Thank God It's Toby Highlights

President Biden's recent signing of the same-sex marriage bill, has placed an unexpected spotlight on David Millbern's critically acclaimed documentary "100 Years of Men in Love: The Accidental Collection."

The critically acclaimed "100 Years of Men in Love: The Accidental Collection" and its newly discovered imagery that is already reaching iconic stature, is a documentary focusing on a unique, moving and joy-filled collection of vintage photographs of men in love from the 1850s to the 1950s, taken when male partnerships were often illegal, the photos were found at flea markets, in shoe boxes, family archives, estate sales, and old suitcases. Directed by Emmy-winning actor-producer David Millbern, and with spoken words from curators Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell, 100 Years of Men in Love: The Accidental Collection showcases the beauty of everlasting and universal love.

President Joe Biden's landmark new federal protections for same-sex and interracial couples, cap both a personal and national evolution on an issue that's enjoyed growing acceptance over the past decade. "Marriage is a simple proposition. Who do you love? And will you be loyal to that person you love?" Adding, "For most of our nation's history, we denied same sex couples from these protections," Now, this law requires an interracial marriage and same-sex marriage must be recognized as legal in every state in the nation.

"100 Years of Men in Love" shines a light on some of that history through a selection of photographs collected by Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell stumbled upon an old photograph of a gay couple by random and then turned it into their mission to discover more of pictures history tried to bury. As they found more and more, they realized some of these photographs dated back more than 100 years.

Fans and critics, both LGBTQ and not are now applauding director David Millbern for compiling this remarkable footage. "100 Years of Men in Love" is a landmark documentary-style film that sticks close to its title and central premise. Over the course of 57 minutes, we're treated to various photographs of men expressing love for one another that dates back as far as 1850 and as recent as 1955.

Due to how gay couples have been treated over the course of human history, you can already tell how bold it would be for a couple to take a photograph with each other in an embrace during that time frame. The film, itself, works as a huge eye-opener to any naysayers and the current trend of anti-gay rhetoric that believe homosexuality is a more recent trend in human development. As clearly shown by these pictures, the film shows proof that same-sex dating back to the 1850s that gay men were living together in America and unafraid of showing their love in public.

Punctuated between certain photos are quotes from authors such as Walt Whitman and Henry David Thoreau that illustrate how love is universal. Regardless of gender identity or race, we as humans can fall in love with one another. We shouldn't be imposing limits on our love when love is one of the strongest emotions we can give.

Those who experience "100 Years of Men in Love" are treated to a selection of moments that history couldn't destroy. The love on display was so powerful, it outlived its subjects and went on to become a beacon of hope for others. "If that's not the definition of true love, I'm not sure what else could be," says Director and Producer, David Millbern.

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Mind Aid helps people with mental illness in developing countries so they can get access to basic mental health care. It was made by me, Matthew Dickson in 2018.

It is the first website of its kind in the world, with all the groups working on the cause on one site!

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Matthew Dowling was born and raised in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. He calls our hills and mountains “home” – this region is where he’s chosen to build a business and a family. A husband, father, and former non-profit executive, Matt loves his community and has spent years fighting for the growth and betterment of Fayette County and Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Matt served as a State Representative for the 51st Legislative District in Fayette and Somerset Counties for three terms, six years. A strong business background and a commonsense approach inform Matt’s actions. He realizes that the taxpayers in Pennsylvania are already overburdened – that’s why as a legislator he took up the cause of holding the line on taxes and spending. He advanced legislation that protects our small businesses, which represent the backbone of economic vitality in Pennsylvania, and accounts for a significant share of the state’s economic production and hiring. 

During his tenure, the 51st Legislative District was made up of parts of Fayette and Somerset counties. In Fayette County, the district includes the city of Uniontown and the townships of Georges, German, Henry Clay, Nicholson, South Union, Springfield, Springhill, Stewart and Wharton and the boroughs of Fairchance, Markleysburg, Ohiopyle, Point Marion and Smithfield. 

In Somerset County, the district included the townships of Addison, Elk Lick, Lower Turkeyfoot, Summit and Upper Turkeyfoot and the boroughs of Addison, Confluence, Garrett, Meyersdale, Salisbury and Ursina. 

