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Blacc Topp was born to a father who was a gangster turned preacher and a mother who was a singer, artist, and scholar. Blacc Topp was born in Benton Harbor, MI and raised in South Dallas, Texas. At the age of 13, he lost his father who was very instrumental in ensuring that he walked a straight and narrow path. After the death of his father, feeling as though he had nowhere to turn, he turned to the neighborhood gang, Dixon Circle 357um Gangsta Crips. Although he was deep in the gang he continued to excel in his studies for fear that his mother would make him move to Florida if there was a slip in his academic performance.
Even though Blacc Topp did well in school, the gang still remained a big part of his life and he was headed down a path that could only lead to jail or a casket! By age nineteen, he was on his way to the Texas Department of Corrections with a forty year prison sentence. Through his pain, he began to chronicle his life, his mishaps and his capers which gave birth to The Hustle Chronicles, his debut novel and soundtrack of the same name, which was released November 23, 2012. Blacc Topp has gone on to release five other titles, The Hustle Chronicles 2 and 3, Tainted, Corporate Amerikkka and the newly released Tainted Too! Blacc Topp is the first African American Urban Author to have a mobile gaming app created and named after his Hustle Chronicles Trilogy novels, which was released, November 29, 2013.
Satoya Smith is a native of Daingerfield, Texas. She has been an author for just about a year. Her debut short story titled “Tied In A Bow” chronicles true to life events. With her debut book, she hopes to empower and motivate. She is currently going to school to obtain her Bachelors’ in Psychology. She plans to continue with her writing, bringing her stories to life. She hopes to focus her writing in the fiction & non-fiction genres.
Peter Mack is the author of Dirty Licks, his forth published novel. It follows his erotic romance trilogy featuring Ayana Cherry. He is from Los Angeles, California and writes with a witty flow that is dramatic and innovative for its delivery and content. Dirty Licks is a novel collective that finds twin brothers caught in a scheme to kidnap a murderous drug dealer's wife whip trying to escape a crooked narcotics detective. The reader is thrust into a world of sexual fetish and amateur criminal hijinks..
Tonya M Barber was born and raised in Newark, NJ where she currently resides. Her love of the written word began at the tender age of twelve, developing poetry that read like stories. During her writing journey, she discovered that her craft was not only entertainment, a way to pull people into her imaginary world but it was and always will be a form of therapy, a way to cleanse her soul.
To date, Tonya has had a few of her poems published in anthologies in the UK. She has self published three poetry books, one short story, four romance novels and four urban literature books including "The Changing The Game" series.
You can contact Tonya at:
On Facebook and Twitter @ladytb
Elijah believes that although he never went to prison or hasn't experienced certain things dealing with street life that he is just as important to Urban Fiction and African American Literature as whole as the people who have. He knows what its like to be homeless and not have a dollar to his name. He knows what it's like to have nearly everyone close to you turn their backs on you. He knows what its like to lose one of the most important people in a person's life (His Mother) and have to fend for self and find his own way. And he believes that he brings some of that to life in his work. His titles have strong messages in them and his mission is to have you wanting more. Elijah works hard on his craft and works hard to make sure the growth is shown and seen in every release. There will much more to come in the horizons for this young talent.
Reds Johnson is a twenty-one year old author from New Jersey. She is currently signed to Lock Down Publications. To be such a young woman, the stories that she wrote hit so close to home for many. After being homeless and watching her mother struggle for many years, Reds knew that it was time to strive harder. Her passion seeped through her pores so she knew that it was only a matter of time before someone gave her a chance. Not only does she write , but she's looking to be an inspirational/motivational speaker for teenagers. Being a victim of rape, and being bullied when she was younger and as she entered her adult years; Reds knows that she could be an inspiration to some. One of her main goals is to provide for her family and make sure her nieces and nephews have something to look forward to in the future.
Unique Penn is originally from Chicago, IL and currently resides in Italy with her husband and two children. A degree in History with a concentration in Black American Studies helped to foster her love of reading and writing literature.
Her stories will invite into the hearts, minds, and lives of her characters. And allow the reader to examine the depths of their own morality through clever plots, intricate characters and surprising story lines.
My name is Latitta Waggoner, I am currently residing in Orange, Texas!! I'm a country girl! I am a mother of three. I am a substitute teacher and a hospitality aide at a nursing home. I also write full time. My bestselling debut novel is Can't Stand the Rain and is available NOW on Amazon. Writing is definitely my passion and I definitely plan on making a career out of it. I desire to take my writing as far as plays, movies, and tv series in the near future. Can't Stand the Rain Part Two will be coming soon, as well as part one of my new series.
Chatiela Underwood is very active and engaged in the community and the education sector. She has passionately worked in higher education and directed schools across the country in business development for over ten years. Ms. Underwood, loves to spend quality time with friends, family and travel. She also is a Motivational speaker and truly believes in inspiring others through her testimony. She is sophisticatedly passionate about making a difference in the lives of others, and was encouraged to share her compelling story by writing her debut novel “Eyes Wide Shut.”
Sonya Felice Jenkins, former model, former professional singer/songwriter, professional and corporate certified trainer, life coach, mentor, entrepreneur, host of the Internet radio show, "Raven's Closet Talk Show," and now a published author.
Stepping from out of the spotlight now going behind the scenes is where she feels the most comfortable. January 2012, Sonya created, produced and hosted “Raven’s Closet Talk Show.” A show focused on adult theme topics such as love/relationships, health/wellness, financial/entrepreneurial, motivation/encouragement and other adult topics. Raven’s Closet Talk Show broadcast live for 2 seasons. While on hiatus from hosting, Sonya took the time to focus on her next venture which would be self-publishing her book. Writing took hold of Sonya in high school and refused to let go, but the creativity and imagination has always been a big part of who she is and how she has been able to adapt and thrive in various industries over her personal and professional life.
His focus on the surf culture and Sunset Strip music scene of the sixties has produced several books, and his contribution to the documentation of a time in music that will forever stand alone, is undeniable. Join May and Cynthia as they welcome author and producer Domenic Priore. He's with them to talk up his new book Riot on Sunset Strip: Rock 'n' Rolls Last Stand in Hollywood...join them...live...no net...no filter....
GUESTS: * REAL DEAL & FRESCO TOPICS: * Props in Battle Rap * CHARRON, K-Shine & The Slap * Fabolous: The Plug ( some people ain't happy about the autotune ) * Kobe Retires * Verb/Surf ( Surf says fuck the bloggers/reviewers ) Unbias ) * Uno Lavoz/Cortez * Midgets, you Smashin? * Trash battlers you changed your mind about (unbias)
Where Are They Now?Plattsburgh High School Hornets-
Since I began working with you back in your junior year, of high school physical fitness has always been a big part of your life. How have you transitioned from being a athlete and training year around for your sport to staying active in regular daily life?
I’ve tried to be a bit creative lately and have tried to stay active in ways other than weight lifting. I really enjoy mountain biking and hiking. I’ve also spent a lot of the time I used to spend training exploring other activties. I’ve found that in my last 6 months here I’ve seen and done more in the area than I did in my fours years in high school. I’ve also been wine tasting in Napa/Sonoma and skiing in Tahoe, which I never did before either. My main interests now are to start surf fishing and swimming more regularly.
CG PRESENTS™ I'm Just Sayin'...™ - the radio show where you can hang out with your favorite quirky gal – Carla G!
Sundays at 10:30am ET, Carla G. invites you to share the fundom by calling (646)716-4732 during the show! And if the live show or the podcasts have you drooling for more of the duo, then just connect with her on Twitter: @IJSTweets !
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Reddit bans two Alt-Right groups as it tries to take a stance against far-right groups.
The social news website has banned two alt-right subreddits for posting personal and sensitive information which is known as doxing.
The two subreddits r/altright and r/alternativeright which are prominent alt right groups violated Reddit's policy of sharing an individual's personal information with the intent to harass.
There are unconfirmed reports that the man who was doxed was the man who punched Richard Spencer, the poster boy of the alt-right movement.
In a statement, Reddit said "We are very clear in our site terms of service that posting of personal information can get users banned from Reddit and we ask our communities not to post content that harasses or invites harassment.
"We have banned r/altright due to repeated violations of the terms of our content policy. There is no single solution to these issues and we are actively engaging with the Reddit community to improve everyone's experience."
ALSO READ: White supremacy now has a new name
The alt-right which stands for the alternative right is a loose collective of people who discard the beliefs on mainstream conservatism in America. It simple words, members of the alt-right reject what the Republican party believes in.
However, during the last presidential elections in the United States, the alt-right supported Donald Trump because of his polarising statements which had racial and misogynistic undertones.


