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Tolo News – Concerns raised over growing number of female addicts in Kandahar

Kandahar officials said they are also very concerned about the overall increase in drug addiction in the province, putting numbers at around 100,000.

Kandahar – Kandahar Province – Afghanistan, 17 November 2018. Kandahar officials have raised concern over the increasing number of female drug addicts in the province.

According to local officials, there are currently nine women being treated for drug addiction at a rehabilitation center in Kandahar.

The women said that poverty and insecurity have driven them to using drugs.

Doctors at the rehabilitation center said the women have successfully completed one month of their two month program.

The Kandahar health department has also raised concerns over the increasing number of addicts in the province.

According to them there are an estimated 100,000 addicts in the province.

In March, public health ministry officials raised concerns about the alarmingly high number of female drug addicts in the country.

According to them at least one million women and 100,000 children are addicts.

Last year officials stated that three million people in total were addicts, but the new figure of one million female addicts could mean the total number is much higher than initially thought.

Shahpor Yusuf, the head of the anti-drug department at the public health ministry, said in March the number of child addicts was also extremely high – at about 100,000.

These children, officials said, were all below the age of 10.

Currently, there are at least 20 drug rehabilitation centers across the country that treat women and children but official said this is not enough to treat the growing problem.

The Hindu – Explosion in front of high school rocks Kabul

Blast took place close to where Afghans have been protesting against Taliban attacks on the minority Hazara ethnic group.

Kabut – Kabul Province – Afghanistan, 12 November 2018. Casualties are feared after a huge explosion rocked Kabul on Monday close to where scores of Afghans had been protesting against Taliban attacks on the minority Hazara ethnic group.

The blast struck in front of a high school in the downtown area of the Afghan capital, the interior ministry said.

A photo shared on the popular WhatsApp messaging app showed several bodies lying on the ground.

“It was a huge blast near Istiqlal high school, very close to where the demonstrators were gathering,” witness Qais Nawabi told AFP.

A police officer at the scene said he could see 10 to 15 casualties on the ground, as well as body parts.

“It is hard to see whether it was a suicide attack or a bomb [that had been planted],” he told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Hundreds of protesters, including university students, had taken to the streets of Kabul to demand the deployment of reinforcements to Hazara-dominated districts in Ghazni province which have been attacked by the Taliban.

Hazaras are not just an ethnic community, most of them are also Shia Muslims.
To learn more about Hazaras you should  read ‘The Kite Runner’ by Khaled Hosseini.
Man in Blue

Tolo News – Khalilzad meets with Ghani on first leg of regional visit

The presidential palace said Khalilzad will likely return to Kabul after visiting Pakistan, Qatar and the UAE.

Kabul – Kabul Province – Afghanistan, 11 November 2018. President Ashraf Ghani met with US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad on Saturday night, the presidential palace said in a statement on Sunday.

According to the statement, Ghani was briefed on the envoy’s schedule over the next week, which will see him visit a number of countries in the region.

Ghani thanked Khalilzad for the work he’s doing to bring about peace and discussed issues around his second trip to the region, the statement added.

The statement said it is expected that Khalilzad will return to Kabul to give feedback to Ghani after visiting Pakistan, Qatar and the UAE.

Khalilzad was in the region last month, stopping first in Kabul before visiting four other countries and meeting with the Taliban in Qatar.

After wrapping up his trip he returned to Kabul and briefed the government on his meetings. He also called on the Afghan Government and the Taliban to establish official negotiating teams.

Steps have been taken with regards to this.

On Saturday, the office of the Chief Executive of the National Unity Government welcomed efforts by Khalilzad to bring about peace.

One of the CEO’s spokesmen, Omid Maisam, said the only way to ensure peace in Afghanistan is to put pressure on the Taliban and on countries which are supporting the group.

“I hope that the efforts by Mr. Khalilzad will continue as it is, so that we will witness tangible results,” said Maisam.

The US State Department said last week, Khalilzad, along with a delegation, will visit Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar between November 8 and 20.

Tolo News – Afghan Hindus, Sikhs are not celebrating Diwali this year

Members of Hindu and Sikh community in Afghanistan said threats against them have increased and that they are worried about their safety.

Nabila Ashrafi

Kabul – Kabul Province – Afghanistan, 09 November 2018. The Afghan Hindus and Sikhs say they will not celebrate this year’s Diwali festival due to deadly incidents took place in the country recent months.

The festival was not held last year either due to a deadly incident in Kabul.

Hindus and Sikhs living in Kabul said that the death of 14 Hindus and Sikhs in Nangarhar bombing July, assassination of former Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq and Helmand parliamentary elections candidate Abdul Jabar Qahraman are some of the violent incidents that have left them with no option rather than canceling the celebration of the festival.

Diwali is a Hindu festival with lights, held in the period October to November.

“How can we celebrate our happiness while everyday soldiers, ordinary people and elders are killed?” asked Narinder Singh Khalsa, Hindus and Sikhs representative.

The Hindus and Sikhs said their safety has been fragile in the recent years as according to them many Afghan Hindus and Sikhs have left the country over the past years.

“We don’t want to hold Diwali festival this year due to Jalalabad incident and the loss of important figures such as General Raziq and Jabar Qahraman,” said Sorpal Singh Khalsa, deputy head of a committee of Hindus and Sikhs.

Diwali is one of the most valued festivals for Hindus and Sikhs in the world and they celebrate it by music, fireworks and lighting candles.

“In previous years, we were doing fireworks and based on the principles of the festival, our sisters were coming and we were giving them their expenses as gift and we were very happy,” said Kartar Singh, a resident of Kabul, who explained their excitement in Diwali celebrations of previous years.

“This festival was celebrated widely in Afghanistan in previous years, but now our population has decreased here. In the past, we were 120,000 families in Afghanistan,”said Ragbir Singh, member of Hindus and Sikhs committee of Dharamsala in Kabul.

Hindus and Sikhs have lived in Afghanistan for generations; however, various conflicts have forced many of them to leave the country and settle elsewhere.

Tolo News – Sami ul Haq’s death met with mixed reaction

Many in Afghanistan said his death was a step towards peace, while many Pakistani’s said his demise was a loss to their country.

Tamim Hamid

Kabul – Kabul Province – Afghanistan, 03 November 2018. The assassination of Maulana Sami ul Haq, leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan, in Pakistan on Friday evening, has been met with mixed reaction in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In Afghanistan, politicians, MPs and members of the public believe the assassination of Sami ul Haq, who was also known as the spiritual father of the Taliban, was a huge strike against insurgency.

But in Pakistan sentiments differed as many people felt he had been heavily involved in efforts started by the US to bring peace to the region.

Sami ul Haq was killed on Friday evening at his home in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi city by unknown men. He was stabbed to death.

For years, Sami ul Haq had said Afghanistan was an occupied country and that he supported the fight against the Afghan government and foreign troops in the country.

His assassination was meanwhile discussed in Saturday’s Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) session, where MPs also raised questions about what the consequences could be for the region.

Some MPs said Sami ul Haq had not been an important figure and that Taliban’s war against the Afghan government was being managed by other elements and not by people such as Sami ul Haq.

“The Taliban war is being managed by others. They (Sami ul Haq) only speak and are not important. It is known who makes the decisions and who administers (the war) and where the Taliban’s sanctuaries are; the westerners (Americans) know it,” MP Nazir Ahmad Hanafi said.

But other MPs felt differently.

“I see Sami ul Haq’s assassination as a positive step toward maintaining peace. Anyone who creates obstacles in the way of peace, will have a destiny like Sami ul Haq,” MP Lalai Hamidzai said.

“Remain loyal to your country, otherwise the countries will use you and in the end will kill you like this (like Sami ul Haq),” MP Aryan Youn said.

Meanwhile, Abdullah Gul, the son of Pakistan’s former chief of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) General Hamid Gul, was also attacked on Friday night, an hour after the assassination of Sami ul Haq.

Abdullah Gul had been on his way to Islamabad when he was shot at.

“As the attack was managed against Maulana, who was killed, I was also attacked on my way to Islamabad. Two vehicles in front and behind opened fire on me (my vehicle), but I arrived here safely,” said Abdullah Gul.

Taliban meanwhile said in a statement that Sami ul Haq’s assassination was a big loss for Pakistan.

The Pakistani’s also see it as a big loss for their country.

“I think all Pakistan belongs to his party. Not only Pakistan, but Afghanistan’s people also belong to him (his party),” Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, chief of Jama’at-ud-Da’wah said.

“His death is a loss for Pakistan, because he was playing a role in talks with the Taliban. Recently, he had taken on the job to talk with Taliban. He went to Kabul and participated in the talks. His death is a big loss for Pakistan and the US peace process in the region,” Chaudhary Javed, a Pakistani journalist said.

During the 1980s, Sami ul Haq served as a senator for two terms in Pakistan’s upper house and fully supported action against Afghanistan’s governments.

Darul Uloom Haqqania in the northern town of Akora Khattak was founded by his father in 1947.

Thousands of students attend this Darul Uloom and also senior Afghan Taliban leaders such as Mullah Omar, Mullah Akhtar Mansour and Jalaluddin Haqqani attended this Darul Uloom while reports indicate hundreds of students from his madrassa have fought and are still fighting against the Afghan government.

Sami ul Haq was 80 years old and according to his relatives, recently received death threats.

However, so far no one and no group has claimed responsibility for his assassination.

Tolo News – Five people killed in Wardak explosion

Twelve others were also wounded in the explosion that targeted a military repair facility.

