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Showing posts from 2018

September Band of the Month: We Came as Romans

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We Came as Romans (abbreviated as WCAR) is an American metalcore band from Troy, Michigan, United States. Formed in 2005, the band has gone through one name change and multiple lineup changes, and signed to SharpTone Records in 2016. We Came as Romans has released two EPs, Demonstrations (2008) and Dreams (2008), and five full-length albums, To Plant a Seed(2009), Understanding What We've Grown to Be(2011), Tracing Back Roots (2013), We Came as Romans (2015), and Cold Like War (2017). Social Media: Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Website Where to Buy Music: Amazon iTunes Google Play

September Volunteer of the Month: Sid Lee

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Sid is a vital part of the RRSMS team, helping run our Tumblr page. He tries to contribute to every anthology we put out and advocates for all of the charities we support. And he always brings creative ideas to the team. A Message from the RRSMS Team: Kate: Sid, thank you for everything that you do for the team! You are truly a rock star! You are appreciated and loved. Aisling: Thank you for all your hard work! Michaelle: Thanks for being such a helpful team member! Appreciate all you do to with RRSMS. Gina: Congrats, Sid. Thanks for everything Jen: Don't stop being awesome. Congrats Sid!  Radeyah: Congrats!! Keep up the great job. Lori: Thank you for all your help with the team Heather: Your hard work is appreciated Twinkle: Thanks for being on board with the RRSMS Team. Your contribution is so much appreciated! Colleen: Thanks for all your hard work!! Sandy: Thank you for all your hard work sid! Keep it up! Andrea: Si...

The Sounds of Advice #100: Time Traveler

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What question(s) would you like to ask a time traveler from 200 years in the future? Sandy:  I would want to know if the world changed for the better. Sid:  Have humans gotten over themselves yet or are half of us still fighting for basic human decency? Michaelle:  I would want to know about any wars, if there was one world currency yet, if there was one world leader, pretty much if any prophecies had come to fruition. Kate: I'd ask about the state of our government and the general mood of the world.  Facebook Weighs in: I would ask him/her if I ever got my promotion at work and what legacy I left behind for my family  -Brittany W. Whether I spent the rest of my life doing the same circle dance called my life -Jenn W. Is there anything we should do now, to make "200 years later" better? Have we risen above discriminations and power struggle? -Twinkle V.

Vacation: Travel Tips

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Always pack a towel. It’s the key to successful galactic hitchhiking and plain common sense. You never know when you will need it, whether it’s at the beach, on a picnic, or just to dry off. Buy a small backpack/suitcase . It will force you to pack light and avoid carrying too much stuff. Pack light. It’s OK to wear the same t-shirt a few days in a row. Take half the clothes you think you will need…you won’t need the rest of it. But take extra socks. You’ll lose a bunch to laundry gremlins so packing extra will come in handy. Take an extra bank card and credit card with you. Disasters happen. It’s always good to have a backup in case you get robbed or lose a card. You don’t want to be stuck somewhere new without access to your funds. Make sure to use no-fee bank cards. Don’t give banks your hard-earned money. Keep that for yourself and spend it on your travels. Travel by yourself at least once. You’ll learn a lot about yourself and how to become ind...

Summer Recipes

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Sizzling Steaks Grilling Favorites Not Your Average Salad 30 Minutes or Less Appetizers Worth Sharing  Flavor Boosting Rubs and Marinades The Tastiest Burgers Fiesta-Worthy Mexican Meals Well-Balanced Meals Tailgating Treasures Slow Cooker Comforts  So Long Leftovers Recipes for a Crowd Ground Beef Favorites Holiday Entertaining More Soup (Or Stew) For You From the Deli Kid-Friendly Fare

The Sounds of Advice #99: Biggest Self-Realization

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What was the biggest realization you had about yourself? Sandy:  I can always handle more than I think I can and come out better for it. Michaelle:  Really so many things. Each new decade of life brings many life experiences and new realizations. It's hard to accept how naive and sheltered you are when you're young. Grateful for the understanding and knowledge I now have as well as the things I will continue to learn. Sid:  I'm more important than what others think of me. Kate: That I am a fighter and a warrior despite all of my mounting health issues and I can still take on the world. Facebook Weighs in: I’m stronger than I think even on my worst days -Jenn W. I’m stronger than what I give myself credit for. -Kathy C. Probably that I may have been misdiagnosed as having mild intellectual disability and might actually have dyspraxia, dyslexia and dyscalculia. I feel I might need to get it checked out. -Yvonne A.  That I’m not th...

