Indians purchased 220 tonnes of silver during this year's Dhanteras-Diwali. This is the highest amount in two decades. The surge in silver sales is attributed to its rising prices and its appeal as a safe-haven asset. Gold sales, however, declined by 15% this year. Experts predict silver prices will continue to rise.

Driven by central bank purchases and geopolitical tensions, gold prices soared to 39 new all-time highs in 2024, marking the highest number in 45 years. The surge, influenced by strong Asian demand and US election anxieties, saw gold reach $2,734 per ounce, prompting predictions of further increases.

Texas lawmakers began filing bills for next year’s legislative session on Tuesday, submitting a record-breaking 1,500 in the first filing period.

In November, the typically straitlaced Office of Government Ethics surprised observers with a series of tweets mimicking Donald Trump's bombastic style, exclamation points and all: "Brilliant! Divestiture is good for you, good for America!" The controversy was two-fold: (1) The OGE doesn't typically air its positions publicly, advising White House transition teams behind the scenes. (2) Trump hadn't promised the total divestitures of business interests implied by the tweets. New records shared with NPR on Friday show that behind the curious tweets was the head of the OGE himself, Director Walter Shaub Jr. In two emails, dated Nov. 30, just several minutes apart, Shaub sent to OGE Chief of Staff Shelley Finlayson the nine tweets that took the Internet by storm that day. He then followed up with a link to a legal document referenced in one of the tweets and writes: "Get all of these tweets posted as soon as humanly possible." The emails were part of a 365-page document shared with NPR in

We are searching again this year for hit songs for a host of signed artists with projects in production this year. Well crafted songs with clever edgy lyrics and memorable melodies. Songs that have a current commercial sound and feel that you would hear in the top 40 charts. Songs that have that x-factor thing about them that blow you away the first time that you hear them.

Afrikan Cowboy Publishing works closely with major publishers and records labels in many territories of the world who are constantly looking for hit material to work with. We are in a great position to be able to submit songs to the decision makers.

We are looking for Pop, RnB, Dance,Rock and Country/Pop all tempos are required, male and female songs.

Looking forward to hearing your great songs for this opportunity.

- Dean Hart / Afrikan Cowboy Publishing

Deal Type: Song Placement / Publishing Deal
Decision Maker: Selected tracks will be pitched for final decision
Deal Structure: Non-Exclusive
Compensation: $1,000+ TBD Based on Placement
Song Quality: Rough Mixes, Fully mastered, Broadcast ready
Similar Sounding Artists: Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Rihanna, Drake, Bruno Mars, etc.

WATCH THE ARCHIVES HERE!

When COVID first shuttered churches in 2020, no one but God could have foreseen that it would lead to the largest-ever gathering at the Amazing Facts W.O.R.D. Center. Yet it did precisely that!

From June 12 to 15, 2024, a record number of youth attended Stand: Unshakeable Faith, the 2024 Amazing Facts Youth Conference—including setting a record one-day Sabbath gathering of 1,500 people, who gathered to hear Pastor Doug Batchelor, president of Amazing Facts International, present his message to young people, “Standing on the High Ground.” Watch archives of this and other 2024 AFY Conference presentations by visiting www.afyouth.com.

Many young people traveled long distances to participate in the conference, which was designed to help them develop a resilient faith in the face of secular culture and peer pressure. They were joined by thousands more online! We praise God that the Holy Spirit moved mightily, as hundreds of youth recommitted to living for Jesus in these last days of Earth’s history. 

Said Pastor Doug, “This youth conference gave me such joy and hope for the future of our church. It was absolutely thrilling to see so many young people come to hear the Word.”

Throughout the weekend, speakers explored what it means to stand firm for Jesus. Their messages focused on being filled with the Holy Spirit, watching and praying with Christ, being a part of the remnant, understanding God’s love story for us, and the role of trials in our growth. Along with Pastor Doug, speakers included Anil Kanda, Carlos Muñoz, Diamond Garcia, Anella Poljak, and Darcee Christensen.[PQ-HERE]

AFY: Humble Beginnings

Worried about the church losing youth to the isolation of COVID restrictions and social distancing, Tony Scarpino, a youth leader at the Granite Bay Hilltop Church, took their Sabbath School programs online. Those initial social media broadcasts became the seed of Amazing Facts Youth (AFY), a worldwide ministry that meets online twice weekly, prays earnestly for one another, and leads out in the conference. 