Maidan Shar – Wardak province – Afghanistan, 27 October 2018. At least five people were killed in a suicide attack early Saturday in Maidan Wardak province, police said.

According to police the attack took place at an army repair workshop in Maidan Shar city.

Police said that 12 others were wounded in the attack.

Meanwhile, another source said that at least seven people were killed, and 33 others were wounded in the attack.

Taliban claimed responsibility. – United Sikhs call upon Canadian Prime Minister and House of Commons to provide asylum to Afghan minorities

Ottawa – Ontario – Canada, 26 October 2018. United Sikhs this week announced a call to action in the House of Commons alongside several members of Parliament to address the increasingly desperate plight of religious minorities in Afghanistan.

After gaining the support of several policy stakeholders, including MPs Garnett Genuis, Elizabeth May, Cheryl Hardcastle, Harold Albrecht, Lisa Raitt, Arnold Viersen and Bob Saroya, following a series of targeted terrorist attacks against Sikhs over the summer, the non-profit human rights organization is now calling upon Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to urgently process asylum for minorities facing religious persecution.

“I was very pleased to join with so many members of various opposition parties, including the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party, to table a petition in the House of Commons in support of persecuted minority communities in Afghanistan,” said MP Genuis, who led the news conference on Wednesday.

“The cross-party engagement on this will hopefully help to move the ball forward and bring about government action, in terms of advocacy, and in terms of facilitating the private sponsorship of refugees by the community here in Canada.”

The news conference comes within weeks of a written human rights statement the organization submitted to the United Nations during a Human Rights Council Session held in Geneva, Switzerland last month.

The three main areas of concern for religious minorities in Afghanistan, as outlined by United Sikhs, are personal safety/security, religious freedom, and the right to life.

As recent as last month, a marked uptick of attacks against Hindus and Sikhs across Afghanistan have become increasingly brutal. On Sept. 1, Satnam Singh and his son, who are both identifiable Sikhs, were shot and killed in their own shop in the Herat Province.

This is believed to be the second marked attack on the Sikh minority after the Taliban orchestrated a suicide bombing on July 1, in which 13 Hindu and Sikh dignitaries were targeted and killed while on their way to a meeting with government officials in Jallalabad.

“The situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating for religious minorities,” said Jagdeep Singh, United Sikhs Director of Human Rights Policy, during the news conference.

“Sikhs are forced into segregation and Muslim conversion, and Gurdwaras (Sikh schools of spiritual learning) are regularly attacked by the Taliban and other extremist groups. In 1992, historic records indicate 60,000 lived in Afghanistan (down from 200,000 at one time). Today, there are as few as 1,200 in the country.”

In conjunction with the news conference, a petition of thousands of Canadian residents was formally submitted in the House of Commons, led by MP Garnett Genius, urging the Prime Minister to expedite asylum and grant the local Sikh and Hindu community with requested sponsorship.

“This petition calls for the government to do more to advocate with our Afghan counterpart for the rights of these minorities, and it also asks the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to use the powers granted him to create a special program to help persecuted minorities in Afghanistan,” Genius stated to the Speaker while submitting the petition during regular proceedings on the House of Commons floor.

“The community here in Canada is ready to sponsor these communities. It’s been three years, it’s time for action.”

“At one time, Sikhs and Hindus of Afghanistan numbered in the hundreds of thousands, and today, less than 5,000 remain,” said MP Harold Albrecht in support of the petition presented.

“We’re calling on the Minister, pointing out to the Minister, that he already has the power, by legislation, to allow vulnerable minorities to come to Canada as privately sponsored refugees directly from the country where they face persecution, and further urging the Minister to raise the persecution faced by this community with the Afghan counterpart and to strongly advocate for more to be done to protect them.”

Building upon this effort, United Sikhs will formally request a meeting with the Prime Minister and Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. In addition, the organization will continue to raise the issue with members of Congress in the United States and Members of Parliament in the United Kingdom.

We should not forget the plight of the Shia Hazaras, an ethnic and religious minority despised by most Afghans, whose mosques are regularly bombed by Taliban and other violent groups.
Man in Blue

The News – Brother appointed to succeed killed Afghan commander

Kabul – Kabul Province – Afghanistan, 22 October 2018. The brother of the powerful police commander of the southern Afghan province of Kandahar assassinated last week was named as his successor on Monday in move that underlines the pressures facing President Ashraf Ghani’s government.

General Abdul Razeq, one of Afghanistan’s most feared anti-Taliban commanders, was shot dead when a member of the provincial governor’s bodyguard opened fire on officials leaving a meeting with NATO forces commander General Scott Miller.

Razeq, nominally the Kandahar police chief, was one of the most powerful figures in the whole of southern Afghanistan.

A member of the powerful Pashtun Achakzai tribe and a skillful operator in the region’s complex tribal politics, he regularly clashed with Ghani’s government in Kabul but enjoyed wide support and was impossible to remove.

The nomination of Razeq’s younger brother Tadeen Khan as acting police chief of Kandahar followed heavy pressure from powerful tribal elders who forced the government to overlook his lack of experience and training.

Ghani’s government initially rejected the demand on the grounds that Khan lacked qualifications, a senior Afghan official said, but gave way after the Achakzais threatened to boycott parliamentary elections.

“Ghani knows he will need the support of many tribes to retain power, so he has to listen to them and accept their demands,” said Abdul Rashid Khan a political science professor at Kabul University.

Tolo News – Barmak Confirms 192 security incidents on election day

Interior Minister told ToloNews that 17 civilians and 11 security force members had been killed during the day in security-related incidents

Kabul – Kabul province – Afghanistan, 20 October 2018. Minister of Interior Wais Barmak told ToloNews on Saturday evening that 192 security incidents had been reported countrywide during the day, as people cast their votes in the long-awaited parliamentary elections.

He said these included a number of different types of incidents including grenade and IED explosions.

Barmak said at least 17 civilians were killed and 83 civilians wounded in these incident and there had been 1,700 threats issued.

The minister also said 10 policemen were killed and one Afghan National Army soldier was killed. Seventeen security forces were wounded throughout the day, he added.

Officials from the interior ministry said earlier in the day although a number of incidents were recorded nationwide, the enemy did not manage achieve its goal of disrupting elections.

General Akhtar Mohammad Ibrahimi, deputy minister of interior for security said the deadliest attack on Saturday had been a suicide bombing in Kabul’s PD17 that claimed the lives of 10 civilians and five policemen.

Officials said despite the attacks, people still went to the polling centers.

Al Jazeera – Their relatives were killed. Now they’re running for parliament

An Afghan Sikh, a female engineer and a 54-year-old from Nangarhar have seen violence and now campaign for security.

Shereena Qazi & Sayed Jalal Shajjan

Kabul – Kabul Province – Afghanistan, 18 October 2018. Narinder Singh Khalsa’s father, Avtar Singh Khalsa, was killed last July in an attack claimed by ISIL in Afghanistan’s eastern city of Jalalabad.

Now, the 38-year-old Sikh Afghan is continuing his father’s legacy and contesting the parliamentary elections on October 20.

Avtar was a long-time leader of the tiny Sikh community, comprising fewer than 300 families in Afghanistan, and the only Sikh candidate in the upcoming polls.

After he and 19 members of his community died in the July suicide bombing, the Sikh community called on Narinder to represent them by running in place of his father.

Education, land rights and security for his community top Narinder’s agenda.

“I want to stand up for the rights of my people, I want to get their rights from the government and from the international community, because we have suffered for years,” Narinder told Al Jazeera.

“The people, our Afghan people, have to know that there are not just Muslims in this country. Whoever is living here, regardless of his or her religious background or ethnicity, is an Afghan.”

Across Kabul, candidates’ posters carry messages pledging to improve security, root out corruption and reform education.

More than 2,500 candidates are running in the third parliamentary election since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, including 418 women.

They are competing for the 250 seats in the Wolesi Jirga, Afghanistan’s lower house of parliament.

But the candidates face continuous risks, with the Taliban promising to disrupt the “bogus elections”.

“People who are trying to help in holding this process successfully by providing security should be targeted and no stone should be left unturned for the prevention and failure [of the election],” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement last week.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) said in a statement on Wednesday that at least 10 candidates have been killed since July.

Abdul Jabar Qahraman was killed in his office on Wednesday by a bomb planted under his chair, in the southern Helmand province. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group has repeatedly warned politicians to withdraw from the ballot, but Kabul’s independent candidate, engineer Zakia Wardak, says she has “seen it all” when it comes to violence in the country and will not step down.

“My father, General Abdul Ali Wardak, was killed during the communist regime in 1978 in Afghanistan,” she said, referring to the years when the Afghan communist party launched a coup against President Mohammed Daoud, killed him and took power until 1992.

“And my brother Zalmay Wardak, who was a former Afghan National Army (ANA) general, and a candidate for this year’s parliamentary elections, was mysteriously murdered at his home in Kabul in August.”

Wardak, who also lost her husband in an accident in Kabul in 2011, encourages young girls to pursue education and “face difficulties in life with bravery”.

“Men are responsible to provide for their families and when you lose men, you become helpless. The only way out of helplessness is to be educated and strong. This is why I will fight for education for women if I win a seat in the parliament.”

Zakia, who is head of the Women Engineers Association in Kabul, wants to “open doors of the parliament to Afghans in need”.

As she campaigns, she reminds Afghans of their right to vote and the impact they can have.

“I want people to know who they are voting for, do some background research on the candidate. Has the candidate helped anyone before? It is important for them to know the power of a single vote.”

