Editors Note: This article was first published in the April 24, 1987, issue of National Review, featured in Mr. Manos The Gimlet Eye column. Despite the title, it makes for appropriate reading before Easter.

And he said unto them,Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

Luke 22: 1012

There is a strange agency at work here. The Scripture might be haunted. That pitcher-bearer. This goodman. They spook me. Who are they, what special order of grace do they belong to? And, elsewhere, those men who surrender the colt whereon yet never man sat. Nameless, equivocal shapes. Hey, they shout, why loose ye the colt? The Lord has need of it,His disciples explain. Oh, well. In that case. Why didnt you say so? Take our expensive animal. And has their free will been taken also? It is as if a casual, weird cast of accomplices inhabited Jerusalem. Men or suchlike who know, often better than fumbling Peter or over-literal Thomas, just how to ornament the Passion.

Were they perhaps made of some angelic stuff? I dont think so: it is the Lords habit, thank God, to enlist men wherever convenient. He has an economical disposition. And Man was, after all, what this grand enterprise had been about from the first. But how then did Jesus, so to speak, make His room reservation in advance? Were these men sensitized by dreams? Did the Holy Spirit, foraging like a quartermaster sergeant, requisition their possessions through sign and vision? It is possible. The Lord had been known to trouble sleep. And being warned of God in a dream... Was there fitfulness before the Passover?

Again, I think not. God prefers, when He can, to conserve terrestrial order. He has a dramatic instinct. And His own peculiar unities. The Passion is as naturalistic as frail wrist tissue shredded by a spike. Jesus could ferment water. He could infinitely divide the loaf and the fish. But here He had need of a furnished apartment. His colt might have come about providentially, as Abrahams ram came about, caught in some thicket. But God wanted a known colt: one that had memorable references in Jerusalem. It was His purpose to leave a clear and historical track behind evidence that might stand up in court. The presence of transcendent power among modest instruments is more persuasive than any bullying miracle could be.

I suppose it this way, then. That these pitcher-bearer and goodman and colt-owner, these first acolytes of the Eucharist were men given sudden and heightened perception. An abrupt seeing Into. Spirit came upon them as Jesus came upon Matthew sitting at the receipt of custom: Follow me. And he arose, and followed Him. Simply that. Next Window Please. We are so habituated to reason and a precious carefulness that Christs people seem, well, irresponsible. But grace is first the law-breaker. It can be brutal: Let the dead bury their dead. Brutal and rash and unfair. Because there is no ground whatever for believing that these were righteous men. They didnt earn their cameo roles in the Passion through good work. I suspect they were chosen rather for an openness to potential. They were, above all, ready men.

Simon of Cyrene, recruited by grace and some Roman to lug Jesus cross, is my paradigm in this. He had, it would seem, no previous experience for the work. No moral credentials that we hear about. Just a man who passed by, coming out of the country. To trade, to sightsee, to window-shop: another tourist in the Big Fig. And, all at once, he is absorbed by that rubbernecking mob. Elbow to the front what have we here? And its you, yes you. Bozo, pack that wood. We know nothing about Simon, except that his children, Rufus and Alexander, became Christians. On Good Friday, Simon was what we all are, a passerby. And shanghaied by the Holy Spirit. I take comfort in this thought, whose life otherwise does not much recommend itself to God. That I may be granted, through His fierce randomness and my mere availability, a walk-on moment of redemption.

Return to the Passion now. Imagine, say, a man in his workshop room alone. For best effect, Id fancy him preoccupied: revising some device of his craft, in thought, whatever. Suppose it hot and ordinary out. Then, all of one rush, as weather can change, there should be an importance in the air. Let that cheap pitcher interpose itself across his attention here. For this instant it should have more pitcherness. The way common objects astound and please when we are full of joy. This is, you know, not his regular time to fetch water in. But the thought of pitcher, the very surprising idea that it can hold water, contains aptness and fascination for him. It has been infused by grace. And he rises at a call not from God as such, nor from any impending event but to honor the perfect nature of one created thing. There is elevation all around.

