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Since the strike of midnight to end 2010 and ring in 2011 we have heard nothing but depressing and horrific news. Floods, Earthquakes, Landslides, Storms and now Tsunamis. It's almost as though Mother Earth herself has had enough. She's feels under appreciated, is being used for personal gain, under appreciated and is tired of watching those that inhabit her surface causing physical harm to others and mistreating the natural resources that she has provided free of charge. I think it's safe to say that she is REALLY pissed off!
My heart goes out to the people in Japan and those who are holding their breath in anticipation of the possibility of being effect by the after shocks.
Dear God, I pray that you will show mercy and will extend your gracious hand to those in need and will spare lives and end unnecessary suffering. I also pray that your children will wake up and come to realize that they are their our own worst enemy and that the barriers that we create are what separate us. You created us all the same way, I hope that they will soon come to realize it and will improve their ways.
God Bless and Protect Us All.
People throughout the country are hearing horror stories of people being held for ransom, school buses being attacked by thugs, gun fire exchange, armed robbery/looting among many other harrowing tales…many prefer to stay in their cocoons and ignore the stories or chose to believe they are un-true or exaggerated. I hate to be the one to burst the bubble, but 85%-97% of what we are hearing is true. Yes, the President had resigned from his post, but that wasn't the end of the revolution, it's only the beginning of the long road that lies ahead for Egypt and her people. Things are going to get worse before they get better. It's going to take LOTS of time, a lot of patients and LOTS of HARD WORK. We need to be aware of what is going on around us at all times and become better individuals and take positive steps in order for the change that was demanded to take its proper course. This isn't going to happen on it's own… We have to make it happen.
Monday 6th of February 2011
I am so excited! I am finally going to see my family. I have been thinking of every possible way to get to them ever since my friend was evacuated. The railway lines have stopped working and the roads out of Cairo had been closed too. The airport is over crowded with people trying to leave the country and there's a strong possibility that their aren't any flights.
I had done most of my packing last night but there are still a few items that I need to put in the put in the bag, but I have to wait for Meeza to wake up.
I am feeling very torn. I have formed a close bond with my host, (No….that's not right), my surrogate family and I don't want to leave them. I have enjoyed my time here with them, gotten to know them more and feel like I'm apart of the family. I dread to think what state I would be in, if I hadn't come to stay with them and decided to tough it out on my own. Without their company, I'm sure I would have reached some level of insanity. Becs family will always have a special place in my heart for opening their home to me.
Bec's Mum insists that I share breakfast with her. I'm not really hungry and I have been working exceptionally hard at reaching a target weight for my sister's wedding in April, (Operation Megan Fox). I know it's a silly thing to be worrying about in times like these, but God willing if all goes well, her wedding will proceed as scheduled and I won't hate myself for not looking my best and being fit for the special occasion. So, I am adamant that I am going to remain focused on eating lots of fruits and vegetables, grilled meats and drink an excessive amount of water, Revolution or not! (would this make me stubborn or very determined?)
At around 11am my father arrives, I am so glad to see him. I waste no time in embracing him at the door and kissing his cheeks. I notice that he looks tired but a wave of relief washes over his face when he sees me. My father and I don't see eye to ey very often and with us being stubborn and control freaks, we often but heads and clash, but with that put a side, he is my Dad, I love him to pieces and I don't think I've ever been so happy to see him.
My Dad comes in to the house for no longer than twenty minutes. We can't delay our departure due to heavy traffic caused by blocked off roads and protests. We also have to be back in Alexandria before curfew time. My Dad thanks Bec's parents and as a small gesture of my families appreciation and gratitude for all they have done for me he gives them a bottle of Whiskey and a big box of sweet dates. I in turn hug both Bec's parents and thank them and promise to come and see them as soon as I am back and settled again.
As soon as we are in the car we have to make a stop at my house to pay the landlord the rent and so that I can drop some unwanted items and collect more clothes (who knows how long the current situation is going to last).
As we approach my street, which is a big military area, I notice a crowd of twenty or more people near the Military Hotel, Triumph. I wonder what they are all doing sitting around staring at the Military compound's huge metal gates. My father must have caught my gaze or read my mind and informs me that the people are waiting to see their loved ones that had been recaptured by neighborhood watch and military me as they were trying to loot the nearby areas. Upon hearing this slightly disturbing piece of information, I couldn't help but feel relieved that I had followed my instincts and made the decision to go and stay with Bec's and his family. The thought of having the escapees that have been causing fear and havoc in the city held across the street from my building, was not in the least bit comforting.
As soon as the car came to a halt, I waste no time in going in to my building and up to my apartment to leave an un-needed bag and gather some other belongings. I am whirling around the place like the Tazmanian Devil from the famous Warner Brother's Cartoons. I am trying to be as quick as possible so that the echos of the last night spent in the apartment don't come back to me. The feeling of being in my flat is an odd one. It is familiar and yet alien at the same time. 'I hope to see you again soon' I say to it before I close the door and lock it before taking the elevator back down to rejoin my father and the hired driver to head back to Alexandria.
During the drive out of the city my father ask me questions about the safety situation in Heliopolis, the sight of the barbed wires across the street and the tanks pointing outwards to wards the road. He tells me of events and situations that have taken place in Alexandria. That with in the first two days after the prisoners escaped from prison, the people guarding our street caught fourteen 'baltageya' (thugs/looters). He told me that other areas of Alexandria are experiencing much worse and that I know for a fact. My friend Shamel has been calling me daily telling me about his nightly watch and the amount of firing and killing that had been going on. Although I am living it, hearing it and experiencing it, my mind still has a difficult time accepting and believing that this is happening to us here in Egypt. It just boggles my mind! How did things spiral out of control so quickly? What lies ahead for all of us? Is it going to get worse? Will things ever get better? It is hard to tell…
At the Cairo toll gate leading to the desert road armored vehicles stand guard with their guns pointed at the center of the road. By the wayside, stolen, crashed and torched cars had been confiscated ownerless as you pass by the toll gate. For the past week we have been hearing horror stories of people's cars being run off the road, cars being hijacked, robberies, rapes and killings along the desert road. On all the occasions I have driven back and forth on this road, I have never been so alert and watchful of every movement, car and person.
To stop at a rest house to use the toilet, gas up or buy something to eat is too risky and dangerous. Some of the escaped convicts are still on the loose and nobody wants to take any chances. The busy rest stops are empty, which is a strange sight because they are usually bursting at the seams with business, but now only the gas stations have clients. My father told me that he had stopped at one of the gas stations on the way and when he entered to building the owner was sat with a machine gun and bullets across his chest, the smell of freshly baked fiteer was absent in the air and the bustling of the waiters bringing the customers no longer existed.
We finally reach Alexandria after a two and a half hour drive, the security at the toll gate is more intense that the Cairo toll gate. There are more cars and the traffic is worse. Getting to the city is difficult, there is a hold up of some kind. We find out that the congestion is caused by a bus accident and large puddles of water.
As we pass by Carrefour City Center (a big shopping complex) there dozens of confiscated stolen cars parked on the side as you pass the shopping area. There are huge tanks and armoured vehicles positioned there too.
After two weeks of wanting to be with my family and a two and a half hour drive, I am finally home. I take my bags out of the car, get in to the elevator and press the button. The ride up seems to take longer than usual. "Hurry up!! I want to hug my Mum and sister!" As I finally reach my floor, I can see my mother's silhouette through the glass with her arms spread wide ready to embrace me as I step out. I yank out the bags and drop them at her feet and just squeeze her tightly, while breathing in her motherly scent. There is nothing as warm or comforting as a mother's embrace.
As I walk over the threshold of the apartment, my sister comes to greet me in the foyer of the apartment and we hug. It is so good to be home and with family. They look well but tired from all the stress and constant worrying about their safety, the state of the country and me. At least now, they have one less thing to worry about. I am here, safe and sound with them.
We retire to the sitting room and talk for hours while pausing mid conversation every so often to hear the latest news up dates.
By 9pm I can no longer keep my yes open and got to bed.
I am home at last.
Diary Entry 9
Friday, 4th February 2011
'Departure Friday'
I wake up with my nerves on edge. I am completely and utterly nervous. So nervous that I am nauseous filled with fear and dread. If the past two days have been bloody then God only knows what lies in store for the brave protesters today.
Today we anticipate more protesters to take to the streets and head towards Tahrir, but after seeing the event unfold on TV the past two days I am fearful for the lives of those who want to go, Becs and a few friends of ours too.
'Please God, If you can hear me, let there be no blood shed today. Blow away those who want to inflict harm, violence and chaos.'
Every time I look at the clock or my watch the hands don't appear to have moved. I feel as though everything is going in slow motion.
