text:
Rewind: Last Night: Heart at House of Blues (March 11, 2012)
For decades, Heart has been one of the premiere, best-selling and most influential bands in rock. Starting with 1976 debut Dreamboat Annie, the group structured around Wilson sisters Ann (singing) and Nancy (guitars, occasional singing) has paved the way for female rockers and country artists alike. Both Wynonna Judd and Gretchen Wilson (no relation) have covered Heart's songs in their live shows, on record, and even performed with the band.
In the 1970s, Heart released such classic songs including "Crazy On You," Magic Man," Love Alive" and "Straight On." Though personnel problems nearly broke the band apart, they marched on well into the '80s and early '90s with such hits as "Never," "What About Love," "These Dreams" and a cover of Bob Dylan's "Ring Them Bells" with late Alice In Chains lead singer Layne Staley.
Heart went on hiatus in the mid-'90s, but returned in 2004 with the album Jupiter's Darling and again in 2010 with Red Velvet Car And after all these years, Heart is still playing to sold-out audiences everywhere, legends in their own right, and released the career-spanning, nearly 200-minute box set Strange Euphoria in June.
Rocks Off caught up with Ann Wilson and talked to her about she and Nancy's upcoming autobiography Kicking and Dreaming, scheduled to be published September 19, as well as the band's new studio album, their legacy, and what's in store for the future of Heart.
Rocks Off: Your latest album is called Fanatic and I must say, it is pretty excellent. Tell us a little bit about the new album?
Ann Wilson: I'm glad you like it. It's our first album since 2010 [Red Velvet Car], and it's produced by Ben Mink. Ben, Nancy and I wrote all the songs. It's a much bigger rock album than our last album was. The last one was a little bit more gentle. This one is more explosive. It's rockin', opinionated and it's got some fun on it.
It also has some love stuff -- not schlock ballads, but big love. It's a flaming Heart album, I think.
RO: One of the standout tracks from the new album, to me, is "Dear Old America." Tell us a little bit about that track.
AW: This last year when we were writing our book that's about to come out, I found myself, in the writing of the book, dealing with my father's legacy a lot. He was a Marine Corps officer in WWII and Korea. When he came back, he had a lot of PTSD [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder] problems that were really big in our family. I found that they are resonating with me in my own life.
I wrote the lyrics in his voice, but bringing up to the present as if it were a soldier in Afghanistan trying to deal with coming back home after having seen what you see in war. That's really what "Dear Old America" is all about. It's partially about doing something for your country and the pride of doing that and partially about the reality of war.
It's also about coming home from war and trying to re-enter the world you left behind.
RO: One of the songs from your new album, "Rock Deep (Vancouver)" is a bit reflective of your time in Vancouver shortly before Heart became famous. Tell us a little bit about those early days in Vancouver.
AW: Well, your interpretation is spot-on. It's really through the eyes of me as a 22-year old going up there, being in love with a man, having Vancouver as my love town, and what it's like when you're just so in love with somebody and every step you take on the sidewalk is different from the last.
It's just a sweet look back at that because we had gone up there to play a gig, had a day off and we were walking around. We went over Lions Gate Bridge and I was on top of the bridge looking down at English Bay and pretty much the whole song came to me.
RO: Yeah, I've heard Vancouver is really pretty.
AW: Oh yeah. It is something!
RO: With the new autobiography coming out, when you look back on your life, what do you consider to be the greatest or standout moment of your career?
AW: You know, it might be as we speak because this is the first year in our whole long career that we've had a box set, world tour, memoir and a new album all at once. There's also a live HDNet concert that's going to be on television at the same time. It's just that we've never had so much of us at the same place, all happening at once, ever. It's got to be now. It's kind of overwhelming (laughs).
RO: Do you have any regrets as far as your career goes?
AW: Oh yeah. I've got a million of them. I don't think that anyone who tells you they have no regrets is being honest. I would have probably not gone to the reach of partying that I went to in the '80s. I kind of regret getting that far out.
But, on the other hand, how can you resurface from that and find yourself again. That would be a regret -- too much wildness there sometimes.
RO: So you kind of learned from your mistakes?
AW: Oh yeah. You scratch that part and go, "Oh no no, I can't do that." (laughs)
RO: A few years ago, you guys did a taped performance of Dreamboat Annie in its entirety. Have you guys thought of doing something like that again with another one of your albums? If so, which one?
AW: Yes. We're always wanting to do that. How fun is that? Did you see it when Steely Dan did that? That would be amazing. I'd like to do Dog and Butterfly if it was one of the older ones, or one of the newer ones, Fanatic, because it's a really good record to do live.
It's funny because when you do one of your albums from beginning to end, and it's an old album, you find that some of the songs don't really make it anymore. Some of the songs stand the test of time and some don't (laughs). You can kind of go "Oh, what was I thinking?" on some of them.
But the amazing part is that some of them [album tracks] really do work in the later years. That's how it was with Dreamboat Annie. There were a couple of them, like "Sing Child Sing," that I didn't feel really were real songs -- they were just more like jams. But there were enough good songs. It made a show.
RO: Would you all tour possibly and do something like what Creed did with My Own Prison and Human Clay, if you guys decided to perform another one of your albums in its entirety?
AW: Yeah! Wouldn't that be cool?! I'd like to do a Christmas show tour where, you don't have to sing "Jingle Bells," but it would be around that time of year and it would be a tour where you equate such sounds that would fit a warm, winter time. A "let's get together and party"-type atmosphere and call it "Heart Christmas Party" and tour that around.
RO: I know a lot of women and even men in music have looked up to you guys and said you made them want to be musicians. How does that make you feel?
AW: It makes us feel great. I especially like hearing it from guys because our goal has never been to be in competition with men. Our goal has been to be 50-50 across the board with them. We just be ourselves, just like they are themselves.
RO: What do you see for the future for Heart?
We Believe Local Journalism is Critical to the Life of a City
Engaging with our readers is essential to the mission of the Houston Press. Make a financial contribution or sign up for a newsletter, and help us keep telling Houston's stories with no paywalls.
Support Our Journalism
AW: The crystal ball says I see a book, a new album, a tour, an HDNet special. Now it's getting a little bit foggy....oh, its Fiji for a vacation, maybe for Christmas. Just somewhere to get out of the glare for awhile.
Next year we're going to tour Canada rather extensively. We've generated so much stuff this year that it's going to take more than one year to ride it all out. Hopefully we will be doing some festivals in Europe next summer.
Follow Rocks Off on Facebook and on Twitter at @HPRocksOff.


text:
Posted September 28, 2017 | 3:46 PM
County Honors Heroic Actions by Firefighters
Board's quarterly awards recognize departments and local residents' community service
The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners presented its first 2017 Quarterly Awards & Recognitions Ceremony on Jan. 26. Two recognitions were presented to Fire Rescue workers whose bravery and quick thinking led them to save the lives of their fellow County residents during extreme circumstances.
The recipients of the January 26 Quarterly Awards include:
- Capt. Brian Stairs - A member of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, Capt. Brian Stairs saved the lives of three children from a burning car, which earned him the Firefighter of the 1st Quarter award.
- Capt. Michael Bugg - Awarded as the Lifesaver of the 1st Quarter, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Capt. Michael Bugg was off duty when he helped saved the life of a critically injured person.
- Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation - Parks & Recreation earned its CAPRA Standards accreditation from the National Recreation and Park Association for its hard work in assuring County parks are efficient and safe for public use.
- Ray Reed - Retired County employee Ray Reed received a commendation for his work in restoring the historic Cemetery for All People.
- Earl A. Pfeiffer -Earl Pfeiffer received a commendation for his efforts in housing low- to moderate- income families, work that also earned him the Housing Assistance Council's Skip Jason Community Service Award.
- Hillsborough County Public Utilities - The Board honored Public Utilities for its win in the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association's 2016 Water Distribution System Award for Outstanding System Operation and Maintenance.
- The Hampton Terrace Neighborhood Association - A neighborhood association who has educated its residents through year-round programs and initiatives, the Hampton Terrace Neighborhood Association was given a commendation for its hard work.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
City of Enid, OklahomaHome Menu
Popular Searches:Kaw Lake Road Projects Solid Waste
Service Request Center
Contact the Enid Citizen Request Center to request/cancel a bus ride or report non-emergency concerns or problems such as: code violations, traffic light repair, water meter leaks, potholes, or lost/stray/dead animal.
For a public safety emergency, always dial 9-1-1.
Check out the three instructional videos below on how to submit a request.
SCROLL down below the videos to submit a request or to report an issue!!
|Android Phone Users
|iPhone Users
|Using Your Browser


