On Sunday, May 1, police responded to a report that a man had fallen into a casino fountain in Tunica.

The site of the accident was the Hollywood Casino, near the buffet area. Bob Jerome Murray, 48, was pronounced dead at 10:15.

One unconfirmed witness said [...]]]>

Hollywood Casino in Tunica, Ms.

On Sunday, May 1, police responded to a report that a man had fallen into a casino fountain in Tunica.

The site of the accident was the Hollywood Casino, near the buffet area. Bob Jerome Murray, 48, was pronounced dead at 10:15.

One unconfirmed witness said that Murray was standing by the fountain when a friend tossed him a pack of cigarettes. When Murray tried to catch them he fell in. It took officials some time to actually find the body.

Murray’s body has been sent to the Mississippi Crime lab for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

(BPT) – The dress, the tux, the guests, the honeymoon — there are so many details that go into your wedding day. All eyes are on you from the moment you walk down the aisle until the last dance of the night. Understandably so, brides and grooms often feel a lot of pressure [...]]]>

(BPT) – The dress, the tux, the guests, the honeymoon — there are so many details that go into your wedding day. All eyes are on you from the moment you walk down the aisle until the last dance of the night. Understandably so, brides and grooms often feel a lot of pressure to look their best on this important day — there’s nothing like a wedding to motivate you to get serious about your health and fitness goals.

But crash diets or extreme exercise programs are never the answer. “It’s usually best to start thinking about your specific goals three months before your wedding day to allow plenty of time to establish your routine and adjust to a healthier lifestyle,” says Steve Bronston, certified personal trainer with Life Time, a healthy way of life company that operates more than 115 health and wellness centers nationwide. “This creates a great opportunity for the bride and groom to support each other and get in shape together.”

Bronston and Life Time offer a three-month countdown plan to get you ready for the big day:

Weeks 1-4

Focus on changing your unhealthy habits. Nutrition is key when trying to lose weight, decrease body fat and increase your overall health. Work with a professional to lay out a detailed nutrition plan that consists of carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats at each meal. Then, begin with a fitness program that incorporates weight training and cardio intervals. Arm exercises like overhead press, tricep push-ups and bicep curls, and back exercises like rows and rear flys help brides looking to tone up for a strapless or low-back dress. Bronston suggests starting with two or three days of weight training, two or three days of cardio and one day of Pilates or yoga.

Weeks 5-8

Now it’s time to switch up your exercise routines. It’s a good idea to work with a personal trainer or join a group fitness class once or twice a week to shake up your routine and stay motivated. Your workouts should include one to two weight training exercises per body part throughout the week. If you can, try to shift the amount of weight you use and number of repetitions you do to help stimulate change within your body. Continue a cardio routine of two to three days per week and add in another day or Pilates or yoga.

Weeks 9-12

It is important to keep up with your developing healthy habits as the weeks progress, but as your wedding day approaches, you’re sure to feel the stress of planning. “A new focus on rest and relaxation during this time period is key,” Bronston says. You can eat well and exercise perfectly, but without sleep, stretching, rest and recovery, your body is at risk of not functioning properly.

Planning a wedding can be stressful and tiresome, but if you commit to a healthy diet and fitness plan, you’ll walk down the aisle feeling confident and ready for your new life ahead.

Also, A Head For Profits of Muscle Shoals has an opening for a Draft Beer Quality Technician.

When pouring a beer you should hold the glass at a 45 degree angle. Open the tap quickly and fully, allowing the beer to [...]]]>

Also, A Head For Profits of Muscle Shoals has an opening for a Draft Beer Quality Technician.

Hold the Glass at a 45 Degree Angle

When pouring a beer you should hold the glass at a 45 degree angle. Open the tap quickly and fully, allowing the beer to flow freely. The beer should hit the middle of the glass, allowing the beer to slide down to the bottom. This prevents too much head from developing too quickly. Once you get about half to 2/3 of the way full of beer, straighten the glass out and hold it upright.

Look for the Right Amount of Foam

Head on a beer is a good thing. It can help the beer drinker notice the flavors and aromas as he or she takes the first sip. It also produces air bubbles that will not allow the beer to sit like a slab of concrete at the bottom of your stomach, allowing your guests to not feel as full so easily. You should aim for about a half inch of head in a pint glass. A little more is fine for a different type of glass. By adding distance between the tap and the glass, you can help create more of a foamy head. The right amount of head and the proper technique can actually make the beer taste better.

Take Your Time

Some beers require more time for the perfect pour. Guinness is the prime example. Guinness experts suggest using the two-part pour or double-pour method for this thick and nitrogenous stout. Pouring the beer about 2/3 of the way up the glass and then waiting a good 30 seconds or more helps the nitrogen bubbles in the beer settle. Guinness enthusiasts swear that the double pour brings out the perfect amount of head and the best tasting Guinness.

