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Meeting Invitation
Meeting Invitation


    Wendy Minore wendy_minore04
    Just me writing my little story! It's a coming of age story about a girl graduating from high school and not being sure where to go from there. Her family and friends help her out with a little bit of chaos and a lot of luck!

    “T! Can I borrow your notes for French?” Hailey fluttered her eyelashes at me and gave me her most winning smile, knowing that my notes were at least twenty times better than hers. I rolled my eyes and reached for my bag. I was ready for the French exam later, it was on my study schedule to be way beyond prepared. I started studying months ago so that I could get all of my sleeping in. Of course, Hailey almost never sleeps.
    “Oh my gosh, girlie hand them over,” speaking of not sleeping, Evelyn had just walked over and was holding her hand out to me. I’m not sure how Evelyn ever slept, since she ran with me every morning at 5 am and she was on every sports team that she could fit into her schedule, plus some advanced classes.
    “Hey, hey, no! I asked first!” Hailey gave a pouty look, her lip out and her eyes big. With her tiny frame and overly stunning blue eyes she looked adorable, but I knew that Evelyn probably needed the notes more. She struggled with French, and Hailey had had me and Cardan there to help her all year. Evelyn and I had only become friends a couple of months ago, despite having run the same route together everyday for the past four years.
    I shoot Hailey a sympathetic smile and pull out my red notebook with Iron Man stickers coating it and hand it to Evelyn.
    “Eek! You’re the best!” She planted a kiss on my cheek, which earned me a jokingly jealous look from Hails. Honestly, I couldn’t blame her either. With her perfectly clear brown skin and her hair always done up in some sort of cute braids, Evelyn was one of the prettiest girls in our grade. Of course, she was also a sweetheart and therefore sat down on the couch next to Hailey so that they could review together. Hailey started chattering with Evelyn about something or another as I closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep.

    “Pencils down!” Madame Saker’s yell startled me awake and I heard a small, stifled chuckle from Cardan, who was sitting next to me. I wiped the little bit of drool off of my face and shot him a quick glare, but by the time I looked over, he was already staring at his exam again, his lower lip firmly stuck between his teeth. Honestly, at this point it’s a miracle that he still has lips with how often he gnaws on those things. We start passing our tests forward and I toss my pencil onto his desk to get his attention. When Cardan looks over at me, his brow is furrowed and he looks moments from a panic attack. I throw him a thumbs up and a questioning face and he gives a despairing shrug. Cardan is actually one of the smartest kids in our grade, but he never believes he did well on literally anything. I know that the five seconds between our tests getting to her and Madame dismissing us could be vital to Cardan’s mental state, so I reach over and grab his hand. It’s shaking, but he intertwines his fingers with mine and takes a breath deep enough that people across the world could have seen it. He squeezes my hand right as Madame calls that we can leave. The bell won’t ring today because it “disturbs the mind of a studying student”. Basically, the headmaster thinks that anyone who is currently studying and not in an exam will be startled really badly by the bell, even though we are all expecting it.
    Cardan releases my hand with a small smile and grabs his bag. No one else in the room has theirs except for Hailey who is already pulling out her dance notebook. I grab my pencil from Cardan’s desk and tuck it into my ponytail as I walk over to Hails, Cardan trailing behind me.
    “So, T, how did you do? Cause I think that I messed up the conjugation of être on the fifth question, but it was a fill in the blank, and if that’s all I messed up, we’re totally fine… Do you think that I could run tendus twice today without some of the younger kids getting annoyed? It really helps their turnout, but they also complain sometimes…” Her tongue appears between her teeth as she scribbles in her notebook, completely lost to the rest of us now. Cardan and I exchange an eye roll over her head. Surprisingly easy, considering that she stopped growing in like fourth grade at 4’ 10”.
    “Thanks for the notes Tiana, they really helped!” Evelyn bumps my shoulder lightly as she walks past and I wave goodbye to her before placing a gentle hand on Hailey’s back and scooping up her bag, steering her in the direction of the common room. She continues mumbling under her breath as Cardan pulls out a book and follows behind us, already lost to the world as well.
    By the time we reach the common room, I’ve had to steer the two of them to avoid five different people rushing around and at least three people who tried to talk to them about the exams we’ve taken. Of course, neither of them know this, and both collapse on a couch to continue what they were doing, giving me the room to climb between them and take a nap with my head on Cardan’s lap and feet on Hailey’s.