text:
Bravo teased their first original scripted series, Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce at the Television Critics Association's summer session. Series creator and producer Marti Noxon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) was present along with stars Lisa Edelstein (House), Paul Adelstein (Private Practice), Beau Garrett (Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior) and Necar Zadegan (Emily Owens, MD). The series is based on the "Girlfriends' Guide" book by Vicki Iovine and follows Abby McCarthy, (Edelstein) a self-help author, who tells all those around her that her "perfect life" has all been a lie. Abby is completely falling apart after separating from her husband, Jake (Adelstein), and is trying to figure out how to live her new life as a single woman in her 40s. She turns to a group of new divorced friends for advice and life lessons, including Lyla (Janeane Garafalo), who is an entertainment layer and dealing with an ex-husband of her own and his new girlfriend.
Creator Marti Noxon is "so excited to be Bravo's first scripted show." She said that the show wasn't based on her life exactly, but there were some instances that were taken from her own experience as well as those of her friends. She did say that "ironically on my drive over here I got a call saying that I'd paid my last alimony."
The one and only Carrie Fisher guest stars on the show, with Edelstein saying that "she is so wonderful and she has such an enriched life that talking to her can be sort of intimidating."
Noxon added that Adelstein's character ends up sleeping with a CW star, as opposed to a younger woman, and created a fictitious show called "Blood Sisters," where one sister is a vampire slayer and the other a vampire. I mean, when is she pitching that show to the CW for real!!!
Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce premieres Tuesday Dec. 2 at 10 p.m. on Bravo.
Entertainment Weekly has the exclusive trailer below:
BRAVO SYNOPSIS: Bravo's first original scripted series, "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce," follows Abby McCarthy (Lisa Edelstein, "House"), a self-help book author and guru of all things family, who shocks the world when she reveals that her seemingly perfect life has all been a lie. After publicly admitting that she has separated from her husband, Jake (Paul Adelstein, "Private Practice"), America's once-favorite girlfriend finds her career and marriage in a free fall. As she starts to navigate life as a single woman in her 40s, Abby turns to her new divorced friends, rather than her married ones, for advice. Her friend Lyla (Janeane Garofalo, "Reality Bites") is a legendary no-nonsense entertainment lawyer who is in a constant 'War of the Roses' battle with her ex-husband, and Phoebe (Beau Garrett, "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior") is a former model and budding entrepreneur who has a very unique relationship with her ex. Meanwhile, a rival attorney at Lyla's firm, Delia (Necar Zadegan, "Emily Owens, MD"), is hired as Abby's divorce attorney, and begins to cause a rift between the girlfriends.
Abby is on a journey of self-discovery as she attempts to salvage her career, get back in the dating game and figure out her new identity as a single woman. As she hits the reset button on her life, she embarks on startling adventures and mishaps along the way, including her first post-marriage hook-up, a blog post gone horribly wrong and a Vegas trip that leads to some unexpected complications. And, while in the process of trying and failing to have the "perfect divorce," Abby ultimately questions whether her marriage is worth saving.
CAST: The series also stars Patrick Heusinger ("Royal Pains"), J. August Richards ("Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."), C. Thomas Howell ("The Outsiders"), Julianna Guill ("Crazy, Stupid, Love"), Michael Weaver ("The Joe Schmo Show") and Charles Mesure ("Desperate Housewives"). The pilot also includes a cameo by Carrie Fisher as Abby's book editor, Cat.
Inspired by the "Girlfriends' Guide" book series by Vicki Iovine, "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce" is produced by Universal Cable Productions with Marti Noxon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), who wrote the pilot, Vicki Iovine and Meryl Poster serving as executive producers. The pilot was directed by Adam Brooks. Robert Duncan McNeill ("666 Park Avenue," "Chuck") serves as producing director for the series.
Photo Credit: Chris Haston / Bravo


text:
Playoff pressure weighs on Indians, DodgersPosted: October 4, 2017 Filed under: Baseball, MLB Baseball, MLB World Series, Uncategorized, World Series | Tags: 1948 Indians, 1988 Dodgers, Boston Braves, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB championship droughts, playoff pressure Leave a comment
As the wild card showdowns are decided and the MLB playoffs get started, the pressure is squarely on two teams – the Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
When the Chicago Cubs knocked off the Indians in a thrilling seven-game World Series last fall, they also passed along the stigma of baseball's longest championship drought. The Tribe has come agonizingly close several times – most notably last year and in 1997, when they lost to the Florida Marlins in seven games. Cleveland also won the AL pennant but lost the World Series in 1954 and 1995.
You've got to go back the Truman administration in 1948 to find the last Indians championship squad. That year Cleveland beat the Boston Braves in six games. Do the math, that's 69 years ago.
The Dodgers managed to win just one World Series in Brooklyn, beating the Yankees in seven games in 1955, before moving to Los Angeles in 1958. LA won five championships in its first 30 years on the West Coast, but none since. In fact, the Dodgers last made the World Series in 1988, when they knocked off the heavily-favored Oakland A's in five games.
Many feel the Dodgers are due, having won five straight NL West titles and being crowned the best team ever by Sports Illustrated in August. Following that cover piece, the Dodgers reached a high water mark of 91-36, then proceeded to lose 16 out of 17 games, including 11 straight.
The Indians set an AL record with a 22-game winning streak in September, marking the Tribe as the team to beat in the AL.
The Dodgers wound up with the best record in baseball, 104-58, while the Indians finished second best at 102-60. Pressure's on.


text:
Totally Optional Prompts posts: Check out your horoscope and write a poem in response to it.
Natal Chart
A dry moat
Circles her houses
Family. money and love
Earth, fire and wind
Feelings are flares
Without tears
No water for mud
No water for steam
No water for flow
She seeks lakes
creeks and ponds
for a moat born dry
Fractal image was created with Apophysis, resized and buttoned in Irfanview.
My poetry books North of Summer and South of Winter are currently available at Amazon and, as always, available from my LuluBookstore in print or as download.


text:
I enjoyed exploring this site and it's different media links over the semester. Though it was heavy in worksheets there are are many opportunities for a knowledgeable teacher to take the worksheets and create an interactive real world experience. The one items I would like to see more of is games. Not just the several board games offered but instructions for teachers on how to use the different computer/app games to expand experiences and knowledge.
Enjoy – https://youtu.be/pSWV87ngTKo


text:
The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) has the power to order the state to stop operating Oceano Dunes SVRA. The retiring APCD Officer proposed his agency issue a 'Nuisance and Abatement Order' just prior to his departure. This requires a hearing, which will take place this Wednesday, March 21st, to determine what actions the APCD will take. This could include an order that would close completely the SVRA.
Rather than face almost certain closure of the SVRA on terms set by the APCD rather than Parks, SVRA administration opted for an agreement that would allow OHV use to continue, with serious restrictions. Although the hearing board could still issue an order to close the facility at their meeting, this is far less likely with the settlement agreement in place
We strongly believe Oceano Dunes SVRA must remain open to OHV recreation and oppose severe restrictions that will limit access to the dunes. After the hearing we must all work together to investigate legal options available. We will do whatever we can to protect our park.
Learn More


text:
Rolex Daydate Ice Blue 40MM Dial 8863
- Item No.:
- Availbility:In Stock
Was : US$ 245Now : US$ 142.4
SpecificationsMovement: Kinetic (Automatic)
Quality: Japanese Miyota
Case: Polished stainless steel case
Back: Polished stainless steel snap-in back with Rolex authenticity sticker
Bezel: Unidirectional Yacht-Master ion-plated bezel
Crown: Rolex logo engraved polished stainless steel crown with a round push-button crown on either side of it
Bracelet: Brushed and polished stainless steel link bracelet with logo carved clasp
Band Type: Stainless steel
Watch Clasp: Security Clasp
Glass: Sapphire Crystal
Color: Stainless steel
Dial Color: Ice Blue
Gender: Men
Diameter:48 x 40 mm
Bracelet Length:195 x 19 mm
Case Thickness:14 mm
All our watches are water resistant but not waterproof; we do not recommend swimming with them or taking showers with them. Taking the watches underwater will revoke their guarantee.
By JOHN
Aug 22,2019
Great price~! Great service. The watch arrived in 5 days in USA. Beautiful time piece. Took me 3 months to think about buying a watch. I'm very happy now that I bought this replica. Thanks swiss replica.
Service's Reply
we r happy to make you happy have a nice day, many thanks.
By Hector
Jul 2,2018
Hi. Interested in replicas Rolex & Tag Heuer in NY, Miami and/or Ft. Lauderdale. Pls advise addresses.
Tks, rgds.
Tks, rgds.
Service's Reply
Dear Customer, Greetings!Packages are shipped from Hong Kong , and we have EMS and DHL two post ways , EMS(20.00 USD) takes 6-14 days to be arrived , DHL(35.00 USD) takes 3-7 days to be arrived . Yes they are as same as the original , same looks , same fuction , same quality . If you dont like the watch when you received , we will offer you free exchange service and free refund service , we have a great faith in our products . Once we check your payment , we will ship your package in 1-2 business days, in that time we will send you the tracking number of your package. And we promise we will ship you the best replica watches , never bother about the quality , we offer two years free repair for watches with general Movements,five years free repair for watches with Swiss Movements. And for Swiss movements watches we will send the original brand boxes , paper packages and certificates for free . BTW, If you dont like our products when you receive or s
You May Also Like
Rolex Day-Date Migliore Qualita Watches Replica 4832
Item Code:US$195.01
Rolex Day-Date Migliore Qualita Watches Replica 4831
Item Code:US$195.01
Rolex Day-Date Migliore Qualita Watches Replica 4828
Item Code:US$236.36
Rolex Day-Date Migliore Qualita Watches Replica 4811
Item Code:US$195.01


