Anna Marie Lettieri has taken dance classes with the dance captains of Bandstand, A Bronx Tale and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, learning the actual choreography from the shows. She played the Bourbon Room bartender in Rock of Ages and unleashed her inner rock star dancing in the Dont Stop Believing dance party number. She has gone backstage at shows for intimate backstage tours. She had the opportunity to confab with Tony-winning choreographer and director Andy Blankenbuehlerat an exclusive event for his show Band Stand.

Anna Marie Lettieri gets a walk-on role in Rock of Ages

For Lettieri, a special education teacher who longs to be on Broadway, these opportunities are a dream come true. Im the theater kid who never grew up, she says. Ive been a member of various drama departments since I was in middle school and continued throughout college.

All these experiences were made possible because of a unique Broadway loyalty program, Audience Rewards. Broadways only loyalty program, Audience Rewards is a collaboration between Broadways major theater owners and producers including Shubert, Nederlander, Jujamcyn and Broadway Across America.

Audience Rewards began as an idea to thank the fans who keep coming back to Broadway. Prior to our founding 11 years ago, there wasnt an entity on Broadway that took the long-term, big-picture view to acknowledge fans across different shows and venues, says Katie Dalton, Executive Vice President of Audience Rewards. Now, Audience Rewards identifies those customers who have a passion for Broadway and gives them insider perks and benefits in appreciation for coming back again and again.

At a special Audience Rewards VIP event with Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge after Sea Wall/A ... [+] Life.

The program works like a frequent flyer program, but for theater. Its free to join, members provide an account when buying tickets to participating shows through an authorized ticket seller, (like Ticketmaster or Telecharge), then they earn points. After seeing just a few shows, rewards members can accumulate enough points to redeem for a ticket to see another show for free. This program is also special because of the access that we give fans to connect more closely to the shows they love through our unique experiences, says Dalton. They also have bonuses where they offer members first access to book the best seats for new shows.

Cocktails and conversation with Bandstand stars Corey Cott and Laura Osnes at Sardi's

Audience Rewards members can also redeem points to attend behind-the-scenes specially curated events with cast members like Lettieri has participated in. For an avid Broadway fan, we are the only way to access this type of experience without a personal connection to the show or spending a lot of money, shares Dalton. Our program is all about giving people more access to something that they love, which is Broadway.

In the past few months, Audience Rewards members have used their points to meet Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge after a performance ofSea Wall/A Life. They had an intimate dinner at Sardis and then a q&a with Tony Award winners Laura Benanti and Celia Keenan-Bolger. Past events have included a vocal lesson with the musical director ofWicked, a master class with Tony winner Lindsay Mendez, a meet and greet with Chita Rivera, a baking class with the pie consultant forthe show Waitressand a q&a session with Heidi Schreck, the Tony-nominated playwright and star of What the Constitution Means to Me.

A dance Class with the dance captain of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

The Broadway stars also benefit attending Audience Rewards events. They are enriched after connecting with such die hard and devoted theater lovers. The members see a lot of theater and are very dedicated and educated patrons, says Tony nominee Laura Osnes, who participated in two Audience Rewards events, including a Sardis cocktail and conversation gathering with her Bandstand co-star Corey Cott. It was fun interacting with members because they are so eager to ask good questions and really appreciate what I do, she adds. Also, Broadway tickets can get very expensive. So knowing our most loyal ticket buyers can get fun rewards in return for their investment and loyal support is wonderful.

Lettieri still gets a thrill thinking of her experience being in Rock of Ages. Everyone involved in the production, from the cast on stage to the backstage crew, was so welcoming and excited, she recalls. I was able to pick from a variety of accessories for how I wanted to design my costume and how I wanted my hair to be styled. Every element of that experience was tailored to my personality. And that also helped me feel less nervous before the show. Before the musical started the stage manager announced to the audience that she would be in the cast. The audience cheered for her. I still have big dreams about being on Broadway, says Lettieri. And Audience Rewards made it happen.

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How This Special Education Teacher Fulfilled Her Broadway And Off-Broadway Dreams - Forbes

Regularly reviewing employee performance is vital for businesses, as it provides both employer and employee with important information about the employees progress, needs and skills.

It can also help improve employee productivity but only if its done in the right way.

Reviewing employee performance effectively often presents a significant challenge to smaller businesses, and can be met with resistance from employees and management.

But if done right, performance reviews can build employees confidence, allow them to learn from their mistakes and help them reach their full potential.

A performance review, or appraisal, is the process of evaluating an employees performance against the organisations goals and objectives. The aims of performance reviews are to:

Along with carefully vetting candidates before employing them, effectively reviewing performance is one of the best ways organisations can ensure their team is as strong as it can be.

Traditionally, performance reviews are carried out annually. However, research suggests that the yearly performance review is an outdated method of evaluating employee performance that can actually harm productivity and decrease employee engagement.

So what sort of methods can businesses adopt instead? Here are 15 performance review tips that should help boost productivity in your team.

Before starting a performance review, you need to know what you want to achieve through it;

If you know what your aims are, it will be much easier to develop a performance review system that will help you achieve them.

Before reviewing an employee, make sure you have defined their role clearly. This should include a comprehensive description of the roles duties, goals (long, and short-term) and key objectives.