    It’s Hailey who wakes me up about an hour later in order to remind me that we need to change for the parties later tonight. Since we’re seniors, we kind of get a free pass to go to every single end-of-year party, and Hailey is also friends with everyone, so she has people to see at all of them. Cardan takes this as his cue to leave, and kisses both of us on the forehead before heading upstairs to his room. He’s probably packing up his cat’s supplies for the trip home tomorrow. I’ll have to leave hails at some point tonight to check up on him before he gets too in his head about going home.
    “So, what are we thinking? I know that the soccer girls always wear their jerseys, but like cropped or bedazzled or whatever you guys do to them, but I don’t think that you can wear that to every party… Or maybe we could stop back here and change between that and other parties. Well, I wouldn’t want people at the parties to notice you changed, since that might be a little weird. Oh! Can you do my hair for tonight? I can’t just wear it in a ballet bun like usual, since that is what I do all the time. Oh my gosh! Did I send out the message to remind the kids that classes are canceled tonight?” Hailey continued rambling, thankfully remembering that she did actually send out the reminder, several of them actually, as I steered her to our bedroom. She flopped back on my bed, still talking, as I slipped out of my leggings and tank top and into a pair of ripped skinny jeans with my purple and red jersey that Hailey had stitched into a crop top and bedazzled the number 8 on the back. She was still talking as I shoved my clothes in my laundry hamper, so I grabbed one of her decorative pillows that was on the floor and threw it at her.
    “What?” Hails sat up, and finally looked at me, a cute blush coloring her cheeks as she realized I was already changed. “Are you gonna take that pencil out for the party?” That was her only verbal acknowledgement of my clothes change as she headed over to her closet and grabbed a cute purple dress and white ballet slippers, slipping in for five seconds before coming out already changed.
    “Hair?” She threw me another dazzling smile before plopping back on my bed. I grabbed my hairbrush from its place on the dresser and climbed on the bed behind her, listening to her ramble about everyone’s summer plans and pretending that it was okay that I had absolutely no clue what I was planning to do once summer ended. I had no college plans, no job plans, nothing prepared for my life.
    “Done!” I finally said, cutting Hailey off a little, but she barely noticed as she pranced to the mirror to look at her wraparound braid.
    “You’re an angel! Thank you!” Hails ran back and kissed my cheek before grabbing earrings off of the mess on her dresser and sliding them in as I pulled out my phone. I had a text from Cardan asking if I was done with the book he lent me and double checking the dates I was staying with him, a text from Evelyn that was just a picture of her jersey that she had cut holes into the side of and made slimmer around the waist to fit her, and a few texts in the soccer group chat about who was bringing what. I ignored the group chat, sent Evelyn a thumbs up and a selfie and shot a quick reassuring text (or seven) to Cardan before tossing my phone down and shrieking when I found Hailey standing an inch from my face.
    “Ready?”
    “You’re a pain,” I mumbled as I stood up, reaching for my phone again and tucking it in my back pocket. “Let’s go.”
    “YAY!” Hailey pranced from the room, leading me to the first party of the end of my high school life.
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    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - DigiTrax Entertainment, a pioneer in the music technology industry, brings its artificial intelligence (AI) expertise to the popular hip-hop segment.

    With the introduction of KR38R Beats, a unique AI product specifically geared to the hip-hop artist, DigiTrax recognizes the importance of hip-hop music and how it is a great fit for AI technology. The company has paired with Spotlite, a popular and established singing performance app, to create "Rapping with the Robot," a contest for aspiring hip-hop artists.