Keep the Dispenser Faucet out of the Beer

Dunking the faucet of the tap into the beer as it fills is severely frowned upon. Some bartenders use this as a means to avoid excess foam. This is a major taboo since the mouth of the faucet could be carrying yeast or bacteria on the outside or underside of the metal faucet, and dunking this faucet into beer is unsanitary. Not only that; it’s unprofessional. This is the wrong way to solve the problem of foamy beer.

Assess the Final Product

Before you serve the beer, take a look. Does it have the right amount of head? Is it the right color? Does it smell like a good beer should? If anything looks or smells off about the beer, there may be an underlying problem with the tap system or the beer itself, and it will be worth your while to investigate.

Pouring the perfect draft beer requires attention to detail and consistency with every order. Even  during busy nights, take the time to care for each beer as though it were poured for you. This, coupled with a healthy draft system, will give you the perfect pour every time—something your customers will recognize and appreciate.

If you’ve never bitten into a fragrant, vine-ripened, sun-warmed tomato harvested fresh from your own garden, you haven’t tasted a real tomato. And once you do, you’ll never again be satisfied with supermarket impostors.

Fortunately, tomato plants are easy to grow, and they’re one of the easiest plants to start indoors from [...]]]>

If you’ve never bitten into a fragrant, vine-ripened, sun-warmed tomato harvested fresh from your own garden, you haven’t tasted a real tomato. And once you do, you’ll never again be satisfied with supermarket impostors.

Fortunately, tomato plants are easy to grow, and they’re one of the easiest plants to start indoors from seed. Here’s how to grow your own tomatoes, from seed to harvest. Learn more: gardeners.com/Step-by-Step-Growing-Tomat­oes-from-Seed/7902,default,pg.html

(BPT) – Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple or with your entire extended family, there’s one thing you likely won’t forget to bring on your trip: your smartphone or tablet. Nearly two-thirds of Americans are now smartphone owners, according to the Pew Research Center, and almost half own a tablet. Right next to [...]]]>

(BPT) – Whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple or with your entire extended family, there’s one thing you likely won’t forget to bring on your trip: your smartphone or tablet. Nearly two-thirds of Americans are now smartphone owners, according to the Pew Research Center, and almost half own a tablet. Right next to socks and a toothbrush, your mobile device is one of the most important and useful items you’ll bring with you.

These devices are meant to be mobile and while on the road, our mobile devices help us navigate new places, entertain us during long flights and keep us connected to back home. However, what might throw your trip into a tailspin is the amount of data these devices can consume. Streaming video, photo sharing, travel apps and Internet browsing can eat up data fast and if you don’t have the right data plan you could end up having your trip cost a lot more in overage fees.

And trends show our need for data is growing exponentially. In fact, individual data usage will increase from almost 2 GB used per month in 2014 in North America to almost 11 GB in 2019, according to Cisco’s Mobile Visual Networking Index. The last thing you want to come home to is a huge bill of data overages because you or your child used too much data. To get the most out of your smartphone and tablet without the headaches of low batteries and data charges, consider these expert travel tech tips:

Connect to Wi-Fi whenever possible

One simple proactive step can dramatically decrease your data usage: connect to Wi-Fi. While not always possible, Wi-Fi is widely available at airports, train stations, restaurants and many other public places. If you’re dealing with a delay, connect to the local Wi-Fi network and you can check email, surf the web or shop online until your heart’s content.

Download playlists and movies

Taking a long plane trip or heading out on an epic road trip? Traveling to another country? Download playlists and movies before you leave so your content is ready to go when you’re not able to be connected to a network. You’ll enjoy immediate access to what you want even in airplane mode or without network coverage.

Stream smart

Streaming video and music can use a ton of data so be careful what you choose to watch. T-Mobile recently launched “Binge On” which lets customers enjoy video streaming from top select partners like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Showtime, ESPN and more without using their high-speed data bucket. That means watching the game, catching up on your favorite series or movies for the kids won’t cost you any data on T-Mobile. And the best part is, it’s automatically included in qualifying plans. T-Mobile also offers a similar program for music streaming as well. Learn more at www.T-Mobile.com.

Ready devices for travel abroad
It’s important to know your plan and ready your devices for traveling to other countries. Call your carrier to make sure you’re covered and avoid outrageous international roaming fees. If you are constant international traveler, check out T-Mobile’s Simple Choice plan, you get LTE data and texting at no extra charge in more than 140 countries. And, as an added bonus, T-Mobile customers traveling to Canada or Mexico, can use their phone just like the US. The company’s Simple Choice plan is one of the best in wireless for people that travel a lot.

Stay charged
Nothing is worse than running out of battery while traveling. Your directions, your entertainment, and some argue, your sanity, are gone! If you’re road tripping, remember to pack a car charger. If you plan to be away from a charging port, an extra battery or portable charger can be a life saver. Only have a few minutes to charge before takeoff? Charge devices faster by switching to “airplane mode” before plugging in.

Join us on Friday night to hear Gen Kelsang Mondrub talk about the true source of happiness at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals.

