Hon. Philip Kapneck Attends Embassy Night at the Ronald Reagan Building

September 28, 2011 by

On September 20, 2011, The World Trade Center Institute, the State of Maryland and Legg Mason, hosted Embassy Night at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC.

The night was showcasing global markets and business successes. There were 300 VIP attendees representing 30 nations. Over 30 countries were being honored as well as many global business platinum and premiere representatives that attended.

Among some of the VIP`s attending and discussing the evening events were Maryland`s Robert L. Walker, Secretary for Business and Enterprise Development, Maryland Trade Ambassador Philip Kapneck, and Ms. Signe Pringle, Program Director for the Office of International Investments and Trade for DBED.

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Fantastic New Work of Fiction Delves Into the Ultimate “Bad Guy”

September 23, 2011 by

Fantastic New Work of Fiction Delves Into the Ultimate “Bad Guy”

Tallent & Lowery: 13 Present: The OTHER Loch Ness Monster… Aleister Crowley

It has been a long time since the name Aleister Crowley has been brought up in the fiction world, but once a person reads even a ‘snippet’ of who and what Aleister Crowley was, they will head directly to Google, or their local library, to try and find out exactly what he was doing down on earth in the first place.

Crowley has been called a genius by some and a monster by others; and Leah Tallent, the fictional Head Research Librarian of the New York Public Library, who is the ultimate star of the widely acclaimed book – 13 – finds herself following a mystery.  The mystery is unbelievably written by author, Amy Lignor, and immediately grabs readers and brings them into a ‘puzzle’ left behind by a group of men in 1902 – a group of men led by Andrew Carnegie.

Aleister Crowley is a big part of the puzzle as Tallent & Lowery – 13 leads readers from one amazing location to another, as Leah Tallent and Gareth Lowery hunt down artifacts that – when brought together – can literally change the world.  Aleister Crowley was the man who was in charge of hiding half of the twelve mysterious keys that Tallent & Lowery are searching for.  In fact, Crowley represented the ultimate ‘evil’ in the world, and was thus given the job to bury objects that could never again see the light of day.

Leah Tallent, in the first of seven Tallent & Lowery adventures, knows all about this man who was once referred to as “The Great Beast.”  She also knows that, at the beginning of his ‘reign’ he was very much revered by many.  Aleister Crowley was an influential Englishman who became an occultist, astrologer, mystic, and ceremonial magician.  He was responsible for founding his very own religious philosophy called, Thelema, and was also very into the rules of chess and the world of poetry, losing himself in the words of…Poe.  (Two other puzzle pieces that make this book impossible to put down!)

Crowley was born into pure and utter wealth, and was initiated into the Golden Dawn (a Masonic Order) in 1898 by the group’s leader.  The strange ceremony took place at Mark Masons Hall in London, where Crowley accepted his ‘Masonic’ motto and magical name of Fater Perdurabo, which meant, “I shall endure to the end.”  And that is exactly what some people believe Crowley has done.  Crowley developed many personal feuds with some of the Golden Dawn’s members, especially the poet, Yeats (who is also placed into this remarkable book as a piece of the ultimate puzzle).  Yeats had been one of the rebels, because Yeats had not been particularly favorable towards one of Crowley’s poems.

But because of his background in the Order, and Crowley seeing himself as a prophet, he was said to have been contacted by his Holy Guardian Angel, while in Egypt in 1904 – RIGHT after he had returned from his mission for Andrew Carnegie.

As time went on, Crowley became known as a hideous spirit.  Some even believed that he could be next in line for Lucifer’s job, because of the odd things that seemed to happen all around him.  But, as all crazy men do, Crowley was able to draw thousands of followers to his side and embark on a mystery that is still unknown today.

As readers race through the first Tallent & Lowery adventure – 13 - they stay by Leah’s side as a mystery unravels that is beyond heart-stopping.  Readers can barely take a breath when Leah Tallent finds herself on the shores of Loch Ness, because the fabled ‘monster’ that supposedly swims in the Loch is not the fearsome entity Leah’s worried about going up against.  In fact, even when the readers get a “look” at Leah’s destination – Boleskine House, an estate once owned by the Beast, himself – readers know that they’re about to be enveloped n yet another fantastic scene.

You see, Boleskine was renowned at the start of the 20th century as being “a centre of black magic, evil and sorcery” because the building was owned by none other than Aleister Crowley.  Once known as the “Beast of Boleskine,” Crowley walked the floors of the strange and eerie house while attempting to coax out the forces of evil.  As Leah Tallent soon finds out, it may not have been that difficult for Crowley to do so, seeing as that a “key” that Tallent & Lowery didn’t even know existed resides on that estate – a key that will change the whole course of the thrilling adventure.

The best part?  All of these locales and back-stories are absolutely true.  All around the estate, horrific things have happened over the years when Crowley was owner.  From deaths, to disappearances, to a church on the property being burned down with the whole congregation trapped inside – magic rituals were said to have taken place there that supposedly invoked the four princes of evil.

It was Crowley, himself, who first wrote about the strange and eerie homestead:

“The demons and evil forces had congregated round me so thickly that they were shutting off the light. It was a comforting situation. There could be no more doubt of the efficiency of the operation.”  This was one of Crowley’s magical experiments done at the estate.  Do What Thou Wilt was a motto of Crowley’s – he believed in free will and not the laws of man or God – and the mysteries he left behind (many of them documented) still engage the interest of historians, archaeologists, and readers on every level.

Now, Leah Tallent knows (this librarian is so cool, she knows everything), that Aleister Crowley had spoken a great deal about his infamous house, including giving out the information that, “…this ends in a “lodge” where the spirits may congregate.  And, sure enough, as Leah Tallent and Gareth Lowery walk this frightening property, they see the Gate Lodge - a separate building that Crowley had used that holds the power they need.