Returning from the wellhe happens upon two men. After that, unaware, they will become a procession of three.

It is not through war and celebrity that God has most advanced His will. It Is through the commonplace: room, colt, manger, fisherman thunderous Easter, atrocity and miracle, are prepared for in them. Open a window. Pick up anything. Inhale. These are moments and incidents without moral import except for this: that reverence and special shining can inhere. We are admonished to be alert. And certainly we have lost just that measure of openness and heightening and expectation. This is, I suspect, what those shadowy men are about. If they didnt know, they felt, felt at some proper instant, that even in the filling of a pitcher one might lead great strangers to magnificence.

D. Keith Mano was a TV screenwriter and author of ten books, including Take Five, the recipient of the 1987 Literary Lion award, and a columnist at National Review magazine for 17 years.

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A Meditation after Easter - National Review

I think that one of the hardest and most beautiful parts of being human is saying goodbye. All of us, it doesnt matter who you are, say goodbye to dreams and expectations weve held for our livesgoodbye to places that hold meaning and ground usand, goodbye to people we love. When we say goodbye, whatever the circumstances of that parting, there is this unique moment of opportunity to look back on all the joy and pain of that human relationship and say some final, important things. These goodbyes are magnified moments of human living, where we feel again our failure, our joy, and the wonder of loving and being loved, and we say thank you: for the ways in which your life has helped me live my life.

As they gathered around the table that night for their last meal together, Jesus broke the bread and poured the wine and looked at each of his disciples. Imagine what his goodbyes must have sounded like: James and Johnsometimes both of you are way too intense; youre always fighting over who is the teachers pet. But I admire your deep devotion, and I long for your tenacity and commitment. In the tough days ahead, hang onto that. Peter? Peter. I love you brother. I mean: youre crazy and impetuous, always getting us in trouble in well-intentioned ways, but I do love you. Dont forget it. Judas, Im praying that I can remember you carry so much pain that you cant let yourself recognize love, cant even let yourself be part of this ragtag community that wants to embrace you. I want you to remember that God will never leave you, no matter what.

Tonight its you and me around this table. Were remembering that meal, as Jesus told us to do. And perhaps we may consider what Jesus might say were he looking across the table, straight into my eyes or yours. Dont let your fear direct your lifeit will only lead you bad places. Stop trying so hard to get the world to love you. I wish for you that you would let go of the anger. Your heart will not feel like its breaking into a million pieces forever; I promise, it will get better. And, most of all: I love you. I will always be with you. Please dont forget.

As a matter of fact, we are invited to experience around this table a magnified moment of human living, where we feel again our failure, our joy, and the wonder of loving and being loved, and we remember: theres a place for everyone at the table tonight. Everyoneas we come to say our goodbyes to a Savior who showed us what love means, and as we look toward him and say perhaps something like: Thank you. Thank youfor the ways in which your life has helped me live mine.

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Goodbyes: A Meditation for Maundy Thursday - Patheos (blog)

Guided meditations, fitness and meditation on the go, and a way to find the perfect workout buddy. Heres are ways to take it to the next level:

Monday was the kickoff for Hope in Uncertain Times, a 21-day digital audio meditation series offered by Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra. Participants get access to a daily 20-minute meditation voiced by Chopra that segues from learning to identify false hope in the first week, to how to use hope to inspire others in the third. Each recording includes a mantra and questions designed to encourage reflective thinking. There is also an interactive journal that encourages participants to note their progress.

Info: Free on iTunes or Google Play. Oprah.com/meditation

::

FabFitFun known for its quarterly subscription boxes stuffed with beauty and wellness products (Summer and Rose Yoga Towels, grip socks by Toesox) is now in the business of streaming fitness videos.

Launched in March, FabFitFun TV is "a return to our roots," said the company's co-founder and editor in chief, Katie Ann Rosen Kitchens. "Health and fitness have been part of our DNA from the beginning."