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So I'm just starting to dip my toes in the poly pistol world again after about 10 years of shooting strictly metal frame guns. I recently bought a Glock 19 Gen4, my first Glock purchase ever. I immediately upgraded to the Ghost Edge 3.5 connector, did the 25 cent trigger job, and installed a Storm Lake threaded barrel so I could blast away with my lead reloads. Since these polymer guns aren't as expensive as what I'd normally spend a metal gun, I can just about buy two polymer guns for the same price that I'd normally be spending on a metal gun. So I'm thinking about what polymer gun to buy next. Here is what I like about Glock in just the short time that I've owned one: 1. Relatively inexpensive 2. Incredibly easy to disassemble and maintain 3. HUGE amount of aftermarket parts (most are very affordable also) 4. Mag interchangeability 5. 33 round mags (PITA to load, but a lot of fun to shoot at the range) 6. I already have one, so adding a second would not be a new gun to "learn" But I also like to consider new things and try out new brands. Maybe there is something better. I'm initially considering the HK VP9 and the Sig 320 as those seem to be getting a lot of great press lately. I've seen a TON of recommendations for the Walther PPQ, but I had a P99QA in the past and hated that gun. For some reason, I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it. And of course to go alone with my G19, I'm thinking maybe G17 or G34. Interested in hearing thoughts and opinions!


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Foundation Systems of Michigan's flexible financing options through GreenSky, A Goldman Sachs Company, for Michigan and Northern Ohio homeowners
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domain: economics


The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed adding Boston and Raleigh (NC) to its list of areas for advanced wireless communications and network innovation research.
According to a press release, Acting FCC Chairperson Jessica Rosenworcel proposed the additions to help expand the agency’s efforts to help foster the development and integration of 5G network technologies and open radio access networks (RANs). If adopted by the Commission, Boston and Raleigh would join New York City and Salt Lake City under the agency’s Innovations Zones initiative, which seeks to expand the geographic areas where those holding experimental program licenses can conduct research and testing of these technologies.
The Boston Innovation Zone would be centered at Northeastern University, while the Raleigh Innovation Zone would be based on collaborations with North Carolina State University.
Rosenworcel’s proposed changes to the Innovation Zones initiative would also expand the New York City Innovation Zone to include three Columbia University and City College of New York campus areas.
Read the FCC’s press release on the designation of Boston and Raleigh FCC Innovation Zones.
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How can you be sure the website design company you’re thinking about hiring is the right choice? With a little bit of research, you can feel comfortable with your selection. The initial step is to examine their website. Is it attractive? Does it grab your focus? Is it very easy to browse? As well as most notably, is the information up-to-date?
Request for referrals. Just like any kind of reputable firm, visuals design as well as internet site development business ought to have not a problem providing recommendations or referring you to sites they’ve developed. Make certain the web site style business you’re considering has the experience to develop the kind of web site you want.
Do you understand exactly what you desire on your website and how you want it to look? Having a clear vision of what you desire will assist the web site developer produce a internet site you’ll be proud to have actually related to your name or service. If you’re not sure, or incapable to articulate your requirements and also needs, both you and your web site developer will certainly end up being distressed as well as your web site growth project will take longer to complete and also most absolutely run over spending plan.
In addition, you require to recognize what you desire from your website. What is the function of your site? Is your internet site an informational site? Are you selling product and services? Do you desire site visitors to sign up for emails? Do you want site visitors to your website to connect in some manner, join conversations, download and install a file, or click on advertisements?
Knowing what type of website you require and also what the goal of your site is will certainly help you figure out which website design company will ideal suit your requirements. There are numerous sorts of websites. Ecommerce websites, profile sites, and also educational sites, among others. Although several internet developers as well as site development companies have a vast array of capacities, some developers focus on certain types of sites. Be clear when describing your needs to your prospective web design firm. You wish to make sure they have experience in developing the sort of site you’re looking for.
Eventually, your internet site will certainly require to be updated. Phone numbers alter, you may intend to update your web content, or you’ll require to add or remove services and products. Will you be taking care of the updates yourself? Would you rather your developer upgrade your site? Allowing your developer know your options upfront will certainly aid in figuring out whether you’ll require an easy to use material administration system or a more sophisticated system meant for site design pros.
As well as finally, you need a website design firm that recognizes seo ( Search Engine Optimization), in addition to the guidelines of the various on-line directory sites. You desire your internet site to be noticeable for potential clients, but you likewise want to be sure your site doesn’t get delisted by breaching guidelines.
By doing a little bit of research, you can ensure your internet site development as well as internet site layout projects flow efficiently and also are taken care of in a time effective and cost effective way.
know more about https://www.coquewebsite.com/website-design-in-bangalore/ here.

domain: design


The MANIFEST 3L Tour Bib Pants are wonderfully efficient. Constructed from a lightweight, stretch, 3-Layer fabric — and cut for ergonomic excellence. The Bib's Cordura side panels are incredibly soft and allow for fluid movement whether trekking up or flying down. Like its paired jacket, this garment is ultra breathable and waterproof, ensuring max comfort. Multi-entry thigh pockets have an expanding capacity to hold skins or wet gloves, and laser cut vents ensure that any excess water escapes said pockets.
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Partisans Without Principles
What do evangelicals and other social conservatives have in common with liberal feminists and the secular left? More than either side would like to admit.
Once upon a time, the religious right thought sexual misconduct – certainly involving someone holding public office -- was immoral; something they simply could not tolerate. How could anyone defend a man like Bill Clinton, they asked -- a man who was credibly accused of sexual misconduct by more than a few women? That, in and of itself, made him unfit for office.
That was then.
Enter Judge Roy Moore, who is running as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Alabama.
Today, evangelicals – not all, of course, but a lot – want proof that Moore was really involved with teenage girls when he was in his 30s. How do we know, they ask, that the women aren’t just making it all up?
Funny, but they didn’t need video evidence that Bill Clinton was guilty of exposing himself in front of Paula Jones or that he groped Kathleen Willey in the White House or that when he was Arkansas Attorney General he raped a businesswoman named Juanita Broaddrick in a Little Rock hotel room.
Back then, the allegations seemed credible and that was enough for social conservatives. Today, they demand verifiable evidence that Roy Moore did all those things to so many women who were young girls at the time.
And what about liberal feminists and the secular left? Back in the 90s, to their everlasting shame, they rallied around Bill Clinton. After all, he was a Democrat who supported abortion rights -- and that’s all that needed to know. And now, the same people who defended a man accused of rape denounce a man accused of fondling a 14-year old girl several decades ago.
It’s called tribal politics. And it’s not something partisans should be proud of.
But hang on, it gets worse.
Liberal Democrats have recently turned on the former president who they, or their ideological elders, once defended. Michelle Goldberg, one of the many liberal columnists at the New York Times, has written that she now believes Juanita Broaddrick, and that “Democrats are guilty of apologizing for Clinton when they shouldn’t have.”
I don't recall reading stuff like that from liberal columnists in the New York Times back when it might have made a difference.
And Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a liberal Democrat from New York who holds Hillary Clinton’s former seat, recently said Bill Clinton should have resigned the presidency because of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.
And you didn’t hear stuff like that from liberal Democrats who were busy rescuing Bill Clinton way back when.
But before we give them too much credit – "better late than never" and all that -- let’s state the obvious: It’s not exactly courageous to speak up 25 years after the fact, when it’s safe; when Bill Clinton is of no use to Democrats; when his wife didn’t win the presidency; and when he’s the elephant sitting on the couch in the living room.
How can they go after Roy Moore, or any man accused of sexually abusing women, as long as they remain silent about the former president who was accused of sexually abusing women?
There’s just so much hypocrisy anyone can take before gagging – or laughing out loud at the double standard.
But there’s another reason some on the left are no longer covering for the former president. Their newfound valor makes it a lot easier to go after the current president.
When Democrats thought they could get rid of Mr. Trump because of “collusion” with the Russians, sex was on the back burner. But a year has gone by since he was elected and an uncomfortable possibility is starting to emerge: that maybe he won’t be thrown out of the Oval Office because he and Vladimir Putin were up to no good.
What then? What could Democrats dredge up to bring him down? How about sex?
Which brings us back to Senator Gillibrand who said we have a different standard on sexual misconduct today than we did when Bill Clinton was president. “Things have changed today, and I think under those circumstances there should be a very different reaction [to how liberals defended Clinton],” she said. “And I think in light of this conversation, we should have a very different conversation about President Trump.”
Get it? Take down Bill Clinton – when he’s no longer a force in Democratic politics – in order to make it easier to go after the man who currently resides in the White House, a man who once bragged on a hot mic that he could grab women by the you-know-what and get away with it -- because he's a star.
So what should we take away from all of this? Well, until something changes, the partisans will tend to protect their own: A 32-year old man who decades ago allegedly undressed a 14-year old girl is better than a liberal Democrat who supports abortion with no restrictions. And a president accused of rape was better in office than out because he supported “a woman’s right to choose.” And if going after Bill Clinton paves the way to unseat Donald Trump – hey, no one really believes politics is about principles, right?
There are exceptions, of course – Democrats who take on Democrats accused of misconduct and Republicans who condemn their own -- but too many of us have chosen up sides, and our partisan passions allow us to accept bad behavior, but only if the accused miscreant is on our team. We’ve become partisans without principles – and as I say, it’s not anything to be proud of.