July Band of the Month: Five Finger Death Punch

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Five Finger Death Punch, often shortened to Five Finger or Death Punch, also abbreviated as 5FDP or FFDP, is an American heavy metal band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Formed in 2005, the band's name comes from the kung fu movie The Five Fingers of Death. The band originally consisted of vocalist Ivan Moody, guitarist Zoltan Bathory, guitarist Caleb Andrew Bingham, bassist Matt Snell, and drummer Jeremy Spencer. Bingham was replaced by guitarist Darrell Roberts in 2006, who was then replaced by Jason Hook in 2009. Bassist Matt Snell departed from the band in 2010, and was replaced by Chris Kael in 2011. Five Finger Death Punch's debut album The Way of the Fist was released in 2007, which began achieving rapid success and selling over 500,000 copies each in the United States. The 2009 follow-up album War Is the Answer further increased their popularity, selling over 1,000,000 copies and got certified Platinum by the RIAA, the band's third album, American Capitalist, was ...

4th of July Unusual Facts

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1. Only two people actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4: John Hancock and Charles Thomson, secretary of Congress. Most of the others signed on August 2. 2. Not everyone was on board with celebrating on July 4, the day Congress approved the Declaration. John Adams wanted to celebrate on July 2, the day Congress voted for independence. 3. One US president, Calvin Coolidge, was born on July 4. So were Nathaniel Hawthorne, Neil Simon, George Steinbrenner, and Malia Obama. 4. Three US presidents have died on July 4 — John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe. In a bizarre twist of fate, Adams and Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the country they helped found. 5. On July 4, 1778, George Washington ordered a double ration of rum for his soldiers to celebrate the holiday. 6. July 4 wasn't deemed a federal holiday until 1870, nearly 100 years after the nation was founded. 7....

The Sounds of Advice #98: Apocalyptic Dystopia

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Which apocalyptic dystopia scenario do you think is most likely? Michaelle:  Definitely WWWIII, prophecy. Sandy:  WWIII or evolutionary  Sid: The Hunger Games  Kate: It's really a toss up between WWIII or environmental disaster  Facebook Weighs in: Nuclear holocaust -Kara S. Pandemic or hyperinflation -Leanne Z. Zombie apocalypse -Mary G. Ultimately, humanity will cause our downfall. Whether we kill the earth or wipe out all life. Probs war, the war technology is devastating nowadays even. -Arminta D. Viral pandemic the likes of the black death or Spanish flu. With anti vaccers not getting thier children vaccinated we will start to see once dead pathogens come back -Kris M. Hunger Games -Rachael K. Yellowstone super volcano or nuclear war -Katy R. The hunger games or Ready Player one if that counts! -Shannon V.

July Volunteer of the Month: Radeyah Ali!

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Radeyah is one of our two Instagramers. She is a vital member of the team. Her positive attitude is always valued and her love for what she does shines through.  A Message from the RRSMS Team: Kate: Radeyah, I cannot thank you enough for everything that you have done for RRSMS from the very beginning, even when you weren't a member of the team, you were always an advocate for us. I am so happy that you joined us on this journey. I am so glad to call you a team member and friend.  Sid: Thank you for all that you do! Michaelle: Appreciate the work you do with RRSMS. You bring so much talent and experience to our team.❤️ Gina: Congratulations, we appreciate all the work that you do to help keep RRSMS afloat. Jen: Thank you, Radeyah, for all the wonderful work you do. Glad to have you on the team. Congratulations!  Lori: Congratulations, thank you for all you do for the team and you rock Heather: You do a good job. Thanks for everythin...

Concert Journal: Frank Turner Be More Kind Tour

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By Kate Robbins and Michael Riechard Date: June 22, 2018 Band: Frank Turner Venue: Myth Supporting Acts: Homeless Gospel Choir, The Menzingers, Lucero Bodie's first Frank gig. Michael's first gig ever. So two big firsts! Because Jen had to work we didn't make it up to the venue before it started and missed almost all of Homeless Gospel Choir's set, so I have no opinion on them. After Bodie picked out what he wanted from the merch booth (his second Frank t-shirt and a copy of Be More Kind) we started looking for somewhere to stand. That's when I accidentally stumbled into my friend Reven, which was awesome, because we had hoped we'd get to meet, even if it was only for a few minutes. Michael and I settled stage left for The Menzinger's set. They were good. Was digging the old school punk rock vibe. After they were done we went to find Jen and Bo. Bodie wanted to go up on the balcony, so that's where we stayed the rest of the show. I...