People, you may ask yourself how on earth the author was able to fit together locales like Whitechapel, the haunted Winchester Mansion in San Jose, California, Boleskine House, and the site of the Last Supper.  But Tallent & Lowery is such a fantastic read, that it seems as if the author simply knew from the beginning that this “puzzle” actually existed.

Tallent & Lowery – 13 is the first in a seven-book series that will take readers from the shores of Loch Ness to the Palace at Knossos, to Cleopatra’s Mines, and to some of the most amazing (and sometimes, little known) places across the globe, as these two fantastically intriguing characters solve mysteries, uncover treasures, and find themselves drawn to each other with a power and passion that neither has ever experienced before.

Tallent & Lowery – 13 has only been on the market two days and has already gotten “5-star” reviews across the board.  Readers are already begging for Book II – titled, The Sapphire Storm, where Tallent & Lowery will find themselves locked in a brand new puzzle that includes the “real” Shakespeare, the buildings in Petra, and the discovery of a long-lost sibling.

Get on board with Tallent & Lowery right now and you will not be disappointed.  It is about time there came a “DaVinci Code” that appeals to absolutely everyone!  And boot up you computers, because you will be Google-‘ing’ all night long to find out even more information about the locales and people that cross this amazing librarian’s path.

The ‘Ultimate Bad Guy’ has re-surfaced in this exciting new series, and the time to uncover the true secret of Loch Ness is finally here!

Tallent & Lowery: 13 is available on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Tallent-Lowery-13-ebook/dp/B005LC11Q4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1315319220&sr=1-1

Or, at BookBuzzr/fReado:

http://www.freado.com/users/books/29733/amy-lignor

For More Information on Amy Lignor, or to read articles/reviews by the author, go to:

www.thewritecompanion.com

www.thefeatheredquill.com

www.HumorOutcasts.com

www.facebook.com/alignor

twitter.com/HelloWritersAmy

www.bookpleasures.com

https://www.shewrites.com/profile/AmyLignor?xg_source=activity

http://rubyforwomen.com/ruby-blogger-of-the-weekamy-lignor-of-the-write-companion

rubyforwomen.ning.com/profile/AmyLignor

www.preciousgemspublishing.com

…and many more!

Filed Under: books, Entertainment, Opinions Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Incredible World of STEMM Time is Ticking on the Release of Crossroads!

September 21, 2011 by

The Incredible World of STEMM

Time is Ticking on the Release of Crossroads!

As all of you readers know, this writer fell ‘head-over-heels’ for STEMM a few months back.  In fact, the very first article and contact I ever had with these three incredible men was a true highlight of my life…thus far.  This trio is astounding; their voices, beat, artistry, creativity – everything that goes into their pure rock-and-roll vibe, speaks to everyone who has ever even ‘liked’ the world of music.

We have spoken over the last few months about the incredible CD that STEMM had released called Blood Scent - that was composed of guitar riffs, drumbeats that made the audience feel as if they were a part of rock history, and vocals that raised rock-and-rollers to new heights, allowing them to become part of this truly incredible band.

We also spoke about how STEMM penned the UFC theme song, “Face the Pain” eight years ago, branding this amazing hard rock act as the stellar songwriters of, “The Soundtrack to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.”  After years of independent success, STEMM has returned with their sophomore effort, Crossroads (through Catch 22 Records).  This album, being waited on with sheer excitement in everyone‘s hearts, will appear on the market on September 13th, 2011, and is a true rock album which shows absolute perfection and amazing ingenuity for the STEMM audience to lose themselves in.

A taste of active rock/satellite radio success, and over 150 road shows supporting their previous release, Blood Scent, over time, made STEMM a true rock band that fans constantly wanted to hear and see.  As time went forward, STEMM’s songwriting process reached a brand new maturity level as they turned on an amazing blend of groovy guitar riffs, beats and vocal hooks with an intensity comparable to the biggest names in rock history.  As STEMM grew and found themselves able to transport and meld themselves into all different types of rock music, Crossroads was born, and the songs that will come from Crossroads will put STEMM at the top of the rock-and-roll charts!

STEMM has been around for a good long time, and other than the ‘flash-in-the-pan’ bands – STEMM has made sure to deliver song after song that is filled with emotion, talent, and sheer and utter artistic perfection. You might not know it to hear it but STEMM is a true labor of love. They are a true band of brothers who make their music to reach out and draw listeners into the STEMM world.  Music expression is the only thing STEMM knows how to do to get along, and when their dreams began evolving the members of the band found themselves at a “crossroads.”  Agreeing to stay together and move forward, Joe, Alex, and Dan decided that STEMM wasn’t ever going to be “out” of the music world, they were simply going to evolve with the times and go forward as a new, refined STEMM.

And, Crossroads, the new STEMM gift which is coming out to everyone in September is absolutely and truly incredible.  The redefined voices, lyrics, and beats are truly a new STEMM and a new delivery of rock and roll to all the die-hard fans.

There aren’t enough words to describe the absolute praise that this new CD deserves!  Crossroads is a prize – a true treasure – that three men worked their behinds off to conceive and create.  And you’ve gotten to listen to each and every one of these men through the fantastic interviews they gave to all of us over the past few weeks.  Joe, Dan, and Alex have opened up their hearts, minds and souls – not to mention, offered great senses of humor – to show their fans what an amazing group they represent.

As I have stated before, STEMM is certainly not a metal band – they are THE rock-and-roll band that is undeniably the best in the business!  And with STEMM’s reinvention, they bring to the rest of us the ultimate in rock music – Crossroads.  They bring the sense of true empowerment and entertainment back to a world that seems to be lacking enjoyment at every turn.

The rock genre is back…thankfully.  And the ambassadors of the most monumentally incredible music are called, STEMM.

September 13, 2011 is the day!  Crossroads will become available to us all!  But, as you know – and I will say again for those of you who are too busy listening to STEMM to read these articles – that the first four songs from Crossroads are available for one and all to hear…right now!