Set goals that are clear, realistic and specific , with a clear timeframe. You should also have a solid metric in place for how progress towards these goals will be measured.

Once youve defined an employees role and objectives, you should give the employee an opportunity to offer feedback on them.

As the person doing the role, they are best placed to offer insight into what goals and skills are necessary to be successful in it.

Asking for their opinion from the start will also help to establish trust between you and your employees, and may make them more open to the review process.

Once you have a performance review plan in place, share it with your employees so that they know what to expect.

Make sure they know:

Performance reviews should be done regularly in order to be effective. A study by Gallup found that employees who received regular strengths feedback had turnover rates that were 14.9% lower than those who didnt.

Arrange regular performance review meetings with all employees. These could be quarterly, or even monthly the more frequent the better. Keeping meetings fairly informal will also help to get employees onside.

Focusing on the positives rather than the negatives is much more likely to encourage improved performance.

Start by praising the employee on their achievements. If there are areas that need improvement, offer constructive criticism and identify ways they can overcome their challenges.

Effective performance review should be a process of coaching and progression, rather than punishment for poor performance.

Establishing trust between management and employees is vital to an effective performance review.

The performance review process will, of course, involve management giving feedback to employees but this should go both ways.

Give employees the opportunity to offer honest, constructive feedback on management. This will help employees feel valued, and encourage them to buy into the performance review process.

Goals dont have to be permanently fixed. Assess employee goals and objectives on a regular basis, and review the changing needs of the organisation and its roles.

If adjustments need to be made, discuss them with the employee in question and come up with a new goal together.

The feedback you give employees should include clear, actionable steps the employee can take in order to improve their performance and meet their goals.

Come up with a performance plan together to help the employee visualise what theyre aiming for, and what they need to do to achieve it.

For long-term goals, break the plan down into smaller, short-term steps the employee can take to make them more manageable.

If your employees have specific targets to work towards, use analytics and metrics to measure their progress towards them.

Monitor these regularly and keep your employees updated.

This is one of the most important parts of successful performance review.

A study found that 69% of workers said they would work harder if they felt their efforts were better recognised. In fact, recognition is the number one thing employees say their manager could give them to inspire them to produce better work.

You should recognise and reward employees achievements and accomplishments, regularly and publicly. This will help keep employees motivated, happy and engaged, and encourage them to work harder.

Employees should feel like theyre able to talk to management when theyre struggling or have issues.

Encourage your employees to tell their manager when have any concerns or problems. If employees feel able to communicate openly, theyll be more likely to seek help when theyre finding things difficult, and thus more likely to overcome their challenges.

A workplace with shared values, expectations and beliefs will be more cohesive and harmonious, which is likely to increase employee engagement.

Try to foster this shared culture in your organisation. Management should lead by example, encouraging colleagues to exemplify the organisations values in the workplace.

Giving criticism can be difficult, and should be done sensitively.

When reviewing an employees performance, be sure to focus on behaviour rather than personal characteristics.

For example, pointing out that an employee has made the same mistake several times is giving feedback on behaviour. Saying that the employee is careless is commenting on a personal characteristic.

The latter is likely to be viewed as an attack, and the employee may get defensive rather than taking on board constructive criticism.

Ask employees to give each other positive feedback.

Receiving good feedback from multiple sources will make employees feel recognised, and being asked to give feedback will make them feel as if their opinion is valued.

This will help to improve employee engagement, and in turn boost productivity.

ByteStart is packed with help and tips on all aspects of hiring, managing and getting the best out of your people. Check out some of our most popular guides;

Image: DepositPhotos.com

Bytestart Limitedinfo@ByteStart.co.uk

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15 Performance Review Tips to Boost Productivity in Your Team - Bytestart

Part of the series Accessing the Most Powerful Version of You

Reaching your highest potential and experiencing the fulfillment, success and reward you deserve

Every once in a long while, we meet a person who, in their open sharing of their story, they help us shift our perspective of life in general and of our own specific journey. And doing so allows us to see whats possible for us in the future, in a brand new and enlivening way.

I met such an individual recently, and her personal story is riveting. What she faced and overcame as a very young child is inconceivable to many of us, and the work she does now to help others overcome their challenges and achieve the greatness theyre destined for is deeply inspiring and motivating.

Dr. Grace Lee is a career mentor and educator, speaker, and neuroscience expert helping career-driven professionals joyfully earn more, be more, and experience greatnessan ultimate level of success and reward in their work and life.Given her personal experience where she found that her academic and educational training werent nearly sufficient to help her overcome her challenges let alone achieve the greatness she was destined for, Lee is on a mission to redefine modern education, teaching men and women how to unlock true vocational confidence and master their professional destinies. Lees upcoming book, Million Dollar Story, due out December 2019, explores how to pivot from the worst moments of life to profit and win with purpose.

Lee shares crucial lessons shes learned in overcoming extreme adversity in childhood, and in her work helping others achieve high levels of success and personal fulfillment:

Kathy Caprino: Grace, can you share a bit about your childhood story and the extreme adversity you overcame?

Grace Lee: Sure. Mine is what I call a David and Goliath story. My earliest childhood years were in Hong Kong, and as a young child, my mom was my best friend. My father was absent much of the time and I didnt have a relationship with him. But my mother loved me deeply and accepted me, and taught me so many principles about life. When I was almost nine, my family was involved in a terrible car accidenta head-on collision and my mom, who was driving, didnt survive.