    The contest is scheduled to begin on Thanksgiving Day and end on New Year's Eve.

    Prizes include an all-expenses-paid recording session, with professional production and distribution across all major platforms.

    "We focused our AI on the most relevant segment of music in today's streaming economy," says Joe Vangieri, CEO of DigiTrax Entertainment.

    "Hip-hop beats comprise one out of every three streams, and generate billions in revenue."

    The KR38R Beats product is based on the Music Builder program, DigiTrax's unique and innovative technology that helps artists harness the power of artificial intelligence. Artists can feed ideas into the program, which then serves as a composing partner and allows them to create more songs more quickly.

    Spotlite is a free, direct-to-fan singing app designed to allow amateur and professional vocalists to sing original music, covers, and karaoke across all musical genres.

    "As a fan, you used to go out and buy CDs to support your favorite artist," says Juan Munoz, general manager of Spotlite Media.

    "With the change in how fans ingest content, Spotlite has not only allowed fans a new way to directly support their favorite artists, but the fans become the tastemakers. Through our contests, fans tell us who should truly be recognized for their talent," he explains.

    Other benefits of using artificial intelligence in creating original hip-hop music include greater profitability and protection for the users under copyright law.

    "Because we own both the publishing and the sound recording that our AI has written," Vangieri explains, "this gives us free reign to fully exploit both sides of a song - the publishing and the sound recording."

    DigiTrax plans to introduce several more contests in 2019 to showcase the way its technology is transforming how music is created and enjoyed.

    For more information about the company and its future business goals, go to digitraxentertainment.com.

    Ref: Bands - in Blogs
    61 0

    Aric Feeney Aric_Feeney


    88 0

    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - Today most homeowners want to do right by the environment while also caring for the health and wellness of their own families. But they don't always know what measures they can take with the design, construction, and furnishing of their houses to achieve eco-friendly, health-enhancing results.

    "Many responsible consumers are uncertain what a 'sustainable' product or material is," notes Linda Jovanovich of the American Hardwood Information Center, www.hardwoodinfo.com.

    "It simply means the particular resource is self-replenishing - something we can use freely now without fear that its supply will run out in the future. Since American hardwood forests renew themselves almost twice as fast as they are harvested, the U.S. supply of hardwoods for flooring, furniture, cabinetry, and millwork is sustainable now and for generations to come."

    As well as being plentiful and sustainable, American hardwood is carbon neutral: Growing trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and break it down into oxygen, which is returned to the air, and carbon, which is used to create roots, trunk, branches, and leaves. In short, the use of natural American hardwoods throughout a house helps with the long-term removal of carbon from the environment.

    Hardwood can also benefit a household's general well-being.

    When artist Hadley Williams renovated her family home in California's Bay Area, she asked the makeover team - designer Sherry Williamson, architect Andrew Mann, and builder Michael McCutcheon - for a clean-lined, ultra-eco-friendly residence. They wrapped all the floors, ceilings, walls, and casework in the gutted interiors with plain-sawn American white oak, achieving a beautiful balance among aesthetics, sustainability, and healthfulness.

    Since the latter was a priority, each and every building product used was screened for a comprehensive list of more than 900 chemicals of concern. Using solid timber helped avoid the unhealthy volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in laminate glues. Thanks to those efforts, the house has been certified LEED Platinum - the U.S. Green Building Council's highest ranking.

    Architect Stephanie Horowitz of Boston-based ZeroEnergy Design is another expert at creating contemporary, environmentally sensitive, family-friendly homes.

    "We regularly specify domestic, sustainably harvested hardwood floors," she says.

    "When paired with a non-VOC finish, a hardwood floor helps maintain healthy indoor-air quality while allowing us to support local business and overall environmental health."