The approximately 50 videos covering yoga, toning, boot camp and cardio represent the best content from in-demand trainers such as Simone De La Rue and Christine Bullock, said Rosen Kitchens. "We choose them in the same way we curate our boxes," she said.

Info: $180 annual subscription to FabFitFun TV includes four seasonal boxes of products. FabFitFun.com

::

Type in fitness videos on YouTube and 11.6 million options pop up. The confusion inherent in that led entrepreneur Jitesh Chhabria to come up with the Koach TV app. Through three questions (covering goals, preferred workout length and what part of the body the workout is for), the app offers up specific YouTube fitness content. Users can schedule their workouts, track their results and easily scroll through parts of the video. (A 13-minute abs and arms regimen is segmented into punches, standing inner-biceps curls and dumbbell uppercuts.)

"YouTube has all this great content but there is no tracking for goals, planning for commitments or community to motivate you," Chhabria said.

There are 120 workouts on the site, with more to be added. A Web-friendly and Android version is to be up in a few months.

Info: Free on iTunes. App.Koach.TV

::

Looking for someone to go hiking with in Big Bear or to share in tossing around a Frisbee on Venice Beach? The 5F app, launched last August, might be able to help. Described as "a dating app for fitness" by its developer, Urs Camenisch, it pairs people of similar interests whether that's Crossfit, dance or unconventional sports such as base jumping.

"Sometimes it's hard to find people to work out with who are at the same level and like the same sports," said Camenisch, a former ambulance pilot in Canada. Over 100 activities are represented on the app, which Camenisch said could also be useful among people traveling to other countries and hoping to train like a local (such as playing bandy, similar to ice hockey, in Scandinavia.)

"It's a good way to connect with others, instead of just working out in the hotel gym," he said.

Info: Free on iTunes. app5f.com

rene.lynch@latimes.com

Twitter: @renelynch

Health@latimes.com

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Oprah and Deepak want to teach you to meditate - LA Times - Los Angeles Times

This Holy Week, Filipino Catholics are again reminded to reflect, repent, and renew their faith.

This period also calls for meditation as a break from the daily stressful grind.

According to Fr. Aris Sison, meditation is a means for Catholics to be more in touch with God.

"Id like to think of meditation as a means to prayer. I think it is a tool to bring us in touch with God and its a very important practice most especially during Holy Week," he said.

Dr. Ma. Bernadette Arcena, a psychiatrist, noted that those who cannot stand to be alone by themselves without their companions and gadgets are the ones who are really in need of meditation.

"We have to allot in one day a few moments of silence with ourselves," she said.

"I think many people today need silence. We all need it but many people are afraid of it," Fr. Sison added.

Arcena said most people fear silence because of the realizations that they can have when they listen to their conscience.

"It is scary because there could be a lot of voices in your conscience and its so hard to silence yourself if youre so busy," she said.

-- ANC Talkback April 10 2017

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Why you need to set aside time for meditation - ABS-CBN News

For many adults and children with ADHD, two persistent daily challenges are paying attention and maintaining self-regulation. So it stands to reason that some kind of attention training that also hones self-control would be invaluable and incredibly powerful.

Well, it turns out one such treatment strategy has been around for thousands of years, and its a hot research topic at the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC). ADDitudes Carl Sherman, Ph.D., spoke with psychiatrist Lidia Zylowska, M.D., who heads the centers ADHD program.

Mindful awareness, or mindfulness, is part of many religious traditions. For example, Buddhism features a form of mindfulness meditation known as vipassana.

But mindfulness is not necessarily religious or spiritual. It involves paying close attention to your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations; in other words, developing a greater awareness of whats going on with you from moment to moment. Mindfulness is a mental

It can be used as a tool to foster wellness, especially psychological well-being. Similar techniques have been used to lower blood pressure and to manage chronic pain, anxiety, and depression.