I sit and continue to type my diary entries out on to my lap top. As I peck away at my keyboard, I feel as though my intuition is picking up on the anxiety of everyone around me. My heart is racing, breathing heavily and a tightness forms in my chest. I try and over come the strange sensation, by taking deep breaths and exhaling slowly. Bec now is looking at me with concern and ask if I'm alright and if he can get me anything.
"God, I just want this day to pass"
Becs's sister asks me if I want to accompany her at Makani, a café very close to the house. I think getting out of the house might be a good idea.
My Blackberry these days seems to be an extension of my hand. I check twitter every few minutes for up dates from trusted sources in Tahrir and in other areas of the country.
Friday prayer has commenced and the TV is showing rows upon rows of people worshiping, bowing and praying together shoulder by shoulder and in unison,
while others form a human chain around the people praying to protect them. The sight of the live footage on TV is empowering and moving. I am moved so much that a lump forms in my throat and my eyes begin to burn from holding back the tears.
This is a scene I have longed to see, where hang ups and walls between Muslims and Christians do not exist. They stand together as people, as Egyptians. I can not help but feel proud. How I want to be there and stand among them and witness the barriers between religion, classes and people come crashing down along with a regime that built it. I am thinking of ways of escaping the safety of Heliopolis to go there. A phone call from my mother quickly ends that. She calls to make sure that I am safe and nowhere near Tahrir! Grrrrrrrr
'Are these the same people who had been fighting in self-defense the past two days?'
The world as I have been told by many have been glued to their TV sets for hours every day and today they will be as shocked as I am to see a different scene, a scene of unity and solidarity. Muslims and Christians standing together, what a vision, what a sight and what an example they are being to the world.
For the pas few years I have been teach in a school where my students have tried tirelessly to find out what faith I belong to. I never tell them because it shouldn't matter what religion I practice. What should mater is what kind of person I am. We shouldn't teach children to identify others by their practices. It's wrong and that is what causes BIG problems and a huge rift in our country and society. I hope my students and the administration are watching this and will be inspired and learn from it.
Heba comes and joins us at Makani. I introduce her to Meeza we talk about how things are going right now in Tahrir. Heba shares my desire for wanting to go to Tahrir. She too has given her word to her parents that she won't go. Her father calls her every day, early in the morning to make her promise that she will not go. He doesn't want to have to worry about her, while he is out of the country. She alone understands and shares my frustration.
The café is filling up with more customers; the limited menu doesn't turn them away. The change of scenery and being out of the house seems to be a common change that everyone is in need of. Being here sitting in a café makes me feel guilty. I feel as though I am not contributing or supporting. I am a firm believer in the freedom of speech, liberty and justice and for years I have been trying to break free from the chains that the country and society have tried to shackle me with and here I am sitting at a café!!!! What a hypocrite! ARGH!!!
I take my phone and check the tweets!
Reporters are having a tough time down on the ground. Military officials are confiscating cameras and detaining them. The safest place for them ironically is in Tahrir, where the protesters grant them refuge.
The square is turning in to a huge big out-door concert or festival with live music and dancing!
I should be there!
Diary Entry 7
Thursday 3rd of February 2011
I wake up early and stare up at the ceiling in bed for a while before I get up. I try to leave the room as quietly as I can so that I don't wake Meeza. I grab my phone and my diary and sit in the sitting room crossed legged on the couch in my PJs writing in my diary as well as typing another entry to post up on my blog on my lap top, while I follow tweets on twitter on my phone. (Multi tasking at it's best!)
Over the course of the past few days I feel as though the country and its people have awakened from a long sleep. The Spirit and the pride of our Great Ancestors that seemed to have died after the 6 day war has been reborn and re-ignited in not just Egyptians in Egypt, but around the world. It's as though the shades of 30 years have been lifted and everyone is seeing how deprived they have been of their basic human rights and the possibilities and potential that could be theirs if they call out and march for it.
In such a short time, the seed of rift and segregation that had been growing over decades had been ripped out of the ground. Muslim's and Christians, Rich, Educated and Poor have been standing shoulder to shoulder, side by side day in and day out as one force, united for the first time in a long time.
The Muslim vs Christian paranoia almost seems to have evaporated as they stand side by side protecting themselves and each other from the attacks and blows that the Mubarak supporter are landing on protesters.
Bec's wakes up and find me sitting deeply engrossed in my typing. He invites me to move to his room to continue working. I pick up my belonging and move to his room, claiming a place on the floor near an electric outlet. I get comfortable and resume typing while Bec's busies himself with editing his photos taken at Tahrir. (I will ask him if I may post the link to his photos)
Bec's father bursts in to the room urging Bec's not to go to Tahrir today, he'd just seen and heard on BBC Arabic that the area in Tahrir was now occupied by the Muslim Brotherhood and that the President of Iran spoke and supported Egypt's revolution.
My heart sank in to the pit of my stomach. Is this how it ends? Will this country of passion, history and potential fall and follow in the foot steps of Iran?
I call my mother and my friend Heba and tell them what had been relayed to me.
My mother exhales deeply and says,' If that is what is going to happen then we have no choice but to leave. We can't stay if it turns in to a state like an Iran' She closes with me and goes to watch the news.
I tell Heba the same info and her response is 'Oh boy…"
I left my laptop to go and listen to the news myself with my phone in hand (it goes everywhere with me) and yes…that is what the media was saying. For the first time since all this has happened all I want is to stuff face with comfort food, the craving for chocolate is at an all time peak! I resist … for now.
My mother calls back and says she's been flipping through the channels and none of the English news stations have been reporting that… could this be a propaganda move?, an attempt to cause chaos and panic perhaps? The only thing we can do is watch and wait.
After hours of watching the news, typing and editing we both need a break. We decided to take yet another walk in to Korba. The scene is a little different today, it's business as usual (some what). The hairdressers is open and taking clients up-until 2pm, cafes are open but not working in full capacity, but that doesn't matter people are still willing to stand in line to sit in a café for a few hours rather than in front of a T.V waiting for the inevitable.
While we are there, Heba calls to say that she's in the area. We meet up outside a very locked up Vodafone. Heba and I go in to Cilantro Cafe, while we wait for Becs to come back from the bicycle repair shop to exchange the tube we had bought yesterday for his busted tire. We sit and talk about how things are going politically and what direction we think it's going in. Becs comes back and joins us and as do a few other friends of ours. We huddle around a small table as, Heba a relative of one of the leading oppositions leaders and a big supporters of his. She tells us about her experience on Friday when she accompanied her relative on the 28th for Friday prayer, he wasn't allowed in to the Mosque and prayed outside in the street along with many others. Heba and her relative's wife stand back and the riot police inch forward encircling them almost boxing them in. They push them down hard off of the pavement in the back. As soon as Friday prayer is over, tear gas is fired in to the crowd for them to disperse. Her relative is ambushed and they have no idea where he was or where he had been taken until much later. He had been held in the mosque along with the Middle East's newest heart-throb, Al Jazeera's news correspondent, Ayman Mohydin.
Reports of reporters being detained or arrested under the emergency law are flooding twitter along with many other protesters! OUTRAGE!!!
My friend in Alexandria calls me to ask how the night was in Cairo last night. I tell him that it was quiet. He informs me that his night was far from quiet. He had a full scale shoot out right outside his building from 3am to 7am. He sounded exhausted and his moral was low. He told me that thugs (looters or theives) were armed with machine guns. The neighborhood were no match for them but luckily the army took action and returned fire. 4 of the intruders were killed, a couple captured and the rest retreated.
A very tall, handsome and strapping UN judge came and joined us, he brought an interesting new insight on to what could happen if the President was to step down and leave the country. When he spoke he reminded me of a University professor commanding his student's attention.
Closing time came too soon, we bid everyone farewell and stay safe before we went on our way. Before we continue on our way home, we stop and by two more boxes of cake mix. (I think I have turned Becs in to a Betty Crocker backing monster!)
He was so inspiring that when we got home Becs told his parent's that he was going to go to Tahrir tomorrow and that was that! I really want to accompany him, but I know if I go and if the battles between the protesters and the pro Mubarak mob continue and something happens to me, I would never be able to forgive myself.
Tomorrow is another day, tomorrow is 'Departure Friday'
Tuesday, 1st February 2011
Today is Gawly's birthday, my phone reminds me and a smile creeps across my face, but then I remember he and his family left two days ago to Boston. If this had been any other Tuesday, our huge group of friends would be deciding where we would be going to celebrate, but because of the current circumstances we won't be able to. A simple message on his profile page on facebook will have to do. Wait… we don't have Internet connection. I guess, I will have to wait until I can find away to contact him, to wish him a belated birthday.
