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Thursday, April 4, 2013
Abil Fikri & Fauziah - True Love Till the End
True Love, no doubt, between a man named Abil Fikri and a woman named Fauziah Muhamad.
*picture taken from Abil's blog
And now, after nearly two years, she passed away at 9:50am on April 2nd, 2013.
*picture taken from Sinar Harian
I cried reading the letters he wrote to Fauziah thru his blog. This blog was created by Abil for his wife, hoping that one day she would wake up and read what had happened during her coma days.
The day would never come since Allah swt has better plans for her.
May Allah bless her soul, forgive her of her sins, make her grave a garden and grant her the highest level of paradise. Amiinn.
This is from Sinar Harian :(
"Pergilah Gee. Pergilah! Walau selepas ini abang tidak lagi dapat mendengar suara rengekmu, tidak lagi dapat menyapu air matamu, namun abang reda.
"Pergilah! Abang yakin, di sana DIA menyediakan tempat lebih baik untukmu. Di sana, akan hilang segala sakit menyerang. Akan lenyap segala derita yang sayang tanggung selama ini."
Dalam kesayuan, Abil Fikri Ahmad, 44, masih murah dengan senyuman. Namun, tangis di hatinya, hanya dia saja yang tahu.
Pemergian isteri tercinta, Fauziah Muhamad, 39, kira-kira jam 9.50 pagi semalam, pasti menjerut tangkai hatinya.
Fauziah atau lebih mesra dipanggil Gee, menderita penyakit saraf sejak hampir dua tahun lalu. Bermula dengan serangan lelah, Gee kemudian menderita lumpuh.
"Gee tidak menunjukkan sebarang perubahan. Cuma sejak kebelakangan ini, keadaannya tenang berbanding biasa. Tidur malamnya sangat lena.
"Malam tadi pun (kelmarin), saya meneman Gee hingga jam 2 pagi. Seperti biasa, saya duduk di sisinya. Melihat matanya, bibirnya segenap wajahnya. Saya tidak pernah rasa puas merenung Gee. Dan selepas ini, tidak lagi wajah itu untuk saya tatap..."
Suara Abil seolah tersekat. Dadanya sebak.
"Pagi tadi (semalam) selepas solat Subuh, saya curi masa untuk tidur sebelum bangun semula bagi dia minum susu. Ketika sedang bancuh susu di tepi katil, Gee tiba-tiba menarik nafas dengan kuat. Dua kali...
"Dia pergi dengan tenang. Wajahnya juga sangat tenang dan bersih. Gee memang isteri yang baik," nada suara Abil semakin hiba. Memanglah berat mata kita melihat kesedihan ditanggung Abil. Namun, berat lagi hatinya menanggung kesedihan atas kehilangan isteri tercinta.
"ALLAH pinjamkan Gee kepada saya hanya sementara ketika dia sihat dan sakit. Sekarang ALLAH ambil dia kembali. Walau sekasih mana pun saya pada Gee, ALLAH lebih menyayangi dia. Saya reda!"
Menurut Abil, sejak hujung Januari lalu kesihatan isterinya tidak lagi menentu. Berat badannya semakin menyusut. Mulutnya pula tidak lagi dapat ditutup.
Malah katanya, arwah tidak lagi menunjukkan sebarang tindak balas ketika diusik berbanding biasa.
"Saya melihat perubahannya. Semakin hari semakin lemah. "Sebelum ini jika saya usik tapak kaki Gee, dia akan bertindak balas. Tapi sejak akhir-akhir ini tiada lagi.
"Dia pun tidak lagi marah-marah atau merengek. Apa yang saya nampak keadaannya sangat tenang dan dia akan buka mata setiap kali saya berada di dalam bilik," katanya.
Selain itu katanya, sebelum ini, menerusi laman blognya, dia juga turut meminta rakan-rakan dan pembaca agar sama-sama mendoakan keadaan kesihatan isterinya yang semakin tidak menentu.
Namun ajal dan maut di tangan TUHAN. Isteri tersayang yang dijaga penuh perhatian akhirnya pergi buat selama-lamanya.
"Ketika dia sihat saya pernah tanya adakah dia berpuas hati saya menjadi suaminya dan dia cakap dia bersyukur. "Tapi sekarang saya hanya dapat tanya diri sendiri, adakah saya telah menjaga isteri saya dengan baik ketika dia sakit dan menjalankan tanggungjawab dan ujian daripada ALLAH ini dengan sempurna," katanya.
Ketika ditanya tentang perancangannya selepas ini, kata Abil, dia tiada perancangan khusus namun berhasrat menjadi pakar motivasi bagi berkongsi pengalaman tentang alam rumah tangga.
Sementara itu, rumah Abil tidak putus-putus dikunjungi orang ramai termasuk Raja Datin Seri Salbiah Nujumuddin dan pemimpin setempat.
Jenazah Allahyarham disembahyangkan di Masjid Jamek Rasah dan selamat dikebumikan di Makam Haji Said, Sikamat kira-kira jam 4 petang.
Abil mendirikan rumah tangga dengan Fauziah pada 13 Mac 2009, namun selepas dua tahun merasai nikmat alam rumah tangga, isterinya mendapat serangan asma pada 22 Jun 2011 dan sejak itu dia disahkan lumpuh selain saraf otaknya tidak lagi berfungsi.
Abil yang bekerja sebagai perunding kewangan kemudian mengambil keputusan berhenti kerja kerana nekad mahu menjaga isterinya sepenuh masa sebaik mungkin.
Penderitaan dan ketabahan Abil menjaga isterinya mendapat perhatian umum yang bersimpati selain kagum dengan sikapnya. "Moga di sana nanti Gee lebih damai. Moga di sana nanti Gee lebih bahagia. Moga di sana ALLAH menempatkannya bersama para syuhada. Dan moga ALLAH mempertemukan Gee dan Abil di syurga abadi."
Friday, January 25, 2013
Of A Maid & An Asthma Attack
However, the new maid somehow arrived 2 weeks late, which was last Tuesday. She was 25, married with one kid. Nani came from a very poor family – money was the reason why she came to work here. 4D3N on a ship from Tanjung Priok to Tanjung Pinang. 3 hours on a boat from Tanjung Pinang to JB. And another 4-5 hours on a bus from JB to Shah Alam, where we picked her up on Tuesday. She arrived looking tired, but happy to start working.
On Wednesday when we arrived home from work, we saw that she looked kinda weird. I asked Aton and Tina (my other maid who comes from a rich family – my subject in my upcoming post..hehe) what was wrong with her. They said they didn't know, but Aton said Nani was ok in my Haziq & my Husna's school that day. In fact the teacher texted me earlier that Nani was eager to learn new things and given time, she'd be a better helper than Aton.
Dear Hubby asked her to sit on the carpet in the living room. She obviously had difficulties in breathing and she was gasping for air. I asked her whether she was ok, she managed to say "asma". Suddenly her body then came to a curve, it was like she was hunching over. Since I've never seen an asthma attack before, I didn't know that those were danger signs. Dear Hubby quickly said that he'd bring her to the nearby clinic to find out what was wrong with her. Tina helped her to the car, with great effort since by this time, Nani already had trouble walking.
She was lucky to be brought to the clinic juz in the nick of time. "Or it might be fatal", the doc said. Doc also told Dear Hubby that Nani was a liability to keep since she has acute asthma, gastritis and Tick Typhus (ohmy ..I have no idea what this is). Apparently Nani accidentally left her medications in Tanjung Pinang and by the time she realized, she was already on her way to JB.
As much as I wanted to give her a chance to work with me, I had to think about my Haziq and my Husna. Since my Haziq himself is on Epilim 200, and taking care of both my special ones requires swimming twice a week, air-conditioned rooms with carpets etc etc (and she said she couldn't sleep in air-conditioned room), I juz have to let her go.
Lucky that she was on JP Visa (usually to apply for a working visa within a month), so she was sent back to the agent in Kluang yesterday. She cried while salam-ing me. Somehow I wonder how in the world did she pass her medical tests prior to coming here?
But whatever it is, I believe it was a blessing in disguise. Allah loves us more. Perhaps there will be unfortunate incidents if she were to work with us. Only Allah knows. And Allah knows best.
Now I'm playing the waiting-for-the-maid game again.
Hopefully this time I'll win :)
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Hi There :)
Too many things had happened. Too many memories – happy and sad ones - were engraved in our timeline. All too precious to be forgotten and ignored. Although most of the memories were captured in still photos, I juz can't brush aside this feeling of regret – "If only I had captured them in words as well..."
And that's the reason why I'm writing today – the regret of not preserving those memories here in my humble blog.
My kids have grown. My special ones – My Haziq and Husna – will be 20 and 19 respectively. They still go to the same special school near our house.
My Hanna got 7A 1B (B for agama..ouch!) for her PMR, Alhamdulillah, she'll still be in the MRSM system. Now she's anxiously waiting for the news of which MRSM she'll further her studies - the nearer the better (for her parents lah..hehe)
My Hasya's in Form 2 this year. She grew so much in height last year that she's now a few inches shorter than Dear Hubby. In other words, she's definitely in the TALL department and obviously taller than her own Ibu!
My Haifa's now in Standard 5. She shed a few kilos and gained a few cms in height last year. She's basically my height right now…err…or a few mms taller than me. Maybe if I shed 17 kilos then I'd look much taller than her, huh?
My youngest one..my Standard 2 petite Hanis is as princess-like as ever. Loves everything feminine - as always - such as ballet and piano. A very manja girl :)
Dear Hubby doesn't bring home his office work that much anymore. Thus more time spent with the children...hehe He's not playing squash anymore (to avoid injuries) but he still goes swimming on Saturday and Sunday to keep fit.
Me? I'm still here. Still a busy mom and wife. I'm still missing my mom. Every single day. But life has to go on. Alhamdulillah, my life is perfect with its imperfections. I don't do gardening that much, don't read that much, don't cook that much.
I'm basically enjoying life as it is :)
And I wonder why time flies so fast!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
My Mak
How much I loved her. How much she meant to me. How grateful I was for all the things, sacrifices and everything she did for me.
How I loved our at-least-5-times-a-week phone conversations and enjoying every minute of them listening to her stories.
How I appreciated her for lending me her shoulders and ears when I was down. How I valued the tips and advices she gave. How much it truly meant for us in helping us coping with having two special children and during our ups and downs.
How happy I was to see the sparkle in Mak's eyes or the happiness in her voice everytime she was with good news. And just how painful it was for me to see or hear her cry.
