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Assyrians in Sydney celebrating more than just 6769 years of Assyrian history
On Sunday 31 March 2019, the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) and the Assyrian Australian National Federation (AANF) hosted another successful Assyrian New Year festival at Fairfield showground. An estimated fifteen thousand people were in attendance to celebrate this important Assyrian holiday.
The proceedings began with the official opening of the Dr. Donny George Exhibit at 1:30 pm. The Dr. Donny George Exhibit was established to highlight Assyrian contributions to the advancement of civilization. This year's exhibit was organised by The Young Assyrians, with Miss Leyana Alkhas providing a detailed explanation of the images contained in the exhibition, the theme of which was to raise awareness about Assyrian costumes, past and present, sports, and educational establishments since the beginning of the last century. The exhibit provided historical evidence of the continuation of Assyrian identity and culture after the fall of the Assyrian Empire. Photos from the last year's Assyrian New Year celebration in Sydney were also displayed, reflecting how this celebration has grown over the past 15 years.
The customary New Year program commenced at 2:00 pm with the singing of both the Australian and Assyrian national anthems, followed by a blessing prayer by Rev Ablahad Zetoun, Parish Priest of St. Malkeh Syriac Orthodox Church. After welcoming the attendees, the masters of ceremonies Miss Melanie Alkhas and Miss Adorena Shahen, members of the Young Assyrians of the AUA invited Mr. Hermiz Shahen, Deputy Secretary General of the AUA, to officially welcome the guests. Mr. Shahen extended a warm welcome to representatives of the local, State and Federal governments for their attendance and support over the years. He congratulated the Hon. Gladys Berejiklian MP, on her election to becoming the 45th Premier of New South Wales; he also acknowledged the presence of The Hon David Coleman MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs representing the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Scott Morrison MP. Mr. Shahen welcomed representatives of Armenian, Coptic, Greek, Jewish, Italian, Mandean, Vietnamese, and Assyrian organisations from Sydney and Melbourne, as well as guests from Iraqi Parliament, the United States and Sweden and thanked them for their attendance. Mr. Shahen spoke about the importance of the Assyrian Babylonian New Year for the expression of national identity and deep-rooted history. Mr Shahen went on to urge the Australian government to develop a comprehensive strategy to empower the Assyrian nation in its efforts to establish a self- governing protected region in the Assyrian heartland in northern Iraq.
Next, Mr. David M. David, president of the AANF, welcomed the attendees. Speaking in the Assyrian language, he stressed the importance of this national day for all Assyrians. Mr. David thanked our sponsors for their continued support.
Other guest speakers were: The Mayor of Fairfield city, who applauded the work of the AUA and AANF and presented the AANF a cheque of $2000 from Fairfield City to help cover the festival expenses. The Hon. Gladys Berejiklian delivered a historical speech showing great support to the Assyrian cause and the important role the Assyrian community has played in shaping this blessed country of Australia. The Premier was then presented with a plaque in recognition of her hard work and dedication to the people of NSW and for attending the Assyrian New Year Festival.
The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Shadow Treasure, during his speech spoke about his short trip to Iraq, and his meetings with important community figures and representatives of the Iraqi Government. Mr. Bowen pledged to provide a grant of $350,000 to the AUA, should he be elected in May, to support AUA in establishing its own community Centre. Other speakers included, Senator the Hon. Concetta Fierravanti-Wells; the Hon David Coleman MP; Mr Chris Hayes MP, chief opposition whip; the Hon. Tanya Davies MP; Reverend The Hon. Fred Nile, MLC, president of the Christian Democratic Party; Mr. Guy Zangari MP, State member for Fairfield; and Dr Hugh McDermott MP, State member for prospect.
All speakers praised the role of the AUA for working productively with the Australian government. They talked about the inevitable success of the Assyrian people in their struggle to obtain full rights and freedom in Iraq.
Other guests included Detective Superintendent Peter Lennon, NSW Police Force, Fairfield Local Area Command and Ms Karen Bos, vise president of Christian faith and Freedom.
One of the spectacular shows that attracted attention of all audience was the folkloric dance performance by three dancing groups; the Hamazkiane Armenian Sydney Dance Ensemble; the United Benevolent Brotherhood of NSW Pontoxeniteas dancing group and the Assyrian Khabour Dancing groups, which was a show of solidarity between the three nations, who survived this horrific genocide by the Ottoman Turkey and the promise to continue to stand united as they demand justice.
The conclusion of the official opening program saw many awards presented to prominent people and various sponsors.
The 2019 Friend of Assyria Award was presented to Dr Panayiotis Diamadis, for his outstanding contribution, advocacy and research towards promoting recognition of genocide and crimes against humanity. Dr Diamadis has lectured and written extensively on the fate of the Assyrian people, and the Assyrian connection to Australia. He has organised two conferences in Sydney on the Assyrian Genocide – Macquarie University (1999) and The University of Sydney (2000). These historic events were some of the earliest academic meetings on the genocide of the Assyrian people. He has given many presentations during annual commemorations of the Assyrian Martyrs' Day on 7 August.
The 2019 Assyrian of the Year Award was presented to Ms Nahren Odisho, in recognition of selfless devotion and tireless efforts in promoting the Assyrian culture and for being a role model of creativity in one of the most spectacular Assyrian fashion shows in the world.
The 2019 Australian Assyrian of the Year award was presented to Mr John Homeh a well-known Assyrian who is considered one of the founding pioneers of the Assyrian movie era, a Film Director, Writer and Producer. This award was in recognition of selfless devotion and tireless efforts in promoting the Assyrian culture, and for being a role model of creativity in raising the standard and quality of the film production to a professional level.
The AUA introduced their guests from Iraq and were presented with a plaque in appreciation for attending the Assyrian New Year Festival; Mr. Emanuel Khoshaba, Secretary General of the Assyrian Patriotic Party; Mr Aswan Salim Dadda MP; Mr Hoshyar Yalda Ajmaya MP; Mr Nawfal; and Shareef Joudah MP. Mr Khoshaba gave a short speech in the Assyrian language thanking the organisers of the festival and asking for the people to support the efforts of unity in Iraq amongst Assyrian political groups, emphasizing the critical situation of the Assyrian people in Iraq.
The Hon David Clarke was presented with token of appreciation for years of support to the Assyrian community. Mr Clarke is currently retired after serving 16 years in the NSW government, 6 years as Parliamentary Secretary for Justice, and two years as a Chairman of the Parliamentary Friend of Assyria.
Detective Superintendent Peter Lennon also received a certificate of appreciation award on behalf of NSW Police Force, Fairfield Local Area Command in recognition of selfless devotion, outstanding contribution to our society, and appreciation for their services to keep the city safe.
At 6:00 pm, a dramatic arts piece was performed by Assyrian youth. The theatrical piece simulated some of the rituals Assyrian people held in ancient times for welcoming the King and Queen of Assyria to their towns.
The festival concluded at 9:00 PM with a beautiful fireworks display accompanied by live music.
Assyrian Universal Alliance-Australian Chapter
Email: auaaustralia@bigpond.com