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While we don't know the intimate details of his contract it appears that he is barred from hosting a show, so guest appearances may be permitted.
I too thought it would be great to see Coco on another show as a guest. Letterman would be near perfect for that. I know I'd tune in for that one.
And yes, I'm not going to be watching Leno when he comes back. I didn't care much for him before finding him to boring most of the time. Leno is too "safe." Conan was a bit more risky, but ultimately more entertaining, IMO.
When Conan does come back, I really hope he can find a way to bring back certain characters from the show, albeit in a different format.
Masterbating Bear? How about a giant masterbating chicken instead?
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog? How about Conquest the cagey cat, or Manny the pissed-off Poodle?
I just think it sucks that some of these characters in essence have been written off. While individually they may not have been the greatest, collectively they made up a fantastic ensemble funny tidbits.

domain: entertainment


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My sisters and I were blessed to have a solid family foundation. I want that for my grandson as well. As parents, instilling strong values are essential your children’s foundation. Some parents believe that children should be spoiled and pampered. I love my children too, but not to the point of allowing them to get away with everything.
As I lived among the young people on a university campus, some were nice and you could tell they’ve been taught well at home.
Then, there were those few who showed their true characters now and then. These children I could tell had no positive family morals taught in-home, and their parents were the ones who caused problems for the university staff.
It’s sad when a parent believes everything their children tells them without reviewing all the facts. This is what I call showing their ignorance. I don’t know if there’s any hope for young adults such as these or for their parents. It seems as though our world thrives on violence and hate. Parents in my generation loved their children, but weren’t quick to

domain: sociology


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Finding out that you or someone you love has been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) can feel overwhelming. Although medical treatments can help reduce immune system activity and manage symptoms like abdominal pain and weight loss, UC can disrupt many different areas of life. However, there are many ways to live your best life with the condition, too.
Knowing how to maintain your well-being and quality of life is important when you have an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like ulcerative colitis. Following your doctor’s recommendations for treatment is just one part of that process. You can also benefit from finding ways to communicate about your illness, adjust to a healthy diet, manage financial and family responsibilities, and work and travel without colitis holding you back. Here’s your resource for what you need to know about daily life with UC.
After diagnosis, some people with ulcerative colitis choose to explain their condition to friends, family members, or co-workers. Ultimately, talking about your condition — to the extent that you’re comfortable — helps others better understand your symptoms, what you are experiencing, and why you might need to do things like cancel plans at the last minute.
Keep in mind, however, that you are allowed to keep your health information private. Some people prefer to keep their UC diagnosis to themselves. That’s OK. If there are certain aspects of the disease you’d rather not discuss (or certain people with whom you would rather not discuss them), don’t feel like you have to share anything. It is up to you when, if, and how you share your experience with UC with others.
Read more advice on how to navigate canceling plans due to flares.
When a family member is diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, it can change how the entire family lives and interacts. Sometimes, a new diagnosis can make family life more challenging; at other times, it may also bring everyone closer together.
Some aspects of family life that may change after a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis include:
Maintaining an open dialogue with your family is one way to help keep everybody in the loop and help them understand where you are in your journey with UC. You may want to let loved ones know how they can help you with any number of tasks, such as appointment tracking, medication management, and everyday responsibilities and errands. Sometimes, you may just want someone to talk to about how you’re feeling. And, in some cases, you may prefer not to discuss your UC at all. That’s OK. Let your loved ones know if you are not feeling up to talking about your condition and would prefer some privacy.
When a child is diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, it falls on their parents or caregivers to ensure the child understands the condition, gets the necessary treatment, and learns how to care for themselves with the condition’s new demands.
Talking to your child about ulcerative colitis is one of the first steps toward adjusting to life after their UC diagnosis. By using age-appropriate language, you can help your child understand what is going on, what their treatments entail, and why adhering to treatment is important. Encourage your child to learn what works for them and to let you know when something doesn't.
It’s important to understand the emotional difficulties your child may face if they have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Once you know how your child’s UC impacts their everyday life and overall well-being, you can help to ensure that they are as happy and healthy as possible. If they are struggling with feeling alone or lost because of their diagnosis, you can help them connect with other children who have the same diagnosis via a support group. You can also talk to their school about providing additional resources and ensuring they have the mental health support they need.
You can also direct your child to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation website if they are old enough to use the internet. A child may feel empowered by having the resources they need to take their health into their own hands (as they will need to do one day).
Maintaining a healthy diet and managing UC symptoms go hand-in-hand. You may need to make certain changes to your eating habits to help prevent flares, manage pain in the digestive system, and avoid UC-related issues such as anemia.
There is no one diet that can cure ulcerative colitis. As one MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam member put it, “This disease is not one-size-fits-all, so you will have to experiment to see what works for you and what does not.”
Modifying your diet for your specific needs may help reduce IBD symptoms, (such as gas, cramps, bloating, and diarrhea). It can also prevent nutritional deficiencies and support healing. There is evidence that the IBD Anti-Inflammatory Diet (IBD-AID) — which includes probiotics and prebiotics — may decrease symptoms and promote healing in some people with ulcerative colitis. The IBD-AID was designed to provide full nutrition while restoring the balance between helpful and harmful gut bacteria. You may also discover that certain foods, like dairy products, trigger your symptoms and are best avoided.
Learn more about diet for ulcerative colitis, including what foods to eat and which ones to avoid.
Always consult your doctor or a dietitian before you make significant changes to your diet or take a new supplement.
Many people diagnosed with ulcerative colitis find effective treatment options that let them continue working at their jobs — sometimes with workplace accommodations. Others choose to get different jobs. Some even end up helping others who have the same diagnosis. However, some people with UC find it hard to keep working because their symptoms are so disruptive.
Some people diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis end up unable to work because of the condition. If this happens, it’s time to apply for disability benefits. These benefits include Social Security Disability Income, and Supplemental Security Income.
First, make sure that you (or the recipient) are eligible for the coverage you are seeking. Then, gather the necessary paperwork and apply for the appropriate coverage. This income can help you continue living well, even when ulcerative colitis makes it difficult or impossible to work.
Learn more about getting disability benefits for ulcerative colitis.
Getting treatment for ulcerative colitis can be expensive. In fact, some people feel that they cannot pursue treatment (or certain treatments) because they don’t have the money to cover the associated costs.
Costs for your UC treatment will be much more affordable if you have some form of public or private health insurance, including the following:
Even with health insurance, medications like corticosteroids and biologics for ulcerative colitis can have high out-of-pocket costs. Some nonprofit programs offer grants to help offset the high costs associated with certain ulcerative colitis treatments. These programs are usually aimed at people who don’t have insurance or who fall below a certain income requirement — though some grants are available to a broader pool. Each nonprofit will list the grants they have available and how to apply for them.
Some pharmaceutical companies also offer copay assistance, especially for medications that are new or expensive. These programs can help offset the cost of a medication or treatment. Once a person’s insurance company approves the treatment, these programs pay all or some of the remaining balance. This brings drugs into an affordable range for many people with ulcerative colitis.
Research on new treatments for ulcerative colitis is ongoing, including clinical trials. If you qualify for these research programs, you may be able to get a treatment that would otherwise be inaccessible to you, free of charge. Talk to your gastroenterologist or your health care team about studies that may be available and the pros and cons of participating in one.
Some UC symptoms — including diarrhea, frequent bowel movements, gastrointestinal pain, cramping, and bloating — can make travel difficult. In fact, several aspects of travel, including flying on an airplane and eating different foods, can increase your risk for a flare-up.
Planning ahead is key when it comes to traveling with ulcerative colitis. Talk to your gastroenterologist or another health care professional before taking a long trip. They will be able to help you take steps to prepare, such as by filling your prescriptions for a longer period of time than usual. You may also want to find a UC doctor at your destination in case you need medical care while on your trip. It is also a good idea to bring supplies with you while on the road with UC, including baby wipes and extra changes of clothing.
You don’t have to give up traveling after a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, but you will need to manage your trip differently.
Find out more about how to travel well with UC.
At MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam, the social network for people with IBD, more than 143,000 members ask questions, join ongoing conversations, and share their stories of life with IBD.
How do you live well with UC? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below or by posting on MyCrohnsAndColitisTeam.

