You’ve probably heard of GoFundMe before. It’s the number one
fundraising platform for normal people like you and me. You can create a
page for just about any cause, set a funding goal, and explain to your
potential donors why you’re asking them for money. If they want to
donate, they can easily make payments through the platform.
The best thing about GoFundMe is how easy it is to set up and use.
Even if you don’t hit the money goal you set, you can still cash out.
Plus, since there are no deadlines, you can keep your campaign running
for as long as you want.
GoFundMe takes a small commission fee of 30 cents per donation.
Additionally, you will also have to pay the platform a flat rate of 2.9%
when you want to cash out.
Lastly, since GoFundMe is a well-established platform, people feel comfortable donating to it.
2. Begging Money
If you’re going through some financial hard times, Begging Money is a
good platform to turn to. To get started, all you need to do is write
at least 400 words (it’s not that hard!) explaining why you’re asking
for donations. Then, once you select the category for your fundraiser
(e.g. “Dental” to pay a bill to your dentist), you’re all set.
Creating a PayPal.me account will keep you safe from scammers. Plus,
it will ensure the money gets to you as quickly as possible. Moreover,
once you cover the standard PayPal account fees, you’ll get to keep most
of your donation money. That’s because, unlike other platforms, Begging
Money doesn’t charge any commission fees.
3. CyberBeg
When you land on CyberBeg’s website, you might feel as if you’ve been
transported to the early 2000s. While the design and layout of their
page aren’t the best, their service is trustworthy and proven to work.
As of September 2020, CyberBeg has raised nearly $140.000 for its users.
Setting up your “begging” account is incredibly simple. Come up with
an eye-catching title for your ad, tell people why you need their
financial help, and link your PayPal. When potential donors scroll
through the CyberBeg page, they’ll come across your ad and hopefully
donate directly to you.
Fortunately, there are no commission fees besides the small cut that
PayPal takes. From there, you can easily transfer the money to your bank
account.
4. Ko-Fi
If you have a creative side hustle, such as writing, you can ask
people to send you money. Create a page, showcase your work, and wait
for someone to send you a donation—or, as Ko-Fi calls it, “buy you
coffee.” You can also set up regular monthly payments so that you can
get a more stable income supplement.
Since there are no transaction fees, Ko-Fi is an incredible option for small creators to pay bills through their talents!
5. Patreon
Patreon is similar to Ko-Fi, but it’s even more popular. Thousands of
creators use Patreon every month to support themselves through their
art. You’ll find all sorts of creators with Patreon accounts, from
writers to podcasters and YouTubers. Who said your side hustle can’t
help you make it in life?
Using Patreon isn’t without its fees. The cheapest plan will cost you
5% of your monthly donations, while the most expensive will take away
12%. However, since this is a paid service, you’ll get excellent
customer support if you run into any problems.
6. Crowdfunder
If you have a great business idea, crowdfunding is the way to go.
With donations to your Crowdfunder page, you can get your business plans
off the ground.
Setting it up is more complicated than if you were using GoFundMe.
You’ll need to show a term sheet and a pitch deck. Think of it as an
online Shark Tank, where wealthy people are looking to invest in the
next big thing.
If you manage to cover the $299 monthly fee, your small business runs a good chance of making it big.
7. Indiegogo
You’ll find a lot of new business ideas based around tech and design,
but you don’t have to be limited to those areas. Just like Crowdfunder,
Indiegogo is designed for small businesses, startups, and even
non-profits. As long as your campaign is completely legal, you’ll be
able to advertise on there.
Indiegogo charges 5% of the investments you get in exchange for their
services. Since it’s a reputable platform, you shouldn’t have too much
trouble finding donors.
8. Fundly
With Fundly, you can raise money for just about any project. From
non-profit organizations to startup tech companies looking for a boost
to their finances, Fundly is full of great investment opportunities.
You can set personal finance goals and a customized page to tell
donors what their money will be spent on. And even if you don’t hit that
goal, you can still cash out.
Fundly does take a 4.9% fee from each donation and your credit card
company will take a 3% processing fee. A small price to pay for
potentially big returns, we think.
9. Kickstarter
Of course, we couldn’t leave out the biggest website for business
donations. Kickstarter connects investors and inventors. You present
your idea and the crowd can pitch in money to make it come true. It’s as
close as you’ll get to investment banking—but without all the hassle
that comes with it.
Dozens of Kickstarters raised millions, and you could too. Make your
idea stand out by incorporating videos and text into your campaign page,
promote it on social media, and sit back while the dollars rush in.