HAPPINESS is a State of MIND Friday, February 19th 6:30 – 7:30PM (followed by refreshments) Where do you find your happiness? In a serving of banana [...]]]>

Join us on Friday night to hear Gen Kelsang Mondrub talk about the true source of happiness at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals.

HAPPINESS is a State of MIND
Friday, February 19th
6:30 – 7:30PM (followed by refreshments)
Where do you find your happiness? In a serving of banana pudding?
Biscuits and Gravy? NASCAR on the weekend? Facebook?

Buddhist Monk Gen Kelsang Mondrub

Join us on Friday night to hear Gen Kelsang Mondrub talk about the true source of happiness at

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals.
1332 North Pine Street, Florence
Everyone Welcome!
Florence Branch of
KADAMPA MEDITATION CENTER GEORGIA
For more information, call 256-412-5734
Buddhist Monk and
Resident Teacher of KMCGA

Knitting is good for your mental health, according to some research studies. The Washington Post mentions a 2013 survey of about 3,500 knitters who were asked how they felt after a knitting session. Over 80% of them said they definitely felt happier.

“Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and [...]]]>  

Knitting is good for your mental health, according to some research studies. The Washington Post mentions a 2013 survey of about 3,500 knitters who were asked how they felt after a knitting session. Over 80% of them said they definitely felt happier.

“Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn’t hurt the untroubled spirit either.” – Elizabeth Zimmermann

My mother was a great knitter and produced some wonderful garments such as Aran sweaters which were extremely fashionable when I was young. She also knitted while my father drove, which caused great amusement. I often wondered why she did that but I think I know the answer now.

Knitting is good for your mental health, according to some research studies. The Washington Post mentions a 2013 survey of about 3,500 knitters who were asked how they felt after a knitting session. Over 80% of them said they definitely felt happier. It is not a totally female occupation as more and more men take it up to get the same benefits. Harry Styles (One Direction) enjoys knitting. So does Russell Crowe although he does it to help him with anger management!

The Neural Knitwork Project

In Australia, Neural Knitworks was started to encourage people to knit and also become aware of neuroscience and mental health issues. Knit-ins were organized but garments were not the only things created. The knitters produced handmade neurons (1,665 of them!) to make a giant brain. The 2015 project will make more neural knitted networks (neural knitworks) and they will be visible online. You can see some more examples of woolly neurons on the Neural Knitworks Facebook page.

While people knitted, crocheted and crafted yarn, they listened to experts talking about mental health issues such as addiction, dementia, depression, and how neurons work.

The knitting and neural connection

The human brain has about 80 billion neurons. Learning new skills, social interaction, and physical activity all help to forge neural connections which keep the brain healthy and active. They are creating networks to control movement and make memories. The knitters learn that as they create the woollen neurons, their own neurons are forming new pathways in their brains. Their creations are mimicking the processes in their brains to a certain extent. At the same time, their brains are registering new and interesting information as they learn interesting facts about the brain and how it works. I love the knitworks and networks pun. What a brilliant idea!

More mental health benefits from knitting

Betsan Corkhill is a physiotherapist and has published some results of completed studies on her website, appropriately named Stitchlinks. She conducted some experiments herself and found that knitting was really helpful in reducing panic and anxiety attacks.

“You are using up an awful lot of brain capacity to perform a coordinated series of movements. The more capacity you take up by being involved in a complex task, the less capacity you have for bad thoughts.”- Betsan Corkhill

Knitters feel happier and in a better mood

Ann Futterman-Collier, Well Being Lab at Northern Arizona University, is very interested in how textile therapy (sewing, knitting, weaving and lace-making) can play an important role in mood repair and in lifting depressive states.

She researched 60 women and divided them into three different groups to do some writing, meditating and work with textiles. She monitored their heartbeat, blood pressure and saliva production. The women in the textiles group had the best results when their mood was assessed afterwards. They were in a better mood and had managed to reduce their negative thoughts better than those in the writing and meditation groups.

“People who were given the task to make something actually had less of an inflammatory response in the face of a ‘stressor’.” – Dr. Futterman Collier

The dopamine effect on our happiness

Our brains produce a chemical called dopamine. This helps us to feel happy, more motivated, and assists also with focus and concentration. We get a boost of dopamine after sex, food, exercise, sleep, and creative activities.

There are medications to increase dopamine but there are lots of ways we can do it naturally. Textile therapy and crafting are the easiest and cheapest. We can create something and then admire it. In addition, this allows for a little bit of praise and congratulations. Although this is likely not your goal, all these can boost our dopamine and we just feel happier and more fulfilled. These are essential in facing new challenges and coping with disappointment in life.

“Sometimes, people come up to me when I am knitting and they say things like, “Oh, I wish I could knit, but I’m just not the kind of person who can sit and waste time like that.” How can knitting be wasting time? First, I never just knit; I knit and think, knit and listen, knit and watch. Second, you aren’t wasting time if you get a useful or beautiful object at the end of it.” – Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, At Knit’s End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much.

If you thought knitting and textiles were for old ladies, think again!

By Robert Locke, for Lifehacker.