text:
$2.99 from sendmetospace
"A delight, a fantastic voyage, an education, and a joy for young and old…" – US App Store Review
APODViewer provides a best iPhone interface to NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day Website (APOD).
Each day NASA's APOD presents an astronomical image along with a description written by a professional astronomer. These images range from pictures of The Planets, Galaxies, Nebula to astronomical phenomena here on Earth.
If you are an astronomy student, an enthusiast or just want to view beautiful images and discover and learn about the mysteries of the universe around you, then APODViewer is for you.
Feature rich, in addition to showing the current day's APOD image, APODViewer provides the following:
– iPhone friendly interface in portrait and landscape mode
– Easy navigation back and forth between daily APODs
– Keywords SEARCH of every APOD ever published
– The ability to SAVE and store your FAVOURITE APODs
– OFF LINE access to saved Favourites – no network required!
– Select an APOD by date from over 5000 published since 1995
– Random APOD – just give your iPhone/Touch a quick shake to refresh with a new random APOD
– Display APOD picture with the ability to zoom and scroll the image to reveal its detail
– SAVE large or medium APOD PICTURE to the iPhone's built in PHOTOS LIBRARY (where you can use it as Wallpaper or sync back to your machine).
– Localised Date Settings
UTILISATEURS EN FRANCAIS, Veuillez noter : Seule l'interface est en français. Le titre, l'explication, et les attributs d'images sont pour le moment UNIQUEMENT DISPONIBLE EN ANGLAIS
APODViewer requires an internet connection (GPRS or 3G recommended as the images can be large)
INSTALLATION – after downloading, we recommend you restart your iPhone/iPod Touch before using.
NB If you experience "fuzzy" images when saving, then ensure you upgrade your iPhone's firmware to v2.2.1.
REVIEWS – all feedback is welcomed and helps us improve the application to give you the best possible experience.
About image permissions:
All the images displayed on the APODViewer are credited to the owner or institution where they originated. Some of the images are copyrighted and to use these pictures publicly or commercially you must write to the owners for permission.
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY – not sure you want to pay the price of a cup of coffee? Then check out APODViewerLite instead.
Need to contact us? http://sendmetospace.tel
Keynote-video nu online te bekijken
keynote online De video van de Apple-keynote, gepresenteerd door Phil Schiller, is nu online te bekijken. Je kunt de video binnenkort ook als videopodcast via iTunes naar de iPhone kopiëren. Je kunt de Macworld-keynote hier vinden. …
Liquidação Black Friday na AppStore US – Apps
Na sexta feira depois do feriado de Ação de Graças, ou Thanksgiving, acontece uma enorme liquidação chamada de "Black Friday" e vários aplicativos estão com preço reduzido na App Store. Fiz uma seleção com alguns dos programas com …
Le offerte del giorno su AppStore (28/11)
Anche oggi non mancano delle occasioni interessanti su AppStore. Vediamole insieme. Ballz (associare le bolle dello stesso colore): 0,79 euro (prezzo pieno 1,79 euro); iCanDrive (esercitarsi sui quiz della patente): 0,79 euro (prezzo …


text:
WOBURN (CBS) – On the heels of two police shootings in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Senator John Kerry and others were in Woburn Friday morning to honor the memory of an officer who was killed in the line of duty in 2010.
The Woburn Post Office was renamed after Officer John "Jack" Maguire who was shot and killed while responding to a burglary at Kohl's the night after Christmas.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports
Chuck Maguire, John's brother, says the fatal shooting of Greenland Police Chief Mike Maloney hit too close to home. "It's just never-ending, it seems it's never-ending," says Chuck. "It's amazing how many officers put their lives in harm's way."
The family received a copy of the legislation signed by President Barack Obama that named the Post Office after Maguire.


text:
Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services.
We're all aware that shorts come in so many different styles. Of course, many of Us wear them all summer long, and we're endlessly grateful for the wide variety available. But if we're being honest, some are simply better than others — and classic chino shorts are always a must-have!
Depending on the color or print that you choose, this simple style can pack a powerful punch. The good news? We found a pair of chino shorts from Amazon that have become a major hit with shoppers!
Get the Amazon Essentials Women's 3.5″ Inseam Chino Short for prices starting at just $12, available at


text:
Where the Holy One Walked
There is a time for stillness, for waiting for Christ as he makes his dancing way toward us. And there is a time to be in motion, to set out on a path, knowing that although God is everywhere, and always with us, we sometimes need a journey in order to meet God—and ourselves—anew.
—Jan Richardson, from Palm Sunday: Blessing of Palms
The Painted Prayerbook, April 2017
Travelling to the land where the Holy One walked, to be a pilgrim during the season of Lent has been a most humbling experience. Every year all Christians become pilgrims in Lent as we walk with Jesus to Jerusalem and through the events of Holy Week.
This gift of the past two weeks, experiencing the landscape of modern Jerusalem, Israel proper and the Occupied Territories has been a journey of meeting God and catching glimpses of Jesus in surprizing ways. Jesus and his first followers are much more human to me from this new vantage point. Seeing them from this modern place, looking back 2000 years, they are real people with real histories living in a complex time of political turmoil.
The Gospel stories of Jesus are now grounded for me in a geography that is sometimes countryside or lakeside, ancient village or city. They are also more clearly grounded in a historic context of Roman occupied Palestine.
I look forward to sharing my journey with you in our time together in the coming months.
Our pilgrim group was made up of many members of an Episcopal congregation from Cashiers, North Carolina who were there with their priest Rev. Rob Wood who faithfully did a photo blog of our time together. Please look at it to get a sense of our journey: https://goodshepherdcashiers.wordpress.com/blog/
This Sunday is Palm/Passion Sunday where we will listen to the story and walk through Holy Week together. I will share some of the pictures of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, but we will let the Gospel of Mark tell the tale.


text:
Double demerits in force for holiday season
17th April 2019
Just a reminder that double demerits will be in place over Easter, beginning at midnight tonight and ending at midnight on Monday.
Double demerit points apply for speeding, seatbelt, motorcycle helmet and mobile phone offences.
Please drive safely and don't be an egghead on the roads.


text:
Print This Page
- European Association for Japanese Studies (EAJS) since 2003; Convenor of the Section "History, Politics, International Relations" 2004-09.
- Association for Asian Studies (AAS) since 2002
- Member of Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Natur- und Volkerkunde Ostasiens, OAG Tokyo (German East Asia Society Tokyo) since 1996; Vice President of OAG (2007-2009); board member (riji) 2005-2009; member of the Publications Commission since 2002; vice chairman of the Publications Commission 2005-2007; Chairman of the Publications Commission 2007-2009; Commission for the History of the OAG since 2003.
- 現代史研究会 (Society for the Study of Modern History) since 2000.
- 北東アジア学会(Association for Northeast Asian Regional Studies, formerly 環日本海学会、Association for Japan Sea Rim Studies) since 1998.
- 東京歴史科学研究会 (Tokyo Rekishi Kagaku Kenkyukai) since 2001 (board member 2002-2004).
- Gesellschaft fur Japanforschung e.V., GJF (German Society for Japanese Studies) since 1998.


text: Ms Geraldine Dora MA, BA (Hons) Medical and Dental SciencesExecutive Assistant to Head of R&KT Contact details Telephone+44 (0)121 414 email@example.com AddressResearch and Knowledge Transfer OfficeMedical SchoolUniversity of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK Geraldine has an MA from the University of Warwick. Her main role in the RKT Office is to provide total daily support for the Head of Research & Knowledge Transfer. Key duties include maintaining and organizing the diary of the Head of R&KT (including scheduling meetings and booking appointments), planning and organizing events, drafting documents; project work; taking minutes at senior level meetings; meeting and greeting visitors; attending meetings on behalf of the RKT Office and ensuring the Head of R&KT is briefed and well prepared. Geraldine also has responsibility for some underpinning administrative procedures within the Office. Qualifications MA University of Warwick 2011 BA (Hons) University of Warwick 2005


text:
Source: Downtown Music Gallery.
Dave Holland with Evan Parker / Craig Taborn / Ches Smith! 9 from FMR: Glasgow Improvisers Orch: Evan Parker & Marilyn Crispell! Two Paul Dunmall / Phil Gibbs Qts! Two from Ian Brighton! Two from Pat Thomas! John Heward / Lori Freedman / Joe McPhee / Barre Phillips..!
Morton Subotnick! Alvin Lucier! Phill Niblock! Burnt Sugar Compilation! Two from Quinsin Nachoff: Dave Binney & Matt Mitchell Mark Helias & ! Historic Discs from: John Coltrane! Billie Holiday! Lee Perry & King Tubby! And more!
Upcoming Sets at Downtown Music Gallery – FREE, every Sunday at 6pm
Sunday, January 20th:
6pm: MATANA ROBERTS and DARIUS JONES – Alto Sax Duets – First Time Duet!
7pm: RaaDie: LORENZ RABB – Trumpet Electronics / CHRISTOF DIENZ – Zither Electronics
Sunday, January 27th:
6pm: MATTEO LIBERATORE / JON IRABAGON / TOM RAINEY – Guitar / Saxes / Drums
7pm: EMILY DENISON / ANDREW FURLONG – Trumpet / Bass
Sunday, February 3rd:
6pm: JESSE DULMAN QUARTET: RAS MOSHE / DAVE SEWELSON / LEONID GALAGANOV / JESSE DULMAN
7pm: THE BEYOND GROUP: CHERYL PYLE – C Alto Flutes / MICHAEL EATON – Soprano Sax /
CLAIRE de BRUNNER – Bassoon / GENE COLEMAN – Bass Flute & Piccolo
Sunday, February 10th:
6pm: XANDER NAYLOR / RYAN DUGRE – Guitar Duet
7pm: OUTSIDE WORLD: HAZEL RIGBY / BEN SCOTT / TAYLOR ADAMS
Sunday, February 17th:
6pm: LIOR MILLIGER / HILLIARD GREENE / JOE HERTENSTEIN