From those humble beginnings, God has worked mightily to grow and prosper the movement, including leading Amazing Facts to present an annual youth conference. “I am in awe of what God did at this year’s conference,” says Tony. “I saw families coming alive together. The little kids were vibrant, the youth were engaged, and the parents were involved. It was incredible!”

Attendees from as far away as Honduras and New York enjoyed the engaging presentations, united prayer, community outreach, and fellowship with like-minded individuals. Evening sessions, free meals served by the local church members, and an afternoon outing to an adventure park provided opportunities for fun and friendship. 

“This was a wonderful weekend for our family,” reflects Tamara from Dayton, Ohio. “As a mom, I’m always looking for ways to get my boys involved in things that will grow their faith.”

For the first time, this year’s conference included presentations designed for kids. Presented by Amazing Facts evangelist Daniel Hudgens, Amazing Adventures introduced younger children at the conference to the importance of the Bible, standing against sin, and walking with Jesus. The kids also enjoyed music and rousing Bible games.

A Place Where Youth Have a Voice

Over the past four years, Tony and others have helped mentor a team of dedicated youth who now run AFY’s weekly meetings. The youth team even chose the theme Stand: Unshakeable Faith for the 2024 conference and organized many aspects of the event. “The youth have a real voice here,” says Tony.

On the final night of this year’s conference, Pastor Anil Kanda urged the youth not to let the enthusiasm they experienced at the conference end with the event. He said, “God is going to need another generation to rise up and stand in the gap. I’m getting a lot of grey hairs, [and] Pastor Doug isn’t always going to be here. God is calling you to share His love with the world. He is not interested in how prepared you are. He is interested in how willing you are. He will open incredible doors if you are willing.”

His message hit especially hard for the youth, who are challenged by worldly entertainment and distractions unlike at any other time in history. Aleah, a teen from California, says, “The meetings explained exactly what I’ve gone through.”

Her friend Marissa was also blessed by the speakers’ messages, saying, “They have been really helpful to me. The speakers have shown me how necessary it is to spend time with God each day and how to make it a priority.” 

Sharing the gospel is an essential part of every AFY conference. On Friday afternoon, after specialized AFCOE training with Carlos Muñoz, AFCOE director, and other staff, over 200 energetic youth went into the community to give out biblical literature and pray with people. 

An hour later, they returned eager to share what God had done. “This was my first time going door-to-door,” said Shivani. “I was very nervous, but we gave out all our books and prayed for seven or eight people. I realized that a lot of people are hurting, so I’m thankful God gave me the courage to go out. It was a good experience.”

Welcome to the AFY Family

Edward, a psychology student, is a leader at AFY who has been an active member ever since the first Zoom meeting. Smiling brightly, he shares, “We’ve built relationships with each other and God here. I want people to know that regardless of who you are or what is going on in your life, you are welcome in the AFY family.”

Like many other members, Kyle wanted to follow God but had little practical experience. All that has changed through his participation in AFY. Today, he is strong in faith and active in ministry. He says, “Being a part of AFY has definitely changed me for the better. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it. The community, the fellowship, the likemindedness—these people are my family.” 

That’s precisely what the team at AFY has been striving for. “We’ve invested years into these kids,” Tony says. “To see them grow as individuals and leaders is wonderful. And now to see AFY expanding to reach so many more youth—God is doing something really exciting!”

Says Pastor Doug, “I believe in the message of Joel 2:28, which reveals that our sons and daughters will play a vital role in the gospel work in the last days. That’s why I’m so thrilled to see our team training up the youth, these young men and women who will be part of the generation to fulfill this amazing promise.”

