Choose Your Adventure: Entering UX or UI Web Design in 2021

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For many, the pandemic devastated their concept of normal, changing the way they would go about their lives for potentially years to come. Struck by the imminent and constant danger that came with the spread of Coronavirus, many came to reconsider how they were living their lives before, reevaluating whether they were actually happy with their careers, their living situation, and the like. For these people, as the pandemic started to ebb ever so slightly, they were given a choice: go back to life as it was before or try something new—something that might be more fulfilling. Many of those people are seeking higher-paying jobs that will have opportunities available as time goes on, careers in fields like coding or web design. Yet, they likely don’t know where to start. 

If you’re one of those people, welcome…you’re in the right place. The idea of switching careers can be daunting, especially if you don’t have a concrete idea of what you’re looking to do or what your chosen career path will actually expect of you on a day-to-day basis. This article aims to provide context for people looking to jump into a web design career, explaining the difference between UX and UI web design and offering easy ways to get the qualifications needed and start working as soon as possible. 

Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about starting a career in web design.

UX Design: Putting the Consumer First

UX designers, or user experience designers, are charged with thinking about how the consumer is going to interact with their product from start to finish. UX designers are responsible for constructing the spine of the product, thinking about how customers are likely to consume content, and constructing prototypes that organize that content strategically. As such, UX designers typically begin by conducting competitor and customer analyses, getting a good idea of their demographic (and therefore how they are likely to interact with their given website) and what their competition has done well (and what can be improved on in their version). Likewise, UX designers have to be receptive and attentive to customer feedback, constantly working on improving their product to make it more easily accessible.

UX designers tend to be bigger picture thinkers—idea people capable of putting themselves into others’ shoes.

UI Design: Aesthetic Fine-Tuners

UI (user interface) designers take the skeleton passed on to them by the UX designers and add flesh, muscles, the works—everything the website concept needs to be a functional, accessible product. While UX designers are charged with thinking about how customers will consume content, UI designers are more concerned with how customers will interact with the product, considering the look, feel, and functionality of the interfaces consumers will interact with. UI designers make decisions on the color palette used, button placement and type, any animations that may be present, and the like. 

UI designers tend to be people who can focus on the minute details and can 

take the ideas of others and translate them into functional products. Whichever of the two disciplines you choose to pursue, both UX and UI developers tend to be paid an average of around $83,000 a year, making web design a highly lucrative profession to enter.

Learning Web Design on the Cheap

That can be a very attractive offer for people looking to switch careers; yet, the idea of spending thousands of dollars on the education needed to jump into something new can rightly cause some hesitation. If you don’t have the money to go back to institutionalized higher education, UX and UI bootcamps might be an excellent way to get the education and qualifications you need without wasting time on unnecessary course requirements. They typically cost around the price of a single semester at most higher institutions, last a few months at the most, and provide everything you need to go straight into a job after graduation. 

The First Step on a New Career Path

Embarking on a new journey can be daunting, especially with the widespread instability caused by the still-present pandemic. But knowing where you’re going, and knowing how you’re going to get there, can make it all the easier to move beyond the restrictions of the past and into a bright, new future.

HIV Testing: Where To Get Tested

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Have you had the chance to go for HIV testing yet? If not, perhaps you should make a decision soon. According to the CDC, sexually active people should get tested for HIV once a year. This does not mean that you are free of the disease if you haven’t been in a sexual relationship for a long time. You still need to get tested for HIV once you have had sexual intercourse.

So, if you think it’s high time to get tested for HIV, the first thing to pop in you mind would be, which are the best HIV testing sites? Once you do some research, you will come across plenty of options that may even confuse you! But don’t worry, as you can depend on one of the best HIV testing sites such.

There are plenty of reasons why it is the best HIV testing site you will ever come across. One of them is that their partner labs are in 4,500 locations throughout the nation! Yes, you read that right. This means that if you want to get tested for HIV, you are sure to find one of their partner labs close to you! With a team of qualified labs, you can rest assured that you are in safe hands! Not only that, but even the laboratories are well-furnished and equipped with the latest technology for producing only the best results.

If you wish to get tested for HIV on the same day of your booking, that’s possible, too! If you are wondering how that’s possible is, here’s how. Firstly, their partner labs usually stay open until late afternoon. Therefore, if you want to pay a quick visit during the day, you can. Not only that, but the partner labs are situated in almost all nooks and corners of the nation. This means that you are bound to find a partner lab near you without traveling the distance.