I wrote about the unconditional love she gave, and about why she never once raised her voice to me. How I loved her babying her grown-up children and grandchildren. And how I adored her perfections... and imperfections.
I wrote about how great a cook she was. How I loved her air tangan. Of how contagious her smiles and laughters were. Of how gentle the words she spoke. Of how much I loved her that it hurts.
I remember writing how I wanted her to be there forever for me and my family.
I wanted her to be IMMORTAL. And that I know was simply impossible.
That was when I stopped writing the entry. I just couldn't fathom the thoughts of not having her anymore in our lives. And it felt rather childish, a 43yo wishing her mom to live forever. Get a grip, I told myself. Nothing lasts forever.
Thus I made this post instead.
How I wish I've posted the first entry which I've deleted. So that she knew how much she meant to me when she read my blog. How much I loved her.
Now my Mak is gone.
She who meant the world to me. Whom I still need. Whom I never dared to imagine could die, had died.
But Allah knows best. Although it was sudden, we were given the chance to say our goodbyes when she was in a coma. We gave her our hugs and kisses. We held her hands. We talked to her. We recited prayers and gave her our do'as. In her deep sleep we knew she'd be in safe hands when she was ready to leave.
My heart was torn to pieces as I struggled to prepare for her loss.
And within that <60 hours, she left us. Peacefully.
Exactly two months ago.
Thursday 24th November 2011 @ 3:57am.
She was 69. Massive Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.
It was excruciatingly painful to lose someone you love.
But I have accepted everything with my utmost redho.
Innalillahi wainna ilahiroji'un – From Allah We Came and Unto Him is Our Return.
.................... 9th August 1942 - 24th November 2011 ...............
May Allah grant my Mak, DATIN RAHMI JURAU, the highest place in the Jannah. Semoga Mak tenang di sana di samping orang-orang yang Beriman. Amiin.
**To those who still have their Maks, or Ayahs – 'enjoy' having them in your lives while you can coz when she/he's gone, they're REALLY GONE**
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Tonight however I feel like writing…hahaha
I'm now at home. Feeling elated at the thought of seeing my family next week. Up north, where my beloved parents and my siblings/families will be gathered. My Ayah and Mak will be there, and I'd already bought the things that my Ayah… in Kedah-meaning - TERINGIN.
He called me up last few weeks, out of the blues:
"Ja, Ayah baru makan benda ni yang Ja kirim tu.."
(Hmmmh, what did I kirim? I remember I didn't kirim anything for him thru my nephew Zhafri when he went home for holidays in early April)
"Apa Ayah, Ja tak ingat la.. cuba habaq... "
"Ni yang macam kerepek tu.. dalam plastik.. sedaap ... Ayah tak perasan dok ataih meja… bila rasa, sedap sangat".
"Errr ... apa dia Ayah.. "
"Ayah cari kot Aloq Setaq tak dak pun. Sebab paket plastik dia takdak tulih nama syarikat apa. Macamana nak cari kat sini taktau... "
(Suddenly I remembered... The jajans I gave Zhafri when he came to leave his things from UIA before going back for holidays the next day)
"Oh, tu kerepek macam maruku tu Ayah. Ja beli kat kawan kat ofis. Memang sedap pun. Nanti Ja beli kat Ayah".
"Ha.. yang tu la kot.... nanti hang tulong beli no.."
"Ha, nanti Ja bawak pi cuti nanti naa… "
"Satu lagi, yang biskut yang ada badam tu Ayah beli kat sini tak sedap yang macam yang hang beli... yang sana punya rangup.. "
"Oh tu Biscotti Ayah, nanti Ja order & bawak sana na.. " (dalam hati nak tergelak pun ada)
"Okay na Ja. Terimakasihlah. Kirim salam kat Zaki na..."
"Okay Ayah".
I put down the phone & burst out laughing!
Two simple things that my 74yo father wanted or teringin to eat. Knowing ayah, it took some courage for him to call and ask for these simple things. Like my Mak, he too never asked for anything for us to buy.
I'll bring more than what was in the pics. I only hope I have enough space in the cars for that tho..hahaha :)
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Temperamental Old Man
I didn't blog about this when the incident happened - sometime in April or May this year. I actually witnessed something in Mydin USJ covered carpark that changed my perception of a naïve old man. I never would have thought that a small, innocent-looking pakcik would be so aggressive and so temperamental that he'd do what did that day.
I had just reverse-parked my car and was readying myself to go out when something caught my eye. A man in an old green Mercedes was trying to park his car. I was across these 2 Kancils which were parked in the row infront of me, and this man was on the other row which was facing (butt-to-butt) with these Kancils. Since I was facing the road, I could see what he was doing.
He struggled to park, that I could see. He reversed his car to get a better angle to go in but couldn't. Then I think he realized that there was a shopping cart which was at the corner of his parking space. He got off his car, walked to the cart and literally PUSHED the cart away! The cart went astray and finally headed towards my car. I got off my car and somehow managed a "Hoiiii!". Lucky for me the cart was stopped by that unlucky EZ850 silver-colored Kancil!
The fragile-looking pakcik got out of his car, locked it and walked towards the shops. He didn't even bother to check the dented-Kancil. Haisshh! At first I stood there unmoved since I was in a state of shock! It was so jahat of him lah! Later when I checked, the Kancil had a pretty deep dent. Kesian this Kancil owner :(
So guys, if you happen to see this green E230 Mercedes driven by a pakcik with plate number BER7XX1, do stay away ya?
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
"Bye Ibu, drive carefully" with that slanting smile of his.
And today, I did the same thing... but somehow this morning, I had this momentary glimpse of him turning to me and say,
"Ibu, I want a new handphone for my birthday".
That never happens, but that imaginary moment became like a replay of a two-song-playlist all the way to work.
If only he knew how much we love him.
Happy 17th Birthday my brave boy.
We love you.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Haircut, anyone?
Well, now that Syawal is over, we've no more open houses to attend to. Last Sunday my Haifa mengongot, "Ibu dah lama tak buat Fettuchine Carbonara" and since I had no plan other than to check my plants in the garden, cooking seemed to be a good excuse to be in the kitchen and get my face greasy from the stove. Too lazy to debone the chicken, I drove to Ayamas with my Hasya to buy a few trays of raw chicken fillets. Came back and saw my Hanis's room locked. Saw this on the door,
so I put some coins in, and knocked. Haifa opened the door and when I stepped inside.... I saw rambut blonde merata-rata!!! Aiyooo!!! What happened???
Rupanya my Haifa (and Hanis - her partner in crime) decided to play salon!
Just look at the cutting 'style'! I doubt they'll be getting any customers...hahahaha....
Alahaaai..kesian the Barbie dolls tu. All short-haired now.
And don't forget, kesian to Haifa's Ibu too. If one Barbie is priced at RM89, how much have I spent on them all! Nasib baik I came in early, or some more Barbies will be Kents!
When asked why she cut Barbies' hair,
"Nak bagi cantik" came the answer.
Hmmhhh... Haifa, Haifa :)
Thursday, September 23, 2010
My 2010 Raya
We managed to buka-puasa with my parents for two days. On the last day of puasa, we went to Stadium Darulaman for its Pasar Ramadhan and I was so happy that I got to buy the famous Nasik Ulam Aishah and the White Palace Cucur Udang! Too bad we didn't have the time to go to Kuala Kedah for Laksa Telok Kechai... or else it would definitely be a perfect buka-puasa for me!
That night was Bunga Api night. What is Raya without Bunga Api, right? My kids, nephews, nieces, maids, and of course yours truly had so much fun that night. It was worth the money spentlah.
The first day of Raya was spent in Alor Setar and Kodiang. That morning, after Raya prayers and salam sessions, it was family picture time, where all 30+ of us had our family picture taken at a studio. Then off we went to my Mak Ndak's newly renovated house and later to my Adik's house. By then, all tummies were full but we had to continue our Raya Journey..to meet the Queen, my dad's mother – TOK!
The destination was Kodiang (pronounced Kokdiang ya.. it's my Ayah's kampong and the place I was born).
It was a bit gloomy this year since my cousin just lost her husband, Abang Mat, in a road accident in Ramadhan. Kak Fauziah was in tears that evening when she told me how Abang Mat practically did EVERYTHING for her, and she stressed to me again and again – EVERYTHING! Now that he was gone, she was left clueless. What with her mother, Wa (my aunt), being bedridden after falling on the hospital staircase and broke her leg while visiting Abang Mat in the ICU on that fateful day. Listening to her relating her story of her Abang Mat made me appreciate life even more with my loved ones around.
Al Fatihah to Abg Mat who was such a jovial and helpful person. May he be blessed and placed amongst the Muqarrabin. Amiin.
Every second day of Raya will be Tunjang day. Tunjang, the place where my Mak was born and raised. She's the youngest of 8 Jurau siblings – 2 deceased, now leaving her with 1 brother and 4 sisters. Tahlil session was held at Mak Chik's house in the late morning and a small kenduri later in the afternoon. It was a nice reunion/gathering where the four generations of the Jurau clan exchanged their stories, and laughters were heard throughout the evening.
This is my Mak with her siblings. It would be nice if their eldest, my Pak Chaq who lives in Pontian is in this pic.
And oh, later after leaving Tunjang, we went to Mak Njang's house right before Maghrib prayers. Dalam kelam-kabut tu aku pi jugak rumah hang tau!
The third day of Raya was my parent's Open House day. It was Meehoon Sup Utara this year. Such joy melayan tetamu who came.. didn't feel tired at all!
The fourth day was Raya @ Siblings' day. Went to my eldest bro, Bemmie's house in Alor Setar, then to Sg Petani to my 2nd bro, Benjie's and later to my only sis, Kak Anim's house. It was a fun day and.. *burp*.. filling as well ..hehehe.. Dear Hubby wasn't feeling well that night, and since we were supposed to leave the next day, we decided to postpone the trip home to the 6th Raya, 15th Sept. I called MAS to reschedule Hanna+Hasya+Tini-the-maids' flight tickets from the 15th Sept to the 16th Sept but couldn't since we bought the tickets via Grab-a-Deal.
Oh well, we couldn't leave on the same day with the girls on the 15th for sure since the girls would be arriving in KUL much earlier than us! So we had to stick to the original plan, us leaving on the 14th, and the girls flying on the 15th. Dear Hubby took paracetamol and hit the bed much earlier than us that night. He had to rest since he gotta drive us home the next day.
