Sisters Rowan and Blythe TwoSisters (their legal last name) were relaxing one evening in Rowan's Houston home, when a hoop dancing DVD showed up months after Rowan had ordered it. Its arrival led to an incredible legacy of innovation and inclusion within the world of hoop dance. And yes, there's a whole world of hoop dancing. But it was a long journey to get there.

Blythe and Rowan have always been tall, now 5'11 and 6'1 respectively, which led to them trying sports like basketball and volleyball in school. Rowan played basketball but was frustrated that she couldn't get a uniform that fit her correctly. She says, "I didn't feel confident just leaving the dressing room, much less trying to play a game in embarrassingly tight clothing. And even though the boy's teams had plenty of money for uniforms, the girl's teams never did." So when she tore her ACL at age 16, she chose not to return to the sport, focusing instead on hiking in the mountains with her dogs.

Blythe played volleyball in school. "I was terrible, but they let me play because I was tall." She hated all the running and feeling uncoordinated.

[READ: Creative Outdoor Exercise Ideas.]

Finding the Right Exercise for Your Body

After high school, Rowan moved with her two energetic dogs to Florida, across the street from Cocoa Beach (literally A1A, Beachfront Avenue!). She would ride her bike at the beach with them and body surf to relax. At 22, she joined a gym and met some friends who were doing triathlons. They eventually talked her into giving it a try. She did great in the swim portion, but it went downhill from there, and she decided that one triathlon was more than enough.

Blythe's journey with fitness stopped as a young adult. Fitness had always been painful and dreadful. She eventually discovered that was because she had ankylosing spondylitis, a painful genetic inflammatory disease that reduces spinal flexibility but can often be managed.

Story continues

In grad school she found herself frequently flying out to California and wanted to try her hand at surfing, but knew that she had to get her fitness level up to do it safely.

At 32, Blythe joined a gym. That's where she discovered NIA -- which stands for neuromuscular integrative action -- a mind-body movement technique that's a fusion of many different movement forms, including yoga, thai chi, dance, martial arts and Feldenkrais. She was in love, so of course she called her sister. While Blythe was finishing grad school in Dallas, Rowan was in Houston, which was a major hub for NIA, and Blythe insisted that Rowan take the first level (white belt) training.

[READ: Yoga for All Bodies.]

The Hula Hoop of Self-Esteem

One year later, they were both on their way to completing the second-level NIA teaching certification. It was that evening, sitting in Rowan's living room, exhausted from their NIA training, they opened that DVD. Instantly inspired, Blythe found a second wind and grabbed a hoop that Rowan had lying around. It was a complete no go. Rowan's luck wasn't any better. Wondering, "why can't we hoop like the women on the video?" they went to bed frustrated.

Undeterred, Rowan convinced Jocelyn Gordan from Hoopnotica, a leader in hoop dance fitness instruction and equipment since 2006, to come give them a training. They learned that the hoop they were using was, in Rowan's words, "way too small. Like walking around in a child's size seven shoe when you need a women's 11." They added 8 inches to the hoop, and the whole world opened up. It wasn't their bodies that were the limitation.

As they learned, they began to teach, so that they could bring hooping to people of all body sizes. "Not everybody fits inside of a tiny hula hoop, and we will be damned if someone is gonna take that joy away from us or someone we love," Rowan says. "We created the hoop of self-esteem. That sucker is HUGE! Like it doesn't fit in most cars, so Blythe figured out how to make them collapsible. We spent hours and hours figuring out how to make a hula hoop that was inclusive as hell, with 48 to 54 inches of useable space inside."

Then they created even greater accessibility by teaching more "off the body" work. When we think of hooping, we typically envision the hoop circling the waist, but in fact lots of hoop dance is done with the hoop around the arms, legs and even neck.

And it wasn't just fat bodies they wanted to make sure were included. "Both hooping and NIA are centered around the thin feminine, traditionally pretty heteronormative narrative, and sure they give lip service to othering and inclusion, but that doesn't really seem to hold when it comes to being fat. So we both roll right over those norms," shares Blythe.

Blythe got her husband involved, and soon they had their own little hoop-making factory, with Blythe traveling to hoop trainings around the country.

[SEE: What Do Women With Positive Body Images Have That Others Don't?]

A Hoopful of Possibilities

In 2010 they held their first hoop retreat in Dallas. The next year they moved it to the Texas beach near Galveston, and Hottie Hoop Camp was officially born. At its largest, it included 54 people, two rented beach houses and an intensely busy week-long schedule that included hoop, burlesque, dance, yoga and fashion all done from a fiercely body positive perspective. They created their own teacher certification program under their business name, Punk Rock Hoops. They also created a series of 16 basic beginner lessons on their Punk Rock Hoops YouTube channel.

Now, both in their late 40s, they keep hooping. Asked how the world of hoop dance can be more inclusive, they don't hesitate. Rowan explains, "How about have furniture that fits many bodies... how about an activity designed for MOST people to do? You need adaptive techniques for bodies that don't find ease in movement and teachers who can break down what's not working and what is."

For Rowan, hooping allows a freedom not available with many other forms of exercise. "Hooping and flow arts are individual while being in community. So I didn't have to look like everyone else, I can look and land moves and have ease in my body in a way that doesn't mirror an instructor or follow a narrow description of what's 'right.' That's pretty freeing, being a part of an expressive and fitness community while not having to 'Wear Pink on Wednesdays.'"

After 10 years of camps they took a sabbatical this year due to the pandemic, but continue to get together every other Sunday with their friends to hoop in a park downtown, in an event they call Cool Honey's Circus. They are planning for the return of Hottie Hoop Camp next year, this time in the West Texas desert. And while their dance days in the park were shut down for a few months due to COVID-19, they're getting back to them with safety and social distancing practices. "We wear masks and stay far apart and don't hug (which hurts), but we need to see our people, and they need us too."

[See: The Best Exercise for Every Mood.]

Ragen Chastain is a speaker, writer and thought leader in the fields of body image, Health at Every Size, athletes at every size and corporate wellness. She is the author of the blogs DanceswithFat.org and Ironfat.com, and the book "Fat: The Owner's Manual." She's also editor of the Praeger Anthology "The Politics of Size" and co-founder of the Fit Fatties Facebook group. Ragen is frequently featured as an expert in radio, television and print, and appeared in the documentaries "Fattitude," "America the Beautiful 2," "A Stage for Size" and the PBS Independent Lens short "Ragen's More Cabaret." She is an ACE-certified health coach, functional fitness specialist, three-time national champion dancer, triathlete and two-time marathoner who holds the Guinness World Record for heaviest woman to complete a marathon. She lives in Los Angeles and is training for her first (and only!) Ironman triathlon. You can find out more at sizedforsuccess.com.

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Hula Hooping for Fitness and Health - Yahoo News

President Franklin D. Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, with Vietnam on his mind. President John F. Kennedy died on Nov. 22, 1963, 57 years ago this month, having told an aide to work up the Vietnam case for decision when he returned from Texas. My thesis is that if either had lived, we might not have had the Vietnam War which tore apart our society, violated the liberty of many young men and disseminated many families with the loss of life. No one knows what might have been, but here is some evidence.

Indochina (Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) had been colonized by France in the 19th century. During World War II, the area was controlled by Japan. The American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and the Viet Minh under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh (the leader of North Vietnam) cooperated together in anti-Japanese activities in the area. FDR did not want France to reassert its sovereignty over Indochina. At the Tehran Conference, FDR and Stalin agreed that Indochina should not go back to France and that a trusteeship was desirable.