text:
How to Cope When a Pet Dies
When Pets Pass
Pets of all types are wonderful companions and invariably become part of your family over time. Whether they be dogs, cats, horses, birds, fish, snakes, chickens, or whatever, there is a certain pet to suit everyone.
Research has proven that people with pets are overall happier, less stressed, and live longer than those without. So, if like me, you are a pet lover and have animals as part of your household, it is always a sad time when one passes away. It doesn't matter if it is in tragic circumstances or due to old age, it is still an emotional time, and you have to grieve just like when you lose a human friend or family member.
I have lost count of the number of pets I've lost, in one way or another, growing up. But as an animal lover, it was always a traumatic experience, and I often grieved for months. As I get older, I realise that life and death are just natural processes that we must all face, but that being said, it still isn't easy to come to terms with "death." The most common advice handed out by others on the death of a pet is, "Get another one to replace it. You'll soon get to love it just as much and get over the one that died." In the past, I have tended to do just that, and it does work to an extent, but this time having three other dogs isn't necessary.
Since devoting more of my time to writing, I have found that I turn to the pen more often than not to express my grief, joy, and emotions of things that happen in my life. Before (in regard to death or an extremely trying situation) I would go into my shell and grieve silently while trying to put on a brave face, but that just extended the grieving process and made it more difficult.
Now I find that by not wasting time and immediately writing about the situation, it enables me to vent my feelings and to 'get over' the grieving or stressing more quickly and get on with life.
Why I Wrote This
This morning (or possibly during the night) one of our dogs passed away. Amber was a golden coloured Pomeranian who came to stay with us (a stray) approximately 10 years ago.
I woke up this morning to go through my usual routine of letting the dogs in (they sleep on a covered verandah), and the cats out (or vise versa sometimes), feeding them, the chickens and turkey, etc. I turned the kettle on to make my wake up cup of coffee and then opened the door.
The cats Basil, Humphrey, Phoebe and Fanny were all meowing for food as cats do, and the dogs Coco, Jackson and Ginger came running to greet me (oh, so did a turkey). All except Amber. Admittedly she has not been well for a couple of weeks, not eating or drinking much and very lethargic, though not in any apparent pain. I could tell her time was near as she was deaf, almost blind and missing most of her teeth. We have no idea how old she was when she came to us, but she was already full-grown, and we have had her for 10 years.
I went out to check Amber's bed, and my fears were realised. She wasn't breathing, and her body was cold and stiff. She'd passed quietly away during the night. My routine for the morning changed then as I carefully wrapped the small dog up in an old towel and carried her out to the garden for burial.
We do live on 40 acres, and unlike a town block, we have plenty of areas available to suit such a purpose as unpleasant as it may be. We actually have a closed-off area, that used to be a vegetable garden, which serves as a pet cemetery (sounds like a Steven King book). Roosters and hens that have died from old age, or been killed by wild dogs, and a cat named 'Rambo' who had belonged to my grandsons and had an unfortunate encounter with a washing machine, rest there. Now Amber joined them.
This is my way of dealing with my grief.
My Dog Amber Died Today
My dog Amber died today,
She just lay down and passed away.
Knocked on the door to doggy Heaven,
Not sure her age, at least eleven.
My dog Amber died today,
Ten years ago she came to stay.
Our other dogs just took her in
Treated her like their own kin.
My dog Amber died today,
To our home she chose to stray.
From wherever she had chose to roam
We gave her a happy home.
My dog Amber died today,
In not much pain I hope and pray.
Amber was the name we chose,
Due to her colour I suppose.
My dog Amber died today,
She was getting old and grey.
Hard of hearing, almost blind
But a happier dog you couldn't find.
My dog Amber died today,
No more petting, no more play.
This last week she just lay around,
Had trouble getting off the ground.
My dog Amber died today,
To a better place they say.
Well at least that's what I like to think,
She couldn't eat and wouldn't drink.
My dog Amber died today,
She had two pups along the way.
Ebony and Spike two black pompoos,
Cuter pups you'd never choose.
My dog Amber died today,
Sad day for me I have to say.
Her little body stiff and cold
I wrapped her up in careful folds.
My dog Amber died today,
I'll grieve for her in my own way.
I buried her within the garden,
If this is morbid I beg your pardon.
My dog Amber died today,
Another one has left the fray.
We still have three so life goes on,
But the smallest one is gone.
My dog Amber died today,
Poms are cute in their own way.
She'll be missed by one and all,
R.I.P. with Rolly and Pearl.
Have you ever lost a pet?
A Strange Coincidence
Shortly after dealing with the death of Amber today, I eventually got my cup of coffee made and sat down at my desk to check emails. The first one I saw was notification of a new gig on fiverr.
Anyway I go to the website to check out the details of my requested writing gig, and this is what I found:
"I would like a bedtime poem to be read to a dog, at least one full page please :-) I want it to be comforting, cute, with charm, something a parent or child might read to a pet dog or puppy.
Also, please give quote on about 25 pages of short stories and poems for same topic with table of contents.
Thank you"
Well, I was taken a little aback as you can well understand. I don't believe in coincidences, and the subject of this request was just incredible considering the circumstances. I believe this to be "synchronicity" as coined by Carl Jung:
"Psychologist Carl Jung believed the traditional notions of causality could not explain some of the more improbable forms of coincidence. Jung felt that where no causal connection can be demonstrated between two events, but where a meaningful relationship exists between them, a wholly different type of principle is likely to be operating. Jung called this principle "synchronicity."(from Synchronicity, An Acausal Connecting Principle [1952] by C. G. Jung.)
My Dear Little Doggie
As my mind was still on dogs at the time it didn't take me long to come up with the poem required by my client. I sent it to her and she was more than happy, however because fiverr's general conditions gives her exclusive rights I can't publish it here. However I will include the first and last verses:
"My dear little doggy
You've had a long day,
So much to experience
And fun games to play.
My dear little doggy
Now close your sweet eyes,
One more day is done,
And another will rise."
© 2015 John Hansen
We had an amber colored Pom that looked much like your Amber. He was such a sweetie. My parents used to have a pet cemetery when they lived in the Wisconsin countryside when I was a child, so I can relate to your having one. It is a comfort. We have faced losing many beloved pets through the years, and it never gets easier. I hope to see all of them again someday in heaven.
John...I am so very sorry about your recent and past losses. I still mourn for all of my fur children and always will. Unconditional love is hard to find in we humans, but our beautiful doggies give it freely. Your sweet babies were blessed to have you to care for them . Their love for you will continue on and they will patiently wait to greet you at heavens gate.
Your poetry is filled with a beautiful description of why we love our animal children. Thank you for this tribute.
my 16 year old pomeranin Gizmo,died on april 3, 2019, he was supposed to be 17 years old on May. he has cataracts, had him use disposable diapers for dogs, but he was still functioning wellexcept that i carry him up and down the stairs so he will not miss a step and fall. he helped me with my grief in my life, happy to have me back from work everyday. i am still crying now and wake up from my sleep. the other 2 dogs are depressed too.
Oh Jodah....sooo sad. I have lost several of my feline & canine kids through the years, I don't cope very well at all. I'm sad, sick and miss them so for a very long time. Each time, like so many, I say say"No more pets!" it's much too hard when we lose them.
But of course eventually I'll look into a pair of pleading eyes that say, Please adopt me and take me home & love me." and I'm raising another fur baby!......Peace, Paula
I cried halfway through the poem. I had a pet die (his name was Mr. G), and I'm still going through grief.
You're welcome Jodah. A friend of mine in NJ has a dog with the same name. Poor Amber. Prayers sent to you for Coco. Thanks for your condolences on Marshall. *hugs*
Jodah, I'm so sorry for your loss of Amber. I feel your pain. Amber's happy over the rainbow bridge. Three weeks ago, I had to put my cat Marshall to sleep. I did love your two poems. Well done!
My thoughts have been filled with memories of my beloved 'Clancey' for the past few days. Though I always think of him for some reason this little guy keeps appearing in my mind. Then I found this hub. You express so well the devastation one goes through with the loss of a pet.
So very sorry about Amber. And the photo of Rolly is magnificent. So little information is available about the tragic sadness that goes with such a thing.
Thanks John,
I liked this sensitive essay on dealing with the grief of losing a pet.
Like you I bury my lost pets on the land, over the years, my dogs have aged and then found rest under trees planted over their graves. Most of our pets have been lost to fast drivers on our country roads.
Jodah I have lost so many pets I cannot count. There was a time when I thought I would never get anymore animals because I couldn't take the pain, it is like losing a beloved member of your family. Right now I have a dog and he is the love of my life. He does take a lot of the loneliness away. He is my best friend.
you made a beautiful poem for amber, i am sure she will rest in peace
So sorry to hear about Amber! Been there too many times with our goldens. Unlike Amber, we've always had to put our sweet pups down. Hardest thing I've ever done, bar none. I hope your wonderful memories will give you comfort. And, yes, I do believe in coincidences. Sending you peace!
So many of us relate to your loss. I'm so sorry. I have lost many dogs and loved each one of them and grieved their loss. Each one took a piece of my heart with them. We never forget our little furry friends. You've written a beautiful tribute here. God bless.
Voted up, useful, awesome, and interesting.
Oh, dear Jodah. I grieve with you! I have lost so many pets in my lifetime, and it never gets easier. You just have to know that you provided much love as possible, and think of all the good times you had with your beloved pet.
Voted UP, and shared.
So many of us have been in the same boat with pets. It is so hard to lose them, but they bring so much joy with a good long life. I don't know what is better, a pet, who actually owns you, or a person. It's a tough call. I can truly sympathize. Thanks so much for sharing this.
I remember you writing about Amber some time ago. I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful pup but your poem was an awesome tribute, capturing the sadness of the monent but the happiness of her life all at once. I too think there is somerhing to this synchronicity thing. Great hub!
Hi Jodah.
Your loss fills me with sympathy and compassion. Loss of your pet refreshes memory of my own experience... Yours though to my understanding had quick turnaround as indicated in your second poem, which is suggesting short lived past and focusing on now and beyond. "Synchronicity"- rich in meaning and powerful in decision (word never heard before ) - might mean in this case, there is " better yet to come"- even another Amber if a desire of your heart.
