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Meeting Invitation
Meeting Invitation


    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - When Jess Michaels isn't obsessively checking her steps on FitBit or watching daytime Court TV, she's a best-selling author who writes historical romances with heroines who speak their mind.

    Her first foray into publishing began, as many picture the life of an author, with a traditional publishing deal. But after releasing a few books, Michaels decided to turn down an additional deal and try self-publishing.

    "I'd begun developing an audience for my books and wanted to try something different. Authors I respected had success and greater control over their work with self-publishing, so I was eager to try it for myself," says Michaels.

    She mastered it quickly and decided to go "strictly indie" in 2015, using Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) service to publish in both eBook and print. Since her decision to self-publish, she has been on the USA bestseller list ten times. Her husband quit his job at a large technology company and now works with Michaels to run their publishing company.

    "I wanted more control over not just the creative writing, but also the marketing strategy, cover art, and other business aspects of publishing. I grew frustrated being unable to make these decisions going the traditional publishing route," she says. "I'm both a writer and entrepreneur, and I'm enjoying more creative and financial rewards than I ever have."

    For Michaels, who says the initial idea of going indie was "taking a leap off a cliff and hoping you can fly before you crash," the resulting benefits have exceeded her expectations.

    For those authors wrestling with the idea of self-publishing, consider this:

    - Creative control. Self-publishing a book allows authors to build characters and stories exactly the way they want and, ultimately, retain full rights to their original material. A book that has been nursed from inception to novel remains yours.

    - Get to market fast. Once a book is ready, self-publishing services, such as KDP, guide authors through setting up their books and getting them in the hands of readers in just a matter of days.

    - Make more money. Authors who opt to self-publish can set their own prices and take home a higher percentage of royalties.

    While a self-published author serves as his or her own marketing department, indie publishers make marketing simple and effective. Self-publishing companies, such as Amazon, also offer authors additional promotional opportunities to make their work available to more readers.

    Many authors find support through writers' groups online, such as Facebook groups, or in-person by attending workshops and writers' conferences. Most cities have local writing groups that meet regularly. These meetings can provide constructive criticism of your work and other resources.

    "I fell into self-publishing by accident, and found that connecting with other authors and joining a local writers' organization helped me improve my technique and career tremendously," says self-published science fiction and fantasy author T.S. Paul. "When sales of my novels began to take off, I began working with freelancers and a virtual assistant, also, to grow the community around me."

    Regardless of whether a writer is interested in romance, mystery, fantasy, or biographies, self-publishing with services such as KDP can empower them to pursue their dreams, especially if they're willing to study the business side of publishing as well as Jess Michaels did.

    Who knows? Maybe the best seller list is closer than you think.

    For more information, visit https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/.

    Ref: Books - in Blogs
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    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - Retirees seeking comfortable climates, relaxed lifestyles, and affordable, quality medical care might find a hidden gem in Costa Rica.

    In fact, International Living magazine named Costa Rica number three, ahead of Spain, France, and Mexico, on its 2020 list of top places to retire. Other appealing features include the low cost of living and ease of buying real estate.

    One of the reasons for capturing the top spot is that Costa Rica offers a diverse history and culture that make it an enriching location for travel, as well as retirement. Many retirees from the United States who are interested in living abroad have discovered the elements that make Costa Rica unique and special.

    Anyone contemplating retirement either sooner or farther down the road can become familiar with Costa Rica through a fully escorted tour. Many time-share organizations will target tourists and can be scams, so it is important to make informed decisions about how to travel and explore. Companies such as Caravan Tours provide immersive experiences that include meals, transportation, and excursions across more than 750 miles of the country.

    The Caravan Costa Rica Natural Paradise tour offers nine days of carefully chosen hotels, delicious meals, and entertaining excursions for an all-inclusive price. The relaxed, yet engaging, itinerary is designed to balance single- night and two-night stays for an unhurried pace, and each day includes scenic and rest stops. Comprehensive sightseeing with local guides provides an ideal opportunity for retirees and future retirees to become familiar with the country.

    The Natural Paradise tour kicks off in San Jose, where Caravan tours provides easy transportation from the airport to the hotel. Day trips from San Jose include visits to a coffee plantation and an artists' village in the Central Mountain Range.

    Other highlights of the tour include the Cano Negro Cruise, which passes through a wildlife refuge that is home to a variety of animals, including whistling ducks, howler monkeys, and water-walking lizards, followed by an evening soak in volcanic hot springs. In addition, travelers have opportunities to hike the suspension bridges of Guanacaste with a naturalist guide, and visit to the Manuel Antonio National Park with its spectacular rain forest and beach cove, as well as enjoy the amenities of a world class beach resort.

    Caravan Tours is a member of ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents), NTA (National Tour Association), CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), and an allied member of ACTA (Alliance of Canadian Travel Agencies).

    For more information about fully escorted tours to Costa Rica, visit caravan.com.