You’ll pay a 5% fee on every donation, a 5% processing fee when you
want to cash out, and 20 cents for each pledge your project gets.
10. Random Acts of Amazon
If you’re active on Reddit, you should look into Random Acts of
Amazon. This subreddit is here to connect people feeling charitable to
those who want to get free stuff.
If there’s something you want to buy but can’t afford to, you can let
other people do it for you. Create a post, link your Amazon wishlist,
and hope that someone gets you a little gift. Keep in mind that you
can’t ask for money—only gifts.
If you’re still needing to make money and fundraising hasn’t worked,
you should check out Swagbucks. By completing small tasks—answering
surveys and playing games—you can get paid.
Whether you want to collect your earnings in cash or in the form of
gift cards, that’s up to you. Swagbucks won’t eat up too much of your
time, but it will compensate you for the (little) work you put in.
A fond farewell (and hopes for next year) as the show nears its end.
Plus: Dickens and other Christmas quickies, "Dracula" and more last
chances, national notes.
In December, we all get used to sparkle. Colored lights, shiny
baubles, garish sweaters, what have you – the winter holidays bring out a
visual extravagance as if to compensate for the gloomy onset of winter
itself.
But there’s no sparkle quite like David Saffert’s entrance near the start of Liberace & Liza Holiday at the Mansion (A Tribute). Stepping
onstage through a stage-right archway, Saffert beams at the audience
for a moment, then says – in what is a sly combination of welcoming
invitation, saucy come-on and self-deprecating joke – “Well, look me
over. I didn’tget all dressed up to go unnoticed!”
He wears bright gold shoes, red plaid pants with bands of gold
glitter down the sides, an apron festooned with piano keys and stars.
The piano theme extends even to the oven mitts on both of his hands, a
keyboard decoration running across the wrists.
In any other circumstance, the outfit would be rather much. But here,
of course, Saffert isn’t Saffert. He’s Władziu Valentino Liberace, one
of America’s most successful stage and television stars of all time.
And though the folks have shown up to the Ellyn Bye Studio at The
Armory, they’re now friends; guests in the Moroccan Room, a richly
appointed party spot in Liberace’s mansion overlooking the Las Vegas
strip.
“This is my favorite room in any of my mansions,” Liberace – or Lee,
as his close friends would say – tells the assembled audience. “I have
two of these rooms – this one in Los Vegas and one in Beverly Hills.”
Just a brief pause lets the notion of multiple mansions and duplicative
interior-decoration budgets sink in; then: “Isn’t it wonderful what you
can do with money?”
Of course, the sparkle is just getting started for the evening. He
gives a quick tour of the room, puzzling over the inclusion of a
beautiful blue-tiled fireplace despite the Nevada heat, or noting a
large brass hookah with the quip, “This is where Phyllis Diller and I
used to get high.” With a grin and a wink, he sits at a baby grand piano
topped with a candelabra and plays a florid rendition of “Sleigh Ride.”
Soon, another friend arrives – none other than the triple-threat star
Liza Minnelli – and the songs keep coming, the patter gets more and more
hilarious, the fun rolls on.
Holiday at the Mansion – directed by Chip Miller and co-starring Jillian Snow as Liza – has
been doing brisk business at Portland Center Stage for the past several
weeks. And though it closes this weekend, it’s the sort of delightfully
evergreen entertainment that really should be a perennial. Saffert and
Snow portray their celebrity characters with a great balance of musical
skill, comic chops and sincere affection that elevates the performances
from impersonation into tribute. The show enjoys the steadying influence
of music director Bo Ayars, who worked decades ago for Liberace himself
and who keeps things gleamingly professional yet still loose enough for
the playful improvisatory energy of the show’s stars to lead the pace.
Best of all, Snow and Saffert, their characters playing off each
other as both warm pals and egocentric rivals, are endlessly charming
and just flat-out funny. It’s the kind of show you can enjoy multiple
times. Did we mention that PCS should program it again for next year?
(If you can’t get tickets this weekend and can’t wait a year, you can
catch Saffert with the popular Portland dance troupe BodyVox in early
February for Flights with BodyVox, billed as “An Evening of Dance and Wine Pairings.”)
However scrupulous a tribute Holiday at the Mansion may be
in some respects (for instance, the baking of the lasagna that provides
the show’s minimal narrative through-line was based on a paragraph in a
Liberace autobiography), it’s merely a colorful invention. Even though
they both were luminaries of a now bygone brand of showbiz glamor, the
real Liberace and Minnelli never performed together.