These four  Crossroads songs are currently streaming on this music player at: http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/3387028.  You have the opportunity to immerse yourself in what the world of rock has been missing – true and utter greatness!  Salvation, Fleur de Lis’, Dead Inside, and Left Behind have been offered to all of us by STEMM, and the gratefulness you will feel after listening to these songs will be overwhelming!  And the visual?  Astounding!  Over on You Tube, the video releases for these ‘lyrics of perfection’ can be found at: www.youtube.com/stemmtech

Get ready for the world of rock-and-roll to change for the better – as Crossroads comes to town!

Until Next Time, Everybody!

*****

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.stemm.net

MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/stemm

REVERB NATION:   www.reverbnation.com/stemm

TWITTER:   www.twitter.com/5temm

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/stemmband

YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/stemmtech

ISOUND: www.isound.com/stemm

BUY STEMM MERCHANDISE: stemm.bigcartel.com

Catch 22 Records

Buffalo, New York

www.facebook.com/catch22records

Vox Media Management LLC

(210) 464-2679

www.voxmediamanagement.com

rubenb@voxmediamanagement.com

Streamline Productions:

Booking Agent

streamlinebooking@yahoo.com

Filed Under: Entertainment, Featured, Music Tagged With: , , , , ,

All Hail Shaq!

September 20, 2011 by

All Hail Shaq!

Shaquille O’Neal is “Shaq” to the world, and will be remembered for the rest of time as one of the most pompous, slightly mouthy, best basketball players this country has ever seen

Shaq stands above (most) of the rest, considering his 7 foot 1inch height, and weighing in at 325 pounds; in fact, Shaq is one of the heaviest players who ever played in the NBA.  This is a man whose strength, skill, and perseverance carried him over a stellar nineteen-year career, as fans and opponents watched this giant “Gladiator” overpower opponents, and take points and rebounds away from them in the blink of an eye.

Shaq’s list of specialties and triumphs is longer than anyone can list in a simple article, and the number of stellar basketball uniforms he wore from the many teams that he gave his blood, sweat, and tears to are colorful and varied.

The first and foremost team for Shaq came along on what had to have been one of the most amazing days in his entire life; the day he was recruited right out of college as the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft.  This is a center who not only strutted his stuff the very first year he went into the professional league, but he also walked away with the Rookie of the Year Award in 1992.  This was his beginning – his first basketball uniform playing with the Orlando Magic.  Not only was he the best rookie, but he also brought the Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals.  Shaq became the first rookie to be voted an All-Star starter since good, old Michael Jordan did it first in 1985.  The Magic loved Shaq, but had a bit of a problem within their ranks.  Finishing 41–41, winning twenty more games than the previous season was great; however, the team ultimately missed the playoffs by virtue of a tie-breaker with the Pacers.  The Magic was a bit “up in the air” where sports writers and sportscasters were concerned.  Many were calling for the coach to retire, seeing as that – with Shaq – they should’ve been able to win the NBA finals, period.

When Shaq decided to step away from everything that the Magic was going through, O’Neal became a free agent.  And in the summer of 1996, he found himself at another pivotal moment of his career when he was named to the United States Olympics basketball team.  It was no surprise when the team won the gold medal for their work on the court.  Seeing as that absolutely every member of the dream team represented the biggest names and most volatile and valuable players in the world of basketball, no other country even came close to scoring the points necessary to take the gold away from America.

When ‘real-life’ came back in and the Olympics were a memory, Shaq had decisions that had to be made.  Not only did the fans have difficulty with the Magic’s head office, but they also sincerely wondered why the Magic would go out and offer Shaq a contract worth $115 million dollars.  Even for a world that had the likes of Michael Jordan in their country, this deal seemed a bit ridiculous for the power of just one guy.  But Shaq seemed to dislike any idea of going back to the Magic anyhow, seeing as that the player’s and the fans both seemed “miffed” at him.  He was never quite sure why, either.  After all, Shaq had never demanded that ridiculous amount of money, he simply demanded to play the game and be allowed to play it well.

Soon, Shaq did follow in the steps of the other “big name,” Michael Jordan, and used his power as a free agent to become an even bigger icon than he already was.  Shaq signed with everyone’s favorite, the Los Angeles Lakers.  This is where Shaq had his biggest triumphs and some of his worst tension and stress throughout his career.  While wearing the Lakers uniform, Shaq won three consecutive championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002.  In fact, the early 21st Century proved that the Lakers were the unbeatable ‘dream team’ that no one ever wanted to go up against.  Not to mention, O’Neal was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals all THREE times, and had the highest scoring average for a center in NBA Finals history.  However, Shaq had some difficulties there as well.  Kobe Bryant and Shaq simply did not get along and, oddly enough, after so much success, Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004.

But the championships didn’t stop for Shaq!  With the Miami Heat, his fourth NBA championship occurred in 2006.  But, oddly enough, it seemed that the ‘higher powers’ wanted Shaq to help out all of the NBA – and spread around his skill and talent to help as many teams as humanly possible.

In 2006, Shaq found himself in the basketball uniform of the Phoenix Suns, followed by the uniforms of the Cleveland Cavaliers and then, finally the Boston Celtics.  Shaq was always “back” in every single town, city, and basketball uniform that seemed to have been created – bringing with him a  monumental supply of skill, talent, and the strength to never give up.

Shaq is also a huge supporter of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.  In fact, in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey, Shaq credits the Boys and Girls Club for allowing him to be able to have a safe place to get off the streets when he was a young boy, and work tirelessly to become the basketball icon he eventually became.  As Shaq was quoted as saying:  “It gave me something to do. I’d just go there to shoot.”  That was Shaq as a young boy – with absolutely no preview of the incredible future he was going to find on the basketball courts and in the history books.  One of his most memorable games was when Shaq led his Robert G. Cole High School basketball team from San Antonio, Texas to a 68–1 record during his two years there and helped the team win the state championship during his senior year; and Shaq’s791 rebounds during the 1989 season still remains as the a state record for a player in any classification.