Matt is driven by faith, family, and freedom. He is pro-life and is dedicated to protecting the constitutional rights of all Pennsylvanians, including the Second Amendment rights. 

In keeping with his passion for serving others, Matt is a former member of the Fayette County Behavioral Services Board and a former director of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce. He is the Past District Governor of Rotary, an international organization of professionals committed to humanitarian service locally and globally. He and his wife Rebecca founded the annual “Share the Spirit” benefit, which has raised more than $70,000 for local non-profits in its seven-year history. 

As a published author, Matt co-authored the book “Empowered in Pittsburgh” a self-help book for young professionals starting their careers and navigating adulthood. He is working on a new book titled “I fell off the mountain halfway up, now where do I go from here?” a memoir of his time in office.

He is a graduate of Waynesburg College with a degree in Business Administration, studied Communications, Theology, and Philosophy at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and is a graduate of Uniontown Area High School. 

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Cousins Gibb, are Nick Endacott-Gibb and Debora McLane from the famous Gibb family and the hit recording group, The Bee Gees.

Nick Endacott-Gibb is the newest member of the Gibb family. He was adopted at an early age, but in 2019, following a 10-year search to find his biological parents, Nick traced his birth mother and discovered that Bee Gee Maurice Gibb was his father.

Music has always been Nick’s passion, and over the years, he has written his own songs and produced and recorded other artists.

Nick is also a proficient sound engineer, working at many of the UK’s top festivals and events. As a musician, he has performed with and supported many top UK artists, including Dodgy and Chris Difford with his band, “The Speak“.  

The other member of Cousins Gibb is Debora McLaine. Blessed with an expressive and versatile voice, she has spent many years performing at tribute shows such as Tina Turner, Celine Dion, Barbara Streisand, Carol King, Karen Carpenter and many more.

After Nick connected with his cousin Debora, they formed Cousins Gibb.

They decided to work on the title, Tragedy and put a very different spin on the original. This version is almost unrecognisable from the upbeat original on the Bee Gees, fifteenth album, “Spirits Having Flown”, as the arrangement has heartfelt vocals, harmonies and lyrics that give it a unique and sympathetic twist.

They are working on a full-length album of original material, scheduled for release later in the year.

Cousins Gibb have an excellent understanding of the Bee Gees song “Tragedy”, and their voices blend to create a fusion of magical Harmonies.

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On 24 March, a collaboration between Acid Jazz Records and the Flying Dutchman label sees the release of veteran soul singer Billy Valentine’s new album. The first album of new music on the iconic jazz label since 1976.

Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth features testifying renditions of eight message songs, with Valentine’s emphatic, lissome voice drawing upon the soul-jazz legacy of such Flying Dutchman singer and songwriters as Gil Scot-Heron and Leon Thomas. In addition to songs by these two extraordinary talents, the album also features songs originally written and recorded by Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Kendricks, War, and Prince.

Billy Valentine may not be a household name but should be familiar to most from Simply Red’s 1983 Rendition of the Valentine Brothers’ ‘Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)’. Originally written and recorded by Billy and his brother John, the song was a protest against President Ronald Reagan’s economic policies. Around the time of performing with the Valentine Brothers, Billy’s recognition as a songwriter emerged after penning songs for other artists such as Will Jennings, Ray Charles, and the Neville Brothers.

After the demise of the Valentine Brothers, Billy struck up a songwriting partnership with Bob Thiele, Jr. (son of Flying Dutchman Records’ founder, Bob Thiele), which led to him singing demos for Warner Chappell songwriters, such as Gerry Goffin, Mark Isham, Burt Bacharach, and Hal David. Singing demos opened doors for Valentine to work in television and movies. His vocals can be heard in such works as: the 1991 classic movie, The Five Heartbeats, and songs produced for TV series including Boston Legal and, with Thiele, Jr., on music composed for the television show, Sons of Anarchy.

Now, after several decades spent working together, Valentine and long-time collaborator Thiele Jr. present Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth. Produced by Thiele Jr., the album recording began at Hollywood’s legendary East-West Studios (Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, Elvis Presley’s ‘68 Comeback Special, Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On and Michael Jackson’s Thriller) right before the coronavirus pandemic. As the album session proceeded, the world erupted in protest after the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, adding to the poignancy of the recordings with the songs taking on a new urgency.