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Women accuse aid workers of sexual abuse during the DRC's Ebola crisis
Robert Flummerfelt Nellie Peyton
More than 50 women accuse aid workers in the DRC of sexual exploitation and abuse, according to an investigation by The New Humanitarian and Thomson Reuters Foundation.
More than 50 women have accused Ebola aid workers from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and leading nongovernmental organisations of sexual exploitation and abuse in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an investigation by the nonprofit news agency The New Humanitarian and the Thomson Reuters Foundation has revealed.
In interviews, 51 women — many of whose accounts were backed up by aid agency drivers and local NGO workers — recounted multiple incidents of abuse, mainly by men who said they were international workers, during the 2018 to 2020 Ebola crisis.
The women said men had either propositioned them, forced them to have sex in exchange for a job or terminated contracts when they refused.
The number and similarity of many of the accounts from women in the northeastern DRC, including the city of Beni, suggests the practice was widespread. Three organisations have promised to investigate the accusations.
Some women said they were plied with drinks or were ambushed in offices and hospitals, and some were locked in rooms by men who promised jobs or threatened to fire them if they did not comply.
"So many women were affected by this," said a 44-year-old woman, who told reporters that to get a job she had sex with a man who said he was a WHO worker.
She and the other women spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Some details have been removed to protect their identities.
"I can't think of someone who worked in the response [to the Ebola outbreak] who didn't have to offer something," she added.
Some women were cooks, cleaners and community outreach workers hired on short-term contracts, earning $50 to $100 a month — more than twice the normal wage. One woman was an Ebola survivor seeking psychological help.
At least two women said they became pregnant.
The WHO said it was reviewing a "small number" of sexual abuse or exploitation reports in the DRC but declined to say whether they may have taken place during the Ebola outbreak in the northeast of the country, which ended in June after more than 2 200 deaths.
A WHO spokesperson said the allegations stemming from the investigation were under review internally and encouraged the women involved to contact the WHO.
Many women said they had never reported the incidents for fear of reprisals or losing their jobs. Most also said they were ashamed.
Some women said abuse occurred as recently as March.
"We would not tolerate such behaviour by any of our staff, contractors or partners," said WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib, reiterating the agency's "zero tolerance" policy.
'I was terrified. I haven't even told my mother'
Despite "zero tolerance" policies and pledges by the United Nations and NGOs to crack down on such abuses, as exposed previously in Haiti and Central African Republic, reports of such behaviour continue to surface.
Most aid agencies contacted by The New Humanitarian and the Thomson Reuters Foundation said they had received few or no claims of sexual abuse or exploitation against their workers in the DRC.
The investigation, conducted over almost a year, found women who described at least 30 instances of exploitation by men who said they were from the WHO, which sent more than 1 500 people to the government-led operation to control the outbreak.
Eight claims were against men who said they were with the DRC's ministry of health.
Reporters also interviewed five women who said they were exploited by men who said they worked for World Vision, while three women pointed to men who said they were from Unicef, the UN Children's Fund. Two women accused men who said they were workers with the medical charity Alima.
Despite our best efforts, cases of sexual exploitation and abuse in DRC remain grossly under-reported
Single claims were made against men who said they worked with Oxfam, the International Organisation for Migration and Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
The investigation has prompted an internal inquiry at World Vision, which said the reports were "shocking" because all staff were trained on preventing sexual abuse and it was working hard to address "entrenched cultural and power inequalities".
Alima also said it would undertake an inquiry after being contacted with the outcome of the investigation.
Unicef received three reports of abuse involving two partner organisations responding to Ebola, said spokesman Jean-Jacques Simon. He declined to name the charities but said the cases appeared to be different from those discovered by reporters.
"Despite our best efforts, cases of sexual exploitation and abuse in DRC remain grossly under-reported," said Simon, adding that the agency had introduced 22 ways to file complaints in the DRC, including a confidential hotline and complaint boxes.
Spokespeople for the International Organisation for Migration, MSF, Unicef and the DRC's health ministry said in mid-September they had no knowledge of the accusations, and several said they would need more information to take action.
Congolese are seen lining up to wash their hands and get their temperatures taken at a Ebola screening station on the road between Butembo and Goma on July 16, 2019. (Photo by John Wessels/AFP)
Oxfam said it did "everything in our power to prevent misconduct and investigate and act on allegations when they arise including supporting survivors".
Although the women did not know all of the men's nationalities, they said some came from Belgium, Burkina Faso, Canada, France, Guinea and the Ivory Coast.
"Why would you even ask if I reported it?" asked one woman who said she was offered money for sex by a man who said he worked for the WHO and another who said he worked for Unicef.
"I was terrified. I felt disgusting. I haven't even told my mother about this."
'Passport to employment'
Many women said they were approached outside Beni's main supermarkets, in job recruitment centres or outside hospitals where lists of successful candidates were posted.
Some said men approached them after they found out they had been passed over for jobs.
One woman said the practice of men demanding sex had become so common it was the only way of finding a job in the response to the Ebola crisis. Another called it a "passport to employment".
Health workers are seen inside the red zone at a newly built MSF (Doctors Without Borders) supported Bbola Treatment Centre (ETC) on November 7, 2018 in Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Photo by John Wessels/AFP)
"You'd look to see if your name was on the lists they posted outside," said a 32-year-old woman, who said she was made pregnant by a man who identified himself as a WHO doctor. "And every day we'd be disappointed. There is no work here."
Women said men routinely refused to wear condoms — at a time when physical contact was being discouraged to halt the spread of the deadly Ebola virus. Many knew the men's names.
One 25-year-old cleaner said she was already working for the WHO when a doctor invited her to his house in 2018 to discuss a promotion. On arrival, he took her into his bedroom.
"He shut the door and told me, 'There's a condition. We need to have sex right now'," she said.
"He started to take my clothes off me. I stepped back but he forced himself against me and kept pulling off my clothes. I started crying and told him to stop … he didn't stop so I opened the door and ran outside."
At the end of the month her contract was not renewed.
Though reports of jobs-for-sex schemes — and other forms of corruption — are not uncommon in humanitarian aid in the DRC, almost all the women said they had never encountered similar experiences when trying to find work elsewhere.
In discussions with hundreds of residents in multiple towns, sexual exploitation was a "consistent finding", said Nidhi Kapur, a consultant commissioned by the aid group Care International to research gender issues during the Ebola crisis.
"Whether we talked to adolescent girls or adult women or women in the community or in the government, everybody said the same thing," she said.
But when The New Humanitarian and the Thomson Reuters Foundation surveyed 34 of the main international organisations and a handful of local NGOs involved in the Ebola operation, most of the 24 that provided data indicated that they had received no complaints during the two-year outbreak.
The DRC's health minister, Eteni Longondo, said he had received no reports of exploitation by aid workers.
"I ask any woman who is asked for this kind of sexual abuse and exploitation services to denounce it, because it is not allowed in Congo," Longondo said. "If it is a health worker who is involved in this case, I personally will take care of it."
Some women said they were considering whether to file formal complaints with aid agencies, NGOs or the health ministry; most said they simply wanted to tell their stories so other women were not subjected to the same behaviour.
'They hired you with their eyeballs'
The DRC's 10th and deadliest Ebola outbreak, in a nation decimated by decades of conflict, proved a major test for the UN, coming just two years after West Africa's epidemic in which more than 11 000 people died.
More than 15 000 people were involved in the 2018 to 2020 operation that cost more than $700-million and was marred by hundreds of attacks by armed groups on treatment centres, medical staff and patients, as well as militia violence.
It wasn't just me; I'd say that the majority of us chauffeurs drove men or their victims to and from hotels for sexual arrangements like this. It was so regular it was like buying food at the supermarket
Many of the women said Congolese workers involved in the crisis were more likely to demand financial kickbacks in exchange for work rather than sex.
The women reporting abuse said most sexual encounters took place at hotels that doubled as hubs for UN and NGO offices. Among the favourite spots were Okapi Palace and Hotel Beni, where aid groups had offices and often booked blocks of rooms.
One 32-year-old Ebola survivor said she was phoned by a man who invited her to come for a counselling session at a hotel. Ebola patients' telephone numbers were routinely taken for follow-up care after they were discharged.
In the lobby, she accepted a soft drink. Hours later, she said she woke up naked and alone in a hotel room. She believes she was raped.
"I lost my husband to Ebola," she said, adding that she stayed silent about the incident because she already felt shunned by people afraid of catching Ebola from her. "Instead of help, all I got was more trauma."
A handful of aid agency drivers corroborated organisational affiliations of the men.
The men – doctors, health workers and administrators – used official drivers to shuttle women to the hotels and to their homes and offices, according to four drivers interviewed. All the drivers requested anonymity so as not to jeopardise job opportunities.
One woman said the man who abused her drove in a vehicle marked "World Health Organisation".
"It was so common," said one driver. "It wasn't just me; I'd say that the majority of us chauffeurs drove men or their victims to and from hotels for sexual arrangements like this. It was so regular it was like buying food at the supermarket."
Young men were also exploited, aid agency drivers said.
One driver said a doctor would routinely ask for young men to be brought to restaurants and hotels. Other boys and young men were paid to procure women, according to a recruiter for an international NGO who spoke on condition of anonymity.
A military truck of the United Nations Organisation and Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) patrols on the road linking Beni to Mangina on August 23, 2018 in Beni, in the North Kivu province. (Photo by John Wessels/AFP)
One woman said: "In this response, they hired you with their eyeballs. They'd look you up and down before they'd make an offer."
Some of the women showed reporters their name badges with organisation logos or pictures of them in uniforms after they were hired. One said a money transfer came from the WHO as payment for a job she said she was given in exchange for sex.
'Instead of helping us, they destroyed our lives'
Most women interviewed were unaware of hotlines and other ways to report abuse. A programme to protect against sexual abuse was put in place a year after the operation began, said David Gressly, the UN's former Ebola response coordinator.