domain: medical


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Up to €500,000 to support the most promising innovators: the Agrofood BIC accelerator issues its first call for ideas
Details and application process at www.agrofoodbic.it
5 August 2020 – Agrofood BIC S.r.l. (Business Innovation Center), an open multi-company innovation hub which has operated at national and international level since January 2019 to identify and take advantage of valuable business opportunities, promotes its first international Agrofood BIC Call for Ideas (value: up to €500,000) to support 5 teams, spin-offs or start-ups in the nutrition and health and new sustainable packaging sectors.
Continue reading Agrofood BIC accelerator issues its first call for ideas…..
The Brooklyn Creamery introduces super healthy, super tasty dairy free ice cream to the UAE
All of the flavour with none of the nasties
[Dubai, 5th August 2020] The Brooklyn Creamery, already making waves in the local ice cream sector with its bold innovative approach to healthy desserts, is now launching a dairy-free range of exciting, healthier ice cream.
Continue reading The Brooklyn Creamery introduces super healthy, super tasty dairy free ice cream to the UAE
Dubai’s Favorite Downtown Hangout CLAW BBQ is Back – Bigger, Messier & Tastier Than Ever
CLAW BBQ is back with a stacked menu of ridiculously delicious comfort food, scintillating seafood, CLAWsome cocktails, and daily deals, along with live sports, challenges and addictive arcade games, at Souk Al Bahar.
Continue reading Dubai’s Favorite Downtown Hangout CLAW BBQ is Back
SPICE UP YOUR WEDNESDAY – FREE-FLOW RED LANTERN EVENING AT HUTONG
Awaken the senses…. Wednesday’s ‘Red Lantern Evening’ offer eight signature dishes including Hutong’s famous fiery Red Lantern and free-flow cocktails
Continue reading FREE-FLOW RED LANTERN EVENING AT HUTONG
Celebrate Eid Al Adha with Desi Junction’s mouther-water delicacies
Dubai July, 29th, 2020: Celebrate the joyous Eid-Al-Adha holidays with some of the most exotic, mouther watering Indian street food delicacies like pani puri, chaat, vada pao, butter chicken and many more from Desi Junction. Recently, opened the restaurant is serving a melange of exotic spices and ingredients straight from the streets of Indian right on your table.
Continue reading Celebrate Eid Al Adha with Desi Junction’s mouther-water delicacies

domain: food


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Launching a report on unions and the voluntary sector, he will say that charities "believe in employee consultation and partnership, not confrontation and threats".
Bubb's remarks come days after RSPCA staff came within eight votes of sanctioning strike action for the first time in the charity's history in a ballot by Amicus.
But members of the union did, by 292 votes to 155, support industrial action, which could include an overtime ban or refusal to cover for absent staff.
Bubb told Third Sector that the RSPCA's experience demonstrated that strike action was inappropriate: "Not only is it against the ethos of the sector, it could be very dangerous to the long-term viability of a charity, hitting its reputation and fundraising potential."
He said unions should not have a veto when charities were forced to make redundancies, nor should they "patronise charity staff by telling them they are exploited".
But Chris Ball, national voluntary sector secretary with Amicus, said his comments were "a mixture of unexceptional homilies and irritating generalisations that can never be universally true.
"We are as interested in partnership as anyone, and were practising it in charities like Save the Children years before it became a vogue.
"Of course some charities exploit their workers and those that do deserve to be criticised. We almost never have strikes in charities but those few that do occur are short and over the most telling issues."
The RSPCA strike ballot was held because of plans to axe 200 jobs through the closure of ten regional call centres. The animal charity has to make savings of £8m because of a crisis caused by a fall in the value of its investments.
Ball accused the RSPCA of making the crisis worse by failing to ask for more support from the Government for extra work resulting from the foot and mouth crisis and the Wild Mammals Protection Act. "Because of their self-denial, jobs and services will be lost," said Ball.
An RSPCA spokeswoman said that was a "red herring". The charity had made a policy decision not to accept money from government to maintain its independence.
See They Said It, p2.


Usage: Guar gum derived from the ground endosperm of the seed of the guar plant is a polysaccharide composed of galactose and mannose units present in a ratio of approximately 2:1. It has many industrial applications which include: textile, paper, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and nanoparticles industry. In oil fields, guar gum is used to facilitate easy drilling and prevent fluid loss. Guar gum is also used in many food applications as a thickening, emulsifying and stabilizing additive in the production of baked goods and processed cheese among other food products. This polymer has a high molecular weight range of 50,000-8,000,000 determined to suit its desired function in different applications. Triple detection GPC can be used to characterize and confirm the final product.
Manufacturing: There are many different processing techniques that tend to be used depending on the desired properties needed in the final product. The overall process involves roasting of the guar seeds, attrition milling, sieving, and polishing.
Chemical Formula: C17H17ClO6
Figure 1. Molecular structure of Guar Gum
Three guar gum samples were dissolved in water at a concentration of 0.3 percent by volume. Analysis was completed on a Viscotek Triple Detector Array (TDA) 302 equipped with a Refractive Index (RI) detector, Viscometer, Right Angle (90o) Light Scattering (RALS) and Low Angle (7o) Light Scattering (LALS). Separation was performed using three PolyAnalytik AquaGelTM columns (1 x PAA 202 + 1 x PAA 204 + 1 x PAA 206) connected in series. Samples were injected at a volume of 100 µL and eluted through the system at flow rate of 1 mL/min in 0.5 NaNO3. A temperature of 25oC was maintained during separation and detection.
An overlay of the RI signal for three guar gum samples can be seen in Figure 2. A good signal to noise ratio was obtained for each injection. Using the information from all three detectors, as shown in Figure 3 for sample B, molecular weight parameters and size data was derived using triple detection. The data in Table 1 is an average value obtained from 3 injections.
Figure 2. An overlay plot of the RI chromatograms of three guar gum samples
Figure 3. An overlay of the triple-detector response signals of a guar gum sample
Table 1. Molecular weight parameters and size data derived from triple detection using Omni-Sec software.
Triple detection allows for reproducible analysis of the guar gum samples. A standard deviation of less than 5 percent was obtained for all the values reported. Furthermore, the overlaid Mark-Houwink plot of log intrinsic viscosity as a function of molecular weight was constructed as shown in Figure 4, using the intrinsic viscosity determined by the viscometer and the molecular weight determined by the RI and light scattering detectors.
Figure 4. An overlay of the Mark-Houwink plots of three guar-gum samples
Branching information can be obtained from the Mark-Houwink plot; a decrease in the slope on the plot indicates branching is present. The samples are different with respect to branching because they do not completely overlap. Sample C has the largest change in slope suggesting a larger branching ratio. A known linear sample would be needed in order to generate the branching ratio for each sample.
Guar gum has a number of commercial uses in pharmaceuticals, food products, and oil extraction to name a few. Advanced GPC multi-detection method provides a simple procedure to determine molecular weight parameters and degree of branching. Monitoring molecular weight degradation is key because it is related to the performance of the thickener.