Voted up and beautiful.
Have a nice Sunday.
Awe, that is so beautiful - every word!
Awe, John. I'm so sorry for your loss. Amber looks so cute. I have lost animals and the trauma I felt was exactly the same as a human relative. The pain is unbelievable! I remember having to put my Lucy (Jack Russell) to sleep. She was 17 years old and I felt that I had grown up with her in a way. I bought her in my 20's and she died when I was in my 40's. I remember coming back from the vet and feeling so sad because life was going on without my Lucy.
I tried to find the rest of yr poem online.
I meant to say it was Dad and not us kids that changed the plan
Yep and I still maintain and not the kids that changed the plan! Wouldn't have it any other way though
I grew up in a menagerie with cats (up to three at any one time) Dogs (two) fish, a goose, pigeons (six until the cats ate a few) a jackdaw and any injured animal we found. Dad hated cruelty to animals and always nursed them back to health. Oh then there were two pigs as dad wanted pork for Christmas one year so we got piglets in the January with the idea of fattening them up. Until then we'd always had chicken at Christmas and guess what? When the time came we just couldn't do it so we still had chicken though we did sell Winnie and Wilfred
I've lost a few pets as well. It's never easy to see them go. Thanks for the beautiful writing, John.
I've had all sorts of pets, but dogs are somehow man's very special friend, and God's gift, so when their shorts lives are over, we grieve. The only drawback to a dog (and most other pets, actually) is that they don't live long enough.
This is a special Hub to me, John.
I'm so sorry about the loss of sweet Amber. Your poem is sweet and tender, and I can unfortunately relate to the grief of a pet parent. As a lover of cats, I have a dwindling brood of rescued cats and walk-ups (I prefer "volunteers"). Last year was a very sad year, as I lost several of them to age-related medical conditions. Even the old feral cats at my colony that I've been feeding for 12 years are finally passing away from age-related medical conditions. Indeed it is sobering. I only have 1/4 acre or so, and burying them in my backyard pet cemetary gets a little tricky after awhile. I can only imagine years from now when a new owner of my house is digging in my back yard. It'll get a little weird for them.
I am so sorry about the loss of your dog. When we lost our beloved Buddy we went through a grief period just the same as if we had lost a human relative, and a friend of mine had the same experience with her Cyrus (it was a cat, in her case, a dog in ours.) So I understand perfectly, it is a very sad and traumatic experience.
Hi John, a sad day indeed for you and your family. Sending condolences to you all.
Our pets are so much part of the family and their love is totally unconditional. I feel for you in the loss of Amber, what a sweet dog.
We have several pets buried here including two horses.(that was difficult)
I still miss the dogs we've had over the years all with such individual traits. all well remembered with love.
We have one dog now - just love her to bits - and I know how you must be feeling. Yes, we have to grieve. Best regards, Maj
Oh, I am so sorry for your loss, John. Our pets do become a big part of our family with their unconditional love. It is a painful thing to lose one. I have lost many growing up but it is never easy. I have written about it too. We lost our beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Cookie, to a terrible accident not long ago. I still miss my three-legged dog growing up, who lived such a long life. He came to us when he was grown, but he literally grew up with us. There's no telling how old he was when he died. Maybe he was so memorable and held an extra special place in my heart because he only had the three legs, but that did not slow him down any.
Amber was a beauty. We have a special place in our backyard where we have our cat buried and Cookie. Kitty, we had for 17 years.
God sure knew what He was doing when he created our beloved pets.
Up ++++ tweeting, pinning, G+ and sharing
Blessings and peace
I really enjoyed your poems. I lost my cat a few months ago and I miss her very much. Thanks for writing this hub.
Dear Sweet John,
How I grieve along with you.
There are no magic words one can say.
Your loving Amber has passed on to her next day.
And (at least I believe) will be waiting when it your time to pass her way.
Please pardon me if I overreached some boundary with my comment, but I said what was on my heart. As another animal lover to another, perhaps you will understand and even find some comfort in knowing how you are not alone.
PS--I, too (as well as some of my friends) have our own special areas/cemeteries where we lay our pets/our friends to rest.
Many, Many Blessings from your NC friend,
Oh I know John; I have 5 hens that are named and pets and one that a cat killed when they were so tiny and I had to bury is still not forgotten. Guess it is just the price of love, no matter what it is!
This was heartbreaking, I am so sorry about little Amber. I remember losing my cat last year, it was just devastating after being with me in every stage of my life for the previous 10 years. I have to say though the image you created with your dogs and cats running to greet you in the morning, plus one turkey, did make me laugh out loud! Beautiful words to mark the passing of a dearly loved family member. I don't believe in coincidences either and your email was clearly an act of comfort from Amber to allow you to continue to express and process your feelings through your wonderful writing.
I do know your pain John having lost more than one dog and a cat just last fall that was almost 20 years old. They are part of our family and it is not easy but the pain eases as it does with our loved ones. One day you will only remember her with a smile and no pain. ^+
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. Our pets do become family members and participate in lots of family happenings and we miss them so much when they die. It's great that you have others. I've had my current dog for fourteen years and she's limping, is deaf and almost blind and I'm in a quandary, wondering if and when I should have her put down to save her from further misery.
John, sorry for your loss. It's very hard for you to go through. I feel the same way, the writing helps to get the feelings out. I thought I would never get another dog, but got one about three weeks ago. Amber was a cute dog, sorry for your loss. Stella
John, after reading your story about the loss of Amber, then reading your poem really touched me. I know what you mean by writing to relieve stressful times. I feel the same way. Putting your feelings on paper is a release indeed. I am alergic to all animals I'm sorry to report, but I did lose a pet gold fish. I had the glass bowl on top of the frig. and had the heat on. I was gone the entire day and it turned warm, my fish died from the heat. Funny how much it hurts when it could've been avoided if I'd only had the bowl down lower. I hope you are feeling better my friend...
John, I so wish I had your strength to cope with a lost pest. I'm so sorry Amber is gone and looking at her in the pictures she really was a cutie pie. I guess I'm the last person to tell you to hang in there as I was a mess when I lost my Ruru. People keep telling me to get a new dog but I still don't have the strength for it. Reading this has given me a bit of courage so thanks for that. RIP Amber. I hope you've met Ruru and are having fun together! LOL. (had to throw that in sorry)
I really am sorry for your loss, John. It's something that we animal lovers have to reconcile, isn't it? The more we love them, the more of them we have, and the more often we have to deal with loss. Sigh! Beautiful reflections my friend.
Your poem is an excellent way to show your love for a loved one's passing. Best wishes
Bonding with a pet is something necessary for some of us, but hard for others to comprehend. We've had dogs most of our married life. My daughter has two dogs and writes about them on her facebook page. The dog we had prior to the present, had to be put down when we were on a vacation trip. The dog was old and just could not make it any further. I had hoped to at least get her home and deal with it but it wasn't possible.
John, I know how heartbroken you are. Many years ago I lost a Himalayan I'd had for 17 years. She was my best friend. My neighbor made a wooden coffin for her and we buried her in a garden in my back yard. I was always telling her to stay out of my gardens. Now she has her own with a kitty marker over her grave site. I call it my Ashley Garden.
It broke my heart when she died (of old age). For a year I'd go sit by her grave and bawl my eyes out. I still think of her and miss her tremendously. One of the three cats I have now looks very much like Ashley. Sometimes I slip and call Shiloh Ashley. I don't think we ever get over the death of our beloved pets.
How ironic that you had a request for a doggy poem on this very day. Wow.
I feel for you my friend. Grieve and grieve hard. It's only natural.
I am sorry about the loss of your dog. Now, that we are older, death is real. I like the coincidence. Your dog wants you to take care of other dogs through your writing. Isn't that beautiful?
It must be very difficult for you because pets become like family members. We become so much attached to them. We take care of them like our own and when they part, it is indeed not easy to cope with the loss.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful and touching hub. Voted up!
So sorry to hear of your loss. I know what that felt like when I lost my first first best friend. I cried for days. I did not want to have another puppy. Until over a decade ago later since that incident. It is very upsetting to lose a pet.
John, I'm so sorry for your loss. I've been there before. When I was 13, my dog Buddy was put to asleep, since he was 13 years old. (See my tribute to my dog buddy in my hub, My Buddy and Me.) A decade ago, I had to say goodbye to my cat, Sweet Pea. In between them, I had to say goodbye to some albino mice, which were my mother's classroom pets. They lasted a year, two decades ago. I'm fortunate to have two senior adult male cats with me, who was both 15. I know than in a few years, it would be time for me to say goodbye to one or both of them.) Beautiful poems, too.
Wonderful job here John. We had to let our sweet Shi Tzu Holly go last Halloween. She was tired and in pain at age 19 years. It was the most difficult decision we have had to face, but it was the right one. I have written on it for the site but until my wife and I are ready, it won't appear.
Well done and this is a good thing, allowing others to know it is ok to grieve, to remember. After all, they are family. Mike
losing a pet for me is like losing a close family member.. my dog, my best friend is a toy Maltese.. Beau he is nearing 12 and im going to dread losing him.. he was so theraputic.. and he always met me after a long day of work... I feel your pain... and ill feel it again when Beau goes.. god i hope he stays a few more years.. well anyway sorry for your loss and a wonderful hub nonetheless Jodah :)
I feel for you in your loss, John. I've been through the death of 3 of my dogs, all soul-wrenching stuff and I still cry at the thought of them today.
You obviously love all animals and have given many a happy and healthy home. All your dogs sound amazing.
Beautiful poetry which made me cry. I'm sure your memories of Amber will sustain you as she was obviously a lovely characterful dog.
It is strange how those sorts of coincidence turn up at opportune times. Something is at work in the background! I often wonder if surges of emotion have an impact.