    Such was the case with a house she recently designed for a client who wanted an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment in a traditional neighborhood. By installing quarter-sawn white-oak floors, and selecting other durable materials and finishes with low or no VOCs and no added urea formaldehyde, Horowitz was able to achieve LEED-platinum certification for the house and, more importantly, ensure that its inhabitants can breathe easy.

    Visit www.hardwoodinfo.com for more about sustainability and healthfulness in relation to home applications and products using American hardwoods.

    Ref: Decoration - in Blogs
    44 0

    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - In the past few weeks, it has become clear that social distancing and quarantining are the new normal. This is an overwhelming time as we attempt to adjust our mindsets and schedules - between working from home, watching after the kids, keeping up with the news, and maintaining sanity, it can be a challenge to prioritize your physical and mental health. Here are some tips on how to stay active in these strange and unprecedented times.

    Make a plan

    It's always easier to commit to a healthy habit if you make it part of your routine. At the beginning of each week, take a look at your schedule and find those windows where you could realistically squeeze in a workout. Set a reminder on your phone or even add the workout to your calendar to keep yourself accountable.

    Try a meal delivery service

    It may be difficult to cook healthy meals every day, especially if you can't get what you need from the grocery store. Having healthy food delivered safely to your door can alleviate the stress and hassle of cooking, plus having healthy options in the house will keep you from overeating and reaching for junk food. South Beach Diet, for example, offers fully nutritionally balanced, prepared meals and snacks that make it easy to keep your diet on track.

    Take breaks from work

    It can be tempting to sit around all day while you're working from home, but don't let yourself stay sedentary for too long. Get away from your workspace and move around every hour or so to get your blood flowing. This will help you to stay sharp and healthy during social isolation. If you're taking a phone call, stand up and allow yourself to pace around. Try to get up every hour and take a few steps around the house, stretch, or even do a few jumping jacks.

    Stream, stream, stream

    As gyms and workout studios are necessarily closed for the moment, many fitness brands and instructors are using Instagram live to hold virtual classes. If you have a favorite local studio or a favorite instructor, check out their website or social media to see if they are hosting any online classes. Many fitness brands are also offering extended free trials to access their libraries of workout videos.

    Go for a walk or run

    Of course, we are all limiting our trips outside to the grocery store, gas station, or anywhere else we might come in close contact with others. But if you are able to safely run or walk while keeping distance from your neighbors, those are great options for staying active, clearing your mind, and getting some fresh air.

    "It's so important to find those moments of joy outdoors while we're all social distancing," says Jessie James Decker, mother of three and South Beach Diet brand ambassador. "Whatever that means for you - whether it's a stroll around the neighborhood with the kids or a long run to clear your head - you'll feel so much better if you make the time for it."

    Keep your mind active

    Just as our bodies need physical activity to stay healthy, our minds need stimulation (beyond reality TV binge sessions) to stay sharp as well. Group activities such as board games or puzzles are a great option for keeping your mind sharp while clocking some quality time with your family or roommates.

    For more tips on how to stay healthy and active while social distancing, check out https://palm.southbeachdiet.com.

    Ref: How To - in Blogs
    82 0

    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - With so many TV shows, videos, and games vying for a child's attention, it can be hard to keep him or her inspired to read. It can be even harder to do so in "real life" settings, but interacting with other kids and sharing excitement for a series or character is often more powerful than swiping a screen.

    Enter the Barnes & Noble Kids' Book Hangout. This new nationwide program invites kids aged 6 through 12 to go to their local Barnes & Noble to hang out, talk books, and play fun games and activities - all "in real life."

    Through this new program, Barnes & Noble booksellers will lead kids in games and activities related to select titles that showcase a range of genres and tastes.

    "The whole idea of the Hangout is for kids to see how much fun reading can be, and that enjoying characters, stories, and books really can be a social experience," says Stephanie Fryling, Vice President of Merchandising, Children's Books. "If the kids walk away with a new favorite character or series that motivates them to keep reading, then we'll have done our job."