    Ref: History - in Blogs
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    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - Especially in stressful times, curling up with some positive TV programs can be a much-needed relaxing experience for the whole family.

    The UPtv slate of Easter programming, scheduled for April 4 through April 12, is ready to support family togetherness with two weekends of movies to celebrate the Easter season and encourage reflection and positive thinking.

    "As the home for uplifting programming, we can't think of a better time than now to celebrate feel-good films and inspiring biblical stories. In-Lawfully Yours is a perfect way to cap-off Easter Sunday with the entire family," says Hector Campos, vice president of content strategy for UPtv.

    In-Lawfully Yours features a clash of personalities when a fun-loving New Yorker played by Chelsey Crisp (Fresh Off the Boat) moves to a small town to help her recently widowed ex-mother-in-law, played by Marilu Henner (Taxi, L.A. Story). The locals may not approve, but sparks fly when she meets the church pastor.

    Want more love? Tune in on Saturday, April 4, for a marathon of romantic movies in the UPtv tradition. The event kicks off with Love Takes Wing at 3p.m. EST, in which newly minted doctor and new widow Belinda becomes a "Regional Doctor," traveling through small towns in turn-of-the-century America, finding love and discovering the joy of parenthood along the way. The series continues with Love Finds a Home, Love Begins, Love's Everlasting Courage, and Love's Christmas Journey, Parts I and II, airing consecutively. The movies are based on the popular books by Janette Oke.

    The Palm Sunday lineup takes a more faithful tone, with Courageous at 11:30 a.m., which follows the personal and professional lives of four sheriff's deputies in a small town in Georgia. Other Palm Sunday features include God's Not Dead, War Room, The Passion of the Christ, and a late-night Little House on the Prairie movie marathon.

    UPtv's Good Friday programming includes Noah's Ark at 7 p.m., followed by two showings of The Passion of the Christ at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Saturday's schedule includes the inspirational football-themed movie, Facing the Giants, as well as two showings of Heaven is for Real, at noon and at 7 p.m.

    On Easter Sunday, tune in at noon for The Identical, an uplifting story of twin brothers separated at birth who share a love of music, followed by The Healer, the premiere of the UPtv original movie, Undercover Angel, and the premiere of In-Lawfully Yours.

    For more family-friendly Easter programming, tune in to UPtv's sister service, UP Faith and Family, which features Exodus; Pure Country 2: The Gift; The Left Behind Trilogy; Grace Unplugged; and Dial A Prayer during the month of April.

    Visit uptv.com for more information about these and other uplifting movies and series. Find them on DirecTV Channel 338, Dish Channel 188, Fios TV Channel 738, ATT TV NOW, Philo + Local Providers

    You can also visit uptv.com, or find UPtv on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Uptv, on Twitter on @Uptv and on Instagram at UP_TV.

    Ref: God - in Blogs
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    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - No matter who you are or what business you are in, you're vulnerable to a cyber attack. That's the unfortunate reality of the times we live in.

    Think you're immune? There are millions of cyberattacks in the United States every year, with big companies like Home Depot, Adobe Systems, Sony, Citigroup, Target, Facebook, Evernote and The New York Times taking the biggest hits and falling victim.

    And like Fortune 500 companies that seemingly have the resources to battle data breaches, small businesses are just as exposed, if not more so. According to a Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report more than 70 percent of the businesses in the study that were breached had fewer than 100 employees. Those breaches result in huge losses. Trend Micro found that "cybercriminals steal as much as $1 billion a year from SMBs in the United States and Europe, alone."

    Which begs the question: If both large and small companies and the U.S. government can be compromised (even with security protocols in place), then what does that mean for individuals?

    It's a question that Dr. Robert Short, chief technology officer and chief technical scientist of VirnetX, struggled with and finally answered in the form of Gabriel, a set of secure encrypted communication apps derived from a CIA-sponsored Department of Defense project.

    "The genesis of Gabriel really was trying to solve the problem of how you make security transparent to the user. The means to automatically create a secure connection whenever a secure connection is needed to wherever it is needed, and create it on demand," says Short. "That has always been the vision behind Gabriel."

    The difference between Gabriel and other products, says Short, is that users do not have to transmit data to or store data with any third party, including VirnetX. In this way, data is stored only on their own devices. Essentially, users maintain control of their own data.

    Gabriel users also have secure, encrypted (spamless) email, text messages, free voice and video calls and picture or file share with other trusted Gabriel users in their network -- all directly from their personal device.

    Gabriel runs on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows and Mac OSX. For more information or to download Gabriel go to gabrielsecure.com, the App Store or the Google Play store.

    Ref: Datacenters - in Blogs
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    Ramiro Williamson Ramiro_Williamson


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    Tiya Sowell tiya1969
    Morning with the Master

    Hey sisters and brothers! Welcome to my weekly devotional where we can share prayers, scriptures and reflection.

