the past 13 consecutive years, has been re-imagined and enlarged with greater spacing as part of the new safety measures. The redesign includes hardwood flooring to facilitate better cleaning and sanitation.
Taste Bistro has now been integrated into The View with the bistro’s most popular items to be found on The View’s menu. The end result will present guests with the best of both worlds: a combination of upscale dining and elegant comfort food. Taste’s footprint has become The View Lounge. The hip Cottage Café, on the shore of Mirror Lake, continues to welcome diners and revelers for its 43rd year. The Cottage presents both indoor and outdoor settings, and now features yet a third and fourth open air options to complement its deck and patio. For added service and efficiency, the Inn is implementing “to-go” apps for these restaurants, allowing guests to order and pre-pay electronically from their own device.
The spa and salon are also ready to welcome guests. A physical barrier has been inserted at the check-in desk. Treatment schedules have been altered to ensure ample time for cleaning and disinfecting treatment surfaces between customers. Equipment in the fitness room will also be cleaned and disinfected between guest use. Manicures and pedicures will be limited to one at a time, although booking as a safe group is permissible. The policy is similar for the gift shop. In high traffic areas of the spa/salon, social distance markers have been put in place.
“We are insisting on these protocols for the safety of our guests, employees and the local community,” continued Weibrecht. “Until such time as we, in conjunction with the State of New York, determine that it is prudent to relax these protocols, we will strictly adhere to them and look forward to a time when we might be able to lift those protocols.”
-MLI-
About the Mirror Lake Inn
The AAA Four Diamond Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa is a luxury lakefront resort offering an authentic Adirondack experience. The Inn, rated Four Diamond for 36 consecutive years, offers both Four Diamond world-class cuisine and casual dining options, with impeccable service amid awe-inspiring views. Only one other property in New York State (located in Manhattan), has maintained the Four Diamond designation longer than Mirror Lake Inn. It is the only property in Lake Placid that combines Four Diamond lodging and dining. The Inn's renowned Lake Placid spa pampers the body and refreshes the mind with a comprehensive menu of services. The Inn is conveniently located one block from the restaurants and shops on Main Street in Lake Placid.
Posted in: Lifestyle,Living,News & Current Affairs,Services,U.S
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SmartGift, the fastest growing gift-based e-Commerce and data platform, today announced that Pandora A/S and Aveda (an Estee Lauder Companies brand) join its award winning gift experience platform and network.
The global COVID-19 crisis is rapidly shifting consumer dynamics by accelerating online commerce and the need for personal and thoughtful human connection. Send with SmartGift volumes have risen sharply with Thank You, Just Because and Long Distance categories experiencing the biggest relative surge. Volumes relating to evergreen occasions like birthdays and anniversaries are also growing strongly.
Brands are accelerating their innovation efforts and are doubling down on online business with services that help nurture relationships and provide utility during this time. With temporary store closures and widely expected continued weakness in physical retail until the second half of 2021, personal online gift giving presents itself as a major opportunity for brands and retailers for the 2020 holidays and beyond.
“Being able to support and connect with our customers through digital activations is crucial during these uncertain times. We want to make the shopping experience as seamless as possible, which is why we are launching SmartGift, a service that allows our customers to easily shop for their loved ones online. With Mother’s Day fast approaching and being such an important holiday for Pandora, we hope SmartGift provides shoppers with a convenient way to show their appreciation for their moms, especially if they aren’t able to physically be with them,” said David Walmsley, Global Chief Digital Officer at Pandora Jewelry.
“We are proud to be able to bring people closer together right now. We hear of so many heartfelt messages of gratitude, love and kindness from remote teams, parents, grandparents, children, friends and partners who have to physically distance. Sending someone a token of appreciation is a way to connect when we can’t be there, spark joy and hope during deeply emotional and unsettling times, and make ourselves feel better, too. While nothing can replace those real hugs, we hope that SmartGift can provide a genuine expression of thoughtfulness. With Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother’s Day coming up fast, we are excited to have launched with Pandora Jewelry and Aveda. These exceptional brands set the standard for customer experience and make for meaningful gifts,” said Monika Kochhar, CEO at SmartGift.
“e-Commerce teams have vastly accelerated their speed of iteration and innovation as a necessary reaction to the current situation. I think it’s fair to say that every e-commerce team works harder than ever. I am pleased that our easy and light-touch setup allows us to get brands up and running quickly with top personal gifting experiences as we have seen most recently with Pandora and Aveda, and more to launch soon. I’d like to thank these brands and their teams for the great partnership,” adds Bernd Strenitz, Chief Product Officer at SmartGift.
Top brands such as 1-800-Flowers, Kendra Scott, Kipling, Movado, ReserveBar, TUMI, Theory, Under Armour, vineyard vines, Waterford and many others utilize the SmartGift platform to power their peer-to-peer gift recommendations, shopping and customer experience. The platform helps brands lower the cost of customer acquisition, and increase purchase frequency and customer lifetime value thanks to its suite of peer-to-peer and business-to-consumer customer acquisition, engagement, retention and reactivation products. Its award-winning Send with SmartGift product is used by consumers across leading brands to make every gift perfect.
SmartGift is a service that helps shoppers give the perfect gift, every time. The shopper can select an item to send, surprise and delight the giftee of their choice by giving them the chance to virtually unwrap their gift via text, email, or any other digital platform. Then the giftee can decide if it’s indeed the perfect gift. If not, he or she can swap for a same-priced item or alter the gift’s size, color or style. Once the giftee is happy with their choice, the shopper confidently completes the purchase and not until that point is the gifter charged.
About SmartGift
SmartGift is the fastest growing, gift-based ecommerce and data platform today. Its award-winning patent-pending Send with SmartGift platform is used by retail brands and consumers to make every gift perfect. Leveraging AI and real-time gifting data, SmartGift helps retailers and brands to become more people-centric in their marketing and personalization experiences. Select an item to send, surprise and delight your giftee by giving them the chance to virtually unwrap their gift via text, email, or any other digital platform. They can decide if it’s indeed the perfect gift for them. If not, they can swap or exchange for a same-priced item or alter the gift’s size, color or style. Once the giftee is happy with their choice, the shopper confidently completes the purchase. For more information on how to gift across today's top jewelry, cosmetics, high-end luxury, fast fashion, performance gear, footwear, electronics, floral arrangements, gourmet food, luggage brands and more on https://business.smartgiftit.com/.