It has been one week since the #Jan25 protests began and a lot has happened in such a short amount of time. Another march is planned for today and they expect 2 million people to participate.
I have had my first full nights sleep in days. I feel re-energized and my mind is clear. I am feeling more like my old self, rested and able to function at my full capacity. I am ready for today.
I wake to hear that the prices of the basic necessities are beginning to sky rocked, mobile phone lines are expected to be cut again during the demonstrations. There are people who are selling fake police and military uniforms, fantastic one more thing for the public to worry about, when they are defending their homes, families and neighborhoods at night! Then I find out that they have closed all roads and railway lines leaving Cairo and other major cities to prevent people joining the protests here. That means I am stuck here indefinitely and will not be able to be reunited with my family, a blow to my heart, but I try to remain optimistic. At least I know my family is safe and I am too.
Some good news is that ATM machines are being refilled and will be operational today, so people can with draw money.
The family I am staying with are amazing! They are being very hospitable and making me feel comfortable and at ease. I almost feel as if I am part of the family. I just wish they would let me help around the house. I hate sitting around and being idle. It's not in my nature and if my mother was to find out that I didn't wash up after myself, I would never hear the end of it!
Being with Bec's family makes me feel less home sick, but I still miss my family.
Bec's family have a pet parrot 'Cocco', he isn't comfortable with my presence and keeps giving me strange looks.
Becs' Dad, Mr. G and I along with his wife discuss the current situation of the country and how fast things are declining.
'Poussy' is very motherly, always making sure that I'm not hungry or in need of anything. She, like my mother is a chocolate addict and this is going to be tough because for the past 5 weeks I have re-programmed myself to eat healthier and not consume any junk food or sweets.
Meeza, Bec's sister is really sweet. She is sharing her room with me and has made space in her wardrobe for my clothes.
Bec's and I have been friends for six years or more now. We were introduced to one another by my best friend. I think the reason we get along so well is because we have had a similar childhood and share the same interests. He is quite a character and very lovable. He has been going to the protests in Tahrir almost daily. He goes armed with his Canon camera and documents everything that is happening around him.
Becs asks me if I would like to go with him to Tahrir. I am once again facing an internal conflict, do I break my word to my parents and go to be a part of history and risk getting hurt and worrying them both in to an early grave or do I stay here. Having just recovered from a week of protecting and lack of sleep, I decided to stay, when I really would have preferred to be there to experience the energy, the unity and kin ship first hand.
Bec's mum can not take it any longer, she is out of chocolate and nuts and needs to restock. I don't hesitate in accompanying her to the store to stretch my legs, be outside and just breathe some air.
Bec's family live on what is normally a very busy street in Heliopolis, but you would never have guessed it. There gas station deserted of it's queues of customers, hardly any cars driving by, few people walking around and the sound of the tram's clickity clacking has been silenced.
The store across the street unlike all the other supermarkets is well stocked, with peanuts, lib (it's like sunflower seeds but white) and a variety of other nuts. We buy an assortment and a week or twos supply worth of chocolate.
We leave the store to head back across the road and try to make our way to Bec's aunts house, but we are met with an unusual scene. The sidewalk and road are blocked with cement blocks, 2 layers of barbed wire, four tanks and armed military guards. The Middle section of Marghani street, where the Presidential Palace is, is completely blocked off!
It looks as though I made the right choice in leaving my house if the road is blocked. I would have been in-accessible. I doubt I could even go home if I wanted to.
2:39 pm
The Duty Officer from the Irish Embassy calls to check up on me and to see if I am in need of any assistance and that I am in a safe location. I told him about my harrowing experience two nights ago and gave him the address and land line of where I am staying. He asked me if I would like to be evacuated. I tell him that my family are refusing to leave, so if they stay, I stay too. He asked me to pass on his contact number to my mother, so she could give him her details too.
3:00 pm
Bec's Grandmother comes up to visit and brings a box of chocolates for me. What a sweet gesture. I take one, so that I do not insult her and I offer the rest to everyone else.
I can't stand sitting around any more!! I need to do something, if I can't be out speaking out, then I have to be productive in some other way. I go to the kitchen and find therapy in cutting up fruits and making a fruit salad.
Nal, my friend in DC calls to check up on me and tells me the latest updates that she is reading on my facebook page. She tells me that she is now friends with my cousin in New Jersey, my long time friend and pen pal who also lives in D.C as well as my soon to be, brother-in- law Hatem. I find it amusing how a crisis can bring people from around the world together.
I call my cousin Tamer in NJ, to tell him that Nal has been passing on his messages and that I am safe and so is my family. He tells me that he forwards my news to a radio station there in the US and that he sent them my last e-mail before the communication black out and it was read over the air. I am touched and embarrassed all at the same time.
Not long after closing with Tamer, his aunt in Cairo calls me and tries to persuade me to stay with her. I would have done but I didn't for two reasons, I have only met her twice in my life and my family know where I am and I am in good company.
Not long after closing with her, Tamer's Dad calls from the U.S to offer some support and to tell me to be strong and hang tough, it's a bumpy ride, but it will be worth while when it's all over. He tells me that the world is watching and is supporting us.
I find comfort in his words.
We hear on the news that Mubarak is going to address the nation… yeah I've heard that before! I bet he decides to speak when the men and young lads are down in the street on neighborhood watch duty, putting them-selves in danger to protect their homes, families and neighborhood. How considerate!
😉 I should have made a bet, he didn't come out to speak until midnight?! Who does that!?
Monday, 31st of January 2011
The poem Dolce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria More, is echoing in the back of my mind and playing on repeat. I feel as though I am living a fraction of the soldier's exhaustion that Owen describes in the poem. (http://www.potw.org/archive/potw3.html)
I am only getting a taste of what soldiers go through being in the trenches days, weeks and months at a time. I have always respected their courage, but now I can sympathies with their physical and mental exhaustion. I know that my one night of a show down and days without rest or sleep is nothing in comparison to what they experience, but it's the only comparison that I can relate the experience to.
After 2 hours of very light sleep I was awakened by a call from my best friend. She called to tell me that a colleague of hers from work had gone to the airport and was still there. He had told her that none of the airport employees had shown up for work and not to go to the airport.
I relayed the message to my friend who has been staying with me for the past few days.
She made the decision to go to her house and pack her bag and try her luck at the airport.
She didn't want to risk not getting on the plane.
For the next two hours we rushed around my apartment washing up dishes, putting things away, sorting out perishable food to give to the porter of the building and his family, throwing out trash, shutting off the gas and water and unplugging electrical equipment. During that time we waited for my friend to pass by, woke the porter up to unlock the enormous padlock and remove the chains that he had locked the front door to the building with, while my friend got more information about the flight out and a number for a direct line to someone in Ottawa.
When my friend Becs, passed by to pick us up, we went to my friends flat, so she could pack her bag and go about closing her flat and finalizing travel arrangements.
As we waited and I sat in the car with Becs, I could feel the strain of the past few days affecting not only my train of though but my body. My joints and muscles were beginning to ache. I felt as though I was going to crash like a plane out of control if I didn't get some rest soon.
Once my friend had packed up her bag, we headed to Becs house to decide what to do from there. As soon as we got out of the call she gets a call from Ottawa, telling her what time the flight leaves Cairo, takes her name and some details and then the line got cut. The person in Ottawa calls back but the line gets cut again.
The phone lines are terrible right now, it's hard to get a clear line.
We go up to Becs's place to call the person in Ottawa back but the inbox is full.
At this point we don't know if she's got a place on the flight or not?
Does she go to the airport and risk getting stuck there over night or stay and attempt to fly out tomorrow?
We have a small window to make a decision, because if we don't make one soon, the curfew will decide for us.
My friend decides to take the risk and go to the airport. True to my word, I take her there along with Becs, to ensure her safety right until she walks through the airport doors.
I insist that she takes some food with her, incase she has to stay the night and for when she reaches Frankfurt if she is on the flight due to leave.
On the way to the airport we see sandy colored tanks dotted every where and on both sides of the road. They aren't as modern as the ones I saw in Dhahran, during the invasion of Kuwait. They remind me of the ones in the World War II museum in Al Alamaein, antique looking but still intimidating.
The airport was very busy and the lines of cars dropping off passengers were three lanes wide and long. We find a place to stop to let my friend out and get her bag out of the car. Saying good-bye was a mix of emotions. I was sad to see my friend who has now become more like a sister to me leave and relieved that she would be away from the chaos and be safe. I know her parents were worried to death about her. I'm just glad that they called after the show down we had last night and not during.
She gives me the key to her apartment, so if she is unable to return, I can go and pack her things up and send them to her in Canada.
As I watch her walk towards the door, I can't help but wonder… 'Will this be the last time I see her?", "Will it be safe for her to return to Cairo in the near future?"
