Fat Vox

While drawing with regular pencil and paper is always nice, sometimes it’s easier to draw on something that makes for easier erasing and allows you to easily fix coloring mistakes that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to fix. In response companies began producing tablets for drawing and tablet drawing has taken off as a result….

Apple recently announced that the iPhone 5s will be going on sale on September 20, 2013. As a converted Apple user of a long-time PC and BlackBerry user, I’ve found every release of the new iPhone something of magic mixed with marketing hype. As a current iPhone 5 user, I’ve compiled 5 reasons I will…

In the days when Jesus walked on the earth, many young Jewish boys were hopeful that someday they could become disciples of their favorite rabbi. These young hopeful disciples would spend many, many long hours memorizing whole books of the Old Testament. When they were ready, they would approach the rabbi of their choice hoping…

Many people often believe that to start a business, one has to have a significant amount of money. That happens to be the old business model. Nowadays, it is possible to start an inexpensive venture that has the potential to ultimately bring you a tidy sum in profits. I know this because I have done…

The night came quickly as if a blanket or a shad had been drawn. As with the darkness, the sounds of life became the background. During the day the sounds are there but few notice. The sounds of life during the day are mixed with others to the point we block them out and become…

Insurance companies often take some hard knocks for being greedy or overpricing their products. And I’m not disputing that this might be the case in some situations. But there is something to be said for having insurance. It’s one of those budget items you may hate paying for until you need it; but when you…

“And $3.04 is your change ma’am.” As always, I squint as the frequent blinding light hits my face, and I prepare myself for the tedious ching of the homeless shelter, and the oncoming darkness. But this time, I feel myself being scooped up and passed to another pair of hands. My eyes swiftly direct themselves…

Most of us remember the term DINK, or DINC – “double-income, no kids” – as the demographic moniker for affluent working couples with no children. A quick Google search reveals multiple references to the acronym, several dating back to 1987 articles in Time Magazine and the Los Angeles Times. The sociological term “went viral” in…

Some critics are dubbing 2013 one of the best years for quality films since the Golden Age of Hollywood, more specifically the years of 1939, 1940, and 1941. This extraordinary era included such memorable films as “The Wizard of Oz,” “Gone with the Wind,” “The Grapes of Wrath,” and “Citizen Kane.” The last few months…

Like many people, I enjoy fashion and although not always the most adventurous when buying new clothes, I do like to keep an eye out for new designs from time to time. With New York Fashion Week, which is scheduled for February 2014, less than a month away, fashion lovers and enthusiasts are gearing up…

Previously published in Examiner on Mar 8, 2013 Was the police using excessive force when handling an 8-year-old who was having a temper tantrum? According to The Christian Science Monitor published yesterday, “On Tuesday, Alton, Ill., police placed an 8-year-old girl in handcuffs … in a juvenile detention room to wait for her guardian to…

If you’ve seen the Live-Action movie Rurouni Kenshin released last year or if you are a fan of Yves Saint Laurent, you’ve probably heard the name Lisa Ulliel… She has been announced in the cast of the two Rurouni Kenshin’s sequels scheluled for summer 2014. She was also announced in the Yves Saint Laurent’s biopic…

LaGrange, Kentucky 40031 It would be a stretch to say I am a believer in ghost. I could see the logic of “earth energies” manifesting as visual or audio occurrences plus the stories presented in LaGrange by honest people, some pillars of the community, gives their stories a degree of creditability. There are many in…

Yoga is an excellent exercise for most people trying to lessen or alleviate back pain. I had spinal surgery in 1990, and my doctor prescribed yoga to help alleviate my back pain as part of rehabilitation. Yoga works on your mind, body, and spirit, incorporating breathing and meditation techniques as well as physical exercise. When…

When my daughter was born, I didn’t know what to expect. I already had a 3 year old son, and I knew big changes were coming. I was concerned about the changing relationship I would have to my son, transitioning from caring for one child to two, and the dreaded finances. It never crossed my…

I have been teaching English in China for over three years. While I teach all ages, my expertise is in training pupils for the TOEFL and IELTS tests. One of the most daunting parts of the TOEFL test for English language learners is the speaking part. This is not only because speaking makes many students…

I don’t use coupons much. It’s not because I’m not thrifty. In fact, I spend less on groceries than most people, considering that I’m Vegan and only eat GMO free. How do I do it? Well, I don’t eat many processed foods. I don’t eat meat or cheese. I don’t need to. I get more…

The New York Jets had what many would describe as an awful year, and there QB situation did not help the media circus that has been surrounding them for multiple years now. The Jets brought it upon themselves when they signed Tebow and then refused to use him in any situations where he could succeed….