Critics said this highlighted the failure of programmes to protect against sexual exploitation and abuse in humanitarian operations, which were underfunded, an afterthought and male-dominated with few women in decision-making roles.
"It was very clear that women and children were deprioritised," said Kapur.
Even when allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation are reported, they are often found by investigators to be "unsubstantiated".
He started to take my clothes off me. I stepped back but he forced himself against me and kept pulling off my clothes. I started crying and told him to stop … he didn't stop so I opened the door and ran outside
In the Central African Republic, for example, investigators were found to lack experience or tried to discredit victims who made accusations against UN peacekeepers.
One former humanitarian worker, who now advises international organisations and governments that fund humanitarian efforts, said the only way things will change is when donors — and taxpayers — demand change.
"Donor governments should take a much stronger stance and must ensure that taxpayer funds are not misused for the purposes of violating the rights of vulnerable aid recipients," said Miranda Brown, formerly with the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Though relief efforts in Ebola-affected areas have been scaled down amid budget constraints and more pressing concerns — from Covid-19 to a new Ebola outbreak in northwestern DRC — the experiences haunt many of the women.
"If they really wanted to help people, they would have done it unconditionally," said a 24-year-old woman. "Instead of helping us, they destroyed our lives."
This investigation was produced by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and The New Humanitarian. Additional reporting by Sam Mednick in Beni and Butembo, Guylain Balume in Goma, and Philip Kleinfeld, Paisley Dodds and Izzy Ellis in London. Additional support was provided by a Congolese journalist and a Congolese researcher whose names are being withheld for security reasons. Editing by Katy Migiro, Andrew Gully, Belinda Goldsmith and Josephine Schmidt.
Robert Flummerfelt
Robert Flummerfelt is an independent journalist based in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Nellie Peyton
Dakar-based Nellie Peyton is the West Africa Correspondent for the Thomson Reuters Foundation. She reports on humanitarian affairs including conflict, disasters and human rights covering countries from Mauritania to the Democratic Republic of Congo
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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The festivals (also nationally known as 'Tshechu')in Bhutan are very popular to the tourists and residents of the country. They are the most joyous and awaited occasions for round the year. Bhutanese come together wearing the best costumes and outfits to witness the Tshechu (festivals) that are performed in the courtyard of the Dzong (fortress), or temples by the clergy or laymen lasting from one to five days depending on the places.
Duration: 8 Days, 7 Nights.
Route: Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Wangduephodrang.
Trip Type: Cultural Tours
The most popular festivals amongst the tourists in Bhutan are of Paro (around April), Punakha (around March), Thimphu (in September/October) and Bumthang – having several at different times. The two popular festivals are dromchoe, a religious festival dance dedicated to Yeshe Gonpo (Mahakala) or Palden Lhamo, the two main protective deities of the Drukpas and the tshechu dedicated to Guru Rinpoche, to commemorate his remarkable actions. Dancers wear spectacular costumes made of bright silk and rich brocade, ornate hats or masks which may represent animals, skulls, fearsome deities or the manifestation of Guru Rinpoche. Each festival dance has its own religious significance and interpretation.
It is strongly recommended that you combine you travel to Bhutan coinciding with one of the festivals. Because such times are very popular and highly in demand for the visitors, you will need to confirm and book your travel several months in advance. For your convenience, we recommend that you time travel with one of th festivals of Thimphu, Paro or Punakha. However, there are numerous festivals conducted at different times of the year across the country. We are certain to find one coincing or matching your travel dates if you let us know of your tentative schedule.
Vacation Style Holiday Type
Family Trips, Short Holidays
Activity Level Fairly Easy
FAQs & Reviews
All about the Back in time with Festival.
Cost & Special offer
The minimum daily package applicable per tourist per night halt in Bhutan for tourists travelling in a group of 3 people or more is as follows:
High Season: March, April, May, September, October & November
Single traveler: USD 250 per person + USD 40 per night.
2 person:USD 250 Per person + USD 30 per night.
3 plus person: USD 250 per person
US$ 40 per person for visa fee (one-time)
Low Season: January, February, June, July, August & December
USD 40 per person for visa fee (one-time)
Tour Discounts:
There shall be no charge other than visa fee of USD 40 for children below the age of 5 years.
No charge for children under 5 years.
50% discount on minimum daily package rate for children in age group 5-12 years.
25% discount on daily rates to full time students below the age of 25 years with valid identity cards.
50% discount on daily rates to one person in a group of 11 people.
100% discount to one member in a group exceeding 16 persons.
A 50% duration discount on SDF shall be provided after the 8th night and 100% discount on SDF shall be provided after 14th night.
100% discount shall be provided on SDF on first and/or last night for groups with night halt in Phuntsholing, Sarpang and Samdrup Jongkhar on arrival and/or departure.
Please Note: The rate may go higher depending upon the nature of services desired beyond specified details above
Delayed Arrivals
There is no charge for delays in arrival and departure because of weather conditions disrupting flights or road blocks. The tourist must however bear the cost of food, accommodation, transportation, and other services required. It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance prior to travel.
(Note: airfares are subjected to change as per the notice by Druk Air and Bhutan Airlines)
No Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for tourists visiting the Eastern circuit:
This special package is offered to visitors to promote tourist visitation to the six eastern Districts of Bhutan so that tourists can experience and enjoy the various exciting places and activities that are largely unexplored in the Eastern part of the country. So, no SDF will be applicable for the tourists visiting the six eastern districts (Mongar, Samdrup Jongkhar, Lhuntse, Tashi Yangtse, Tashigang and Pemagatshel) with effect from 16th November 2017. Our local tour operators are aware of this and they will arrange everything accordingly to make your visit to the Eastern part of Bhutan a memorable one.
The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance
What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.
A minimum of 3 star accommodation on twin-sharing basis
Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, mineral water) as per your choice.
Tea and snacks
Entrance fees to Temples and Monuments.
A licensed Bhutanese tour guide for the extent of your stay.
All internal road transport (excluding internal and external flights, which can be offered at additional costs).
Camping equipment and haulage for trekking tours.
All internal taxes and charges.
A sustainable Development fees of USD 65.
Note: Holidays Bhutan can also book your flights end-to-end.
Whats not included in this tour.Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.
Air fare.
Drinks and beverages.
Travel and health Insurance( All medical facilities in Bhutan is free )
Laundry, telephone, mobile, fax and Internet bills (Hotels in Bhutan provide free wifi facilities).
Tips for guide and driver.
Shopping and Entertainment.
Day 1 Paro - Thimphu
Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan is located at an altitude of 2,300 meters. and in its on way distinguishes itself by being the most unusual capital city in the world, by keeping a strong national character in its architecture. Thimphu is a bustling town and home of the Kingdom's royal family, monk body, civil servants and expatriates.
Tashichhodzong: Means "fortress of glorious religion". The Dzong was initially erected in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and later the third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk rebuilt its present form in 1965. It was built in traditional fashion, without using nails and architectural plans. It is also the home of the throne room of His Majesty the king of Bhutan, the summer residence of central monastic body and ministries and various government organizations.
Memorial Chorten: Built in 1974 in memory of the Third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who is popularly considered as the Father of Modern Bhutan. The religious paintings and complex tantric statues inside the monument reflect both peaceful and wrathful aspects of Buddhist deities. It is one of the most visible religious stupas in Thimphu and for many Thimphu residents it is the place where they come to circumambulate the stupa andpay their daily worship.
Overnight: Thimphu
Day 2 Sightseeing in Thimphu
Heritage Museum: Living farmhouse of the 19th century depicting the harmonious living style of the Bhutanese family with the domestic animals in the premises.
National Library: Houses a vast collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts and texts including the imprinted and archaic text of Bhutanese history. The library also has research documents and printing blocks for prayer flags.
Traditional Painting School: Centre where children learn traditional drawing and painting, wood carving, sculpture and other forms of traditional arts. On a visit, one can view the students at work.
Traditional Medicine Institute: The rich herbal medicine found abundant in Bhutan are prepared and dispensed from here. The institute also researches the use of medicinal herbs and plants and operates a trial experiment on the premises.
Textile Museum: This museum has a wide collection of colorful and intricately hand woven ancient and new textiles, depicting the unique and traditional art of Bhutan.
Weekend Market: Worth visiting the weekend market in Thimphu held on Friday afternoon and remains until Sunday evening. The weekend market certainly offers the best opportunity to see agriculture and dairy products and handicrafts, and to mix around with the local people.
Some Excursions and Hikes possible around Thimphu (time permitting):
Tango Temple (Monastery): Initially built by Gyalwa Lhanampa in 12th century and later built into its present form by "Divine Madman" Lama Drukpa Kuenley in 15th century. In the 18th century, the eighth Desi Tenzin Rabgye built a three storey tower and several other surrounding buildings. Presently, it serves as a monastic school for Buddhist studies. It is about 12 km drive from Thimphu and takes about an hour's hike to reach the temple from the road end.
Cheri Temple (Monastery): This temple lies next to Tango Temple. Once dropped off, the trail starts by crossing the traidtional wooden bridge. It will take about an hour or so of steep climb. Cheri Temple was founded by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in 1620. The ashes of Zhabdrung's father are preserved in a silver stupa inside the temple.
Phajoding Temple (Monastery): Located at 3,700 meters, the temple provides commanding height overlooking Thimphu valley. It has several little retreat houses and temples spread around the temple. From Thimphu city, it is about three and half hours of steep climb through mixed conefer forest. Return takes about two hours.
Day 3 Thimphu - Punakha
Located at around 2 hours drive from Thimphu and at an altitude of 1,350 meters, Punakha served as the capital of Bhutan until 1955. It is still the winter residence of Jekhenpo (Chief Abbot) and the monks of Thimphu. The low altitude and temperate climate makes the valley one of the most fertile in Bhutan and allows two rice crops a year. On a clear day, there are splendid views of the distant Himalayas at Dochula Pass ( 3100m) on the way to Punakha from Thimphu.