On the ride back from the airport I am quiet, mainly because I am too tired to think, talk and I am in need of sleep.
We don't go straight back to Becs's house, we go to see how my best friend and her grandmother are doing. I have been worried about her too, because she doesn't deal with tough situations like this really well.
We call ahead to tell her that we are going to pass by, so that she won't be alarmed when we ring the door bell.
When we arrive we find her in good spirits and her grandmother is sitting knitting. I listen to Teta Diana talk and I wish I looked as well rested as she does. My best friend fusses over us and offers to make us food and get us something to drink. I have no appetite for food or thirst. We don't stay long and as we approach the car we bump in to another friend and we talk to her for a bit. She like Becs are very eager to go back to Tahrir to take part in the protests.
Since Friday, I have felt as though I have been in a tug of war match with myself. Part of me wants to be in the square speaking out for the freedoms that I believe in and live by. I want my country men and women to have the same liberties that my foreign nationality allows me to have. I want(ed) to be apart of the movement for change, to witness history in the making and be able to say in years to come 'I was there and I was apart of that'; but I had my friend to think about and her safety was of the utmost priority to me in addition to that I had also given my parents my word that I would not put myself in any danger. To hold back the Irish/Saeedy blood that thirsts after 'action' and danger was not an easy impulse to tame.
Becs and I finally return to his house and his mom (God Bless her always) leads me to a room. I put my phone on silent, take off my shoes and get under the covers and close my eyes. It takes me at least two hours to convince my mind that the danger has passed and that I can let down my guard and relax. In those two hours I receive calls from friends from different parts of the world who have been trying to get in touch with me to ensure that I am safe. Their voices are so filled with concern that I can not help but be moved. It's at times like these you learn and feel the meaning of philanthropy.
I feel myself drifting off to sleep, I don't fight it, I welcome it and I sleep.
I awake a few hours later at dusk and I am stunned by how quiet it is around me, there's no shouting, traffic or gun shots ringing in the distance. I could continue to sleep until the following morning, but I decide to join Becs and his family.
As I walk in to the sitting room, they greet me with smiles and 'you have colour in your face again, you're looking much better. You were so pale, you had us worried'. Bec's Mum comes in to the sitting room and kisses my forehead and offers to make me something to eat, but I still have no appetite.
We sit and watch the news, the protestors are still standing strong and the looters and escapees are still causing havoc. I haven't missed much.
All the news watching reminds me of 9/11 when I stayed glued to T.V for days and weeks on end trying absorb what had happened.
Someone flips the channel and we watch a movie, I am not really following it, but it is a nice distraction from what is going on.
By 10:30 I can barely keep my eyes open any more. Becs's sister shows me to her room that I will be sharing with her for the next few days. She is kind enough to empty a shelf in her closet for me to put my clothes in. I change in to my PJs, brush my teeth and get in to bed. For the first time in days I am able to sleep.
Sunday, 30th of January 2011 (Day 5 since the Jan 25th March in Tahrir Square)
I finally gave in to exhaustion at 3am and decided to go lie down and try to get some rest. A word that I am quickly forgetting the meaning off.
8:30 am I spoke to my mum and she said that thug/looter/thief was caught near our house and was beaten really badly by the neighborhood watch. She also went on to say that she couldn't believe how fast and dramatically things had changed in the past few days. She said that when she saw my father and sister preparing the shot guns she didn't think anything of it, but when she had come out of her room later and saw the guns lined up against the wall with boxes of bullets next to them she said her mind had a difficult time of registering and accepting the sight. I told my mother the events of last night while I was standing watch and how thankful I was that my friend had slept through the whole thing. I didn't want her to have to worry more than she already was.
9:00 am The traffic stops all of a sudden and the street is in dead silence. I leap over to the window in time to see a long convoy of black SUVs driving from Salah Salem to Khalifa El Ma'amoun. At the back of the SUV the trunks were open and armed military men had their guns pointed out the back ready to shoot anyone who tries to attack. As more and more people woke up, the more calls came through of reports of how bad lootings were last night. Mohendiseen and Maadi had been hit pretty badly.
10am My friend and I leave the house in search of working ATM machines. for the first time in my life, I leave my house armed. I take a sharp kitchen knife with me and place it in my jacket pocket. If thugs can attack during the night, what's to stop them in the day time. My friend has a concerned look on her face and asks; 'Are you prepared to use it?' and with out any hesitation, I answer 'Yes'. The sureness of my voice even shocks me.
The first few ATMs we came across were broken, empty or simply not working. After half an hour and several attempts I finally come across one that was working and was spitting out money. Many obviously didn't know that it was working because the queue for the machine wasn't long, but word got out quite quickly. I was able to withdraw all my Egyptian currency, which was a huge relief to me because; I would not have any other means if anything was to happen. While I was standing in line, my friend made a dash to her apartment to check on things there and to collect a few more things.
While I waited I made my daily pilgrimage to Metro, the supermarket and it was even more crowded than the day before. I looked as though people were actually awakening from their sleep of denial and were beginning to realize the seriousness of the situation. Well, for the most part any way, some were going about it as though it was a typical shopping day. One woman wouldn't buy dried bread, because it wasn't the 'fresh' kind or brown. That's when I had to say something. I just said 'I would buy the dried bread if I were you, because you don't know when any other kind of bread would be available again and dry bread lasts longer.' I would also stock up on canned food, like beans, vegetable and fruit because, fresh fruit goes bad quickly.' They didn't take much heed of me, but I kept on talking until I saw a light bulb go off. 'I was in Saudi Arabia during the invasion and I know what I'm talking about, our embassy gave us a list of items that we should stock up on, so please take my advice.
The queue for the check out/cashier was very long and it took me almost and hour, if not longer before I was able to pay for my supplies. Which consisted of lots of canned food and aerosol spray cleaners for cleaning and other self-defense purposes, (just in case)
2:00pm I was still exhausted and wound up from not having slept well, or for a better word sleep deprived and I told my friend that I was going to go and take a nap, while things were quiet and before I had night watch duty in a few hours time. It was no use, I couldn't relax, I could shut my mind long enough to get some sleep. My eye lids would fly open at any sound that resembled a gun shot or explosion.
3:00pm My friend whose father is the warden for the Canadian Embassy had told me earlier that he was going to the airport to check the ticket situation, but it turns out that he and his family had hopped on a plane to Boston to stay with family. I can't blame him really, he being an only son and having to stand guard at night is not a risk any parent would want to take. Some friends thought it was a rushed decision, but if I had the choice I would get my family out too. Not long after hearing about my friends departure does my best friend of over 20 years call me to tell me that she is going to get on a plane tomorrow morning to go to London and that things are not what they appear to be and I should get my family out of here as soon as possible. Having not slept and being really edgy made me really nervous and panic slightly. I tried calling my cousin in Liverpool several time to try to convince my parents to pack up and leave, but the line wouldn't connect. I called my future brother-in-law in London to ask him if there was anything on the news at his end that we were not hearing or seeing here. He told me that there was nothing that reported immediate danger; he tried to assure me that everything is fine and not to panic. (I found that amusing because I'm the one who usually keeps everyone else calm, and is level-headed) I called my good friend in D.C but she thought that my call was her alarm so she kept hanging up on me, so I called my other friend in D.C and asked her to follow the news. I also gave her my facebook password and a message to post for family and friends, to tell them that we were all fine and well. She too said that everything on the news seemed fairly calm and there was nothing that hinted danger. (My gut was telling me otherwise) I surrendered any attempts to try to sleep, it was a battle that I wouldn't win, and so, I might as well just stay awake.
4pm I walk out of my bedroom to a ringing phone, my friend answers and hands it to me saying it's for me. I answer and there is a familiar voice on the other end, but I'm so tired I can't identify who it is. I am holding a conversation but I still don't know whom it is I'm conversing with. In the end I just had to bluntly ask who it was. Turns out it was one of my cousins calling from Liverpool. She had been trying to get through to us for days on our cell phones but lines were down or jammed. I must have sounded exhausted because she just kept saying 'you sound exhausted luvvy, you poor thing.' I retold her some of the events of the past few days and information and accounts I had gotten from eyewitnesses and she just couldn't believe what was going on. As if right on queue an F-16, fighter jet flies right over my house and at a low altitude. It sounded like Zeus's lightening bolt had been released and exploded right in side my flat and had shaken (That makes it harder to convince family that you are fine and well)
No one really knows why the jets were told to take off and fly at a low altitude. Some say it was to show Israel that Egypt was still in control, (I highly doubt that), I personally think it was to scare the protesters in to leaving the square and go home for 4 o'clock curfew. The sound of the jets flying over head should have sounded normal to me, considering I lived next to an airport and an airbase in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia for 10 years, but today it just made me more jumpy than normal.