Saffert happened to start performing as Liberace. Snow happened to
start performing as Liza. They happened to meet. And together, their
characters sparkled.
You might not have pegged either of these two for entertainment royalty at the outset.
“I am from the great state of Wisconsin,” says Saffert, who has that
biographical detail in common with Liberace. “I grew up in towns of no
more than 2,500 people, very conservative areas of Wisconsin where if
you’re a dancer or you’re in theater or play piano it’s a total sissy
thing. I was the only boy in town that was studying piano, but I loved
it.”
Unlike Liberace, he came late to classical music. “There were no
classical stations in the middle of Wisconsin; I grew up on Dolly Parton
and Kenny Rogers. When I got into middle school I got a new piano
teacher who was really into classical music. There was a student a few
years older than me and I would hear him playing Beethoven and Chopin
and I just thought, ‘Where has this music been my whole life?!’ I fell
in love with classical music and movie soundtracks, especially John
Williams.”
College brought more intense piano study, but also a little
experience with improv theater, where his musical skills also could be
put to use in bits on, say, Chico Marx or Barry Manilow.
“When I moved here to Portland I started doing what I called the
Birthday Shows as part of the Fertile Ground festival, which landed in
the time of year around my birthday. I thought, ‘I might be playing
Shostakovich, I might be playing ragtime – who knows what?’ But I always
added a theater element as well; I’d have dancers from OBT come in, and
opera singers…”
“I’m from the greater state of Oregon,” Snow says, “from Salem. My
parents worked a lot, so we spent a lot of time at our grandparents’,
entertaining ourselves. They had four or five movies: Cat Ballou, Carousel, Oklahoma and I think Grease, and Easter Parade. Easter Parade
is where I first saw Judy Garland and I just lost it from that moment. I
grew up in a house full of punk rock and then there was this whole
other musical world I discovered at my grandparents’ house.”
Snow describes herself as “a really shy kid” who would sing only in
secret. “My sister put a tape recorder outside my door when I was about
eight or nine, because I was singing in my room and she shared the tape
with my parents. I was obsessed with pigs when I was growing up and
always wanted one, so my parents said, ‘We’ll get you a pig if you do
the talent show at school.’ And I was so shy that I passed up the pig! I
still need therapy about it – I could’ve had a pig!”
Despite her shyness, she went on to college in New York City, by
which point her love of all things Judy Garland had expanded to include
Garland’s daughter Liza.
“A friend who was hosting this piano bar was egging me on, because he
knew I did an impersonation,” Snow recalls. “So I did it one night
after a few martinis gave me the courage.”
Someone in the audience recommended her for a show – “It was like an
‘80s-style Miss America pageant, but instead of a beauty contest, you
paraded your best gay male friend in all the categories” – that played
to a celebrity panel including the stage star John Cameron Mitchell and
the Village Voice columnist Michael Musto. An enthusiastic writeup from
Musto led to gigs at lounges around New York while Snow still was just
20.
But the grind of a three-job life in New York, plus a breakup, led
Snow to move to Portland, where her sister – a production designer who
had worked with Action Adventure Theatre before moving into film and TV
work – offered a place to stay. “And she’d been talking about how I
needed to meet her friend David. ‘He’s a kook, like you.’”
Snow started attending the Birthday Shows. “He asked me to do Liza
one year. And he was doing Liberace, which a mutual friend of ours had
egged him on to do. It’s all about egging people on to do stuff that
they’re not really comfortable doing. And a career is born!”
The act has been evolving over the course of a decade. Initially the duo began doing a Liberace and Friends show,
in which Snow portrayed not just Minnelli but Garland, Bernadette
Peters and others. The characters that had the best chemistry, though,
were Liberace and Liza. Eventually that pairing became the center of a
holiday show at CoHo Theater, where Saffert says they began to build a
real following. (Holiday at the Mansion includes a brief, touching tribute to the late Philip Cuomo, who was CoHo’s producing artistic director.)
The duo has brought the show back to Saffert and Liberace’s home turf
of Wisconsin, and enjoyed a five-night residency at Feinstein’s at the
Nikko in San Francisco (Liberace & Liza Open Their Golden Gates),
but it was an August 2022 booking at the New York restaurant 54 Below,
Saffert says, that really raised their national profile.