However, keep in mind that you can’t just plan a visit to the partner lab as you wish. Before doing so, you need to have the requisition form or code with you. Usually, you will get this code in your email immediately after your HIV testing booking is processed. Once you have it with you, you can visit the nearest partner lab and produce the code before them.

Getting tested for HIV won’t take more than ten minutes of your time. You may have to give a blood sample or an oral swab. Once the tests are done, you can expect to get back the results in one or two days. It’s that quick and simple.

When you opt for HIV testing, you are bound to come across different tests. Keep in mind that among all the tests, the HIV RNA test is the best option. With such a test, there is an assurance that the virus will be detected quickly, if any. The only difference is that you may have to shell out a few extra bucks. But this shouldn’t be a problem, considering the fact that your health and life are in play. 

If you are aged 16 or above, you are at the legal age where you can go for HIV testing without any doctor’s note or recommendation. Instead of heading straight to a clinic and waste your time in a queue, you can sit comfortably at home and place your order online by checking out the website. You don’t have to worry about information leaking out, as your details will remain confidential. Not only that, but even the tests will be conducted in a confidential manner.

When you are hesitant to go for HIV testing out of shame or time restraint, there’s a solution for that as well: an at home HIV test. Yes, you read that right! You can always order an HIV test kit, which will allow you to get tested right at home. All you need to do is follow the simple instructions to a T. Once you are done collecting the sample, you can return it to the same shipping address. It’s that convenient!

In fact, these days, most people seem to be looking for the most convenient way to get tested for HIV. This is one of the main reasons why at home HIV test is becoming even more popular. However, some concerned citizens have raised questions as to whether the results are accurate or not. You don’t have to worry, as there have been clinical studies that prove that it is accurate by 92%. This percentage should be more than enough to convince you of its accuracy. The reason is that even if you go for HIV testing in a clinic, there may be times when the result is not 100% accurate. However, this is not the fault of the doctors or lab technicians. In fact, it usually happens when people get themselves tested during the window period, the time taken by your body in producing antibodies after HIV exposure.

Therefore, doctors always recommend that you wait for some time to get tested for HIV, and not immediately after sexual intercourse. This is considering you get tested for HIV once every year. With millions of people in the US living with HIV, the numbers are only increasing. Therefore, it is essential that you head to the best HIV testing site for HIV testing. This way, you won’t have to live your life in constant fear and worry. Not only that, but you will be doing a great favor to your partner, showing them how much you care. With the number of HIV cases rising every year, now is the time to make a stand. Show your courage and eliminate all your fears by placing an order at the best HIV testing site today! You know you will have done the right thing for yourself and your loved ones no matter the result. In case it comes back negative, there will be doctors who will give you a free consultation and help provide medication and therapy, too.

Benefits of Laser Marking on Metals Applied in the Automotive World

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Laser marking, especially for automotive applications requires a small, powerful laser and certain special materials, which makes it more challenging than for printed materials. The laser marking machine for metal has made it possible to mark on metals like your automobiles, cars, etc. However, this does not mean it is impossible to do, and there are some remarkable benefits of doing so. By applying a laser, you can improve the quality of the surface on the vehicle or at least get rid of marks that are present in it. 

Laser engraving on metals and other objects with high luster and less color variations allows better overall appearance and better hand-feel. Laser engraving or marking helps cut costs, improve quality, and make repairs much easier than the conventional methods. While laser engraving is used mostly for parts with low gloss, there are certainly some parts, such as the valve covers, that have a high gloss level. If you decide to laser engrave parts with high gloss, it is important that you follow specific tips to get the best possible results.

Few Tips to Consider:

Some of the tips include:

  1. Do not under or over shine the parts.
  2. Move the parts close to a lamp that’s up to standard.
  3. Place the parts in an environment with a comfortable temperature.
  4. Make sure the area is dark and cool enough.
  5. Many parts require complete silence.
  6. Make sure the parts and equipment are dry.

In some cases, special facilities are needed to use laser engraving on metals. To determine if it is a good idea to use lasers on your parts, talk to your local shop owner, manufacturer, and the service provider that is responsible for your particular part. Also, ask for references to make sure you choose a shop with the best reputation and experience working with lasers.

Though it is best to use specialized equipment and tools for laser engraving on metals, you do not have to invest a great deal of money. Many shops offer lasers for many different types of parts.