FDR was opposed to colonialism anywhere in the world, and particularly wanted to prevent the French returning to Indochina. The United States was indeed preparing to grant independence to the Philippines in 1946. Ho Chi Minh on Sept. 2, 1945, declared independence for the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. He contacted the United States for its support. He noted the United States' support for independence for its colony, the Philippines.

If FDR had lived, it is entirely possible an amity relationship could have developed between Ho and the United States. It is possible this could have occurred in the trusteeship system being organized in the new United Nations. Russell H. Fifield in "Americans in Southeast Asia," wrote: If his trusteeship concept had been implemented, possibly two bloody and costly wars might have been avoided. But FDR died, and Vice President Harry S. Truman was not on the inside of decision-making with FDR; he went with the French inserting themselves into Indochina, which led to the French-Indochinese War ending with the Geneva Accords of 1954.

The United States saw the Geneva Accords as a communist victory. The Cold War had come to Southeast Asia. Our response was the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). Thailand was the only member of SEATO on Mainland Asia. SEATO was, if effect, an American protectorate of Thailand. South Vietnam was designated as a protocol state. Ngo Dinh Diem, a Catholic, with American support, became president of South Vietnam (another story), in a Buddhist country! Sink or swim with Ngo Dinh Diem, was the slogan.

November and December 1963 was a watershed moment. Diem was assassinated Nov. 2 (we knew there would be a coup, but JFK was shocked over Diems death), JFK was assassinated Nov. 22, and Thai Prime Minister Sarit Thanarat died of liver failure (some might say of wine, women, and song) on Dec. 8 at age 55. These three deaths left a vacuum. Again, an American vice president, Lyndon Johnson, not in the inner decision-making circle, became president, and wound up committing over 500,000 troops and bombing North Vietnam to create a major American war, necessitating the military draft and costing 47,434 American battle deaths. Would JFK have done this?

A year earlier in the Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK went with his legal/political advisers, not his military advisers, who wanted to invade Cuba. According to Robert Kennedy in his book "Thirteen Days," JFK was suspicious of military advice; it seemed they always wanted to go to war. It is likely JFK would have continued his clear and hold/strategic hamlet strategy within a counterguerrilla framework. President Johnson, on the other hand, followed his military advisers and pursued a search and destroy strategy. JFK had said he did not want to institute the military draft. He had said he did not want to turn the conflict into an American war. He wanted to conceptualize the conflict as something other than a war, perhaps as a challenge of nation-building. JFK was close to academics at major universities as constituents; they were predominately anti-war.

Perhaps, Roger Hilsman said it best in "To Move a Nation:" If South Vietnam could not be won, then the United States could accept the resulting situation and would be free to enter negotiations without fatal consequences to our position in the rest of Asia. In other words, Thailand would remain secure. No domino theory here.

James W. Pfister, J.D. University of Toledo, Ph.D. University of Michigan, retired after 46 years in the Political Science Department at Eastern Michigan University. He lives in Devils Lake and can be reached at jpfister@emich.edu.

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James W. Pfister: Untimely deaths of FDR and JFK and the Vietnam War - Monroe Evening News

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Toffee Market Will Reflect Significant Growth Prospects of US$ Mn during 2020-2028 with Major Key Player - Eurowire

Polycarbonate Resin Market Overview 2020 2028

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Key Competitors of the Global Polycarbonate Resin Market are: Sabic Innovative Plastics Bayer Materialscience Ag Teijin Ltd. Mitsubishi Engineering-Plastics Corporation Chi Mei Corporation Formosa Chemicals & Fiber Corporation Lg Chem Ltd. Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd. Samyang Corporation Thai Polycarbonate Co. Ltd. Trinseo Llc

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Major Product Types covered are: (Aliphatic, Alicyclic group, Aromatics )

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Polycarbonate Resin Market Incredible Possibilities, Growth Analysis and Forecast To 2028 - Eurowire

American podium participants at the 2008 Phuket Open (left to right) are Jeremy Akers, Angiel Akers, Jen Kessy, Jeff Conover, April Ross, Tyra Turner and Chad Turner.

Lausanne, Switzerland, November 8, 2020 - In the history of the womens competition on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, Jen Kessy and April Ross rank ninth among all teams in gold medals. The American pair captured two of those titles in back-to-back seasons in Thailand this week in history.

The podium-topping finishes on Karon Beach in the Thai coastal resort of Phuket happened on back-to-back days with Kessy and Ross defeating American rivals in both the gold medal matches on November 8, 2008 and November 9, 2009.

The gold medal win 11 years ago today was the sixth of 10 Kessy/Ross titles as the pair posted a two set win over Angie Akers and Tyra Turner. The victory was the seventh-straight win for Kessy and Ross in the series between the two teams. Eleven years later, Akers is now coaching Ross and Alix Klineman.

After defeating Nicole Branagh and Turner in a three-set, 63-minute match for a 2008 Phuket gold medal for their second World Tour title together on November 9, Kessy and Ross topped another FIVB podium seven days later in China by defeating two host country teams on the final day of play in Sanya.

Ross joins Brazilian Larissa Franca and compatriot Kerri Walsh Jennings as the only women to win 10 or more World Tour gold medals with two different partners. Ross and Walsh Jennings amassed 11 FIVB titles together.

Larissa accomplished the feat with Juliana Felisberta (45 titles) and Talita Antunes (16) with Walsh Jennings capturing 40 FIVB gold medals with Misty May-Treanor. Larissa and Walsh Jennings rank 1-2 in overall gold medals with 62 and 56, respectively.

Six beach volleyball Olympians celebrate birthdays this week, including legendary Brazilian Franco Neto. A 16-time winner on the FIVB World Tour with four different partners over a 14-season period, Franco turns 54 on Wednesday. Franco won 13 FIVB gold medals with Roberto Lopes as the pair placed ninth at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.

Olympians celebrating birthdays today are Sydney 2000 participant Zi Xiong of China and Rio 2016 performer Doaa Elghobashy of Egypt. The 44-year old Xiong captured one FIVB Challenge title in 2001 with Rong Chi after the pair placed ninth in Sydney. Elghobashy is 24 today and placed 19th in Rio with Nada Meawad.

Mexican Olympians Lombardo Ontiveros (37 Monday) and Teresa Galindo (50 Thursday) celebrate birthdays this week along with American Gail Castro Kehl, who turns 63 Thursday. Ontiveros and Juan Virgen placed ninth in the Rio Summer Games.

Galindo and Hilda Gaxiola were 19th in the Sydney Olympics after losing to eventual champions Natalie Cook/Kerri Pottharst and Xiong/Chi. Castro Kehl, who captured a 1994 World Tour event in Puerto Rico with Elaine Roque, was ninth at the Atlanta 1996 Summer Games with Deb Richardson.

Here are the FIVB gold medals for the November 8-14 time period.

November 8

In 2009, KessyandRoss won the Phuket Open. It was the sixth of 10 FIVB World Tour wins for the team.

In 2014, Tim HollerandJonas Schroder of Germany won the Doha Open. It was the first and only FIVB World Tour win for the team.

November 9

In 2008, KessyandRoss won the Phuket Open. It was the second of 10 FIVB World Tour wins for the team.

In 2014, Linline MatauatuandMiller Pata of Vanuatu won the Pattaya Challenger. It was the first and only FIVB win for the team.