Posted in: Fashion & Beauty,Lifestyle,Living,U.S
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ViVODOMi, the premier lifestyle management, project management, and concierge services company, offers a completely unique and highly personalized experience to the cream of the cream (individuals, top business families, celebrities and high net worth individuals) in New York City. Their services also include taking care of the townhouses and Pied-à-Terre of such individuals and families.
“We truly recognize and understand the extraordinarily high standards of service that our customers expect and unfailingly deliver what we promise, each and every time,” says the spokesperson for ViVODOMi. “We stand apart because of our ability to deliver world-class experiences to our valued customers. Exceptional service is core to our business and we are constantly striving to make every experience a highly remarkable one for you.”

ViVODOMi has years of expertise in providing perfect solutions in the areas of home maintenance, renovation, and repairs. The company also specializes in problem management and is equipped to handle projects of all sizes and complexities for its clients in NY City. They play the role of a personal life assistant to perfection.
With their deep familiarity and knowledge of New York City, ViVODOMi helps clients utilise the city’s amazing and top rated services. They offer a variety of concierge services plans thoughtfully crafted to ensure that the clients enjoy best-in-class services.
They also provide and manage housekeepers for tasks such as housekeeping and laundry, drivers, a dedicated personal concierge, are experienced in managing, estate relocation, and estate renovation projects. Unlike property managers or simple assistant, ViVODOMi acts as an extension of the customer’s team to manage their projects in NY more efficiently. In a nutshell, they solve the most complex problems that clients face on a day to day basis.
The staff they provide are completely trustworthy and the vendors they use are well-vetted and licensed, and have been associate with them for years. They are chosen after carrying out detailed and meticulous background checks.
ViVODOMi easily adapts to the evolving needs of their customers and have proven expertise in delivering solutions that not only match but exceed their expectations on a consistent basis.

At ViVODOMi, the customer is special and highly valued as they come from the top layer of society. They serve the unique needs of the city’s leading VIP guests, star athletes and celebrities, and top businessmen. The company takes great pride in its ability to offer the most comprehensive array of services available across the luxury sector.
Here’s what some of their customers have to say about their services:
ViVODOMi, what a fantastic concierge services firm! They are professional, resourceful, and keep my house running in perfect order. They are easy and fun to work with, and free up my time by shopping, running errands, arranging repairs, and doing other life tasks, all so I can spend my time on what’s truly important to me. I’d be lost without them. - P.C. | Philanthropist & Busy Traveling Professional
The ViVODOMi team is attentive, professional, flexible, and easy to work with. They are quick to respond to requests, and there is no task they haven’t been able to complete. They know the right questions to ask and deliver top notch service. Although we’d like to keep them all to ourselves, I highly recommend ViVODOMi to anyone looking for concierge services. - L.H. | Daughter of Client
ViVODOMi is amazing – they are organized, thoughtful, proactive, and take great pride in helping their clients. I could not be more satisfied with their services. - L.T. | Entrepreneur & Investor
For more information, visit vivodomi.com
About ViVODOMi:
ViVODOMi was founded by Eli and Robert, two creative entrepreneurs committed to delivering excellence. Eli has been in the concierge services business since 2007 and leads the field team. Robert is an expert in construction management and property maintenance. He was a fashion designer before switching his focus to interior design in 2010. He oversees the operations teams. Together, they form the pillars of the company and have played a stellar role in its success. The ViVODOMi team personifies the concept of trust and reliability.
Posted in: Home & Garden,Leisure Activities,Lifestyle,Living,Professional Services
Celebrate Free Shipping day with SmartBuyGlasses Offers
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Just a few days left on the calendar before Christmas Eve and I bet you still haven’t finished shopping all your holiday gift list, or even started yet! For those of us who always leave our shopping to the last minute, this Saturday 14th is Free Shipping Day! On this day all orders are shipped for free, no restrictions or minimum purchase required. To make it even better shops offer special discounts on selected products.
This year, SmartBuyGlasses is one of the companies taking part in free shipping day, offering 50% off on selected eyeglasses and sunglasses from top designer brands like Ray-Ban, Gucci, Oakley, Nike and many more.
Don’t miss the chance to get the perfect gift for Christmas, whether if it is for someone special or just an occasion to treat yourself. For this holiday season, a nice pair of frames is the perfect accessory anybody would like to add to their closet. Some shiny eyewear to complement the festive outfit, a new pair of goggles for skiing, trendy sunglasses for the next summer vacation. Find the best eyewear options at SmartBuyGlasses.com and get all orders shipped for free on Free Shipping Day!
About SmartBuyGlasses
SmartBuyGlasses Optical Group is the world’s leading designer glasses e-commerce company. With operations across Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Americas, the portfolio of domain properties are market leaders in over 20 countries, including SmartBuyGlasses.com in the US and VisionDirect.com.au in Australia.
Posted in: Fashion & Beauty,Lifestyle,Living,Shopping & Deal,Travel
How to Avoid Knee Replacement Surgery
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The typical cause of total knee replacement surgery is a torn meniscus. The meniscus is the disc that cushions the knee and is crescent-shaped. While this does not always cause pain, around one third of those over 50 years old have a torn meniscus, and those with arthritis have a higher chance of this.
Sufferers of chronic knee pain are treated for arthritic knees, given medications, knee braces, and corticosteroid injections to treat the pain, but this does not always work, sometimes worsens the situation. Medical researchers at Boston University School of Medicine found that corticosteroid injections run the risk of accelerating joint destruction and bone loss. This common form of pain management for knee pain can actually shorten the patient’s road to total knee replacement surgery. In fact, the Mayo Clinic found that the rate of total knee replacement surgery has doubled in the United States since 2000. Since these replacement knees have a 20-year lifespan, 35% of men and 20% of women who get total knee replacement surgery under the age of 60 will need a revision in their lifetime. The Washington Post reported on December 22nd 2018, “The 723,000 knee replacements performed in 2014 cost patients, insurers, and taxpayers more than $ 40 billion,” and this number is projected to continue to rise with the aging population and rising prevalence of obesity.