Shaq has had his ups and downs in the basketball world.  He has also had blessed triumphs and extremely ‘bad days.’  He has been seen as one of the ultimate players in basketball!  And whether good day or bad – happy fan or angry opponent – Shaq has earned his top spot in the rankings of the best athletes of all time; and in the world of basketball there aren’t many who will ever beat this immortal King.

All Hail Shaq!

For all of your teams uniform Needs: www. Basketball Uniform Sale.com

Filed Under: Business, Lifestyle, Sports Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Toxic Algae Harms Floridians’ Health & the $57 Billion Yearly Tourism Economy

September 19, 2011 by

Toxic Algae Harms Floridians’ Health & the $57 Billion Yearly Tourism Economy

Luckily, there is a ready and easy fix to this deadly algae problem.

Tallahassee, FL – (September 15) Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) first warned about the dangers of toxic algae outbreaks in a 2000 scientific report – eleven years ago. Life threatening algae blooms and fish kills from sewer, manure and fertilizer pollution still persist. The toxic algae problem in Chesapeake Bay was resolved with advanced wastewater treatment systems thatcut pollution at a cost of only $2.50 per household per month.

David Guest, Managing Attorney for Earthjustice’s Tallahassee office, has incourtrooms around Florida successfully tried environmental cases for the past 20 years which in one way or another were all about water.  Monica Reimer has been a staff attorney with the Tallahassee Office of Earthjustice since 2003. In 2002, her victory in an off-shore oil drilling case was reported as a landmark case in the National Law Journal. David or Monica is available for interviews September 19—October 7to give up-to-date answers, discuss actions that residents can take and can discuss any aspect of this issue including the three questions below.

Why was the EPA forced to step in?

Since 1998, Earthjustice has been using legal action to get the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to apply pressure on Florida’s DEP to set limits on this toxic pollution. The EPA’s action to set new pollution limits for Florida came in the summer of 2009 — a year after Earthjustice filed its 2008 suit in the Northern District of Florida on behalf of the Florida Wildlife Federation, St. John’s Riverkeeper, and other Florida groups. The suit challenged the decade-long delay by the state and federal government in setting limits for nutrient pollution.

The EPA entered into a settlement agreement and established new water pollution limits that were the same as the Florida state limits set by DEP based on the samenumeric criteria mandated under the Bush administration that set limits for phosphorus and nitrogen compounds which triggered deadly growths of algae in waterways throughout Florida. These limits by the Bush Administration came about as a result of Florida’s failure to meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act. During the comment period, the agency received 22,000 comments, with 20,000 in support of the new standards but polluters continue to fight compliance.

Now, after lobbyist and polluters have fought these established regulations, the Florida DEP is, again, in the process of setting new statewide standards for phosphorus and nitrogen pollution. Unfortunately, the rules that state regulators have proposed so far are highly inadequate to protect public health and clean up the waters. It is critical that the state’s polluters do not end up writing the DEP’s water-pollution rules. It is critical that our state regulators protect the public, not the polluters.

What are the health impacts from toxic algae that Floridians and tourists have experienced?

In 2008, over 1,000 miles of Florida’s rivers and streams, 350,000 acres of Florida’s lakes, and 900 square miles of its estuaries were contaminated by sewage, fertilizer or manure pollution. Toxic algae has caused respiratory problems, neurological damage, nausea, diarrhea, rashes, and even death for Floridians, their pets, and tourists with hundreds of emergency room visits each year and has also contaminated drinking water for thousands. The toxic algae pollution has become so frequent and serious that the Florida Department of Health now hands out educational materials that ask people: “Have You Been Slimed?” Callers to the state’s Aquatic Toxins Hotline (1-888-232-8635) hear a recording which warns: “It is very important that pets, livestock and small children are kept out of water suspected of having a blue green algae bloom since there have been many reported cases of animals dying after drinking highly contaminated water.”Residents should report any toxic algae outbreak in waters immediately to their County Health Departments and should not touch the water.

What are the economic impacts of algae outbreaks throughout Florida’s waterways?

Florida’s economy is driven largely by real estate and tourism. Waters with toxic algae put both of these sectors in jeopardy. Visitors from around the globe come to Florida for its clear, sandy-bottomed rivers, streams, lakes, springs, bays, beaches and for the beauty and revitalization that they experience, bringing $58 billion in tourism yearly. When visitors come here and see dead fish and “No Swimming” signs, they won’t come back, and that affects our state budget and jobs. When algae outbreaks occur, workers at hotels, charter and commercial fishing boats, beachfront concessions, restaurants, bars, and waterfront rentals all pay the price.

In 2005, one of the worst toxic algae outbreaks ever recorded happened at Southeast Florida’s St. Lucie River and estuary. The entire river was covered with bright green slime. It wasn’t safe to touch the water. Waterfront property values in the area suffered a permanent decline of a whopping $500 million after the outbreak.

In June of this year an algae outbreak in the Caloosahatchee River near Fort Myers turned the river bright green, smelled like raw sewage, and killed hundreds of fish. In August a large algae outbreak slimed Old Tampa Bay.  In earlier years, there were nauseating algae outbreaks on popular Florida tourist beaches like Sanibel Island and at fishing meccas like the St. Johns River near Jacksonville.

FLORIDIANS CAN TAKE ACTION

The way to make Florida’s waters clean again is to limit this pollution at its source, by upgrading old sewer plants, using modern manure management on agricultural operations and being smarter about applying fertilizer but powerful interests who profit from free disposal of pollutants in public waterways continue to fight new standards and argue that regulations would cost millions to the phosphate, property and agriculture industries.  They fail to mention the sickness and death that has resulted and the billions that water pollution has posed to fishing, tourism, waterfront real estate, and health related expenses.