In spite of the candidates’ enthusiasm, Afghans have little faith in the political process.

The polls were originally set to be held in early 2015 following presidential elections in 2014, but were delayed to July 7, 2018, and then pushed to October 20 due to security fears and reforms in voter registration.

“I am not willing to vote because due to security and corruption, the election, just like before, won’t be transparent,” Zmaria, 50, a taxi driver in Kabul, told Al Jazeera.

“When a parliament member is selected, they don’t do anything for us and only work on developing their own lives and businesses.

“Why should we trust them when there is a war going on in the country and people are dying every day in the attacks, will they speak to the Taliban or Daesh (ISIL) to not kill us?”

According to local media, turnout is expected to be lower than the 8.9 million registered to vote.

An MP helps with making laws and overseeing the government. They receive a monthly salary of between $2,400 and $2,600. They also get immunity from prosecution and imprisonment.

‘Being a politician is not easy in Afghanistan’

Abdul Rahman Shams, a 54-year-old candidate from Nangarhar, said Afghans have “suffered and sacrificed so much for decades” and deserve sincerity from politicians.

Shams’s cousin, Abdul Zahir Haqqani, the director of religious affairs and Hajj pilgrimage department, was targeted and killed when a suicide bomber walked up to his car and detonated his explosives in March in Jalalabad, Nangarhar’s capital.

Haqqani was a vocal critic of the Taliban and ISIL.

“Being a politician is not easy in a country like Afghanistan. I have seen so much in the past decades; children left orphans, women widowed and so much more, but I can’t hide from my responsibilities, I will fulfil my promises and try to help,” he said.

“People have put their faith in me. I hope all of us gather under one flag united and strong.”

The elections will be held in 27,000 polling stations in 5,100 polling centers in 33 of 34 provinces. The vote for Ghazni province’s 11 seats has been delayed until next year due high security threat.

At least 2,000 polling stations threatened directly by the Taliban will remain closed.

The fighters said in their statement that teachers should prevent their schools from being used as polling stations, warning of attacks.

Local media reported some 50,000 soldiers will be deployed across Afghanistan to provide security.

The parliamentary elections are being seen as a dry run for the presidential vote, expected to be held in April 2019.

“War has negative effect on a society, it affects the economy and kills positivity,” said Zakia Wardak, the female candidate in Kabul.

“I know we are in danger every second, but we love our country and we are here to stand beside our people.”


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Half Round Band 5.35 mm

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LED Lighting Market Is Boosting Spontaneously Due Continuous Development Of Energy-Saving Capabilities

San Francisco, 30 October 2018 – According to a report published by Grand View Research, Inc.; the LED lighting market is expected to reach a valuation of around USD 108.99 billion by 2025.

Escalating demand for power-efficient lighting systems in residential, commercial, and industrial application can propel the market during the forecast period (2014 to 2025). In addition, growing worries about decreasing non-renewable power sources and declining prices of these lights can support the market growth.

LEDs are efficient, reliable, and have long life, which is expected to spur its demand in several indoor as well as outdoor applications. In addition, technological developments, improved energy efficiency standards, and increasing shift from conventional lighting to green lighting are likely to increase demand for these products in the years to come. Constant improvements in energy-saving products, launch of Standard Deviation Color Matching (SDCM) control, extended lifespan as compared to CFL lamps, and development of smart/connected lighting has increased its demand.

Browse In-depth Insights On LED Lighting Market: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/led-lighting-market

Worldwide LED lightening Market can be segmented on the basis of product, design, application, and region.

As per product, the market can be bifurcated into basic LED, high brightness LED, OLED, and others.

In 2016, the OLED segment developed as the major product segment. The segment is expected to display high CAGR of over 23.0% during 2017 to 2025. It offers greater contrast and improved brightness, wide viewing angle and extensive range of pixel sizes.

Based on design, the market can be classified into lamps and luminaires.

In 2016, LED lamps appeared as the prime segment. These lamps comprise many advantages over incandescent ones in terms of energy efficiency, robustness, and temporal stability. In addition, they are available in several designs and applications such as T-Lamps, A-Lamps, MR-16 lamps, and reflectors.

The luminaires segment is mainly driven with rise in new installations. The segment include illumination used in applications such as streetlights, downlights, high bays, troffers, track lights, and suspended pendants for several applications. LED luminaires produces more light per output power and easy to control.

On the basis of application, the market can be split into indoor and outdoor.

In 2016, the indoor segment was valued at over USD 20.0 billion and likely to grow steadily during the forecast period. This segment is further classified into commercial, residential, industrial, and others. In 2016, the commercial sub-segment accounted for the major share due to increasing use in offices, hospitals, retail stores and malls, education buildings, and others.

The outdoor segment includes applications like corporate campuses, industrial, airports, government, highways and roadways, healthcare infrastructure, and public places such as signage and traffic signals. Supportive government policies can boost the segment growth in the coming years.

Government efforts such as LightSavers program commenced by The Climate Group are expected to increase its use over traditional products.

Geographically, the market can be divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.

Stringent regulatory guidelines across European Union, the U.S., Canada, and China about conventional lighting and energy consumption are expected to support the market growth.

Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period in terms of manufacturing. The region is likely to display a CAGR of 15.4% during 2017 to 2025 on account of increasing demand for energy-efficient products. Countries such as China, Japan, and Taiwan are the major contributor to regional growth due to supportive government measures for implementation of LEDs and presence of numerous companies.

In recent years, North America and Europe have perceived a remarkable growth due to government support and increasing use of ultra-modern lighting in industries. The U.S. is likely to become a major contributor due to strong dollar policy and high demand for LED illumination. The country has implemented several new policies regarding the use of LED technology, and increased budget for R&D of energy efficient lighting solutions. This is expected to thrive the market in this region.

Prominent companies operating in the market include Digital Lumens, Inc.; Cree, Inc.; General Electric Company; Cree, Inc.; and Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.

Access More Reports Of The Same Category: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/electronic-devices

Grand View Research has segmented the global LED lighting market on the basis of product, design, application, and region:

LED Lighting Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 – 2025)

  • Basic LED
  • High brightness LED
  • OLED
  • Others

LED Lighting Design Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 – 2025)

  • Lamps
    • A-Lamps
    • MR-16
    • Reflectors
    • T-Lamps
    • Others
  • Luminaires
    • Streetlights
    • Downlights
    • High Bays
    • Troffers
    • Track lights
    • Suspended pendants
    • Others

LED Lighting Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 – 2025)

  • Indoor
    • Commercial
    • Residential
    • Industrial
    • Others
  • Outdoor
    • Architectural
    • Public places
    • Others

LED Lighting Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 – 2025)

  • North America
  • Europe
  • Asia Pacific
  • Latin America
  • Middle East & Africa

Browse Press Release of this Report: www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-led-lighting-market

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

For More Information: www.grandviewresearch.com

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Florence Unpacked: Make the Most of Your Time in Tuscany

The small and beautiful city of Florence is the beating heart of Italian culture. Known as the location of the birth of the Renaissance, the city is shrouded in ancient history and art, with a range of famous sculptures, masterpieces and prolific architecture at every turn.

Close to the beautiful Appennine Mountains in the stunning rural region of Tuscany, the region’s capital is a city for the senses. Enjoy delicious local cuisine, history walks and marvellous museums in this magical cityscape.

Florence Sightseeing Tips

Enjoy free Florence. Many of Florence’s top sights can be seen for free from the ground. Make sure you spend your first day in the city soaking up the sights around the station, including the Medici Chapels, San Lorenzo, and the must-see Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. Not only this, but the city’s many bustling outdoor piazzas can be accessed without a ticket and are an integral part of Florentine culture.

Get a Firenze card. The Firenze card costs around 70 euros and gives you access to most of the museums in the city, free local bus rides, and allows you to skip the queues – so you can see more in less time. The ticket is valid for 72 hours and includes one of the world’s greatest museums, the Uffizi, as well as the Pitti Palace, the Accademia, and the Bargello.

Shop locally. Florence is known for its shopping, like so many Italian cities, but some of the best shopping can be done at the local flea markets, such as San Lorenzo, delle Pulci, and the Mercato Nuovo.

Attractions in Florence

Florence is known for its rich history, which dates back as far as the Roman times. But the pinnacle of its history really came when the Medici family took the reigns which encouraged the cultural movement of the Renaissance from the 14th to the 17th century. The rebirth has remained one of the most famed cultural progressions in modern history, and its writers, painters, philosophers, and architects are still recognized in the city today. So much of its history can be felt and reimagined in its buildings, both in its world famous museums and on its streets through the incredible architecture, piazzas and sculptures that define the city and its past.

Be sure to check out these must-see sights during your time in Florence:

Uffizi Gallery

It may be one of the most popular tourist attractions in Florence, but you cannot visit Florence without seeing it at least once. One of the most famous museums in the world, the Uffizi Gallery has one of the best collections of Italian paintings in the world, including some pretty giant Botticellis.

Il Duomo di Firenze

Enjoy the best views of Duomo Square and the stunning cityscape that surrounds it by climbing to the top of the Duomo Dome. Designed by Brunelleschi, the dome is enormous and involves climbing a winding staircase to reach the top.

Visit the City’s Famous Tombs

So many of Florence’s greats are buried in the city itself, from Machiavelli to Michelangelo, and not to mention the Medici Chapel, which is a masterpiece in itself. Be sure to visit these impressive tombs on your way around the city.