Attractions and Interest:
Punakha Dzong (the Fortress): Built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel to serve as the religious and administrative centre of the region. It is located strategically between the confluence of Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River). The Dzong was damaged by an earthquake, fire and flood a number of times and destroyed many historic documents. However, the Dzong has been fully restored to its original splendor by the present king.
Chimi Lhakhang: A revered temple popularly recognized as a pilgrimage site for childless couples to receive blessings. Situated on a hillock in the centre of the valley, it is about 20 minute's pleasant walk across the rice fields from the road to the temple. The temple was built in the 15th century by Ngawang Chogyel after the "Divine Madman" Lam Drukpa Kuenley built a small stupa on the site.
Wangduephodrang:
Located close to and at the same altitude as Punakha, it is the last western town before entering the central part of Bhutan. The district is known for fine bamboo work and its slate stone carvings.
Wangdue Dzong: Perched on the spur at the confluence of two rivers, the Dzong was built in 1638 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. It is the administrative seat of Wangdue district and also the venue of the Wangdue festival held in autumn.
Some Excursion and Hike possible around Punakha (time permitting):
Hiking to Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten built by the third Queen Mother, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck in dedication to 5th King of Bhutan. It will take one-hour walk crosses over a suspended footbridge over Mo-Chhu (Female River).
Overnight: Punakha/WangdiPhrodrang
Day 4 Punakha - Phobjikha Valley
Phobjikha Valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in Bhutan. The pristine green valley is the winter residence of rare and endangered black-necked cranes that migrate from Tibet to Bhutan in late autumn in a group of 200 to 300. There is also Gangtey Geonpa (Temple) built on the ridge overlooking the beautiful wide valley of Phobjikha. Explore the beautiful valley and then will be followed by short hiking towards evening through the alpine of Gantey Valley.
Overnight: Phobjikha Valley
Day 5 Phobjikha - Paro
Paro valley is one of the most fascinating valleys in Bhutan. As you disembark at Bhutan's International Airport at Paro, you will be enthralled by the pleasant atmosphere, the absence of noise and scenic beauty of the valley. A unique tourist destination of its own, Paro valley is home to many venerated monasteries, oldest temples, National Museum and Bhutan's most impressive and well known Dzongs in the country. Paro is also known for producing the bulk of our famous red rice from its fertile terraced fields.
Overnight: Paro
Day 6 Sightseeing in Paro
Attractions and Sightseeing in Paro:
Ta Dzong: On top of the hill above the Rinpung Dzong is the Ta Dzong, originally built as a watch tower of Paro Dzong in1951. Unlike the rectangular shape of the Dzongs, Ta Dzong is round and is said to be in the shape of a conch shell or more like the parts of a European castle. It was converted to the National Museum in 1968. It has a unique and varied collection of ancient paintings, textiles, weapons and armour, bronze statues, old household objects, exquisite postage stamps, jewellery and many other decorative arts.
Paro Dzong: Also known as Rinpung Dzong, which means 'fortress of the heap of jewels'. It was built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and is one of Bhutan's most impressive Dzongs in the country which depicts the finest examples of Bhutanese unusual architecture. It serves as the administrative centre of the Paro district and also houses the state monastic community. The courtyard of the Dzong serves as a venue of Paro Tshechu (festival), held annually in spring.
Kyichu Lhakhang: It is one of the two oldest monasteries built in the seventh century by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet in Bhutan. The other one is Jambay Lhakanhg in Bumthang. It is believed that a giant demoness lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and was preventing the spread of Buddhism. To overcome her, Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo decided to build 108 temples in one day which would be placed all over her bodies to pin the ogress to the earth forever and at the same time, to convert Tibetan people to Buddhism. Kyichu Lhakhangs holds the left foot and Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang pins the left knee.
Day 7 Paro (Taktsang Hike)
Taktsang Monastery: Literally meaning 'Tiger's Nest' because Guru Rinpoche is said to have flown to the site of the monastery on the back of a tigress and then meditated in a cave for three months in the eighth century. It is precariously perched on the right side of a cliff, at 2950 metres above sea level and is considered one of the holiest places of pilgrimage for the Buddhist world today. In April, 1998, a fire destroyed the main structure of the monastery. The present king commanded the government that Taktsang be constructed to its original structure and architectural splendor. Accordingly the reconstruction was commenced in March, 2000 and finally completed and restored to its original splendor in early 2005. A visit to this monastery is challenging and amply rewarding. It is about 5 hours round trip including a lunch stop at the view point where there is a cafeteria.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport in time for your departure flight.
we hope to provide the ultimate best value for all our guests. We choose some of the finest hotels, offer free upgrades to make our visitors feel the most welcomed and well-taken care of while traveling in Bhutan. We take pride in providing first class accommodations for our travelers.
A wide variety of accommodations are available ranging from luxurious 5-star hotels to cozy little hotels, homestays in traditional Bhutanese homes to camping under the stars. Visitors can be assured of comfort, ambiance and hospitality.
The types of accommodations can be divided into:
Government Categorized 3 Star Hotels and Resorts.
Luxurious 4 Star Hotels & 5 Star International Hotel Chains.
Village Homestay.
Camping.
Government Categorized 3 Star Hotels & Resorts
Hotels in Bhutan are rated according to a National 5 Star rating System. All Tour Operators are required to provide their guests with Government Categorized Hotels and Resorts, a minimum of 3 Star accommodations so you can be assured of your comfort. Most hotels provide their guests with Basic Necessities, Room Service, Free Wi-fi, Television and some of them also have Fitness Centers and Spas.
Luxurious 4 Star Hotels & 5 Star International Hotel Chains
The luxury packages are based on 4 star luxury hotels and 5 star International Hotels Chain (Aman Kora, COMO Uma, Zhiwaling, Le Meridien and Taj Tashi) with extra charges in addition to the Mandatory Daily Tariff of USD $250/person/night.
Village Homestay
Visitors also have the option of spending a night in a traditional Bhutanese Farm House with a Bhutanese family. Agriculture is still one of the major sources of livelihood among the Bhutanese people and a farm-stay will give you an excellent glimpse into the day-to-day life of a typical Bhutanese family. You'll be able to observe age old Bhutanese farming traditions as the family goes about its daily tasks. You'll enjoy delicious home-cooked meals and the unparalleled hospitality of a Bhutanese host.
There's nothing like camping in some of the most breath taking landscapes of Bhutan. Visitors embarking on long treks will be provided with tents and whatever other camping equipment is deemed necessary. Regardless of where you stay, visitors can be assured of their comfort and traditional Bhutanese hospitality.
The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance.
Where is Bhutan?How do i get to Bhutan?Is there a limit on the number of tourist that can enter Bhutan each year?What's the food like in Bhutan?What should I wear?What do I need to bring?Do I need a visa to enter Bhutan?What is your refund and cancellation policy?Do I have to make a reservation or can I just show up?How much does the visa cost?Where does the $200/$250 per day minimum daily package includes?
Where is Bhutan?
How do i get to Bhutan?
Is there a limit on the number of tourist that can enter Bhutan each year?
What's the food like in Bhutan?
Do I need a visa to enter Bhutan?
What is your refund and cancellation policy?
Do I have to make a reservation or can I just show up?
How much does the visa cost?
Where does the $200/$250 per day minimum daily package includes?
Bhutan is a small, landlocked nation located in the eastern Himalayas between India and China. Its landscape ranges from subtropical plains and forests in the South to subalpine forests and snowy mountains in the North. Bhutan is a predominantly Buddhist country and is known as the last stronghold of Mahayana Buddhism.
There are a number of airports where you can fly into Bhutan from (Bangkok,Delhi, Kolkata, Bagdogra, Bodh Gaya, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Guwahati, Singapore and Mumbai.). At present two carriers operate to Bhutan, Drukair and Bhutan Airlines. Also, there are three land border crossings which you can travel into the kingdom overland. All crossings are along the Indian border only – Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar. All travel arrangements to Bhutan must be made through a local tour operator. A list of tour companies operating in Bhutan is available on this website. Your selected tour operator will make all the necessary arrangements.
There is no limit on the number of tourists admitted into the country each year. In order to protect our culture, traditions and natural environment the government has adopted a strict policy of "High Value, Low Impact Tourism". This policy is aimed at attracting discerning tourists that will respect the unique culture and values of the Bhutanese people while also providing the visitors with an unforgettable one of a kind experience.
The most distinctive characteristic of Bhutanese cuisine is its spiciness. Chillis are an essential part of nearly every dish and are considered so important that most Bhutanese people would not enjoy a meal that was not spicy.
Rice forms the main body of most Bhutanese meals. It is accompanied by one or two side dishes consisting of meat or vegetables. Pork, beef and chicken are the meats that are eaten most often. A wide selection of western and Indian food is also available in many of the restaurants around the country.
Wear whatever is comfortable. It is recommended to have a sturdy pair of broken-in trail shoes, boots, or sneakers. It is preferable to dress in layers and wear clothing that will wick away perspiration and keep you dry and comfortable.
Not much, remember our trips are all inclusive. We do suggest you bring appropriate clothing to fit the season and a day pack to carry extra snacks and water.
All International tourists wishing to enter Bhutan require a visa which must be pre-arranged through a license Bhutanese Tour Operator or one of their international partners. Visa clearance must be obtained through your tour operator prior to travel. For Indian passport (or VIC) holders, Bangladeshi nationals and persons from the Maldives may obtain a visa on entry.
You must call 72 hours ahead of your scheduled tour for a full refund. Within 72 hours you will assess a $35 termination fee. There are no refunds for cancellations within 24 hours of your tour, or if you decide not to show up.
Yes. Reservations are required for guaranteed spots on all tours. Reservations help us determine the number of guides we need to ensure that our groups remain manageable and enjoyable, and they allow us to notify you of changes to the tour due to weather or anything that could disturb the tours.
International tourist visas a cost of USD $40 applies. This can be paid in advance to you tour operator or travel agent. For Indian passport (or VIC) holders, Bangladeshi nationals and persons from the Maldives there is no cost incurred.
The $200 per day (low season) and $250 per day (high season) package includes a minimum of 3 star accommodations, costs for food, an experienced guide and transportation (with driver) within the country. Also included in the price is a $65 per day royalty that goes towards free education, free healthcare and poverty alleviation. All of these services will be arranged by your tour operator.
5 Days$250.00