Residents should report any toxic algae outbreak immediately to their County Health Departments and should not touch the water. If exposed they can call the state’ Aquatic Toxins Hotline (1-888-232-8635).

At www.earthjustice.org, click on Take Action in the top heading, and find Let’s Keep Florida’s Waters Clean, to easily forward a letter to the EPA, your Senators, and your Representative.

David Guest is the Managing Attorney of Earthjustice’s Tallahassee office. In 1978, he graduated from the University of Chicago Law School where he was a member of the law review. He has a B.Sc. in Government and Economics from Florida State University. In courtrooms around Florida David has tried environmental cases for the past 20 years which were all about water. Before development, half of Florida was under water during the wet season and its 1,500 miles of coastline were teeming with life. But its beauty invited its consumption. Millions of acres were drained and converted into agricultural, industrial, and urban developments. As a result, rivers and lakes are being polluted and closed off to the public, groundwaters are being rapidly depleted by uncontrolled withdrawals from aquifers, and the lives that depend on water are threatened.

Earthjustice is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth, and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment.

David Guest or Monica Reimer is available for interviews from September 19—October 7.

Please call Antonette Badami, Caplan Communications, 303.997.4037 orAntonette16@aol.com.

Filed Under: Business, Environment, Health Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Creeks Athletic Association – Flag Football & Creeks Girls Lacrosse 2012 Registration

September 17, 2011 by

Creeks Girls Lacrosse 2012 Registration Starts October 01, 2011
Creeks Athletic Association – Creeks Girls Lacrosse
Ages: Grades K-8th
Cost: Register Early & SAVE!
Early Registration October 1st to November 15 $125
Registration November 15 to December 31 $140
Late Registration January 1-31 2012 $155
Register Online: creekslax.com/girls starting October 1st
This year Creeks Girls Lacrosse will be trying something NEW!
This year Creeks Girls Lacrosse will be trying something NEW!Uniforms will be the same as last year. If your child played in the past and her uniform still fits, you may opt to keep the uniform and your registration will be discounted $25.  If you refer a new player, you will receive a $25 credit towards your registration
If you secure a Sponsor for Creeks Girls Lacrosse with a sponsorship level of $500 or more your daughter’s registration is FREE!
New player clinics will be held in October, November and December. Time & dates TBA by October 1, 2011.
Questions: If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contactCreeksGirlsLax@gmail.com
Creeks Athletic Association – Flag Football
Cost: $140
Where: Plantation Park, St Johns, Florida
When: Season Runs November 2011 – February 2012
CAA Flag Football is for players 4 as of April 2011 up to the age of 17. Teams will haveone scheduled practice during the work week, and one scheduled practice during theweekend. Once games have started there will be only one practice held during the work week. The CAA Flag Football season will run from November 2011 through February 2012. Team Drafts will be held October 17-18. Games will start December 3rd with the final playoffs in February 3rd. There will be a two week, single elimination tournament during the final two weekends of the season.
Important Dates:
Draft Dates are scheduled for October 17, 18, 19 & 20th at Veterans Park. Time frames for individual age brackets will be posted at the conclusion of registration.
Mandatory Coaches Meeting October 25th location and TBD
Referee Meeting October 27 & 28th at Veterans Park.
For more information and to register online, visit the CAA Flag Football Website at:  caaflagfootball.org

Filed Under: Community Events, Sports, Things to do Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Pennies2Win! Be A Treasure-Hunter From the Privacy of Your Own Home!

September 16, 2011 by

Pennies2Win!

Be A Treasure-Hunter From the Privacy of Your Own Home!
Each and every month we have been speaking about a truly amazing company that has re-opened, and is gathering clients and customers by the thousands.  Pennies2Win is a FUN, EASY and SAFE Internet penny auction that offers savings of up to 99% on your favorite brand new, brand name products and gift-cards!

There are a ton of products, right this second, that people are bidding on.  And the products are truly beyond interesting – from gift cards, to electronics, to the best of the best in household appliances and technology – Pennies2Win is delivering on an hourly basis the most amazing things for, quite literally, pennies on the dollar.

We wanted to take this time, this week, to let you know how absolutely easier it is to become part of Pennies2Win, and give a step-by-step plan on how to begin your treasure-hunting today!

It’s very easy to start bidding on Pennies2Win, following these very simple steps to get started:

Register: If you want to bid in auctions to get tremendous savings, you will need to register first. Registration is free and very easy. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email. Make sure to click the link in this email to confirm the set-up of your account.

Buy Bids: Each bid costs just $0.60, available in Bid Packs of 25, 50, 75, 100, 250, 500 and 750 bids. Pennies2Win accepts multiple payment methods, including: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Your bids are stored in your Bids Account.

Choose Products:  Pennies2Win has tremendous values every day!  What auction will you choose to participate in?  Will it be the latest MacBook, a brand new 50-inch LED-HDTV, or maybe a new camera or designer handbag?? Decide what you want and start bidding!

Bid and Win: Click on the ‘Bid’ button to place a bid. Each time you place a bid, Pennies2Win deducts one bid from your Bids Account, and we add time to the clock. We add time to allow for other users who might want to win an auction item to have an opportunity to place a bid. If you are the last bidder when the timer reaches zero, YOU WIN!  If you need to leave your computer and want to put this bidding on autopilot, don’t worry – you can use the “Auto-Bidder” to place bids for you.

There are so many amazing gifts to bid on right this second – from a $10.00 Gift Card at Lowes, Home Depot, Sears Low’s Gift Card to a Philips 19-inch Slim Eco LED LCD HDTV; from a Chili’s $10 Gift Card to Chili’s Grill & Bar to a gift card of YOUR choice at AMC Theaters, BlockBuster, or Regal Entertainment Group, there is absolutely no better “deal” on the internet to get the product YOU want!