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The ranks of the world's billionaires, as monitored and tallied by our global wealth team, have yet again reached all-time highs. The Bill Gates is the richest American for the 20th year in a row and has reclaimed the title of world's richest person from Mexico's Carlos Slim with a. Gallery: Billionaires Notable Newcomers. 21 images. View gallery. German Khan. Net worth: $ billion. Source of wealth: oil.
The characters that make up this year's listing of fiction's richest boast an aggregate net worth of $ billion. Bill Gates to Thomas Kaplan: meet all members of the class of Even without her eponymous daytime talk show, Winfrey made an estimated $77 million between June and June , down from last.
We asked FORBES' editors and writers to select the most entertaining and illuminating nonfiction books of the year. Here are the top
Forbes billionaires list includes 15 Mexicans, but Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the world's most powerful drug kingpin, was dropped for.
YOUNGEST BILLIONAIRES OF 1 of AP. The Youngest Billionaires Of These 29 billionaires are all under 40 years old. AP. YOUNGEST.
The members of our list of richest fictional characters have an aggregate net worth of $ billion.
The U.S. is home to billionaires, 17 more than a year ago and more than China, the country with the second most figure fortunes.
Billionaires Dropped off in Stats. Age Source of Wealthdrug trafficking, Self Made. ResidenceSinaloa State, Mexico. CitizenshipMexico. Net worth. When future historians of U.S. higher education look back to when the ground really began to shake, they may well pinpoint They'll see. 3. Amancio Ortega Net worth: $57 billion Country: Spain 9. Liliane Bettencourt Net worth: $30 billion Country: France Bernard Arnault Net.
Gallery: Hip-Hop's Wealthiest Artists 12 images. View gallery. Sean “Diddy” Combs rose to mainstream fame in the late s rapping. Our annual snapshot of the women with the most impact are top politicians and CEOs, activist billionaires and celebrities who matter. Gallery: Cash Kings The World's 20 Highest-Paid Hip-Hop Artists. 27 images. View gallery. Sean “Diddy” Combs hasn't always agreed.
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN TOPS FORBES' RANKING OF THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE Barack Obama. Alarming levels of corruption in government, the judiciary and law-enforcement, earned Mexico the title of one of the two most corrupt. Connie Guglielmo Forbes Staff. I cover the people and technology driving Silicon Valley. This story appears in the November 18, issue of.
for the roster, the companies all had to have market caps of $ million or more at the time GMI prepared the list (March 7, ). Twitter is a perfect example of this (although may be the year they finally turn black in the profit/loss column). Your Solution: Startups need. Lady Gaga and Madonna have a superstar rivalry made in gossip-blog heaven. But when it comes to annual earnings, there's a clear winner.
Gallery: Global World's Biggest Auto Companies 11 images. View gallery. About one-quarter of the tourists are Volkswagen.
Celebrity Dropped off in Stats. Age Source of Wealthtelevision , real estate. Self-Made Score4. Philanthropy Score1. ResidenceWashington.
1 Spot For Fourth Year In A Row Please include a link to billionaires in any coverage New York, NY (March 4, ) – Carlos.
In this special Investment Guide we combine smart, actionable advice—like our ETF Best Buy list and our story on ways to wangle out of. 30 Under The Fashion Shoot. Styled in eveningwear from the Spring runways, we asked our rising stars how they're making it big. Rank, Name, Earnings (In Rs. crore), Money Rank, Fame Rank. 1, Shah Rukh Khan, , 1, 4. 2, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, , 3, 2. 3, Salman Khan, .
Rank, Name, Net Worth (In $ Million), Age. 1, Mukesh Ambani, , 2, Lakshmi Mittal, , 3, Dilip Shanghvi, , 4, Azim Premji, ,
US president Barack Obama has been ousted from the number one spot on Forbes' list of most powerful people by Russian counterpart. The World's Billionaires is an annual ranking by documented net worth of the world's wealthiest .. Gates added $9 billion to his fortune since and topped the Forbes billionaire list. He has topped the list 15 of the previous 20 years. The World's Billionaires edition was 27th annual ranking of The World's Billionaires by Forbes magazine. The list estimated the net worth of the world's.
Forbes have released the list of the richest people on the planet – there are now billionaires with a net worth of $tn. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Forbes's list of the world's richest people includes 1, billionaires, a record number, with a total net worth of. Maybe one of geopolitics' hoariest cliches is in need of revision. At least since the end of the Cold War, “The most powerful man in the world”.
In mid-December of last year we mentioned how Matt Mullenweg was nominated as one of the elite 30 Under 30 for Forbes – what an honor it. Ten Filipinos and their families have joined Forbes Magazine's billionaires' club anew this year as well as a newcomer now listed among those. A Minimum subdivision lot size for strata plan schemes in certain rural and environment protection zones · B Erection of dwelling houses.
The biennial Forbes MBA ranking, published this morning (Oct. 9), shows the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business in second place.931 :: 932 :: 933 :: 934 :: 935 :: 936 :: 937 :: 938 :: 939 :: 940 :: 941 :: 942 :: 943 :: 944 :: 945 :: 946 :: 947 :: 948 :: 949 :: 950 :: 951 :: 952 :: 953 :: 954 :: 955 :: 956 :: 957 :: 958 :: 959 :: 960 :: 961 :: 962 :: 963 :: 964 :: 965 :: 966 :: 967 :: 968 :: 969 :: 970

domain: finance


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Like all business owners, Cheung Ng didn't see it coming. How could he? How could anyone? The veteran hair stylist's business, Elan Hair Salon, was buzzing with five hair stations and eight stylists cutting and styling five floors above San Francisco's famous Union Square neighborhood. The location, hovering over Grant Street seemed to symbolize Ng's ascent in the styling world.
Then came the pandemic. As San Francisco shut down in March of 2020, Ng's business joined other personal service businesses shuttering in the face of COVID-19. His room full of sleek hair washing and styling chairs sat vacant, the bareness reflected in the ubiquitous mirrors where just weeks earlier, customers monitored their personal transformations. Now, the shop's bird's-eye view faced out on empty streets -- the only activity was the boarding up of storefronts.
"It was tough, we can’t operate, the landlord still wants rent during that time," Ng said recently, sitting in his still-empty salon. "There’s no way, no way, I could afford the rent here."
Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news. Sign up for NBC Bay Area’s Housing Deconstructed newsletter.
With his business in a free-fall, it would seem Ng would need to rely on his history as a man of re-starts.
Ng's first great upheaval in life came when he was six-and-a-half years old and his family moved from Canton, China to San Francisco. He arrived at his new home in the city's Chinatown speaking not a word of English. He began to absorb the tongue of his new nation at his elementary school in the tight-knit Chinatown neighborhood, while also making a few new-world friends. But then the family uprooted once again and moved to Daly City. He had to begin anew.
In junior high, while other kids were finding themselves on the gridiron or the baseball diamond, Ng found a new thrill cutting friends' hair in the family garage. It started with the fade and moved to the cut. The garage saw a steady clientele.
"I’ve gotta say the first twenty or thirty haircuts were horrific," Ng laughed. "But I enjoyed doing it."
Ng's parents held visions of their son heading off to law or medical school so it didn't go over well when he announced he wanted to try beauty school. He went anyway.
"After beauty school they see how passionate I am about it," he said. "And they’re super, super supportive."
Ng leaned against the salon window looking down out on the barren Union Square streets, with only a smattering of people in view. A bit of life has returned to the streets since the vaccinations began, but not much.
Like other hair professionals, Ng began doing clandestine house calls while his studio was closed to attend to customers desperate for a haircut. But even now that he's allowed to reopen for inside business, his salon remains as barren as the streets below with customers only trickling in and stylists unwilling to return to rent chairs.
"They’re independent contractors, they don’t want to rent from me full-time right now -- everybody’s doing house calls," Ng said. "And house calls, everything goes to themselves and they don’t need to come here and pay me rent for it. And I understand that."
As much as it hurts that his business sits in economic purgatory -- it's when he's asked for his reaction to the recent spate of attacks on the Asian community that he visibly recoils in pain. With elderly parents, he has done much thinking, much agonizing about the subject. He tells his parents not to make their weekly visits to Chinatown to see friends and patronize familiar shops.
"Most of the attacks are on elderly Asians," he said, posing a rhetorical question. "And to be honest, what have the elderly Asians every done to anyone?"
Ng's head slumped as his words ran out, and his eyes glanced toward the bay of windows filled with the life of afternoon sun above dead streets where no one walks -- especially anyone willing to take a five-flight elevator ride for a haircut. Ng is a man who, for now, can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. He believes business will return, but not to the point before the pandemic. How can his business survive he wonders, when few customers arrive but the bill for the rent never relents?
So on the occasion when a customer does step into the pillbox elevator to make the five-flight climb to Ng's salon, and leans back in the chair to get their hair washed and scalp massaged, and has Ng sized-up their hair with laser-like focus while they follow in the mirror as he contorts, bends and finely clips their hair into something refined -- they are getting the full passion of an artist doing the thing he was born to do -- escaping into his craft as a buffer from the emptiness somewhere below the salon windows.
"When you’re done you can see your work," he said leaning back in his stylist chair, "it’s an art form."

domain: news


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The luxe of Versailles is alive in this stunning collection. Dripping with prisms of crystal and finished with a robust crystal finial, Crawford conjures the glamour of this famous palace. In its chandelier form, the column is adorned with billows of crystal along the column. In our usual way, we have cut away at some of the excess, freeing the essential spirit of the piece to shine through.
Available in 2 different finishes: aged brass and polished nickel.

domain: artistic


Greendale - The Schools Food Service Department has earned national certification for the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act, according to a district news release.
This distinction validates that school lunch menus meet or exceed all nutritional requirements mandated in the most recent legislation for the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs.
The district receives an additional six cents per meal reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, retroactive to October 2012, as a result of the certification.
"Greendale Schools promotes healthy students by supporting wellness, good nutrition and regular physical activity as a part of the total learning environment," the release said.
Last year, Greendale High School students raised eight garden beds and grew vegetables to supplement processed foods for their school lunch ingredients.
Special education teacher Heidi Hennessey previously stated she expects between 15 and 20 percent of school lunches to benefit from the garden.
The new federal school meal standards implemented last fall ensure students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week, substantially increase offerings of whole grain-rich foods and limit calories based on the age of children to ensure proper portion sizes.
According to the release, research shows that kids who have healthy diets and get regular physical activity are more likely to perform better academically.
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- Things to Do: Feb. 11, 2016 issue
- News & Notes: Feb. 11, 2016 issue
- Caddie from Franklin sees a lot of green for his efforts
- Interactive: Franklin council agrees to consider Ballpark Commons
- Franklin police report: Feb. 11, 2016 issue
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- Tenth Franklin food drive collects over 850 pounds of food
- Franklin police report: Feb. 4, 2016 issue
- Video: Bucks' Rim Rockers rock Whitnall HS


Video: Cardboard cops help control traffic
While they may not be practical for more active situations, they work long hours and don't take bribes
By Carol Kuruvilla
New York Daily News
BANGALORE, India — Police in Bangalore are trying out a new method to cut down on the traffic problems that plague the crowded southern Indian city. They’ve placed life-sized cutouts of cops at three bustling intersections, possibly more, hoping that the very sight of the grimacing uniformed policemen will cause reckless drivers to slow down.
'The tendency among road users is that whenever they see there is no traffic policemen at any stretch of the road, they try to violate traffic rules,” police commissioner M.A. Saleem, told NDTV.
The city of 8.5 million residents has at least 4.2 million vehicles on its roads. Bangalore police would need at least 500 more traffic cops to adequately manage the flow of traffic, Saleem said. Although the cardboard cops are a temporary fix, Saleem says they’re doing a good job.