If there is a particular group that leverage relationships from their interaction on social networks, and it is really active, that has to be mothers group. As primary responsibility for decision making in the home, they actively seek information online, share their views, and recommend products. They are the real and true experts in the…

If you are planning to visit any of the Disney theme parks, you’ve surely noticed by now that there’s a plethora of advice and information available. This is the narrowed down version of absolute essentials. Your time at the theme parks will certainly be magical, but having these items on hand will help make the…

When Mom came across a box of old silver quarters in the closet recently, her first instinct was to bundle them up for deposit at the bank. Good thing she had second thoughts as it turned out all those quarters were worth a small fortune in silver. Back in the old days, silver coins (dimes,…

Fanny at Chez Panisse: A Child’s Restaurant Adventures with 46 Recipes serves as a scrapbook of influential restaurant, Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, California, as seen through the eyes of Fanny Singer, 7-year-old daughter of its co-founder, legendary chef-restauranteur Alice Waters (born April 28, 1944). Chez Panisse is older than Fanny (born August 15, 1983), having…

The easiest way to understand the rare disease cutis laxa is to picture the Benjamin Button aging process in reverse. Overview Cutis laxa is a connective tissue disorder. Connective tissue gives strength and structure to the body’s muscles, joints, skin and other organs. The illness affects only around 2,000 patients worldwide, making it an extremely…

Michael Shea, a theatre entrepreneur from Canada, opened Shea’s Buffalo in 1926 with the original purpose of showing silent movies. It later staged lived vaudeville shows starring such notables as the Marx Brothers, Frank Sinatra, George Burns, Bob Hope, and the Andrews Sisters, among others. In addition, a movie was shown after the live performance,…

I joined Slicethepie.com summer of 2013. My purpose was to earn extra cash to fund summer activities. I knew before I joined that the income would not be much; but, I was able to use money earned from this website to purchase movie tickets and other small activity expenses to entertain the kids during the…

Memorial Day has kicked off another summer season. It’s hot outside, mom is preparing food, dad is cooking it on the grill and the children are in the swimming pool. Everyone is having a fantastic time until the unthinkable happens…a child is missing and something is on the bottom of the pool. In a 2012…

When the 2013 baseball season started many Rangers fans were a little worried. They knew Colby Lewis wouldn’t return until midseason so a rotation of Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison, Alexi Ogando, Derek Holland and Nick Tepesch seemed to be alright for the time being. Tepesch wasn’t even supposed to be here. The fifth spot had…

Losing weight has become a popular way to make pin money in Hollywood. In an attempt to shed baby weight after the birth of her third child, Melissa Joan Hart has become the latest celebrity to sign on as a mouthpiece for a major diet brand. The “Melissa and Joey” star will be shilling for…

I have an unattached garage on my property that has needed major repairs for a few years. It needed a new roof and new siding. Upon preparing the garage for siding, I discovered the entire corner of the garage was destroyed by termites. A good tip might be to have the area you are repairing…

DC Vertigo will have a huge hit on their hands this week. Be sure to be on top of Dead Boy Detectives (2013) #1 . This Sandman spin off will have the loyalist flocking to the shelves for this one. Not only will the Sandman faithful be a part of the sellout here, but the…

COMMENTARY | Two American legislators are intent on keeping Cuba economically isolated, and they’ve filed complaints to the U.S. Treasury Department to ensure no American money flows into the impoverished nation, including money that might be spent by rapper Jay-Z and his wife, R&B singer Beyonce, while they are visiting. In fact, the lawmakers want…

Singapore is currently suffering from the effects of haze caused by forest fires in the Riau Islands of Indonesia. Since the start of the crisis, the Singapore government has done much to address the effects of the haze, but many Singaporeans are still angry. In a crisis, research has shown that stakeholders attribute blame based…

The National Cherry Festival used to be the best family week ever! What happened these last 10 years to make it so different? Its like Traverse City went commercial and took the locals out of the equation and in the process has the potential to lose money?1) Having the Cherry Festival same week as Fourth…

Nas is the best rapper dead or alive Some fans of Hip Hop music will swear by this. They will quote every lyric that he’s ever spoken to prove to you why he’s better than any other rapper who has ever written and put a rhyme to a beat. Non believers will bring up the…

At the 2013 Country Music Awards, Taylor Swift received the Pinnacle Award in recognition of achieving a level of worldwide fame exceptional to country music. She is the first artist since Garth Brooks to be so honored. Not bad for a 23-year-old, even though she is a veteran, having started her rise to stardom as…