The fifth day was 14th Sept, my Hanna's 13th Birthday! Hanna loved the beautiful birthday cake, and the younger kids the KFC!
We left Alor Setar at 3pm (I think). Reached home 4-5 hours later.
All in all, it was a great Raya for us all :D
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Ramadhan Al-Mubarak
Salam Ramadhan al-Mubarak to all my Muslim brothers and sisters.
May we be blessed with great health, strength and patience in this Holy month to perform extra deeds, and may this be our best Ramadhan ever!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Patience, my girls :)
Yes – they so badly wanted to watch Eclipse! But their Ayah and Ibu told them that they could only watch the movie when my Hanna's back for the weekend break. Of courselah I could bring them to watch the movie when it was out and watch it again later with Hanna, but it wouldn't be fun for Hanna to watch it with people who'd blurt out what the next scene would be like!
Hahahaha...I'm proud of you girls!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
To Raihana
I know it's hard for you to accept what's happening in your life right now. The life you thought would be void of cruelty and madness. I know it's even harder for you to wear that fake smile to show the world that you're not hurting. I know it hurts, dear. It hurts so bad that even I can feel your pain.
If only we could go back to change things to the way we want them to happen. If only that could be done. Mistakes are made, I know, but it depends on how they happened. How severe those mistakes were. How ugly the actions were that you'd want to puke and cringe just thinking about them.. How dirty the mistakes were that they can't be erased with anything....
Except TAUBAT.
Only taubat will be the answer. But the person who made those mistakes will have to give his all. But did he? Or will he? After all these years, and after all those so-called mistakes, will he change?
I know you're a giver, dear. You're the kind of person who'd give the shirt off her back. You believe that people can change for the better. You're willing to take the risk. Thus you ignored everything around you. The others who love you. Those who care for you. Those who're part of you in the whole episodes of your life.
Sigh. There are so many things I want to say to you. But I just don't want to lose you.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Hanna & MRSM
She went "Ibu, itu Sam Bunkface!"
I asked her, "Are you sure?"
"Very sure lah Ibu!" came the answer.
So I went like "You really want to buy his CD, so why don't I ask him?"
"Jangaaaan Ibu.... malu!"
Hahaha.. I was just bluffing and there Hanna was – trying to make herself invisible for having a daring mom like me! I saw her face reddened. My God, my 11+ yo daughter really thought I was gonna embarrass her!
Since Sam and his pretty girlfriend were like two feet away when the line went the corner, I sakat Hanna some more... I whispered "Let me take his picture with my phone. You definitely wanna post this in FB and Myspace"
"Jangaaaaaan IBUuuuuuu.. pleeeeeezz nooooo", and she turned away.... Malu for sure.. so I said "Oklah". But I did snap twice when they were waiting for their popcorns. I know Hanna would like to tayang to her two sisters – Hasya and Haifa later on.
Alahai... Teringat my Hanna... who is now away from me in a boarding school up north since end of March. Sigh. I miss you. Double sigh.
You see, when she took the UPSR exam last year, just to be 'fair' I told her that she'd only be applying for MRSM, and not other schools. So I didn't get online to apply for SBP for her. When the UPSR results were out, I have to fulfill my promise, so with a heavy heart I filled out the MRSM form for her and send it to MARA (hoping that she wouldn't get in!)
The MRSM results came out in February 2010 and she wasn't selected. I was happy – Yay! I gotta keep my baby at home! Hanna was ok, since initially she didn't give much thought about MRSM anyway. She was happy with her friends and the school that she went was just around the corner. Unlike some of my friends who appealed to MARA, we didn't. I just told her, "It's all fated that you didn't get to go to MRSM. Remember Allah knows what's best for you".
It was a month later when Dear Hubby called me in the office telling me that somebody from MRSM called him and asked him to check MARA's website regarding Hanna. I was surprised to see the online offer letter from MRSM and that she had to register at the MRSM in less than two weeks. She was included in the second intake for Form One students to be enrolled in one MRSM up north.
That was a tough decision to make. Should I let her go? How about the classes she's been taking like swimming, taekwondo, piano, squash and the guitar lesson she's just started? Would she be ok like me when I was 12+ ... finding my way in MRSM Kulim in 1979? Would she find great friends like I did? Would she learn the many tastes of life like I had?
My friends in FB gave their opinions... so did my parents and my siblings. There were pros and cons... but mostly pros. Most would say that it would be for her future. Her education. So that the path for her to go on will be there once she finishes high school. But I knew then that whatever it was, it would all be up to me to decide since Hanna herself couldn't decide. The thing was, I've always told myself, ever since the kids were just babies.. that I would never let the children leave the house until they're done with their SPM and further their studies elsewhere. Not in a million years would I send them to boarding schools!
It was a Yes and No decisions in the next 4 days... until one day, while on our way to Kluang to see my MIL, Dear Hubby and I discussed (again!) and he said something like "It's kinda funny to me when you don't want Hanna to go to MRSM and yet you were schooled there. You should know how great it was."
Yes, I had been selfish. I wanted her with me.. just because. So what should I say to her now that she's got the offer? What about "It's all fated that you did get to go to MRSM. Remember Allah knows what's best for you?"
So I decided to let her go. She's now away from me in her MRSM. It's tough you know, especially during birthdays when she wasn't around to share the birthday cakes. Like going to the cinema to catch a good film. Or eating her favorite food and drinking her favorite drink. Or walking passed her favorite store in a mall. All would always come to "Hanna sure will love this".
It's been more than 3 months since, and I'm getting used to her not being around the house now. I can't remember how many trips we've made up north to visit her or how many phone calls she made to me. She learns how to take care of her things now - washes her own clothes, gets up in the mornings on her own, tidies her own bed and locker, sweeps the floor, irons her clothes and manages her own time. These are all new to her since at home these are all done by the maid.
Everytime I see her, she looks more mature than my previous visit. But I guess she's still pretty much smitten with Sam Bunkface..hahahaha...
** We love you Hanna! Take care of yourself, ok?
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Haifa's 8th Birthday
Yes, today's a very important day for my darling Haifa. She's 8 today, April the 29th. No request for rabbits this year...hahaha... she said she wanted a new bike! The one she's been cycling in and around the house was from her 6th birthday. I asked her - what are you gonna do with two bikes? No answer, just a shrug. Hasya quickly said that she'd take Haifa's old bike so that we could buy Haifa a new one... (oh, you're so sweet Hasya!) But it just didn't make sense.. having two girls cycling in (and I mean IN) the house!! It would just be too chaotic lah!
So I tried to convince her... how about a new watch? Since she lost her watch (her birthday present for her 7th birthday) only months after getting it, I thought it would be better to have a new one. Lucky that she agreed.. phew!
I was actually feeling this guilt these past two weeks. Haifa wanted to have a birthday party with clown and balloons at home. Since we were very busy on weekends, with trips up north to see my Hanna at a boarding school and swimming trainings for Hasya and Haifa... I convinced her to have the party done at any McD/KFC restaurants around our area. As easy as one to consume a small bowl of creme brulee, she agreed.
It was when I started calling and visiting these outlets that I realized that I was too late to make a booking for Haifa's party. Thus the sad news. Kesian Haifa.
So it was a simple celebration at home just now. The cake cutting and the picture taking. It felt rather incomplete without Hanna around.. but we just have to get use to it for now.
So here's a birthday wish for my darling Haifa...
Ayah and Ibu will always make do'a for you... for your life to be filled with great health and wealth, undying love and happiness, sweet success, beautiful imaan, and wonderful friends and families. We know that you're full of potentials.. so do what you think you can do best, ok? Remember that we love you so very much!
We love you Haifa.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Cake from Lea Oven.. as usual memang sedap & cantik
Monday, March 1, 2010
An Update on Asrama Donni
K2K project initiated by us – the ex-students of MRSM Kulim (1979-1983) aka Killerbatch is actually a fun raising project to build a dormitory for the underprivileged high school students of SMK Tun Fuad Stephens in Kiulu, Tamparuli, Sabah who have to walk miles across the rivers and jungles for hours before they can reach their school. With the dormitory, these students will no longer have to endure those exhausting long walks anymore.
The journey that Killerbatch took to realize not only their dream, but the dream of hundreds of students back in Kiulu Sabah was full of adventures and lively of colors. Along the way, new friendships were made and new paths were taken. Everything was indeed remarkable... and at the end of the road, countless huggings, hand-shakings, phone calls, emails, teh-tarik dos, brain-storming sessions, smiles, laughters, sweat and tears could fill the ocean spread between Kulim to Kiulu.
Such precious experience. Priceless.
How did we get the fund? Apart from the generous donors (companies, families, friends and even strangers), Killerbatch participated in 3 major events through out the 12 months - Tune Talk, I Miss Him So Much and Ghazal Party Queen.
Kulim to Kiulu charity series started off with us participating in the Tune Talk competition which was on from June to August 2009, with K2K as its cause. It wasn't easy doubling up the votes, but with the help of our family and friends, especially those from Sabah Credit Corporation, we managed to win the first prize of RM50K! Not bad for a beginner :)
The second was I Miss Him So Much art charity where we teamed up with our good friend Galeri Chandan, held at Galeri Chandan from 30th September to 12th October 2009. Around 40 generous local artists participated in the exhibition, and more than RM200K worth of artworks were sold. It was a huge success!
Datuk Mukhriz - officiated IMHSM and attended GPQ, such a great person!
The final part of the charity drive series was Ghazal Party Queen (which I'll elaborate more here) held at Taman Budaya from 5th to 8th February 2010. GPQ was a restaging of an award winning play with 8 Killerbatch and ANGKA (Angkatan Karyawan Aktif Kuala Lumpur) as its cast. It was based on a true story of one Pak Teh Nan, a famous former Ghazal Party Queen in Sungai Bakat. During the day, he worked as a paddy farmer and at night, a graceful belly dancer in Ghazal Party.
Pak Teh was in love with Kamariah and nobody knew of their love affair. He was broken apart when Kamariah was married off to his own bestfriend, Pak Din. Indeed it was a sad night for Pak Teh, when he had to perform his Ghazal dance during their wedding kenduri. To further crush him to pieces, Pak Teh was accused of something he didn't do. That was the last dance he'd ever done. The hurtful dance.
I loved the play.. especially that Munah character – so entertaining!