Having always been drawn to message songs – Valentine remembers witnessing the civil rights protests through the Deep South in the United States, the Kent State University shootings in 1970, and the Vietnam War and its devastating aftermath on many military veterans returning to civilian life – the album’s selection of songs’ specific topics and themes speak to modern times. In particular, the rise of the Black Lives Matter after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, who murdered Trayvon Martin; the polarizing presidency of Donald Trump, which ended with the violent uprising at the Capitol Building; and the rise in gun violence amidst economic and social disparities, all made more apparent during the height of the pandemic. 

Opening with a plaintive makeover of Curtis Mayfield’s 1970s ‘We The People Who Are Darker Than Blue’, a sobering ballad about projecting racial pride and Black humanity in the face of insurmountable odds, the theme continues on Valentine’s righteous rendition of Eddie Kendricks’ 1972 Black Power anthem, ‘My People Hold On’.

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Drawing from skills learned in Australia’s Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), as a Corporate Recovery Specialist and expert advisor to national and international companies Damian distilled and refined often overlooked fundamental leadership, negotiation and innovation principles into Breathing Fire, the most definitive program for unleashing your revenue and profit potential.

His career started with a posting to Australia’s Special Air Service Regiment. Being exposed to high-stress, life-or-death scenarios developed his ability to quickly adapt to a crisis, work cohesively as part of a team and have a tenacious focus for reaching an outcome.

Following the completion of his military role, Damian’s studies included a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Law) and a Bachelor of Business.

As a Corporate Recovery Specialist, Damian excelled at bringing calm and order to highly stressed and distressed companies and businesses. Developing keys for successful business turnarounds and implementing many highly successful financial management and KPI tracking tools.

Under his banner, Damian provided an instrumental change to large, national and multi-national companies and government organisations.

The business sectors Damian has operated in includes manufacturing, property holdings, IT, retail, professional services, large retail fit-outs, apartments, commercial, civil, infrastructure, road, rail and renewable energy.

As a philanthropist, Damian was the CEO of the Family Peace Foundation created to help prevent domestic violence. A passionate believer in the global community he launched SHAIR.care. An all-inclusive global community sharing experience, strength and hope to create strong, healthy and inspiring relationships.

Damian speaks to audiences around the globe bringing fresh life to often-overlooked fundamental principles essential for rapid success.

He exists to improve efficiency in operations, increase value and disrupt current norms to make the world a better place.

Damian believes inside you is unlimited potential to change the world for the better

Most of all he’s a proud dad and loves spending time with his son.

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Johnny Ball is an English television personality, a populariser of mathematics and the father of BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball.

Ball was a regular fixture on children's television from the mid-1970s to the 1980s, presenting several series of science and technology programmes intended for children (including Think of a Number; Think Again; Think Backwards; Think...This Way and Johnny Ball Reveals All). He was also one of the hosts of the preschool programme Play School beginning in 1967 and continuing throughout the 1970s and beyond. As well as appearing on screen Ball wrote jokes for some shows including Crackerjack. All these shows (except the ITV programme ...Reveals All) appeared on the BBC. Ball's shows were known for presenting scientific and technological principles in an entertaining and accessible way for young people.

In 2003, he appeared on The Terry and Gaby Show and answered viewers' questions. In July 2004, he was named in the Radio Times list of the top 40 most eccentric TV presenters. In July 2012, he presented a Horizon special on ageing on BBC Four. He has starred in ITV and Channel 4 television adverts and radio adverts for the Yorkshire-based firm Help-Link.

In 2012, Ball participated in the Strictly Come Dancing TV show, where he was paired with Aliona Vilani. A training accident in the three-week interval resulted in torn ligaments for Vilani, causing her to retire temporarily from the show. She was replaced by Iveta Lukošiūtė who, with Ball, was eliminated in the first week. Vilani returned in the final group dance alongside Ball. In a TV interview in October 2017, Ball claimed Vilani faked the injury, with Vilani denying the allegation and saying she would take legal advice over Ball's comments. There are no reports that she subsequently took any form of legal action. He was 74 at the time of Strictly, and he is the oldest contestant in the show's history.