Unlike many tools for ADHD, mindfulness develops the individuals inner skills. It improves your ability to control your attention by helping to strengthen your ability to self-observe, to train attention, and to develop different relationships to experiences that are stressful. In other words, it teaches you to pay attention to paying attention, and can also make people more aware of their emotional state, so they wont react impulsively. Thats often a real problem for people with ADHD.

Researchers have talked about using mindfulness for ADHD for some time, but the question was always whether people with ADHD could really do it, especially if theyre hyperactive. The versatility and flexibility of mindfulness allows individuality in the approach, to make it work for you.

Weve tried to make the technique user-friendly. Our eight-week program consists of weekly two-and-a-half-hour training sessions, plus at-home practice. We start with five-minute, seated meditations at home each day, and gradually work up to 15 or 20 minutes. We also give the option to practice longer or to substitute mindful walking for the seated meditation.

We use visual aids, like a picture of a cloudy sky, to explain the basic concepts, because people with ADHD tend to be visual learners. The blue sky represents the space of awareness, and the clouds represent all the thoughts, feelings, and sensations that pass by.

Not quite. The meditation sessions are important practice, but the key is to use mindfulness throughout your daily life, always being aware of where your attention is focused while you are engaged in routine activities. For example, you might notice while you drive that your attention wanders to an errand you must run later that day. Lots of people practice mindfulness while eating. Once you get used to checking in with yourself and your body, you can apply the technique anytime you start to feel overwhelmed.

Yes, the basic practice is very simple. Just sit down in a comfortable place where you wont be disturbed and spend five minutes focusing on the sensation of breathing in and breathing out pay attention to how it feels when your stomach rises and falls. Soon, you may notice that youre thinking of something else your job or some noise you just heard or your plans for later in the day. Label these thoughts as thinking, and refocus your attention on your breath.

Do this mental training daily. Every couple of weeks, increase the length of time you spend on the exercise 10 minutes, 15, up to 20 or more if you feel you can. Try the same thing throughout each day, focusing on your breath for a few minutes as you walk from place to place, or when youre stopped at a red light or sitting at the computer.

You can actually practice mindfulness at any time, even during conversation with others. Turning on the mind-awareness state at any time during your day, even if only for a few minutes, is great training. Its essentially letting go of the busy-ness of your thinking, and bringing your attention to whats happening in the present moment in everyday life.

Its the nature of the mind to be distracted. Mindful awareness isnt about staying with the breath, but about returning to the breath. Thats what enhances your ability to focus.

And this emphasis on re-shifting your attention, of outwitting the minds natural tendency to wander, is what makes this technique especially helpful to someone who has ADHD.

In 2008, we completed a study involving 25 adults and 8 adolescents, half of whom had the combined [both inattentive and hyperactive] form of ADHD, and the results were very promising. We observed significant improvements in both inattention and hyperactivity.

In cognitive tests, the participants got better at staying focused, even when different things were competing for their attention. Many of them also felt less anxious and depressed by the end of study.

In 2012, the study titled The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents was published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies. This research trial evaluated the effectiveness of an 8-week mindfulness training for children aged 812 with ADHD and parallel mindful parenting training for their parents. They found a significant reduction in parent-reported ADHD symptoms after the 8-week training, as well as a reduction in parental stress and over-reactivity. However, the study found no improvement in ADHD symptoms after the mindfulness program on teacher-completed rating scales.

More research is still needed on the efficacy of mindfulness on ADHD symptoms, but the research is promising so far.

There seems to be a growing consensus that children can successfully practice mindfulness, although the program would have to be modified for young children. In fact, there is one mindfulness program thats designed just for preschool and elementary school children [InnerKids.org], and it has been quite successful. The program has yet to be used specifically for children who have ADHD, but we plan to do future studies with them, and with ADHD adolescents and adults.