After I closed with my cousin, I called my family and more or less begged them to evacuate. I spoke with my father and pleaded with him, but he wouldn't hear it, I told him about the jets and the looters carrying weapons, the prisoners that had broken out of jail. I tried to lay a guilt trip on him about me being away from them and in Cairo, but he said if you're scared I'll send a car for you to come to Alexandria. I told him that there was no way for me to get to the station and that there were no cars. My pleas fell on deaf ears.
I can't leave without my family. So, if they stay. I stay and that is that.
5:30pm An old colleague and friend that I used to work with in Alexandria called from London after seeing my friends post on my facebook status that I had asked her to do on my behalf. She said that the whole world is watching and praying for a positive outcome She said that they are also impressed with how Egyptians have taken the law in to their own hands and have made many citizen arrests. 8:00 pm My best friend just called me and it was very hard to understand what she was saying. She was hyperventilating and trying to talk at the same time. She was going in to shock; she had just witnessed an exchange of fire between thugs and a tank. The last time I had heard her that scared was she had been in Naama Bay, when the car bombs had gone off and she had just walked out of Buddah Bar after the explosion. I was doing my best to reassure her that she was safe and that she was fine. I wanted to calm her down so that she wouldn't frighten her grandmother that was staying with her. We did a few breathing techniques and we talked about the situation and after about 20 minutes or so of talking to her she was in a much calmer state. Not long after hanging up with my best friend, I get another call from a friend in Alexandria. He called to say that he had just had a rough hour. He had come of his patrol shift to rest only to have to go down again because a group of thugs had come in to his neighborhood. Unfortunately very drastic measures had to be taken and the thugs weren't captured, they were killed.
9:00 pm My Mom called to check up on us and in the midst of the conversation the alarm was sounded. Intruders were in the neighborhood. I went to the window and saw that the men on duty tonight exceeded those that had stood guard the night before and this time they were in the street like a swarm of mad bees. They were stopping every car that passed by and checking the vehicles. Moments after the alarm was sounded a small convoy of black SUVs drove by at a hell of a speed, but this time the military men at the back of the SUV were firing continuously as they sped by. I hung up with my mom and grabbed my camera, and was able to get some footage. Like a motion picture summer block buster movie, the military guys from the National Guard, came running out of the base in front of my house and hit the deck, lay flat on the ground and took aim and were firing. Some of the guys were camouflaged on the grass; you could only see the spark come out at the tip of the barrel of the gun. Shouts from the military guys rang across the street as they warned the residence to take cover and to go back in side 'Kul ye khush gowa'. I wasted no time in getting my friend down on the ground and away from the windows, because the chance of a stray bullet flying through one of them was very probably with the number of rounds that were being fired below. It was a continuous chorus of bullets being shot, along with riffles, hand guns and tanks being fired. It sounded similar to fireworks cracking and exploding in the sky on New Years Eve or on the 4th of July. I could hear mothers and wives screaming for their sons and husband to come to safety. Children were crying.
As we lay on the ground, my friend was coughing non stop, so I crawled like a marine and got her a blanket from the sofa to lie on so that she wouldn't catch a cold and to retrieve my phone. There was so much happening at once and it was very hard absorb and to process. In the midst of madness that was taking place and whilst I was lying down on the floor two things came to mind. 1- I really need to vacuum the floor tomorrow morning. 2- Most of the people we spoke to earlier today had said that they felt things had calmed down and they felt safer…..ummm….they obviously don't know what the hell they are talking about. (It's amazing what goes through a person's mind in a time of a crisis!)
Once the excitement had passed we pealed ourselves off the cold tiled floor and went back to the couch and finished watching the film "Julie and Julia" as one does after a big shoot out right outside your apartment building. When the movie was over we decided to go to bed and try to get some sleep. Only to get a call a couple of hours later telling us that Canadians are sending planes to evacuate them to Europe. Upon hearing that news there was no chance of getting any sleep. My friend went about packing her stuff.
As much as I wanted my friend to leave and be out of harms way, I didn't want her to leave either. We had a strong bond before, but now I think it's a bond for life. After the events of the night, I knew my parents wouldn't want me staying alone and frankly, I didn't want to be alone for hours on end day after day. So, I woke a friend of mine up in the dead of night and told him what had happened and he insisted that I come and stay with him and his family. He said he would pass by and pick me up later that morning.
By this time I can honestly tell you that I am drunk with exhausted. I haven't slept well since the build up to Jan 25th began, my sleep then was 4 hours or less and it was interrupted and the past few nights I have barely slept a wink. I took a warm shower to try to relax. It did help me feel better, but it took me ages to get some sleep. Which was less than 2 hours.


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Boys Varsity Baseball · Provo Defeats Springville with Homer
Provo High Baseball battled through a tough game against the Red Devils of Springville and came out on top 3 to 2. The Bulldogs came out on top after a bottom of the 6th line drive solo home run hit by Ryan Harward. Walker Moore was on the mound for the Bulldogs. Provo won the

subset: commoncrawl


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1. Topshop - £55
2. Ebay - £15.99
3. Escentual - £34.85
4. New Look - £14.99
5. New Look - £14.99
6. River Island - £32
As the sun has been out a lot more lately, I've also been feeling the need to rearrange my wardrobe and bring my pastels to the forefront of it all. That being said, I've noticed I'm missing a few pieces to complete my pastel rainbow of a wardrobe, so of course I've been getting a little carried away when it comes to online shopping.
First of all, this beautiful pale blue gingham dress from Topshop is so stunning and the perfect spring party dress. It's not cheap at £55 but it's to be expected from the likes of Topshop. I've been eyeing up this cute-as-a-button milk carton bag on Ebay for ages now and I think now spring is in full swing (see what I did there?) it's the perfect excuse to purchase it. I know Ebay can sometimes be a bit hit and miss for buying things (myself and people I know have had disputes in the past on there which is never fun!) but for the most part I think it's great for bagging a bargain. I definitely wouldn't buy makeup on there though - chances are it's fake. It's definitely worth learning more about online safety, especially if you're an online shopping addict like me!
Talking of makeup, the next thing on my wishlist is this amazing pastel palette from Dior. I'm not normally one for pastel eyeshadows, but the sweeter-than-sweet hues seen in these cute palettes are too nice to resist. I also think, seeing as I'm loving pastels at the minute, why not go all-out and embrace the makeup trend too? It's a total bargain from Escentual too. I chose this tartan skirt from New Look because I am obsessed with pastel tartan at the minute, and this skirt definitely gets my thumbs up. I also added this pretty mint daisy tee to my list as I think it's really sweet and would look perfect with the aforementioned skirt. Finally, I don't think a pastel outfit is complete without some pretty dolly shoes, and I am desperate to get my hands on these from River Island. They would just complete my pastel wardrobe perfectly!
Are you excited for spring pastels? I placed a sneaky Boohoo order yesterday and low and behold it arrived this morning - how good is that?! I'm also loving that some sites (like Boohoo) are doing this 'Pay after Delivery' thing with PayPal, which is great if you're waiting 'til payday. The only thing I will say is that it is as good as it is bad - you tend to forget you've spent the money and then BAM! It's out of your account. Still I think it's a really good idea!


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Although Derek Vincent Smith, also known as Pretty Lights has played Red Rocks five times before, this weekend's show was different. The unique set up, featuring not only live band but also thirteen members of the Colorado Symphony, was the first time Smith has included a full string section in a show.
Anthony Pierce, Vice President of Artistic Administration for the Colorado Symphony says he wants to see the collaboration continue past this weekend, "I would love to see Derek do something in Boettcher Concert Hall with the whole ensemble, all eighty players. I mean, I would like to see what his ideas are more than anything else. I can't wait to talk about what the next step is."
See also: On a Previous Pretty Lights Show at Red Rocks
The members of the symphony included nine violinist, three cellist and one bassist. The group sat in a raised up stage behind the full band, which includes a trombone, trumpets, organ, drums, keyboard, synth, effects, guitar and turntable. In the front was Derek, leading the show.
"At one point we thought about using a section twice that size, this being our initial collaboration, but we wanted to keep it a little controlled for the first time," Pierce says, explaining that thirteen member ensemble is a "good, organic size, with a strong balance."
