Happy National Singles Week!

Even though we now live in a globally-connected digital age, local proximity is still one of the biggest factors in finding the perfect mate. To help singles who are looking for their soulmate, ApartmentList.com just released a new report ranking the top 100 cities in America for singles in 2021.

Their report was based on the following four key metrics:

• Dating Satisfaction
• Social Satisfaction
• Dating Affordability
• Percentage of Singles

According to the results, Charlotte ranks among the top 20 cities in the nation, coming in at #18 overall, just behind Long Beach, and just ahead of Houston.

Top 20 US Cities for Singles

Do you agree with the report? 

As Charlotte’s explosive growth continues, our traditional growth pattern – low-density and heavily auto-centric — is not sustainable for the generations who will live and work here in the years ahead and has made living here difficult for many today.

Facing similar challenges, other fast-growing cities such as Austin, Seattle, and Denver are making ambitious investments to build diverse mobility networks. Unfortunately, Charlotte’s response has been lackluster. Our bus system is ranked among the poorest in the nation, rail transit expansion has been sporadic, and safe bicycle and pedestrian networks are rare.

Expeditious development of the Transformational Mobility Network (TMN) – with interconnected mobility options to serve everyone – is essential to a strong and sustainable future for the Charlotte area.

A report from the local nonprofit group Sustain Charlotte has detailed what we can do as a city to utilize our full potential. They note that some positive steps from the TMN include:

• Non-transit projects (bicycle, pedestrian, greenways, and roadways) would receive funding as soon as the sales tax is imposed in 2023 (assuming referendum passage in 2022);
• Implementing the bus priority corridors and Envision My Ride bus improvements also in 2023;
• Cost estimates and timelines for each transit project.

But they say that other aspects of the proposal are concerning, including:

• Longer timelines for the rail projects – doubling the projected schedule for some – will significantly increase overall costs and limit our ability to achieve many goals of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, as the future rail corridors fill up with incompatible development in the interim.
• The “one project at a time” approach to transit will delay vital improvements that our region needs now, not 20 years from now, and make it harder to meet the city’s adopted climate goals.
• No details have been shared on how the TMN sales tax’s 10 percent share for non-transit projects would be spent. The majority must go to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and greenways, not road capacity expansion – and still, that 10 percent may not be enough to deliver, in a timely way, the infrastructure we need to achieve adopted goals.

They believe that the best next steps include:

• Prioritizing the creation of a fast, frequent, and reliable bus network.
• Faster rail project completion, perhaps in smaller phased segments (a priority schedule already is needed for more significant segments requiring FTA funding.)
• Doing a detailed analysis to determine how much money could be saved by building the rail projects faster. Inflation and interest will increase costs the longer we wait. The new projected cost for all transit projects of $11.6 billion is equivalent to $7.3 billion in today’s dollars ($4.3B in inflation costs over 18 years).
• Augmenting the proposed sales tax with other revenue sources, potentially including value capture from the increased property values of adjacent properties and additional vehicle licensing fees. (Denver’s multi-source approach was recommended by Charlotte’s Transit Funding Working Group in 2013. Seattle’s broader approach to funding also deserves review.)
• The development of a detailed list of bicycle, pedestrian, and greenway projects, including the timing for each (following the model of the transit projects).

Building the full Transformational Mobility Network, on an expedited schedule, is essential to securing Charlotte’s position as a top-tier city.

With the rise of cryptocurrencies and the pandemic shutdowns, many people have been turning online for their gambling entertainment. New sites are increasing security and offering many more options when compared to traditional in-person gaming facilities.

Even poker is now becoming an online pastime, which is especially surprising, considering it’s storied history. Over 2 centuries ago, it was mainly played by con artists, criminals, and knife-makers on riverboats. Now it is a famous ‘sport’ which is played all over the world by professionals. The celebrity status of poker players has replaced today’s criminal group. Moreover, technology has taken it a step further, and poker hands are no longer handled by professional cheaters manipulating the deck but more often by software programs that connect millions of players worldwide.

Back in the day, games like this in betting houses supported by several exciting game machines. And places like that usually have units that reach more or less up to 1000 units. But with the development of technology, this method is considered less efficient because it must take more time to prepare and cost more money. Hence the creation of new high-tech gaming sites like https://casinohex.co.uk/online-casinos/fast-payout/.

Many Choices of Game Types

Casino Hex features a wide array of games include gambling games, roulette, baccarat, sic bo, and slots. And each player certainly has their favorite type, but the most popular are Baccarat and Roulette. 

Have you been to the site?

What are your favorite games?

Charlotte landmarks, together with more than 375 other buildings around the world, will light up teal on November 4 to raise Alzheimer’s awareness as part of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s (AFA) Light the World in Teal program.

Light the World in Teal is an annual program held in November as part of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. People and places around the world “go teal” to raise awareness and show support for the millions of people affected by Alzheimer’s. Teal is AFA’s Alzheimer’s awareness color.

To date, participating Charlotte landmarks include:

• NASCAR Hall of Fame
• Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
• Romare Bearden Park

“Light the World in Teal is a tremendous initiative that demonstrates unity around the world in the battle against Alzheimer’s disease,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s President & CEO. “We are grateful to these Charlotte sites for shining a spotlight on Alzheimer’s disease and invite others to join them in going teal on November 4.”

Individuals can participate in Light the World in Teal by wearing teal, turning their porch lights teal, and turning their social media profile picture or cover photo teal—samples can be found by visiting www.lighttheworldinteal.com.  Use the hashtag #AFALightTheWorldInTeal to help raise Alzheimer’s awareness.  Buildings in the Charlotte area interested in participating can sign up by visiting www.lighttheworldinteal.com.

Families looking for information about Alzheimer’s disease or support services can contact AFA’s Helpline at 866-232-8484 or visit www.alzfdn.org.