Plans are now being made for the 2025 youth conference. Visit afyouth.com to keep up to date. But you don’t have to wait to get involved in AFY. Check out these weekly events:

• Hey, Let’s Pray: Mondays at 6:00 PM ET

• AFY Live: Fridays at 6:00 PM ET

Former President Donald J. Trump’s endorsement has helped propel some candidates to victory, but he’s also had some notable defeats.

En Caracol Radio estuvo el cantante Iván Villazón, quien comentó que lamenta esta fuerte noticia para el género del vallenato.

Se trata de una entrevista con 6AM antes de entrar en coma 

Three-time Billboard charting singer-songwriter Robin Simoneandrsquo;s new incarnation is RSHO! Vocalist for Kenny Burrelland#39;s Jazz Orchestra! Robin Simone Hollywood Orchestra (LP/CD) Seventeen super musicians, a gifted conductor/arranger, and Robin all creating an electrifying take on songs of great motion pictures, and bringing new magic to the big band stage...

Echoes of the ballroom, barroom, bordello, circus, concert hall, and jazz club intermingle with folk traditions from around the world to create a new hybrid form. Step right up! Step right in… to Little Big Top, the charming debut album from a new quartet led by accordion legend Guy Klucevsek (kloo-SEH-vik) with visionary trumpeter Volker Goetze...

I’m thrilled to release the debut album of my latest project, Wheel of Dharma. This quintet, featuring Freddie Hendrix (trumpet), Erena Terakubo (saxophone), Sameer Shankar (bass), and Dave Heilman (drums), combines my original compositions with a focus on honoring jazz’s rich history while pushing its modern boundaries....

3Below features three extended range instruments played by Michael Manring (Jaco Pastorius alumni, creator of the Hyperbass), Trey Gunn (Warr Guitarist with King Crimson), Alonso Arreola (Mexican bassist, writer and poet)....

Celebrated jazz Hammond organist Vel Lewis is set to release his highly anticipated new single, "I Paid The Price," a soulful and introspective piece showcasing his signature mastery of jazz, soul, and blues. The single will be available on all major streaming platforms on November 15, 2024. Lewis, known for his unmistakable touch on the Hammond organ, has crafted "I Paid The Price" to reflect his deep connection to life’s lessons, love, and the resilience that comes from overcoming challenges...

Allen Whitman, former bassist with legendary virtuoso guitarist Joe Satriani and co-founder of the influential San Francisco-based instrumental surf-rock trio The Mermen, announces the digital-only release (through label Squeakey Studios) of his 4th soundtrack/ambient travel log album The Eternal City....

With a distinguished career spanning folk, jazz, and world music, award-winning singer songwriter Laura Baron has recently released her latest album, Beauty in the Broken, a stirring collection that sees her embracing her jazz roots in a new light. Featuring eight original songs along with an inspired jazz-infused take on the classic song "Dream a Little Dream," Baron’s latest work captures a journey of healing and transformation....

Available at Slow and Steady Records and Bandcamp. Trailblazing composer-trombonist Naomi Moon Siegel has announced the Nov...

Music has been part of the Franciscan tradition for centuries - but Friar Alessandro appears to be the first one with a big record deal.

Music has been part of the Franciscan tradition for centuries - but Friar Alessandro appears to be the first one with a big record deal.

Recycled water purity and fears of a fungal future.

Just 7 days in... and this March is now the Rainiest in Recorded History in St. John's!

The 45 mm of Rain that fell on the 1st got us started... and the 118 mm of Rain from our weekend storm more than sealed the deal. This month St. John's has already seen 180.6 mm of Rain at the Airport.

Looking back to when record keeping began in 1942... the Rainiest March title was being held by the March of 1983 when 168.2 mm of Rain fell. So we're already well passed that with still 23 days to go.

By the way.. the normal March rainfall in St. John's is 76.7 mm.

More Records Fall

-The St. John's March 5th Daily Rainfall Record was 23 mm... the 71 mm on Friday shattered that.
-In fact the 71 mm of Rain on Friday also broke the single day rainfall record for all of March. The previous record was 67.5 mm on March 11th 1994.
-Gander's 37 cm of Snow on Friday also broke the March 5th record of 24.4 cm which fell in 1960.