GPQ - some of the cast which include Aishah, the big-hearted singer. Munah is the one in the short black kebayaHmmhh... the project is now at the end of the road. Looking back at the road we've taken, I would say that Alhamdulillah, Kulim to Kiulu is a success! Despite some criticisms made by certain quarters regarding the project, Killerbatch stood tall to endure the sour remarks and other challenges. With wonderful people-with-visions in the team, giving their best in everything they did, and those not in the team but giving everything their support and encouragement, Asrama Donni is now complete! Yeap, the official opening will be on 17th April 2010. Insyaallah TYT Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Ahmadshah Abdullah and Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir among others will be attending the ceremony... as well as Killerbatch families and friends.
It is such a great honor for me to be an iota part of the project.
We are very much thankful to so many people, especially K2K partners - Sabah Credit Corporation, Galeri Chandan, CIMB Foundation and Tun Ahmadshah Foundation, friends from Ansara, Galeri Chandan, Tune Talk and ANGKA, our teachers from MRSM Kulim, Killerbatch families and friends, and those who supported the project by helping in so many ways - THANK YOU. Let's hope that more "Asrama Donnis" will be built to help other kids around Tanah Tumpah Darah kita ini...
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Missing my Flight
January has been an easy month to begin with, with the kids starting schools, especially my Hanna who is now in a secondary school. I didn't apply the SBP for her, but I did fill out the MRSM forms and sent them to MARA and ANSARA after her UPSR results was out. Hanna didn't say anything to me regarding MRSM. We both thought the same thing – just wait and see.
When the result was out online on Feb 1st, I was somehow happy. Happy that she didn't get accepted! How selfish of me was that? Being an ex-MRSM student myself, I know all the good things and all the benefits that MRSMs have to offer.. but... I just couldn't shake this relief feeling off me. Well, I could sense that she felt the same way too.
Anyway, something happened to me on Saturday that affirmed "There's Always a First Time for Everything" saying. I missed my flight home to Alor Setar! Dear Hubby and I were supposed to attend a cousin's wedding in Kodiang, so the plan was to catch the earliest flight out, and the night flight in. I took my shower at 4:50am that morning and left home before 6am to catch the 7:15am flight. It'd usually take us around 30-35mins to reach LCCT but we were rather ignorant of these issues:
1) Parking at LCCT... uuurghhh.. If you're not chauffeur-driven there, remember that it takes more than 5mins to find the parking space, get your bags out and lock your car.
2) Park to the nearest entrance to "Pelepasan", and not "Ketibaan", ok? When you're in a hurry, remember that every minute counts.
3) The check-in counters with flight destinations displayed are not meant for the above-forty people... like me. You either have to be sharp enough to scan which counter to go (when in a hurry), or use the binoculars while pulling your bag... and oh, remember not to trample on other passengers' legs/bags while doing so.
So yeah, we couldn't get on that flight. Although the plane was still there on the tarmac waiting for another 20mins before take-off, we were too late since the doors had been closed – according to the non-smiling PR guy who was supposed to be dealing with 'public' like us (I guess these people are trained to be void of emotions, or else they won't last long in that profession).
And yeah, we didn't take another flight out. I called up my cousin and apologized profusely for not being able to attend her son's wedding. I also called my Mak, and was overcome by chagrin when Mak told me that she had cooked a sumptuous breakfast for us and was readying some special meal for us for lunch. Alahaaii.. frustnya.... Next time na Mak?
Whatever it is, I try to look at this episode positively. I believe that Dear Hubby and I were not meant to be on that plane that day. Maybe our seats were destined to be given to other poor souls on the waiting list who had more important things to do back in Alor Setar. Or perhaps I was supposed to attend to other matters that day which include :
1) Hanna's sports day
2) Hanna's Anugerah cemerlang UPSR
3) Hasya/Haifa school PIBG
4) Ghazal Party Queen play at Taman Budaya... (another charity event by Killerbatch...remember the Donni story? I'll blog about this later)
So I'm good. Mesti ada hikmah dari setiap kejadian, right?
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Hasya's Birthday Celebration
First of all, Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha to all Muslims. We didn't balik kampong, so it was a quiet hari raya at home... cooking and spending quality time with the kids :)
Ok, what was I planning to write earlier? Oh, about last weekend... it was a blast! My children had fun, especially my Hasya who celebrated her 10th birthday on Saturday November 21st. She actually requested to have a mini birthday celebration at home – with her small group of school friends. So we just thought, why not, after all it was her birthday and the school break's already here. She invited around ten of her girlfriends to come over, with Hanna and Haifa inviting a few of theirs too.
That morning, Dear Hubby took the girls and Haziq the to the community complex where Haziq & Husna's School Sports event was held. I had to give it a miss since I haven't finished cooking. The girls later came home and told me that the event was a fun one, and Dear Hubby said he was amazed that there were so many volunteers to help with the special kids. Alhamdulillah.
Hasya's party started at 2pm. After having their lunch (Fettuchine Carbonara and Baked Tuna Pasta etc) the girls went to Hasya's room and had their temporary tattoos. The butterflies were a hit among the girls.
Make-up time was next.... they started painting each other's face with eyeshadows, lipsticks, blushers and compact powders I bought the day before at Elianto. Little did I know that they were not interested in painting pretty faces, only clown faces... Habis patah semua lipsticks! But it was worth it, especially when you could hear their laughters and gigglings. Girls!!
Then it was the event that they have been waiting for – the Water Balloon war! From using balloons, the girls then started using the pails and the water hose! Imagine the laughters and screamings the nearly 20 lil girls made... you'd think that someone has fallen off the garden swing! It was great fun watching them enjoying themselves :)
The girls later had their shower and tried the treadmill. It was pretty chaotic, with around ten girls using the treadmill at a time, LOL! Then it was the cake cutting ceremony. The cake done by Lea Oven was admired by all of the girls.
Cantik kan? Sedap pun sedap!
See Edward and Bella all ready to be consumed :)
Towards Maghrib time, the girls had their cupcake decorating session. They did all the mixing, coloring and decorating by themselves. Very creative girls, they were!
The last of the girls were sent home at 8pm. I was dead tired by then, but watching Hasya's contented face, I knew she had a great time.
The next day, Hanna's two friends came over for a sleepover. We brought all the girls out for a celebration dinner (Hasya's Birthday and Hanna's UPSR) at Sunway Pyramid TGI and later watched Disney's A Christmas Carol. Didn't like it that much, Dear Hubby actually slept halfway thru the movie!
So tonite we're watching New Moon. The girls can't wait to see Edward and Jacob. Hopefully their father won't fall asleep again!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Congratulations Hanna!
(A simple case of a true procrastinator procrastinates of procrastinating..LOL!)
Ok, to last week's story – the UPSR result was out on the 19th, and Alhamdulillah my Hanna got 5As! It came as quite a surprise.... and we were very happy for her, that's for sure. Dear Hubby who was on leave that day fetched both Hanna and Haifa from school, picked me up from my training class, and had a small lunch celebration at the Italliannies. We later watched 2012 at Sunway Pyramid – with Hanna and Haifa still in their school uniforms!
A note for Hanna :
Ibu and Ayah are so proud of you, sayang. Don't forget to always do your best in all areas you've chosen. We'll be there to support you come what may. And Hanna, remember that there are more mountains to be climbed later on in life... Climb each at your own pace, reach out for its peak, and expect the unexpected – bruises and skinned knees - along the way.
Congratulations Hanna! We love you!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
My Sweet Husna is 15 today!
This is my sweet Husna.
She's in the world of her own, in the place she created when she was over a year old. That's the place where she can be who she wants to be. Do whatever she wants to do. We tried so many times to bring her out of her comfortable realm but she was persistent. To stay there and see the outside world thru the glass wall she built over 13 years ago.
Just like any other Autistic child, she needs that wall to feel safe.
And just like any other mother of an Autistic child, I tried so many times to break that wall...
...to get her to this side of the world where she can be safe with us.... and try ....oh so many things! Like how it feels to hold an egg that has been left in a jar of vinegar for a week. Or what happens if you glue a Rubic's cube together. Or how does it feel when you step on a snail in the garden, barefooted. Or fight over the Astro remote control with your siblings. Or race to get the prettiest cupcake on the tray. Or how fun it is to color each other's nails with henna....
My Husna's trying hard, I know. I know this because I understand what's going on in that magical mind of hers. And she too understands. She smiles whenever she hears her name. She'll run and hug me if I called her name. She'd lie in my arms when I asked her to.... and sleep like a baby afterwards. And I'd feel contented, just by having her in my arms and watching her sleep... so innocent and pure. My Ahli Syurga.
Today my sweet baby turns 15, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY Husna sayang!! Remember that our love has no boundaries. Ibu and Ayah will always pray that you'll someday stay on this side of the wall with us, so that you know that in this world, only the sky is the limit.
Happy Birthday! We all love you sayang!


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Teengirl Fantasy "Motif"
Established as they are, Logan Takahashi and Nick Weiss, the Brooklyn-based duo behind Teengirl Fantasy, […]
Established as they are, Logan Takahashi and Nick Weiss, the Brooklyn-based duo behind Teengirl Fantasy, remain a very oddball proposition. Their music incorporates tropes of classic and contemporary analog synth-based house and techno, but these elements are molded into tracks that don't really attempt to cater to the dancefloor. Obviously, they can crank out party jams when they feel like it—"Cheaters," for instance, still sounds incredible two years after its initial release. Teengirl, however, seems to prefer to sculpt and structure its sound around the duo's impulsive, jam-based working dynamic, its members directing their efforts toward making actual songs while still leaving room for these songs to breathe or transform significantly—if they will it. The group doesn't pander, and its music is all the more compelling and original for it.
This 12-inch single, Teengirl Fantasy's debut for the long-running R&S label and a lead-up to its forthcoming second LP, Tracer (which is to be released by R&S outside the USA, while True Panther will handle the stateside release), features a song unique to this release, "Motif," as well as a remix by Actress and an album cut from Tracer. Not only are all three tracks incredibly different, they're all quite compelling.
"Motif" is, for a brief passage towards the end, a heavenly piano-house track, but elsewhere it is unclassifiable—a blissed drift through Teengirl's ecstatic, nebulous dream-house realm. In the song's seven minutes, there are at least three or four significant stylistic and rhythmic shifts, and even when the rhythms are relatively straightforward, the whirl of synths is busy cultivating a psychedelic mélange that's too delightfully disorienting to even think about dancing to. A feeling of longing underscores both this tune and "Eternal," the Tracer album cut included here. Whereas "Motif" moves along a deeper, more cosmic trajectory, "Eternal" is a more succinct, rhythmically insistent track—it keeps the same midtempo pulse and tight array of synths until three-quarters of the way through, when it enters the kind of Balearic, joyous domain that Takahashi and Weiss tend to casually dip into when their push-and-pull dynamic calls for it.