Even so, the PCS show has felt like a new level of ambition.“ We’re
used to playing in lounges, with a piano and a candelabra,” Saffert
says. Now they have a striking stage set (designed by Saffert’s husband,
Tyler Buswell), lights, cues to remember and spots to hit.
“I think it’s scarier doing it in a theater,” Snow says. “Other
people depend on us to be in a spot when we’re supposed to be in a
spot.”
Sparkle, it turns out, isn’t always as easy as it looks.
“I still want to pass out before I go onstage,” says the once-shy
Snow. “It’s hard. We’re both little ‘fraidy cats until we get up there
and start to play off each other.”
Adds Saffert: “There’s nothing easy about it. We’re playing legends.” Taking advantage of a hot seasonal market for wintry stage shows, a
handful of productions pop into town for just a day. Saturday features
two double-headers: That is, two performances of A Christmas Carol
at CoHo Theatre, with Thom Bray in “a re-imagined audience-interactive
presentation of Dickens’ famous reading of his beloved story,” and two
shows at the Newmark of Christmas with C.S. Lewis,
a portrayal of the famed fantasy author that explains his transition
from atheism to Christian apologetics. Wednesday evening at the Schnitz,
it’s The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show, a celebrated drag spectacular starring BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon, both famous from RuPaul’s Drag Race.
“Dracula is a perfect vehicle for grappling with toxic masculinity,” wrote ArtsWatcher Darleen Ortega in her review of the Portland Center Stage production Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really,
adding that playwright Kate Hamill’s “characteristic playfulness suits
the material, injecting bits of lightness that ease the darkness and
violence.” Time is about to drive a stake through this one, though.
Fuse Theatre Ensemble’s Great White Gets Offcloses
Saturday, and you might want to make an extra effort to see it because
you might meet these folks again. That is, Fuse will stage a sequel, Great White Gives It Up – featuring the same men hooking up and grappling with sexual and racial power dynamics – this coming spring.
From
left: Jamie Rea, Setareki Wainiqolo, La’ Tevin Alexander, and Treasure
Lunan in “Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really.” Photo: Shawnte
Sims/ courtesy of Portland Center Stage.
Lots of shows out there are anxious to help you get in the Christmas spirit. A handful of those – Broadway Rose’s Home for the Holidays, Stumptown Stages’ musical adaptation of It’s a Wonderful Life, Portland Revels’ solstice celebration Emerald Odyssey, and, down at Cannon Beach, the Coaster Theatre’s Miracle on 34th Street – end this weekend and cede the festive work to others.
But really, that’s just when the Christmas season begins (the 12 days of Christmas begin with Christmas Day, remember?). So you’ll have another week to stay jolly with Northwest Children’s Theatre’s Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Imago’s ever-delightful ZooZoo, and, of course, A Christmas Carolat Portland Playhouse and A Christmas Carolat Medford’s Collaborative Theatre Project.
This site is Oregon ArtsWatch and focuses primarily on our great
state, but culture sniffs at borders. Though I don’t have the privilege
and pleasure of seeing shows in New York, I enjoy reading coverage of
the NY theater scene. After all, the pipeline runs both ways, not just
with popular Broadway or Off Broadway shows later being produced here,
but occasionally with stagings here (Larissa Fasthorse’s The Thanksgiving Play, for example) leading to celebrated national productions.
“Over all, dark, meditative productions prevailed, often with their
sets literally sunk in shadow,” they write. “The shows that drew us took
place in primordial woods, or an ink-black night, or London in the
smog—we spent a lot of 2023 peering. Theatre clearly remembered that it’s good at providing introspection and long-duration thought.”
Speaking of fine critics, the field looks like it’s losing another of
its most prominent, as Peter Marks departs his post at the Washington
Post, accepting a buyout after more than two decades at the paper. Rob Weinert-Kendt, the editor-in-chief of American Theatre, conducts an exit interview that also serves as an interesting discussion about the state of the, um … art? “Actors are so fortunate. They can choose whether they will appear in
tragedy or in comedy, whether they will suffer or make merry, laugh or
shed tears. But in real life it is different. Most men and women are
forced to perform parts for which they have no qualifications. Our
Guildensterns play Hamlet for us, and our Hamlets have to jest like
Prince Hal. The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast.”
December
24 - LeBron James had 40 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to
lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 129-120 win over the Oklahoma City
Thunder on Saturday in Oklahoma City.
The loss snapped the Thunder's three-game winning streak.
His
team having lost four consecutive games, and facing what Anthony Davis
called a "must-win" game, Lakers coach Darvin Ham tried to inject some
life into his team by shuffling the starting lineup.