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Aldi's remodel to make more room for meat and produce; Justice and Children's Place close at the outlet mall | Streetwise
Lydia Slattery
OSHKOSH - Aldi's remodels and the Outlet Shoppes at Oshkosh sees two additional closures with Children's Place and Justice officially closing their doors.
Here's what's happening around Oshkosh businesses:
Aldi's remodel making more room for meat, dairy and produce
Aldi's remodel will update the store and bring more space for products.
"The updated Oshkosh store will feature open ceilings, natural lighting, environmentally friendly building materials and additional storage for even more fresh produce, dairy and meat," said Atty McGrath, vice president for Aldi's Oak Creek division.
Workers are expected to complete the renovations in October, McGrath said.
Aldi's is open while crews remodel the store.
Children's Place closes at the Oshkosh outlet mall
Children's Place closed this month at the Outlet Shoppes at Oshkosh as part of a company-wide plan to begin shutting down brick-and-mortar stores.
The company plans to close 200 locations this year and close another 100 in 2021 bringing the total to 300 locations closed by 2022, according to the company's statement.
The corporation will focus on shutting down "mall-based locations," CEO Jane Elfers said in the news release.
Like many stores, Children's Place locations are temporarily closed due to the coranvirus pandemic.
Justice closes at the outlet mall as part of bankruptcy filing
Justice also shut down at the outlet mall after Ascena, the company that operates the Tween store, filed for bankruptcy Thursday.
The New Jersey-based company — which also operates Lane Bryant, Catherines, Ann Taylor, Loft, and Lou and Grey — is planning to close 1,600 of its 2,800 brick-and-mortar stores. The Appleton location of Justice also closed.
Contact Lydia Slattery at 920-426-6710 or lslattery@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @lydiaslattery.