I sustained terrible injuries. The collision dislocated and fractured two vertebrae in my neck, and broke both my wrists.I was so close to not being able to walk again, move my arms or breathe on my own. The following year on my 10th birthday, my father remarried and started a new family.He told me he was no longer able to care for me, asked me to leave and arrange to have someone else care for me. I had lost everything that was important or meaningful to me and now didnt even have a place to call home.It destroyed my self image and my confidence since I believed that this was happening because I was unlovable and worthless. Many cold nights I roamed the streets looking for shelter or some place of escape and often I thought if I committed suicide no one would know or care.

I started working in the family-owned restaurant when I was 11 as a waitress and cashier.Although I wasnt paid a salary to work there, I enjoyed being in the company of my customers and collecting tips from the table as my earnings for the day.One day, an older couple came for dinner and noticed that I needed a place to stay. After they settled their bill, they invited me to follow them home and stay with them for as long as I needed.This wonderful couple saved my life and gave me a second chance.

(For Graces full story, listen in to our Finding Brave podcast interview.)

Caprino: Youve said that you have a skill for helping career-driven women master their professional destiny.What in your past work and life experiences has contributed to your ability to help others experience forward thinking that propels them to greatness?

Grace Lee: As I mention above, I spent most of my childhood as an orphan with no support, no place to call home. It wasnt until I finally let go of my previous self-image as someone totally unworthy of love that I was intellectually capable of thinking about the future. And I wouldnt have been able to do that if it werent for the amazing couple who adopted me. Two years later, I learned to begin to trust their love and the care they offered, and developed a deep burning desire for a better future. One where I would have my own home, be independent, and give back to these wonderful people who gave me a second chance.

The only way I knew how to achieve that vision was act in accordance with what Ive been told: go to school, get good grades, then get a safe and secure job.I didnt have any financial support, so I had to get resourceful to find a way to fund myself to my dreams. You know how they say that usually when people are in a do or die situation, they tend to succeed? That was my own experience.When youve escaped the worst pain and trauma in your life, you dont want to go back. I had to learn to survive first, and then I learned to thrive. Sustained thriving requires forward thinking. And as I got older, I added more and more experiences to my years which gave me better frameworks upon which I planned for my future.

Caprino: What have you found to be the reasons why sometimes even the most ambitious person doesn't step up into their greatness?

Lee: The most ambitious people are often laser focused on what they are determined to achieve. It could be more money or recognition or power, for example, which may be their secret desires. They have clear goals and work very hard to accomplish them. Its great to have ambition, but its even more important to focus on how to become a new and different person who will be able to sustain a level of high performance.

Greatness is a choice. We rise to greatness when we choose to react to the worst moments of our life with gratitude, love, and perseverance. And sometimes an abundance of ambition can be a distraction from what what we know deep down to be important.

Caprino: What is your best advice for those who are struggling to go from good to great in their career?

Lee: If you are in a situation where things are good in your career, then chances are that you are in a place of abundance. And you had to hustle and grind to get here. In this place if you feel that things arent great, they could be better, or youre still unfulfilled, then recognize and consider that there is a space on the other side of abundance where fulfillment and purpose can be actualized.

If human psychology has taught me anything, its that true fulfillment comes when we are constantly growing and contributing. Its not met simply in abundance. Seek out the places in your career and your life where you can create the space for growth and contribution. Youll know youre on the right track to the great career that you seek if the good-to-great transformation feels like an organic, cumulative process.

Caprino: In your experience, what impact does higher education have on a person's ability to build a great career?

Lee: First of all, I want to say with conviction that higher education is not necessary to build a great career. Why?Because a persons ability to build a great career isnt developed in school. It is developed through a process of taking massive action through fear, just-in-time learning, and expert guidance.

Higher education provides a safer environment (compared to the world of work) to experiment with action. And academia develops our skills for learning new things if we thrive in that structure of teaching.Unfortunately, the education system is not designed to help students build careers (heres my personal take on 7 crucial lessons academic education didnt teach me). Its optimized for granting certificates as proof of acquired knowledgeand membership to an alma mater.

Knowledge and membership dont directly lead to a great career no matter how prestigious. Also, the myth of job security is perpetuated by the education system: go to school, get good grades, and get a safe and secure job. That paradigm is all about acquiring knowledge to pursue job security (ultimately financial security), which will elude you because it doesnt exist in todays marketplace realities.

Instead, whats more empowering and sustainable is to aim for what I call vocational confidence. By vocation I mean work that is your true calling as it is connected to your mission, your natural talents, and your ability to make a contribution to the world for a handsome profit.Once you do, it will necessarily mean you have the ability to create your most meaningful work; work that is aligned with your mission and purpose. I cant think of a greater career than that. Because a vocation is a great career.

Caprino: You must hear a lot of objections in response to your message about getting paid your worth from people who believe that focusing on doing what you love instead of getting paid well helps them to achieve career fulfillment. How can someone reconcile the perceived tension between great pay and meaningful work?

Lee:Yes, this is a sensitive subject for a lot of people. Partly because the subject of money itself can be a sensitive topic, but also because most people have the perception that high pay and fulfillment are mutually exclusive.