Explore the Markets

Florence has several markets that are worth visiting, but some of the most famous are the leather markets. Take a trip to the market next to San Lorenzo Church and visit the large indoor Mercato Centrale afterwards.

Piazza della Signoria

At the heart of the city’s historic center, you will no doubt enjoy the views from the large Piazza della Signoria a number of times, just make sure you stop to appreciate impressive town hall with its majestic public and private rooms that are open to visitors while you are here.

Shopping in Florence, Italy

The city may be small and easy to walk around, but the vast array of shops and boutiques is endless. Whether you want souvenirs, fashion pieces, or antiques Florence has it.

Via Tornabouoni

Most of the high end luxury fashion brands and designers can be found on Via Tornabouoni. Establishing itself as early as the 14th century, here you can find Gucci, Prada and Cartier among many of others in gorgeous boutiques that are just oozing style.

Via Maggio and Via de’ Fossi

If you like to shop for antiques then head to Via Maggio, close to the Pitti Palace, and Via de’ Fossi. Look hard enough and you can find valuable art, sculptures and collectors’ items.

Florentine Leather Shopping

The markets are the place to go if you want to buy some good quality Florentine leather. San Lorenzo outdoor market is probably the most famous, and sells everything from leather jackets to leather purses. It’s also possible to bargain with some of the sellers for a better deal!

Ponte Vecchio

For window shopping and jewelry shopping head to the famous Ponte Vecchio. Along the bridge you will find some of the most glamorous jewelry shops in the city, perfect for finding something completely unique to take home with you or for someone special.

Street Food and Drink

Florence, like the rest of Italy, is famed for its delicious food and drink, and so many markets offer local and fresh Italian produce to take home or eat there and then. Head to Sant’ Ambrogio Market to find fresh Italian fare and local seasonal produce.

Florence Restaurants

Like every Italian city, food is a vital part of the culture in Florence. From the local Tuscan wines to the aged cheeses and cured meats, Florence is a mecca for food and here’s some of the best of the bunch:

Giacosa Roberto Cavalli

June 2016 Trip Advisor RatingThis cafe may be not an obvious choice, as it’s tucked away at the back of the designer store of Roberto Cavailli, but it’s certainly a pit stop to remember. Sip on some delicious coffee and tasty pastries as you experience Florentine chic at its best.

June 2016 Trip Advisor RatingThis famous gelato place offers some of the best in the city. Unusually, there is nothing on display so you have to make your selection from the menu – we can promise that the chocolate is always a winning choice at this quaint store.

Da Nerbone

June 2016 Trip Advisor RatingThis small quirky restaurant in the market has just five tables but is well worth the wait. The food is simple, local and the best place to eat like a real Florentine.

Osteria de’Benci

June 2016 Trip Advisor RatingThis fun and vibrant restaurant is the ideal place for some laughter and some great food, particularly the pasta and meats. Usually filled with a younger crowd, the place is sometimes so busy that they let patrons drink outside in the piazza.

Enoteca Pinchiorri

June 2016 Trip Advisor RatingNot for the budget traveler, Enoteca Pinchiorri is for pure indulgence. With a wine cellar of more than 150,000 bottles, a three Michelin-stared chef and some incredible Tuscan and modern dishes, it will be a night to remember.

Il Latini

June 2016 Trip Advisor RatingBe sure to book ahead for this one, Il Latini is an institution in Florence that offers two sittings and an incredible array of food, course after course. A Tuscan treat that isn’t overpriced but may be a little overcrowded.

Hotels in Florence, Italy

The city offers a range of hotels from small self-catering rooms to large and luxurious accommodation. Stay in the center of the city and enjoy close proximity to the city’s main attractions, including the cathedral and churches.

3 Star HotelClose to the railway station and the motorway, the Hotel Merdiana is located in the city center with easy access to the Duomo, the Palazzo dei Congressi and the Fortezza de Basso.

Palazzo dei Ciompi

4 Star Hotel Stay in the old city of Florence at Palazzo dei Ciompi. Located in the old square, the hotel is a beautiful design and offers self-catering apartments just a few minutes walk from the historic sites of the city.

Palazzo Ruspoli

3 Star HotelStay in your very own art gallery at the Palazzo Ruspoli. This large beautiful hotel is within walking distance from most of the city center’s main attractions, and has an array of stunning sculptures and paintings inside the hotel for some true Florentine beauty.

4 Star Hotel Enjoy private views across the River Arno, just a few minutes away from the city’s boutique shopping district, including the famous Ponte Vecchio. The interior is modern and elegant, with a touch of serenity, making it the perfect place to relax after a day of sightseeing.

Bernini Palace

5 Star HotelExperience unrivalled luxury at the five-star Bernini Palace, close to the Piazza Della Signoria and city center. This incredible hotel dates back to the start of the 16th century and  has been renovated to bring together its majestic past with decadent furnishings and features with modern amenities, such as air conditioning and a spa.

3 thoughts on “Florence Unpacked: Make the Most of Your Time in Tuscany

  1. Jurga @ Full Suitcase July 16, 2016 / 9:35 am

    Great tips, Mark! Don’t you just love Tuscany? We could go back to Italy again and again – it never gets boring!

    • markstraveljournal July 16, 2016 / 9:39 am

      Thanks and yes, I could go back to Italy tomorrow and anytime. I’m planning a return in 2017.

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text:
As ye think, so shall ye become..”

A quiet disaster.

Is anyone there?

Have I always been the only one to long to see people?

I remember being the hostess. The “stop to rest” on the long road to somewhere else to visit someone else.

Does no one long for my kind disposition and my hilarious outlook on most of life. Does not my happiness and healing light bring anyone to reckon that they “need” to spend time with me?

Except, of course, strangers who cross my path and often say, “You are an angel”, I needed a dose of you”, “You are so wonderful.” I am glad for my life to has made a difference in the lives of some that we just touch hands as we pass. God put me here and there, and I am small in the perspective of God, but touching a heart touches my heart. Sincerely. I hope the Creator knows – I would love to meet Jesus – but when I am anything fine and wonderful, it is because I was created in His image. Imagine!

I have always made the effort and taken the time to nurture and love all those given to me to share life with, and those souls who’s lives are given to me for only a moment in time…

What have I done to feel so unloved? I think it is only me in the moment.

Does time steal not only health and youth, but does it keep dwindling us physically and mentally and within until that sweet day of demise? Why, I do believe it does.

It is all coming to fruition though I think I am still in the best of my mind. If I am honest, I often hear people say (and why wouldn’t you be?) – I may not be in the PRIME of my life, the PRIME of my health in this body, the PRIME of my wits…but TO ME…I AM. Still alive, still vibrant, I still feel beautiful (though I never thought I was really).

I learned today I can make a volcano with soda, vinegar and a large candle…that joy in learning this comes from the joy within – still vibrant and wild and young.

I went to see ROCKS today. “Rocks and gems”. The thing I love about rocks is they can be so terribly ugly outside, and filled with sparkly, lovely, light crystals! They can be spun round and be as smooth as anything you’ve ever felt, and still lovely – filled with light and color.

I keep thinking, “How can anyone think of the billions of rocks, all unique, and not believe in a creator? I just don’t understand. Perhaps that is where the saying comes into light; “Be still, and know that I am God.”

And I did. And I do.

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Music Monday (on Tuesday)

January 31, 2017

Hey friends! Yesterday was definitely a Monday and the day got away from me! So, here is my Music Monday playlist…on Tuesday. It’s a mix of everything I’m listening to this week, from pop to country to more acoustic songs. Hope you enjoy!

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UnitedHealth Group Vice President, Data Governance - Multiple Locations in Boston, Massachusetts

As the VP of Data Governance, you will define the multi-year roadmap for data strategy in collaboration with business and technology leaders to define scope, priorities and implementation plan, define and maintain policies and standards for end-to-end data governance

This position can sit out of any UHG office location.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Long term roadmap & enterprise scope definition

  • Define the Enterprise Data Strategy in line with and in support of enterprise and business unit strategies inclusive of enterprise analytics strategy

  • Drive cross-Business Unit decisions that align business priorities with Business Unit CIO strategies into an enterprise data strategy

  • Integrate and align Business Unit CIO roadmaps into an enterprise data roadmap to deliver on the enterprise data strategy

  • Question scope of initiatives and identify misalignments in enterprise

  • Prioritization of enterprise data needs and enterprise data governance

  • Define data prioritization framework for cross-Business Unit initiatives

  • Provide advisory services to Business Units on prioritization and requirements as needed

  • Establish and maintain policies and standards for end-to-end data governance

  • Define data governance operational processes (e.g., data quality measurement) in line with policies and standards, clearly articulating roles & responsibilities

  • Monitor and measure compliance to standards & processes, solve cross-Business Unit governance issues and escalate as needed

  • Manage cost trade-offs and implications of Business Unit initiatives as part of broader data strategy

  • Enterprise program funding

  • Define, control, and track a pool of enterprise and project funding for closing prioritized gaps in enterprise data provisioning capabilities

  • Coordinate with domain owners for funding and implementation of cross business unit initiatives

  • Communication and change management

  • Develop an enterprise-wide plan to promote data management / ownership and shift mindsets

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree

  • 10+ years of management experience

  • 10+ years in technology

  • 5 + years of data management experience

  • 5+ years in an executive / strategy role

  • Leadership experience in an enterprise and / or cross-functional role

  • Broad understanding of latest data & data management trends and their impact on business strategies and operations

  • Demonstrated ability to articulate, persuade and communicate the value of data

  • Experience defining, motivating and driving change at executive level and across stakeholders

  • Stakeholder management skills with experience in defining and maintaining enterprise wide governance models

Preferred Qualifications

  • MBA or Master's degree in relevant field

  • Healthcare experience

Careers with UnitedHealthcare. Let's talk about opportunity. Start with a Fortune 6 organization that's serving more than 85 million people already and building the industry's singular reputation for bold ideas and impeccable execution. Now, add your energy, your passion for excellence, your near-obsession with driving change for the better. Get the picture? UnitedHealthcare is serving employers and individuals, states and communities, military families and veterans where ever they're found across the globe. We bring them the resources of an industry leader and a commitment to improve their lives that's second to none. This is no small opportunity. It's where you can do your life's best work.(sm)

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.