This listing is for a 19 piece .PDF instant digital download. No products will be shipped. If you would prefer for me to prepare this package for you please contact me.
You will receive your digital download upon payment. All pages are formatted as 8 1/2" x 11". To open the file you will need Adobe Reader, which is available for free to download at www.adobe.com. File includes instructions on each page for each item. If you have questions, please let me know.
If you prefer to purchase items individually, most items are available a la carte in the shop.
If you prefer this package customized with your child's name on it, please purchase the custom package in the shop. This listing is not customized.
As this is an instant download, once you have purchased this listing you will instantly receive the package so no refunds are available. This package is for your personal use only and is not for re-distribution or resale.


A Care Manager is a health and human services specialist who acts as a guide and advocate for families who are caring for older relatives or disabled adults.
The Care Manager is educated and experienced in any of several fields related to care management, including, but not limited to nursing, gerontology, social work, or psychology, with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care.
The Care Manager assists clients in attaining their maximum functional potential. The individual's independence is encouraged, while safety and security concerns are also addressed. Care Managers are able to address a broad range of issues related to the well-being of their client. They also have extensive knowledge about the costs, quality, and availability of resources in their communities.


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Home Destinations Great Britain
Cycle tours in Great Britain
In more ways than one, Britain is a miniature image of Europe. This starts with the landscape, which is geologically similar to that of the continent. Fortunately, you will be spared high mountains and rough terrain during your cycling holiday, because the infrastructure is excellent and steep climbs are the exception except in a few regions.
Regions England Scotland Useful information
All cycle tours in Great Britain
The individual regions
In the west, the land tends to be rugged and characterized by cliffs with deep gashes along the seashore, while in the east it is flat with extensive rolling landscapes and long beaches. In central England, again, there are rounded low mountains with several ridges, in front of which wide plains extend in the south. Northwards towards Scotland, these elevations are followed by the Uplands and the central lowlands around Glasgow and Edinburgh, before the legendary Highlands and the Scottish wilderness begins. Each of the regions has its own natural beauty, some of it spectacular, ranging from the white cliffs of Dover to moors, heaths and ridges to the high plateaus of rugged northern Scotland.
Cycling in England
When one speaks of Great Britain or the United Kingdom, most people immediately think of England. But many people confuse the two, because England is only one part of the United Kingdom, along with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. But with an area of about 130,000 square kilometres and a population of about 54 million, it is the largest. With its capital London, England also has the largest city in Europe. The home of the Queen attracts millions of tourists to the metropolis every year. But not only the city life, but also the scenic diversity of the smaller villages, are definitely worth a trip. Especially by bike, these impressive natural sceneries can be marvelled at.
The county to the north-east of London is a real insider's tip for cyclists. Because in Suffolk, time seems to have stood still. On a journey into the past, fairytale castles, breathtaking stretches of coastline and hospitable locals await. Far away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities, you can get to know England from a completely different perspective.
More information about the cycle tour in Suffolk.
Newcastle - Edinburgh
From England's most north-eastern city, Newcastle, our next cycle tour takes you to Edinburgh in Scotland. Along the coast and castle road towards the north, past the sandy beaches of the Northumberland coast, Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh to your destination in Edinburgh. Experience both the English and Scottish flair on this exciting cycle tour.
Read more about our cycle tour from Newcastle to Edinburgh.
Cycling in Scotland
The northern country of Great Britain, Scotland, is known for its rugged mountain landscape. Especially the Cairngorms and the Northwest Highlands characterize this area. Wild, but also full of beauty, Scotland presents itself to all its visitors. Outdoor fans such as passionate cyclists love this country. The well-developed cycle paths in the cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow as well as in the outlying villages are ideal for a cycle tour in Scotland. Discover spectacular natural scenery, secluded coastlines, exciting mountain valleys and inviting pubs.
This cycle tour takes you through arguably one of the most beautiful regions of Scotland. Perthshire, also called the County of Perth, is a very traditional and beautiful county. During the Ice Age, the Highland Rift Valley was formed, which since then has cut diagonally through the country from west to east. Our itinerary follows this fault line.
Click here for more details about the cycle tour in Scotland.
Useful information about your cycling holiday in Great Britain
The climate in Great Britain
The climate is as varied as the topography. The west coast offers excellent conditions for cycling, but has higher rainfall and more gradients. The east coast, on the other hand, is protected from the harsh Atlantic weather and is milder and flatter. Temperatures are moderate all year round due to the island location and the moderating influence of the sea, and rarely fall below 0° Celsius, even in winter. In summer, on the other hand, temperatures are almost perfect for your cycling holiday, hovering between 20° and 25° Celsius during the day. The best time to travel is usually June and July. In the months before that, you can expect dry and cooler weather, and from mid-July onwards, precipitation increases significantly.
Who hasn't stood in front of a breakfast buffet and thought to themselves at the sight of baked beans, bacon, eggs, toast, fried tomatoes and mushrooms, who is going to eat that? The answer is the British, because in Britain such a hearty breakfast, also known as English Breakfast, is quite common. At lunchtime, it's just as hearty and, above all, fried. One of the favourite dishes is fish and chips, which you can be served with various sauces in any pub, restaurant or chip shop. After this course, the famous "tea time" awaits. The British simply love drinking tea. The most popular type is black tea, also known as "English Breakfast Tea", which is drunk with a splash of milk.
...that the British drink 165 million cups of tea every day?
...that there are more Indian restaurants in London than in Mumbai?
...that Queen Elizabeth did not have a passport?
...that Ed Sheeran paid more tax in the UK in 2017 than Amazon and Starbucks?
...that the world's first public zoo opened in London in 1829?
...that the Scottish kilt originated in France?
...that Great Britain is smaller than the US state of Oregon?
...that Windsor Castle in Berkshire is the oldest royal residence in the world?
Perfectly organised cycling holidays in Great Britain
In 30 years, we at Eurobike have not only gained a lot of experience, but have also built up a unique network of partners and contacts throughout Europe. Since our founding, our focus has been on personally devised and constantly perfected cycling tours, where you can fully rely on our perfect organisation. We see it as our job to remove all obstacles and hurdles from your path. Unburdened by luggage and worries, you will enjoy your holiday with Eurobike and spend an equally unforgettable and enjoyable time on the most beautiful cycling routes in Europe. Before each section, you will receive detailed travel documents about your route and can relax at night in a selected accommodation with a high level of comfort and excellent service.
I will be happy to advise you on planning your cycle tour in the UK!
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Sabine Jäger, Product Management
Contact s.jaeger@eurobike.at
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Flashback // Shaq Drops 41 To Clinch First Title In Dunk.net Chromz
A look back at Shaq's dominant performance in Game 6 of the 2000 NBA Finals.
By Brandon Richard
words // Brandon Richard
Today, four-time NBA champion, 15-time All-Star, sheriff, doctor, analyst and future Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal celebrates his 41st birthday. Paying tribute to one of the game's largest personalities, we're taking a look back at one of his all-time great performances — a dominant 41-point outing to close out the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the 2000 NBA Finals.
Double teams. Triple teams. Quadruple teams. Why do we refer to Shaq as the Most Dominant Ever? This game serves as a perfect example. The Pacers threw a combination of Dale Davis, Rik Smits, Austin Croshere and Sam Perkins at Shaq, but ultimately had no answers. Play after play, Shaq established deep low post position and picked apart Indiana's front line with drop steps, turnarounds and hooks. When the Lakers trailed after three quarters, it was Shaq's energy and play that led them back. LA pulled ahead mid-fourth quarter and never looked back. Shaq's 41 and Kobe's 26 clinched the first of three-straight titles won by the duo.
Shaq's numbers for the 2000 NBA Finals? An absurd 38 points, 16.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1 steal and 2.7 blocks per game. No surprise that he took home Finals MVP honors.
What kicks did he lace up for this historic run? After ending an six-year relationship with Reebok in 1998 and linking up with Reebok for a value line a year later, Shaq commissioned Dunk.net, a somewhat ahead of its time footwear and apparel company that exclusively sold products online. Dunk.net launched in February 2000 with the Chromz, a Dallas Stokes-designed hoop shoe with a name inspired by Shaq's decision to also jump into the rim business. Chromz were made available in Black/Purple and White/Black, the latter worn by O'Neal in the 2000 closeout game.
Unfortunately, the world wasn't quite ready for online exclusive sneaker shopping at the time and Dunk.net shut down shortly after. Due to Shaq's 99-00 MVP campaign, Chromz are still a big part of NBA history, though.
Check out highlights from 2000's Game 6 above and a few photos rom the game below. Happy Birthday, Shaq!
images via Getty, plecojan
● Shaq