Google’s note-taking app, Google Keep, originally launched at the end of March for Android and on the web (as part of Google Drive). Now Google has launched as a Chrome extension. All versions of Google Keep are automatically synched for the user logged in with Google, so notes can be accessed from (almost) anywhere. There…

The sun was setting behind the trees when Tessa Murphy looked out the front window and saw the white Ford Escort making its way down the driveway. It was the night before Thanksgiving and she dreaded this visit. The dread didn’t stem from her mom visiting. She loved her mom’s visits. Her mom was full…

Sometimes it takes a complete stranger you just met to point out and help you realize the brilliant, fulfilling characteristics that make your life rewarding. Whether its two successful, married adults who no longer feel any satisfaction in their lives and naturally connect the first time they meet, or two acclaimed actors who can bring…

With picturesque beaches, blazing sunsets, winding country roads and quaint small towns all nestled together, its no wonder people make the drive up the Northern California coast to Mendocino County. We enjoyed a tranquil 3 days in Mendocino which is a perfect amount of time to taste, explore and relax in a unique environment of…

Do your children know that one blow could change their lives forever? One solid punch is all it takes to end another person’s life. That’s a lesson a 17-year-old learned the hard way when the Utah soccer referee, Ricardo Portillo, who he reportedly punched in a moment of anger finally succumbed to death after lying…

Maxi dresses are becoming increasingly popular.The fashionable woman will want a long slip to go under the new, longer styles. Wearing a short slip under a long skirt is a definite fashion “don’t” for any well-dressed lady. For comfort and modesty, always choose a slip that closely mirrors the shape and length of a given…

If you’re looking for Christmas gifts for your wife, you may be struggling with the old stand-bys. However, you can break out of those boring gifts and instead get her something that she’s really going to enjoy. These are some of the best Christmas gifts for your wife. Accessories are a favorite because she might…

Anyone who has ever considered having a long-distance relationship online, at some point, has to ask themselves the ultimate question, is this worth it? Catfish the movie, followed the exploits of show’s creator Yaniv “Nev” Schulman online. Catfish the series delves into the phenomenon of young people with deep emotional attachments to someone over the…

Watching countless movies (321 according to the amount I’ve rated on IMDb) alone in my room has taught me a number of life lessons. The most important one has been that romantic comedies, 95% of the time are horrible. This is bumped up to 100% of the time if Julia Roberts is involved. Spending the…

For all of you Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA) fans, be of good cheer. The Reunion 3 episode indicated that Kim Zolciak and Nene Leakes might be friends again – or at least headed in that direction. This re-collaboration is the one that we’ve ALL waited for since their parting of ways. Why now? Here’s…

If you are into the TV show, “Flip this House,” you might be itching to get out and flip your own house. It seems like such a fast way to make some quick bucks: You find a fixer-upper, fix it up, stage it (the fun part) and sell it for a nice profit (the even…

According to Wilkes University’s 2013 Holiday Retail Sales Forecast, most retail businesses will make 25 to 30% of their sales during the heart of the holiday sales season in November and December, and it is expected that holiday sales will be up by an average of 3.9% for the 2013 holiday season. Having a successful…

When I moved into my house, which I inherited from my father, I knew that one of the first things that had to be changed was the flooring. In the living room, dining room, and bedrooms, the carpet was dated, stained, and worn-down. I was in about the first grade when the living room carpeting…

A few years ago, I started in the education field in special education, such as Asperger’s Syndrome. In this experience, the training I received from teachers helped out a lot. If you are in a classroom and looking for some useful tips to increase your teaching skills. Here are five useful tips I have found…

The French Open, also known as Roland Garros, is one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. As one of the four Grand Slam tennis events held annually, it is a coveted tournament to win for all tennis players. These are the women who have won the most French Open singles titles since…

We Are the 6%!! Who Will Stand for You? I felt extremely empowered at the March 15 Rally against the six percent budget cuts yet at the same time I’m profoundly sad, a little frightened and very worried that we live in a society and a culture that can shun and throw away disabled people…

For centuries, it has been said that various colors can impact and enlighten mood and spirituality. These ancient traditions suggest that certain colors correspond to certain parts of the body. If you have ever taken a yoga class, your instructor has likely referenced the chakras. Chakras are energy centers within the body. Ancient traditions suggest…

In my last horse racing article, I had discussed the five reasons I though Orb had a chance to take the Preakness and set up for another Triple try. I had promised an article on the five reasons I thought he wouldn’t win the Preakness. Unfortunately, due to the short window between races and the…

I admit it–I’ve posed for that selfie seven times before it was posted as my perfectly nonchalant profile pic on Facebook and Instagram. For a while though, the my most shameful social media behavior was wandering into the lives of the men I’ve dated. And by “wandering into the lives of” I really mean stalking….