More Storm Stats On The Blog Entry Below.

Ryan

Boxer Andre Lambe continued his winning streak in the paid ranks after beating American Kenny Paklos via a unanimous decision at The Shed in Dockyard yesterday [May 25].’ The southpaw, who has an unblemished record of 11 wins, enjoyed a relatively comfortable night in the six-round welterweight contest, condemning Paklos [3-1-0] to the first defeat […]

Supply Chain and Omnichannel Commerce Solutions provider Manhattan Associates Inc., has reported revenue of $266.7 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. GAAP diluted earnings per share for Q3 2024 was $1.03 compared to $0.79 in Q3 2023. Non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share for Q3 2024 was $1.35 compared to $1.05 in Q3 2023.

The Sydney South West Zone Little Athletics Championships showed the best the area has to offer in junior competition over the weekend.

A pair of geese owned by champion breeder Michael Peel have set a new Australian record price at a live auction dubbed the ‘poultry Olympics’.

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday ordered the entire administration of President Joe Biden to preserve all records and communications in the waning days of the outgoing Democrat administration as former President Donald Trump’s team prepares to take over.

The post Exclusive — Speaker Johnson Orders Entire Biden Administration to Preserve and Retain All Records and Documents appeared first on Breitbart.

We spin some very collectible new releases including a split from Styx and Foreigner, a picture disc from Michael Hutchence, the soundtrack to the film "Black Girl" and an album from none other than The Dalai Lama!

We've sung the praises of Cleopatra Records and their spinoff label Purple Pyramid in this column a couple of times before and they just keep on releasing some of the tastiest music that comes across our desk

Kevin Wierzbicki gives vinyl releases from The Darts, Mike Watt, Papa M, and On Being An Angel a spin

Interpol has announced a live LP, recorded direct-to-acetate at Third Man Records Nashville's Blue Room venue on June 13, 2024

Melodic, blackened death metal perfection.

Aiden Le Roux and Addison Ritzenhein both set all-classification course records at the Norris Penrose Event Center.

Visit Denver, the city's tourism sales and marketing agency, said last year's visitor total of 37.4 million was a 3% bump over 2022. And the $10.3 billion in Denver's tourism revenue last year outpaced the $9.4 billion collected the prior year by nearly 10%.

Keke reminds the The Hudson Brothers of a millennial Oprah.

Colorado’s first snowstorm of the season didn't break any records but it topped average monthly snow totals for the Front Range and Eastern Plains.

As money continues to pour into crypto following Donald Trump’s victory last week, bitcoin has climbed to yet another record high.

A Georgia judge made the decision Friday (Oct. 1).

A decades-old record is toppled by Elaine Thompson-Herah

The club is the most expensive ever.

The Cahow recovery program is moving into high gear, with the number of breeding pairs increasing from last year’s record of 143 to 156 this year. “In the Nonsuch Island A and B colonies alone, from which an incredible 102 chicks have fledged since the first chick to hatch on Nonsuch Island in over 300 […]

In 2022, the Cahow Recovery Program produced a record number of 156 breeding pairs and 77 successfully fledged chicks, up from 143 pairs producing 71 chicks in 2021, and significantly up from the 18 pairs that produced 7 to 8 chicks annually back in the early 1960s. In providing an update, Jeremy Madeiros, Principle Terrestrial Conservation […]

In collaboration with Nonsuch Expeditions, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR] said they are :delighted to announce the successful conclusion of the 2024 nesting season for the Bermuda Petrel, also known as the Cahow.” “Although we fell just short of the 2021 record of 78 fledged chicks, with 76 this year throughout the […]

Dage Minors has broken his national record in the outdoor mile after finishing seventh in the Monument Mile Classic at the University of Stirling, Scotland, yesterday [August 25]. Competing in the 30 Elite Men’s Mile B, Minors posted a time of 4min 01.55sec, bettering his previous best of 4:02.09. “I’m pleased with it,” Minors told […]