Unfortunately, the needs of an aging and increasingly obese population with high rates of osteoarthritis and torn meniscuses is not the only reason the rate of total knee replacement is on the rise, and patients are undergoing this procedure at younger ages. The other factor is greed.
“Medical advertising is a big part of the problem,” says orthopedic surgeon Nicholas DiNubile. “Its purpose is to sell patients on the procedures.”
Surgery is sold as a quick-fix solution that gets the patient back to doing what they used to do before severe knee pain. Following surgery, chronic pain persists in one third of total knee replacement patients, and one in five report being dissatisfied with the results of this major – and costly – surgery. While the efficaciousness of total knee replacement surgery is being oversold, the possible risk factors are at the same time underreported in medical advertising. Generally, about 0.5-1% of patients die within 90 days of undergoing knee replacement surgery. The University of Florida published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease that for total knee replacement surgery patients 60 years and older, 48 hours following the surgery, 25% of these patients showed a decline in brain connectivity in at least one brain region, and one in seven patients showed connectivity declines that spanned all brain networks, while patients 60 years old and over who did not have this surgery did not display these same declines.
If treating patients with chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis with knee braces, physical therapy, and pain management medications and injections does not prevent total knee replacement surgery, and total knee replacement surgery does not always work either and comes with notable risks, maybe we’re missing a crucial piece of the knee pain puzzle. While osteoarthritis in the knee is generally present with severe knee pain that leads to total knee replacement surgery, and tends to be treated as the cause of knee pain, Kim Gladfelter reported in the Los Altos Town Crier in November of 2018, “There are millions of people walking around each day who have arthritis in their knees but no pain.”
But what if osteoarthritis is not the root cause of knee pain? What if something else is going on?
Florida wholistic physical therapist Craig Cohen sees the problem of knee pain in the context of the whole body. In his experience, knee pain is an indicator that the root cause elsewhere in the alignment and mechanics of the body.
“So many of our healthcare choices are aimed at turning off the pain, rather than heeding its message,” explains Cohen. “With integrative physical therapy, we don’t treat the arthritic knee; we treat the entire person. We identify how excessive strain is put on the knees from body misalignment, poor body mechanics, and muscle weakness, and develop an individualized treatment plan that starts in the office and continues at home.”
As it turns out, listening to knee pain and opting for physical therapy that identifies and addresses the root causes of the knee pain can work just as well as total knee replacement without risk of complications or pain persisting after surgical intervention. A study published in September of 2018 in the Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Journal that used two parallel randomized and controlled trials to test the outcomes of total knee replacement and non-surgical treatments on knee pain. The study followed 100 adults with a mean age of 66 who were eligible for knee replacement surgery and had moderate to severe levels of knee pain. Half underwent total knee replacement right away, and half were treated with physical therapy. Researchers found that patients who were diligent in their physical therapy improved as much as those who had knee surgery in just six months to a year and avoided the risks patients with surgery endured. Those who underwent surgery instead of physical therapy were four times as likely to develop blood clots, infections, and require another medical procedure that required anesthesia. Of those who underwent physical therapy instead of surgery, two years later only one third opted to have knee surgery.
Study leader Dr. Jeffrey Katz reported, “It would be quite reasonable to try physical therapy first because the chances are quite good that you’ll do quite well.”
Researchers in a federally funded study at seven major universities and US orthopedic surgery centers followed 351 patients with torn meniscus and arthritis, some who were assigned immediate surgery and other who were assigned physical therapy. They found physical therapy is most successful when a patient has an average of nine session and keeps up with regular physical therapy exercises at home. Persistence is the key to success, and it is much cheaper with far less risk factors.
Following knee surgery, those who have the most success with pain management and regaining their abilities from before chronic knee pain are the ones who adhere to their physical therapy regimen, and whose providers look at the big picture of their health and wellness rather than just the knee.
“We offer patients a physical therapy immersion program tailored to the root causes of their knee pain,” says Cohen. “It’s an intense program where a patient might come in for three, four, five days in a row for therapy. They’ll receive five hours of therapy per day, we bring in a lot of modalities. From there, we send them home with exercises to do on their own.”
Physical therapy directed at the actual root causes of chronic knee pain can be just as effective as total knee replacement surgery, even in patients with advanced osteoarthritis. Physical therapy runs a lower tab and less risk of complication if the treatment regimen treats the whole body and not just the knee.
Craig Cohen and his team have two Integrated Physical Therapy and Wellness Florida locations, one in North Miami, and another in Hallandale Beach. To learn more about working with Cohen to develop an individualized physical therapy regimen to meet your health and wellness goals, visit https://www.iptmiami.com/ or call 305-967-8976 for the North Miami Location or http://www.westfloridamfr.com/ or call 954-458-5700 for the Hallandale Beach Location.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/q3fQW4-h_8s
Posted in: Fitness,Health & Medicine,Lifestyle,Living,Science
Dubai Off Plan Property: This Is What Professional Investors Do
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Why sell off plan?
Property development is expensive so developers and their banks/financiers require some assurance that the units they are going to build will be sought-after by purchasers. Selling early offers a hedge against market correction or market competition. Developers assess commercial risk and will try to remove uncertainty – even at the cost of speculative profit.
Why buy off plan?
Developers are making a hedge while investors are making a call that the market will rise. It is a fact that since Dubai allowed foreigners to purchase Freehold property, almost every residential property investor who has taken a long-term view has made a sound investment, subject to the inevitable peaks and troughs that always appear along the way.
How do I form an investment strategy?
There is no easy answer as its mainly a matter of personal choice. Your budget will be one of the biggest influences though you must also consider your exit strategy, plus the length of time you plan to hold your investment and the cost of holding. The strategies are:
Pay your deposit, make the instalments and sell your contract before completion.
Let the property on completion and collect the rental income, pay running costs and retain the profit.
Where to buy?
This has to be a matter of personal choice and your budget, to a large extent, will determine what and where. However, there are three categories to consider:
The advantage here is that there should always be a ready market for either a re-sale or letting, however capital growth is generally restricted to the mood of the local market.