In 2019, Samuele CottafavaandJakob Windisch of Italy won the Tel Aviv Open. It was the second of two FIVB World Tour wins for the team.

In 2019, Reika MurakamiandKaho Sakaguchi of Japan won the Tel Aviv Open. It was the first and only FIVB World Tour win for the team.

November 10

In 1996, Monica RodriguesandAdriana Samuel of Brazil won the Salvador Open. It was the second of five FIVB World Tour wins for the team.

November 11

In 2007, Jia TianandJie Wang of China won the Hong Kong Challenger. It was the sixth and final FIVB win for the team.

November 12

In 1995, Francisco AlvarezandJuan Rossell of Cuba won the Puerto Rico Open. It was the first of two FIVB wins for the team.

In 1995, Karolyn KirbyandNancy Reno won the Puerto Rico Open. It was the third and final FIVB World Tour win for the team.

November 13

In 2015, Markus BockermannandLars Fluggen of Germany won the Qatar Open. It was the second of three FIVB World Tour wins for the team.

November 14

In 1993, Kirby and Liz Masakayan won the Santos Open. It was the first of three FIVB World Tour wins for the team.

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News - Kessy & Ross back-to-back winners in Phuket this week in history - FIVB.com

November 04, 2020 15:00 ET | Source: Dony Garment

photo-release

The small country located in the south of China is growing in the manufacturing market and gradually becoming one of the world's largest clothing and apparel exporters.

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Nov. 04, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Home to a population of over 92 million, Vietnam houses a thriving textile industry with manufacturers of almost every niche of clothing running businesses. The south-east Asian nations textile industry is one of the largest globally, right behind China and Bangladesh, and has shown a remarkable potential to trump both its market competitors.

The probability may soon become a reality, especially in a post-COVID world where most brands are choosing to move away from China and its facilities, amid rising labor expenses and a global dissatisfaction towards the Communist nation where the ongoing pandemic originated.

Despite the slowdown caused by the rapid spread of the novel Coronavirus, Vietnams textiles and apparel sector witnessed earnings of US$16.18 million, of which over US$ 13 million were from exports conducted in the first six months. It has even surpassed Bangladesh to become the worlds second-largest textile importer, a laurel the country is confident it will carry for a long time to come.

So if you are searching for a reliable supplier for your clothing manufacturing needs, look no further for you have zeroed in on the right destination. You can get a wide variety of items manufactured in the country, and the list includes, but is not limited to

There are quite a few advantages of choosing aVietnam manufacturer's clothing, which include trade agreements with several countries, fast turnaround time, and high-quality products for reasonable prices. A detailed discussion of these aspects follows

a.EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) Discussed in 2015, this bilateral trade agreement is expected to come into force by the end of 2020, permitting Vietnamese and European businesses to trade freely, besides letting European investors and firms set up manufacturing units sans restrictions in Vietnam.

b.Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) This trade arrangement will let Vietnam conduct exports to and receive foreign direct investments from 13 countries, including Canada, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, and Singapore. If all goes as planned, this arrangement will spur a massive inflow of funds into the Vietnamese economy, strengthening its manufacturing capabilities further.

Let us now look at some of the prominent clothing manufacturers in Vietnam with a proven track record and a good reputation among buyers.

Allclothing manufacturers in Vietnamhave predetermined minimum order quantities and specific turnaround times depending on the kind of product ordered, which must be kept in mind before placing an order.

Besides, some manufacturers only work with large brands and bulk orders. Following is a list of manufacturers with brief descriptions.

1.Dony Garment Company (focus on casual fashion, uniforms, and workwear)

Set up in 2009, it is a subsidiary of the Dony International Corporation. It is one of the largest producers of uniforms, workwear, casual-swear in the domestic market. With a business presence in the USA, France, KSA, UK, Australia, Belgium, Singapore, Germany, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Jodan, South Africa, Finland, Greece, Denmark, Canada, Egypt, Japan markets.

Dony was one of the first manufacturers in Vietnam to begin producing protective wear like face mask & protective clothing early on in the year when the global pandemic had just started taking shape.

With a minimum order quantity (MOQ) of just 200 pieces, Dony is a good fit for even small apparel businesses that cannot afford to purchase in very high volumes. They even offer the flexibility of combining different designs to meet the MOQ and provide samples at a nominal cost of US$ 100, which is accounted for if a bulk order follows.

Dony Garment is proficient at manufacturing (all types of embroidered, printed, and branded)t-shirt, shirt, polo-shirt, dress, hat, pants, sweatshirts, hoodies, fleeces, jackets, softshells, trousers, blouses, waterproofs, headwear, coveralls, cloth face mask, workwear uniform, medical protective clothing, etc.

They have a fantastic turnaround time of approximately 2-5 weeks, depending on order quantity, design, and requirements. The design and the technical team take about 3-5 days to thoroughly understand the customers needs, followed by an additional 5-7 days to produce samples. To give a fair idea, Dony is capable of producing about 50,000 pieces of t-shirts per month.

The finished products are delivered to buyers via sea or air cargo, or by courier services at rates decided as part of the business agreement.

Dony has ISO, Intertek, CE, FDA, TUV REACH, and various other certifications.

Here is a list of FAQs provided by the Dony Garment Company:

Q: Whats your minimum order quantity?

A: Our MOQ is 200 pcs per design with different colors and mixed sizes.

Q: Do you provide samples?

A: We are able to offer samples for your testing before you place a bulk order. The sample fee is 100 USD which will be refunded as soon as you place a bulk order. The sample is only to let you know about our quality and workmanship.

Q: Can we mix design to hit the MOQ?

A: Yes, you can combine several styles to meet MOQ of fabric. We are willing to start with a small quantity for the test orders. We are flexible with minimum order quantity because we understand that MOQ depends on the requirements of your buying cycle.

Q: What are your key products or your strengths?

A: We are able to offer garments like T-Shirts, Shirts, Polo-Shirts, Workwear, Dresses, Hats, Jackets, Pants, Face Mask, and Protective Clothing. We excel at printing and embroidering our customers logo.

We have many types of services: EXW, FOB, CIF, DDU, DDP, CM, CMPT, Full Packaged Product (One-Stop-Shop).

Q: Have you got a design or technical team?

A: Yes, we have very strong and professional technical and development teams who are able to start with just the picture or the idea and make it into a finished product. They can work independently to suggest the construction, necessary materials, accessories as well as product performance and appearance.

Q: Whats the lead time for the samples and how do you charge?

A: Normally, it will take 3-5 days to properly acquire the customers idea and requirement and 5-7 days for sample development. Samples fee is 100 USD and will be refunded once the bulk order is fixed

Q: What is the lead time of a normal order?

A: Normally, it is 2-5 weeks (depending on order quantity, design, and requirements).

Q: What is your production capacity?

A: We can produce approximately 50,000 pcs of T-shirts/month, 250.000 face mask/day.

Q: What about the shipment and how do you charge?

A: It can be by sea or air or courier. The charge depends on agreed delivery terms, weight, or CBM as well as the destination you want.

Q: What are your payment terms?

A: Our payment terms: T/T, L/C.

2.Thai Son S.P Sewing Factory

A family-owned business established in 1985 is one of the significant sewing and clothing factories in Ho Chi Minh City. It is well-known for manufacturing various clothing items for all ages and gender using circular knitted fabric. It currently employs over 1,000 workers and owns more than 1,200 machines in two factories with a combined production capacity of approximately 250,000 t-shirts per month.