[Written by Stephen Wright] Antonio Pierce’s Las Vegas Raiders set a franchise record for points scored after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 63-21 yesterday [December 14]. Pierce – the son of Bermudian Cleo Burrows – watched his side fall nine points short of the NFL’s all-time regular-season record for points in a single game, set […]

British band Bastille’s frontman Dan Smith has recorded a live performance of an unreleased song called Blue Sky & The Painter from onboard a Greenpeace ship in the Sargasso Sea. A spokesperson said, “The internationally-renowned singer, who wrote hits such as Pompeii and Happier, and recently worked with Hans Zimmer on the Planet Earth III […]

Call center technology is constantly improving. Most modern call-centers record at least some portion of the conversations they initiate. Who listens to these recordings. And what eventually happens to them?

What does this mean for charitable solicitations?

A typical call for me starts something like this;

Me: Hello I'm Henry calling from XXX organization on behalf of the Save the Giant Sequoia Tree foundation. Hows it going today Mr X?

Mr X: Fine, how are you today?

Me; I'm good thanks for asking, not a lot of people do. (this gets a chuckle as often as not, and its true.)

Me: Mr X, I'm going to try to keep things quick today but first I do need to know that this call could be monitored and is recorded for my quality.

Mr X: Ah go ahead the damn government is recording everything we say anyway....


Conversations can go into anywhere from a mild rant against the Bush administration to an all out call for violence made in jest, typical stuff you might hear on The Bill Mahr show. But what the Donor may not realize is that that conversation doesn't necessarily go away, ever.

Ive done fundraising for organizations like the Democratic National Committee, The A.C.L.U and the Human Rights Campaign. At the start of each call we inform donors that their call could be recorded to ensure quality control.

A.C.L.U donors are the most likely to hang up the phone at that point caring too much about their right to privacy to allow themselves to be recorded.

But what about the callers who don't hang up? Ive spoken to extremely opinionated people who
have pulled no punches when it come to their opinion on the current presidential administration, the war on terror, and other highly charged issued.

Politicians have been cursed threats have been made as well as off color jokes.

Could this information be used against a person?

With the warrant-less wiretapping that we know is going on in this country,how smart is it for organizations to save recordings of people?

Donors tend to say anything to an anonymous fundraiser on over the phone. But is it really anonymous. Do the donors have a right to know what becomes of their voice recordings.

I think that call-centers, especially in the fundraising industry, should have a published policy on what they will and will not do with Donor's information, including voice recordings.


Technology and political realities have raced beyond past practices. Its time for call-centers to catch up.

What I can tell you as a professional fundraiser is that.

• You have the right to end the conversation at any time, although I and your organization wish you wouldn't.
• You have the right to request more information about where I'm calling from and what my particular call-center will do with any of your information, including recordings of your voice. ( If your the curious type this might be fun to do anyway)
• The Front-line people who call you, me, have no control over when or why you are called; its all done by computer.
• The national no call-list has little bearing on non-profits, or their agents, (me). Call-centers that do fundraising have their own internal do-not-call lists; ask to be on it and we are obligated to put you on it. You should also let your charities know, by phone, or in writing, that you don't want to be called, or to have your name sold or traded to other organizations.
• Reputable fundraisers charge a flat fee per call. Yes or no, we get the same amount for making the call. It doesn't have to be this way however, Some fundraising agents can keep 80% (or more!) of the revenue a solicitation campaign generates. You have the right to know just what those percentages are; if the person you are speaking to doesn't know, ask for a supervisor.
• Some states also have laws that obligate fundraising groups to send a written copy of this information to any donor that asks, you'll need to contact your attorney general's office to see if your state is one.
• Last note; Federal law prohibits us from recording your credit card information, this is the one part of the call that isn't recorded.

I hope this quick rundown of the issues stirs some discussion. Ill follow up with more on telephone fundraising in the coming days.

John Hugley IV recodrded a NASTY block to help Xavier hold on to 40-25 lead at halftime vs. Jackson State