In other words, the common belief is that you can either love what you do or get highly paid, but not both. But pay is fair exchange, and that only makes sense when you look at the facts of how money flows.Unfortunately, you can have employers who discriminate, clients who negotiate unreasonably to cut your prices, etc., but its not the norm.

Setting those aside, the money you earn is directly correlated to the value you add to the marketplace youre in. Its the exact same whether youre working for someone or in business for yourself. The marketplace is paying. The question is, What is it willing to pay? The answer is, It is only willing to pay for value.And the more value there is, the more it will pay. This is good news since our emotions about the work were doing dont factor in at all.

Knowing this is freeing because it means that we can get highly paid for doing work we love so long as it adds value to that marketplace.

Caprino: Youve said, All the problems we face in our careers are simply unasked questions. Can you share some questions we should be asking?

Lee: Ill share two of my personal favorites that solve specific problems.

Problem: Im not making enough money in my career.

Ask yourself:

1) What skills do I need to refine as a clear leader in my industry to help me overcome the obvious obstacles that are restricting my growth and profitability?

Problem: I cant keep up with all the expectations that are placed on me but I dont want to give up or let people down.

Ask yourself:

1) What could I delegate or stop doing that would free my time to do what I need to do for profits?

2) What are the most frequent reasons my calendar gets hijacked, and what guardrails do I need to build to keep these intruders from sabotaging my day?

Caprino: What are the steps to take to turn knowledge into action and produce the result of a truly great career?

Lee: First, chunk it down.Confusion and overwhelm are going to be features of the journey, so break it down into smaller chunks that you know you can handle all in a days work.Make it real by scheduling it. When you focus on these each day, its no longer insurmountable.

Create the space in your life to produce the result you desire. The space includes your physical, mental, social, family, and financial space.Make it a game that you must win, and strategize the steps to get you to your goal.

This changes your state from one of fear to power. Most importantly, learn to enjoy the entire journey rather than just looking forward to the outcome.

For more information, visit http://www.careerrevisionist.com.

To build a more rewarding, impactful career of purpose, visit Kathy Caprinos Career Breakthrough Coaching programs, and tune into her podcast Finding Brave.

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What You Need To Know To Rise To The Greatness You Were Destined For - Forbes

If youre from a certain generation, Mr. Rogers is probably very important to youor perhaps he was when you were a child. Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks is taking a stab at portraying the late childrens television host in the new film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. And in the current state of the world and all its chaos, we just really need this movie to come through for us, emotionally. Hanks is known as Americas Dad, so were crossing our fingers that he can pull it off. Hanks costar in the film, Matthew Rhys, weighed in on the Youve Got Mails actor approach to embodying Fred Rogers with Entertainment Weekly.

The 2018 documentary on Fred Rogers, Wont You Be My Neighbor?, was touching and educational. But our current onscreen-Mr. Rogers needs are far more pressing: can Hanks hold our tiny fragile hears in his hands for two hours, the way Mr. Rogers did in his puppet-filled neighborhood?

The voice of Woody in Toy Story is surely a well of acting talent. But donning a cardigan and adopting a few of Rogers mannerisms are one thing. Can Hanksor anyone, for that matterlive up to the man, the legend, the embodiment of all that is kind and pure and good in the world, Mr. Rogers? Will Hanks live up to our unrealistically high, nostalgia-driven expectations?

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood director Marielle Heller toldEntertainment Weeklythat she wouldnt initially have associated Hanks demeanor with that of Rogers.

Hes got a loud voice, Heller says of the Sleepless in Seattle star. He walks into a room and you know that hes there! He shakes everyones hand, hes really funny, theres never an awkward moment. This was not the case for the former PBS host.

Fred sat in silence and stillness in a way I dont think Tom naturally does, she said. While Hanks naturally makes everyone comfortable and makes everyone feel great Fred disarmed people by asking a question and then sitting and staring at you until you answered.

The Can You Ever Forgive Me? filmmaker explained her biggest directing challenge was getting Hanks to become less Tom Hanks. Heller wanted to let discomfort and painful things sit.

Matthew Rhys, the actor known for his work on FXs The Americans and the 2017 film The Post, plays Lloyd Vogel in the Heller film. The character of Vogel is a journalist who is interviewing the TV icon for a magazine story. The movie traces the story of the two mens burgeoning friendship, giving it less of a tradition biopic feel. Rhys told Entertainment Weekly all about his co-stars performance on set.

Wales-born actor Rhys said he was initially drawn to A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood out of an interest in Mister Rogers, EW reported.

But it was when Rhys first saw Tom Hanks in character on set that he really felt the films power. He said that observing Hanks in action was a master class in acting.

I just had this moment, Rhys said. By this point, Id watched an enormous amount of Fred Rogers. [Hanks] was just doing this little bit of a walk. Aside from the gait, Rhys explained, there was something he did with his hands. And then I just went, Oh my God!'

Rhys even uses Rogers advice in his personal life.

Fred has always said, Relay frustration to [your children] by remembering that you were a child once, and see the world through their eyes,' the Welsh actor recalled. Rhys has internalized this ideology, acting on it with his own three-year-old son.

Fred Rogers legendary PBS show premiered in 1968 and ran for 31 seasons. Considering the man positively affected so many childrens lives, we will be waiting with bated breath to see if this 2019 film lives up to Rogers enduring legacy.