It supplies garments for several companies in the USA, Canada, Russia, Australia, and Europe and counts Macys and Calvin Klein among its clientele. While their MOQ is 1000 pieces per style, they are flexible about it depending on client requirements. With a turnaround time ranging between 60-110 days depending on order quantity and design, they can manufacture up to 500-1,000 pieces per style if allowed to combine fabrics.

3.9mode Clothing Manufacturer

Where most clothing manufacturers in Vietnam have high minimum order quantities and bulk order volumes, making them viable options for big brands and companies, 9mode Clothing Manufacturers business model is compatible with the needs of small scale buyers, without compromising on quality. They have very low MOQs and manufacture customized designs for buyers in the USA, Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand.

They specialize in manufacturing dresses, hoodies, t-shirts and tops, jeans, swimwear, sportswear, and headwear. With over 250 workers employed across various departments, their factory in Ho Chi Minh has been operational since 2006. They also utilize the services of a vast network of sub-contractors who handle multiple portions of the manufacturing process. The final meticulous quality check, however, is always conducted by 9mode experts.

4.Thygesen Textile Vietnam Company Ltd

Owned by the Thygesen Textile Group, set up in 1931 and had its headquarters in Ikast, Denmark, this manufacturing facility operates out of its offices in Hanoi. Earlier known as Thygesen Fabrics Vietnam Company Ltd, the company set up its first factory in Vietnam in 2004.

The parent firm also owns factories in the USA, China, Slovakia, and Mexico, most of which have multiple international certifications and accreditations, including Oeko-Tex 100, BSCI, SA 8000, WRAP, and ISO 9001:2008. With an average production time ranging between 8-12 weeks depending on the design and number of pieces required, the firm specializes in manufacturing kids wear, knitted wear, hospital wear, casual clothing, etc. They are also among the handful of Vietnam factories that manufacture textiles for medical use, including bandages and other such products.

5.G & G II Garments Factory

Set up in 2002, this particular company stands out among its peers by offering private labels clothing. With design offices in the USA and their homeland, they come up with new fashion lines every year with the help of in-house designers.

However, they also manufacture clothes according to buyer designs and requirements and have a strong presence in the US, Europe, and other nations. They are proficient makers of dresses, pants, sportswear, suits, jackets, knitwear, t-shirts, and scarves, and are proud recipients of accreditations from several international agencies for their standards and quality.

6.Dong Nai Industrial Garment Company

Established in 1987 in Bien Hoa city of Dong Nai province, they specialize in making womens and mens jackets for European, Russian, Japanese, Korean, and Hong Kong markets. They also make sportswear, bottom wear, and casual wear.

Their factory has over 11 lines with 500 sewing machines and other specialized equipment and employs over 400 people. Their annual production capacity stands at approximately 300,000 pieces depending on the design.

7.United Sweethearts Garment

A subsidiary of Malaysia-based MWE Holdings Berhad was established in 1970. United Sweethearts Garment was also set up in Malaysia in 1984 and proceeded to start manufacturing units in Vietnam in 2002.

Their factories are located in Dong Nai and Dong Nai Phase 3 and count Nike, Under Armour, and Lacoste, among their esteemed clients, well-known for their sportswear and casual wear products.

8.Vert

Founded in 2006, Vert serves as a one-stop-meets-all destination for the requirements of international clients. Their expertise lies in manufacturing contemporary outerwear, and their trademark lies in the fact that all their products are entirely handmade.

While headquartered in Hanoi, their manufacturing unit operates out of Kim Trang, Bac Giang, and they also run a sales office in Bussum, Netherlands. The niche manufacturer is also the proud recipient of several international accreditation and sustainability certifications bestowed by several prestigious organizations, including SA8000 and BSCI.

Bottom Line

The small country located in the south of China is growing in the manufacturing market and gradually becoming one of the world's largest clothing and apparel exporters. Vietnam is considered a developing country, but it can manufacture high-quality clothes while offering lower production costs.

Considering the sheer number of manufacturers, buyers have a wide variety of options to choose from and identify a company that can adequately meet their requirements.

Given the availability of labor, low production cost, and the variations manufacturing units can handle, the garment-producing industry in Vietnam is all set to see a significant growth spurt in the post-pandemic world.

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Vietnam Garment Manufacturer The Emerging Player In The Textile Manufacturing Industry - GlobeNewswire

Despite the ongoing health crisis, state and citywide shutdowns, construction issues, and delayed permitting due to government closures, dozens of restaurants have managed to open around Atlanta since April. While some restaurants listed here allow seating on the patio or are open for limited dine-in service, most establishments offer online ordering for takeout and delivery, and even to-go windows.

It should be noted that the number of COVID-19 cases in Georgia continues to surge, and while studies indicate there is a lower exposure risk when dining outdoors, the same precautions should be taken outside as inside a dining room. This includes social distancing, keeping prolonged, face-to-face interactions to a minimum, and wearing masks when not eating or drinking or when social distancing isnt possible.

Check back for updates as Eater continues to track restaurant openings.

The Companion

Located in the Bolton neighborhood, longtime Steinbecks Ale House chef Andy Gonzales opened the Companion days prior to the statewide shelter-in-place order in April. Gonzales and his team continue to slay the takeout game. Check out the Companions dinner specials posted to Instagram and Facebook. Orders are picked up from the garage door window on the patio. Call to order.

Talat Market

This Summerhill Thai restaurant from chefs Parnass Lim Savang and Rod Lassiter opened for takeout in mid-April. Situated inside a renovated neighborhood store, Talat Market offers an a la carte menu of 10 to 12 Thai and Thai-inspired dishes. Menus are posted online and Instagram daily. Orders can be placed starting at 12 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. The pair are encouraging curbside pick-up, asking people to remain in their cars and call upon arrival. Open for takeout only. Order online.

Hot Dog Petes

Hot Dog Petes opened in June on the edge of Georgia Avenue in Summerhill. The hot dog joint is open for dine-in and patio service, but includes options to order online for takeout or delivery via DoorDash. The restaurant shares patio space for up to 50 people with neighboring sister restaurant Hero Doughnuts. Open for dine-in service and takeout and delivery.

Slim and Huskys Pizza Beeria

After putting its March opening on hold due to the COVID-19 health crisis, Nashville-based Slim and Huskys opened its second Atlanta location in Adair Park. In addition to its pizzas, the restaurant also offers pastas, salads, and cinnamon rolls and a selection of mostly local beers on tap. Open for dine-in and patio service. Order online for takeout or delivery.

Aviva by Kameel

Chef Kameel Srouji opened the second location of his popular downtown Atlanta Mediterranean food stall at the Collective food hall in Midtown. Like the downtown location, the stall includes Avivas most popular dishes like its falafel, chicken shawarma, baba ghanoush, Nazareth salad, and baklava. Theres also a family-sized fish dinner offered for takeout on Fridays and Saturdays. Order online for takeout and delivery via UberEats, GrubHub, and DoorDash. Limited dine-in service.

Cafe West

Described as a California-inspired restaurant, Cafe West at Westside Provisions District offers seating inside and a similar menu to its Buckhead counterpart. Think vegan burgers, vegan and non-vegan soups like lentil or spicy chicken, wraps, salads, brown rice bowls, fresh-pressed juices, and vitamin-packed smoothies. Open for limited dine-in service. Order online for takeout and delivery.