While it is illegal for analyst relations (AR) teams to wiretap the phones of analysts, it is possible to eavesdrop on their conversations with enterprise IT managers and other technology and telecommunications buyers. Well, sort of.
The Spoken Word Audit is a technique to determine what opinions analysts are giving verbally to their clients and if those verbal opinions differ from published opinions. Spoken Word Audits are considered a critical activity because advisory analysts like AMR, Forrester, Gartner and Ovum influence in-progress sales opportunities significantly via phone-based inquiries with enterprise clients, typically IT managers.
Spoken Word Audits consist of talking with analysts and posing a set of specific scenarios in order to gauge how well the analyst understands the vendor's positioning and messaging based on the analysts' answers. The scenarios should be very specific and incorporate elements that measure the various aspects of the vendor's message, strategy and tactics. Spoken Word Audits are conducted periodically with the same analysts and similar scenarios in order to measure how analysts' opinions are being changed by AR activities.
This SageCircle Webinar will provide you with succinct and actionable information that will help you understand the process and technique for conducting an efficient and effective Audit.
What are the uses for a Spoken Word Audit?
Should Spoken Word Audits be done only by 3rd party services firms?
How should scenarios be generated?
What are the best techniques for executing a spoken word audit with an analyst?
In this SageCircle Webinar, our strategists will provide a succinct analysis of the options for Spoken Word Audits. Participants will come out of the webinar with best practices and tools that will help them execute Spoken Word Audits and report on the data gathered.


5 Ingredient Recipes are very convenient and generally inexpensive – especially if most of the ingredients you already hold in your pantry or fridge.
Not only does this recipe only needs 5 ingredients, it also only takes 10 minutes (prep and cook time)! These little bundles of joy are crowd pleasers, and will allow you to enjoy your company, rather than slave in the kitchen.
This recipe does take a little more time to prepare, but the outcome is fresh and delicate. The presentation and the brilliance of the fresh herbs just bring a piece of tuna alive in your mouth. Give it a try!
Simple, easy, and flawless – 3 words that describe this recipe. You can modify it however you'd live, but the combo of brie, Dijon and spinach dances!
Looking for a tasty side dish – try this casserole dish. It's one of my favorites growing up. I love the cheesy goodness that you get when eating it. Mmmmm…. This is making me hungry….
Want a show stopper? Entertaining family and/or friends and need something quick, easy, but impressive? This is the recipe for you! Follow the steps, and within 20 minutes, you have a beautiful salmon fillet with character.
Another go-to recipe; I've been making this one for years, and it's always a hit. (It's actually one of the first successful recipes I've made!) Hmm.. I think I may make this tonight.


Home Bollywood 7 Reasons: Why Bollywood Is Better Than Hollywood?
Bollywood industry one of the primary reasons behind the growth of our economy. Our entertainment industry is ruled by Bollywood. The stars and their movies not just entertain Indian people but are hugely popular even on the foreign land.
Well, we all often hear that Hollywood movies are way better than Bollywood but somehow as an Indian, we feel that there are certain reasons that prove the otherwise. There are reasons why Bollywood is better than Hollywood at least in certain aspects.
1. Bollywood has the emotional quotient high in their movies than Hollywood movies which prefer a more straightforward approach.
Our Bollywood movies definitely have more emotional drama and connect than any other Hollywood movies. The romantic bond or family ties, the way Bollywood touches heart we are pretty sure Hollywood movies cannot.
2. Bollywood movies offer us soulful songs, dance in the movies while Hollywood hardly has any of it.
The Bollywood dance numbers and songs are our every day best friends. Be it party or shaadi, without the Bollywood songs our celebrations are incomplete. Similarly, in movies, our entertainment is hugely dependent on the good songs and dance. Hrithik's moves and Arijit's songs are like the soul of any Bollywood movie.
We have an audience who appreciates content backed movies and even the ones that are pretty brainless. If we have movies like Newton, we even have movies like Judwaa 2. Our audience can appreciate and watch different kinds of cinema. All movies have their kind of audience unlike Hollywood where they have to live up to the intellectual expectations of their movie goers. We cannot expect movies like Judwaa 2, Dilwale or Golmaal being a hit in the foreign country.
4. Simple stories, great characters, and highly relatable subjects in Bollywood movies while Hollywood focusses more on technical aspects and editing of the movie.
Our stories are simple with a very basic backdrop. We don't have too much of sci-fi or technology involved. Be it Piku, Rani or Geet, our characters are real, one of us. They take the story ahead. In Hollywood, the script, the editing and the elements in the movie plays an important role.
We can easily watch the Bollywood movies without the fear of hiding your face when an awkward scene comes up. In any Hollywood movies, baring skin or kissing is a usual thing. In our culture, we obviously find a little awkward watching such scenes in front of our elders. However, with Bollywood movies, we can easily enjoy watching movies with the family. Obviously, there are some exceptions in Bollywood too.
Our Bollywood movies are vibrant and involve depictions of many cultures. We show cultural exchange in our movies which no other industry can boast about. From races to religion to languages, our movies represent our culture and ethics in the right light. For instance Namaste London, Ram Leela, Lagaan, and many such movies.
How many dialogues can one remember from any Hollywood movie? Well, the answer lies there itself. Hollywood movies are more of conversation but in Bollywood movie, we have the 'star' dialogues that remain the highlight, that becomes one's motivation, one's favorite dialogue to be used in any real-life situation.
Well, the comparison between Bollywood and Hollywood is highly debatable but the arguments are always put against Bollywood. We lack technical and production quality which is still not equivalent to Hollywood, but slowly we are getting there. We should appreciate our cinema more often. We tried, do let us know if you guys agree with us or not.