Bullying: Signs to Watch For

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Warning Signs for Bullying:  There are many warning signs that may indicate that someone is affected by bullying—either being bullied or bullying others. Recognizing the warning signs is an important first step in taking action against bullying. Not all children who are bullied or are bullying others ask for help. It is important to talk with children who show signs of being bullied or bullying others. These warning signs can also point to other issues or problems, such as depression or substance abuse. Talking to the child can help identify the root of the problem. Signs a Child Is Being Bullied: Look for changes in the child. However, be aware that not all children who are bullied exhibit warning signs. Some signs that may point to a bullying problem are: Unexplainable injuries Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking illness Changes in eating habits, like suddenl...

The Sounds of Advice #97: Lessons From Fiction

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What’s the best lesson you’ve learned from a work of fiction?  Sid:  Probally how multi-dimensional people can be. Kate: That anyone can be weird if you watch them long enough. It's from "The Ghost of Graylock." It's the most recent one that I can think of. I know there are a lot of other things I've learned from works of fiction though.  Facebook Weighs In: Never trust a Lannister -Leanne Z.

Summer Solstice

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What is the summer solstice? There are two solstices each year - one in the winter and one in the summer. The summer solstice occurs when the when the tilt of Earth's axis is most inclined towards the sun and is directly above the Tropic of Cancer. Traditionally, the summer solstice period fell between the planting and harvesting of crops, leaving people who worked the land time to relax. This is why June became the traditional month for weddings. It might seem like a day to celebrate, but it actually signals the moment the sun's path stops moving northward in the sky, and the start of days becoming steadily shorter as the slow march towards winter begins.  Summer Solstice traditions: Why is Stonehenge so significant? Stonehenge in Avebury, Wiltshire is the most popular place for Pagans to celebrate the longest day because it famously aligns to the solstices. The rising sun only reaches the middle of the stones one day of the year when it shines on...

Second Chance Promo

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Every year seven million companion animals enter animal shelters and are later euthanized. Here at Rock and Roll Saved My Soul, we want to help decrease that number. We believe every pet deserves a second chance. This anthology is a collection of stories about rescue animals, strays, and the animals that have saved us. All proceeds benefit Pet Partners. Together we can save lives and help animals everywhere get a second chance. Pick up your copy on Amazon today!

The Sounds of Advice #96: Living in Harmony

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Do you think that humans will ever be able to live together in harmony?  Sandy:  If we can get past the hate and everything that people seem to think is bad, yes we could. Michaelle:  No, humans will never be able to live in harmony as we are imperfect beings. Now, loving souls are those that can live in harmony; Heaven. 🙏❤️😇 Sid:   I think we could, but five minutes later someone would mess it up again. Kate: I try to be an optimist, but sadly I don't think it's possible.  Facebook Weighs in: Only after the fire nation attacks and my brother and I discover the new avatar: an Airbender named Aang. -Sarah K. Not as long as things keep goin the way they are -Jenn W. One can hope -Gina D. 

Second Chance Excerpt

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The Dog that Changed Everything By Andrea Meyer I have always been afraid of dogs ever since I can remember. I never wanted to be around them. They made me feel very unsafe and uncomfortable. Recently, my husband and I talked about getting a dog to complete our family. It took a few months to be okay with this idea and a few more months to find the perfect dog. We found Kaia on a for sale site and went to meet her. When we met her we instantly knew she was for us! She is an American Bully breed, which I had never heard of, but from doing extensive research it showed that those breeds are good family dogs, which she definitely lives up to that expectation! After having her only a few months she fits in perfectly with our chaotic family! To me, she’s not just an animal, but another child. I am so in love with Kaia. I had no idea I would have these feelings towards a dog ever!

Gardening with Colleen

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Beginner vegetable gardening at home is an easy way to save money. Planting one tomato plant can provide you with 10 pounds of fruit over the course of a season. In almost every case, the flavor and texture of varieties of vegetables from a container vegetable garden far exceed grocery store produce. By planting vegetables in pots, you enjoy the pleasure of savoring delicious, sun-warmed tomatoes fresh from your backyard. Plus, growing vegetables in containers and raised beds can be fun; it's a great way to get away and spend time outdoors in the sun. These tips and tricks will help get you the best vegetable garden this season. Deciding What to Plant: Deciding what to plant in a vegetable garden is easier than you think. If you plan it right, you can enjoy a beautiful container vegetable garden or raised bed vegetable garden without having to spend hours tending to it. When deciding what to plant in a beginner vegetable garden, it's best to start small. Many gardeners...