All products on the Pennies2Win site are brand name, brand new, and factory sealed!  Additionally, all items come with the manufacturer’s warranty and are shipped directly from that specific source.  And there are two different ways that you can bid.  The first way to bid is to simply move the mouse cursor over the bid button and click. Your bid will be recorded and your name will show up as the highest bidder.  Each time you’re outbid by another user you will need to manually click the bid button again in order to bid.

Sometimes there are situations where users need to temporarily take their focus off of an auction but would like to instruct Pennies2Win to continue bidding for them. The Auto-Bidder feature is designed for these types of situations. Simply instruct the Auto-Bidder how many bids you are willing to spend, and let the Auto-Bidder bid for you.

To use the Buy It Now feature, you must have placed at least one bid in the auction. Any bids placed on an auction are offered as a discount against the value price of the item. The Buy It Now price can’t fall below 30% of the retail value price, even if the discounted sum of all bids is more than the Value Price of the item.

Below is an example of how your discount for Buy It Now is calculated.

Value Price: $100.00 Discount: Bids Placed x Bid Price: 150x $0.60 = $90.00 Buy It Now Price: $100 – $90= $10.00. $10 is less than 30% (30% x 100.00= 30.00) so the retail price will be 30.00 + Shipping/Taxes (if applicable)

The Buy It Now price will be updated after each bid you place.

What happens if you are bidding on an auction and you need to run to the restroom? Or grab a snack? You can use our Auto-Bidder to automatically place bids for you in a more efficient way. Auto-Bidder lets you bid – even when you’re not sitting at your computer – even if you’re not logged on to our website! Using Auto-Bidder to place your bid guarantees your bid will be placed in the last 15-30 seconds. There is no need to worry about losing your Internet connection or getting distracted in the final moments. You can rely on our Auto-Bidder to bid as you instruct it.

Key Facts:

  • You may only start the auto-bidder with 3 or more minutes left on the time clock.
  • One Auto-Bidder bid will be used each time the timer drops below 30 seconds. This happens only when the clock timer has reached below 60 seconds when the auction is ending. Each auction may be set with a different
  • ‘end timer parameter’ such as 20 or 15 seconds instead of the traditional 30 seconds stated above.
  • Your maximum price has to be at least $1.00 higher than the current auction end price.
  • You may adjust your currently running Auto-Bidder limit at anytime during the auction.
  • Unused Auto-Bidder bids can be deleted at any point during the auction.
  • All unused Auto-Bidder bids at the time the auction ends will be returned to your account.

Penny auctions are coming back!  And Pennies2Win brings to YOUR home a safe, easy, and absolutely enjoyable way to get the products you love for pennies on the dollar!  This is more than good news.  With the world the way it is today – Pennies2Win is offering STELLAR news!

Become a Treasure Hunter today!!

www.pennies2win.com

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Stuart Woods presents Son of Stone @ Vero Beach Book Center

September 15, 2011 by

Meet Author; Stuart Woods

presenting & autographing Son of Stone

Thursday, September 22nd at 7pm

Hardcover, $26.95 Published by Penguin Group (USA)

After an eventful trip to Bel-Air and a reunion with his sophisticated (and very wealthy) former love, Arrington Calder, Stone Barrington is back in New York, and he’s looking to stay closer to home and cash in on his partnership at Woodman & Weld.

But Arrington has other plans for Stone…including introducing him to the child he fathered many years ago.

Biography

Stuart Woods was born in 1938 in Manchester, Georgia. After graduating from college and enlisting in the Air National Guard, he moved to New York, where he worked in advertising for the better part of the 1960s. He spent three years in London working for various ad agencies, then moved to Ireland in 1973 to begin his writing career in earnest.

However, despite his best intentions, Woods got sidetracked in Ireland. He was nearly 100 pages into a novel when he discovered the seductive pleasures of sailing. “Everything went to hell,” he quips on his web site “All I did was sail.” He bought a boat, learned everything he could about celestial navigation, and competed in the Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic Race (OSTAR) in 1976, finishing respectably in the middle of the fleet. (Later, he took part in the infamous Fastnet Race of 1979, a yachting competition that ended tragically when a huge storm claimed the lives of 15 sailors and 4 observers. Woods and his crew emerged unharmed.)

Returning to the U.S., Woods wrote two nonfiction books: an account of his transatlantic sailing adventures (Blue Water, Green Skipper) and a travel guide he claims to have written on a whim. But the book that jump-started his career was the opus interruptus begun in Ireland. An absorbing multigenerational mystery set in a small southern town, Chiefs was published in 1981, went on to win an Edgar Award, and was subsequently turned into a television miniseries starring Charlton Heston.

An amazingly prolific author, Woods has gone on to pen dozens of compelling thrillers, juggling stand-alone novels with installments in four successful series. (His most popular protagonists are New York cop-turned-attorney Stone Barrington, introduced in 1991′s New York Dead, and plucky Florida police chief Holly Barker, who debuted in 1998′s Orchid Beach.) His pleasing mix of high-octane action, likable characters, and sly, subversive humor has made him a hit with readers — who have returned the favor by propelling his books to the top of the bestseller lists.

Filed Under: books, Lifestyle Tagged With: , ,

Don’t Miss It! Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival

September 8, 2011 by

3 Boys Productions announced today the program of films selected to screen at the 2011 Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival(MIFF). This year, the festival`s program comprises films from U.S. and international filmmakers selected from 238 entries. The 2011 MIFF runs September 9-10 in Melbourne, Florida at the beautiful Premiere Theaters Oaks Stadium 10.

“I`m particularly struck by the creativity in this year`s selections. These filmmakers are charged with telling compelling stories and engaging the audience and they really deliver” said Terry Cronin, the MIFF 2011 director of programming . “For 2011, we are pleased to be able to shine a light on Florida filmmakers who are making their way on the world-wide film festival circuit. We are particularly proud of the talent that has originated here in Brevard County.”