    When reading this morning, I came across the story of Athaliah, the first female crowned king who, when her husband and sons died, killed off the rest of her family line (her grandkids) so that she would be the only person left in her lineage and could rule until her death. I don't know about you, but there is nothing more important than my family--and the grandkids are extra special and precious to my very sight! To have that much greed and desire to have not only everyone answer to you, but also be the sole decision maker is completely out of bounds, and extremely ambitious.

    As a Christian woman, I don't want to be the only face that people seek for approval, answers and permission. That is too much weight for any one person to bear and its just unnatural. Who can you love? Who can love you?

    The divine God created the world and everything in it. Can any man or woman follow that? Not one! Can any man or woman have the right answer to EVERY question or concern? Not one! Can any man or woman create a permanent route for peace and understanding? Not one!

    There is a reason we cannot see or touch God. Because we might do like Athaliah and try to eliminate the almighty because of greed and idolatry. He oversees and has the end say to everything we do. That is a safety I can count on if I cannot rely on anything else in this world.

    Let me know your thoughts. Let's talk about it.

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    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - More businesses and countries worldwide are embracing digital payments as a way to make e-commerce more efficient and create a smoother transaction experience for consumers.

    Digital wallets, such as uBUCK, offer a dollar-backed stable token built on Waves blockchain technology, one of the fastest blockchains available. uBUCK's technology allows for the management of both digital and traditional currency, and both online and offline purchasing power.

    "Piloted by an all-star management team, uBUCK is looking beyond carving out a niche to become a disruptive player in this ever-changing payments industry," according to the company's website.

    The uBUCK digital wallet allows for instant transfers of funds, and unlike some digital wallets, uBUCK is not limited to the United States. Transfers can occur globally, with no transfer fees and no cost to the end user.

    The elimination of transfer fees is one of uBUCK's strongest selling points, as it is an option for those who don't have traditional bank accounts, such as migrant workers looking to send money home, or for anyone else, such as parents sending money to kids at college who want to avoid the additional fees associated with some financial transfers.

    Users of uBUCK can transfer funds, make online purchases, or withdraw cash at an ATM, although reports on digital wallet use suggest that the expanded technology may ultimately replace the need for bank branches and ATMs.

    Sending money with uBUCK is a simple, four-step process:

    * Buy the voucher. Users download the uBUCK app and purchase a voucher.

    * Buy uBUCK cash. Users redeem a PIN to purchase uBUCK cash.

    * Select recipient. Users without a uBUCK account will be invited to the app via email.

    * Send payment. Users can then enter the payment amount, send, and confirm.

    "Our mission is to put honesty, transparency, and trust back into software," according to Ashik Karim, CEO of LiteLink Technologies, the parent company of uBUCK Technologies. LiteLink was recently featured in a Forbes magazine article, "10 Blockchain Companies to Watch in 2019."

    LiteLink is publicly traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange and OTC Markets. Their symbols are CSE:LLT and OTC:LLNKF.

    Ref: Apps - in Blogs
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    Vanessa Leannon Vanessa_Leannon


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    Millie Zemlak Millie_Zemlak
    (NewsUSA) - Sponsored News -Whether you are in a hotel room, at your desk, in an RV, or by a campfire, it can be difficult to get a good cup of coffee away from home. With the holiday travel season in full swing, travelers are wondering how best to enjoy their morning java while on the go.

    Most away-from-home coffee options have major drawbacks. Hotel room coffee makers are convenient and cheap, but the coffee they brew means a major compromise on taste. Local cafes often offer good coffee, but the cost of all those to-go cups can really add up. Existing travel coffee presses offer a way to brew while on the go, but they typically brew slowly and therefore brew a bitter and very acidic cup.

    Travelers benefit from being able to brew delicious coffee quickly and easily wherever they are. Luckily there is a perfect way to do just that. The AeroPress Go travel coffee press brews up to three cups of delicious hot or cold brew coffee that is richer, smoother, and lower in acidity than coffee brewed by other travel presses. Simply add ground coffee and water, stir briskly, press, and enjoy a cup of hot or cold brew coffee in just a minute or two.

    The AeroPress Go travels self- contained in its own mug with a lid, making it easy to fit in a suitcase, in a desk, with camping gear, in an RV or in a backpack. It is compact, lightweight, and durable, making it easy to transport. And it cleans up in just a few seconds with a quick rinse.

    The AeroPress Go's ability to make cold brew coffee is a big additional advantage because it can be used where there is no access to hot water. Wherever you go, there is almost always a source of water, but often no way to heat it. Use the AeroPress Go to join the hot new trend of drinking coffee that's an amazingly smooth, rich cold brew. With the AeroPress Go, it's easy to brew a cup of cold brew using unheated water in about two minutes.

    Visit https://aeropress.com/ for more information about how to brew great coffee on the road.

    Ref: Gadgets - in Blogs
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