    The first Kids' Book Hangout starts Saturday, July 28, at 2 p.m. in every Barnes & Noble store nationwide. Kids don't have to read the featured books, and everyone from 6-12 is welcome. The national bookseller will continue to host Hangouts on a seasonal schedule.

    For the inaugural gathering, Barnes & Noble has teamed up with Penguin Young Readers to showcase titles that include heartfelt poetry, a hilarious Caveboy, a mysterious adventure, and a Beatle-crazed young woman. The books are:

    * Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson

    * More Scrawny Than Brawny, by Aaron Reynolds

    * The Basque Dragon, by Adam Gidwitz

    * She Loves You (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah), by Ann Hood

    The four titles will be 20 percent off all day at Barnes & Noble on July 28, and Frappuccinos and smoothies will be $1 off for Hangout participants.

    The first Hangout comes at a great time for parents struggling to keep their kids reading during the summer. When school starts up again, the Hangouts will be a good reminder that books aren't just for classrooms.

    "The relationship people have with books and reading often starts in childhood, and we hope these Hangouts will help parents and caregivers lay a great foundation for young readers," Fryling says.

    The program adds to Barnes & Noble's other offerings for kids, including the earn-a-free-book Summer Reading Program, and weekly Storytimes for younger kids.

    The bookseller has more information on its website: www.bn.com/bnhangout, and will be posting about the event at #BNHangout.

    Ref: Communities - in Blogs
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    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - The Bible is one of the most studied texts in existence, but a new book reveals a previously unrecognized encrypted message in the Old Testament that foresees the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus.

    In the book, The Chamberlain Key: Unlocking the God Code to Reveal Divine Messages Hidden in the Bible, author Timothy Smith describes how he discovered the message by cracking a code in Genesis 30:20-24 in the oldest form of the Hebrew Old Testament.

    Smith, an appraiser and restorer of fine art and antiquities, was researching his family history and became intrigued by the Torah after learning that his matriarchal ancestors were in fact Sephardic Jews, and early Christians of Jewish decent. He said in a statement that he was drawn to the specific passages in Genesis because of parallels between descriptions of the family of Jacob, known as the father of the House of Israel, and his own family.

    Smith assessed the passages using an equidistant letter skip decryption method inspired by the Hebrew spelling of his name (the nine-letter Timotheus). He discovered not only his own name, but also biographical information that reflected other members of his family

    As he reviewed the passage in Genesis using the code, Smith found details about the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. He also identified references to religious images, including the Rocio Madonna, clues to the location of the contents of the Ark of the Covenant, and warnings of the spread of anti-Semitism, hate, and violence.

    Smith's research methods and conclusions have been reviewed by experts, including Dr. Robert Jahn, dean emeritus of engineering at Princeton University, and Dr. Eugene Ulrich, chief editor of the Biblical Dead Sea Scrolls and professor of Hebrew Scripture and Theology at University of Notre Dame.

    "Never before have so many high-level language and scientific experts agreed that the encrypted structures we have detected in this section of the Hebrew text, and the other structures logically predicted from this key code, are a very deliberate attempt by the Author of the pre-Christian text to make 'contact.' No other published 'Bible code' discoveries impress us in this way," Smith says.

    The Chamberlain Key takes readers through Smith's journey of discovery, including his personal account of the spiritual experiences that inspired him to pursue his research into the Torah.

    In addition, a history documentary series about the book and Smith's story are in production and scheduled to air within the year.

    For more information, visit http://chamberlainkey.com.

    Ref: God - in Blogs
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    Ramiro Williamson Ramiro_Williamson


    77 0

    Erica Svendsen boldtruthmama
    Social media is a search engine. Learn how to get found. Marketing





    If you're on social media but no one's finding you, you're not a ghost—you’re just invisible.

    Let’s have a little truth fest, shall we?