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User ReviewsReview this title
I've read a lot of comments on IMDb, and more than 50% of the comments are calling this "Goodfells Part 2". Is it "Goodfellas Part 2", in my opinion, no. Yes, it's very similar situations, but it's not the same plot. It's a little more gory and more bright. "Casino" is mainly about the rise and fall of Las Vegas. When Robert DeNiro's character says "It's more like Disney Land now". Actually that's true, it's not like it used to be. I'm only 20, but my mom and dad told me how different the times were in the 60's and 70's. Everyone was more close and wanted to know who you were and how everything was going. Everything is more corporate greed now-a-days. But back onto the movie, it does have gangsta's in it, and with that comes some pretty gruesome violence.
Robert DeNiro. No words can describe how wonderful of an actor he is. If you read in most of my comments, you can tell I'm a fan. This movie is actually what made me into a huge fan of his. He's dialog and image is very powerful and you understand his position. You want to love him, even though technically he's a bad guy too, you still think he is so cool. A lot of people I talked too: the guys wanted to be him and the girls wanted to be with him. What a performance, it deserved more praise.
Joe does it again being the A$$hole who thinks with his gun and not with his head. Joe as an actor is very remarkable. He's only 5' 6'', but he is so intimidating. His speech in the desert with Ace and the big confrontation. "You want me to get out of my own town?! Don't *bleep* with me, Ace!" Does he swear in this movie? Oh, yeah. A lot, we're talking 400+ f-words, guys. But you get past the vulgar language and just enjoy what Joe says and does. The head vice scene and the metal bat scene with Joe is two of the most disturbing scenes in cinematic history.
Sharon Stone, what can I say? What a remarkable performance! She was very much robbed of her deserved Oscar. I was reading in my "Rober DeNiro: A history of his films" that Sharon over shined both Joe's and Robert's performance. In some ways that is very true. She plays a gold-digging, druggie, drunk, hustling, whore. She is very glamorous in the film though, she is covered in beautiful gowns and jewelery that no guy could ever resist. Her first scene where Robert first sees her and she is stealing chips from a guy who has "hired" her for a night was extremely effective. You can see why Ace fell so hard for her. What a terrific performance in the end. When she screams at Ace "I will go to the FBI! I will go to the police! I'm not protecting you anymore!", you get scarred and can't help but watch more even though you are sitting on your butt for more than 2 1/2 hours. You hate her character so much, you want her to get what's coming to her, that's what makes a terrific performance. When you actually want to make sure that this character gets the justice he or she deserves. Sharon, I apologize, you deserved more praise as well.
Martin Scorcesse. One of the greatest living directors of our time. This film was very wonderfully made with great visuals. The soundtrack really adds a lot, I'm telling you, and the theatrical trailer with the song "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones, what a great feel. Martin has been nominated several times for an Oscar, but they snub him. I think because his films are so violent and typical. But they remain classics. I'm disappointed with the Oscars, this man deserves more.
Whew. "Casino" is an excellent movie that I highly recommend for mob movie lovers. Don't compare this to "Goodfellas", let it stand on it's own. But please, this is not a movie for children in any manor. For the parents, this is a movie that should be on the wait until the later teens. It's very violent, we're talking a head in a vice, a beating with a metal bat(just to name a few violent scenes, there's more)drugs, sex, and very vulgar language. This is for adults only!It's a great movie that deserves very much to be on the top 250. I'd like to see it in the top 100, but we'll see.
De Niro's character, Sam 'Ace' Rothstein, is based on Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, who was a hell of a handicapper He was so good that whenever he bets, he could change the odds for every bookmaker in the country Genius at what he was doing with numbers, he proved to a lot of guys in the Chicago Mob that he was a tremendous earner that he could make a lot of money for them As a result, he was able to accomplish whatever bookmaking, handicapping, he wanted to do, with the umbrella of protection from those guys 'Ace' runs the casino with an iron fist refusing any outside people cheating at his tables
But he had a fatal flaw 'Ace' always felt that he could logically and intelligently deal with things, even to deal with emotions So he decides on making a life with a woman who, he knows, does not necessarily love him Anyway with such a sexy wife and money to burn, 'Ace' was the epitome of opulence, confidence and power
Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone) was fascinating Great woman, truly beautiful, one of the best-known hustlers in town For her, a guy like 'Ace' was the ultimate score So the way to Ginger's heart was clearly money 'Ace' knew that but he didn't care What he wanted was to marry her
Sharon Stone really stood up to the challenge in her role as a casino hustler who is so wild She was young, fresh, confident, looking absolutely fantastic as the independent woman whom everybody desires
Joe Pesci succeeds in his scary tough role as the strong man who has nerve, and isn't afraid of the cops He was reportedly a mob hit man reputed to be a sadistic killer (In one scene, his character is shown torturing someone by putting his head in a vise.)
To protect his friend and adviser, Nicky (Pesci) would beat to a pulp any street guys who messed with 'Ace' or didn't give him the proper respect Over the course of their friendship Nicky delivered a number of these messages always making sure that 'Ace' didn't get his hands dirty 'Ace' witnessed several beatings on his behalf Nicky's mission was to show his worth to the family as an enforcer
The clothes on De Niro looked very straight, more dangerous and very threatening They were very important cues to his character, and again, to the progression of the story 'Ace' was an extremely fastidious guy And, of course, as you follow the story he starts out in more conservative colors and as things become more chaotic, the colors become more chaotic
Rothstein's partner in crime is Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), who is far less convincing as a mobster than he would seem to like to believe. Sharon Stone plays the psychotic Ginger, a once-in-a-lifetime role in that it was the only time in my life I could bear to watch her on film. The supporting cast is strong, led by James Woods and Don Rickles (excellent in his dramatic capacity), and the movie is generally well-acted.
If you are a gambler or know the "wiseguy" culture, the movie doesn't have to be explained, while if you aren't, you'll feel like you've stumbled upon the secret meeting place of the mafia and made privy to what is said, without anyone knowing you were there. This film is based on the true story of what happened when the mob tried to put its men in suits and have them heading a casino, and why it has never been tried since. The homage paid to the incestuous nature of Nevada politics was an excellent touch.
Most of us wouldn't like a guy like Sam Rothstein, nor would we like to be him, but if we go to Vegas for a weekend and stay at a casino/hotel, we'll have a better experience if his watchful eye is ensuring that our stay is a pleasant one. The film's nod to how Vegas has been sanitized since those days is also accurate, and reflects sadness at a lost era, where the baby (the "old school" types who made Vegas great) was thrown out with the bathwater (the organized crime influences).
Casino spans three decades and chronicles the true story of a faction of the mob who ran Las Vegas casinos. Robert DeNiro plays Ace Rothstein, a fantastic bookie who is chosen to run the Tangiers hotel and casino. Along the way, he marries a drug-addicted con-artist trophy wife (Sharon Stone) and struggles with his friendship with loose-cannon Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci). Rothstein is a complicated figure in that he is not a heavy, yet he wields a lot of power due to the respect he has gained from his mob bosses back home.
Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci are both fantastic in their roles, and Sharon Stone actually turned out a non-irritating performance. As the viewer, you can't stand her, but that is the point. Scorcese's normal supporting cast are also involved in this film, including his great mother - even though she usually has incredibly minimal roles, they are always memorable.
Scorcese seems to have several different directing styles, and Casino follows in the tradition of Goodfellas as a pseudo-documentary. A lot of the exposition is revealed by the characters themselves in the form of voice-overs, and several scenes are filmed in documentarian fashion. The entire production however, is sleek and very quick. The use of music bears mentioning as well: Most Martin Scorcese films have an amazing soundtrack that adds to and enhances the scene. Being a child of the MTV age, I'm a sucker for good uses of music in films and Scorcese is a master. Scorcese doesn't just utilize the soundtrack, he makes it part of the storytelling - by the music, we chronologically know what time period we are witnessing, since one cannot rely on other factors, such as fashion alone. One of my favorite scenes in film which effectively involves music is actually from Casino - the very intense scene when the relationship between DeNiro, Stone and Pesci come to a head in the climax of the film. The pounding music cut throughout this scene is a cover of "Satisfaction" by Devo and the result is absolutely brilliant.
Being a complete film geek, I generally don't go to films that feature certain stars, I go to films by certain directors and Scorcese is one of them. While this was probably the tenth time I'd seen this film there were more things I noticed, and I'm sure I'll notice more upon my eleventh viewing. The man is a complete genius, and a gift to film - my suggestion is to watch some of his films, then check out his unbelievable series, "A Personal Journey with Martin Scorcese Through American Movies" which was done the same year as Casino. The series is essentially a primer on the history of film, sectioned off by film genres. You not only will experience his amazing intellect and massive knowledge of film history, but his incredible humility as well.