Most stuck with the program, and, when asked to rate their overall satisfaction with it, they rated it an average of 9 out of 10. And the participants comments were mostly positive. Adults said things like, I feel that I better understand what goes on in my head, and Im less critical of myself, less reactive, and more forgiving of myself.

One teenager said, Now, whenever I feel my mind wandering, Im able to realize that its wandering. I can let go of the feeling and stop giving in to distractions.

Researchers have shown that, compared with people who dont meditate, long-time meditators have different EEG and MRI patterns, particularly in the brains frontal region the region that is involved with ADHD. Another study found a rise in the level of dopamine, the very neurotransmitter in short supply in ADHD brains, during meditative states.

We didnt specifically measure this effect in our study because we did not manage our participants medications. Only about half of our participants were taking stimulant medication, and the benefits they reported were similar to those reported by participants who were not taking stimulants. We hope that, by practicing mindfulness, one can learn to better self-regulate and, over time, lower the need for medication. But we need to study this question further.

A group of researchers began a study in conjunction with the National Institute of Health in 2016 to study mindfulness training versus stimulant medication in the treatment of childhood ADHD. The study is now ongoing, so these insights will be available in the near future.

If youd like an expert to guide you through the process, visit the Mindful Meditations page at UCLA.edu. There, you can download several guided meditations. In each, youll be lead through a mindful awareness exercise.

There are also several good books on mindfulness meditation. I recommend:

The Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts has been offering mindfulness-based stress reduction classes for more than two decades. You can find a directory of trainers on its Web site. The UMass program is designed for stress-related conditions and is not adapted to ADHD, but it has a similar eight-week structure and is a good way to learn the technique.

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Mindful Awareness: How to Combat ADHD Symptoms with Meditation - ADDitude

by: Nicole Carr Updated: Apr 12, 2017 - 7:19 PM

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Gwinnett County commuters have some of roughest, toughest Interstate 85 commutes amid the bridge-collapse reconstruction.

Well, people just arent as patient as they should be, said commuter Debbie Halcomb, noting the honking horns and drivers cutting others off in lanes.

Its why I take the bus so I dont have to deal with traffic and people driving crazy, commuter Steven Hardwick said.

These experiences are why a local psychiatrist is offering a few words of wisdom and warning against road rage.

You need to be mentally prepared for it, said Dr. David Purselle, who owns Georgia Psychiatric Consultants in Decatur. This is causing a lot of stress for people spending many hours in traffic that they wouldnt normally have to deal with.

Purselle said there are a few simple steps we can take during the longer daily commutes.

Step one: breathe.

Inhaling for four, holding for seven and exhaling for eight, Purselle said. That can be very relaxing.

Step two: listen.

There actually is a lot of good data out there showing that calming, relaxing music can reduce your blood pressure, reduce your pulse and just help you feel less stressed in general, he said.

Finally, take in the here and now.

Pay attention to the other cars around you, Purselle said. Listen to the sirens in the background. Try to pay attention to your foot on the petal. These types of things can get your mind off the negative emotions that youre experiencing.

Commuters agree its all about your attitude.

We have to make a choice between violence and peace, said David Sharp. Those are the choices that we make every day.

I mean, this too shall pass.," Halcombadded.

2017 Cox Media Group.

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I-85 collapse leads to concern over more road rage | WSB-TV - WSB Atlanta

The swell brotherhood of Andy and Edwin White has resulted in a number of splendid, half-melted musical journeys over the past few years, but none quite as glorious as their main outlet Tonstartssbandhts Europe tour-documenting double live LP Overseas. Stringing together the Whites ramshackle love of old-fashioned rawk with a tousled, willfully undefinable sensibility, Overseas forged a concrete, energetic jam-band sound out of the Florida duos random sonic sketches without losing the loosey goosey attitude that made those releases so charming. It was one of the most impressive statements from a minimal guitar-and-drums duo in some time, and since then, the question has been whether the boys were capable of translating this same energy and classic rock reinvention into a full-fledged studio album or if their mojo truly was the sort of thing that only made sense in scattered Bandcamp releases and improvised basementshows.