The group practiced last week, starting on Wednesday at the 1STBANK Center. The Symphony players, live band, Smith, and Greg Ellis (also known as Lazer Shark -- the mastermind behind the visual show) spread out to practice the full performance. But the collaboration has been in the works for a year, since Smith's Red Rocks show in 2013. "Derek led everything, he was in charge, it was his gig. It's not like we came together and had a free form jam session, it was something was controlled. I mean, we had to mange our risk and make sure things went well, but Derek's the guy who managed the creation"
At Red Rocks, the Symphony only came out for the last of three sets Smith played: His first was solo, then with a live band and ending with the whole band and symphony. But that final set lasted over two hours. The string section brought un-precedented depth, filling out the spaces in-between harmonies and melodies.
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The musicians who joined Smith for the night were already familiar with his work, which helped the collaboration process, Pierce says. "[This concert] was really the start of solidifying the relationship between us. We want to give Derek access to resources that he hasn't in the past. What he does musically is interesting and on the edge, in terms of composition. If you think about it, its a long-form composition."
"How unique is it that we have an orchestra in Denver that is willing to try this, and we also have Derek in Denver who is probably the most celebrated electronic musician in the world in many ways. It is such a fortunate combination for the community, we just need to take advantage of it," Pierce says. "I mean, the stars have aligned."
• BACKBEAT'S GREATEST HITS • - The fifty best rap lyrics of all time - The ten biggest concert buzzkills - Five more concert buzzkills - From Phish to Floyd, the ten best light shows
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Program Description:
The aim of this evidence-based project is two-fold: to create an on-line stress management program for current allied health students in a community college setting using evidence from the literature while focusing on health promotion as identified in the domain of occupational therapy, and thereby measuring outcomes and satisfaction with this type of programming. This program will be conducted in an on-line environment over a 6-week period using a combination of PowerPoint presentation, video, external links, individual participation, and discussion forums. The program will be provided through an on-line learning community called Eliademy.
This program will allow the students to explore the definitions of stress and stress management, while examining their own stressors and coping strategies. Students will be requested to examine their own levels of perceived stress and coping style using the Brief COPE Inventory and the Perceived Stress Scales. Students will then participate in their choice of two stress management techniques each week and report feedback to all participants in an anonymous format. At the conclusion of the program, students will then identify their levels of perceived stress and coping abilities once again as well as identify their satisfaction with the program and outcomes through a final survey.
Upon completion of this program, a student will be able to:
1. Define stress and stress management.
2. Discuss evidence-based stress management components.
3. Explore various techniques used for stress management purposes.
4. Create healthy lifestyle changes through the identification of stress management techniques that address individual stressors.
5. Utilize newly acquired stress management skills through weekly participation techniques offered in an on-line environment.


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Here is a picture of what I purchased:
4 packages of Luigis Italian Ice
2 packages of Mrs. T Perrogies
1 package of Huggies Pull Ups
4 packages of Huggies Pull Up Wipes
1 package of Chinet plates
1 package of Zyrtec
2 packages of Orbit gum
2 containers of Suave Kids Shampoo
2 packages of Hunts Tapioca Pudding
2 bags of M&Ms
1 package of Cape Cod Kettle chips
2 packages of BIC razers
2 packages of Poise pads
1 package of Cottonelle toilet paper
2 packages of Scott's Extra Soft toilet paper
2 packages of Glad Ware containers
1 package of Blue Bunny Ice Cream Sandwiches
1 package of Klondike Heath Ice Cream
2 Dove Deodorants
2 Lady Speed Stick Deodorants
1 PC Ammonia
1 container Wet Ones wipes
AND, I am up to .60 cents off of gas... Woop=woop.
What an awesome shopping trip this was.
Grand total out of pocket $20.11.


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Triple superior
Triple room with view on the Cannaregio Canal, ensuite bathroom: decorated with Murano glass chandeliers and brocade fabric in the typical venetian romantic style with Gardenal modern paintings.
Possibility to have a double bed plus a third bed or three separate beds.
No smoking room.
-Welcome drink
-Courtesy line deluxe
-Free wifi in room


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As organizations see IT security within the larger context of risk management, so too is the role of the chief information security officer (CISO) taking on greater significance. Fewer and fewer CISOs have technical backgrounds, and many are moving to a more proactive footing where they seek to influence corporate strategy.
"I am an ex-CISO myself, and came from the technical route," says Andrew Rose, principal analyst with Forrester Research. "But now CISOs are so business focused, and they can rely on their organization's technical staff."
Rose argues that the new generation of CISOs is more comfortable around the board table than tinkering away in the server room. In fact, if senior technical specialists think they will naturally move from a tactical technology focus toward the CISO position, without having to engage in a strategic view of the enterprise, they'll be in for a surprise.
"You need to be able to understand risk, business engagement, and change and process management," says Rose. "Now the trend is accelerating with more of a CISO focus on privacy management, long term business impact, audits, and perhaps even physical security."https://o1.qnsr.com/log/p.gif?;n=203;c=204660766;s=9477;x=7936;f=201812281312070;u=j;z=TIMESTAMP;a=20392931;e=i
As a result, the role is increasingly being filled by executives with no technology background. CISOs are still required to ensure that expectations are being met on the technical side, but they must also mediate acceptable risk with a view to business requirements.
"It is true that non-security folks are stepping up," says James McCloskey, a senior analyst at Info-Tech Research. "The requirement for a more holistic view, and one that does not focus on specific technologies, means that we are now seeing CISOs with legal or audit backgrounds."
McCloskey says that risk management skills are often not well-developed internally, which means that many organizations must source externally to fill a CISO position. When they do that, they should seek someone whose abilities and personality will complement existing security staff.
Keeping Risk Real
Real time analytics are making information and risk management increasingly sophisticated, but also highlight the unreasonableness of a zero risk profile. Gartner's chief of security and risk management, Paul Proctor, has argued that adaptation means having a more clearly defined understanding of managed risk. For his part, McCloskey from Info-Tech says that effective management requires a combined understanding of unique requirements and more general protocols.
"Every organization is unique in its risk tolerance," says McCloskey. "It depends on the threat profile, the industry, the types of technology, customers. That said, ISO 27000 can provide a structured approach, as can the OCTAVE suite."
OCTAVE, which stands for Operationally Critical Threat, Asset, and Vulnerability Evaluation, was developed over a decade ago, and includes techniques for assessment and planning.
"It helps with an understanding of the threat landscape," says McCloskey. "There is a methodology that CISOs can use for an organization to come up with their own controls."
Even with the rigor afforded by OCTAVE or ISO 27000, a CISO can still play a major educational role within an organization. Often, the tradeoffs are relatively straightforward: A bigger investment will reduce a risk profile, and a decision to save money will increase it. With that in mind, however, a CISO must call upon other C-suite executives to step up to the plate and decide what risk posture is acceptable relative to a reasonable investment.
"It is all about cost-benefit and risk appetite," says Rose from Forrester. "A CISO should be able to flag things and say 'This is our silver option, and this is our bronze option. Which one do you want to go for?' From there, the board should be able to get their heads around it."
The CISO in the Cloud
With data protection as a top priority, and an explosion in security endpoints and challenges with BYOD, CISOs will be looking for someone else to address technology issues as they shift their focus to business engagement. With that in mind, the cloud presents real opportunities for CISOs – and a few challenges, too.
"Everyone is interested in cloud, but there are differences among industries," says Rose. "Finance and healthcare are reluctant to take the step, with 40 percent of those organizations stopped or stalled due to security concerns. However, for smaller organizations moving to the cloud will probably increase security."
Which means that these organizations can compete against the big guys while, in effect, outsourcing a chunk of the CISO role to service providers. Enterprises can then focus more on spending to ensure business growth, and less on compliance.
"The FedRAMP standard for cloud adoption is making a big difference," says Rose. "So are products like CipherCloud."
And with regard to BYOD, investments in mobile device management and encryption mean that enterprises can keep their attention on larger security control issues, while also ensuring that their workforce is aware of acceptable use policies.
"Overall the awareness of information security challenges has risen," says McCloskey. "Now I have become an advocate of how the CISO discipline actually needs more actuaries."
That's a big indication of how things have changed, and how the role of the CISO, and the larger issue of risk management, has moved well beyond the nuts and bolts of IT security. Instead, it has become embedded in 21st century business processes, and reflects an ongoing and dynamic risk environment.
A graduate of McGill University, Timothy Wilson joined IDC Canada in Toronto as a research analyst in 1997. In 2000 he began T Wilson Associates and continued to consult for research companies, as well as working directly with large vendors such as Microsoft and SAP. Throughout his career Timothy has contributed to the IT, trade and mainstream press. He has lived and worked in Latin America and is proficient in Spanish. He has received a first place CBC Literary Award and a Gold National Magazine Award for his non-fiction writing.


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The 7 Best Tax Software Programs of 2019
We are committed to researching, testing, and recommending the best products. We may receive commissions from purchases made after visiting links within our content. Learn more about our review process.