A small town large in history, Willcox, Arizona, is home to some famous dead people and a famous horse. Here lie Warren Earp (Wyatt’s brother), actor/singer Rex Allen, and his trusty steed Koko the Horse. In “Tombstones in Tombstone, Arizona,” I mentioned the running theme among roadside attractions in southern Arizona seems to be dead…

If your PC or notebook is not run smoothly, there are myriads of possible reasons. It could be that the individual components are not optimized or configured defectively. A slow PC may be suffering from incorrect BIOS settings like a significantly reduced cache or slow memory speed. It’s also possible that you have too much…

The time had come to say goodbye to her old life. Claudia fought the decision for as long as she could. Sadly, it was getting more difficult to hide her affliction. She called it that because she didn’t know what else to call it. It was something she never wanted and didn’t know how to…

There are few things more terrifying than pirates. From ancient Vikings to modern day Somalis, pirates have been the bane of merchants, mariners and all others who make their living from the sea. However, while pirates have been romanticized into misunderstood heroes and suave swashbucklers, the history books have more or less forgotten the impact…

Most people associate witches with Halloween or scary movies. Quite a few television shows about witches have been popular over the years. Some are comedies; others are a little sexy and mysterious. But have you ever considered that your’ next door neighbor could be a real witch. A poll taken in 2000 estimates that over…

Is now really the time for optimism; or should Bills fans make their annual peace with what has become the organization’s mantra more than a decade. This is not our year. No, Bills Mafia, 2013 won’t be kind to you- this coming from one of your own. For a franchise that entered the offseason mired…

You’ve been up for hours listening to songs repeat on radio stations fading in and out of reception. You’re tired, but you continue to drive. The roads are wet and it is dark. Your seat feels more comfortable than your bed, the one that you forgot to make this morning, but you won’t sleep. Today…

Twinkling lights, dangling ornaments, inviting branches and pretty ribbons all around. It’s a lovely Christmas scene, and it’s an irresistible temptation to cats. If yours is trying to turn your Christmas tree into their permanent roost, you need to start taking action. Try a few tricks to keep the cat away from the tree, so…

The Atlanta Braves enter 2014 in pretty good shape. Coming off of a 2013 season in which they won 96 games and took the National League East by ten games over the Washington Nationals, the Braves seem primed for another run this year. With young stars like Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward, and a starting…

Movies like “The Conjuring” are nothing new to Hollywood. In 1971, The Exorcist was a novel by William P. Blatty that was adapted to the screen in 1973. The book and movie scarred horror fans to death by basing their story on a 1949 exorcism of Roland Doe, an anonymous young boy. Similar to The…

It all started when I was 19. I am now 32. It still plagues my life. She shows up when she wants to, makes a mess of everything, and then leaves. I have epilepsy. I was a freshman in college when I had my first seizure. I was sitting in statistics class. A class I…

Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone . Get over it. All the evidence points to just that one conclusion. But, much like Freudian psychology, the idea of there being this massive conspiracy to cover up the assassination of JFK by killing off people with the most tenuous of connections (and yet allow Jack Ruby to remain…

“A.C.O.D.” is an abbreviation for Adult Children of Divorce and the movie stars Adam Scott as Carter, a man who suffered through his parents’ bitter divorce as a child. Now as an adult, he owns a restaurant and appears to be a well-adjusted person despite what he has been through. But then his younger brother…

I have sat many mornings, watching the birds fly to our backyard. They gather twigs to make their homes inside the little wooden houses we have placed on our fence. They appear to be busy and without care in the world. They do not chirp or argue over which house they should be in. They…

Ramadan is the holiest month of the year as per Islam. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims across the world observe rigorous fast from dawn to dusk. Ramadan lasts for around 30 days. These 30 days are extremely important for every devout Muslim. Kids and adults fast during these 30 days to seek mercy from…

House Republicans are pushing for a cut of two million people from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP or food stamps. Representatives of the Republican Party continually say that those on food stamps leech off the government and live off the system. The number of those utilizing SNAP, amounts to around 47…

Millions of people own cats and dogs and to most, they treat them as if they are children. That is exactly the way I felt when I had my wonderfully loving cat, Sasha for fifteen years. I hope that most pet owners think about their pet’s dental health. After all, our pets do not always…

Looking for ways to spruce up the old bathroom? Bathrooms are defiantly resistant to change; when was the last time you entered someone’s residential bathroom and it took your breath away? You’ve got your basic tub, shower, sink, toilet, mirror, medicine cabinet and, well, there it is. Not a whole lot you can do to…