Job Keywords: Vice President, VP, data, data governance, data management, healthcare, UnitedHealth Group, UHG, UnitedHealthcare, UHC


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World Of Warcraft Logo

How to connect

  1. First you need Download World Of Warcraft (3.3.5a). [Download Game from UK Server]
  2. Open the game folder.
  3. Go to wow3.3.5a/Data/enUS or wow3.3.5a/Data/enGB folder.
  4. Open with Text Editor like Notepad & replace all data to set realmlist or set realmlist
  5. Delete Cache folder if exists in game directory.
  6. Download Patch file & Copy to Data driectory. (Remove Patch-7 & Patch-9 if Exists)
  7. Create account in website, open game & login.

Required files in Data folder :


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Product detail

Black Beauty (Word Cloud Classics)

Black Beauty (Word Cloud Classics)

Author: Anna Sewell
Series: Word Cloud Classics
$19.99(AUD)  inc GST
Available Stock: 2
Anna Sewell's 1877 classic Black Beauty is considered to be one of the foremost works in animal welfare literature and a leading work in the children's pony book genre. Narrated by the horse himself, the book follows his trials and tribulations as he passes from one owner to another and experiences the full spectrum of human treatment -- from the knowledgeable and kind to the ignorant and cruel. Beloved by children and animal lovers alike, Black Beauty is now available as part of the "Word Cloud Classics" series, making it a chic and affordable addition to any library.
Author description
Born in 1820, English writer and horse lover Anna Sewell is best known for her novel Black Beauty.
Stock Information

General Fields

  • : 9781626862579
  • : Simon Schuster Australia
  • : Simon Schuster Australia
  • : October 2014
  • : 0.75000mm X 5.50000mm X 7.75000mm
  • : United States
  • : April 2014
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Paperback
  • : Anna Sewell
  • : 208
  • : 2014003431
  • : [Fic]
  • : English


text:
for a new translation

language cassandra einstein

Italian words and phrases
she prints on slips of paper
sticks them onto house nouns
to speak their strangeness to
her in a newly quiet life

salt shaker…saliera…she
speaks the word softly
tastes its spice upon her tongue
tilts cut glass into sunlight
spikes refractions to her wall

an empty copper bowl…
citola di rame
a crystal vase in shadow…
vaso di cristallo nelle ombre

she gathers lavender…lavanda
and lilacs…lilla…to grace
a table set for one…tavolo
da pranzo per uno

she thinks tristezza….and
tastes salt upon her lips

Bonnie Marshall

Art by Cassandra Einstein

imperfect arabesque

acrobat-on-tightrope-henri-de-toulouse-lautrec (1)

murmur laughter call-outs purled
and swirled her periphery…where
chromatic images blurred vision
field to fog…dry-grass apples night

the high wire spindled space
beneath the plexus of her feet
for transition of a plane
beyond compress-ed gravity

the lifting of her arms…was all
for palming of the air to balance
accounting  compass of her orient
without pretense net…without prop
of attitude for imperfect arabesque

Bonnie Marshall

Art by Henri de Toulouse Lautrec

for deep need of edges

francois knopf castle cat

and…we shall go to someplace
by the sea for deep need of edges
there…having swung long in days
cocooned and rocked in space
of seconds…minutes…hours
of our forwarding in time

and…we shall listen to the cat
and regulate our breathing
to nothing but its purr…
blur our sensing to its
mesmerizing burr against
our knowing metronome

and…we shall dismiss
chance rice cake words,
so devoid of season to the
tasting of our thoughts…and
we shall seek only limits to
our consciousness of touch

Bonnie Marshall

Art by Francois Knopf


text:
Android Robot

DnnForge - NewsArticles

It's hard to believe 2010 is gone and 2011 is here. I always like to say "To see where you are going, you have to see where you have been first".

CodeMash 2010
The first conference of the new year is always CodeMash. This year was a bit different for me. I spent a great deal of time working with a client, Gravity Works first client. After Code Mash, Rachel Hawley and Gary Short from Developer Express spent some time with us in Lansing. I always love hearing stories from Rachel and this was the first time i was able to spend time with Gary. They are both extremely smart people, and are great at their jobs.

Capital Area IT Council Panel
Being in business on my own for only about 3 weeks, I was asked to speak on a panel about entrepreneurship. On this panel, was my former boss and in the audience another former boss from a different company. I have never been the person to hide my thoughts, and during this panel i shared my fears about starting the business. After the panel I talked to Chris Hollman from the Lansing Business Monthly, about risk and fears. He gave me a great deal of information and I will remember that conversation always.

Lansing Give Camp
The weekend of March 26th marked the second Give Camp the Lansing community put on. This year the lead organizer was Carla McWherter. In 2010 Carla added a mini conference for the non-profits, which included sessions about Social Media, Advertising, Swag, and many others. Over 13 non-profits received applications this year. It was the first event where Gravity Works hung a banner.

Ignite Lansing
Held in the old Knaps department store in downtown lansing, the 3rd Lansing Ignite had popcorn and fire twirlers. I was selected to speak this year about "Building a Better Community". In this 5 minute talk, I discussed my experience of developing user groups and events to help make lansing a better place. I challenged the audience to build a community in Lansing about a topic they were passionate about.

Kalamazoo X Conference
I was invited to speak at this conference for the first time this year. The Kalamazoo X Conference is a conference targeted toward IT professionals, focussing on soft skills. Talks included resume work shops, personal branding, and many more. For this talk, I asked my business partner Amelia to do a pair talk. How to Work with a Developer / How to Work with a Designer. This is the first talk that we have ever performed together. We discussed our work flow, and how we did things. This is before we had hired anyone, and this talk became the corner stone for teaching new employees how we work at Gravity Works.

TEDx Lansing
TEDx is for big thinkers, and it was great to see many of Lansing's big thinkers presenting. Because the event lasted all day, i was only able to see a few presentations in the morning. I remember John Hill from MSU Alumni Association, and his talk about social media. Ryan Knott was playing a Bob Dylon song, and John did not speak, just held up large cards to tell a story. Its not that this talk was a "Big Thinking " type of talk, it was about delivery and how I remember the talk to this day.

Geek Speak
In May, I was asked to be a guest on MSDN Geek Speak, which was hosted by Jennifer Marsman and Glen Gordan. This was a very busy time of year for me, and i can remember doing the recording while I was at a client. In this Geek Speak, I talked about testing for the web,  mainly around security and accessibility.

Lansing Chili Cook-off
Gravity Works was still small, with Lauren just being hired. I had pitched the idea to my former employees for about 4 years, and no one ever saw value. 2010 was the year that I was able to participate. With a recipe that Carla has been tweaking for years, Gravity Works entered the Chili cook-off, with the theme Rosi the Riveter. Our chili's name was Rosi's Riveting chili. I remember cooking the chili at the Lansing center with Amelia, Lauren and Carla the most. The event was great, but busy. With thousands of people, the exposure was great for a new company. It also helped taking 3 awards home with us. I plan on doing this next year, having a few more staff members at Gravity Works will help as well.

Lugnuts Games
In the spring, Carla and I made it out to a few Lugnuts games. The highlight was always running into friends such as Jess and Ryan Knott who always seemed to be there.

Tech Ed
We headed down to the south to attend Tech Ed. This year Tech Ed was very stressful, with client work piling up and myself falling further and further behind. It was at Tech Ed that we hired Scott Gowell, a very valuable member of our team. I remember the food the most about Tech Ed. A dinner with James Bender, Carla and myself at some type of "meat" place Carla wanted to go to. I had ribs with pickled watermelon on them. I think this is what started my "Rib Kick" that many of you know about it.

Colton's House Warming
Lauren and Adam invited Carla and I to their house warming party this fall. They have been in their house for awhile, but never had a chance to invite people over after the boxes were unpacked. I was excited to meet their puppy, which I had heard so much about (which ended up puking all over the floor). We chatted, drank hot buttered rum and had a great time. Working with people who invite you over, and into their lives is great. It makes for such a better work environment.

10 over 10 Award
For the past four years, the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Lansing Business Monthly choose 10 people to watch over the next 10 years, and this year i was named one of them. I am honored to be placed among the previous award winners, whom I have watched help build Lansing to be a great a place. At this event, I was asked why I do so much. Helping to build communities brings me enjoyment. I have always been passionate about learning, and feel the best way to learn is from others, thats why I do what I do. There is a lot of pressure now, that people think they need to watch what I'm doing over the next 10 years.