Other Benefits of Laser Marking on Metals

There are many benefits of laser engraving metals. The following are some of the other benefits of laser-engraving on metals: 

  • Strength

Laser marking on metals is strong, not only for the metal, but also for the laser. As a result, the materials used are easier to handle and move than if the materials were not laser-engraved.

  • Improved Durability

With laser marking on metal, you can guarantee that the part will be the same or more durable, compared to a material that is not laser-engraved.

  • Smoothness

Laser marking on metals makes the surface look smoother than the material it was laser-engraved on.

  • Precise cutting

Even though laser-engraving on metal is a slow process, it can cut accurately, resulting in less overall damage to the part.

  • Good for vehicle owners

Using a laser improves the appearance of parts that are to be stored and used in a vehicle.

  • Difficulty in getting rid of blemishes or marks

Laser engraving on metals ensures that the object will retain its original appearance, and in many cases, it also helps to get rid of any marks on the surface of the metal.

  • Reverse polishing

Using a laser to cut engravings on metal parts also provides an advantage of reverse polishing. In reverse polishing, laser traces are placed on the part to remove scratches.

  • Enhanced durability

When using a laser to engrave on metal parts, it can make it harder for dents or other marks to appear.

  • Enhanced appearance

When using a laser engraving, there is a better chance of the product retaining its original shape and the color, with the exception of white plastic.

  • Easy maintenance

While laser-engraving on metal does require special care, it is still easy to clean and maintain. Additionally, parts can be re-engraved with a low-pressure table, saving you time and money.

Concluding Words:

It is important to mention that laser-engraving is a specialty process. It requires special equipment and precautions. Therefore, it is recommended that you obtain a quote from the shop that does this type of work before you commit to it. Whatever type of metal part you want to engrave, you can now easily do it with a laser engraver, which is a special machine that cuts patterns into metal. Smoothness and durability are usually a big advantage of laser-engraving on metals.

Firebirds Launching New Concept Location in Huntersville

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A Mecklenburg original turned national success story, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, headquartered here, will open its first Huntersville, NC, location and fourth in the greater Charlotte market on Tuesday, November 9, at 16641 Birkdale Commons Parkway in the Birkdale Landing mixed-use development.

Firebirds was created in Charlotte in 2000 by prominent local restaurateur Dennis Thompson, with the first location in the StoneCrest at Piper Glen retail center. With the Huntersville location, Firebirds now operates 54 restaurants in 19 states.

The new restaurant will introduce this market to the concept’s revamped look created by Charlotte-based starrdesign. The contemporary, polished take on the American steakhouse and wood-fired grill features an open, light-infused layout with floor-to-ceiling windows, lighter-toned woods, charred black brick, exposed steel, abstract artwork, and tones of orange, red, and teal. The entry, FIREBAR®, and lounge flow freely into the interior dining area, with every seat in the restaurant providing a view of the concept’s signature exhibition kitchen, wood-fired grill, and prominent brick fireplace. The 5,600-square-foot restaurant will seat 136 in the dining room, 15 at the bar, and 34 on the enclosed patio with retractable windows.

“The vision that launched Firebirds more than 20 years ago remains the same today:  offer a reliably excellent dining experience with flavorful, high-quality food and warmly professional service at a comfortable price, while putting down roots as an engaged neighbor in each community we serve,” said Firebirds CEO Steve Kislow.

Leading the Huntersville team are General Manager Crystal Keatts, a restaurant industry veteran of more than 15 years, and Executive Chef Rashaune Davis, a Johnson & Wales graduate who joined the company in 2004. The restaurant is currently hiring at numerous hourly positions back- and front-of-house, offering competitive pay, health insurance, flexible hours, a $200 hiring bonus after training completion for new hire, and an additional $200 bonus if a referral by a new team member is hired and completes training. Interested candidates may apply online at firebirdscareers.com or in person at the restaurant Monday-Friday, 10 AM-4 PM.

Top 10 Things To Do Around Charlotte This Weekend – 10/29/21

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October is almost over and Halloween weekend is here.

This weekend, the Charlotte region will feature number of concerts, spooky events, and fall festivals.

Here are the top 10 that we know of happening over the next few days:

#1 Cabarrus Fair

This year, the Cabarrus Fair has officially partnered with the Queen Charlotte Fair to hold a massive fall fair at the Route 29 Pavilion in Concord (5650 Sandusky Blvd., Concord, NC).

This year’s event will highlight local vendors for all aspects of the fair, including a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, carnival rides, live music, and all the fried fair food you can eat.