Lake and Oak Barbecue

The new Southern barbecue restaurant, owned by chefs Todd Richards and Josh Lee, opened for takeout at the Hosea + 2nd development in East Lake. The patio is available for seating, but there is no timeline set for when the restaurant will open for dine-in service. Order online or at the takeout window. Follow on Instagram and Facebook for updates and menus.

SriThai Kitchen and Sushi

This Thai and Japanese restaurant opened at Atlantic Station in Midtown after the planned March opening was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The restaurant is located above the Pig and the Pearl smokehouse on Atlantic Drive. Open for dine-in service. Order online for takeout and delivery via GrubHub, DoorDash, and UberEats.

Slutty Vegan

The second location of Westview-based vegan burger restaurant Slutty Vegan opened in the south metro Atlanta city of Jonesboro. The Jonesboro restaurant features an expanded menu with more choices and new items, like a sea moss banana pudding. Unlike the Westview restaurant, the Jonesboro location includes indoor seating. However, the dining room is currently closed. Masks are required. Open for takeout. Order at the counter.

Outrun Brewing

Metro Atlantas latest craft brewery, owned by Josh Miller and Ryan Silva, opened in Stone Mountain with a 1980s vibe. The brewerys moniker is an homage to the 1980s Sega arcade game of the same name. Outruns current beer lineup includes a sour, a Mexican lager, a stout, and an IPA called Members Only, a reference to the highly popular 1980s racer jacket. Seating available outdoors. Limited seating in the taproom. Follow on Instagram for updates.

Barleygarden Kitchen and Bar

The Alpharetta-based gastropub opened a second location at Pinewood Forest in Fayetteville above Hop City Beer. Barleygarden features a large covered patio and bar with some indoor seating. Chef Brian Carsons expanded menu includes dishes from the Avalon location in Alpharetta, as well as the companys West End restaurant, Boxcar. Open for dine-in service.

There Midtown

A second location of Brookhaven-based There Gastropub opened on 5th Street in Midtown, taking over the former Barrelhouse space. Like the Brookhaven restaurant, the Midtown location features a similar menu, which includes everything from soups, salads, and burgers, to crawfish etouffee, tuna tartar flatbread, and pesto pasta. Open for limited dine-in service and takeout.

Delbar

Owned by former Rumis Kitchen manager Fares Kargar, Delbar opened in the former Daily Tavern space on Inman Village Parkway. The menu focuses on Persian, Turkish, and Israeli entrees and shared plates. Open for limited dine-in and patio service. Order online for takeout.

Glide Pizza

Glide Pizza, owned by Rob Birdsong, opened inside Irwin Street Market along the Eastside Beltline. Glide Pizza serves slices and 20-inch Brooklyn-style pies for takeout or local delivery via electric bicycle. Order online or at the takeout window outside the market. No dine-in service at this time.

Hero Doughnuts

Hero Doughnuts opened on Georgia Avenue in Summerhill. The Homewood, Alabama-based doughnut and burger shop shares a large patio with newly opened Hot Dog Petes next door. Open for dine-in service. Order online for takeout and delivery via UberEats.

Breadwinner Cafe

The second location of Sandy Springs-based Breadwinner Cafe and Bakery opened in the former Wright Gourmet Sandwich Shoppe in Dunwoody Village for soup, salads, sandwiches, baked goods,and grab-and-go food. Open for limited dine-in service. Order online for takeout and delivery via UberEats and GrubHub.

Apt. 4B

Sim Walker, the restaurateur behind Southern brunch spot Ms. Iceys Kitchen and Bar, opened Apt. 4B in the former 1 Kept space on Peachtree in Buckhead. Chef Dayana Joseph blends Caribbean flavors and ingredients with French preparation methods on the menu. Think starters like duck wings a lorange and cracked conch with a Scotch Bonnet pepper emulsion, followed by entrees such as oxtail bucatini with meat slow braised in Haitian spices and roasted mackerel escovitch. Reservations only. Takeout menu forthcoming.

Perc Coffee

Perc Coffee Roasters opened at the Hosea + 2nd development in East Lake. The Savannah-based coffee shop features a walk-up window and serves sandwiches during breakfast and lunch. Check out the menu here. Open for takeout only. Patio seating available.

Daily Dose

Daily Dose, from the team behind Read Shop in Vinings and the Merchant at Krog Street Market, opened at Madison Yards along Memorial Drive in Reynoldstown. The shop serves coffee made with Stumptown Coffee beans and pastries from Atlanta-based Alons Bakery. In addition to coffee and baked goods, Daily Dose also sells books, cookbooks, magazines, and coffee accessories and bags of Stumptown beans. Counter service. Open daily.

Fowling Warehouse

The Atlanta location of Detroit-based gaming bar Fowling Warehouse is open on English Street in the Blandtown neighborhood. Fowling [FOH-ling] combines football and bowling. Food from chef Demetrius Brown includes a double stack burger topped with pimento cheese, hickory smoked wings, barbecue shrimp, a Philly cheesesteak, and herb fries tossed in truffle oil and topped with parmesan, garlic, rosemary, sage, and chives. Limited capacity. Masks required. Dine-in service. Reservations highly encouraged. Liquor license forthcoming.

Grindhouse Killer Burgers Brookhaven

The Brookhaven location of Grindhouse Killer Burgers opened at the Dresden Pointe development, behind the Brookhaven MARTA station. Like the Decatur location, the Brookhaven restaurant also includes a 21-and-up rooftop bar. For now, Grindhouse-Brookhaven is only open for takeout and delivery via DoorDash. To-go orders can be placed online or through the Grindhouse mobile app

Pho King Express

An outpost of Pho King Express is open at the Window at the Met on Murphy Avenue in West End. The menu features pho, banh mi, egg rolls, and rice and noodle dishes. Open Monday - Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., for takeout and delivery via UberEats. Call 770-371-4612 or order online for takeout.

Pizza Jeans

The owners of Root Baking Co. opened Pizza Jeans on the second floor of Ponce City Market. For now, Pizza Jeans will only be open for takeout and delivery on Fridays and Saturdays. Hours could expand soon. Dine-in service is delayed due to the pandemic. Order online for takeout or delivery. People are required to wear masks when picking up their orders.

Grub Fresh Bowls and Wraps

Grub Fresh Bowls & Wraps opened in Hapeville on Virginia Avenue near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The quick-service restaurant with its menu from chef Kelley Hicks serves dishes like a jerk chicken bowl with sauted peppers and onions, pineapple salsa, and mango jerk sauce, a sweet and spicy salmon bowl comprising of edamame, shredded cabbage, green onions, sesame seeds, sweet chili, and hericot vert, and a Philly cheesesteak. A vegan menu is forthcoming. Order online for contactless pick-up and delivery via DoorDash, UberEats, Grubhub, and Postmates. Limited outdoor seating.

Buena Gente

After years of running their Cuban bakery and sandwich operation Buena Gente from a mobile teardrop camper or ventanita (little window,) owners Manny Rodriguez and Stacie Antich now have a permanent shop in Decatur. Currently, Buena Gente is takeout only, with people ordering food at the counter. Masks are required, and no more than three people are allowed inside the small shop. Online ordering forthcoming. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Wheres the Scoop

Thai rolled ice cream shop Wheres the Scoop opened at Alpharetta City Center, behind Smokejack BBQ. This is the second location of the Thai-inspired rolled ice cream cafe, owned by Zak Khimji and Zein Rahemtulla. Open for takeout. Masks required.