Sonys trailer description calls the movie a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood comes out in theaters Nov. 22. In the meantime, well be dreaming of seeing a movie that makes our day a special day, by just being itself.

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Will Tom Hanks Be Everything We Desperately Need Him to Be in the New Mr. Rogers Movie? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Multi-WAN routers, as the name suggests, are routers that come with two or more WAN Internet ports so you can connect to multiple Internet ISPs. These routers are also called dual-WAN routers, especially when they have only two ports. Why should you go for these routers? Lets take a deeper dive.

There are a few important benefits that these routers offer over traditional ones.

Multi-WAN routers are highly useful for those who need the Internet at all times and when even a few minutes of nonavailability can impact them in a big way. With multi-WAN routers, you dont have to rely on a single Internet ISP only and this is a big advantage when you live in an area with a patchy Internet connection. These routers allow you to have an Internet connection from two different ISPs, so even if one fails, you still have access to the other.

You can even configure the first connection as the primary and the other as a backup connection so that the backup will switch over when the main Internet connection fails.

These routers also help with Internet load balancing so you can enjoy a reliable Internet service at all times. When you use many applications such as web browsers, VPNs, streaming services, and emails, you tend to use high amounts of bandwidth and the entire load is passed to a single ISP in a traditional router setup. But with multi-WAN routers, this load is spread across two or more ISPs, so the overall Internet speed tends to be faster.

Lets understand this with a small example. Lets say you have an Internet connection that gives 2.5 Mbit/second. Now, if you add another service that also offers 2.5 Mbit/second, youll have a total bandwidth of 5 Mbit/second and the load will also get split between the two ISPs. The same works in session balancing too, as the sessions are spread across many ISPs.

Such balancing ensures that you have access to high-speed Internet at all times, regardless of the load and size of applications that use it.

Many dual-WAN routers come with L2TP VPN to help employees to securely connect to your network. Also, it allows you to encrypt traffic over public networks, thereby reducing the possibility of hacking or unauthorized reading of transmitted content.

Some routers come with additional features that enhance their usability and performance. A few have a built-in DNS proxy, so users dont have to define their own DNS providers while others have content-based and geo-based blocking services.

Overall, multi-WAN routers increase security, reliability, speed, and load balancing and through it all improves the performance of your router and gives you continuous access to the Internet at all times.

Now that you know what are multi-WAN routers, lets take a look at some of the best ones, in no particular order.

Here are some of the best routers available today.

Cisco Systems Gigabit dual VPN 14 port router is ideal for those who need a combination of performance and flexibility. It is also backed by the experience of Cisco Systems, one of the pioneers in this area.

Cisco

Some of the important features of this router are:

This router makes it easy to connect with many Internet service providers to give you automatic failover and enhanced performance. It also gives you the option to independently manage your links and increase your bandwidth at any time.

Peplink

The salient features of Peplink balance 20 dual-WAN router are:

This router is designed to provide high-speed connections on both WAN and LAN ports. Besides, it comes loaded with many high-security VPN capabilities that are sure to come in handy for organizations of all sizes.

TP-Link

The features of this router are:

Linksys packs a ton of features into this router along with load balancing and failover to provide a highly reliable Internet connection for personal and organizational use. Its VPN capabilities make it easy for employees to connect to your network from any remote location.

Linksys

Here are some of the top features of Linksys business dual-WAN Gigabit VPN router.

This is a simple and low-cost router that works well for homes and small businesses that need an uninterrupted Internet connection. Though it provides fewer connection points when compared to other routers, it makes up with a host of features aimed to provide high levels of usability and extensibility.

Ubiquiti

The important features of this router are:

While this is not a comprehensive list of all dual-WAN routers, we hope it introduces you to some of the popular ones and their features.

Dual-WAN or multi-WAN routers give you reliable Internet at all times coupled with load balancing and security. They are most essential for those who are likely to get impacted even with short Internet outages and for those who want to combine the bandwidth of two or more providers.

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Multi-WAN routers: A comprehensive guide to five of the best - TechGenix

The Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh is known for its arid landscape and recurrent droughts. But it has long been fertile ground for bloody political feuds and powerful godmen.

At Puttaparthi in Anantapur district, Satya Sai Baba had celebrities and heads of states queuing up to seek his blessings. Bala Sai Baba, of the neighbouring Kurnool district, also had a large number of followers in India and abroad. Both the controversial godmen are no more, while a third notable name, Kalki Bhagwan, is under the scanner of the income tax department and Enforcement Directorate.

The TDP candidate lived in the ashram during the campaign. party workers informed me that the ashrams staff were closely involved in distributing money to voters. K. Adhimulam, YSR Congress legislator

In October, a series of raids on 40 properties in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chittoor revealed that trusts and businesses controlled by Bhagwan had unaccounted income of more than Rs500 crore. The IT department unearthed Rs93 crore in cash and Rs409 crore in other assets. There was about 2.5 million (approximately Rs18 crore) in US dollars alone, said a statement issued by the department. About 88kg of undeclared gold jewellery, valued at Rs26 crore, and diamonds weighing 1,271 carats, worth about Rs5 crore, have also been seized.