Gates will open Thursday, October 21 at 4pm. Ticket prices for this season’s event will be $8 online and $10 at the gate. Kids ages 6-12 will be $5 online and at the gate. Kids 5 and under are free.

You can find out more information or buy your tickets here.

#2 Newsboys

As one of the world’s top Christian bands, Newsboys has released 17 studio albums, 6 of which have been certified gold.
They’ll be performing live this coming Saturday night at the Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte staring at 7pm.

#3 Taste of Soul Charlotte

Come get a Taste of Charlotte’s Best Black-owned Restaurants, BBQers, Caterers, Chefs, & Bakers.

General admission excludes sample tickets.

Event Times:

Thursday Oct 28: 2-9pm

Friday, Oct 29: 2-9pm

Saturday, Oct 30: 2-9pm

Sunday, Oct 31st: 12-7pm

#4 Museum of The Moon

The Museum of the Moon will be exhibited in downtown Belmont for three weekends serving as the backdrop for a series of lunar-inspired events. Over the centuries, the moon has been used as a timekeeper, calendar, and source of light to aid nighttime navigation. The evenings and weekends will evoke passion and exploration as the ethereal blue light cast by the full moon serves as the perfect environment for poetry readings, art exhibitions, theater performances, and musical concerts. We hope the exhibit will be an educational experience of a lifetime and inspire the next generation of scientists, artists, poets, writers, and musicians from Gaston County. During Halloween weekend, the mysterious dark side of the moon will surely invite the most ghoulish of them all into downtown for a “spooktacular” good time.

Find out the full schedule and more info here.

#5 Charlotte Hornets vs Portland Trailblazers

This coming Sunday Night, the Charlotte Hornets will be taking on the Portland Trailblazers live in the Spectrum Center.

For more info or tickets click here.

#6 Battle of The Bands

This weekend, the HBCU Battle Of The Bands returns to the Bojangles Coliseum and will feature marching bands from North Carolina Central (NCCU), South Carolina State (SCSU), Benedict College (BC), Fort Valley State (FVSU), and Winston Salem State (WSSU).

There will also be a Fan Fest from 10 – 3:30 pm hosted by Bluz and Chirl Girl featuring live music by The Hamiltones, The Project 919 Band, Quentin Talley & The Soul Providers, Jay D  Jones, Karen Poole, DJ Tab D’Biassi, and the Johnson C. Smith University Drumline.

Doors for the Battle Of The Bands open at 4 pm with the show starting at 5.

#7 Myke Towers

This coming Friday night, rise hip hop star Myke Towers will be performing live at the Bojangles Coliseum.

He’ll be taking the stage this at 8pm.

Find out more information or get your tickets here.

#8 Octoberfest

Come to CaroMont Health Park in Downtown Gastonia this Saturday afternoon for a huge Oktoberfest celebration. From beer tastings and keg rolling to live music and food, this event will be fun for the whole family.

Find out more information here.

#9 20th Annual Rich & Bennett’s Charlotte Halloween Crawl

Charlotte’s Original Halloween Crawl is back on Saturday, October 30, 2021, and better than ever. They have 23+ locations involved throughout Uptown Charlotte and lined up great drink specials at each of the bars

Find out more information here.

#10 Live Under The Oaks – Birkdale Village

Start your weekends unwinding with live musical performances in The Grove every Friday starting at 6pm from April to October! No tickets or reservations are required.

Check out more information here.

If you think other events should be on this list or future lists, let us know – Scott@CharlotteStories.com

NC Employers Among the Least Tolerant in The Country of Drunk or High Employees

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Most private companies are not mandated by law to have drug-free workplace policies, however, there are exceptions to this. Workers in safety and security-sensitive industries, as well as federal employees are required to maintain sobriety in the workplace under the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988.

DrugAbuse.com just conducted a survey of 3,700 employers across the country, asking them to rank their tolerance of intoxication in the workplace from 1 to 10 (1 being the most tolerant and 10 being the least). The survey revealed that overall, employers in the state of North Carolina are among the least tolerant of drunk or high employees, with a ranking of 5/10.

Employers in Connecticut, Maine and Nebraska were found to be the most tolerant of employee intoxication with an average tolerance ranking of 3/10.

The survey also delved into different industries to find out which are most and least tolerant when it comes to being intoxicated on the job. Employers in the banking and real estate industry were found to be equally tolerant (2/10).