Pho Ga Tony Tony

A second location of Philly import Pho Ga Tony Tony opened at the City Farmers Market complex on Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth. The restaurant serves chicken pho (or pho ga) as either a fully composed bowl consisting of chicken and noodles swimming in an herby broth or as a bowl of broth and noodles with a whole or half chicken served on the side. Open for takeout, curbside pick-up, and delivery via DoorDash. Masks required.

Cubanos ATL

Cuban sandwich and coffee shop Cubanos ATL opened inside a custom-built tiny house on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. In addition to its sandwiches, Cubanos ATL also serves Cuban coffee and coffee drinks, like the colada and cafe con leche, and flan for dessert. Order online for pick-up or fill out a disposable menu in line to hand to the cashier at the window. Closed Sunday and Monday.

Breakfast at Barneys

Breakfast at Barneys part brunch spot and part daytime social club opened on Decatur Street just south of downtown for dine-in service and takeout. Owned by Morris Brown College alumni and friends Barney Lee Berry Jr. and Dr. Rashad Sanford, Breakfast at Barneys combines decadent Southern breakfast fare with stylish design and music. Open for dine-in service and takeout and delivery via UberEats.

Yumbii

Korean taco and burrito restaurant Yumbii opened its second Atlanta location at the Toco Hill shopping complex. Open for dine-in service and takeout and delivery. Masks required.

Holmes Slice

Pizza stall and slice joint Holmes Slice opened inside the food hall at the Halcyon development in south Forsyth County. The stall, owned by chef Taylor Neary of Restaurant Holmes in Alpharetta, serves New York-, West Coast-, and Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas. Masks required. Open for takeout.

Boones

Boones restaurant opened at the Bobby Jones Golf Course on Northside Drive in Buckhead. Located in the Murray Golf House overlooking the links, the restaurant serving upscale, new American cuisine. Open for dine-in service. Masks required.

ABC Chicken and Waffles

Osiris Ballard and chef Anthony Sanders, the pair behind downtowns Atlanta Breakfast Club, opened their second restaurant ABC Chicken and Waffles in the historic Sweet Auburn District. Open for dine-in service and takeout. Masks required.

Chi Chi Vegan Taco Shop

Vegan taqueria Chi Chi Vegan Taco Shop opened at the renovated 1 Moreland Avenue. The restaurant, owned by chef Chris Hodge, serves tacos, nachos, burritos, and rice bowls free of dairy, eggs, and, of course, meat. Order online. Masks required. Open Tuesday - Saturday, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Table25 Fork + Wine

Siblings Tekeya Priester and chef Keon Garrett opened Table25 Fork + Wine in hopes of providing the residents of Douglasville with a Buckhead-inspired dining experience. Described as a chic establishment for fine casual dining, Table25 Fork + Wine serves a menu filled with dishes such as fried lobster and collard greens, salmon beurre blanc with grilled asparagus over rustic mashed potatoes and desserts, like an oat crumb apple pie or molten chocolate lava cake. Reservations are highly encouraged. Masks required. Takeout available.

BBQ Cafe

BBQ Cafe in Decatur serves traditional, slow-smoked barbecue rooted in recipes from Mississippi. Meats on the menu here include pulled pork, ribs, and brisket, and smoked chicken and pulled turkey on the weekends, with Southern sides like Brunswick stew, corn salad, bread and butter pickles, and baked beans. Order online for takeout. Masks required.

Woodward and Park

Woodward and Park opened across from Full Commission at the Larkin on Memorial. Chef Dan Browns menu at the neighborhood bistro features a mix of dishes ranging from tempura avocado, pierogis, and okonomiyaki, to entrees such as steak frites, smoked chicken, and a Korean pork Philly sandwich. The bar offers wine, beer, and cocktails. Open for dine-in and patio service. Masks highly encouraged. Call for curbside takeout.

Krungthep Tea Time

Florida-based Krungthep Tea Time is now open for takeout and delivery from a ghost kitchen on Forrest Street in the northwest Atlanta neighborhood of Berkeley Park. Beyond its popular Thai tea and coffee drinks, food offered at the Atlanta location includes a selection of brick toasts and sandwiches, like the tomyum goong made with marinated shrimp, or the satay satay stuffed with chunks of marinated grilled chicken dressed in a curry peanut sauce. Order at the counter or online. Order online for pick-up or delivery via ChowNow, UberEats, Postmates, GrubHub, or DoorDash. Masks required.

Be Banh Mi

A new banh mi shop is now open in the Koreatown Plaza complex on Buford Highway. For now, the temporary menu comprises of just six sandwiches, including teriyaki chicken, meatball, and a classic c bit. In addition to takeout, Be Banh Mi is only permitting 10 people to dine inside at one time during the pandemic. Masks required.

Good Morning Breakfast Bar

Dennis McKinley (the Original Hot Dog Factory) opened Good Morning Breakfast Bar in the former Puff and Petals lounge on Edgewood Avenue. The menu centers around fried biscuits, along with breakfast scrambles. Open 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily.

C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar

A second location of C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar opened at the Modera complex on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. The menu features C&S Seafood standards for lunch and dinner, like the chargrilled oysters, lobster roll, and prime New York strip steak. Open for dine-in service. Masks highly encouraged.

Hobnob Neighborhood Tavern

The third location of Atlanta-based Hobnob Neighborhood Tavern opened at the emerging Halcyon development in southern Forsyth County. The restaurant features two patios overlooking the greenspace at the development. The second floor patio, dubbed Hobnob High Up, is reserved for people 21 years and up. Open for dine-in service. Masks highly encouraged. Takeout with online ordering and delivery via Grubhub and UberEats.

Brown Bag Seafood Company

Chicago restaurateur Donna Lee opened a location of her popular restaurant Brown Bag Seafood Company this Thursday at Colony Square in Midtown. The counter-serve spot offers sustainable seafood on its menu served as salads, tacos, sandwiches, and grain bowls. Open for dine-in service. Masks required. Order online for takeout and delivery.

Cheba Hut

Stoner-themed sub shop Cheba Hut opened the first of three Atlanta locations. The Arizona-based sandwich chain resides on the ground floor of the newly constructed Signature West Midtown apartment complex on Marietta Street. Open for dine-in service, takeout, and delivery via DoorDash. Order online. Masks required.

Nicks Westside

After opening French Provenal restaurant Aix and adjoining wine bar Tin Tin nearly two years ago along Brady Avenue, chef Nick Leahy closed both and reopened the space as a neighborhood restaurant and bar called Nicks Westside. Open for dine-in service and takeout. Masks required.

Biltong Bar

A third location of South African restaurant Biltong Bar, known for its beef jerkies and boozy cocktails, opened with two patios and a rooftop bar at Avalon in Alpharetta. Part of the True Story Brands restaurant group, which also owns Yebo Beach Haus and 10 Degrees South, Biltong Bar takes its name from a type of South African dried, cured meat. Open for dine-in service, retail purchases, and takeout. Masks required.

Mukja Korean Fried Chicken

Mukja Korean Fried Chicken opened in Midtown and melds Korean flavors and ingredients into its wings and fried chicken dishes on the menu. Sides include kimchi mac and cheese and Korean coleslaw made with red cabbage and scallions tossed in gochugaru vinaigrette. Order at the counter or via Doordash. Masks required.