    You keep posting. You're dancing. You're showing your iced coffee. You're even dropping wisdom that should get you a book deal. But the only one liking your stuff is your aunt Tammy and that one MLM girl who’s always “cheering you on.”

    Mama, let me say this with love and a strong shot of espresso (decaf if you're off caffeine like a psycho):
    Social media is not just for showing up. It's for getting found.

    That’s right. Instagram. TikTok. Pinterest. Facebook. Even LinkedIn if you’re feeling fancy.
    They’re not just platforms — they are search engines in glitter and crop tops.
    Social Media = Search Engine (Yes, Really)

    Let me break it down like your toddler breaks down when you cut the sandwich the wrong way.

    All of these platforms have search bars. You know what that means?
    People are typing things like:

    “Mom blog”

    “Easy vegan toddler meals”

    “Freelance writing tips”

    “Jesus and coffee memes” (okay maybe that’s just me)

    If your profile isn’t optimized, you could be serving up exactly what they need—and still be chilling in the shadow realm of the algorithm. No ma’am. We don’t do invisible over here.
    1. Your Name Is Prime Real Estate

    Stop putting “✨Mama of 3✨” in your name field. I love your babies, but that’s not what people are searching.

    Instead, tell the algorithm what you do.
    Example:
    Erica | SEO Copywriter for Moms
    or
    Jess | Pinterest Coach for Bloggers

    Now when someone types “Pinterest coach,” boom. You’re in the game.
    2. Your Bio Is a Mini Sales Page

    That little box? It’s not a throwaway. It's not for inspirational quotes. It’s for hooking followers like the savvy mama boss you are.

    Format cheat code:

    👋 Who you help
    💡 What you help them do
    🔗 Your freebie or offer

    Example:
    Helping writer moms grow their blog + make bank online 💸
    👇 Grab the free SEO checklist

    Short. Sassy. Searchable. Yes please.
    3. Keywords. Yep, Even on Instagram.

    Pinterest mamas already know the power of keywords. But IG? TikTok? Yes girl. They’ve been creeping on your captions this whole time.

    Use the exact words your dream audience would type. You’re not just posting a reel. You’re posting a searchable piece of content.

    Instead of:
    “Loved making this for dinner!”
    Try:
    “Easy one-pan vegan meal for busy moms 🍽️ #veganrecipes #quickdinnerideas #momlifehacks”

    Don’t keyword stuff. We’re not robots. But do give the platform something to latch onto.
    4. Hashtags Aren’t Dead, They’re Just Boring If You Use ‘#Blessed’

    Choose hashtags that are specific to your niche and content. Think of them as little roads leading people to your profile.

    #MomBloggerTips

    #ChristianMomsWhoWrite

    #FreelanceWritingLife

    #FaithBasedBiz

    Keep a rotating list. And for the love of viral reach, don’t just copy and paste the same 30 dead hashtags on every post.
    5. Your Content Needs to Scream “Hey Algorithm, Pick Me!”

    Here’s the hard truth, boo:

    If you're just vibing, you're blending in.

    Your content needs to answer questions, solve problems, or entertain in a way that makes the algorithm go, “Ooh, I know someone who’d love this.”

    So instead of vague captions like,
    “Just showing up today 🥰”
    Try:
    “Here’s how I built a blog that gets 1,000+ monthly visits—with no tech degree and 3 kids screaming in the background.”

    Because THAT, my friend, is search engine gold.
    Final Word from Your Favorite Truth-Teller

    You’re not too late. You’re not too old. You’re not too small.
    You’re just not searchable—yet.

    Social media doesn’t reward mystery. It rewards clarity.
    So rewrite that bio. Add keywords to your captions. Use that name field like your business depends on it—because it kinda does.

    And if you're still feeling stuck, don’t worry—I got you.
    Follow me for more great tips or DM me with questions.


    Now go make the algorithm your sidekick, Mama.
    You’re building an empire—and empires don’t hide.
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