Comparatively, those in public service, charity, and healthcare industries were least tolerant, ranking an average of 4/10, certainly due to the nature of these fields requiring regular interactions with customers, volunteers and patients respectively.

Survivor Resource Center a ‘Monumental Step Forward’ in Serving Charlotte Survivors

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On average, a domestic abuse survivor must go to nine different locations, fill out 37 pages of paperwork, and repeat their story 27 times. This complicated, often exhausting process leads roughly 80% of survivors to walk away without getting healing, legal, and supportive services.

Domestic violence survivor Audra Toussaint understands this frustration because she’s lived it, noting that “many survivors are simply not able to follow through with the process and tragically end up remaining in a situation that is unsafe or unhealthy.” The newly opened Survivor Resource Center in Charlotte represents a monumental step forward in streamlining and simplifying this disjointed system for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child maltreatment.

Located inside the Children & Family Services Center in Uptown Charlotte, this inclusive center offers a short-term, small-scale solution to the disjointed process survivors can face when they seek help. Partnering organizations represented on-site include Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services, Mecklenburg County Community Support Services, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center, and Safe Alliance. Off-site partners include: Atrium Health Domestic Violence Healthcare Project; Charlotte-Mecklenburg District Attorney’s Office; Mecklenburg County District Court; and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office. Partners will collaborate to address the highest lethality cases on a referral-only basis for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child maltreatment. The center will provide “navigator staff” to guide survivors through the process, which may include services such as the following:

  • Safety planning
  • Photo injury documentation
  • Crisis counseling
  • Substance use assessment and counseling
  • Economic services
  • Parent support
  • Forensic interviews for child abuse survivors
  • Law enforcement investigations
  • Long-term advocacy

The Survivor Resource Center will serve as a precursor for the highly anticipated, comprehensive Charlotte-Mecklenburg Family Justice Center. This center—which will be named The Umbrella Center—will be a larger-scale operation designed to enhance survivor safety and decrease violence throughout the Charlotte community. Projected to open in 2023, The Umbrella Center will offer a variety of walk-in services, including clinical assessment; individual and group therapy; medical exams and evidence collection/documentation; healthcare services; and workshops and community outreach events.

Rashida Gittens, a domestic violence survivor, sees The Umbrella Center as a symbol of hope for survivors in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

“I speak from a position of triumph and love for this initiative because I know anything is possible,” said Gittens. “The Umbrella Center gives me hope.”

For more information about the Survivor Resource Center, visit the center’s website. Visit the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Family Justice Center website to learn more about this longer-range, larger-scale comprehensive center.

This Charlotte Area Restaurant Was Just Ranked One Of The Best In America

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A small restaurant in Davidson has just been ranked among the best in the nation.

The NY Times just released their list of the 50 best restaurants in America for 2021, and after tens of thousands of eateries were considered, Davidson’s own Kindred Restaurant landed among the top.

In their write-up about the top-ranked eatery, the NY-Times says:

“In 2015, Joe and Katy Kindred left their restaurant jobs in San Francisco and moved the family to his tiny hometown, Davidson, N.C. They opened Kindred, where dishes like North Carolina flounder with shelling peas mingle on the menu with crispy eggplant and labneh. They hand-batter chicken strips for kids, and fry potatoes in duck fat. For a bonus, try Milkbread, their new all-day cafe named after their signature loaf. The menu features milk-bread doughnuts and monster fried-chicken sandwiches, which they started selling to keep them afloat during lockdown. All are great reasons to drive a half-hour north from Charlotte to eat.” 

The list also featured 2 other Carolina restaurants, including Ashville’s Chai Pani and Charleston’s Hannibal’s Soul Kitchen.

Do you agree with the rankings?

What do you think about Kindred?

Charlotte 49ers Drop To. 500, Showdown With Rice, More

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Struggles On Offense Continue As 49ers Fall To 4-4

The Charlotte 49ers’ promising starts of 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 have gone out the window in the blink of an eye.

On Saturday, the 49ers visited the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, who were coming off their second straight win.

It was the Hilltoppers who sustained their momentum, crushing Charlotte 45-13. The result placed both teams at 4-4 through eight games.

After going down 21-3 in the second quarter, the 49ers showed some life by responding with 10 unanswered points. But Bailey Zappe tossed a late touchdown to Jerreth Sterns to close out the half, and the Hilltoppers took control from there.