Elsewhere Brewing

Elsewhere Brewing opened at the Beacon complex in Grant Park. Owners Sam and Sara Kazmer took inspiration from the Belgian cafes, Bavarian beer gardens, and English pubs they visited while traveling in Europe to create a drinking hall with a cafe vibe. Elsewhere features 11 beers on tap and a food menu featuring a variety of empanadas, weekly pasta specials, sandwiches, milanese dishes, and grilled meats. Open for dine-in service. Masks required. Online ordering forthcoming.

Slutty Vegan

Read the rest here:

New Atlanta Restaurants That Opened During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic - Eater Atlanta

I woke up on the morning of 5 November to a pleasant surprise on Whats-App. There were less than 10 good morning" messages with pictures of sunrises (or sunsets, who can tell?) accompanied by pious banalities. Most of the posts were on the United States presidential election results. At least on one day of the year, I had been spared the task of scrolling through 50 platitudes and deleting them.

The success we see in someone else is the proof that it is possible for us too!" My pain may be the reason for someone elses laugh. But my laugh must never be the reason for somebodys pain" (this one with a Charlie Chaplin picture). May the shells on the beach remind you that treasures arrive every day in the form of simple things!" There is always another chance for everything in life. But the fact is there is no chance of another life." Be an encourager. The world has plenty of critics already." Yesterday is the memory we made for today. So make today a good day to remember tomorrow."

The ones involving God particularly get my goat. God loves you. He will be there for you. He will make way for you. He will wipe away your tears. He will be your best friend. Have a wonderful day." God never takes a day off to love, to care, to keep us safe and guide us in every moment in our lives. May His presence be with you always." I am unsure about the grammar here. Shouldnt it be God never takes a day off from loving, caring. keeping us safe" and so on?

But even more irritating are the folks who reply to each and every such post. I mean, do you really have nothing better to do? Like watching cat videos, cutting your toenails, or pondering the deeply metaphysical question about why only that part of your back itches which you cant reach with your fingers? So one has to endure messages like: Thank you X for your wonderful message (various emojis here). You have a great day and the same to all my dear friends." What a lovely thought! We should all try to live by this principle." Or the most inane of all: What a bright message Y (emoji). You have a good weekend (emoji)." What is the point of sending these notes of appreciation? What purpose do they serve? Do the persons posting these pointless thank-yous get actually inspired and decide to spend the rest of their lives following these noble tenets? Or do they just want to be popular, acknowledging mass messages? Or are their limbs so flexible that their fingers can reach every part of their backs?

I have met a few people in my life who were great devotees of the Dale Carnegie philosophy of self-improvement and interpersonal skills (essentially salesmanship), who tried to make friends" with any stranger they met, and I dont want to see them again. Their constant and often forced good cheer was unbearable. Why this desperate need for everyone to like you?

However, I do grudgingly admire the people who send these good morning messages. These are disciplined human beings. Wake up every day (this species, I have found, invariably gets out of bed at dawn or even before that), do your ablutions and whatever else you domorning walk, jog, Surya namaskarand then search the net for an inspirational quote, keeping in mind not to repeat yourself or anything others may have posted. Many of them may also be selecting a quote, then a picture, and laying that quote out on the picture in what they think is a fitting and aesthetic manner. Following this routine for years surely improves memory and keeps Alzheimers at bay. These people must also be big consumers of the motivational industry and are contributing billions of dollars to the global economy. Whether this improves ones aptitude in anything, though, is open to doubt.

The human impulse driving these good morning messages, one assumes, is the pressure that many people feel to stay positive all the time. But why should we be that way? From Gautam Buddha to Osho to modern psychologists, many have seen the relentless pursuit of positive thinking as, at best, unnecessary and, at worst, harmful. Osho went so far as to say: The philosophy of positive thinking means being untruthful; it means being dishonest. It means seeing a certain thing and yet denying what you have seen; it means deceiving yourself and others."

All of us have a subconscious self, and denying the negative feelings down there gets us nowhere. This renders our smiles and attitudes hypocritical and in the end stresses us out. There is nothing wrong in feeling low for a while, or seeing a dark cloud without a silver lining. Maybe what we need is to attack that cloud methodically, calmly, rationally, removing ones personality from the process, and not pointlessly stay positive", or trust in the ineffable workings of the universe.

There is surely nothing wrong with feeling angry or disappointed, or to express these feelings, at least for us ordinary souls who have not achieved enlightenment. The challenge is to recognize our inner demons and overcome them in their dark lairs, than in believing in the power of a five-step positive-thinking formula. That is deluding ourselves, which is dangerous. For, one day the levee may just break.

Sandipan Deb is a former editor of Financial Express, and founder-editor of Open and Swarajya magazines

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The banality of good morning posts and our positivity fixation - Mint

Now that were moving past the 2020 election and into the transitional period, it seems like a good time for personal reflections about Zen teaching. So in this post, Ill share what Ive been up to since the pandemic struck with my Zen teaching venues, Nebraska Zen Center(NZC) and the Vine of Obstacles: Online Support for Zen Training. Ill also make some connections with the larger context of the Zen Center model, consider where Id like to go from here, and offer one way to express the purpose of our training both for students and for me, one of the teachers.

First, a little background. I started the Vine in early 2013 in response to requests from nonlocal students that Id connected with through this blog, Wild Fox Zen. Together with an intrepid group of students, we developed a Moodle platform and began doing Zen study with online courses and interactions among students via the Moodle forums.

In addition to the Vine, Ive been co-teaching with Tetsugan Osho at Nebraska Zen Center for the past four-and-a-half years. During this period, she has been much more involved with the day-to-day, nitty-gritty of running the temple. With the advent of the pandemic, NZC began a period of rapid adaptation. Tetsugan Osho shifted to co-teaching with me on the Vine, and most NZC students have moved to studying on the Vine as well.Merging, of course, has gone both ways. The Vine has also merged with NZC in a commendably smooth manner.

The two entities are now almost indistinguishable. And we expect this transformation to continue over the next year as the pandemic, tragically, appears now to be on the way to becoming more serious, and then might wind down, perhaps in the second and third quarters of 2021. This will allow for a new Zen normal to be established which will include a strong online presence.

Its important to understand where weve been in order to appreciate the present and shape where we might go in the future. When Katagiri Roshi and other Zen pioneers established the Zen Center model in the 60s and 70s, it was more akin to martial arts training in Japan than to a Western church. Zen Centers were focused on intensive training, including zazen, study, and in some places, koan training as well. Most students were householders, but most were involved in daily training sessions at the dojo. Their practice was closely supervised by one of the founding teachers for example, Katagiri Roshi, Maezumi Roshi, or Chino Roshi.

During my thirteen years of training as a student in this model, I came to regard it as quasi-monastic. As the saying goes, we werent monks nor were we lay people. Like most other students, I usually worked a full time job, while also spending about twenty hours a week at the Zen Center not counting sesshin or practice periods at the monastery we were developing, Hkyji. This was more or less what was happening at most of the small number of other Zen Centers in the US, although some also had a residential component, and some, like us, were attempting to establish rural monasteries as well.

Let me insert a short note about monastic practice here. In my view, monastic practice is an enormously important experience for any Zen student. Notably, the monastic narrative runs deep in our tradition. My own monastic experiences at Hkyji and Bukkokuji where essential to my process. And I encourage anyone with life circumstances that allow it to dive into monastic practice. However, during the past 40 years, although there has been dramatic growth in the number of householder Zen students, the number of monastic practitioners has remained almost what it was in 1980. Why?