Actress' remix of the title track is very much in keeping with the English producer's other work—it's minimal, hissing, subtly soulful, and hypnotic. The resemblance to the original is difficult to detect. Really, it straight up sounds like an original Actress track, one that could easily have fit on his marvelous, recently released R.I.P LP. Following Teengirl Fantasy's strong showing on "Motif," perhaps nobody should be surprised if the pair's upcoming LP lands in similarly lofty territory.

subset: commoncrawl


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Bridging the gap between science and spirituality
About Renew
Renew hosts retreats to help people who are healing from a breakup and want to gain their personal power back.
Our approach bridges the gap between science and spirituality to create a positive momentum for moving forward. Whether you are someone who has recently had a breakup or you've experienced past heartache that hasn't fully healed, Renew can help you rewire the heart so you can move forward in a healthy way, making space for new beginnings and new love.
Renew was founded by Amy Chan (see below), a relationship columnist and editor of relationship magazine, JustMyType.ca.
"A relationship expert whose work is like that of a scientific Carrie Bradshaw."
— The Observer
About Amy Chan
Five years ago, I was in a relationship with a man whom I thought I'd be spending the rest of my life with. He was my first love, and without realizing it, I had put much of my sense of identity into that relationship. When one day suddenly everything fell apart, I broke into pieces. Not only did I lose my partner, my best friend, but I lost my identity. I spiraled into a depression, broke out into panic attacks, and had thoughts of suicide.
During that time, I searched everywhere for a retreat or some safe place where I could go to get the healing that I needed. Unfortunately, there was nothing targeted specifically to the type of excruciating pain that comes along with detaching. It took me almost two years to fully recover from that breakup and along the way, I've learned critical tools for self-soothing and getting oneself back into equilibrium. I also count my blessings that I had such a great support system that helped me through the worst of the darkness.
The business idea for Renew came to me about one and a half years ago. I realized that most of the emails I get from readers of my blog were from people going through breakups and completely distraught on how to handle the pain. It was an aha moment where everything came together, and I knew that I had to be the one to create a safe space for people to come and heal in a healthy way.
If you are going through a heartbreak, I promise you that there is light at the end of the tunnel. There are tools you can learn to heal in a healthy way, and this is an opportunity for you to learn about yourself, and change the direction of your life. The breakup may feel like the worst thing that's ever happened to you, but it's merely a bridge. This is one chapter in the overall storyline of your life. When your emotions take over and you feel like you're going crazy, know that the feeling is temporary – it will pass. Know that you're not alone. There are others who are also going through the same pain you are, and my goal is to create a community where we can support each other.


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For classic books about love between Mothers and children, look no further then 'Guess How Much I Love You' or ' Love You Forever '. You may have read these books to your children a lot but I am sure you will never tire of hearing your little one tell you that they " love you to the moon and back ", aaaaaahhhhh.
Not everybody has just one mummy, some are lucky to have two mummies, so the heartwarming Mommy, Mama and Me may be the book that you would like to share this Mother's Day. For adoptive ( well for all families really) families, Motherbridge of Love is a beautiful poem that emphasis the bond between parent and child.
Just like some people who are lucky to have two mummies, there are some children that are lucky to have two daddies or even two sets of mummies and daddies. Whatever your family structure is, you are sure to enjoy Picnic in the Park as it celebrates the love between all types of family.
One of our favourite books to read on Mother's Day is My Mama Earth, a book that takes us on a wonderful journey through Motherhood and nature. A book for all of us, not just mums.
The best stories of all are your stories so have fun telling each other tales from your imagination and don't forget the extra cuddles!Whatever book you read on Mother's Day, I am sure you will love a relaxing time out together after that all important breakfast in bed.


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Latest News
Fire safety more than a cause for Mariposa woman
MARIPOSA -- One of Mariposa's charms is its woodsy nature. But the lush, overgrown look that's typical of a mountain county can be a mixed blessing, particularly in times of drought when things that are normally green turn brown.
Jan Hamilton has been a Mariposa resident since 1990; her family owns a ranch which was purchased in 1940. However, the rural setting is not without its risks.
The Oliver fire which has been burning over parts of Mariposa County recently worries Hamilton. If the wind were to blow just right, the fire could come over a couple of ridges and endanger her home. Smoky clues to the fire's fury are everywhere.
For Hamilton, a retired Realtor who moved to Mariposa from Pleasanton, fire safety has been a near and dear cause. She heads the Mariposa County Fire Safe Council, a group that works on several fronts to make the community safer from its greatest peril, wildland fires.
Keeping Mariposa properties safe from fire is an ongoing struggle. The Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit of Cal Fire is in the midst of its annual fire hazard reduction inspection program. Firefighters say the most important preventive step homeowners can take is to clear flammable vegetation at least 100 feet from all structures, Chief Mikel Martin said.
There are about 23,000 homes involved in Mariposa County, according to Karen A. Guillemin, Cal Fire fire prevention specialist. Fifteen of the 21 communities listed in the Federal Register are at-risk from wildfires.
Hamilton said the Fire Safe Council, formed in January 1998, is not a membership organization, per se. It holds monthly general meetings and has a series of smaller committees in some of the 22 communities within Mariposa County. People are active when there's a brush-clearing project in their area.
Hamilton praises Kimberly Bullock, who functions as the organization's executive director. Bullock excels as a grant writer and the council's success is a combination of her expertise and the citizens' involvement themselves, Hamilton said.
Earlier this month, the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors approved $159,048 in federal Title III funds for the Fire Safe Council to use for the next three fiscal years. This money is used in conjunction with a $99,970 grant from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and a $117,450 grant available this fall from the U.S. Forest Service.
The council owns a brush chipper and contracts crews to use it to reduce accumulated brush and debris, Hamilton said. Cal Fire determined since the Fire Safe Council was formed in 1998, violations of Public Resources Codes mandating minimum clearance around homes have dropped 31 percent in Mariposa County.
The group partnered with the Bureau of Land Management in 2003-2005 to construct about five miles of shaded fuel break on a ridge above Greeley Hill and collaborated with the U.S. Forest Service in 2005-2006 to construct about 1½ miles of shaded fuel break on ridges above Mariposa Pines-Jerseydale areas. Between 2006-2008, the group is in the midst of constructing six miles of shaded fuel break along Stumpfield Mountain and Watt roads.
Hamilton said the Fire Safe Council is similar to Neighborhood Watch, but with a different point of view. California's fire season is fast becoming a year-round affair and there are challenges with a wildland-urban interface.
If the defensible space buffer advocated by Cal Fire is followed correctly, people's houses have a chance of surviving a wildland fire. If firefighters can park their trucks safely on people's property and there's a chance of saving a home from approaching flames, homeowners certainly will benefit, Hamilton said.
Martin said property owners who fail to comply with state regulations can be fined up to $500; this includes removing flammable materials a minimum of 100 feet, clearing all needles and leaves from roofs, eaves and rain gutters, removing tree limbs within 10 feet of chimneys and installing spark arresters on all chain saws, portable equipment, tractors and motorcycles.
Hamilton said Mariposa is a wonderful community and she has great respect for all firefighting agencies. While the Fire Safe Council isn't regulatory in any way, she hopes its mission keeps her surroundings green -- not fireplace black.


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How to climb the Kitzbüheler Horn: The hardest climb you've never heard of
Although they're the most famous, the climbs of the Alps and Pyrenees aren't the only tough ascents in Europe.
There are many mountains that can be as, if not more, brutal than the ones we watch riders like Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana race up in Grand Tours.
The Kitzbüheler Horn is one such example. Located in the alpine Tyrol region of western Austria, the climb is 9.7km in length and has an average gradient of 12.9 per cent, with plenty of ramps over 20 per cent and an entire kilometre that averages 19 per cent.
The better known Mortirolo Pass over the border in Italy is 2.7km longer but averages a lower 10.5 per cent and only reaches 18 per cent on its most testing section. Lance Armstrong called the Italian climb as 'the hardest he had ever ridden'.
For anyone riding the Kitzbüheler with an eye on putting in a time, there is a ticket machine at the bottom which can be scanned at the top to give an official climbing duration.


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Three earthquakes in less than 12 hours rattle western Texas, experts say
If you're in western Texas and think you might have felt the earth rumble, you could be right. A cluster of three earthquakes was detected on Sunday in the span of just over six hours, the United States Geological Survey says.
The first quake, a magnitude 2.5, hit just after 8:05 a.m. Central time and was centered roughly 40 miles west of Mentone, a town of about19 near the border of Texas and New Mexico, the USGS reported.
The second temblor, measured at magnitude 2.6, came just over two hours later at 10:39 a.m.a 11 miles southwest of Pecos, the USGS says. Pecos is just over 20 miles southeast of Mentone.
The cluster's third and strongest earthquake, a magnitude 2. 8, rattled not far from the second at 2:30 p.m., about 22 miles southwest of Pecos, according to the USGS.
Each of the three quakes was measured to have occurred about three miles deep into the earth. The USGS shows no report of area residents feeling each quake, but that's not uncommon with low-magnitude temblors.
Quakes measuring between magnitudes 1.0 and 3.0 are considered level I on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, meaning that the quakes typically aren't felt, according to the USGS.
Magnitude "measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake" while intensity is determined by the quake's effect on buildings and people, the USGS says.


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OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
I am a huge fan of Twitter and an increasing fan of Google+. But I use it more for the business of The Creative Penn and less for my fiction. I also know that there are always issues with time pressure and authors must choose methods of marketing that work for them. Today, J. Steve Miller explains why he's given up trying to attract social media followers, and concentrates on other ways of promoting his book.
I'm an author who blogs casually – whenever I happen to feel like it. My Alexa ranking stinks, and I like it that way. I seldom tweet. I use Facebook to keep up with my real friends. Yet, I'm self-published and very pleased with my steadily increasing book sales.
I've studied and tried the "build a massive following" approach, which works great for some people; but don't believe it's the best approach for me, and perhaps most other authors as well. I actually use social media a lot, just not in the way many publishers and literary agents expect authors to use it.
Problems with Building a Social Media Following
First, building a following consumes lots of time.