Here are some top trending off plan projects in Dubai
Expo Golf Villas by ΕMAAR
Beachfront Living Marina Vista By EMAAR
Madinat Jumeirah Living Dubai by DUBAI HOLDING
Normally close to or within an established area where, for any number of reasons, the circumstances of the district are about to improve.
Buyers are making the greatest speculation and the view has to be that the district will become an up-and-coming area before ultimately turning into an established area.
When to buy?
Forecasting any market is always a difficult judgement call and the purchase of an off plan property is no exception – ultimately there are no guarantees.
Most investors like to buy at a time when prices are thought to be on the rise, or preferably when they are on a slow steady increase. Purchasers can then forecast the capital growth during the time they hold the property and plan a strategy rather than during a period of falling markets or very steep inflation.
When to hold and when to sell?
If you are looking to buy to flip, then it must be remembered that most buyers are looking for a property to occupy in the short term and not something that is unavailable to move into for a number of years. We advise placing a property for re-sale approximately three quarters of the way through the build programme or when it is possible for purchasers to walk into the property and see the aspect, size of rooms and general ambience of the completed scheme.
You still may not achieve the full value but you will, if purchased wisely (subject to market conditions), make a good profit on the amount paid to date.
What are the advantages of buying off plan?
For the purchaser, the potential upside of buying properties off plan is considerable. By purchasing at the earliest opportunity, the time difference between initially securing the contract with a fixed price against the value at completion can be significant and this upside is your instant profit.
Furthermore, by securing your unit(s) in the earliest phase, you can secure the style and type of property that matches your investment criteria and, in some instances, can influence the direction and specification of the finished property(ies). Looking at the pure financial implications of the transaction, you are paying a deposit and further instalments to purchase the property whilst enjoying the inflationary trends on 100% of the capital value.
Posted in: Business,Living,Real Estate,World
Lincoln Center Debut “East Meets West” Dance by Ashley Liang
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Ashley Liang is a New York based dancer, choreographer and dance educator. She is the founder of the non-profit Ashley Liang Dance Company, Inc. and president of the Ashley Dance Center.
Liang’s performance “Flowing Colors of Charming Flowers” will combine Eastern and Western styles with some of Liang’s own creations: a special combination of classical ballet and traditional Chinese dance. Liang, who is passionate about promoting multicultural art, worked with a production team for six months to prepare the project. The show aims to carry forward Chinese dance and modern dance culture, promote the integration and development of multicultural art, and establish a bridge for international cultural and artistic communication. Liang focused on this multicultural bridge while studying for her M.A. in dance education at New York University.

“This show I produced was a non-profit performance and was dedicated to dance art. It is my great honor to share my original choreographies with the audiences at Lincoln Center, and present my theory in the form of dance, so as to truly promote the integration, communication and development of Chinese dance and modern dance culture,” Liang wrote in her graduate thesis.
The concluding dance program of Liang’s performance is accompanied by live music that marries the Chinese instruments guqin, guzheng and flute with violin and cello. In Liang’s vision, this will achieve the exchange of the Chinese and Western culture of dance and music.

Liang studied and performed at prestigious organizations in both China and the US. In addition to earning her M.A. in dance education at New York University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance at Queens College, she studied professional Chinese dance at the Beijing Dance Academy. Liang is the recipient of the awards “Excellent Dance Choreographer,” “Distinguished Dancer,” and “Excellent Dance Teacher,” presented by New York City Councilman Peter Koo and New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky.
In 2018, the Guggenheim Museum invited Liang to perform. In 2015, she choreographed and danced in Flowing Water and Nocturne in The Autumn Palace in collaboration with famous Chinese musician, Judy Yeh, at Shih-Hua Judy Yeh Guqin Concert at Carnegie Hall. She starred as the female lead, Yu Huan, in the dance drama The Story of Yu Huan, presented by off-Broadway Yangtze Repertory Theater of America and also choreographed the production in 2014.

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go3JDDNeuyI&app=desktop
Ticket
Performance Date and Time: July 6, Saturday at 7:30pm
Performance Place: Alice Tully Hall Lincoln Center, 1941 Broadway, New York, NY 10023
Organizer: Ashley Liang Dance Company, Inc. (A Not-for-Profit Organization)
Co-Organizers:
New York Northeastern Chinese Association, Sino-American Culture, Art & Antique Association, Inc., Federation of Chinese American Associations of New York, New York Queens Art Education Center, Chinese-American Arts Council, Inc., USA FJSEN.COM, American Fujian Artist Association, MGM Media, Sino-American Business Association, Henan Chinese Associates USA, Inc., Better Chinatown USA, Chinese Association Inc., Zhe Jiang Wen Zhou Association Industry & Commerce U.S.A., New York Guqin School, Union National Culture and Sports Foundation, American Chinese Business Trade Promotion Association, Taishan Overseas Chinese Middle School Alumni Association, Inc., America Chinese Silk Road Chamber of Commerce, America Bamin Commerce Association, Fujian Consolidated Benevolent Association USA, Beijing Association of New York.
Sponsors:
Kai Gao Esquire P.C., Flushing.com, Kam Man Food, HealthFirst, iHome Design, MeHome Realty, AsianinNY, Keiko Hira Music Studio, New York Fantastic Chorus, Blue Sky Creative Studio, The Wall Street Times, USA Life online.com, Right Time International LLC, CC Weekly, Jasmine Restaurant, COCI Construction, Kang Hua Adult Day Care Center, World Peace Ever.TV
Special Guest Performers:
Aminta Remisosky, Anne Marie Robson Smock, Ansel Cohen, Arthur Liu, Danielle Peters, Erin Kernion, Judy Shih-Hua Yeh, Jun Zhou, Michelle Joy, Nick Peregrino, Sienna Peck, Tara Pederson, Temple Kemezis
Posted in: Arts & Entertainment,Leisure Activities,Living,Society & Culture,U.S
Solarmeter 6.5 UV Index Meter Named #1 UV Tester by Ezvid Wiki
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"We are thrilled that Ezvid Wiki has selected not one, but two of our Solarmeter Handheld UV meters for its Top 10 Best UV Testers Wiki," commented Jeffrey W. Hall, EVP Commercial Operations at Solar Light Company, Inc. Ranked in the #1 position, Solarmeter's Model 6.5 UV Index Meter provides instantaneous UV index measurements for outdoor activities or monitoring UV lamp intensity and aging. "With a NIST-traceable calibration certificate, you can rest assured its accuracy is unquestionable," says Ezvid Wiki. Coming in at #7, the Solarmeter Model 8.0 UVC Meter is a “must have” according to Ezvid Wiki for monitoring germicidal lamps or testing eyewear. Learn more about the Solarmeter® family of compact, handheld light meters and how their simple pushbutton operation can help you measure human and animal health-related light levels at http://www.solarmeter.com.