Author Gustave Flaubert relies on the symbol of the foot to enhance his novel Madame Bovary. Every aspect of the foot, including the types of shoes covering it, help develop the characters, plot and climax of the story, whose primary focus is on unhappily married Emma and her husband, Dr. Bovary. When Bovary is first…

The latest release of Google Chrome has many privacy features built in. Unfortunately, many of them must be manually selected to ensure a truly private browsing experience. While one can never truly have a “private” browsing experience online, there are many steps that can be taken within Chrome’s settings that will maximize your privacy to…

As I head into my kitchen lab and my granddaughter heads into her chemistry lab, it strikes me that we both need to know a bit more about matter. All matter take up space and have mass. Matter also has properties. Matter has volume. There are two types of properties, extensive properties and intensive properties….

Working in retail is probably one of the hardest things that any person will do. Many say that it is a “thankless job,” or that not many people would want to spend their life working that way. Follow these tips and retail can be easy as pie. Do Not Take What Angry Customers Say To…

You know you’ve been there. As soon as you announce you’re expecting a bundle of joy, people want to share their two cents with you. Sometimes the advice is useful, but other times their advice isn’t in the slightest bit helpful and may even hurt your feelings. Obviously, you don’t want to blatantly be rude;…

They don’t possess quite the same prime location within our hearts as Christmas episodes. And they don’t allow for the sheer visual enjoyment of a Halloween episode. Perhaps because they don’t have an entire month in which to be aired, but at best only a day or two and most people aren’t staying home to…

Beyonce Knowles is a global sensation. When she hits the stage, people pay attention purchasing her music and any other related products. Good for her! The only problem is this same crowd continues to spread gossip, unsubstantiated chatter about this diva’s life that make you wonder about her. The five biggest rumors about Beyonce: Her…

As winter approaches it is important to take some time to think about preparing for a snowstorm. By having the necessary supplies and with some proper planning, you will have fewer worries when a snowstorm does happen. Preparing for a snowstorm is easy. You just need to take the time to get things ready. Here…

Scream Factory continues its reign as the kings of classic horror restorers with the release of “The Incredible Melting Man” on Blu-ray. Here’s a movie most home entertainment companies would look at and giggle when presented with the opportunity to give it a proper high-definition transfer. Not Scream Factory. They’re more than willing to pony…

Individuals with limited financial knowledge should think long and hard about managing a large anticipated settlement. As a financial writer and budget analyst for nearly a decade, I’ve seen countless individuals spend money on frivolous things, slowly burying them in credit card debt. If you’re set to receive a settlement, it’s wise to sit down…

Glen Davis may be the best player on the Orlando Magic’s less than star-studded roster. But in the wild world of NBA salary caps and team building, that very fact may make him expendable. Orlando has gone down the path of looking deep into the future, giving more and more playing time to young players…

Revive those old, dusty or grungy lampshades to look beautifully new again. You would be surprised at all the cheap decorator ways to rescue expensive trash-bound shades, as presented by Better Homes & Gardens. Peel & Stick Fabrics & Vinyls Learn the basics of a “DIY Fabric Lampshade Makeover” in this step-by-step tutorial. However an…

Completing a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail (AT) in 2006 was among the greatest experiences of my life. The 2,180 mile hike lasted nearly six months. Standing out among the memories of rugged mountain trails, panoramic views, solitude, and trail food is a surreal place called Mahoosuc Notch. Mahoosuc Notch is the most famous geologic…

Scenic beauty is something that McDowell county has in abundance. There are a lot of places that you could go to or visit while you are here but, here are the top three must sees. These three are especially good if you are an avid hiker or just out to catch nature for a day….

The traffic light turns red. From nowhere a stream of thoughts keeps going. A snap view of familiar scenes keeps coming like slides in a carousel at every tick; each comes without a caption to recollect or stir curiosity, and fades out quickly to oblivion. “At ten in the evening, darkness envelopes the sky. Reflectors…

I rate movies — all movies — based on how funny they are. In a world with as much tragedy and hurt as ours, we need to veer toward the lighthearted and comical to find relief. This is why I’ve made it my mission to find and promote those movies that bring joy. Hence, I…

Is a stop at the Meteor Crater in Arizona on your list of Route 66 attractions to see? It certainly was with our family this summer. As a kid, my parents used to drive Route 66 from southern California to Arizona quite regularly for trips to the Grand Canyon, the Petrified Forest, and other natural…

A beautiful Nereid daily frequented the waters near the Mexican city of Campeche. Her name was Eulimene. She had a lovely voice, and people often came to the sea to hear her sing, even though she sang in an unknown language that experts believed was akin to the Basque. She loved children, and she often…