Born Vijayakumar Naidu at Natham in Tamil Nadu in 1949, Bhagwan started his career as a clerk with the Life Insurance Corporation of India. In 1984, he and his close friend Shankar started a residential school at Rajupeta in Andhra Pradesh. Called Jeevashram, the school aimed at providing alternative education and inculcating spirituality.

By 1989, he had groomed himself as a godman, calling himself Kalki, after the 10th avatar of Lord Vishnu. His philosophy of oneness and instant nirvana became popular, helping him establish ashrams in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Devotees began referring to his wife, Padmavathi, as Amma Bhagwan.

Bhagwan, 70, charged Rs5,000 for each darshan; for special darshans, the fee was Rs50,000. As the number of followers grew, he built a oneness temple on 400 acres at Tada village on the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border. A monolithic structure of white marble, the temple is a blend of Buddhist and Hindu architecture, replete with stupas, spires, domes, ornate doors and latticed windows. It has a sprawling meditation hall that can accommodate 8,000 people, and at the centre of the hall is a huge, garlanded picture of Bhagwan and his wife.

A week after the raids, both of them released a video saying they had not abandoned the faithful. We have not left the country, Bhagwan said. We are at Nemam, conducting classes and helping you. Activities continue as usual.

THE WEEK visited Bhagwans ashram at Nemam near Chennai, but found the gates locked. A security guard with a vermillion on his forehead said Bhagwan was not in the ashram. He opened the gate to reveal a sprawling entrance hall that was dark and deserted. A mural of the Buddha adorned one wall, and near it were eleven glass-panelled cash counters, all closed. Please go, said the guard. You cant come in here, because you are from the media. There is nobody here.

Investigators say Bhagwan laundered money and purchased assets abroad through hawala transactions. His son N.K.V. Krishna, who runs the ashram, and Krishnas wife, Preeti, were questioned by the income tax department. Krishna also runs several companies that are into real estate, construction, publishing and microfinance. The ED has registered a case against Bhagwan and Krishna under the Foreign Exchange Management Act.

This is not the first time Bhagwan and his family have come under the scanner. In the early 2000s, Bengaluru-based activist and former devotee Vishwanath Swami alleged that Bhagwan and his ashram were involved in money laundering. In September 2013, the income tax appellate tribunal in Chennai found Krishna guilty of tax violation and unlawful acquisition of agricultural land.

The ED and the IT department have reportedly questioned Lokesh Dasaji, the manager of Kalki Ashram Trust. When THE WEEK contacted him, Dasaji said he was in Delhi. We dont have anything to tell the media now, he said.

Sources in the IT department said Bhagwans proximity to the Telugu Desam Party was a prime reason for the raids. The leads came from several raids in the past few years. Political links are not the only reason. There are multiple allegations of money laundering as well, said one official.

Bhagwan openly supported the TDP in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh this year. Leaders of the YSR Congress and other opposition parties alleged that the TDP ran its campaign in Satyavedu, the assembly constituency that includes the ashram, with the help of Bhagwans employees who doubled as party workers.

My opponent and the TDP candidate lived in the ashram during the campaign, said K. Adhimulam, YSR Congress leader who won from Satyavedu. TDP workers and their families stayed in the ashram and participated in the campaign. Local party workers informed me that the ashrams staff were closely involved in distributing money to voters. This was not new; the same thing had happened in the 2014 elections, too.

Workers of the CPI and CPI(M) had long opposed Bhagwan and his efforts to expand the ashram. In the 1990s, they had organised protests against the ashram for buying hundreds of acres at cheap rates from local farmers. Party leaders said the protests were partially successful; a few farmers got their land back.

In the last elections, our party workers approached the people running the ashram, said a senior CPI leader in Chittoor district. We asked them whether they could donate to our campaign. They never gave a single rupee. We came to know that the ashram did not give money to other political parties as well. They were actively funding the TDPs election activities.

Bhagwan and the top leaders of the TDP, including former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, belong to the politically dominant Kamma community. When the TDP was in power, said sources, at least three ministers used to frequent the ashram.

Apparently, Krishna has deeper links with the party. He is said to be the co-owner of the news channel Studio N, which was founded and run by TDP loyalists. The office of Studio N was recently raided by the IT department. Krishna reportedly controls the activities of the ashram and related businesses now, as Bhagwan is said to be suffering from health issues.

According to a person who was once closely involved with the ashram, Bhagwans spiritual empire is still largely intact. The organisation is sitting on a real estate goldmine, he said. They do not need money from devotees. Each acre they had bought for Rs5,000 to Rs10,000, near the industrial belt on the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border, is valued at more than Rs1 crore now. The extent of land they bought in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and adjoining states is very hard to estimate.

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Mystic and the moolah - THE WEEK

One of Mahatma Gandhis favourite bhajans Vaishnav Jana To written and composed by the 15th century Gujarati poet-composer Narsinh Mehta lays emphasis on the ideals and virtues one has to follow in life. It was a must rendition at the Sabarmati Ashram during the days of Mahatma Gandhi. Ever since, the bhajan became popular, and many illustrious singers from M S Subbulakshmi, Gangubai Hangal, Pundit Jasraj and Lata Mangeshkar have rendered Commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of the Mahatma, a reworked version of the song was composed by Saluru Vasu Rao at the behest of media baron Ch Ramoji Rao for the popular news App Etv Bharat.