This essay describes our effort to develop a practical approach to the integration of the social and ecological sciences in the context of a Latin-American city such as San Juan, Puerto Rico. We describe our adaptive social-ecological approach in the historical context of the developing paradigms of the Anthropocene, new integrative social and ecological sciences, and the social and ecological conditions in San Juan. The problems faced by tropical cities are more complex than implied by isolated studies of their sociology and ecology, a situation that demands a higher level of integration of available knowledge, i.e., a transdisciplinary approach. Underscoring our effort was the added challenge of making our work understandable and useful to the citizens of San Juan, while maintaining academic rigor in our research. Our working definition of Social-Ecology is: the combination of the social and ecological both objectively and subjectively at the level of the individual and the community to assure a healthy and livable society.
Lugo, A.E.; Concepcion, C.M.; Santiago-Acevedo, L.E.; Munoz-Erickson, T.A.; Verdejo Ortiz, J.C.; Santiago-Bartolomei, R.; Forero-Montana, J.; Nytch, C.J.; Manrique, H. ; Colon-Cortes, W. 2012. In search of an adaptive social-ecological approach to understanding a tropical city. Acta Cientifica. 26(1-3): 121-134.


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Learn to Restart a Heart and save a life
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is inviting schools and community groups to get involved in a worldwide initiative to learn how to save a life.
Trust takes actions in response to Ofsted Monitoring Visit
Please attribute to a South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) spokesperson:
"SECAmb is taking action to ensure it delivers the best possible standard of education and training to current and future staff."
SECAmb and social enterprise awarded NHS111 and Clinical Assessment Service contract
NHS Commissioners in Kent, Medway and Sussex have today, (7 August 2019), announced that South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has been awarded a contract to provide the new NHS111 Clinical Assessment Service (CAS) for five years from April 2020.
10-year-old Maidstone girl recognised for calling 999 for grandmother
A primary school pupil from Kingswood, near Maidstone, has been recognised for her quick thinking in calling 999 for her grandmother when she collapsed at the family home.
Trust celebrating Pride and preparing for busy weekend
South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) is once again expecting a large turnout of its staff and volunteers to participate in Brighton and Hove Pride.
Cyclist reunited with off-duty hospital staff and ambulance team
A New Addington man, who collapsed from his bike while cycling on the A228 at Five Oak Green, has thanked the ambulance team and two passer-by hospital staff who came to his aid.
Trust receives enei silver benchmark and celebrates awards success
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, (SECAmb), has been awarded a silver in the enei (Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion) Talent, Inclusion and Diversity Benchmark for the second year running.
SECAmb thanks staff, volunteers and public following busy weekend
South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) would like to thank the efforts of its staff and volunteers and the public for its support throughout what was an extremely busy weekend.
Trust commits to further strengthen relationship with armed forces
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, (SECAmb), is committing to further strengthening its relationship with the armed forces.


Throughout history, support systems in place on land have been lifelines for pirates.
For modern seafarers, the names Strait of Malacca, Horn of Africa, or Caribbean Sea provoke a sense of fear in some, caution in others, and concern in all. The reason for these reactions is piracy. From coastal fishing vessels and tug boats to plush cruise liners, virtually every sector of maritime trade and commerce has been affected by pirates to some extent.


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Q: Match all the dates in a dataframe that are equal to one of the dates in a vector I have a dataframe with a timeDate column and a different vector of dates. I want to set a new column in my df equal to 1 for all the dates in my dataframe that are equal to one of the dates in my vector. I could do a double for loop but there should be a faster way of doing this right? The dataset is very large
test <- c("2009-01-01 00:00:00 UTC", "2009-01-02 01:00:00 UTC",
          "2009-01-01 02:00:00 UTC", "2010-12-25 03:00:00 UTC",
          "2009-01-02 04:00:00 UTC", "2009-01-09 05:00:00 UTC")
df <- as.data.frame.POSIXlt(test)

dvec <- as.POSIXlt(c("2009-01-01","2010-12-25"), tz = "GMT")

A: You can compare the date of test with dates in dvec
df$flag <- +(as.Date(df$test) %in% as.Date(dvec))
df

df
#                 test flag
#1 2009-01-01 00:00:00    1
#2 2009-01-02 01:00:00    0
#3 2009-01-01 02:00:00    1
#4 2010-12-25 03:00:00    1
#5 2009-01-02 04:00:00    0
#6 2009-01-09 05:00:00    0

The + at the beginning of the command changes the logical values (TRUE/FALSE) returned from %in% to integer values (1/0) respectively.
data
test <- as.POSIXlt(c("2009-01-01 00:00:00 UTC", "2009-01-02 01:00:00 UTC",
                     "2009-01-01 02:00:00 UTC", "2010-12-25 03:00:00 UTC",
               "2009-01-02 04:00:00 UTC", "2009-01-09 05:00:00 UTC"), tz = "GMT")
df <- as.data.frame(test)
dvec <- as.POSIXlt(c("2009-01-01","2010-12-25"), tz = "GMT")

A: You can also use dplyr:
library(tidyverse)

df %>%
  dplyr::mutate(valid = as.Date(test) %in% as.Date(dvec))
#>                  test valid
#> 1 2009-01-01 00:00:00 FALSE
#> 2 2009-01-02 01:00:00 FALSE
#> 3 2009-01-01 02:00:00  TRUE
#> 4 2010-12-25 03:00:00  TRUE
#> 5 2009-01-02 04:00:00 FALSE
#> 6 2009-01-09 05:00:00 FALSE

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Imagine a PC without antivirus software, and a PC is full of malware or another malicious program. Antivirus is like a guard over standard PCs. You can't be 100 % safe, but this significantly helps in reducing attacks as it clears all sort of malware viruses. 'virus' means a malicious program which intends to harm you PC. Antivirus is the just collection of different malware signatures so what defines a good antivirus? The only difference occurs in the quality and quantity of this antivirus software.
There is a need for fast and lightweight antivirus because most of the antivirus are heavy and can't support old PC's. Here is my list of some light weight antivirus software.
Over 500 million worldwide users. Bit defender marks its way to the top of the list. Not only it protects from viruses worms, trojans but also protects from cyber threats related to browser and online transaction. A key feature of bit defender is the virtual wallet which keeps your important passwords safe. One ridiculous thing you need is a custom firewall bit defender does it for you. Application blocker, spam checking facility makes it even a better option.
Avast is a multi-platform antivirus it is supported with Mac, Android, Windows, IOS. There are about 230 million users are satisfied by this antivirus. It not only secure your local files but also keeps secure your network security.If you are you are using this antivirus software on Android, it can create the firewall for your rooted smartphone.This antivirus keeps you worry free about downloading, surfing, gaming, etc.It is a lightweight antivirus software and also can support Windows 2000.
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360 Total Security is an official product of Qihoo 36o, already a big brand. But the antivirus is one of the highest ranked anti-viruses on its own as its features make it that popular. 360 secure browser give us protection against browser, links and internet related threats too. It is a multi-platform anti-virus even for Linux. Anti-virus also comes in the package of multi-language. You can basically use the free version which can satisfy your anti-virus needs, but paid version provides excellent and enhanced experience. So it's up to you.
Panda Antivirus is a unique and less popular antivirus software due to its fewer features. But is lighter than any other antivirus software.But has a unique feature as it protects your WiFi. The free edition is only for the windows but if you are a Mac or another platform user you can buy it for you by paying a little amount. If you are buying this antivirus for your children, its parent control feature can help you.
Escan is an antivirus launched by an Indian organization MicroWorld Technologies Inc. It's highly popular because of its low demand and due to its regular definition and signature updates. One of its unique features is E-mail Protection. As it's discontinued, so you may encounter problems. But will be still useful against several threats.
Antivirus has now surrounded our computers as Hackers, and cyber fraud keeps on increasing there always will be a need for antiviruses. What we have to know is that you can't be 100% secure over computers, with this in mind it will lead us to a positive result as we are not dependent and we should never be but rather dependent on our awareness. Antivirus can aid, but our privacy is in our hands. So if you got what I mean, then best of luck for your privacy! Thats all from my side. If you liked the post share this with your friends and family and let them know you care. Do mention some more anti-viruses in the comment section. Also, any queries comment them below.