Microsoft MVP Award
In October, I was awarded with the the Microsoft MVP in for the 3rd year in a row. Its humbling to be put with the ranks of the top developers in the world. Each year Microsoft holds a summit for the MVP's to get together and talk among themselves and interact with the Microsoft Product teams. I love being around so many people that are smarter then me, I learn so much. MVP awards are given out for various reasons, but I feel mine is given out because of the number of speaking events I do every year. With over 15 speaking events this year, the one that sticks out most in my mind is a talk to Telecommunications 425 at Michigan State University. I graduated from MSU in 2001 with a Telecommunications degree, and any time I am asked to guest lecture, I'm extremely honored. When i was at college, I always made sure I took good notes when we had guest lectures, because everyone has a story and you can learn from it.

Old Town Jazz Fest
Old Town Lansing holds a ton of festivals each year. This year at the Jazz festival Kristin Juhl was in town to help Gravity Works out on a project. This was great, we had all the Gravity Works contractors and employees at my house to work on the application. It was something that had a quick turn around and we needed to move fast on it. Kristin is from Minnesota and it was great to have her out and show her the town. While she was here, one of the activities was the Old Town Jazz festival. After spending some time at the festival, we went back to the Gravity Works office, and this is where I meet Collin. Collin is Dave's son, and boy is he like is father. Collin is about 3 and 1/2, and I love kids that age. I tried to get him to pay attention to me, but no matter what I did he just did not want to have anything to do with me. Kristin was giving him popcorn, so he liked her a lot.

The Loss of Two Professors
I was sad when i heard professor Thomas Muth of Michigan State University passed away this fall. Professor Muth taught in the Telecommunications department for years, I never had him as a student but after graduation I had a few conversations with him at local IT events. I felt a deep sorrow because he was loved by so many. Many of my friends deeply respected this professor, so I in turn gave the same respect. At his memorial services, I ran into many friends, classmates and colleagues. Each had stories to tell. During the service I spoke with Ron Choura, who was a professor of mine at MSU. Through the years, Professor Choura asked me to speak to his classes on occasion, and I always loved it. A few weeks ago I was at an event, and was informed that Professor Choura had passed away as well. This brought tears to my eyes, as he was a professor that I respected and learned from. In professor Choura's classes I learned to create a business plan, as well as how to respond to Request For Proposals. The business plan i created in TC 463 is very similar to what Gravity Works is today. As for responding to RFP's, this is a skill that has become invaluable to me. I can remember sitting in a lab with professor Choura (I was a junior, and the lab had to do with some type of PBX system), and my nose started to bleed intensely. I was the only person in the lab with him. I had an extra t-shirt so i used that hold off the flow until i was able to get it under control. I will miss speaking at this class.

Grand Rapids DODN
In the fall, the folks in Grand Rapids put on a Day of .net event. I spoke about DNN module development. Windows 7 phone was the hot topic at this event.

Charlie's First Birthday
Not having kids, being invited to events like this mean a lot to me. Scott from Gravity Works, invited Carla and I to celebrate his daughters first birthday. Carla and I went to Kohl's, and picked out some nice outfits as well as a stuffed animal from a Dr. Seuss book. At her party, we played board games and had a great time with Scott and his family. A few weeks ago, Scotts wife Barb, took video of Charlie walking...this was amazing.

Gravity Works
In 2010 Amelia Marschall and I started Gravity Works Design and Development We left our jobs in mid January to start this endeavor. We would ski each weekend together, which gave us a great deal of time to discuss where we wanted the business to go. We did things right, we got an accounant, a lawyer, created a business plan and set goals to were we wanted to be. Working out of our homes, we started to realize we were taking on a great deal of new clients and needed to hire someone to assist.

Gravity Works employee #1 was Lauren Colton. We started talking with Lauren before we had an office, but knew we needed an office soon if we were going to start hiring employees. I had first met Lauren at the very first Lansing Give Camp. Lauren and her husband Adam, both were at the event, and I started to see them more and more in the community. Lauren has a James Madison degree from MSU and is very strong on writing. Lauren accepted our offer to work at Gravity Works and has been working on usability, information architecture, HTML/CSS implementation and general writing tasks.

Amelia and I were at Tech Ed in Louisiana, and one of our clients dropped a ton more work on us. To be able to handle this new unexpected load, we needed to hire a new developer. While at Tech Ed, I was pretty stressed about this. Hiring great people is difficult, and its very scary when its your own company. We reached out to Scott Gowell on the last day of Tech Ed (he was still in Michigan), and he had accepted the offer letter and turned in his two week notices by 8PM that night. Scott and I worked on a project many years ago, where I was a consultant. I can remember walking into Scotts office to deploy a reporting solution before a holiday about 5 years ago. His shelves were littered with tech books and geeky toys. Scott and I hit it off, and kept in contact throughout the years. When we needed a developer, I knew Scott would be a great fit. Programming is a hobby for Scott, not only is he good at it, he is passionate about it. Since starting at Gravity Works, Scott has worked on web applications, database solutions, iPhone and Android applications.

While at the Dev Link technical conference, in the summer I was asked to participate on a panel discussion about hiring. There were about 5 of us on the panel, with head hunters, consultants and business owners. I explained many of the horror stories about interviewing people I have encountered (thats a different blog post) and was also able to share some tips we use to hire good people at Gravity Works. After the panel Dave Smith (who I have known for almost 8 years now), approached me about the panel. It was a light conversation, and i knew Dave was not looking for a job, he was working at a CRM shop in Chicago and was happy. Well long story short, we made Dave an offer  and he came to work for us soon after. We had just started the look for a new employee, and recruiting Dave was great. Dave is not just a programmer, he is a big thinker. Dave was hired in at Gravity Works to not only program, but to help with business development. Since starting at Gravity Works, Dave has worked on web applications, system architecture, database architecture, iPhone and Android application development.

Amelia and I were able to blow past our year goal. Then our year two goal. Then our year three goal. Everyone at Gravity Works has put in 110% effort to make it what it is today. Amelia and I have been able to build the roots of a strong business in Lansing. We are tied closely to the community, and our work is our advertising. We have been able to foster a safe place to work and learn. Gravity Works is where 80% of my energy has went to in 2010. I am glad to work with Amelia, and have learned a ton from her in this past year.

Second Gear
In the late fall, during a business planning session, Amelia and I decided we were going to need more office space if we wanted to continue to grow. We knew we wanted to stay in Old Town, and decided to rent the office space next to ours. Having a big open space like that was a dream to me. This meant we were going to be able to open our doors to user groups and have events. After a few meetings about the space with the Gravity Works employees, Second Gear co-working was born. Second Gear is still very young, but is the first true co working space in Lansing. We still have yet to push a full fledged advertising campaign, but have created a great deal of buzz around town.


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Douglas, Georgia Retail Store Insurance

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Many retail stores have the same basic insurance needs whether your selling books, crafts or jewelry. We can evaluate your risk for damage and liability for your retail stores in and around Douglas. Retail stores need insurance to protect themselves from damage that may occur to their inventory or accidents to your customers.

We will tailor a business owners package that will include property and liability insurance coverages with the options for various other coverages.

Retail Store Insurance Coverages in Douglas, Georgia

  • Workers Compensation
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Contact us to find out more about retail store insurance in Douglas, Georgia area.


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I am Melissa Robin: a free spirited, wanderer. Native of Halifax, Nova Scotia (among other wooded areas), I now reside between Portland, Oregon & Beacon, New York. I spent the better part of my youth frolicking through the forests of New Hampshire & Newfoundland, exploring abandoned factories and painting my face unnatural colors in an attempt to capture and share the dreams caught in my mind.

Wait… whom am I kidding? I still do these things, and more.

I found my love for photography in high school and like all high school love I knew it would last forever. But, unlike all high school love, it has not only lasted, it awakened a gift and my desire to reveal the beauty in our world. From the moment a proud, teary-eyed father gives his daughter away, to a newborn gripping her mother’s finger, to a new father’s kiss; I want to make these moments eternal. My desire is not only for commitments of love and growing families, however, it also compels me to seek out those beautiful parts of ourselves we so often overlook and forget. From how you dance in the wild, to your smile, to the confident way you lie in the Earth’s embrace: I want to draw out the inner beauty I see and share it with you.

After five wedding seasons in New England, I decided it was time to journey to the Big City. I packed my suitcase, some keys, a few cameras and of course, my cat, Meg. I’ve traded trees for skyscrapers and now, when I’m not shooting, I’m exploring and uncovering the wonderful secrets New York hides in its shadows. Ten years later I’m traveling all over seeing this vast world & documenting its beauty and the humans that reside in it.

I graduated from the intensive 10-month program at the Hallmark Institute of Photography. Some of my honors include: HIP top ten percent portfolio, the Best in College Photography Annual 2008 (finalist) and first place Editorial-Environmental in the 2008 International Photography Awards along with an honorable mention. My work has been featured in the Doctors Without Borders Print Exhibit and Benefit Sale, and is in the permanent collection at the Hallmark Museum of Contemporary Photography. Most recently, my work was published in Italian Vogue. I was named 2012 NYC Photographer of the Year for RAW artists.

I may be based out of Oregon & New York but my wanderlust nature ensures I am available for travel worldwide.

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Udemy: A New Place For Higher Education

Marking the huge success of online education providers over the past decade, it’s noteworthy to see a progression of new online educational aggregators for the career professional. Tech startups such as Coursera and Edx have been making headway along the MOOC area of education, which follows the traditional form of daily lectures and homework.

However, new technology-based education providers are being formed in continuous fashion, giving higher education facilities more to worry about. One of those providers Udemy has been steadfast about increasing its already burgeoning course offerings, offering online classes taught by independent instructors around the globe. The success of the company has sparked interest the investment community too, considering Udemy recently closed on its new funding round of $65M.