Ham started Jarred Vanderbilt and moved D'Angelo Russell to the bench.
Russell hadn't come off the bench in the regular season since late in the 2020-21 season.
Russell did come off the bench for the Lakers in Game 4 of last season's Western Conference Finals loss to Denver.
Ham's move paid off, as the Lakers scored 71 first-half points to lead by 12 at the break.
Russell
was particularly effective in the second, scoring eight consecutive
Lakers points to start a 13-3 Los Angeles run to start the quarter and
put the Lakers ahead.
Russell scored 12 points in the quarter, going 4 of 5 from the field.
Russell was far from the only Laker to get hot in the second, as Los Angeles shot 63.6 percent from the floor in the quarter.
Having James, who missed Thursday's loss at Minnesota due to ankle tendinitis, back in the lineup helped as well.
The Lakers' offensive production kept humming in the third, adding 36 more points to lead by as much as 26.
James and Davis scored 10 each in the third.
The Thunder didn't go away, though, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of Oklahoma City's 32 third-quarter points.
The
Thunder cut the deficit to eight on Chet Holmgren's layup with just
less than six minutes left in the game to cap a 15-6 Oklahoma City run.
James scored 11 in the next 3:30 to keep the Thunder from getting any closer.
Davis finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, while Rui Hachimura added 21 points off the bench.
December
24 - LeBron James had 40 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to
lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 129-120 win over the Oklahoma City
Thunder on Saturday in Oklahoma City.
The loss snapped the Thunder's three-game winning streak.
His
team having lost four consecutive games, and facing what Anthony Davis
called a "must-win" game, Lakers coach Darvin Ham tried to inject some
life into his team by shuffling the starting lineup.
00:10
01:35
Ham started Jarred Vanderbilt and moved D'Angelo Russell to the bench.
Russell hadn't come off the bench in the regular season since late in the 2020-21 season.
Russell did come off the bench for the Lakers in Game 4 of last season's Western Conference Finals loss to Denver.
Ham's move paid off, as the Lakers scored 71 first-half points to lead by 12 at the break.
Russell
was particularly effective in the second, scoring eight consecutive
Lakers points to start a 13-3 Los Angeles run to start the quarter and
put the Lakers ahead.
Advertisement · Scroll to continue
Russell scored 12 points in the quarter, going 4 of 5 from the field.
Russell was far from the only Laker to get hot in the second, as Los Angeles shot 63.6 percent from the floor in the quarter.
Having James, who missed Thursday's loss at Minnesota due to ankle tendinitis, back in the lineup helped as well.
The Lakers' offensive production kept humming in the third, adding 36 more points to lead by as much as 26.
Advertisement · Scroll to continue
James and Davis scored 10 each in the third.
The Thunder didn't go away, though, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of Oklahoma City's 32 third-quarter points.
The
Thunder cut the deficit to eight on Chet Holmgren's layup with just
less than six minutes left in the game to cap a 15-6 Oklahoma City run.
James scored 11 in the next 3:30 to keep the Thunder from getting any closer.
Davis finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, while Rui Hachimura added 21 points off the bench.
Advertisement · Scroll to continue
The Lakers finished 16 of 32 from beyond the arc.
Gilgeous-Alexander
led Oklahoma City with 34 points. Jalen Williams had 28 points, while
Holmgren added 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Christmas is a special time for many of us, but it has special
significance for our Christian communities as they celebrate the birth
of Jesus Christ.
This Christmas Eve many will be getting ready for the celebrations
and gift giving that is to follow. For Christians, it’s a time to
prepare for the arrival of Jesus Christ, and the celebration of the
Virgin Mary.
We spoke to Christine Gdula from Derbyshire Christian Police
Association (CPA), to see what Christmas means to her. She said “Knowing
the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated on Christmas Day, for many,
stirs love, faith and hope in a brighter future.
“For us, Christmas is a time for celebration and to appreciate
another year and what’s to come. Many will start their Christmas Day
celebrations at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, or during the important
Christmas Day service.
“We appreciate that not everyone celebrates Christmas in the same
way, so wish your holiday season to be a time of reflection, joy, and
connection with loved ones, no matter how you spend it.
“May the beauty of this season fill your heart with happiness and
your home with warmth, regardless of your traditions and beliefs. May
you make beautiful memories in whatever way you choose to spend this
joyous time.
“Christmas is such a joyful time but can also prove to be a lonely time when we miss those who are no longer with us.