Compiled with twenty-three hours of research, this newly published 10 Best UV Testers Wiki in Ezvid Wiki’s electronics category is a broad-ranging, impartial assessment of UV tester options available to consumers in the United States.
About Solar Light Company, Inc.
Solar Light Company, Inc., has been providing specialized light-measurement solutions to advance global health protection and environmental monitoring sciences for over 50 years. From our research-grade, laboratory and field-based systems to our handheld sensors we strive to contribute to the improvement of global health and the environment by providing high-quality solutions, supported through a premier global infrastructure.
Posted in: Electronics & Semiconductors,Home & Garden,Lifestyle,Living,Manufacturing & Industry
Sierra Designs Successfully Settles Intellectual Property Dispute
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Sierra Designs is proud to announce the successful resolution of a challenge in German court to their intellectual property, regarding their innovative zipperless sleeping bag. The Backcountry Bed is confirmed as the true pioneer in zipperless sleeping bags in the European Market.

“We’re pleased with the confirmation that this award-winning product is truly the original, and excited to announce that the most comfortable sleeping bag on the market is one uniquely available from Sierra Designs,” says VP/GM George Bryant.
Designed to work more like a bed and less like a sleeping bag, the Backcountry Bed features a unique zipperless construction with access provided through a large opening in the top. An oversized, integrated comforter seals this opening, allowing you to sleep comfortably and intuitively on your back, side or stomach, a feat that is impossible to accomplish with a traditional mummy bag. The comforter can either be tucked in on cold nights or untucked when the weather is warmer. All of this means the Backcountry Bed is the most versatile and comfortable sleeping bag on the market today. The Backcountry Bed features PFC-free hydrophobic 700 fill DriDown™ insulation and materials and is offered in 20? Reg/Long and Women’s-specific constructed options, and 35? Reg/Long.
For more information, please contact suzanne@darbycommunications.com.
About Sierra Designs
Born in California and bred on the trail, Sierra Designs has been on a mission to redefine how people interact with the outdoors since 1965. Today, that means creating equipment and apparel that is functional, beautiful, and most importantly, attainable. Our team believes that adventures should be within everyone’s reach, because it’s not only about the destination, it’s about the journey you take along the way. Find more information at www.sierradesigns.com.
Posted in: Home & Garden,Living
NJ Top Docs Proudly Presents Approved Living Well Providers of 2019
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NJ Top Docs Proudly Presents All Reviewed & Approved Living Well Providers of 2019.
Acupuncture
Chiropractic Care
Occupational and Speech Therapy
Physical Therapy
Psychology
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ABOUT US
NJ Top Docs a comprehensive, trusted and exclusive healthcare resource featuring reviewed and approved Top Doctors and Dentists in New Jersey online in an easy to use format. NJ Top Docs only reviews and approves providers based on merit after they have been extensively vetted.
NJ Top Docs is a division of USA Top Docs which allows patients to meet providers online before making their appointment.
For more information, please click here to contact us or visit http://www.NJTopDocs.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Posted in: Living
Sagora Senior Living Acquires Brookdale South San Angelo
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Sagora Senior Living, a Fort Worth-based private corporation, announces the acquisition of Brookdale South San Angelo (2695 Valleyview Boulevard, 76904). The community becomes Sagora’s 39th senior living community.
"Sagora is proud to expand further into the West Texas area, enhancing the family-owned atmosphere we provide to enrich the lives of seniors and their families," said Sagora Senior Living, President Bryan McCaleb. “Our decision to expand assisted living and memory care in San Angelo allows our associates to provide a caring environment that fosters health, safety and high quality of life for each of our residents."
“Our team will focus on keeping our residents as independent and active as possible and on providing activities, entertainment and therapies to enhance and stimulate residents’ social needs.”
Residents of the community will receive the highest level of attention from professionally trained associates. Each resident is evaluated, and a custom care plan is designed and followed to provide the best care and service for them.
The community features 77 apartments—60 Assisted Living and 17 Memory Care apartments—and offers medication management, assistance with activities of daily living, transportation and common areas for social and recreational activities. Sagora employs their Pathways Memory Care Program, which is a focused approach to programming that provides the best possible lifestyle, care and environment for Memory Care residents.
“This community is all about changing the lives of our residents by putting them first in all we do,” said Sagora Senior Vice President Dara Brown. “Our qualified associates will provide personalized care, respect and comfort to our residents, spending quality time to get to know them and to understand their specific needs and interests.”
About Sagora Senior Living
Sagora Senior Living is one of the nation’s top 50 senior housing operators. The privately- owned company operates senior living communities throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida and soon in California. Living options include cottage homes, independent living, assisted living, respite and memory care. The company’s mission is to serve and celebrate the wisdom of residents and family members by enriching their lives with a “Resident First” philosophy developed locally within each community. Sagora hires qualified industry professionals, implements beneficial services and activities, and makes it a priority to listen to their residents. For more information about Sagora Senior Living, visit http://www.sagora.com.
Posted in: Home & Garden,Living
Mister Chimney & Nova Fireplaces Brings in Quality Fireplace Inserts in Fremont and Hayward
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For those looking to convert their traditional wood burning fireplace into something more efficient and economical, a gas fireplace insert may be the perfect solution. Upgrading the old fireplaces with fireplace inserts in Fremont and Hayward can give one a new living place with comfortable warmth.
Made up of cast iron or steel, these inserts give you a sense of warmth and comfort with an efficient burning. Available according to the type of fuels such as coal, and EPA certified wood, these inserts utilize latest technologies to save on the utility bills while enjoying the warm atmosphere of the room.