text:
Take a water break from the high-powered Zumba(R) class between songs at Dance Spa and your path to the water fountain will be lined with smiling faces…
Whatever had first brought you to Zumba, the reason why you'll return to Dance Spa is that each class fills you with joy and spirit---and not just a little. We are talking about massive infusions of endorphins and all happy juices to take you through long Chicago winters or personal crises of all kinds.
True of all Zumba classes? Having taken classes in many cities and by many instructors I would say "Sure Zumba is always fun, but Dance Spa goes above and beyond .."
Why? Ask instructor Christa South and she'll tell you that there is a universal formula for Zumba classes, viz. 70% international style music and 30% instructor choice-- rock, hip hop, whatever. That means instructors can choose whatever music they want. And then she confides, "Well I guess the difference is that I'm entertaining to watch and I also bring me and my goofy and stupid ways to the class. I'm not afraid to make fun of myself and make it up as I go…"
And fun it is!
Christa throws a lot into her mescla of Zumba material--- salsa, meringue, Bollywood, gansta rap, swing, and more. The wide assortment of dance moves in her classes is not accidental, but rather a reflection of her training in many dance forms and a dance education emphasizing adaptability to all kinds of performance and movements.
You'll find women from all over Chicago –teens to septuagenarians by the looks of it--and some suburban commuters in this fun class. All races, all ethnicities—we just have one thing in common, which is a love of fun dance moves.
Yes, many of us are there on the front lines of that eternal battle to lose or maintain weight. You'll see pregnant women modifying moves. Then there was the bridal party swapping a tutu and giggles as the tracks changed. The tall and striking 30-something classically trained ballet dancer is there trying to learn to loosen up. Men are in shorter supply but not altogether absent.
For my part, it's no fun having sciatica for over a year and having one healer after another – orthopedist, physical therapist, massage therapist, acupuncturist—throw up their hands. Nothing had helped and my trusted acupuncturist of many years referenced my hip arthritis by saying "Old woman, body no good!"
"Not that old and not so fast!" I now say to Dr Wu et al.
Within weeks of doing Dance Spa Zumba classes I became arthritis and sciatica-free. Go figure. Rather, go shake your hips and smile.
And then there is Sylvia, seen here smiling because it was the last day of her tamoxifen treatment for breast cancer. She'll tell you that drawing on the energy from Christa's Zumba classes was no small part on her path to recovery.
Truth to tell, Christa is more of an accidental Zumba instructor. An offshoot of a non-compete clause in a contract she had with a ballroom instruction business precluded her teaching the ballroom dances she is trained in and has competed in. But exercise classes were a different story, and Zumba was gaining in popularity just when Christa had decided to strike it out on her own.
While it's an accident that Christa became a Zumba instructor per se, when you find out that she has been dancing and performing since she was 2 ½ years old, you know that her spritely joy dance performance has decades of training behind it.
It all started when her parents spied toddler Christa dancing in front of the TV. They then whisked wee Christa into dance classes for somewhat older kids because her grandmother in the small town of Marshall, Michigan knew the dance teacher and could pull a few strings.
Nature or nurture? We'll never know how much of which made Christa into the performer-as-Zumba-teacher and ballroom dance instructor she is today. After all, both her parents were theater majors in college and only through happenstance didn't pursue careers in the arts. They did keep up their skills and performing inclinations in community theater productions. Christa was only in first grade when she too had a part in the local theater, playing alongside her Mom who was cast as Annie in "Annie Get Your Gun".
Ballet, tap, jazz—Christa loved it all. When she was four she won her first dance competition, bringing home a trophy almost as big as she was.
The die was cast when she met Dance Caravan at a dance convention with her mother when she was only 12. Heady stuff for a girl that age to audition and win the chance to tour the country from Knoxville to Las Vegas to Atlanta to Anaheim and Seattle and many places between. She had never even been on an airplane before but after that tour there was one thing young Christa did know—she was a dancer for sure!
And lucky for we drinkers of her Zumba-joy and ballroom dance training that she made that decision so young. It led her to a scholarship at Western Michigan University where the emphasis was placed on ensuring students were well-rounded dancers. From performing at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. to being part of a Chorus Line production and more, Christa earned her stripes. We can readily imagine her smiling in every dance hall and crowd—that same smile she wears every day as her Zumba uniform.
Lucky too that Christa's post-college "life is a party" stage was relatively short-lived. She worked as a ballroom instructor for four years before getting her ducks in a row to open Dance Spa in 2010.
You'll also find her teaching a very happy crowd at Salem Baptist Church every Monday. Need to get your moves for your first wedding dance? That's a Christa special for sure. Or just fun ballroom dancing lessons for couples and singles alike.
Her greatest satisfactions? Christa says, "Every day Sylvia is here or doing Zumba at the Church it especially makes me smile. I know that dancing and being in my class is so healthy for her and I love to see her push the other women who are overweight but not sick to do more. She is so encouraging with her energy.
"Also, I find it so cool that some of my students have become instructors too. They not only took charge of their own fitness but encouraged others to do so too."
Zumba isn't for everyone, and Christa will be the first to say so. "If you are used to fitness classes that are tons of squats and pushups then this may not be for you. This is free flow and I've had people tell me that they just can't see it as a workout."
Go online and you'll read that the average person burns 700+ calories in an hour of Zumba. That's a workout by my lights!
Best yet, all of Chicago will get a free sampling of Zumba Christa-style in Millennium Park this summer, every Saturday from July 13 – August 10 during the free exercise programs. No, the grass and crowd won't give you the same Zumba feel—but it's a start. You have nothing to lose but some doldrums, pounds or pain.
Dance SPA
1890 N Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL, 60647
Monday 9:00am and 6:30pm
Tuesday 5:30pm
Wednesday 9:00am and 7:00pm
Thursday 5:30pm
Friday 9:00am and 4:30pm
Saturday 9:30am
First class - $5
Punch cards available:
10 classes for $100/20 classes for $180
Photo credits: PopSugar, Dance Spa, South family, and Peter Kachergis