The average cost of hiring a professional to prepare your tax return is about $275, at least if you have anything other than the simplest tax situation. That's a lot of money to part with and it's often unnecessary.
You can save yourself some money if you identify your tax-time priorities in advance and find software that will address them for you. Some programs are pricier than others, but they're still generally cheaper than hiring a professional, and you'll spare yourself having to cram all those tax documents into your briefcase or a box and head off to your accountant's office.
These software options have you covered. Some of them are actually free—yes, free, at least for filers with simple returns.
Best Overall: TurboTax
TurboTax is arguably the name in personal tax preparation software, and its developer—Intuit—charges accordingly. You'll pay top dollar for this one, but users and experts alike seem to think it's worth it. It scores kudos in almost every category, from user experience to being able to import a good many employer tax IDs. You can take pictures of your W-2s and 1099 forms rather than type in all the information they include, risking typos and mistakes. There's an "Expense Finder" feature if you're self-employed and must file Schedule C. It can lift potentially tax-deductible expenditures directly from your bank account and categorize them, add them up, and input them accordingly. The 2019 version will search more than 350 tax deductions and credits for you to see if you qualify after you enter your personal information.
The software engages you much as a professional would with questions and guidance, although some pop-up messages can be a bit chirpy and possibly jarring when you're concentrating. Think comments like "You're doing great!" interspersed with questions designed to dig your tax data out of you.
If you get confused or otherwise hit a brick wall, TurboTax offers experts to chat with if you use the online version. It also has a "SmartLook" feature that will put you face-to-face with a tax expert, and it offers audit support. And if TurboTax makes a mathematical goof? They'll pay all associated IRS penalties on your behalf. They also offer free audit support.
So how much will all this cost you? $79.99 if your tax situation is pretty simple. And if you act fast and file before the 2019 tax season officially gears up in late January, you can shave $30 off that. The actual cost to file is free for both state and federal returns…at least for the time being. You can expect this to increase to $39.99 for federal returns and $36.99 for state when tax season gets underway. And each time you want to do something that falls outside the "simple" range, you'll be asked to pay for it or upgrade to a different program. Think itemizing deductions, reporting income from investments, or self-employment.
Runner-Up, Best Overall: H&R Block
H&R Block Premium does just about everything that TurboTax does at just slightly less cost. So why does it drop to second place? It's mostly a matter of opinion. Reviewers and users tend to clap for TurboTax first, but it's a very close race.
H&R Block is chatty and friendly, too, asking questions and deciphering your answers as you prepare your tax return. But H&R Block isn't always as efficient at deciphering your answers. You might hit that brick wall more often, but you can either dig for informational answers in the Help window or solicit unlimited live professional tax advice through the website.
You can pay extra to have an expert review your finished return for an added measure of confidence before you file, or just back up your file and head off to one of the thousands of H&R Block offices in the U.S. if you really run into problems. You can then sit down with a professional for free if you've purchased the software. When it comes to this sort of handholding, H&R Block is said to be the best. It even offers a "tax prep checklist" to track down the documents you'll need to prepare your return.
H&R Block also has a free version called More Zero and it's more accepting than TurboTax's freebie of slightly complicated tax situations. The Premium version costs $64.95 with all its bells and whistles, but the Basic package for simple returns is just $19.95. A Deluxe version is available for $44.95. Keep in mind that these prices might ratchet up a little when filing season begins.
Best Bargain: TaxAct Premium
TaxAct is often mentioned in the same breath with TurboTax and H&R Block, but it has something going for it that those two competitors don't share: It's really inexpensive. Better yet, it offers a price lock guarantee. You can begin your return early in the year with most software, but, as mentioned, TurboTax and H&R Block will begin ratcheting up their costs as you get closer to the tax deadline without actually filing. Not so with TaxAct. You'll pay the same no matter how long it takes you to finish your return and file: $34.95 in 2019, although this doesn't include a state return.
TaxAct offers fewer bells and whistles, but it is equipped to handle returns that include self-employment and investment income. It also has a nice feature called Life Events which zeros in on potential changes in your tax situation from last year to this one. The web-based program offers 19 icons relating to situations that might currently apply to you. Maybe you bought a home, or you got married or had a baby. Maybe you lost your job. Whatever happened, you can clink on the corresponding link for extra tips, information, and guidance, although the program won't incorporate the information into your tax return for you. That part is up to you.
TaxAct offers live customer support, as well as hyperlinked words and phrases that provide explanations and more information. It also has an extremely comprehensive TaxTutor Guidance Center. That said, TaxAct isn't incredibly efficient with state returns and the interface isn't as visually pleasing, but you get what you pay for.
Best Free Software: Credit Karma
Credit Karma used to be the new kid on the block, and it showed in some respects. But that was then and this is now. The company first launched into tax preparation in 2016, and it's made some significant improvements in time for the 2019 filing season. Both state and federal returns are still 100 percent free.
Some users initially had problems with the handholding and help functions, but Credit Karma took care of that and has upgraded its customer service. Chat help is now available. Phone support is still lacking, but that's something of a rarity among software providers anyway—at least without an extra fee. The interface has come a long way as well, with some additional help features added, including a searchable "help" database.
Credit Karma isn't limited to simple 1040EZ and 1040A returns. It can handle all major IRS schedules and forms, including those related to more complex tax situations. Similar to other software programs, it will begin by asking you a series of questions when you click "start," guiding you to enter your information. It also allows you to import previous years' returns you completed using a competitor.
Best of all, that "free" price tag includes an audit defense guarantee. Now that's getting your money's worth.
Best Wizard: Jackson Hewitt Premium
Jackson Hewitt's contribution to tax software will cost you a little less than H&R Block and TurboTax, and you'll get a really efficient and extensive wizard in return—that feature that walks you through a series of questions then spits out a completed tax return based on your answers. The Jackson Hewitt wizard covers just about every conceivable tax situation for personal filers.
Jackson Hewitt Premium can handle complex tax situations, although you can't count on explanatory popups to tell you why it's done what it's done, at least not in every situation. There are help topic links, however, as well as readily available links for live support, something most other tax software developers don't offer. Then again, Jackson Hewitt has more than 6,000 brick-and-mortar locations, so the company is really positioned to offer this service. And it offers the "No Fee Refund Advance" up to $3,500, even in the face of the 2019 government shutdown.
There's a free version for easy returns.
Best Simple Data Entry Option: TaxSlayer
TaxSlayer was initially designed for tax professionals, then it branched out to help individuals prepare their personal returns in the 1990s. It's 100 percent web-based, so you can access it from just about any device.
The neat thing about TaxSlayer is its "Quick File" option. This should particularly appeal to users who cringe at the idea of spending hours inputting their tax information in a sequential order that's dictated by the program. Some competitors will allow you to jump around to different aspects of your return, tackling whatever you want to tackle next, but TaxSlayer's Quick File process for this is particularly efficient. It's cued by simply typing in a keyword rather than hunting through lists of links.
Of course, you can always follow the prescribed, chronological data entry option if you want to. Even this is better than average, offering two choices: "Guide Me" or "Enter Myself." The latter also lets you jump around a bit, similar to Quick File. The Guide Me option is necessarily slower because it's more methodical. It's a wizard that's on par with those of TaxSlayer's competitors—with the exception of Jackson Hewitt. The searchable information database is the stuff tax professionals dream of, and the error checker is top of the line, too.
The cost is incredibly reasonable, too, ranging from free for the most basic returns to $17 for the classic edition, $37 for the premium edition, $47 for the self-employed edition, and $57 for the "ultimate" program as of January 2019. The Classic and Premium editions are pretty similar, but Premium has better support options. You can wave a distress flag by email, chat, or by phone if you get confused or otherwise run into complications.
State returns are extra, and these prices might creep upward as tax filing season gears up.
Best for Savvy Tax Filers: Liberty Tax
If this isn't your first rodeo—you've been preparing your own tax returns for years using one method or program or another—Liberty Tax might be for you. It's more suitable for experienced filers. The interface isn't pretty. It's sort of a let's-just-get-this-job-done display that involves a lot of manual clicks and a bit of searching sometimes, but that's OK if you know what you're doing and what you're looking for.
Liberty Tax also lets you decide what aspects of a return you want to work on when you want to work on them, presented in chronological order, and it offers recommendations. This program will effectively tap you on the shoulder and ask if you want to file this, that or the other tax form to potentially save some tax dollars. It helps if you already understand what those tax forms are. Otherwise, you might be left a little in the dark.
If you enter information that might provide an audit trigger for the IRS, Liberty Tax will warn you. Audit support is included in the price, and you can purchase an upgrade for actual audit representation. Liberty Tax will also email you if you begin your tax return and don't come back to it for a while, a little ahem! reminder that you're not quite ready for the filing deadline yet.