Social media guru Chris Brogan recommends a minimum of two hours a day. Think of J.R.R. Tolkien, who taught full time and hung out with his family after work, writing books after his children went to bed. Had he spent those two hours blogging and Tweeting, we may have never read The Lord of the Rings.
Second, there's no proof that building a large following can work for every author.
Granted, it works for some authors, but that's not the proof we need. Compare social media to the California gold rush. Had I lived in New England in 1849 and read regular newspaper reports of people striking it rich, I'd need better evidence to warrant selling the farm and moving west. I'd want to know, "out of the last thousand people who made the move, what percentage struck it rich?" If eight out of ten, I might move. If one out of 1,000, I'd keep the farm. But that's precisely the statistical information we lack concerning authors trying to build social media followings.
Third, when I studied low profile authors who sold a lot of books, I found very few taking this approach.
When authors reported on book marketing forums, "Twitter works for me," I'd ask, "How many books are you selling as a result?" Typically, they sheepishly replied "a few" or clarified that they were defining "success" in terms of how many people they drew to their blogs through Twitter.
How I Use Social Media
Some good studies have been done that relate to the effective use of social media. Drawing on about ten of them, I crafted some principles that guide me.
Principle #1 – "Let others praise you, rather than praise yourself."
This principle is at least as old as King Solomon, who advised, "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips." It also flows from Gallup's study of over 17,000 social media users which found that people don't typically buy products as a result of companies pushing their own products through social media. People doubt our objectivity concerning our own products.
Razorfish found 61 percent of responders relying on user reviews, compared with 15 percent relying on editorial reviews. Unfortunately, trying to sell my books to my Facebook and blog followings is much like editorial reviews – it's me pushing my own products.
Knowing the power of user reviews, I use social media extensively to give away free copies of my books for early input and early reviews. For Sell More Books!, I offered members of the popular Yahoo Self Publishing listserv a free digital copy for early input as I was still editing. After publication, I emailed those early readers a big thank you, and offered them a free paper copy, requesting an Amazon review if they felt compelled. Social networking allows me to find my niche audiences and get plenty of reviews, as well as allowing them to spread the word on their social networks.
Principle #2 – "Go where people already gather, rather than gather a crowd around yourself."
According to Shiv Singh, social media guru for PepsiCo,
"The holy grail of social influence marketing is increasingly considered the ability to identify which referent influencers are the most powerful and have the highest impact on brand affinity and purchasing decisions. After you've identified them, the next question is, how does a marketer reach these referent influencers that surround their customers?"
Applying this principle to marketing my personal finance book, Enjoy Your Money!, I found the top 200 personal finance blogs and offered free copies to the bloggers for their review. Almost one in four asked for a copy. Eighteen came through with a review and/or giveaway. It was both cost and time effective. My sales tripled and I didn't have to keep posting several times a week on my blog. Instead, I went into seclusion to write my next book.
Principle #3 – "Address the interested, rather than interrupt the disinterested."
39% of people surveyed unfriend people on Facebook who try to sell them something. Even if you limit your sales pitches to one of fifty comments, many question your motives for keeping in touch once you start mentioning your books. Rather, I visit forums, blogs and listservs where people are looking for information on the topics I write about. I link to my books in my signature.
Principle #4 – "Consider your strengths and passions, rather than assuming you can replicate any marketing scheme."
A Gallup study of over two million people concluded that people need to concentrate on their strengths. If your strengths and passions incline you to blogging, Facebook and Twitter, you may do well building a following there. But if it's a chore that you endure solely to sell your books, don't be surprised if you make little impact. There are hundreds of ways to market your books. Choose methods that fit your unique passions and strengths.
Let's Talk!
My approach goes against the flow, and a brief post doesn't give the subject justice, so feel free to agree or disagree below in the comments and I'll interact. Thanks, Joanna, for letting me share!
J. Steve Miller writes a wide range of books on topics ranging from personal finance to philosophy of religion to writing and publishing. Social Media Frenzy expands on the topic of this post. Sell More Books! helps low profile and debut authors narrow down which marketing methods might work best with their unique strengths and books. Publish a Book! helps authors decide on the best self-publishing company. Over 1500 people a day visit his website for teacher resources on life skills and character education. He loves hanging out with his family, giving talks, caring for his 106-year-old granny, and doing weird stuff like spelunking. Connect with him at www.enjoyyourwriting.com .


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In this digital economy, organizations are looking to technology as a competitive differentiator in driving higher engagement with customers, enabling new business models and staying ahead of the competition. CIOs are at the core of the transformation agenda, balancing between operational efficiency and forward thinking projects. In both instances, servers are the bedrock of the modern software-defined data center and the key to building a flexible, efficient and cloud-enabled infrastructure. Dell EMC PowerEdge servers powered by Intel ® Xeon ® processor deliver a worry-free infrastructure that is secure and scalable, with no compromises. Learn more about Dell EMC enterprise solutions in collaboration with Intel®.Intel Inside®. Para un mundo de nuevas posibilidades. Procesador Intel® Xeon®
Ultrabook, Celeron, Celeron Inside, Core Inside, Intel, el logotipo de Intel, Intel Atom, Intel Atom Inside, Intel Core, Intel Inside, el logotipo de Intel Inside, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, Xeon Phi y Xeon Inside son marcas comerciales de Intel Corporation o de sus filiales en Estados Unidos y/o en otros países.
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Konstantin Soukhovetski
Konstantin Soukhovetski is rapidly earning a reputation as a "young pianist who captivates" with his "distinctive lyricism," "immaculate technique" and "vigor…refinement…and drama." Soukhovetski is an alumnus of The Juilliard School where he has earned his BM, MM, and AD degrees under the tutelage of Jerome Lowenthal. Born in Moscow to a family of artists he studied at the Moscow Central Special Music School, under the auspices of the Moscow State Conservatory, with Anatoly Ryabov. His career hightlights include appearances with Westmoreland Symphony, Virginia Symphony and the Long Island Chamber Players, the Manchester Music Festival Orchestra, Fourtissimo, and Asheville Symphony. Recital highlights are: Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, Chopin Society of Switzerland in Bern and London's Wigmore Hall. Following his 2006 William Petschek Debut Recital Award performance at Alice Tully Hall, in New York's Lincoln Center, The New York Times headlined its review: "Romanticism so intense it warms up Philip Glass."
Visit his website


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"Come out & Play" Just Outside Chapel Hill
Metal dinosaur skeletons, soaring geometric forms, rolled paper on a plaster wall, gigantic primate images, and a teepee that when one steps inside, is beamed into a universe of planets. These are but a handful of sculptures flecked across the 17-acre JimGin Farm in Chatham County, yes a farm. Horses and potbellies reside there too, but it's the plethora of local art that lures hoards of families -- including leashed four-legged members -- to the Come Out and Play sculpture shows in August and September. For the past 13 years, the art show has been a staple at the home of Debbie Meyer and Eric Brantley. It has grown from less than a dozen participating artists to more than 60 this past year. An estimated 1,800 folks flock here to take in the art, purchase one-of-a-kinds, listen to live music, feed animals and delight in the potluck served by Debbie and her friends and family. Best part, artists keep 100% of revenues on sales. It's an event that has burgeoned over the years, but clings to its down-home roots.
While this year's show has come to a close, mark your calendar for next summer!
(photographs taken at the Come Out and Play final reception held on September 20 in Pittsboro)


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Yesterday, Disney Pixar released the full trailer for their upcoming movie Coco. I am very excited for this movie, though I am also a little bit afraid I might compare it to The Book of Life too much. As they are both movies about the Day of the Dead, based in Mexico and apparently involving a boy and a guitar, at first I thought this was Disney's attempt at recreating one of my favourite movies. Still, after seeing this trailer, I am very excited and will definitely see this movie in theaters!
Coco follows a 12-year-old boy named Miguel who sets off a chain of events relating to a century-old mystery, leading to an extraordinary family reunion. Cast: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Alanna Ubach, Benjamin Bratt, Edward James Olmos. IMDB.


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Get The Best LED Grow Lights In The Market Today!
The LED Grow Lights Judge is your number one provider for the best LED Light reviews and guides. We help indoor growers make the best decision when choosing their own LED grow lights. Choose between an assortment of brands and products that provide superior performance when it comes to growing your indoor plants. We provide expert guides that feature comprehensive product description, the pros and cons, and our own personal take on the product.
We are constantly updating our content to match with the hottest and most popular LED grow lights that are currently on sale. We give expert unbiased reviews and recommendations to ensure you get only the best lighting system for your indoor plants.
Ever since indoor gardening became a thing, indoor growers have relied heavily on artificial sunlight such as High-pressure Sodium, HID, and fluorescent to mimic the quality and potency of the sun's rays. These light systems all have their own degrees of effectiveness. However with the turn of the 21st century, a new option became available and is now among the leading light source among the pack: LED.
While LED (or light-emitting diode) have been in the industry for decades, it's mostly used as an instrumental panel light indicator. It was only recently that it has been discovered to be an effective light source for growing indoor plants. Thus, LED grow lights came into play and is now the leading product in the grow light industry.
The main advantage of LED grow light over other light sources is the significantly reduced heat and power consumption. LED produces less heat, making it more energy efficient as it can properly provide some much needed light without potentially burning your plants. They also require less ventilation to cool, which means you don't have to invest in expensive ventilating system to keep it cool.
We also review other grow light products. However, our main focus will always be on LED grow lights.
The best LED grow lights are space saving, energy saving lighting systems that cater to every household and for various purposes. The simplest way to define a LED grow light is that this lighting system produces an artificial source of light which stimulates plants to go into photosynthesis! It is usually used in places that lack a source of natural lighting, for example for indoor growing. Before the rise of LED grow lights over the last couple of years, growers used other methods like high-pressure sodium lamps and fluorescent bulbs (some actually still like those, however they do need space and produce heat).
Space-saving build: The best LED grow lights are efficient space saving mechanisms. While growing plants, you will need a lot of other equipment. But with the advent of LED grow lights, it is possible to go around the grow room as these hardly take up any space.
Low Running Temperature: Unlike other sources of light, LED lights tend to run at a lower temperature which can only be described as 'warm' instead of a high 400-500 degree Celsius. This ensures that your plants in the grow room are safe and at an optimum temperature, so you need less or no vans at all.
Energy saving mechanism: The best LED grow lights are power efficient. This means that they can produce a lot more powerful light with the use of minimal energy. This is an essential factor here.