“For many, we are good at putting a smile on our faces and carrying
on no matter what befalls us. At this time of year, everywhere we go we
see bright Christmas lights, trees decorated and smiles on faces as we
prepare for the big day ahead of us. But sometimes, we don’t always feel
bright and shiny, and that’s okay.
“We need to be there for each other this Christmas, so please reach
out to your friends, colleagues or support services for help if you need
it. There are many people out there who want to support you, so please
reach out.
“To those who must work on Christmas day - you are in our thoughts.
Your devotion and hard work are appreciated, and when your shift ends,
may Christmas be filled with true warmth and pleasant memories after all
the challenges you face during your day or night. As you are away from
your families, we hope they know you are true heroes, caring and
safeguarding us, so that everyone else can enjoy their day.
“To our younger generation, you are the countries treasures. May you
learn to understand the true meaning of Christmas. Let it be seen as not
only a time of exchanging gifts and feasting, but of remembering our
spirituality and faith.
“May we all understand what Christmas is about, and why we celebrate
this time of year. Some members of our community may not be in the best
of health, some going through financial hardship and some finding work
challenging. But may we all be joined together to celebrate and look
after each other.
“As we face further challenges and embark into the new year, I’d like
to share a verse from the bible – Peace I leave with you, my peace I
give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your
hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27.
“The magic of Christmas is not in the presents but in the presence.
As we celebrate Christmas may His light illuminate your path and His
peace fill your heart. No matter what you believe and where your journey
is taking you just take this little message with you,
Faith makes all things possible,
Hope makes all things work,
Love makes all things beautiful,
May you have all three this Christmas.
“We hope you all have a fantastic Christmas and enjoy your time with loved ones and friends.”
On
the counter-attack, Taremi took off, found Pepê on the left in the
area, who played the ball into the middle where Francisco Conceição was
alone to shoot, but Stefanovic parried it away!
Evanilson
broke into the area and was brought down by Leo Bolgado, earning Porto
the penalty! Taremi hit the penalty into the left corner, hard, with
Stefanovic hitting the corner, but not getting to the ball, to put Porto
ahead!
Triple
substitution for Porto: Romário Baró, João Mendes and Grujic came off
for Wendell, Evanilson and Galeno. For Leixões, Adriano came off and
Ricardo Teixeira came on.
From
a corner in the box, the defense cleared it away, but it fell to
Namaso, who controlled it and Francisco Conceição slammed it into the
right corner to open the scoring!
Do
not miss a detail of the match with the live updates and commentaries
of VAVEL. Follow along with us all the details, commentaries, analysis
and lineups for this Porto vs Leixões match.
There
have been 66 matches between Porto and Leixões, with 49 wins for Porto,
10 for Leixões and seven draws. There have only been two games in the
League Cup, with Porto winning and Leixões drawing. Porto have hosted
Leixões 33 times at home, with 29 wins, two draws and two defeats. In
the League Cup there have been two games, with one win and one draw.
Pepe
will be suspended for the match, having been red-carded in the last
game, as well as having Marcano, Samuel Portugal and Gabriel Veron
injured. On the Leixões side, only Mozino is out.
Before the match, in a press conference, Sérgio Conceição spoke about the match and the team's focus: "There's
no need to stick to the schedule, not least because of the support of
the FC Porto fans and supporters. From what we've seen, if we don't have
a full house, it'll be close. We're out of the competition, but it's
not going to be a game about giving minutes just for the sake of giving
them. I give minutes to those who deserve them, to those who work hard
and earn a living. So I'll give them the minutes I think I should,
within the defined strategy. We're as serious as we can be and Leixões
was seen as every other opponent, so we have to go in with the spirit of
winning the game. Everyone knows how important Pepe is, both on and off
the pitch. The punishment has to do with what's written in the
referee's report and, from there, there's nothing we can do. Now I have
to find solutions to make up for this defeat, which is important for us.
Throughout the season, some players haven't been able to play
physically or for other reasons, and we have to find solutions. But this
year has been difficult, it's true. The media knows things very
quickly, but they often don't know the whole truth. It's a fact that, on
a disciplinary level, the athlete behaved badly. In sporting terms, I
think he has to compete, because at the moment he is behind his
teammates in emotional and technical-tactical terms, but he could also
be behind those in the B team. He'll have more chances to compete,
depending on his application, his determination and also on what António
Folha defines. At the moment, he's a player who is below what we want
and who has to show that he can be an option. I'm here to defend FC
Porto and there are situations I won't accept. The four pillars defended
by our president are essential and must always be present."