It was a pleasant surprise for me when a call came from Koneru Bapineedu, Vice-President and CEO, Etv about this offer from Ramoji Rao garu. At the time, I was wary of the fact that many great singers and composers have done the job before and I should match their standards, says Vasu Rao.

Since it is a national project, Vasu Rao decided to sign singers from the north as well. From the north and east, I preferred folk singers who are popular in their regions, adds Vasu who, from the South recorded the song in the voices S P Balasubrahmanyam representing the Telugu States, Chitra (Kerala), Unnikrishnan (Tamil Nadu) and Vijay Shankar (Karnataka). The song gave me an opportunity to travel to nine states. And the best part of it was a visit to Sabarmati ashram. In Mumbai, Vaishali Made enjoyed singing the song like it was a movie number. Being basically a bass guitarist, I have used that instrument in the song which she liked. It is interesting to note that each of the singers Salamath Khan (Rajasthan), Banerjee (Assam), Lokesh Gadhvi (Gujarat), , Haimanti Sukla (Bengal), Shankar Sahani (Punjab), Subash Das (Odissa) and the singers from the south rendered the bhajan with total devotion towards Bapuji. One of the highs of the bhajan was the rendition of the renowned Pundit Channulal Mishra from Varanasi (Utar Pradesh). At 87, his impeccable rendition added lustre to the album. It is interesting that all the singers sang in an equal sruthi (scale) which I had set. Even while recording the song, I knew it would be a hit.

I have composed Vaishnava Janato in raga Misra Kamas retaining the fragrance from the original tune. I have used traditional music instruments from each region. I must mention here that before recording the bhajan in the voices of the chosen singers, I trained the upcoming singers and my troupe members, Ms. Sahiti Chaganti and Sarath Santhosh to sing the song as track singers. I then sent the track to all the twelve singers.

On October 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited film luminaries for the Change Within Meet to mark the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi. Besides Bapineedu,and Ch. Kiran representing Etv, S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vasu Rao were among the invitees.

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Spirit of music - The Hindu

District Collector D. Divya on Sunday underscored the need for consuming healthy food to maintain good health and suggested bringing traditional food, especially millets, back on the menu of locals.

The Collector was interacting with Adivasi and other women who cooked traditional food items as part of a food festival on the last day of the three-day Deepotsav at Kala Ashram here. She was also introduced to the tradition of women singing songs while making vermicelli on wooden contraptions almost a thing of the past now.

The food festival was hosted by Hyderabad-based noted millet food expert Ram Babu, who demonstrated a few types of healthy food that can be made with millets.

Mr. Ram Babu opined the key to good health was seasonal food which included not only dishes made of millets and other grains but seasonal fruits too.

Besides outstation guests, locals also partook of a lunch which was part of the food festival.

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Turning the focus on ancient grains for a healthier future - The Hindu

BY RADHIKA RAMASESHAN

The eastern state, which polls in three weeks from now, could be the first test of Ayodhyas impact on voters for the RSS, Modi and Shah

Knowing the BJP, it must have returned to the drawing board straightaway after the Ayodhya verdict to revisit and perhaps rework its strategy for the assembly election in Jharkhand. The little eastern state, which was carved out of Bihar in 2000, was a BJP stronghold, indeed its only bulwark against Lalu Prasads domination at a time when the RJD strongman had ruled Bihar like his fief. The BJPs Hindutva theme, pegged on the Ram temple, was used to effect in south Bihar, which later became Jharkhand and has nearly 20 per cent Muslims and Christians. Expectedly, the Church and the charge of Christian missionaries proselytising the gullible tribes worked well for the BJP. Its campaign was supplemented by the propaganda unleashed by the RSS through its tribe wing, the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, which adopted a strategy of spreading Hinduism-through-service (health, education) among the adivasis.

Jharkhand will be the first test of the impact of the Supreme Courts verdict, and the fruition of a Ram temple on his birthplace, on voters. Do emotive subjects impinging on faith and the majority-minority divide always work for the BJP? Not necessarily. For instance, there is evidence that its offensive against the infiltrators and the threat of deploying the NRC the country over did not take off in the Maharashtra and Haryana polls. The polemics over infiltrator versus domicile is problematic in states other than Assam. Interstate migration has been a reality for ages, ever since the Tamil-speaking population from down south travelled in droves north-westward to construct the Bhakra Nangal dam and Malayalis from Kerala fanned out as far east as Arunachal Pradesh, braving Arunachals stringent inner line permit regime and laws for taking up residency and jobs. The infiltrators are clearly Bangladeshis but many migrants think that Amit Shahs warning to weed out ghuspetiya from Maharashtra and Haryana was meant for them a throwback to the MNS period.

Ayodhya, on the other hand, resonates beyond castes and regions. On social media, a thread that questioned the involvement of the southern states in the Ram temple project provoked a heated debate that was settled when it was argued that the largest contingents that arrived as kar sevaks before the 1992 demolition were from the south of the Vindhayas, including Tamil Nadu. The issue is, having experienced less-thanthe-expected degree of success from the use of Article 370 and NRC in the most recent elections, would the BJP let Ayodhya overwhelm the Jharkhand discourse? Its a double-edged weapon: on the one hand, the absence of the temple or a marked dilution would take away from the sense of elation that pervaded the Sangh Parivars responses on Saturday. On the other hand, an overuse might be counterproductive against the Oppositions tactic of playing up local issues against the incumbent BJP-led government.