With Sorcerer, Tonstartssbandht has gone to work on perfecting their live sound, sculpting a three-part suite of extended road rock that encapsulates what made them invigorating in the first place. A shade darker than Overseas, the grooves on Sorcerer take their time, not by bashing the Whites whimsical attitude into your head, but by slowly, smoothly creeping into the picture. Opener Breathe sees Andy White plucking out iridescent shapes on his 12-string, as a spacious, swampy intro sets in, only to give way at the crucial moment to a carefree, meandering folk strum that shapeshifts effortlessly across the tracks 11 minutes. The chemistry between Andy and Edwin is absolute magic, their call-and-response exchange so fluid and choogling that the music becomes both relaxing and bursting with excitement. The title track especially seems to go in all directions at once, skipping between altar boy harmonies and 70s boogie with little sense of a clear trajectory; but Tonstartssbandht live and breathe in this open-ended possibility, jamming as if they were carrying forth some consecrated torch clearing away the darkness to carve a new space for their joyous sense of mysticism tofrolic.

Its a pretty marvelous thing that the White brothers have accomplished, reinvigorating something as done to death as bluesy psychedelic country rock, but what really sets Tonstartssbandht apart in their pursuit is how unconcerned they seem with embodying any kind of monolithic classic rock ideal. Although retro in form, the music on Sorcerer is cloudy and untethered, sprawling endlessly in real-time like something new and alive. In Tonstartssbandhts hands, rock & roll is just a means to an end, a passageway to unlocking the innate bond between the White brothers, who approach their instruments with a similar sense of exploratory but humble dedication. As a follow-up to the massive, hypnotizing Overseas, Sorcerer is a concise distillation of Tonstartssbandhts refreshing vision, a crystal ball portraying their intimate friendship, their cosmic noodling echoing deep into thenethersphere.

More about: Mexican Summer

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Tonstartssbandht Sorcerer - Tiny Mix Tapes

Brimbank council has shut down an illegal brothel operating less than 800 metres from two Albion primary schools.

Lena Massage opened on Perth Avenue last November under the guise of a massage parlour, offering relaxation massage seven days a week, between 10am and 8pm.

A sign pinned to the wall did not specify what treatments were available but an A4 piece of paper read: $1/2 hour = $45, 45 minutes = $65, 1 hour = $80.

Lena Massage posed as a massage parlour. Image: Alexandra Laskie

Neighbouring traders began to suspect staff were offering services that would require a sex work service providers licence.

One business owner in the small strip of shops, who did not want to be named, said she went in requesting a back massage and was turned away.

Only men would come out, she said. They turned on loud doof-doof music, not relaxing music, and people were in and out in 15 minutes.

On Monday, Brimbank council issued the landlord a planning infringement notice for breaching the Brimbank planning scheme by using the premises as a brothel.

The councils acting city development director Leanne Deans said a tip-off from Victoria Police led the council to investigate the business.

It is understood the owner is in the process of evicting the tenant, Ms Deans said.

The landlord, who asked to remain anonymous, said he had given the business until the end of April to pack up and leave.

I had a contract with them that said they would operate as a massage parlour, not a brothel, the landlord told Star Weekly. This has nothing to do with me.

Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Reinke said police had received a number of complaints about the business since last December, less than a month after it opened.

He urged people to report suspected unlicensed brothels to the Victoria Police Sex Industry Co-ordination Unit on 9628 7191 or to Crime Stoppers.

When Star Weekly visited last week, a Lena Massage staff member said the business owner planned to reopen very far away from here.

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Illegal Albion brothel shut down - Star Weekly

Sweeps is almost upon us in the local television world, meaning plenty of stories on abuse of power, pending public health crises and heartwarming looks at those making a difference.

For creative services professionals, sweeps means promos. With that in mind, we look at some Top Tracks of production music you might consider using for honest, hardworking promos that showcase and embrace.