With boastful features such as fans, blowers, thermostats, and blowers, these fireplace inserts can be an excellent option for the household. Those who have an older home with wood burning inserts can benefit from a new insert. The wood fireplaces were designed with open combustion for effectiveness in low heating.
Usually, wood fireplaces acquire more air and result in quick burning and also wasting the energy quickly. However, using the fireplace inserts, the closed insulated glass doors slow down the burning and increase the temperature that results in stable combustion without wasting much energy.
This will bring an agreeable change in the energy bills when it comes to heating the room. Apart from providing one with protection and peace of mind, professional gas fireplace installation is essential to ensuring the unit's efficient function and performance, as well as making sure that installation mistakes don't compromise the gas fireplace warranty.
At Mister Chimney & Nova Fireplaces, the professional installers bring their extensive knowledge and experience into installing gas inserts, while providing beautiful conversions. They will work diligently to accomplish the right fit for a seamless aesthetic. The professional technicians will perform an inspection of the entire system to ensure the safe and comfortable operation of the gas insert fireplace.
For more information on chimney cleaning in Hayward and Palo Alto, visit https://www.mister-chimney.com/chimney-sweep-chimney-cleaning-fremont-howard-mountain-view-ca.
About Mister Chimney
Mister Chimney brings an unparalleled level of service and expertise to residential and commercial customers throughout the Peninsula, San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area.
Posted in: Business,Living,Manufacturing & Industry
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Bruce Cialfi, co-owner of Acorn Holistics (https://acornholistics.com) Certified Consulting New Jersey hypnotist and meditation class instructor explains that the brain can be retrained simply through hypnosis.
In hypnosis, he simply speaks directly to the subconscious. The brain is like an iceberg. The conscious mind is the 10 % that can be seen above the water and comprises logical thinking, and memories. The subconscious mind is the 90% that cannot be seen below the water and comprises of beliefs, emotions, and imagination. A hypnotist taps into the subconscious mind to make real changes in your life.
Many people think that hypnosis is like a stage trick, waving a swinging pendulum in front of your eyes saying “you are feeling very sleepy” – this is NOT real hypnosis. Hypnosis can get a bad rap because of stage tricks and bad movies. Forget these stereotypes. Hypnosis is a real and powerful tool that rewires the brain to create positive habits - and this is how it works.
Bruce explains that at Acorn Holistics, "a client first receives a complimentary phone consultation to target what they have been trying to achieve or change. Then we would have a series of safe, confidential appointments where you would just sit in relaxation and comfort while either Deb or I speak to your subconscious mind. If you wanted to decrease your anxiety, we would guide you through hypnosis with positive statements and affirmations that are targeted to work on your specific anxiety and triggers. Once done with the session, you would go on with your life as you normally would, only you would find that you have less anxiety. You would also find you have tools that would transform your anxiety response to a calmer more focused way to react to your anxiety triggers."
Another positive way to deal with these responses is with meditation. In fact, hypnosis and meditation are powerful tools when used together to tackle a client’s problem. Studies have pointed to the fact that meditators are more attuned to their subconscious mind. Therefore, meditation can be another tool in the toolbox when trying to tackle problems such as anxiety, stress, smoking, or weight loss.
Debbie Cialfi New Jersey meditation class instructor and co-owner of Acorn Holistics explains that, "through meditation, a person can tap fully into the subconscious mind, just as a hypnotist does in Hypnosis. However, in meditation, the client is in the driver’s seat. Through instruction in meditation, you can learn to calm and focus your mind. The key difference between meditation and hypnosis is that you set aside a special time each day and make the conscious choice to meditate. Through that meditative time each day you have full access to the 90% of your mind that is subconscious. Once you achieve access to your subconscious during meditation, you feel a gentle shift. Your breathing slows, and you can feel the borders of the concrete world blur as you get closer to your center. Many people feel that meditation is not for them because the cannot “turn off their brains”. You will be happy to know that an active brain is perfect for meditation. You just need guidance to help to harness the power of your brain so that you can slip under the veil of meditation to become hyper-aware of your breathing and inner thoughts. If you sit to meditate with the intention of relieving anxiety, then you would simply focus on your breathing until it calms and slows, then turn inward to focus on the feeling of calm and peace. You can focus on being in a scenic and calm place and just rest in the expanse of its beauty and feel calm."
Accessing the full 100% of your mind is attainable through hypnosis and meditation. Both are tools that can be used to solve problems and overcome lifes obstacles.
Posted in: Lifestyle,Living,Non Profit
QS Fencing Provides A-Z Service for Residential Fencing in Vancouver
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As a Vancouver-based fencing company, the team at QS Fencing have specialized in residential fencing solutions since the company launched in 2010. To help homeowners who require fence installation for privacy and protection, QS Fences provides all-metal fencing and gates. For more, go to: http://www.qsfencing.ca/
Three of the most popular residential fencing services provided to homeowners are the repair and installation of metal pickets, privacy fences, and gates.
Picket fences function as a decorative or ornamental fence while providing a physical barrier around a property or garden. Commonly seen around the perimeter of a yard, the distinct style of a picket fence is well known to homeowners and easily adapted into metal for greater durability and style.
While privacy fences are more commonly associated with commercial rather than residential applications, options like the chain link fence, ornamental aluminum or steel fence panels are a viable option for homeowners concerned about safety and privacy. Products can be powder-coated in an unlimited selection of colors, and for commercial applications where security is paramount, options like barb and razor wire can be added.
Finally, as part of the services QS Fencing provides, gates (automatic or otherwise) can also be added to a fence. The team can work one on one with homeowners to help select and implement a solution that suits the property, architecture, and budget.
As a Vancouver fencing company, QS Fencing is fully licensed and insured. All workers are also WCB insured. With 15 years of experience in the industry, these professionals are committed to meeting any and all needs related to commercial and residential fencing. To learn more or request a free quote, call (604) 777-3057.
About QS Fencing
Established in 2010, QS Fencing is a family-owned business that aims to provide quality products and superior service. It is a Vancouver-based fencing company that is licensed and insured. All employees are WCB insured as well. QS Fencing serves the geographical areas of Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Maple Ridge, Richmond, Surrey, and Delta, BC. To learn more, visit http://www.qsfencing.ca or call (604) 777-3057.