Charlotte was shut out in the second half, and Western Kentucky piled up 17 more points in the second half to cruise to a 45-13 win.

This also marked the second consecutive game in which the 49ers were shut out in the second half, per the school’s official website. Charlotte squad mustered just nine points in the team’s 38-9 blowout loss at home to Florida Atlantic on Oct. 21.

In all four of their losses, the 49ers have scored no more than 14 points, and they’ve been held to single digits in two of them. 

Charlotte will look to rebound when they host Rice (3:30 p.m. EST) this Saturday.

For 49ers fans interested in sports betting, Charlotte opens as a six-point favorite against the Owls. 

Chris Reynolds Injury Update

The 49ers sorely missed starting quarterback Chris Reynolds in Saturday’s aforementioned loss to Western Kentucky. Backup James Foster struggled with 13 completions on 25 pass attempts for only 118 yards, zero touchdowns and an interception. The Hilltoppers also sacked him twice.

Reynolds suffered a hand injury on his right throwing hand in Charlotte’s game against Florida Atlantic, which kept him sidelined for the contest against Western Kentucky.

Per Hunter Bailey of The Charlotte Observer, 49ers head coach Will Healy said that Reynolds will remain day-to-day through next week. His status for the pivotal contest against Rice is unclear.

Reynolds has 1,533 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions to go along with 207 rushing yards and three rushing scores.

Healy On Coaching Approach 

To say that the 49ers hit a home run with the hiring of Healy — in his third year on the job — would be quite the understatement.

In his first year with the Charlotte football program, Healy led the team to a 7-6 record. They advanced all the way to the Bahamas Bowl, falling 31-9 to the Buffalo Bulls. The 49ers went 2-4 in 2020, a season that was cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In a recent piece, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg detailed how some college football coaches have flourished by implementing the “Ted Lasso” effect. 

The AppleTV+ primetime hit stars Jason Sudeikis as the main character. Sudeikis plays an American college football coach who is tasked with turning around the fictional AFC Richmond soccer team in the Premier League.

In the piece by Rittenberg, Healy talked about his approach to coaching, citing some of the Ted Lasso character qualities:

“I’m not going to try and go be (Alabama head coach) Nick Saban,” Healy said. “He’s better than I am, he’s won more games, he knows more football. I have so much respect for that, but it’s not my personality. It’s the same thing with recruiting a player… I grew up on the lake. That is me, and I’m not going to try to be somebody else.

“I tell guys, ‘There may be some of these things that I don’t understand because I haven’t lived that experience, but I care enough about you to want to understand more, and be there for you consistently.'”

49ers Look To Rebound vs. Rice

The 49ers enter must-win territory as they prepare to host the Owls, who have won three of their last five contests following an 0-3 start.

If there was ever a golden opportunity for the 49ers to regain their form on offense, this is it. The Owls have one of the worst defenses in the country, allowing a whopping 36.5 points per game. 

On the other side of the ball, Rice is averaging a mere 18.8 points per game. Their quarterbacks have combined for only 10 touchdown passes against nine interceptions.

With home advantage and a reeling Rice team next on the schedule, the 49ers simply cannot let this opportunity get away. Even if Reynolds misses his second straight game, the chance is right there for Foster to lead his team to victory.

The Owls have been solid against the pass, allowing an average of 228.6 yards per game. However, the 49ers RB duo of Calvin Camp and Shadrick Byrd should have a field day against a defense that’s allowing 193.5 yards on the ground per game.

If Charlotte’s leaky rush defense (203.6 yards allowed per contest) can contain Rice’s ground game, they should cruise to a much-needed victory.

Gene Therapy Company Building New $125 Million Facility in North Carolina

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One of the nation’s leading gene therapy companies has just announced plans to build a major new facility here in the Tar Heel State.

Jaguar Gene Therapy will be building a new $125 million, 174,000 square foot facility in Durham County and creating 200 new jobs for our state. The company is focused on the commercialization of novel gene therapy treatments for those suffering from severe genetic diseases.

“Our new GMP facility represents a major step forward for Jaguar in our mission to accelerate gene therapy breakthroughs in patient populations with large unmet need,” said Andrew Knudten, M.S., MBA, Chief Operating Officer of Jaguar Gene Therapy. “North Carolina is known for its innovation in biotechnology and its highly talented workforce, both of which are crucial as we strive to raise the bar for manufacturing safe and effective gene therapies.”

Salaries for the new jobs are estimated to average over $76,000.

What do you think about the new project?