“On the heels of two sold-out showings at the Florida Film Festival, Melbourne native Andrew Kenneth G(a)y brings his feature film, A Beautiful Belly, to his hometown. Palm Bay`s Lee Thongkham brings his hypnotic feature, Tears of Remedy, for a special engagement on Friday. Orlando`s Jose Zambrano Casella will delight the horror enthusiasts with his suspenseful feature, The Sacred. MIFF alumnus Michael Baumgarten brings an after-hour s(e)xy Hollywood-produced thriller called Pretty Obsession which was co-produced by Melbourne`s Robin Krasny. And the short films will really knock your socks off, too! Whether its the dark humor of Matt Cantu`s zombie reality show The Zombie Factor or Devi Snively`s amazing short Last Seen on Dolores Street or the weather reality of Brevard County`s Chris Kridler and her short film Chasing Reality about passionate storm chasers, it`s all sure to be fun”

The films selected for the 2011 Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival are:

Features

A Beautiful Belly directed by Andrew Kenneth G(a)y

A warmly comic story of an aspiring but out-of-work children`s entertainer who gets his longtime crush pregnant on their first date: It`s engaging, entertaining, and hilarious.

Butterflies directed by Ester Brym

A feature documentary film following the lives of six young people that are prominent `weblebrities` on the video site YouTube. The film explores the new media, its power, and its future.

Pretty Obsession directed by Michael Baumgarten

A pretty eighteen year-old puts herself and her family in danger when she leads a double life as an erotic web cam model.

The Sacred directed by Jose Zambrano Casella

Five young people went on a journey, a weekend of fun, and what they found is the evil inside themselves. Sins come back to kill you!

Tears of Remedy directed by Lee Thongkham

Every teardrop comes with a story, one that endures beauty and pain, and mostly, love.

Palm Bay director, Lee Thongkham, tells a rich and enigmatic story about the power of tears.

Horror Films

Blinky™ directed by Ruari Robinson

Meet Blinky™. All he wants is a friend. The only problem is, he`s not very good at making friends.

Last Seen on Dolores Street directed by Devi Snively

In a hard-boiled town, a heartbroken woman says goodbye to an old pet and hello to a new nightmare. Sometimes, life`s a real bitch.

The Sacred directed by Jose Zambrano Casella

Five young people went on a journey, a weekend of fun, and what they found is the evil inside themselves. Sins come back to kill you!

The Zombie Factor directed by Matt Cantu

The zombie apocalypse becomes REALITY on The Zombie Factor, the most dangerous show on television.

Florida Shorts

This year`s MIFF features 18 films shot in Florida

The Adventures of Monty Moudlyn directed by Zach Hibbard

Monty Moudlyn is the friend who`s always `up`. The kind of eternal, insufferable optimist that you sometimes want to kill.

The Breakdown directed by Robby Sparks

Stress relief never felt so good!

Burial Island directed by Ray and Migdalia Etheridge

Two friends set up camp on a deserted island in the Everglades which had once been an ancient Indian burial ground. (Plus preview of The Money Trail directed by Ray and Migdalia Etheridge)

Chasing Reality directed by Chris Kridler

Storm chasing is portrayed as an extreme sport on television, but the reality is dramatically different. In this documentary, storm chasers talk about life on the road, their peculiar relationship with their cars, and the frustration, smells and miles that go into those few moments of seeing a tornado.

Follow Your Dreams directed by Sue Dontell

A man trying to follow his dream to be a singer is sidetracked by his wife`s illness. He has to set his priorities in that his wife is the most important thing in his life. The wife realizes the light is gone from her husband`s eyes in not being able to follow his dreams. She realizes the importance of following a dream as things come full circle.
The Incredible Banana directed by Paulette King

No matter how hard you think you may have it, there is always someone who is less fortunate them you.

Life Lessons directed by Paulette King

A sister saves the day for her seven year old brother

Maybe directed by Kevin Shah

An average guy Jim trys to find a girlfriend. Jim gets “Maybe`ed” every time and there seems to be no hope, till he meets Rachel. This is a light-hearted take on dating, relationships and being average. A movie inspired by true events.

Melbourne, FL: December/January:

Home directed by Craig Weinstein

A short nonfiction (mostly) collage of the filmmaker`s home of Melbourne over a winter holiday.

No Boundaries directed by Paulette King

Trusted neighbor is having an affair with her next door neighbor`s son.

The Red Shoes directed by Sue Dontell

“I cried because I had no shoes until I met someone who had no feet.` A girl learns a valuable life lesson to be grateful for what you do have rather than to be unhappy about what you don`t have. There is always someone in this world worse off than you.

Special Sneak Preview of “The Space Coast” directed by Lear Bunda

Starring Dana Snyder(Aqua Teen Hunger Force), Amber Freeman, Pat Martin, Dustin Harbin

Twilight of Youth directed by Jerald Fine

Brash, young stockbroker who despises the elderly contracts a strange virus that rapidly ages him.

Vestiges directed by Alex Sushil

Calvin Fields has an appointment with a dermatologist.

Extraordinary Shorts

Caught Short directed by Will Hall-Smith United Kingdom

A scatological romantic comedy.

Crossing Salween directed by Brian O`Malley Thailand/Ireland

In eastern Burma, a young girl named Ho Reh finds herself orphaned after the massacre of her village by the army. She must make the arduous journey to the Salween River that divides the horrors of Burma from the safety of Thailand.

Fumbling Toward Ecstasy directed by Gemma Faith Ireland

Offers comfort in its familiar Irish surroundings yet challenges stereotype, daring to explore female s(e)xuality in later stages of life.

Goliath directed by Ryan Daniel McKinney USA

After contracting HIV, a boy struggles with what is out of his control while his father tries to hold it together by looking to hold someone accountable.

Happenstance directed by Sandy Pranjic & Victoria Strehlau Canada

A cautionary tale.

Karate Wipe directed by Virginia Abramovich USA

A comedic exploration of one of the many challenges of fatherhood.
Loft directed by Gareth Chambers Ireland

A man and his pigeons live in fear of a young boy and his soccer ball…something must be done!