Ease of installation and expansion: Most LED grow lights are very easy to install, and very often are modular and can be installed adjacent to each other.
Control: Plants need different light in different phases of their life (vegetative, blooming) and the best LED grow lights let you adjust the wavelength accordingly.
Lifespan: This is one of the most important benefits of the best LED lights. These products can work for a period between 50,000 to 100,000 hours of use. So, once installed, you really don't have to worry about replacing it anytime soon.
- Best Grow Lights in the Market
- 1. The ViparSpectra Reflector – Series 450W LED Grow Light
- 2. TaoTronics Hydroponic LED Grow Light
- 3. G8LED 240 Watt LED Grow Lights
- 4. G8LED 450 Watt LED Grow Lights
- 5. MarsHydro 300 and MarsHydro 600 LED Grow Lights
- 6. Apollo Horticulture GL60LED Full Spectrum 180W
- 7. Advanced Platinum Series P300 300w 12-band LED Grow Lights
- 8. Galaxyhydro LED Grow Light Full Spectrum 300w
- 9. Advanced Platinum Series P450 450w 12-band LED Grow Lights
- 10. Kind K5 XL750 LED Grow Lights
- Technical considerations on LED grow lights
- PAR values
- Wattages
- Spectrum
- Manufacturers / Brands of the best LED Grow Lights
- How To Choose The Best LED Grow Light?
- Conclusion on the best LED Grow Lights
Here at LEDGrowLightsJudge, we have built an extensive repertoire of knowledge on LED grow lights in order to help you get educated on growing, with lots of tips and tricks, reviews of individual products and of course a list of the best LED grow lights that you can make use of. With that said, let's go straight to our table with the Top 10 best LED grow lights. Further down, you will then find a summary of the key characteristics for each LED grow light.
|Model (click for our detailed review)
|Check on Amazon
| 1. BESTVA 2000W Reflector Series
| 1. ViparSpectra Reflector-Series 450W LED Grow Light
|3. G8LED 900W MEGA LED Light
|4. King Plus 1200W Double Chips
| 5. Marshydro Reflector 720W
| 6. Apollo Horticulture GL60LED Full Spectrum 180W
| 7. Advanced Platinum Series P300 300w 12-band
| 8. Galaxyhydro 1000W
|9. Morsen 2400W Full Spectrum Panel
|10. California Lightworks SolarSystem 550w
When it comes to growing indoor plants, the Viparspectra Reflector series is among the best among the rest. This panel has spectrum 3 bands ratio. It gives out enough energy for the plants to utilize it while carrying on with their metabolic processes. What is more is that this LED light can save 90 percent of your energy as compared to the metal halide lighting you might have used before. There is another reason why this LED bulb is perfect for plants to grow. The wavelength of light emitted here is ideal for the process of photosynthesis. For this reason, this light is immediately being absorbed by the plants. This light is also suitable for all phases of plant growth, right from the time when you plant the seeds to when the plants flower and finally when you see the fruit! One of the most popular and best LED grow lights!
Apart from the increasing usage to grow weed, these LED lights are used for growing orchids, broccoli, cucumbers, wildflowers, peppers, roses, basil, lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, spinach and many others in this category.
This is a good choice for seedling and cloning activities as this can be mounted in tight places without having to worry about the heat building up.
This light is appropriate for all stages of plant growth. You do need to worry about changing your lighting after every few days.
TaoTronics has really made some notable progress in the field of LED grow lights. Ever since its inception, it has been catering to the plants' needs for appropriate lighting. This particular LED light comes with much lower power consumption and a long life. It doesn't generate any excess heat that might prove to be difficult for the plants. The design is made in such a way that the voltage is being stepped down. To add to that, the product is built with the outsides being a heat sink. This means that all the excess heat is absorbed. Even if you keep the lights on for longs hours at a stretch, there won't be much of heat generation. The wavelength of the light emitted by these LED grow lights is ideal for the plants to carry out photosynthesis. With use, it has been seen that these lights strive towards improving plant health.
Comes in a pack of 12 LEDs including 3 blue ones and 9 red ones. It is suitable for all occasions from sunlight, to a rainy environment and even a snowing one.
The red LED grow lights are required for the process of photosynthesis while the blue light is mainly helping the chlorophyll and carotenoid.
The next entry into our list of the best LED grow lights is this particular product made with the most advanced forms of technology. These lights are known to improve the health of the plants and also result in better yields. Both of these factors come in handy while growing plants in artificial lights. To help the light penetrate deeper in the plants, the product comes with zener protection and 3 watt chips. With years of usage, it has been observed that the vegetation growth increases up to 3 times in the first two weeks of usage. The durable and space saving cabling ensures that you have enough free space in your grow room. Also, the lights keep the temperature constant at around 70 degree Celsius.
- G8LED Technology- This technology provides 8-Band Wavelength Ratio plus real Infrared (IR) and Ultraviolet (UV) light that is ideal for plant growth.
- 240W Veg and Flower light: This light is enough for the entire growth cycle of the plants and vegetation. It is most concentrated in a region of 6 square feet.
- These lights can easily last for 50,000 hours or 15 years. There is no question of you having to replace a faulty bulb again.
This is yet another LED grow light that wonderfully caters to the requirements of the plants. The light has the ability to penetrate 60 inches past the plant canopy which is actually incredible. This is extremely space-saving and you do not have to worry about placing a big and bulky equipment in your grow room. The brightness of the light will indeed surprise you. But that shouldn't make you think there will be a lot of heat production. The construction is made in such a way that the excess heat will be absorbed by the light itself and your plants will be perfectly safe. The zener diode protection ensures that the light can avoid an outage of the system.
Grow Green with G8LED Technology: This forms an efficient lighting system giving the perfect amount of infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths necessary for plant growth.
The 450 W lighting can be best concentrated in an area of 12 square feet. The plants will give maximum yield in this case.
The lights use real infrared diodes which give out a bright spectrum for lighting.
This particular type of LED grow lights works best with water solution culture and soil culture. This is ideal for different phases during the growth cycle of the plants. Right from planting the seeds to flowering and then the fruits phase, this light caters to each phase separately. Where can you use this light? This is most commonly used in the house gardens, for pot culture, sowing, breeding and the likes. Other than that, it is useful in cases of bonsai, greenhouse cultivation, pipeline cultivation, for flower exhibitions and for so many other purposes. There is a modular assembling system; you do not need to work very hard for getting the device together. This light is also known to reduce the noise by 50 percent which is no mean feat!
This light uses 3 W good quality LED lighting source that is perfect for plant health
The MarsHydro LED grow lights give really bright light, most of which is used up by aquatic plants.
Improved internal thermal cycle ensures that there are efficient heat dissipation measures in the LED grow lights.
It ensures a long lifespan using the latest forms of technology.
No maintenance or repair hassles.
This LED grow light is ideal for all horticulture enthusiasts. Your plants will get the light and energy necessary in the grow rooms throughout their life cycle. It is a 6 band spectrum including 6 different wavelengths. The working temperature is in the range of 0 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit which is pretty nominal. But there will be no excess heat generated. How are these Apollo lights unique? They don't require any kind of ballasts and are of course very efficient when it comes to heat generation. These LED lights can be placed really close to the plants and yet their health won't be affected adversely. These grow lights are easy to install and even more comfortable to use. The LED view angle of 120 degrees is pretty impressive also.
Contents: 1 quiet cooling fan, 1 stainless steel hanging kit, 1 power cord, the LED light
The LED grow lights can cover an area of about 5 square feet for the vegetated stage and 4 square feet for the flowering phase.
The fan is effective in maintaining the optimum temperature of the grow room, but is not very loud that it disturbs others.
What is the best part of this series of LED grow bulbs? The fact that, these are Platinum LED bulbs! These are known to provide the highest lumen output per watt! That is some really amazing stat! The product comes with a heat sink that helps the LED lights to dissipate the excess heat generated. This ensures that the plants are not kept in high hear conditions. The cooling fan is also useful, but not very loud. The light emitted by this product will be 100% usable by the plants in the grow room for photosynthesis while only consuming 180 watts of power. The lifetime of 100,000 hours is a really attractive feature in these LED lights. It covers the period of the plant life cycle from seedlings to the harvesting phase! And all this happens with the help of these Platinum LED lights.
The 12 band spectrum indeed proves to be a rather useful feature in this. It covers the Ultra violet to the infra red spectrums giving out optimum power.
This LED grow light can easily replace any 400 W HPS bulb that you previously used for horticulture. This gives 2x times the intensity of ordinary lights.
The next fascinating product in the list of the best LED grow lights is this Galaxy Hydro LED light that has been a revelation in its category. It is a dimmable grow light that comes with a warranty of 2 years along with a lifespan of 50,000 hours! Once you install it, you are secure with your plants in the grow room. To add to that, there is no additional maintenance costs and other hassles. The real infra red radiation given out improves and stimulates cell division in plants. The fan offers a high quality cooling performance. What is more is that the setup comprises of a zener diode protection. This means that if there is one LED light that stops working, the others will not be affected by this. This light saves energy and is thus very environment friendly.
- The lights come in a 9 band spectrum. This is a great spread for your plants.
- You can connect a number of lights in a series to get optimum brightness and output!
- The UV and IR light ensure better sterilization, better harvest and proper cell division processes.
Let us introduce you to the world of Platinum LED Grow Light. The main idea behind creating these lights is to get the maximum output and consume minimum energy. This is one of the reasons which have made these lights so popular. Energy saving is one thing that they hold dear and they ensure savings as much as possible. These grow lights are more than capable to totally make the HPS grow light redundant which speaks volumes about that quality and potential of the light. Platinum LED uses the 12 spectrum band of light beautifully and makes sure that your plants get the correct spectrum. This ensures proper nutrition to the plant and chalks a roadmap to proper and healthy growth. The most interesting feature of this light is the BLOOM and VEG spectrum. These spectrums are designed in such a way that they can provide the perfect performance from the moment they are a small seed to the final stage of harvest. This truly is one of the best LED grow lights :
It has a 5 year warranty attached to it. Moreover, the customer will also have the 90 days money back guarantee.
They boast of having the highest lumen per watt in the grow light division.
You will also find brand new aluminum cooling heat sticks and they come with VEG/FLOWER switches.
The "Ferrari" under the LED Grow Lights, Kind is definitely not cheap but has recently become quite popular amongst the more ambitious cannabis growers since it has a good reputation of producing high yields. The Kind K5 XL750 is one of the pricier models, offering you an extra large footprint. It can dimm and intensifiy each of the three primary ranges of the photosynthetic spectrum. It is a very powerful model, so keep it at a safe distance from your plants.