I have seen this film to many times to count and i am yet to become even remotely sick of it. The acting is flawless, story flows at a great pace for the full all but 3 hours, great narration and a great soundtrack
Pesci and De Niro play their parts so well as does Stone. When watching this film I started to wonder what PEsci is really like in real life. Is he a crazed man like he so often plays? After seeing Casino you are likely to wonder, he is that good
I also think the characters in Casino are far more believable then those in good fellas.
Must see for any gangster film fan
The movie stars Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci as Ace Rothstein and Nicky Santoro respectively, mobsters who move to Las Vegas to make their mark, live and work in this paradoxical world. Seen through their eyes, each as a foil to the other, the details of mob involvement in the casinos of the 1970's and '80's are revealed. Ace is the smooth operator of the Tangiers casino, while Nicky is his boyhood friend and tough strongman, robbing and shaking down the locals. However, they each have a tragic flaw--Ace falls in love with a hustler, Ginger,played by Sharon Stone, and Nicky falls into an ever-deepening spiral of drugs and violence.
The movie is definitely one of the best made about the mob.It definitely ranks up there with The Godfather and another Scorsese film,Goodfellas. Excellent story and acting are both characteristics of the movie.The story was great in the sense that it focuses on the excesses of language, of violence, of ambition in the life-styles of the rich and infamous which makes the movie smart from start to finish.Also,great performances were given by the lead stars De Niro,Stone and Pesci. Finally,it reveals to us what is Las Vegas all about - inside and out. A movie that deserves a 10/10 rating!!!!
But I don't think that Casino is at all a "perfect" film. An 8 out of 10 may seem high, but if you're familiar with my reviews, you'll know that it's not that high of a score from me--it's closer to average from me. There are plenty of flaws here, and I'm going to spend some time pointing them out, particularly since the film receives so many 10's.
Casino is based on the story of Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal and the Stardust casino in Las Vegas. The Rosenthal character is here named Sam "Ace" Rothstein and is played by De Niro. The hotel became the Tangiers for the film. The mob backs Rothstein but has to set up a false front while Rothstein "secretly" runs the hotel, because of his gambling charges back East. He falls in love with and marries former hooker/call-girl and current Vegas hustler Ginger McKenna (Stone), who remains in love with her pimp, Lester Diamond (Woods). Meanwhile, mob strong-arm Nicky Santoro (Pesci) heads out to Vegas to protect Rothstein, but eventually ends up running his own rackets and trying to effectively take over the town. Casino is the story of the relationship and political problems that this cast of characters and a number of associates run into. It's roughly a gradual road to destruction for everyone involved.
The film is unusual in many ways. The most prominent oddity is that a large chunk of it is told via alternated narration from the two main characters, Rothstein and Santoro. The aim was probably to include a lot more of Pileggi's book, in a more literal way, than would have been possible through more conventional means. It's remarkable that the narration works as well as it does, especially because a lot of it is given a rapid-fire delivery. For at least the first 15 minutes, there is barely a pause in the narrational dialogue.
One of the reasons it works is because of the style that Scorsese uses to accompany it in the opening. He employs a lot of fast cuts while presenting very stylized, documentary-like footage. The opening feels as much like an entertaining behind-the-scenes look at how the typical casino works as it feels like a fictional film about gangsters.
Eventually, the film evolves from almost 100% narration to almost no narration (although the narration never completely leaves the film). This happens so subtly that one hardly notices. Scorsese's directorial style likewise evolves from the fast-cut documentary approach to something more conventional.
This is all well and good, but on the other hand, the gradual evolution can only happen because the film is so long--it clocks in just a couple minutes shy of 3 hours. That's a bit too long for the story being told. By at least the halfway point, it starts to feel a bit draggy. All the material is necessary to the story, but it could have been tightened up a lot more.
Another unusual aspect is the score/soundtrack, which consists primarily of pop hits from a wide time span--30 years or more. While I like the songs--I've owned the CD since it came out and I listen to it often enough--and the songs can help set the mood for some scenes, they become a bit too incessant and overbearing for the story after awhile. It begins to approach the dreaded "mix tape" mentality, where the songs are just there because the director wanted to share some bitchin' tunes that he likes a lot. A bit of ebb and flow with the music, and music better correlated to the drama, would have worked even better.
Presumably, Scorsese was shooting for something like a sensory assault, since that's what you get in Vegas. The visuals are filled with neon lights, flashy clothes (I love Rothstein's suits), flashy people and such. The soundtrack is probably meant to match. But in that case, if I were directing, I think I would have went for a combination of commissioned music that incorporated a lot of casino sounds, or that mimicked a lot of casino sounds--the cacophonous electronic symphony of various machines constantly going through their modes--with schmaltzy show tunes, ala Liza, Jerry Vale, Tom Jones, Wayne Newton, etc.
That Scorsese was trying to give a Vegas-styled sensory assault is also supported by the audio-visual contrast between the Vegas scenes and the scenes in other locations, such as Kansas City. So I can understand the motivation, but I'm not sure the final result exactly worked.
Of course the performances are exceptional, even if everyone is playing to type, except for maybe Woods. The plot and characters are written and performed so that the viewer can see the disasters coming way before the characters can--and that's how it should be. For example, as a viewer, you know as soon as it starts that it's a bad idea for Rothstein to kowtow to McKenna to win her hand in marriage, but Rothstein is blind in love and he ends up paying for it. Everything unfolds almost a bit predictably in this respect, and another slight flaw is that we're shown the penultimate moment of the film right at the very beginning. It tends to make it feel even more stretched out, as you keep anticipating that scene.
But the slight flaws shouldn't stop anyone from seeing this film, and of course, quite a few viewers feel that there are no flaws at all.
It isn't all too original, it uses the same formulas as other Scorsese movies (particularly Goodfellas), but it just works. It's a fun movie. The camera moves as if it has a life of its own, almost every scene is set to great music, the dialogue and narration are top-notch, and everything is just perfect. What more could you possibly want?
It's the closest thing to Goodfellas II, but it still stands on its own very well. Everyone should see this movie. It's 3 hours well spent.
My rating: 10/10
This films consists of nothing but expository narration through out the entire length of the film. I simply could not believe it at first. I felt sure that the two narrators, De Niro and Pesci, would stop talking at some point and the acting would start. This point never comes and you realise that this is what the movie will be: nonstop narration telling you what to think about a character, what the characters think, what's happening and what's about to happen.
It is unbelievable that someone would set out to make a movie this way.
In addition there is a constant 'commentary' of old songs through out. Some of this yet more underlining of the banal obviousness of a scene, such as when we see De Niro looking at Sharon Stone intently, the previous music is suddenly interrupted with "baby baby you're the one" and, just in case we haven't got it, we told in the narration that he has fallen in love. Is this film making for the under 5s? At other times however it seems that Scorcese is simply using the score as his personal jukebox and playing favourites from his own record collection.
All of this limits what little character development there is. The characters appear on screen, we are told who they are and what we should think about them and then move onto something else. A case in point is the romance between de Niro and Sharon Stone. He sees her and we are told (in narration) he is has fallen for her. Next we see them together and he asks her for change which she says she spent in the machines. We are again told in narration that this is untrue. So much for subtlety and acting eh? Then we next see them, we see De Niro proposing to her (after a voice-over telling us he was proposing to her naturally).
Joe Pesci does his usual schtick of an Italian-American psychopath, so we see him engaging needless brutality from early on. De Niro is his usual commanding self but the non stop narrative actually diminishes him as an actor. The same applies to all the other characters.
I could not make it to the end.
But while Goodfellas is my number one Scorsese film (Followed closely by Raging Bull), Casino has slowly become one of my favorites. The violence is still sometimes hard to watch, two scenes come to mind that in my opinion, rival anything in Goodfellas in terms of visceral, shocking brutality. The infamous torture scene is still shocking, comparable to the ear amputation in Reservoir Dogs. Scorsese's eye for detail and use of narration serves him well, and the acting is across the board excellent. Sharon Stone deservedly won an Oscar for her role as hustler Ginger McKenna. And Joe Pesci is on fine form as hot tempered, coked-up muscle Nicky Santoro.
The eclectic soundtrack is great, filled with 70s classics like Jeff Beck's "I Ain't Superstitious" and Boogaloo Down Broadway. Robert Richardson's cinematography is amazing, capturing the gaudy style of the era perfectly. And longtime collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker edits the film beautifully and doesn't shy away from the sometimes brutal violence.
There are a few flaws. You could trim about 10 minutes of Nicky Santoro and his gang (We get the point, they're bad guys). And Robert DeNiro looks about as Jewish as Vladimir Putin. But these are minor complaints. A great film that i'll watch over and over for years to come. Highly recommended.