text:
Royal Topiary
Royal Topiary, a photo by Webminkette on Flickr.
In England and the Commonwealth, everyone is celebrating our Queen's Diamond Jubilee. It is a great time to be in London and, even if you missed the the main weekend of celebrations, there are still plenty of interesting extra touches to see that make me smile.
This photo is but one example. It is in St James' Park, just off The Mall (that leads to Buckingham Palace); I thought it was wonderful and hope you enjoy looking at it too.


text:
18 Dec The Truth About Kipping Pull-ups
Kipping pull-ups are among the most controversial exercises in CrossFit and other extreme fitness workout programs. Non-CrossFitters bash the movement as being a non-functional, injury-causing movement that allows CrossFit athletes to cheat.
On the other hand, many CrossFit coaches and athletes ignore the pull-up and kipping pull-up recommendations and prescriptions laid out by the educational departments of CrossFit headquarters.
I'm constantly asked about the safety of kipping pull-ups. So let's break the movement down, analyze the arguments for and against its use, and outline some best-practices for kipping Pull-ups.
What Is A Kipping Pull-Up?
According to CrossFit founder Greg Glassman, the kipping pull-up is a full-body movement that increases the demands on coordination and agility compared to a strict pull-up.
In his CrossFit Journal article, Glassman states that whether strict or kipping, every pull-up requires the same amount of mechanical work (Work = Force x distance). Performing the kip allows for each repetition to be done faster, and more work done in less time leads to higher power outputs (Power = Work / Time).
"In a pull-up intensive CrossFit workout such as Fran or Helen, strict pull-ups would substantially increase the time to completion. We'd be doing the same amount of work in more time. The same amount of work in more time is a reduction in average power. Power is intensity. We'd have reduced the intensity of the workout." – Glassman
Based on his analysis, many proponents of kipping Pull-ups will argue that for metabolic conditioning workouts, the kipping pull-up is a better option.
Perhaps more importantly, kipping pull-ups are a requirement to succeed in the sport of CrossFit for those being competitive. But outside of CrossFit, the kipping pull-up is not necessary.
Kipping pullups are not only useful for speed in CrossFit, but are a great building block to higher-level skills. To be successful in the kip, an athlete must understand and execute the arch and hollow movement. These two shapes are important in creating tension, strength, and form that translate to the kipping muscle-up and the bar muscle-up. Without the knowledge of a strong kip swing, plus the strength of strict pull-ups, your foundation may not be sound enough to develop higher-level skills properly and safely.
What Are Kipping Pull-Ups NOT?
The follow-up questions to what kipping Pull-ups ARE has to be what they are NOT.
CrossFit Headquarters will tell you that kipping Pull-ups are NOT a substitution for developing strict pull-up strength. The HQ stance is that athletes should develop strict pull-up strength and control before learning to do kipping pull-ups. The rationale for this being that they want athletes to have the eccentric control needed to protect the passive soft tissue structures of the shoulder. During pull-up descent large amounts of force are generated. And we need strict strength to control them.
Any good coach wants an athlete to have good bodyweight squat mechanics before adding extra resistance. And CrossFit HQ wants the same to happen with kipping.
You'll also hear it stated that even after an athlete can do a few strict pull-ups, they should still work on increasing strict pull-up strength.
These are two closely related skills, but we must recognize that they are different, and if you are a CrossFitter, you should develop BOTH skills.
When we recognize this as a separate skill, we can then understand that this is NOT a CHEATING PULL-UP as many call it. Rather simply a way to use full-body motion to perform more work in less time. This is similar to how a push press allows athletes to lift more weight from their shoulder to overhead than is possible with strict overhead presses.
Are Kipping Pull-Ups Uncontrolled?
In response to the argument that kipping pullups are an uncontrolled movement when performed with proper technique, this couldn't be farther from the truth. Jeff Tucker, subject matter expert on gymnastics for CrossFit, further discusses the control aspect in this video.
Important note: CrossFit gyms run as very unsupervised entities. Just like with every NSCA or ACSM certified trainer having different levels of skill and knowledge, CrossFit gyms vary widely in their following of the above CrossFit HQ recommendations. Some CrossFit gyms will not emphasize control and proper progressions to developing pull-ups. Just like some strength & conditioning coaches teach horrible technique with a variety of other exercises.
View this post on Instagram
| ALL THE PULL-UPS | ——————————- ▪Although I only butterfly pull-up in wods – I try to always work in kipping bc they use different muscle groups, use arch to hollow in a different way & require a different cadence of swing. ——————————- 🔺4 max sets of: ✔kipping – 1 pull-up +1 CTB ✔butterfly – 1 pull-up +1 CTB ——————————- 🤸♂@reebok 🙌🏼grips @wodndone———————————————————————— ✔Too difficult? Need better strength? Scaling options? 🔺Join me & @thebarbellphysio 4x/week as we guide you through amazing prehab/strengthening drills. link in bio 🔺Check out @cfgymnastics & training.crossfit.com/gymnastics to join a weekend course! ———————————————————————— #cfgcoach #cfgymnastics #mastersgamesathlete #crossfitgames #crossfit #crossfittraining #reebok #wodndone #gymnasty #gymgypsyjournal #fleoshorts #risingcrossfit #reebok #pamelagnon
Are Kipping Pull-ups Safe?
The biggest argument against kipping pull-ups outside of the argument that they are cheating is that kipping pull-ups are inherently unsafe and cause numerous injuries.
This one I get and think we must seriously consider.
If you search the interwebs for videos of kipping pull-ups, you are sure to see some uncoordinated flailing around performed by athletes who don't have control of their kipping pull-ups. Because of their lack of control, they are surely placing unnecessary stress on their shoulder structures.
But we can also find a million examples of uncontrolled squats with heavy weights performed throughout the fitness world, and we aren't throwing squats outs due to the poor form demonstrated by a few individuals.
When properly coached, performed, and progressed to following the recommendations we'll discuss below it is my opinion that kipping pull-ups do not pose any more significant health risk outside that which we see with any other movement progressions where we increase the dynamic nature of the movement.
For example, running injury rates are very high and would be a more dangerous exercise form than walking, yet we don't hear the entire fitness work arguing against running.
CrossFit Injury Data
But unfortunately, we don't have any proper research on the kipping pull-up. We do, however have a few studies that have looked at CrossFit injury rates as a whole. They determined that it is no more dangerous than other recreational fitness sports such as powerlifting. And these injury rates are FAR below that of which we see with sports like running. Based on this research, claims that kipping pull-ups are "labrum destroyers" and "surgeon's retirement funds" appear exaggerated opinions.
Research has shown the shoulder to be most frequently injured with gymnastics movements in CrossFit. Still, no studies have further broken this down to specific movements, or to determine if proper progressions were programmed in those that were injured. And considering gymnastics movements are 1/3rd of off CrossFit movements, it isn't surprising that a large number of injuries would happen during gymnastics skills.
Let me re-emphasize this; we cannot state based on anything other than an opinion that kipping pull-ups are dangerous. BUT with almost any movement progression, going to a more dynamic or higher load may increase injury risks. For example, how often do we hear of people injuring their back during squat warm-ups? Very little. But as they get to their heavier working sets, we do get occasional injuries. It happens.
How Do We Properly Perform and Progress to Kipping Pull-Ups?
So if we want to do kipping pull-ups properly, we need to develop a few skills. First, strict strength to do at least one pull-up to be able to control the forces generated by the body as the athletes lower. And then continued progression of strict strength after earning your first strict pull-up should happen. Then, we need to own and control all the individual positions that make up the kipping pull-up.
For those that cannot currently do strict pull-ups, I must highly recommend our FIRST PULL-UP PROGRAM created by a Lead CrossFit Gymnastics Coach & former gymnast, Pamela Gagnon.
We also need sufficient shoulder flexion and thoracic extension mobility. I've written extensively about this in the past, and you can search my website for further information. For this article, I'll share a few potential mobility movements if you need help.
Master the Positions First
Next, we want to own the hollow and arch positions while hanging from a bar and realize that the kip is a shoulder-generated movement. When the shoulders lead the kip, the musculature stays highly active and protects from the forces generated during the full movement. Pamela explains this in more detail in this video:
Here's another great video focusing on hitting proper positions:
View this post on Instagram
Keeping with the theme of kipping pull-up efficiency, here is a great visual from @pamelagnon demonstrating what a kip should like like. The athlete moves from the hollow to the arch position with a shoulder generated kip (which keeps them from doing a pendulum swing). The kip simply allows an athlete to generate full body power to perform more work. Whether you agree or disagree with its use is fine with me…but it is here to stay in the crossfit world and my job is to help athletes move as safely and efficiently as possible while still doing the activities and sports they love.
Once you have the basics…progress
Once those positions are controlled, athletes can begin to work on mastering the kipping pull-up. Pamela explains some of the finer points of the kipping pull-up in the following clip (taken from a full educational video on the KPU available to Performance Plus members).
Skipped to the end? Here's your summary.
- Kipping pull-ups aren't cheating reps. When properly programmed are probably not significantly more stressful on your body.
- But we must recognize that they are a completely different skill done for the purpose of increased work done in less time during CrossFit workouts.
- Kipping doesn't replace the need to develop strict pull-up strength.
- Kipping pull-ups are a must if you're a competitive CrossFit athlete.
- If they don't match your goals, then you don't need to do them (just like any exercise).


text:
If your child is in a child care centre in Vic Park or any Perth suburb, use these techniques to keep your child well.
Most child care centre workers in Vic Park or anywhere in the Perth footprint are acutely aware of the impending flu season. We know there is no way to guarantee your child won't get sick at some point, but we can provide tips to help you keep your child as healthy as possible.
Healthy Food Means More Vitamins
While supplements are always helpful, most nutritionists agree that vitamins are best obtained through a healthy diet. You should aim for five serves of vegetables and two serves of fruits every day. Fruits that are high in Vitamin C are preferred, as they boost the immune system by increasing white blood cells. Good examples are kiwi fruit, mandarin oranges, celery, carrots and capsicum.
Red capsicum, tomatoes and carrots contain antioxidants that help fight flu. One great way to sneak veggies and healthy foods, spices and herbs such as garlic and ginger into your child's diet is to make a lot of soup. However, be sure not to overcook veggies in soup because it reduces their vitamin levels, especially Vitamin C.
Other Healthy Tips
- Keep your child hydrated with plenty of water.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep: 11-14 hours for toddlers and 11 for preschoolers.
- Teach your child to wash his or her hands frequently: after going to the bathroom, eating, touching animals, when they come in from outside and when they come home from school.
- Teach your child not to touch their eyes or nose.
- Teach them to cover up when they sneeze or cough, then wash their hands.
- Know your child care centre's sickness policy.
If your child has any of these symptoms, see the doctor:
- Painful headache
- Difficulty breathing
- Vomiting
- Won't drink fluids
- High fever that paracetamol won't reduce
- No improvement after 48 hours
Do You Need a Child Care Centre?
Call the Cuddles Childcare Centre closest to you.


text:
I've tried to start this post three times now, so I'm just going to roll on with it.
I think I'm going to take a break from here for a couple of weeks. This isn't the end, I'm just overwhelmed with life right now and I need to have some time to concentrate on it.
The next few weeks are going to be pretty stressful for me, I want to spend them with R and not thinking about anything else. As well as that, I don't really have anything to write about now, and I'd rather take a break than keep on churning out half-hearted content.
I WILL be back soon, I love this blog and I want it to keep going, but right now I'm in a slump and I need to take a break and refresh.
Thank you so much for reading and supporting me.
See you soon!
'til next time,
Wren x


text:
Research outputs
Access is provided to research outputs generated by HSRC researchers since 2000. All research outputs are provided free of charge to the public, with the exception of confidential reports. Where possible the full-text is provided for immediate download. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of an output which is not immediately available for download, please contact the Digital Curation Team at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Research data
The HSRC Research Data Service provides a digital repository of the HSRC's research data in support of evidence-based human and social development. Click here to access the data sets.
Searching for a research output
- Please use the Search box below to search by typing in a keyword from the research output you are looking for. This could be the author's name, the topic, publication year or any theme within the Research Output (e.g. AIDS, Altman, Apartheid, South African education etc.).
- Alternately, you can filter by Department, by Year Published or by Output Type (e.g. newspaper article, journal etc).
- By clicking on the Keywords link, a list of all Research Outputs keywords appears. You can click on any keyword to bring up a list of all Research Outputs linked to that keyword. For example, to view all Research Outputs linked to Abortion, click on the Abortion keyword in the list.
Alcohol consumption among HIV-positive pregnant women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: prevalence and correlates
Research outputs: XHOSA (LANGUAGE)
2012 'God is my forest': Xhosa cultural values provide untapped opportunities for conservation
In South Africa conservation is still largely framed in terms of Western scientific values, with a focus on material benefits to local commu...
2006 Perspectives and practices of Xhosa-speaking African traditional healers when managing psychosis
The aim of this study was to investigate perspectives and practices of Xhosa-speaking African traditional healers, known as "amagqirha", in ...