- Footprint covered: 4′ x 4′
- Wattage : actual 420w, HID wattage equivalent 1000w
Very often we get questions about wattage as well as PAR Values, so read on if you want to clarify your doubts once and for all to be able to buy the grow light which best meets your needs :
PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) refers to the wavelengths of light that plants can actually use to photosynthesize. To simplify, the more of these wavelengths your plants are getting, the better they grow. Manufacturers of grow lights typically publish one or two measurable indicators derived from PAR:
- PPF (Photosynthetic Photon Flux):
Measured in micromoles per second (μmol/s), this indicator gives you how many photons of usable light are being emitted by the light
- PPFD (Photosynthetic Flux Density):
Measured in micromoles per square meter per second (μmol/m²/s), this indicator gives you the amount of light actually falling on your plant. It is pretty obvious that this is the more important indicator
Different manufacturers give you either one or both of these indicators, and especially if you consider buying cheaper products of less know brands which are not in the Top 10, you should be very diligent in checking the diagrams of PAR values across the whole footprint and at different height. A good manufacturer should be able to give you lots of information about what size of grow area their lights can cover and at what heights, and also the PAR values across the whole footprint. As mentioned previously, to optimize yields the more PAR you can give your plants the better. And in any case, you need to assure that it meets the minimum required for the particular strain you intend to grow.
For LED grow lights, wattage is actually less relevant since it only indicates the input (how much power is consumed at the plug) but not the outcome (how bright or intense the light will be, and thus how good your plants will grow). Nevertheless, it is very often used as a proxy to determine how many LED grow lights are needed for a specific coverage. For example, to grow marijuana you will here people tell that you want a minimum of 25 watts per square foot of grow space.
The best LED grow lights people normally buy are all full-spectrum LED grow lights, and only in specific applications does it make sense to go with a specific color spectrum. These applications could include cloning or vegging, or using the lights as and addition.
Then, within full-spectrum LED grow lights, you can choose between white LEDs and LEDs using multi-color bands. White LEDs have the reputation to better emulate the sunlight, however do include light in the green and yellow spectrum range which is not usable by plants and thus inefficient. We at LEDGrowLightsJudge do thus think that the best LED grow lights are LEDs with multi-color bands.
There are many brands now in the market, some established (if we can say that of a product which has only a few years of shelf life) and a lot of newcomers, mostly from Asia. The ones we list here have either been tested by ourselves or recommended by the community, so we're pretty confident they work well and have good quality.
This is definitely one of the most recommended brands with some of the best LED grow lights. Growers achieve good yields, they come at competitive prices, and have all the bells and whistles modern LED grow lights need today (e.g. heatsink, built-in fans). They offer different models and wattages, we like most the reflector series which goes from the 300w entry-level model for small coverages, 600w for 3×3 and 900w for 4×4. And then there is still the 1200w full-spectrum LED light for the pros.
Another manufacturer offering high-quality, cost-competitive LED lights which achieve good yields in growing cannabis and make them to one the best LED grow lights brands. Their entry-level model is the P150, and according to needed coverage you can than choose between the P300, P450, P600, P900 and P1200. They are an US-based company, and give you 5 years of warranty.
Is a company based in China but has already proven their worth and they offer affordable LED grow lights in the market. Their grow lights uses a brand-new SMD technology and they're adept to be daisy-chained. They function much better than older versions, which has a larger problem with burnt diodes. Perfect choice for beginners.
Apollo Horticulture
They specialize in environmental friendly products. Their best seller or most popular product is the Apollo Horticulture GL60LED Grow Light that uses innovative technology to give you a powerful setup which also doesn't use up too much space
This is also an established Chinese brand and been around for a long time. They're also one of the popular choices in the market that offers 2-year warranty. This type of grow light is known to give off a lot less heat, to keep things even cooler, they've added a dual fan system to facilitate the process.
How To Choose The Best LED Grow Light?
LED grow lights are the easiest and most convenient option when it comes to effectively growing indoor plants. There are numerous affordable options available online. LED light manufacturers such as KingLED and Viparspectra are notable brands that offer excellent quality LED grow lights. However, choosing the best grow light for your indoor growing endeavors does not rely mainly on the brand you're purchasing. You also need to consider a number factors before you can land the best LED grow light. Factors such as budget, intensity, and space all play important roles in determining the best LED grow light that you should buy.
We should also consider the plethora of LED grow lights that has a number of amazing specs and features. With the number of options available online, picking the right one for you can feel tricky. To help you find the perfect product, we've gathered 10 of the best Grow Lights available in the market today. We're also constantly updating this list according to the latest trends in the grow lights industry to make sure that you'll only choose the best among the rest. The ideal LED grow light will depend on your budget, how serious you are about your indoor gardening hobby, and how much space do you need to light up.
Keep in mind that you need to determine the demand for a grow light. Not everything need a 1000-watt grow light system! To help you choose the best led grow light for your indoor garden, consider the following specs before making your purchase:
Wattage: measures the amount of energy LED grow lights output at maximum capacity. This shows you the potency of these lights, as well as how many you'll need to effectively grow your plants.
Coverage: the total area a particular LED grow light product can reach. When it comes to coverage, requirements may vary, so we'll provide you with a total measurement by feet to compare. The bigger the coverage, the bigger the kit size.
Full Spectrum: closely mimics the sun's intensity and light spectrum, making them perfect for growing indoor plants at any stage of their cycle. In our reviews and guides, we'll let you know if the lights are full spectrum to give you more insight on how effective a grow light can develop indoor plants
Lifespan: measured in hours, this factor indicates the longevity of a particular LED grow light. Grow lights with longer lifespans are important since you don't want them to degrade after just a few months of usage.
Power Draw: measures the average wattage consumed during use rather than the power output. This is important to know so that you can estimate your energy costs.
The best LED grow lights are a revelation if you are a horticulture enthusiast. With minimum power consumption, maximum power output, lower heat generation and others, these lights really do wonders to your plants' health. We hope that with this review, you have been able to narrow down your choice on the best LED grow lights for you!


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About one-third of the members of the Wildcat boys' swim and dive team competed in their last meet of the season last Saturday at the Big Rivers Conference Championships in Menomonie, and many of them wrapped up the year with season or lifetime best swims.
The Cats finished sixth at the conference meet with a total of 197 points. Eau Claire Memorial/North was first with 670 followed by Hudson with 372.
While many of the Wildcats will move on to compete at this Saturday's sectional meet in Stevens Point, head coach Kirk Gednalske said he was proud of the Cats who competed for the last time this past weekend, specifically seniors Shawyn Tabesh and Richard Leber.
Tabesh ended his high school career with lifetime best times in both the 50 freestyle (28.41 seconds) and the 100 freestyle (1:02.61), while Leber posted lifetime bests in the 100 free (57.81 seconds) and the 200 free (2:15.4).
"It's really rewarding for myself, and I assume for the boys, to finish out their senior year with their best swims," Gednalske said. "It's a careful process throughout the season to have it work out like this. I'm glad it did for these two guys."
Five other swimmers, Roman Karpovich, Ian Keller, Ben Pierce, Colin Rude, and Michael Wesner, all finished out their season on Saturday at Menomonie as well.
"And, again, almost every swim by these boys was their fastest of the year," Gednalske noted.
Alex Haskins posted the highest individual finish of the day, placing fifth in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:00.27. Haskins, Fernando Lambert, Nick Fugate and Monroe Maher combined for a fifth place time of 1:52.01 in the 200 medley relay, while Haskins, Fugate, Collin Nielsen and Maher took sixth in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:39.12.
Nate Wronski contributed a sixth place finish in diving with a score of 289.65.
Other top ten finishes were turned in by the Cats' 400 freestyle relay team of Ethan Larsen, Fugate, Andrew Tiede and Nielsen (9th, 3:56.06), Larsen in the 200 freestyle (10th, 2:04.84), Maher in the 50 freestyle (10th, 24.41 seconds), and Lambert in the 100 breaststroke (10th, 1:11.63).
"I'm really happy with the effort that all of these guys have put in this year. It's a great sign of things to come in the future," Gednalske said.


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Analyst's View: PDF—Pretty Dangerous Format?
If you try to open a Word document beautified with uncommon fonts that aren't installed on your system Windows renders it using the closest fonts it can find. This lets you read the document, but it can wreak utter havoc on formatting. Text boxes don't line up, pages break at the wrong spot, figures get separated from their captions, and so on. The same disconnect can happen between the document viewed on-screen and the same document rendered by your printer. In the early 90s Adobe created its Portable Document Format (PDF) for the specific purpose of ensuring that documents look exactly the same no matter what devices are used to view or print them. So why are there so many exploits using the PDF format to attack computer systems? Because Adobe lost track of its mission, that's why.
Mikko Hypponen, Chief Research Officer at F-Secure Corporation, has been tracking the use of PDF files by malware coders, both as widespread threats and threats targeted for specific purposes. He pored through the huge specifications document for the PDF format and found features that you'd never dream were present.
Hypponen's blog post on the subject goes into detail; here are some of the highlights. PDFs can contain embedded videos, music, and 3D objects, with JavaScript for rendering. A form built into a PDF can send data to a remote server. The PDF format even includes an option to launch executable files. There's no way these features are necessary! As Hypponen says, "With specs like these, it's no wonder it takes ages for Adobe Reader to boot up and load all the plugins. It's no wonder there are regular security problems with PDF readers in general." To highlight the problem, researcher Didier Stevens recently created an alarming proof of concept PDF file that executes arbitrary code when you view it.
Adobe's been very successful promoting the PDF formatPDFs are everywhere. How can you protect yourself from their inherent vulnerabilities? Hypponen suggests you completely avoid opening PDFs on your local machine, instead viewing them through Google Docs. If you're using Chrome, Firefox, or Opera, you can install the gPDF plug-in to automate the process for web-based PDFs. For your local files, he suggests you "use a PDF reader that's as unpopular as possible. The fewer users a product has, the less attacks it will attract."
A better solution, though, would be for Adobe to go back to their roots and again provide a true, simple Portable Document Format. Get rid of the wacky added functions, or push them into a "PDF Plus" format. Make the default PDF a file format that displays correctly no matter what device we use to view or print the document. That's what we needed when Adobe devised the format almost 20 years ago, and that's what we need today.