Its students are making headlines as well. Featured Udemy students Joe Marani of Marshfield, MA, and John Anthony Radosta of Advanced Sports Technology represent Udemy success stories that span the entire world. According to their stories, each of them encountered their own unique sticking points when seeking to further their knowledge while balancing an already full time role.

Some of the top educational brands around the planet have responded to this technology-based educational change as expected. Harvard Business School recently released their online offerings, heralded as the “pre-MBA” track that users receive applicable course credit and a certificate upon their completion. With brick and mortar retaild being challenged by online options such as Amazon and Sears, it’s not hard to see that traditional institutions of the old way are now being challenged by online competitors.

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Some of you may or may not know I have a tumblr. Essentially I like to keep the two separate because on my tumblr I have a tendency to complain and just be a little uncouth. It’s still very ballet oriented, and people have the ability to anonymously ask me questions about what I do, who I am, questions pertaining to ballet, etc. So I thought I’d go ahead and post some recent ones I’ve received:

Anonymous asked:

what was one of the hardest parts about starting in pointe? do you have to do your splits before going on pointe?

The hardest part, is not to get caught up in foot arches. I had that stupid foot Dr. tell me I’d never get over my box, and that because I had stopped growing I couldn’t train myself properly to be over my box with a very flexed and body altered foot. So I forced myself to try- and I didn’t even have to(and now I’m injured). I have naturally high arches, and my feet and toes get stronger with every class, tendu, and degage, etc. I just needed time. Now I’m perfectly beyond my box without having full rotation in my ankle. Actually, maybe it’s not getting caught up in the small things. Just trust your teacher (if they’re a good one) and take your time as time is allowed. There is no rush.

You don’t have to, but it’s highly recommended. I mean I’m not on my splits yet, but I’ve progressed significantly since I started in the fall. It’s just nice to be able to do an arabesque, a penche, a developpe and things high up there, pointing towards the sky. Also… not everyone can say they can do the splits- but when you get there and if you keep them, I think it’s awesome to be one of those few people 🙂

Anonymous asked:

how long does it take to go on pointe? do you think ballet is something that will be a part of your life for a long time?

Ah, the ever familiar “how long does it take to go on pointe?” question. Honestly it varies from person to person. Girls who’ve been doing ballet since they were very young start around 11-12 y/o. I started last summer, and was on pointe by February of this year. So it took me less than a year to be en pointe. Most definitely ballet will be apart of my life until I think otherwise. Thanks for your ask 🙂

Anonymous asked:

what age did you start ballet? how are you able to both dance and work (i.e. have an adult life)? I’m a young professional and i’m having trouble balancing both because all i wanna do is DANCE! I want to go on pointe and take jazz as well. DO you have any suggestions?

I started when I was 3 left when I was 8(for family financial reasons). I started again at 26(I wanted to go back at 17 but family problems again). I work part time at a retailer that allows extreme flexibility in my schedule except for holidays. Which is a no brainer if you work retail. I think it depends on how serious you are as a dancer. I’m assuming “young professional” is that you’re a teenager working. When I wanted to go back to ballet originally around the middle of HS, I couldn’t. I was already working a PT job and the money I earned fed and clothed me, paid for me to get to and from school. My Mother checked out on me and left me to depend on myself. Even though she was receiving child support from my Father. During this time I was also in my relationship with my Husband, BF at that time, and I would take refuge in his company and his family to lessen the growing depression I had. All I could muster at that age was working PT, go to school and barely graduate, and focus on my relationship and art. Possibly, if I had considered it harder, and didn’t think I would have an art career in illustration I may have focused on dance more. It never occurred to me because both my parents put faith that I would succeed in art, though none of them could fund me to go to school for that pursuit.

I’m a truly blessed/lucky gal. I have a Husband that fulfills the other half of the financial responsibilities. When I say I’m “broke” it’s because I have no personal money to spend. Otherwise I use our money for important things that adults do. Car insurance, mortgage payments, food, etc. Having a supportive family is the best riches ever. Without him, I would not be able to do what I’m doing now.

My real suggestion is, really decide what you want in life. Depending on your age this is extremely difficult. You need to know what you want with your life. If your goal is to get into a dance company and make a career out of it, every day dancing, practicing, rehearsing and knowing your performing career will end around your 30s. Work as hard as you can finding flexible jobs that can cater to your necessary schedule. You’ll need stamina, and worse, you’ll need cash for everything. If and when all your hard work pays off and you’re in a company, you have a job in dance!

If that’s not an option, becoming part of a company, you can try and focus your skills at college to teach and if they have a dance program, do that as well. You can then teach dance instead.

Still, if that doesn’t suit your needs, you may have to settle for going to class every day for how ever long you feel like dancing.

I apologize if this was 1) late 2) depressing 3) not helpful . I do hope that you got something out of it. I had a hard time with this question, it really hit personally where I stand as an adult in my life. I don’t regret anything I’ve done because it’s all in the past, but I would definitely love to see an alternate version of myself succeeding earlier in dance.

Good luck!

Anonymous asked:

I saw that you pulled your inner thigh from forcing a split. I did that a while back while doing a straddle/box split/whatever you call it. What kind(s) of exercises or anything do you do to come out of that?

There really isn’t anything you can do as far as an exercise goes. To get over it I’d recommend icing the area where it burns/is sore for no longer than 20 min.(this is extremely awkward but I did it) Taking hot baths in epsom salt, and letting it rest and not forcing it again. My straddle splits are still the worst but my front and back splits have progressed. When you feel better and healed doing the frog stretch for a bit then place a yoga mat on the floor against a free space along your wall. Lie on the floor with your butt against the wall, then open your legs to gravity. When it becomes too painful just bring your legs together again and rest etc. I used to do this in gymnastics. You could also try getting in a runners lunge, and placing your elbow against the inside of your knee and pushing it out with your elbow. You’ll get good stretches that way too.

Hope this works for you, thanks for your Ask.

Anonymous asked:

when you look back to the first time you stepped in a studio for your first ballet class, what has your dance experience been like so far? what are some major lessons you have learned? also can you talk about your experience on pointe? the transition and your hopes? thanks for your feedback! love your blog 🙂

So far my experience has been rediscovering a facet of myself I had forgotten. I still feel stiff in expression and movement, but I know I have potential and a future of progress. It has been sweet and bitter all the same. To be apart of a group of loving people who are accepting and to teach me and to treat me as equal. Then to realize you’ve joined something so late that finding a permanent place in it is difficult if not pretty much impossible. Major lessons learned? Ask questions, settle yourself between girls who know what they’re doing, watch yourself when at the barre, don’t stare at your feet(even if you are amazed they’re working in ways you didn’t think possible), look yourself in your eyes(you are important), muster any confidence and believe you can do it, practice when you can, DO NOT BE SELF DEPRECIATING, smile, enjoy your fellow students, teacher and your whole class day it’s highlights and it’s low points. Pointe – by far has been my BEST experience. I have wanted to be on pointe since a little girl and I thought after starting up classes again last summer that it wasn’t impossible but it would be a couple years. I at least wanted to accomplish it before I had kids because kids make everything so much harder. Then to be told I could go en pointe in February was completely squashed by my adult mentality of “okay now I have to do this this this and there goes all my money.” So far my performance as a ballerina is 10x better on pointe than soft shoes. I wonder if this is because all the girls in my class are also new to pointe so we’re on a level playing field or the shoes umph my confidence that much more that I feel freaking fabulous! As far as my hopes, I really hope to be able to fully perform in them! Not just trot about, but absolutely do an entire… dance of some sort in pointe without falling over. I’m hoping by this summer recital prove to my pointe teacher that I can perform and be awesome without looking like a total boob on stage. My one thing though is that I continue to push myself into injury. It’s never severe, but it pushes my progress back. I pulled my inner thigh from forcing my splits stretch, and now my foot from over forcing my arch. Know that if you are a dancer, do not push yourself so far beyond. I don’t know why it’s encouraged in the competitive dance arena, but if you’re 16 and you have several hairline fractures in multiple places it’s not a sign of your awesomeness, it’s a sign you need to let yourself rest a little.

Thanks for the thought provoking ask. I try to be very thoughtful in all my responses, but this one had me take a lot of time and think. Thank you again for reading 🙂

Anonymous asked:

how often do you get new ballet slippers? mine are SO worn out and i got them in january and they are bloch…

I have 3 pairs of shoes right now. My Leo’s I purchased back in Dec/Jan perhaps. I just noticed Tues night that they were starting to wear but no complete holes or anything. I’m still looking for the perfect soft shoe and have yet to find it. If you find yourself going through several pairs of soft shoes you may want to consider leather instead if you use canvas. Leather will last longer, and newer types have sewn inserts that allow the foot to breath so it won’t get so sweaty. Possibly the Bloch Pro-Lite II would be useful to you? If you’re not en pointe yet I want to encourage dancers to wear full soled shoes now a days. I really do believe it’ll make your foot stronger by working harder even if may be unflattering to your arch. Thanks for your ask, and I hope this was helpful!

If you have any questions you can leave me a comment! Or I was thinking of opening a formspring for anyone to ask questions on my blog 🙂

International Dance Weekend

Did you know that there was such a thing as International Dance day? It was just yesterday! My School celebrated by having a benefit concert for a charity. A small donation and a silent auction helped drive proceeds to support the year’s benefit theme of “Life”. At first I wasn’t even sure I would make it to the event because I was scheduled to work, but I found out that I got off an hour and a half before the show and could make it no problem! So I did, with Hubby in tow. We got to watch all the dance teams perform multiple numbers, and it was a lot of fun being able to see everyone dressed up in costume in performance instead of in a black leo. Really cool to watch a lot of the girls I practice dance with actually dance, and without me- haha. Overall it was a pleasant evening and a good night.