The Simple edition is available for $19.95 in January 2019. Plan on spending at least $29.95 for the Basic edition, $49.95 for the Deluxe edition, and $74.95 for the Premium edition. The latter is most appropriate for those who are self-employed.


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For many years now, we've been making conjectures about the impact millennials could have on the workforce as more of them begin their careers. The majority of millennials—those born between about 1980 and the mid-1990s—are now of working age. Their impact on the workplace isn't just conjecture anymore: It's here.
Sodexo's 2017 Workplace Trends Report shows that, as expected, this generation is having a major impact on the way we work today. Our key findings about millennials in the workplace show: (more…)
Experts from around the world agree: the design of collective spaces can improve quality of life. From transforming a city in crisis, to opening channels that increase knowledge, and improving performance in organizations, the effective use of space can foster rejuvenation, creativity and community. Even in the face of what seems like insurmountable obstacles, the way we use and reuse space can inspire progress and instill hope for a better future. (more…)
This is the third in a continuing blog series based on insights and findings from the Sodexo 2016 Workplace Trends Report. The Report examines nine key trends affecting business outcomes and the quality of life of employees and consumers. To learn more, access the full article: Big Data in the Workplace : Can it Enhance Employee Productivity and Quality of Life?
The marketplace is flooded with articles, books and even phone apps trying to solve the question of what makes people happy. While happiness may seem like an esoteric concept, its origins are now being broken down to a science. Similarly, when it comes to employee engagement, figuring out what it takes to create a work place where employees are happy (and therefore more productive) has become a scientific pursuit of trying to find the right solutions. However, research shows that even with all the time, effort and dollars companies have spent to address employee engagement, the overall rates of employee satisfaction and happiness are still less than desirable.
A new quality of life economic model is developing thanks to communications, green energy and transportation connected via the platform of the Internet of Things. This glimpse of the completely new economic paradigm that will fully emerge over the next 25 years was offered by Jeremy Rifkin at the inaugural Quality of Life Conference sponsored by Sodexo in New York in May. Rifkin, an economic and social theorist, writer and political advisor, sees the new economic paradigm coupled with extensive sharing of information and goods—like cars—leading to an improved overall quality of life for people and the planet.
Every day, we create 2.5 quintillion bytes of data — so much that 90% of the data in the world today has been created in the last two years alone, according to IBM. This massive accumulation of information is commonly referred to as Big Data. Predictive analytics or other advanced methods are used to extract value from Big Data that has the potential to help organizations make faster, more intelligent decisions. And better decisions can mean greater operational efficiency, cost reductions and reduced risk.
History teaches us a great deal about building a workforce that can get the job done.
As civilization progressed from the agricultural age to the industrial age to the information age, the modern workforce evolved from farmer to factory worker to knowledge worker. Over time, our focus shifted from produce to production to productivity. Today, we are moving from the information age into a service-based economy, and a whole new set of competencies are required, including the integration of soft skills with design thinking.
According to Statistic Brain, coffee, fresh brewed and fragrant, is enjoyed by 100 million Americans every day—and 25% drink more than 13 cups each week. Our caffeinated nation's productivity outpaces all other countries, and though this can't be directly correlated to coffee consumption, it's probably a contributing factor. While I'm not a huge coffee drinker, I can tell you that a little surge of caffeine boosts my output and really keeps me alert, both physically and mentally.
On Dec. 17, 1903, the Wright brothers successfully flew the first powered, manned airplane. The flight lasted only 12 seconds and covered just 121 feet. By the 1950's commercial aviation took off. The increasing availability of affordable air travel considerably expanded aviation's role in sustaining society. What was once a luxury commodity is now essential to tourism, trade and commerce. In fact, according to the International Air Transportation Association more than 8 million people travel by air every day.


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Letters to the Editor
Boat show does damage
The May 7 article Federal review adds to Miami boat show debate shared critical information about a report released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which revealed serious environmental concerns tied to Miami's plans to host the Miami International Boat Show on Virginia Key.
The city and the boat show's operator insist that these issues aren't real. But as a member of Miami Beach's Sustainability Committee, I can assure them that it is far worse than even federal environmental regulators know. The Yacht & Brokerage Show this year left a completely avoidable disaster of a mess in the waters on Miami Beach, and the Miami International Boat Show promises to do the same in Virginia Key in 2016 unless action is taken.
The show's use of Styrofoam floating docks have all but destroyed the marine life in its path, as thousands of docks made of unencapsulated Styrofoam are lashed together to create a walkway from boat to boat. These docks have been used for what appears to be decades, and chunks of Styrofoam break off and litter the bay and shorelines. The impact is extremely significant.
It's absolutely vital that the boat show be required to use an alternative. If not, the coast of Miami and Key Biscayne will be saturated with toxic Styrofoam balls, negatively affecting our fragile ecosystem.
Michael DeFilippi, Miami Beach


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You're amazing at what you do and committed to using technology to make the world a better place. But you're overwhelmed by the daily barrage of emails, calls, texts, tweets, and meetings that seem to consume your life and stifle your productivity. You know there's a better a way to manage the tech tools that seem to be getting in your way. At the same time, you also crave freedom from a life defined by your career and wish you could simply leave work at work without feeling guilty.
Sound familiar? Fortunately, there's a way to combat work-life imbalance and digital distraction and remain engaged and inspired, no matter what your role or career level. Join us for a fun, interactive class on how to find the balance you need to thrive in a fast-paced job.
Speaker and Trainer on Mindfulness + TechnologyMindful TechieMeico Marquette Whitlock, Founder and CEO of Mindful Techie, is a speaker and trainer on mindfulness and technology. Meico helps purpose-driven high-achievers and organizations conquer digital distraction, news and information overload, and work-life balance so that they can live a more balanced and productive life. Meico has worked with the non-profit sector for nearly 20 years.


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Take a smart test drive in Wynwood this weekend
The most experience many Miamians have had with an electric car is a golf cart. In this land of glitzy gas-guzzling sports cars, many think electric vehicles belong in a world of yuppie Silicon Valley techies. But smart wants to change that. Smart is bringing their Smart funtestdrive tour to Miami on June 8 and 9. For those of you unfamiliar with smart, you may have seen Miami carshare program Car2Go's fleet of tiny white and blue cars zooming across the city; their fleet is composed entirely of gas-powered smart fortwo vehicles.
This weekend, you can test drive smart's newest electric drive, the same smart you know and love with an electric engine that can get you zipping across the city for 68 miles on a single charge. For those of you who prefer a car that sips fossil fuels, you can also try the smart's gas-powered fortwo which gets a very respectable 38 miles per gallon on the highway.
If past funtestdrive events across the country are any indication, expect free giveaways, grub and entertainment to keep you stimulated while you wait your turn behind the wheel. This should make for an especially fun event to head to before you make your way over to Saturday night's Wynwood Art Walk.


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Despite 10 years of restaurant management experience and 23 total years in the industry, Daniel Colangelo struggled to find work after losing his job when the Morton's The Steakhouse in Southfield, Mich., closed last June. After six months, Colangelo did something he never thought he'd do — he made a video of himself and posted it on an industry recruiter's website. That led to three job offers, one of which he accepted six weeks later.
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I do hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.
All day yesterday was spent unpacking and doing
laundry and trying to catch up on a little blogging.
I was even able to watch a little bit of the French Open.
I just love to watch Roger Federer play!
All in all a pretty relaxing day. You gotta love a weekend
like that..
Over a Texture Tuesday Kim has given us the word warmth..
So I went off looking through my photos that gave me the feeling
of Warmth.. Of course the yellow flowers above
gave me that feeling. There peddles lifted up to the sun!
and then the warm tones of this shot.
In all reality it was a chilly morning walk on the beach.
But I think this photo still has such a warm felling to it..
And then there was this shot..
nothing really to do with the colors of the shot.
I changed it to black can White and added one of Kim,s
textures.. But just the way these two men were chatting away,
looking out at the ocean. Really enjoying there time together.
It gave me a warm fuzzy felling inside.
So there are my photos for the word Warmth..
What pops into you mind when you here the word Warmth?
I am linking up with TEXTURE TUESDAY.
The Texture I used was Lilly.
Well it's that time once again..
To show you what I have created for
City Crafters Challenge Blog..
Ros is our hostess this week and the theme is
Ticket to ride..
You must use a ticket on your project..
And came up with one of my fathers day cards.
So not only did you need a ticket on your project you
needed to add some sort of transportation.. Mine was the bike
this young man was riding..
So if you would like to play along with us you can hop on
over to CCCB to get all the detail..
Once again you have a chance to win some free digital images
from our sponsor.