Posted in: Home & Garden,Living,Professional Services
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Steven Munsie and Mary Munsie, creators of a young people’s acting company, the Young Shakespearian Repertory Ensemble, at the Shakespeare Society of America’s Globe Playhouse, West Hollywood, have completed their new book “The Adventures of Samba Rat & Friends: Sherman the Last Dragon”: an enjoyable read that tells of a group of friends and their journey to keep each other safe and lead each other homeward.
Authors Munsie show that even at the face of danger, the power of love and friendship still triumphs: “Four woodland friends—Samba Rat; Peter Porcupine; Squirrely, a scout camp mascot; and Cindy, a ladybug—returning home from a spring picnic are caught in a storm and discover a large mysterious egg hidden in an ancient tree. When it hatches into a baby dragon, the four friends are set upon an adventure to find the little creature a home. The four friends are joined by Kitty Joy, a young master scout who first tracks them and then joins them on their adventure to find a mysterious sanctuary and save Sherman, the Last Dragon.”
Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Steven Munsie and Mary Munsie’s captivating fable contains vivid pictures that edify the reader’s imagination.
Readers who wish to experience this engrossing work can purchase “The Adventures of Samba Rat & Friends: Sherman the Last Dragon” at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.
For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.
About Page Publishing:
Page Publishing is a traditional New York based full-service publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in publishing its authors’ books, including distribution in the world’s largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex and time-consuming issues, and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Posted in: Living,Media & Communications
LiveWall Living Walls Enliven the Healing Landscape at HOPE Tower
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Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center includes two LiveWall® Living Walls in the landscaping of the HOPE Tower. Hope Tower is the new 5 million, 300,000-square-foot outpatient care facility on the east campus of Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, N.J. The two green walls, totaling 514 square feet, were installed with the LiveWall® Outdoor Living Wall System, the green industry’s most sustainable, durable and low-maintenance living wall system.
“Guided by a patient-centered approach to care, and understanding that a sense of well-being and peace of mind are essential to healing, we set out to create an environment for holistic care that is beautiful, welcoming, accessible, and convenient,” said Kenneth N. Sable, M.D., MBA, FACEP, regional president, southern market, Hackensack Meridian Health. “From thinking about how patients and their families enter the building and what they see as they do, to selecting colors and materials, to designing the process of care and clinical workflow – every decision we made in the design of HOPE Tower was to enhance the patient experience and promote healing.”
“The green walls are essential,” said Drew Smithson, chief operating officer, Jersey Shore University Medical Center. “They transform highly visible exterior walls, which would be otherwise unremarkable, into vertical gardens that are an integrated part of the whole landscape.”
The two living walls each measure 22 feet 8 inches wide x 11 feet 3 and 3/8 inches high. Everyone who enters HOPE Tower from the parking garage walks along a corridor with floor to ceiling windows and sees the ground level green wall in a garden courtyard that is being established with a green roof. The living wall partially covers the exterior wall of a linear accelerator (technology used in precise radiation treatment of cancers). Rather than the cold, institutional feeling of a blank, gray wall, patients, their families and visitors are invited into HOPE Tower with a welcoming, calming view of sun-splashed greenery.
Plants are getting established on the other green wall, which is taking shape as part of the green roof landscape on the outdoor terrace that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean on the tenth floor. The green wall will soften the appearance of the exterior red brick wall. With the green wall, all four directions on the terrace will have visual interest and appeal.
“By extending the landscape up the sides of the structural walls, the green walls complement the landscape design and bring a vertical element to the spaces that make the landscapes more complete,” said Chris Cirrotti, vice president and principal in charge, Dewberry, the exterior civil engineering and landscape architecture firm for the HOPE Tower project.
Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center is a not-for-profit teaching hospital and the only Level II Trauma and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center in Monmouth and Ocean counties. It is home to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital. With more than 1,200 physicians and dental staff in 60 specialty areas, the medical center’s team provides quality care in a patient-centered, environmentally friendly setting. The team’s commitment to excellence has earned Jersey Shore University Medical Center numerous accolades, including being named #4 in New Jersey.
The medical center’s clinical research program and commitment to medical education is evident through an affiliation with Hackensack Meridian School for Medicine at Seton Hall University. The medical center serves as an academic center dedicated to advancing medical knowledge, training future physicians and providing the community with access to promising medical breakthroughs.
LiveWall
Designed with a healthy regard for plants, LiveWall® is the patented living wall system that achieves simplicity and sustainability in harmony with nature. LiveWall is the result of four years of R&D by the professionals who created LiveRoof®, the superior green roof system. LiveWall green wall solutions are engineered with horticultural and structural features specific for indoor and outdoor environments. LiveWall supports plants as nature intended — roots growing down, stems and leaves growing up. With unsurpassed versatility to grow a diversity of plant types, LiveWall transforms ordinary walls into inspiring, thriving vertical landscapes that are simple to install and easy to maintain. Follow LiveWall on LinkedIn, like LiveWall on Facebook, and for more information call 877-554-4065.
Link to Project Photos: LiveWall Hope Tower
Link to Project Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A715YgLZqQ
Posted in: Health & Medicine,Hospitality,Living
Hearing others’ voices, a new book series for young adults by Balestier Press
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Hearing Others’ Voices is a transcultural and transdisciplinary book series edited by British anthropologist Ruth Finnegan and Taiwanese physicist Roh-Suan Tung. The books are designed, in easy-peasy language, to enlighten and attract general readers, undergraduates, young adults and, above all, teenagers about recent advances in thought, overlooked areas of the world, and key issues of the day.
The general editors of Hearing Others’ Voices, Ruth Finnegan and Roh-Suan Tung, have done a tremendous job in eliciting books that tackle perpetual topics of interest such as mental health, the nature of the universe, of music and of storms, shamanism, voices of the Christian west, and our awesome minds and bodies.

The books in the series provide introductions, accessibly written (often illustrated, and linked to audio-video internet material), to the latest insights into fascinating and perpetual topics such as the different ways pain has been handled in the past and present, the history of children, the make-up of our incredible bodies, and much much more. They also reveal something of the wisdom of the often dismissed traditions of, for example, Amazonia, native Australia, and Africa, bringing a wider understanding and ownership of who we are, and how the world has come to be as it is.