Being objective, I think "Casino" is very well made. It has excellent Direction courtesy of Mr. Scorcese who once again proves he's a top class act. He created a dynamic, slick, spectacular movie with the aid of avid camera angles and his well known style.
The acting is superb. Robert De Niro demonstrates he's one of the most versatile actors in modern film history. His display of different emotions, courage, and temper is outstanding. His character required plenty of temper. Sharon Stone delivers a very good performance. She's a fine actress. Joe Pesci once again shows his incredible talent while portraying mobsters. James Woods and other supporting actors deliver memorable performances.
The atmosphere is splendid. You really get to feel the vibe of a casino even if it takes place in another era. The whole gambling, tactics, and obscure interests behind the business is impressing.
This should be considered as a classic crime film. The 90's had genre defining movies and "Casino" perfectly follwed the tendency. It brought to cinema something never explored that way and it generated plenty of follow-ups.
In a way, Casino is a companion piece to GoodFellas. However, it needs to be judged as a film in it's own right. GoodFellas is a great movie, one that almost anyone can enjoy. But Casino, to me, is more in depth and gives a much more detailed look into the 'big' mobs, the ones that ran Vegas.
The photography is great, especially the camera movement. The voice-over narration may be more than you heard in GoodFellas, but in a way it's necessary to get into the minds of Nicky and Ace. It's like a documentary and these guys are just giving us the facts. Not using a traditional film score also helps to make it feel more 'natural', the pop music selected to give exactly the right mood to its respective seen. Particularly the 'House of the Rising Sun' played towards the end over a sort of 'epilogue'. It not only fit's the scene, but the film as a whole.
I think it's hard to actually say or write what this film is about, like any great film. All you can do is watch it and find out for yourself.
I don't consider this Goodfellas 2 but its close. Its a variant with two actors carried over. Don't get me wrong, This film stands very well on its own merit. If you never saw Goodfellas it wouldn't matter.
You can always tell a great movie when you forget you are watching one.
The violence is very scary and powerful. I grimaced several times the first time I saw it. The realism is there in every sense.
A great rise and fall movie. In certain respects its sad the old days are over. There was an aura about it. But on the other hand, the Mafia was just to damned violent.
Adapted from a true story, the film focuses on the fictional Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. The boss is Sam 'Ace' Rothstein, his wife, volatile hustler Ginger and his psychotic 'friend' Nicky Santoro. All they needed to do was to keep the cash-flow at the Casino steady to satisfy the bosses back home. But it was just never meant to be. And everything implodes at the end.
Casino is filled with dozens of sub-plots, tangent stories and brilliant side-characters. James Woods is especially funny as a lowlife con-man who can't even win a fight with a ten-year-old girl. Vinny Vella also amuses as long-suffering Artie Piscano. But it's Sharon Stone who walks away with the movie. Despite starring opposite loads of well-established male lead actors she owns Casino. She was absolutely robbed at the Academy Awards when they gave the Oscar to Susan Sarandon. Stone delivered a performance so authentic that it's truly unfair the amount of criticism she gets for her other, less-important films.
The violence will satisfy gore fans. In this lovely film we have a dope with his head in a vice (after getting icepicks in his balls), a truly brutal beating with baseball bats, some moron getting a pen shoved into his neck and a cheater getting his hand mashed by a hammer. Don't let this put you off, that was the old Vegas. Nowadays you just get told not to come back.
I know most people will call it sacrilege to condemn Goodfellas but Casino is just the better film of the two, plain and simple. Better lighting, far more impressive cinematography and more entertaining characters. It just has so much going for it that Goodfellas did not.
I see the whole film as an allegory for the way the world is run. Think about it. A bunch of mediocre and incompetent Italian gangsters send their cleverest Jew to take over the gambling business in Las Vegas. He does a great job and makes them rich. But these moronic and aging Italian gangsters send one of their own (a violent and psychotic Italian enforcer) to watch over the Jew. The Jew is doing a good job but he gets carried away and marries a beautiful but materialistic and drug addicted woman under the false notion that he can change her ways. He also pisses off another ethnic group when he refuses to take back an incompetent employee. Meanwhile, the psychotic Italian systematically undoes all of the Jew's hard work. Things get messed up. So like I said earlier, I thought the film was an allegory for the way the world is run. There are some really incompetent and mediocre people at the top. The really clever guys are in middle management but even they get carried away. Ethnic groups are perpetually involved in power struggles. And in the end, the large corporations and the squares replace these guys. The film is almost like an ode to the old ways (however mad and violent they might have been) before the corporations took over everything.
The film predicts Wolf of Wall Street in the way Scorsese's films would be made and edited. There are two narrators who talk us through the sensory assault filled with interesting camera angles, fast cuts, violence, beautiful women and the opulence of Las Vegas. Three hours simply ran by.
De Niro and Pesci are ably supported by Don Rickles, Sharon Stone and James Woods.
Best Regards, Pimpin.
Absolutely no highs or lows in the movie, the tempo is carried from very first scene, continuing in every frame until the last one.
Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone gave amazing performance. I felt jealous and pitied at Sam, frightened at Nicky and hated Ginger. Amazing performers and superb action. I never ever felt that it was a movie and everything is screen-played.
With the naive experience in watching Marin's movies, I guess camera becomes a slave to Martin ( of course right after Coppola). Beautiful angles and wonderful screenplay.
And of course Nicholas Pileggi is genius to begin with and Martin Scorsese is another to go into Nicholas' head and produce the same.
A beautiful movie which actually defines an R rated film without any gross scenes.
DeNiro and Pesci play two mobster friends who's friendship dies when they go to Vegas and DeNiro becomes pit boss. Money and greed brings them up to the top. DeNiro gets married to Sharon Stone's character, who is kind of a criminal with a bad love past.
I didn't give too much of the plot. Because a lot happens in the film's slow three hours.Magnolia,One of my favorite films, is three hours long. The Lord of the rings trilogy is three hours long. Schindler's list is three hours long. Titanic is three hours long.
Those films are all three hours long. Those films are all fantastic. Casino is a fantastic film. But still, it's not quite as good as The Departed, which is my favorite Scorsese film. It probably comes in second place for me.
Casino is a very engrossing,very well acted, very interesting, very long, and very great film. That is all I can say about it. I loved it. Despite it's length. That was the only problem I found with it.
Sam Rothstein (De Niro) is the man; a gambling genius who (his Jewishness holding him back) becomes THE man in Las Vegas. The problem is that he isn't a made guy cosa-nostra-wise. Doh!! If only he had an Italian background, so many lives could have been spared. As it happens, the Vegas mob bosses insist on Mr. Pesci being there to 'take care' of business. In other words, sadistically maim any idiot who messes with our Sam's good business. Watch out particularly for the 'hammer from nowhere' and Joe's novel use of a Black and Decker workmate which will, guaranteed, bring water to the eyes.
Much is made of Sharon Stone's tour de force in this movie as Ginger, Sam's moll. It's definitely a cut above her previous acting credits (who remembers Sliver? answers on a postcard) but at the end of the day, it comes down to her being given a decent script for once, and the chance to ham it up for all she's worth. If screaming and ranting on coke guarantees you plaudits, fair play. Worth a nomination? OK. The Oscar itself? Please.
Scorsese is the best director around for this kind of film. You will come out of the cinema saying "Wow", "Yipes", "Cool" etc. Even after a good three hours. No arguments - it is hard hitting and scary. BUT Martin - it's been done before. By you. And with Goodfellas, it was so much more original and, basically, better. De Niro, Pesci and Liotta were seminal. Replace Liotta with Stone, and it's only semi-seminal.
Casino will appeal to those who love a good shoot-up, blood and guts and plenty of actors yelling at each other. You will get value for your video rental, if that's what you're after.Let's face it - three hours! But if you want better value, hire out Goodfellas again.
Robert DeNiro as the gambler boss of the Tangiers casino in Las Vegas of the 70s and 80s and Joe Pesci gangster are long time boyhood pals from the mean streets of Brooklyn. Both move out to Las Vegas seeking their respective places in their related fields at the orders of the higher ups in the criminal world. But circumstance drives them apart and one of those circumstances is Sharon Stone.
People descending into degradation is always a role that will get you noticed by the Academy. Sharon Stone's part as Ginger is no exception here. She's a high price call girl when we first meet her and her descent into drug addiction isn't pretty, but Scorsese keeps it very real.
But the main story line involves DeNiro and Pesci. To see ourselves as others see us is one elusive goal not attained by many in this world. These two aren't an exception. Each can see how the other is screwing up and absolutely cannot see what he's doing.
The key scene in the whole film is when DeNiro and Pesci meet in the desert where a lot of problems have been known to disappear. If you can get passed all the cursing which is how you would expect gangsters to talk, each is making very realistic assessments about the other one and neither is listening to a word the other is saying.
This is why I love Casino so much. I've never seen that particular theme ever handled so well on the screen.