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Bill Schuffenhauer is an American bobsledder who has competed since 2000. Competing in three Winter Olympics, he won the silver medal in the four-man event at Salt Lake City in 2002.

Schuffenhauer's Olympics dream as a track and field athlete came to an end in 2000. While training for Sydney, he suffered a nasty ankle injury and could barely walk. When his friend told him that the U.S. Olympic team was practising bobsledding in Park City, he took the chance to go and observe. While there, the team members noticed his 6-foot, 200 pound frame and asked him he wanted to be a pusher. He accepted and trained with the team from then on.

He was not originally slated to be a regular member, but was promoted when one of the U.S. four-man team members tested positive for steroids. Piloted by Todd Hays, that crew won a silver medal at the Salt Lake Games.

At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, Bill's two-man team placed 14th, after which he retired. He had two children and he felt responsible for them. Bobsledders earn only a meager amount, but Bill made the tough decision to continue to aspire for qualification for Vancouver. He fought through a neck injury (2 herniated disks) with the help of a chiropractor and a team physician.

In January 2010, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Bill and his 3 USA teammates placed sixth and qualified for Vancouver and it was officially announced on January 17, 2010 that Bill's team would represent the United States at Vancouver. They finished 13th in the four-man event.

"The dream is happening right now. I'm here. That's all I wanted," he said. Then he added, "It would be nice to get a medal of any colour."

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Rich Pesos is an incredibly talented Hip Hop artist, songwriter, music producer, and the Owner and CEO of Rich Dreams Music, an independent music label. Rich’s music is a culmination of his strong love for music and a deep desire to pursue a career in the music industry. He credits his successes to his mother, whose hard work and relentless pursuit of excellence made an indelible impression on him and his brother growing up, and has been his inspiration since. Consequently, over the years, Rich has continually invested his time and energy in creating fresh bodies of work and forming collaborations with artists, producers, and creatives from all over the world.

Drawing inspiration from the renowned Hip Hop artist, 50 Cent, whose prowess in music and excellence in business he greatly admires, Rich writes magnificent lyrics that he delivers powerfully with a melodious voice that is so pleasant to hear. A dynamic artist, Rich also makes Pop, R&B, and Afrobeats music. With a propensity for sharing his personal stories and thoughts with his fans, he makes his music easily relatable and appealing to a wide range of listeners. Recently, he released his Debut EP, Conflicted.

When he’s not producing other artists’ music or crafting his next song, Rich can be found spending quality time with his family, reading books, and hanging out with friends playing football, soccer, or basketball. Listening to his deeply enchanting, evocative music, and knowing the immense passion he has for his craft, one can never go wrong in saying that the music industry is witnessing the birth of something special in Rich, and the promise of great music that his fans will always enjoy.

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A new study finds 3 in 10 adults are considering starting a business or side hustle when the recession bites in 2023 

Undaunted by predictions that the economy is heading into a prolonged and deeper-than-expected recession, a significant number of enterprising Brits say they are

considering starting a business or a side hustle in 2023.

Driven by a desire to boost their household income and offset the spiralling cost of living, almost a third of UK adults (30%) are contemplating getting their own

business off the ground this year, on either a full or part-time basis, according to a new survey by small business platform Enterprise Nation.

While recessions often see people motivated to start a business because of job insecurity or unemployment, the research suggests this downturn will be different with greater numbers planning to start a side hustle while holding down a full or part-time job,

Just 6% said losing their job was their reason for wanting to be their own boss. By contrast, 22% said it was to supplement part-time work or wages from a zero-hours contract or to make money out of a hobby they enjoy (27%).

With technology and increased access to online start-up support making starting a business easier than ever, the study also found that entrepreneurial ambition is particularly strong among young adults with almost half (48%) in the 18-24 age group saying they were considering starting a business.

Women (71%) were more likely than men (45%) to start a side hustle alongside their current job or caring responsibilities.

The most popular business sector to start up in was food and drink (12%), closely followed by tech (11%).

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