In
the Pro League, Leixões are in 16th place with 14 points, tied with
Penafiel, two points below Academico, Oliveirense and Feirense, and one
point above Belenenses. Porto, meanwhile, are in third place in the
Primeira Liga with 31 points, two below Benfica and three behind leaders
Sporting, as well as two above Braga.
Leixões,
on the other hand, have drawn two and lost one of their last games. On
December 3, they were held to a goalless draw away to Torreense. On
Saturday (9), at home, another goalless draw, now with Feirense. And on
Sunday (17), away from home, the defeat came to Vilaverdense, 1-0, with a
goal from João Caiado.
Porto come
into the match with two wins and one defeat in their last games. On
Saturday (9), at home, they won 3-1 against Casa Pia, with goals from
Evanilson, José Pedro and Pepe, while Fernando scored a late winner. On
Wednesday (13), the 5-3 win was over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions
League at home, with goals from Galeno (2), Taremi, Pepe and Francisco
Conceição, while Sikan, Eustáquio (own goal) and Eguinaldo all scored.
And on Monday (18), they lost 2-0 away to Sporting, with goals from
Gyokeres and Pedro Gonçalves.
Welcome to VAVEL.com’s coverage of the 2023-24 Taça da Liga match: Porto vs Leixões Live Score!
My name is Victor Cunha
and I’ll be your host for this game. We will provide you with pre-game
analysis, roster updates, and news as it happens live here on VAVEL.
Contrary to a report that the Nollywood actor and director, Azeez
Ijaduade, was shot in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, the state police command
said the victim was hit by a shot that was mistakenly discharged by a
police officer on Sunday.
Recall that the news of Ijaduade being shot by a trigger-happy
policeman was disclosed by his colleague, Abiodun Adebanjo, via his
Instagram handle, @iamabiodunadebanjo, on Sunday.
The actor wrote, “Please we need help in Iperu. My director, Azeez Ijaduade, @kingzeez1, was shot by Nigerian police personnel.
“He is presently at Babcock University Teaching Hospital. “Anybody with the contacts of the Police IG or Commissioner should reach out.”
However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola,
said in an exclusive chat with Online, Sunday morning, that one of
its officers attached to the executives of Bramajaj Company Limited,
Ogere Remo, “accidentally discharged a shot from his rifle” during the
end-of-year party of the company at a hotel in Iperu.
Meanwhile, Ijaduade, his crew members, and other actors were said
to be having a movie shoot at the same hotel when the shot hit the
Nollywood actor’s neck.
Police further disclosed that the actor had been rushed to the
hospital, where he was said to be currently responding to treatment.
“The victim is currently in a stable condition,” Odutola said.
With the holiday season in full swing, beverages from warm and fragrant
drinks to festive cocktails become a staple in every home, bringing a
sense of comfort and cheer. From the traditional eggnog to the trendy
peppermint mocha, these drinks are often associated with gatherings and
shared moments of joy.
However, while these beverages may be tasty and evoke warm memories,
their nutritional value can vary significantly. Some holiday drinks are
packed with nutrients and offer health benefits, while others are laden
with sugar and unhealthy fats.
Here are the best and worst holiday drinks for you, ranked from best to
worst, so you can make an informed decision that can balance indulgence
with health.
1. Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea is a refreshing and naturally calorie-free beverage that's made up of the peppermint herb. Peppermint's roots can be traced back to ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt, where it was used to treat digestive problems.1 It's believed that the potential health benefits of peppermint are related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, among other things.21 Today, peppermint is not only used to address digestive issues but also headaches, the common cold, and sinus infections.1
Available in tea bags or loose leaves, peppermint tea can be enjoyed hot
or cold. Peppermint tea's cool and minty flavor is a refreshing palate
cleanser, offering a delightful contrast to the heavy savory dishes and
sweet baked goods that characterize the season.
2. Ginger Tea
Ginger tea, with its invigorating aroma and warm spicy flavor, is a
great option for those seeking a calorie-free holiday beverage. Ginger
tea is made from ginger root, the rhizome (underground stem) of the ginger plant.
Ginger has been used in traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Indian medicine since the 1500s.3 Ginger root is used to treat common conditions like nausea, vomiting, colds, and headaches.
Plant compounds in ginger possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and
antimicrobial properties that are being studied for their potential
benefits in various health conditions.4
Ginger tea can be conveniently enjoyed from tea bags or loose leaves.