The downside for me since last Thursday, is that my foot injury has been bothering me again. It doesn’t help that just a week before full recovery time, I stepped on it in a bad way and pretty much squared myself back to one again. So since Thursday I’ve been gimping about, icing it, and trying to rest it to no avail and think on Tuesday I will not be able to go en pointe or do any jumps and things. Just sitting here at the computer it hurts. Bawww… so lame, and with recital so close it’s double frustration not being able to practice properly. Hopefully after doing some errands today I’ll rest it, ice it, and try to keep still and off my feet 😦

Blow Your Mind!

YouTube videos I think you MUST see!

These Ladies are far better than even lil’ ol’ ME!!

I think I’ll pick up a few of their barre pieces for use at home. Or heck, follow the video at home haha! THEY EVEN DO PORT DE BRAS! FLOORED IN AMAZEMENT!

THIS little girl uses the simplest of moves for any beginner to use and has been choreographed the most beautiful piece!! And it’s just… changements, chasses, arabesque, tour jete, piques, just… basics!

Can I please dance like these peoples?!

Besides that, I have ballet technique today. I’m also in talks with my friend to see if I can visit her school, Exit Space, a school I’ve mentioned previously to give it a go. I’d also like to have her come up and try my school too! See what happens and give you a review of the school 🙂 Happy Thursday!

Moaning About Tuesday

Last night was EXHAUSTING! I literally was panting and sweating profusely. I sweat a little but I mean I was shiny! My whole shoulders, back, neck. I was wiping sweat off my face constantly- I needed a sweatband bad! I had a poor fellow dancer having to place her hand on my sweaty shoulder, and then my teacher purposely bounced off me to illustrate what NOT to do and rolled into my sweat on my back- GROSS !!! I felt so bad for everyone LOL.

Pre-pointe started out innocently enough, but I found myself 30 min into class profusely sweating down the front of my chest. Usually I have that about an hour after class, but this was really quick. It wasn’t even that hot yesterday like it was during the weekend, so I have no idea why I was sweating so much more. We cleaned up some choreography, some girls were being accusing and blaming others for their mistakes. That was a whole bunch of unnecessary irritation. Because of our large numbers, Miss Jenny worked it so that we look like we’re chaotic, because sea weed doesn’t move in unison unless it’s a strong current or storm. Even still they’re individual and they all move independently. One though was still confused why we all didn’t move the same… IT DOESN’T MATTER!!! Same mentality in adult ballet, when you “pair” up with someone to dance across the floor it doesn’t have to be the SAME person, it’s just to get groups of people across the floor. Concentrate on what you’re doing, not what you’re doing as a group unless you’re doing that for recital. *Huff* Anyways…

In pointe I rocked it. I don’t know what it is, but I just blow through that like it’s nothing. I noticed my toes are pointing/flexing harder creating a more curved arch in my shoe when I use them. So when we did echappes I had to widen my legs more to get the right affect/look/stance. My teacher caught me using my thumbs to keep my balanced by pinching the barre. I didn’t realize this was a big foul but was wondering about it when she called me out on it- oops. Bourres were a breeze, I literally could do circles around these girls. So when I found myself on the other side of the room and girls still straggling, I decided to run off and help the GM girl. She had to wait three weeks before she got her shoes and by then a lot of use had strengthened and broken in our shoes. She’s frustrated she doesn’t get to join the major group dancing without the barre, but she really has no strength to get across the floor without a barre. Her frustration though needs to get in check, if she wants to do pointe and do it right she needs to relax and do the exercises and other strengthening in her own time. I wonder if she dismisses my help completely. I was trying to help her with her bourres but I may have approached her when her mind was completely frustrated, she didn’t want to listen.

BAH! Either way by the end of class I was already exhausted. My toes hurt and it felt good to wiggle them. I waited and then went up to my adult class. We did a lot of releve work at the barre, then a lot of leaps, and a lot of choreography. We had one mother return after being gone two weeks? She gets confused easily, so when we started the dance from the top I almost smacked into her several times because she just stopped and stared confused. We had to keep repeating balances and two chaines and then a stop and wrap skirt, I think I did that combo left and right at least 16 times. I was winded. Then we cleaned up a transitional part of the dance where I do two pirouettes in 8 beats to the left. I was so exhausted I could not land straight and just fumbled. I couldn’t spot properly, just… exhausted. Then we added a double pirouette at the ending of the dance, land in 4th then stand up and move to position for the finale. I was literally DEAD by the end of class. SO SWEATY. I managed to drive myself home with the seat heaters on high… purr. Husband fed me spam, rice, and chicken noodle soup and then I showered and flopped into bed to finish the night off with SpongeBob 🙂 It was a fantastic and exhausting night.

High Point of the Week

Tuesday is indubitably the highlight of my week. Starting at 3 pm in the afternoon I get ready by hopping into the shower, I do a little tendus and relevés in there while I’m at it (haha!) Hop out and get ready throwing on some tights and a leo. Blow dry the roots of my hair and then toss it up in a messy bun with a scrunchie or go full blown bun with hair net and bobby pins, hairspray. Make sure everything is out of my face and away from my neck. Always add a touch of cute with a hair accessory! Make sure everything is in my bag and maybe a snack between classes or an energy drink and a bottle of water. Say goodbye to the dog and turn on the alarm and be out of the house no later than 4:20. Arrive around 4:40 at the studio, stuff my things in a cubby after pulling out necessities like leg warmers, shoes, and water bottle. Wait and watch the class ahead rehearsing for the recital. Mom’s start to pop in and bring little kids. There’s an adorable little girl who comes in and she’s keen to play with us girls waiting. Between students in my class and Moms coming to pick up the waiting area gets packed fast. Five before 5 the girls are let out, parents pick up their kids, and when there’s enough leeway to get in we shuffle in making sure not to bump any of the small ones. Place your stuff where you plan on being at barre AND SPEND TWO HOURS OF WORK!!! Yessssss… from barre work to stretches, to center work then pointe shoes and recital rehearsal! HAHA! Then the girls trot out and I wait 20 min before the adult ballet by rolling around and stretching and keeping warm and limber for the next class watching the pointe girls warm up at barre. Then I grab my stuff, and get upstairs and sit on the floor for adult ballet after all the kids have gone. Then another hour and a half of barre and center work and recital rehearsal. By the end of it all I’m exhausted!!! I just want some good food in my belly a quick shower and bed.

TODAY though, we’ll be practicing our recital rehearsal with the pointe girls as we’ll be all dancing together, pre-pointe and pointe. So far the pre-pointe class is a school of fish at first, then we’re a bed of sea weed, then a flurry of bubbles, then we zig zag chainé across the floor and then end up in separate groups on either side of the stage where I’m front, and swish my arms side to side in in a balancé. Then we do an arabesque and back lunge and swooshy arms… and I forget… Two dances is hard to remember especially working from one to the next… just lotsa stuff.

I leave you with the cutest lady who recently got en pointe at age 42 this February.

Show & Tell

This is my ballet shoe bag! I’m finding I’d rather carry this bag by itself besides my large heavy gym bag but I often need the larger capacity. This is it’s contents!

Bloch TMT Axis pointe shoes in 6X
Leo split sole airabesque soft ballet shoes in canvas
Silicone toe spacers
Bunheads toe pads, large with custom toe “caps”
Smiley toe tape and tiny scissors
And my Bunheads alignment belt hidden under my shoes


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ANC's Booi replaced after tension with minister

The African National Congress (ANC) has replaced the chairperson of the portfolio committee on defence and military veterans, Nyamizeli Booi, after being left “unimpressed” with the “to-ing and fro-ing” between the committee and the Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.

Deputy secretary general Thandi Modise told journalists in Parliament on Thursday that the party was not happy with the way the committee had been functioning.

“In this instance, the ANC was not impressed with the to-ing and fro-ing between the committee and the minister,” Modise said.

“We were not happy with the way the committee was functioning and with the way it lost focus and the main thrust of its mandate.”

Booi and Sisulu were at loggerheads in the past months over Sisulu’s refusal to submit a report by the interim national defence force commission to Parliament on establishing a permanent National Defence Force Service Commission and a special dispensation for the conditions of service of members of the defence force.

The ANC had given its full support to Sisulu and cautioned Booi that his ultimatum to Sisulu to release the report within 30 days bordered on “ill-discipline”.

“The ANC reserves the right to replace its leaders,” Modise said.

Modise said the defence committee had been silent of “very crucial matters” such as the morale of troops.

She said it was not in the interests of the country to have unnecessary interactions between the committee and the minister.

“We do not wish to have this type of behaviour,” she said.

“All ministers of the ANC are expected to account to Parliament and to the public.”

The party expected some tensions between the executive and the legislature, but it did not envisage a situation where one institution undermined another.

No comment on misappropriated funds
“I don’t think we are being unfair [on Booi]. We are happy he took the time and did his best as chair,” she said.

Modise said she could not comment on whether Booi was replaced as part of a continuing probe into the alleged misappropriation by ANC Members of Parliament of R50-million.

“I can not comment on that,” she said.

Booi will be replaced as committee chair by Malusi Motimele.—Sapa

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