Manhood directed by Melanie M. Jones Canada

Forced to flee to the woods when war strikes their cozy suburban neighborhood, Midge continues her quest to turn her husband Harold into a paragon of manliness with surprising results.

Ol` One Eye directed by Brain Folan Ireland

An old man gets a new glass eye, however this is not your standard prosthetic. To his amazement he discovers that he can in fact see with his new eye.

Orange Desespoir Directed by John Banana France

What happens when a small sad orange decides to leave for the other side of the shop to meet a bunch of fun dancing pineapples ?

Rest Stop directed by Melanie M. Jones Canada

Danny must make difficult choices and live with the consequences of his actions while hitchhiking through Northern British Columbia.
Signs directed by Vincent Gallagher Ireland

There is magic in what we see every day. Sometimes we just have to look hard enough.

Festival Sponsors

The 2011 Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival sponsors include: Celebrity Level Sponsors- A Cut Above Video, Premiere Theaters Oaks Stadium 10, Treasure Coast Dermatology; Leadership Sponsors-Browning`s, The Courtyard at the Oaks, Academy Award Sponsors- Against the Grain Tattoos, Bill and Karen Slover. Food sponsors include The Courtyard at the Oaks, Flo`s Catering, Freddie D`s, Forever Soul Ichabod`s, Island Pasta, Miyako`s, Mustard`s Last Stand, Nature`s Market, Pizza Hut, Shells, Skewer`s, Taste of India, Tijuana Flats, and Tropical Smoothie. The MIFF recognizes critical support from the Space Coast Film Commission, and our patrons- Better Bodies, Victoria Buckley, Paulette King, Tommy “Tricks” Loomis, and Sky Diary. The support of these organizations will help the charity Unconditional Love, Inc. In return, sponsorship of the MIFF provides these organizations with community exposure and unique access to MIFF attendees.

About Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival

Now in its 13th Year, the Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival prides itself on the promotion of independent filmmakers to the Brevard County community and as a destination for filmmakers worldwide. Each year independent films are screened to enthusiastic audiences and all the funds raised go to charity.

3 Boys Productions

In 1998, a creative group of friends (Terry Cronin, Jeff Hall, Bob Lizek,and Pat Martin) decided to form a production company to produce independent films in Melbourne, Florida. This group has evolved into publishing comic books and novels including the critically-acclaimed detective series “The Skinvestigator”. They continue to host the annual Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival and the Megacon Indie Film Expo in Orlando.

For more info go to

www.3boysproductions.com

www.premieretheaters.com

or join us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/#!/melbourneindependentfilmmakersfestival

Filed Under: Community Events, Entertainment, Featured, Florida, Local People, Restaurants, Things to do, Travel Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Learn How to Deal with the Draining People in Your Life for More Joy and Contentment

September 8, 2011 by

All too often, doctors ignore scientific data clearly linking emotions to health. But when fear, frustration, loneliness, anxiety, depression, jealousy, or anger takes hold of us, it affects our mood, reactions, job performance, relationships, and ultimately, our physical health.

Instead picture yourself in a traffic jam but feeling utterly calm, or listening to a supervisor`s rant and feeling compassionate rather than upset. Imagine being peaceful instead of worrying. Or having an abundance of nurturing relationships and a warm sense of belonging in place of what used to be the ache of loneliness. This is what Dr. Judith Orloff, bestselling author and assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA describes as Emotional Freedom.

energy

Now Dr. Orloff brings you two special offers to help you transform each of the seven unwholesome emotions to create a positive life-affirming out-look, no matter what you`re faced with. The first is her New York Times bestselling book, Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself From Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life (Three Rivers Press, 2011) now available in paperback that provides action steps to reprogram your biology to respond in a different way, uncover the spiritual meaning of your emotions, change the energetic power and effects of the emotion, and explore it from a psychological perspective.

The second offer is the Positive Energy and Emotional Freedom Discount Downloadable Package – valued at $180 for ONLY $99).

With this package you will receive the following six empowering audio and video downloadable products to awaken positive energy and emotional freedom.

These include:

•The Emotional Freedom Self-Quiz to learn your emotional type. This easy to take short Self Quiz booklet is a quick reference guide to emotional freedom.
•Introduction to Emotional Freedom video and audio. In this live lecture Dr. Orloff presents you with new solutions for dealing with emotions because conventional coping mechanisms just aren`t holding up in our hyper-tense world.
•5 Steps to Intuitive Healing video and audio. In this informative, lively video, Dr. Orloff shares the five steps to intuitive decision making that she uses in her medical practice so everyone can learn them too.
•The Healing Power of Positive Energy audio of live workshop. You possess an innate intuitive intelligence so powerful that it can tell you how to heal and prevent illness. Judith Orloff, MD, a pioneer in the new field of Energy Psychiatry, shows how to reclaim this intelligence.
•Awaken Intuition for Health and Creativity a live video at UCLA of Judith and John Densmore, drummer of “The Doors” and Hani Naser.Watch this magical night of music and teachings on intuition as Judith, John, and Hani combine forces to help you trust your inner wisdom in an enlivening setting.

Judith Orloff MD is the author of the New York Times bestseller Emotional Freedom and the international bestseller Second Sight: An Intuitive Psychiatrist Tells Her Extraordinary Story and Shows You How To Tap Your Own Inner Wisdom. Her other books are Positive Energy and Intuitive Healing. Her work has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, the Oprah Magazine and USA Today. Dr. Orloff synthesizes the pearls of traditional medicine with cutting edge knowledge of intuition and energy medicine. An Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, she passionately believes that the future of medicine involves integrating all this wisdom to achieve emotional freedom and total wellness. To inquire about her books, CD`s and DVD`s visit http://www.drjudithorloff.com/_catalog_35072/Judith_Orloff%27s_Shop.

Judyth Piazza chats with Dr. Judith Orloff, Author

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