Also make sure to check out our past Top Tracks on urgent production music for those driving, always-alerting, breaking news promos.

Good Decision

Are you the team to trust? With this piece from APM Musics Human Documentary, youll inspire confidence and candor with an upbeat tempo.

Chasing Clouds

A bit raw, a little emotional, this cue from VideoHelpers Conflictational features an anthemic quality while letting your voiceover rock the competition.

Simple Complexities

From FirstComs The New Frontier by Jonathan Elias, this track uses a building, optimistic beat with interwoven strings to help create a human interest winner.

Speaking of upbeat promos, check out FirstComs complete playlist on the subject.

Together Apart

Acoustic and relaxing, this cue from Stephen Arnold Musics Radiant is built for morning news, with a friendly and local vibe.

One Voice

Part of Killer Tracks Up to the Minute, this song is focused on storytelling with a slow building strings that swirl into a strong theme.

Ice and Wind

Featured on Warner/Chappell Production Musics Weather playlist, this reflective cue makes you think while staying curious. Look for it on the Intricate Patterns album.

Look for more Top Tracks on NewscastStudio, as we help you find new and thoughtful production music for your next promo, tease or campaign.

Originally posted here:

Top Tracks: Production music picks for honest promos - NewscastStudio

BALTIMORE, April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Tessemae's Fresh Food Company, a leader in the fresh salad dressing and condiment category, is looking forward to an exciting year as it transforms into a fresh food company. A new brand refresh will kick off the company's expansion into the organic produce market.

Tessemae's is disrupting the produce category with its innovation and will continue to rely on its use of clean and organic ingredients as a differentiator. Their product portfolio will be expanding this year to include a new line of creamy salad dressings, a line of organic condiments, salad toppers, single serve and family style salad kits, veggie trays, and dips.

"People are tired of eating science projects.They want clean, fresh, meal solutions. Tessemae's is here to enable that clean eating for everyone, everywhere," saidGreg Vetter, CEO of Tessemae's.

The new brand look, created with the consumer in mind, is clean and flavor forward. The hand-dipped wax they are perhaps best known for has been replaced in favor of an easy-to-open color coordinated shrink seal. The condiment line features fun, playful imagery that is sure to connect with consumers. The new packaging can be found on shelves now. The company will be re-launching their website, Tessemaes.com, in April with a new look and improved user experience.

In January, Tessemae's launched single serve salad kits exclusive to Kroger and Kroger banner stores but will now be expanding to other retailers in the near future. The salad kits are a delicious grab and go meal solution featuring organic grilled chicken, salad greens, Tessemae's dressing, and a salad topper to add flavor and crunch. The salad kit is available in four flavor varieties: Spinach Bacon Ranch, Power Kale Caesar, Sweet Kale Crunch, and Sesame Ginger Greens.

"The most important thing to us is how a product tastes, and how it makes us feel. It all connects back to our mission of simplifying food to amplify life. That's what drives our innovation," said Kristen Dittami, EVP of Research and Development.

About Tessemae's Fresh Food CompanyTessemae's is an organic fresh food company that makes products with real, whole, source food ingredients. The Vetter brothers, Greg, Brian, and Matt, launched the brand in 2009 at their local Whole Foods Market in Annapolis, Maryland, using a simple salad dressing recipe created and used by their mom throughout their childhood. Tessemae's commitment to healthy eating and living is the core of their mission. Provide simple, yet delicious food to consumers made with real ingredients. Available in Whole Foods Market, Kroger, Safeway, Target, The Fresh Market, WalMart, and Earthfare retailers across the country, Tessemae's products are creating a new standard in the product department and raising consumer awareness on the importance of consuming real, clean ingredients. For more information please visit http://www.tessemaes.com.

Contact: Shawn McLaughlinshawn@tessemaes.com

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Tessemae's Enters into the Organic Produce Category with a Fresh ... - Yahoo Finance