text:
Destination Gotland is following the recommendations of the Public Health Authority.
Important information regarding covid-19, read here (updated August 6, 2020)
Cottage 45 in our Dreamvillage
Umgebung: Visby - außerhalb der Stadtmauer
45 m2
4 Betten
Feriendorf | Cottage 45 in our Dreamvillage is situated in naturally beautiful surroundings near Summerland and Waterland. The cottage is 45 m2 and sleeps 4.
3 rooms and a kitchen with fridge (with freezer compartment), hob, oven, microwave and dishwasher. Shower & WC. Living room with sofa, table, TV and dining furniture. 2 bedrooms, one with a double bed, one with a bunk bed with a (120 cm) bottom bunk. Veranda with garden furniture. Free Broadband with (with network cable). Bring your own sheets and towels. Smoking and pets not permitted.
TV Spülmaschine Offener Kamin/Kaminofen innen Non smoking
Über diese Unterkunft
Kapazität45 m² 4 Bett / Betten
EinrichtungenNon smoking Offener Kamin/Kaminofen innen
TV, Radio und InternetTV


text:
Book extract: The amazing childhood of Yuvraj Singh
What the India all-rounder had to go through before making a mark at the international level...
Chapter 5: YOGRAJ SINGH — The Father's Story
Are great men born great or are they made great? This question is relevant to the story of a father who saw in his son a born player. But for Yograj Singh, that was not enough. His son had to be the greatest cricketer ever to have walked the earth. The story of Yograj is a strange one. It is a tale of the desperation of a man whose every breath was filled with the guilt of not having been successful in his preferred career. It is the tale of a man's vision, and his obsession with this vision, which made him blind to everything else in life. All Yograj knew was that his son (Yuvraj) was to fulfil the promise that he himself had belied.
The son had to lessen the burden of his father's past, and lay the ghost that refused to leave him. Unfair though it may be to make your child bear the baggage of your own past, one thing is clear. Yograj succeeded in making Yuvi what he is. Yograj Singh's cricketing career had started off well. He was a contemporary of Kapil Dev. Both men were from Chandigarh and both were very good all-rounders.
Yog lost his way
For the India U-22 team that played against England in 1977 at Nagpur, Yograj was chosen over Kapil Dev. But after 1977, for some reason, Yograj lost his way and was out of cricket for a couple of years. When I watched him at the nets at DAV College, Jullundur, in 1979, he still looked a very good all-rounder, though he weighed not less than 95 kg.
In those days, I was writing for Sportsweek magazine. I happened to be in Jullundur for some work and had requested Ashwini Minna, the former Punjab Ranji player who had played with Kapil Dev and Yograj Singh, to invite young talent to nets at DAV College. As the nets were going on, Yog arrived, and without looking at anyone, bowled and batted superbly. Though he looked overweight, in terms of skill, he was terrific.
On my return to Mumbai, I mentioned to Polly Umrigar, the chairman of the selection committee, that I saw great potential in Yograj Singh. On the committee were experienced cricketers like Ghulam Ahmed, Chandu Sarwate, Dattu Phadkar and Vijay Mehra. They were aware that Yograj hadn't played much competitive cricket — in two seasons, he had played only two Ranji games — yet they picked him for the Board President's XI to play the touring Pakistan team at Baroda in 1979. In that match, Yograj took 3 for 29, including the wickets of Javed Miandad and Wasim Raja off consecutive balls. Subsequently, he was picked for the Indian team that toured Australia and New Zealand in 1981.
But he failed to perform, and from that point on, he simply faded away. It is against this backdrop that Yograj's behaviour towards his son needs to be considered. In his mission to make Yuvi the greatest cricketer, the end became all important, the means didn't matter. People called him a madman. And a madman he was. How many people are capable of such passion, such determination, perseverance, desire? The world laughed at Yograj, but he didn't care about their criticism. All he wanted was a son. Once he had him, he took charge. Luck and chance didn't matter because he would call the shots.
He made the choices, he took the decisions. He constructed Yuvi bit by bit. But his creation turned against him. What follows is Yograj Singh Bundhel's version of his life and his relationship with his son, in his own words.
'I owe a lot to Mumbai, to you, Makarand, for resurrecting me and recommending my name to the national selectors. I always felt that I had left something incomplete. That caused me a lot of sorrow because you gave me so many opportunities, you got me a job with Mafatlal, which had the best team in India, you made me play cricket in Mumbai. Mafatlal taught me the cricket culture.
'Whatever I achieved, how to be a mature cricketer, I learnt in Mumbai. Yet I lived with this constant pain, this awareness, this feeling, that my life was somewhat incomplete, and I felt answerable to you, Makarand, to my parents, and to myself. Despite possessing so much talent and playing on such a big platform, I couldn't achieve much, partly because my family imposed certain restrictions. Sometimes I wish I had not thought about my parents. I wish I had not thought about my family. I should have focussed on my cricket and I would have been the greatest cricketer on earth. But I had to, because of a few reasons.
'So it was always in my heart that my family should have at least one cricketer in it. My attention went towards Yuvi because sport was in his blood. He was good at everything, from tennis to skating. I believed that he was a very talented sportsman, blessed by the gods. I felt like making him a cricketer because if you are a good athlete who has outstanding talent, you will be successful wherever you invest that talent.
'So I forced him. One day, when Yuvi came home after winning a skating competition, my first thought was that my son was doing such a fantastic job in this sport, winning so many medals. But when I looked at him, his red band and long mane, something hit me very hard. I threw away his skates and his medals. People called me a ruthless man, but I had something else in my mind. Yuvi was twelve years old at that time.
'I remembered people like Ashok Mankad and Sunil Gavaskar, under whom I played, telling me that all the important qualities should be inculcated from childhood itself. I remembered you telling me that one can do only one thing properly in life, not ten. So start whatever you are going to do at the earliest.
'I still feel that if I wanted to do something for a child, I'd do it when he was seven or ten. There are many players in my academy whom I spotted when they were eight or nine years old. And so I forced Yuvi to give up skating, which he loved. Obviously, he cried a lot that day. He would never cry in front of me, but that day he did.
Yuvi was tired of crying
'My mother was also very angry and scolded me. But once Yuvi was tired of crying, I hugged him and told him that there was no future in skating. I tried to make him understand. I don't know if he remembers, but I explained to him that one thing still remains incomplete in me and I feel answerable to those who invested so much time in me, for time is nothing but money.
'That day, for the first time, a father cried in the arms of his twelve-year-old son. He hugged me like a mature person. Maybe he realised then, that from now on he would have to play cricket. 'Tea used to be served in my room every morning — Shabnam used to bring it in. The day after the skating incident, I remember he came in with her and asked me, "Will you come with me to buy a cricket kit or should I go with Mom?" I was very happy. They went and bought the kit and Yuvi started playing. 'The first thing I did was take over the garden that Shabnam had made. I destroyed it and made a pitch. Everybody in my house was angry because Shabnam had gone to great trouble to grow a beautiful garden.
Mentor talk
'After that, I made a gym upstairs, put lights on the pitch. Ashok Mankad was my mentor. I told him what I was doing with Yuvi, and he just nodded. 'When he had made me an opening batsman, he had said to me, "Yograj Singh, you have no idea how much potential you have. The problem is that there is no one to guide you." 'I wanted to do something different. International cricket is all about fast bowling, especially now, when we go abroad and encounter bouncy tracks. So I started with hard plastic and wet tennis balls. I remember that one day, we were practising in the backyard of our Chandigarh house. The ball went through the visor of Yuvi's helmet. 'Yuvi fell down and I remember that my mother yelled at me. She adored her grandson. I used to tell her, "You wait and watch, your grandson will become one of the greatest players ever." Unfortunately, she did not live long enough to see Yuvi become a great player.
Sign up for all the latest news, top galleries and trending videos from Mid-day.comSubscribe


text:
Add your review
Review Pocket Smidge 18ml
Pocket Smidge 18ml
in stock
Developed & tested in Scotland by midge experts in the harshest conditions, nothing comes close! Smidge is a DEET free midge & mosquito repellent containing the key ingredient, Picaridn, cleverly throwing these little suckers off our scent.
store.adventure.ie | a mountain store for adventurous people.
Experts in the outdoors since 1999We all work and play in the outdoors on events, expeditions, rescues or purely for fun! We understand your needs.
Ask us anything!Use our chat feature to ask us questions just as you would if you were in store!
Free Irish and UK Delivery over €50/£50*Free EU Delivery over €150 . Some exclusions, t&cs apply.
Hassle Free ReturnsReturns are a pain. We'll do our best to make the process as easy and straightforward as possible. See our policy below.
Smidge Spray
Developed and tested in Scotland by midge experts in the harshest conditions, Pocket Smidge is a DEET free midge and mosquito repellent which contains the key ingredient, Picaridn, cleverly throwing these little suckers off our scent.
It's scientifically proven to provide instant, sweat-proof protection for up to 8 hours and SAFE for all the family from 2+ years.
This Pocket Smidge comes in a practical, robust and credit card sized 18ml spray. Thanks to its novel, water and sweat resisting formula it provides powerful, immediate protection for up to 8 hours without re-application.
Smidge Spray: At a glance:
- Powerful, water- and sweat-resistant protection for up to 8 hours
- Protects against insects around world - as well as the infamous Glendalough biting midge, it gives excellent protection against mosquitoes, horse flies, ticks and other biting pests
- DEET-free: contains 20% Picaridn (also known as Saltidin), recommended by WHO, Health Protection Scotland and Public Health England for effective biting-insect protection
- Safe for adults, pregnant women and especially good for use with young children (from 2 years)
- Non-sticky, moisturising milk formulation with a pleasant fragrance
- Alcohol-free
- Developed and tested in Scotland under the harshest of conditions and is the perfect addition to your outdoor kit in Ireland.