However, you can make ginger tea from fresh ginger. To do this, simply
peel and thinly slice a small piece of ginger root. Add the sliced
ginger to a cup of boiling water and let it steep for 5-10 minutes,
depending on your desired strength. Strain the tea and enjoy with an
optional squeeze of fresh lemon.
3. Sugar-Free Hot Apple Cider
Sugar-free hot apple cider can be a healthy addition to your holiday
drink list if prefer a low-calorie sweet beverage. It contains no added
sugar and just 10 calories per serving. Sugar-free hot apple cider is
packed with 61 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C, meeting 68% of the recommended daily value.5
Vitamin C is a vital nutrient that plays a crucial role in various
bodily functions, including collagen synthesis, antioxidant defense, and
immune system support.6
You can easily find sugar-free apple cider drink mix packets to mix with
hot water or make your own homemade version with only natural sugars.
To do so, combine no-sugar-added apple juice, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel slices in a saucepan, simmer until warm and fragrant, and strain into mugs.
Prefer cold apple cider without spices? Sparkling apple cider is a
non-alcoholic and low-calorie alternative compared to other drinks on
this list. At 139 calories per 8-ounce serving, sparkling apple cider
contains no added sugar in some varieties.7
4. Mulled Wine
A classic holiday beverage, mulled wine blends the richness of wine with the cozy warm flavors of the season. There is some evidence that moderate wine
consumption, particularly as part of a balanced nutritious diet, can
increase longevity and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.8
However, this is not a justification to begin drinking wine if you
choose not to. Wine in particular is lower in calories than some other
beverages on this list, at about 123 calories in a 5-ounce (oz) serving.9
For those who enjoy a glass of wine, mulled wine offers the beneficial
plant compounds found in wine and spices. To make mulled wine at home,
combine wine with warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, and star anise, add orange slices and a touch of sweetener, simmer for 20-30 minutes and strain into mugs.
5. Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate can be considered a moderate choice among holiday
beverages. While it offers comforting warmth and a delightful flavor,
its nutritional value and potential health effects vary depending on the
ingredients and preparation methods.
On the positive side, hot chocolate can be a source of antioxidants and nutrients, particularly when made with dark chocolate and milk. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants that may help protect cells from damage. Milk provides calcium, vitamin D, and protein, which are essential nutrients for bone health and overall well-being.
However, hot chocolate can also be high in sugar and calories,
especially when prepared with sweetened chocolate blends and added
toppings like whipped cream and marshmallows. For healthier hot
chocolate, make it with unsweetened cocoa powder with a high cocoa
content. Use low-fat or skim milk or unflavored plant-based milk,
a little sweetener, and limit or avoid sugary toppings. You can also
add optional ingredients like vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, or chili
powder.
6. Eggnog
A classic holiday drink, eggnog is made with milk, cream, eggs, sugar,
and spices. Sometimes alcohol like rum or brandy is added for a little
kick. This combination provides a rich source of fats and carbohydrates,
contributing to a high calorie and sugar content.
A 1-cup serving of eggnog provides 224 calories, 11 grams (g) of fat,
and 20 g of sugar, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA).10
However, the calorie content in homemade eggnog recipes varies from
about 300 to 400 calories, and some can be almost double that with
ingredients like caramel syrup.
To lighten up eggnog, replace whole milk with low-fat or skim milk or
lower calorie plant-based milk. Omit the heavy cream or use fat-free
half-and-half. Reduce the amount of sugar or use no-calorie sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit extract.
7. Coffee Shop Holiday Drinks
While holiday drinks from coffee shops like Starbucks and Dutch Bros offer enticing flavors and festive cheer, these beverages can be a calorie and sugar bomb if not carefully customized and consumed in moderation.
For instance, Starbucks' Peppermint Mocha contains anywhere from 240 to
540 calories, depending on the beverage size. The venti size packs 68 g
of sugar, about 16 teaspoons. Dutch Brothers' Snow Cap Freeze contains a
whopping 530 to 930 calories and 75 to 131 g of sugar. For reference,
it's recommended to limit daily added sugar intake to 25-36 g.11
To make coffee shop holiday drinks healthier, firstly opt for smaller
sizes. Ask for one pump of syrup (as opposed to the standard 3 to 4) and
choose non-fat or lower-fat milk alternatives. Avoid whipped
cream, sprinkles, and other sugary toppings that add extra calories and
sugar.