With some similarities to the Oxford University Press ‘Very Short Introductions’, but shorter and more immediately readable, and to the popular English Ladybird books for a younger age group but more interactive and personally challenging than either, the books will be particularly suitable for young adults’ school and/or personal reading, and a perfect resource for mind-opening general studies in students’ final school year. They are designed to stimulate readers’ curiosity and provide the material and the insights to start addressing blind spots in self- and cultural-awareness.
The suggestions for further (tougher) reading for those who want to take their understanding further will be an invaluable tool for readers, including those at or preparing for university.
A notable, and unusual, feature is the interactive element in the form of discussion questions, suggested mini-projects, and audio-visual Internet links and/or customised blogs on the publishers’ website where readers are invited to contribute and interact.
The aim is to bring the material home to the personal interests of each and every reader, and help them grow.
Each book is by an acknowledged expert eager to communicate outside the too often closed realms of academe, or by practitioners, sometimes themselves young, who speak directly from their own experience. No empty pontificating from on high!
General readers and beginning undergraduates too will find much to interest them, set out in straightforward but not simplistic or patronising terms.
Not so much textbooks as sites for reflection and challenge, books in the series give readers a unique path into greater cognizance of our wonderful world, far and near, east and west, past and present. There are plans to issue some as audiobooks and to translate key titles into world languages, starting with Chinese.
The series logo has been created specially for Balestier Press by the celebrated designer Rob Janoff, the creator of the Apple logo and a keen supporter of the series’ aims. We expect his logo to play well with a young adult computer-mad audience.

Among other titles, the series will include the inspirational ‘For peace: voices against the fog and blood of war’, a collection from across the world and the centuries; ‘Grass: the miracle from the earth’; ‘Learning from Native American science’; and the remarkable ‘Listen to the beginning of the universe and what it means’ (with audio).
Other upcoming books by acclaimed experts and practitioners include ‘Teams, voices from the field’ by two New Zealand experts from sport and from urban planning; ‘Amazonia, the authentic voice of a shaman’, ’Decisions, decisions, decisions - with love: voice from the headteacher’s study’, ‘Listen to your feet’ by a podiatrist and sports physiotherapist, ‘Time for the world to learn from Africa’ by Africanist Ruth Finnegan, ‘“Dear Lulu”, a letter God might have written’ by Lord Rowan Williams, FBA (Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England 2002-2012), and ‘Listen world! music’s reverberating sounds’, by Dame Evelyn Glennie CH, virtuoso percussionist.
Though obviously presenting relevant and necessary information and in this sense educational, the prime aim is to engage rather than instruct. Young people, like their elders, need to know, and reflect on, who they are, how they have come to be like that, how the world is, how and why it has come to be as it is. and where, in their hands, it may be going.
Posted in: Arts & Entertainment,Books & Literature,Europe,Living,Media & Communications
Most Drivers Don't Wear Their Seatbelts Correctly
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How many of us ‘wear’ our seat belts properly?
As RoSPA state, seat belts should ‘be worn as tight as possible with no slack’ and ‘the lap belt should go over the pelvic region, not the stomach’. It is well documented that although the crash test dummies are in this perfect sitting position when new cars get tested by NCAP/EuroNCAP, this is not the position most of the world’s 900 million vehicle drivers are in during normal driving.
As EuroNCAP state “Occupant positioning is critical to effective protection during a collision: systems such as seatbelts and airbags do not work as effectively if the occupants are displaced from the expected sitting positions before the impact.”
Although seat belts are proven to reduce injury and save lives, after just a few miles we slip down just an inch or two and our pelvis rotates and this leads to the lap belt riding up off the pelvis onto the stomach, compromising the seatbelt safety. Any collision in this position leads to a very different outcome compared to the EuroNCAP tests. At lower impact speeds the seat belt can cause bruising but at higher speeds internal bleeding and even ‘submarining’ can occur, where the occupant slips under the seat belt. Ask any first-on-the-scene paramedic. A head on collision of 2 cars travelling more than 30mph leads to a 60mph impact. The seat belt works optimally when firmly across the hips to take the huge force on the strong pelvic bone, but if there is slack in the lap belt section, as happens commonly, the damage to the occupants can be fatal.
SHOFT is a new patented product that goes a long way to solving this problem, and it’s so simple.
We all want to sit in the safest position and although most of us start off in a healthy upright position with slack removed, gravity takes its toll after just a few miles and we tend to slip down and forwards slightly into a ‘slouch’ position. We often see drivers sit back up at traffic lights and even give the seat belt a tug upwards to remove the slack again, only for the process to happen again a few miles down the road.
The stark fact is that any slack in the lap belt or misplacement of the seat belt will compromise the effectiveness of the safety devices fitted to the car, such as airbags, knee protection and the seat belt as they are all designed and tested with the occupant sitting upright with seat belt across the hips and with no slack.
Now there is a simple solution.
SHOFTTM is a small palm-sized product designed to keep the slack out of the seat belt. After a 2 second install adding a SHOFT to the seat belt provides it with extra functionality by turning it into an ‘anti-slouch’ device. By keeping out the usual slack that creeps into our seatbelts, SHOFT helps to keep both driver and passengers in a better and potentially safer seated position. And with our poor posture in cars being identified as a major cause of back pain, SHOFT also helps to solve a problem that nearly all of us will have to deal with.
The innovative simple design invented by Dr Graham Cox and his father Ronald, is made from a specially designed soft material that fits by slipping over the top of your car seat belt tongue (that’s the bit you grab every time you buckle up).
How does it work?
SHOFT has a specifically designed built in ‘brake pad’ made of a secret formula called GRIPteneTM, that engages the seat belt webbing across the lap portion when you buckle up and this helps to resist slack creeping into the lapbelt. SHOFT only affects the lap section of the seat belt, so the occupant can lean forwards in the seat to reach dials as normal.
Adding SHOFT to your vehicle can help you comply with RoSPA guidelines and will help ensure your seat belt is optimally positioned every mile of your trip.For more infomration visit us at www.shoft.co.uk.
Posted in: Automotive,Health & Medicine,Living,News & Current Affairs,Travel
UK MedTech wearable wins global award in 150bn USD sector
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Posted in: Business,Europe,Health & Medicine,Living,Science