The Opposition in Ranchi is more sure-footed than it is in many states. Learning a lesson or two from the betterthan-anticipated showing for the Congress in Haryana and the NCP in Maharashtra, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) swung into the act and cemented apact with the Congress and the RJD, leaving most of the non-tribe seats to the last two and itself focused on the adivasi pockets that Shibu Soren held in thrall for decades.

Ayodhya may not be a dilemma for the Opposition, not after the Congress embraced the verdict and articulated a pro-temple position, possibly reckoning that the new generation of young Muslim adults may not be terribly bothered about the fate of the Babri site.

The 13 ST seats have created issues for the BJP because the strategy to have a non-tribe CM in Das, whos from the backward caste Teli, was borne out of the need to coalesce the others against the adivasis and create a dedicated vote bank of the upper castes, the OBCs and Dalits. Just as the projection of a Punjabi, Manohar Lal Khattar, rankled with the Jats of Haryana, the tribes of Jharkhand havent exactly taken to Das. On his part, Das played to his non-tribe constituents by attempting to amend the tenancy laws and creating land banks in Adivasi areas for the others. The Christians opposed the anti-conversion bill.

Like in Maharashtra, the BJP bit the bait of taking away purported influencers from the Opposition to shore up its strength. The trouble is those like Sashi Bhushan Mehta of the JMM and Bhanu Pratap Shahi, an Independent MLA, arrived with a baggage: Mehta is on trial in a murder case while Shahi is battling corruption charges. Therefore, how will the BJP defend itself while accusing the JMM, Congress and the RJD of being mired in corruption?

Jharkhands not a breeze for either side. An interesting, if keen, battle lies ahead.

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Over to Jharkhand - Mumbai Mirror

Kushaan (second from left) and Medhnaa Saran (right) visit with the children of Bal Ashram in India. Photo courtesy of Touch of Life

It was a privilege this week meeting the remarkable sibling duo, Medhnaa and Kushaan Saran of Vienna. Medhnaa, 15, and her brother Kushaan, 14, attend Pinnacle Academy in Oakton. Their school offers a dual-enrollment program that allows high school students to take college-level courses at Northern Virginia Community College in Manassas. There, Medhnaa takes three classes on top of her five high school classes, and Kushaan will begin NOVA classes next fall. Only a sophomore and a freshman, Medhnaa and Kushaan head their schools National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society, respectively. This is only the start of many accomplishments these siblings have achieved.

EIGHT YEARS AGO, Medhnaa and Kushaan traveled to India, where they volunteered at Bal Ashram, an orphanage in Jaipur. Medhnaa and Kushaan wondered why the children wouldnt talk to them right away or why some had wounds or bandages. It wasnt until later that the Saran siblings learned these children were rescued from human trafficking and child slavery. The childrens injuries were typically from abuse or dangerous labor they were forced into, and their hesitation to trust was a result of PTSD and living in fear of strangers intentions.

We knew we needed to help them, Medhnaa said, reflecting on the call she felt to support the children, and began raising money for Bal Ashram. In 2016, Medhnaa and Kushaan founded their own nonprofit organization, the Touch of Life Foundation, in an effort to spread awareness about the dangers and the exploitation individuals experience when they are victims of human trafficking. Touch of Life now hosts many events throughout the year such as community barbecues and clothing, toy, and book drives. They have also created lasting partnerships with local businesses who donate a percentage of their earnings to give to the children in India. They frequently mail packages of supplies to the children, and on some occasions, are able to hand deliver all they raised on their yearly trip to India. We have so much to pack this year, because so much of it is going to the kids, Kushaan said about his trip to India coming up in December.

It was for her work advocating for the victims of human trafficking that Medhnaa was nominated for the International Childrens Peace Prize this year. The prize was organized by Nobel laureates who recognize young people campaigning for a social right. Including climate change activist, Greta Thunberg, Medhnaa was a finalist selected out of over 2,000 nominees.

Medhnaa and her brother have also worked closely with state representatives in an effort to implement mandatory education in Virginia schools on what human trafficking is and how to identify it. The program is called Not My Child and has since been adapted for all school ages. People that are trafficked are in life-threatening danger. Trafficking is so detrimental because it causes a lot of mental and physical trauma, so thats why it is so important that people know the signs and the risks involved, Medhnaa added.

Theres a story about a hummingbird that saved a forest from being engulfed in flames, by bringing droplets of water to the fire again and again. The rest of the animals realize what shes doing and begin to help her, carrying more water and eventually putting out the fire.

A childrens rights activist and Medhnaas mentor, Kailash Satyarthi, calls her the hummingbird because he knows that she is making, and will continue to make such an important change for childrens rights.

ON NOV. 16, the Touch of Life Foundation will host its 4th annual cultural function at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax to benefit the children at the Bal Ashram orphanage in India. The event is for all ages and is to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Guests will be able to light a diya, a small oil lamp or candle, in honor of a child at Bal Ashram.

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Sister-Brother Team Spreads Awareness of Human Trafficking - Virginia Connection Newspapers