Most people that are interested in Zen practice now do not have life circumstances that allow for dropping everything and going up the mountain (unless they drop children, spouses, and careers as well) and so other forms practice are clearly necessary. Id like to see those forms of practice legitimized in order to tune down the impact that the monastic fantasy has on householder practitioners. That fantasy runs something like this: If only I was doing monastic practice, then I could sit in samadhi, experience kensh, live in peace and harmony.

Nevertheless, if youd like to hear some of my stories about my early period of my training in the old Zen Center modle, and some monastic ones too, check out this podcast from Corey Hess Zen Embodiment:

Although training in the old Zen Center model was excellent, it was difficult for students to take good care of their home lives, particularly for those with partners and children. The partners of Zen students who were engaged in this model often reported feeling like their partner was having an affair. Indeed, for many of us, it was like that our hearts were as divided as our time. I know mine was.

Since those early days, there has been a large and not-often discussed shift in what I think of as the Zen Center model, concomitant with the first generations of Westerners emerging as Zen teachers, and a dramatic increase in the number of Zen Centers. Simply put, many Zen Centers are now more like Christian churches than the early Zen training centers. Members attend a gathering at most once a week, practice in-between is spotty and largely unsupported, and that practice is often based on the Boomer philosophy of do whatever feels right for you.

In addition, there are now a plethora of resources available for practice advice, including books, websites, and social media, so that many students or perhaps members is a more fitting label now practice with minimal direct supervision from a teacher. Some members, of course, are more engaged in practice and volunteering, and there are usually circles of participation that extend from a core group of students outward to the casual visitor.

Granted, there is considerable variations to this model when we look at any particular group. What Im aiming for here is a general model and as such it may not fully represent what youve experienced in any one group. And as for what constitutes a fair general current Zen Center model, I imagine that opinions will vary.

Be that as it may, Im suggesting that just as the original Zen Center model took practice from the monastery and into the community, online practice takes another step. Practitioners homes become the temple. Their bodies become the stupa. Let me give an example with what were doing with the Vine.

It might not surprise you to hear that, in my view, the Vine is quite different than the current Zen Center model. One of the key differences is that we aspire for everyone involved to work together as a training group. What were doing on the Vine then is more like a school (with a small s we have no intention to start a School/Order), a Zen school focused on zazen, study, and engagement that comes with considerable connections with other practitioners and ongoing guidance and feedback from teachers.

In this way, the Vine is more like a late-70s-80s Zen Center than a church, although we embrace modern technology to allow for a much wider range of offerings than either.The intensiveness of the training, combined with the online format, allows students to do much of their work at home, and their sangha is always as close as their phones. This reduces the impact of the training on home life that was such a negative aspect of the early in-person Zen Center model described above.

In addition, the Vine is explicitly for people who want to godeeplyinto the work, and not so much for people who want to exploreifZen might be right for them, or for whom belongingness needs are paramount. We also arent primarily directed toward those interested in well-being. Theres nothing wrong with exploring, belonging, and well-being of course. And for some people, exploring, belonging, and well-being are enough. I have no argument with that. However, Tetsugan Osho and I, along with Ed Goshin, assistant teacher on the Vine, choose to focus our time and energy working with people who have already crossed the threshold into Zen, who have aroused the Way seeking mind, who have some sense of Great Doubt, and are ready to jump into Zen training in order to realize the ground of being.

For us, that training includes:

As we say,

The Vine is designed for those who are determined to awaken (kensh) and actualize the great matter of life and death (post-kensh training). And, who arent shy about it.

An important aspect of Vine training is participation in the forums. We use forums both for general discussions and as the basis of dharma study. The forums have become increasingly important over the years both as a place for students to receive peer support, and for teachers to give practice pointers to students based on how students are showing up. Through involvement in the forums, Vine students get to know much more about each others lives and practices than in the in-person communities that Ive been involved with, either as a teacher or a student. Students also receive at least as much guidance and feedback as students are likely to receive in in-person communities. Finally, although this guidance and feedback arises in an online context, it is much the same that students receive in in-person training.

Another difference between the Vine and the current Zen Center model is that the latter is based on membership contributions and the former is a tuition-based program. Offering this intensive householder training comes with a cost. In order to spend our time in this way, Tetsugan Osho and I have given up other occupations. But our landlord, grocery store, and utility companies havent given up being compensated for their services. So students pay a monthly tuition fee to access the training, although we sometimes make allowances for students who have limited financial means.

One consideration for me is that as I approach 65 years on this planet, Im aware that my teaching shelf life might be in the ten-year range. Given that limitation, it is important to me to continue the process I began with my upcoming book, The Record of Empty Hall: One Hundred Classic Koans (now available for preorder), that is, doing what I can to share some of the deep wealth of dharma resources of the Zen tradition, much of which has yet to be translated and made available in English. I estimate that less than ten percent of the Taish Tripitika has been translated. My next project is Going Through the Mysterys One Hundred Questions, but thats another story.

In terms of my teaching practice with the Vine and NZC, as I said above, I dont see us going back to the pre-pandemic world with a division between in-person and online groups. Rather, in the post-pandemic world, I see us going in the direction that we started when the Vine was created. That direction has only accelerated during the pandemic an emphasis on weekly online teacher-student meetings and ongoing study through the Vine Moodle, now supported by sessions like Open Zen, daily Zoom zazen, and online retreats.

The missing ingredient in our pandemic training is in-person seven-day sesshin, but well get those going again as soon as it is safe to do so. We also recommend solo retreats and have begun supporting students in solo retreats by offering guidance before, during (through practice meetings), and afterwards (debriefs can be an essential ingredient of these experiences).

Thanks to the recent changes, I have a renewed sense of what were doing and a longer-range vision of what well be offering, including a more clearly articulated and scaffolded curriculum of classic Zen texts. This curriculum entwines with zazen, engagement, and the koan curriculum as well.

For students, the intended outcome of these offerings is to provide a vehicle for them to settle deeply in the buddhadharma, so that they can live in peace and harmony in daily life, meet the self, other, and the details of this one great life with wholehearted intimacy and delight. In other words, to actualize the Great Vows. This requires a kensh as clear as the palm of the hand and years of post-kensh training. A good minimum amount of time for intensive householder training is ten years after kensh.

Weve verified through experience that what Ive outlined above is a reliable way for householders to accomplish the intended outcomes of Zen. The mix of online and in-person work provides a sufficient basis for students to go deeply into the Zen way, at least as well (and probably better, in my view) as the current in-person Zen Center model.

Finally, as with any Zen training endeavor, rites of passage are a vital aspect, rites that acknowledge the work thats been done receiving the precepts, ritually acknowledging the transformation thats taken place (analogous to home-leaver ordination), training as a senior student (analogous to head monk training), and perhaps dharma transmission, if an appropriate person or persons appear.

For me, these offerings are about transmittingto the next generation the dharma that Ive received from my teachers, especially Katagiri Rshi and James Myun Ford Rshi, toward whom I feel an unrequited debt of gratitude due to their compassionately sharing the dharma with me.

If you are interested in participating in the Vine, contact doshoport@gmail.com.

Dsh Port began practicing Zen in 1977 and now co-teaches with his wife, Tetsugan Zummach sh, with theVine of Obstacles: Online Support for Zen Training,an internet-based Zen community and at theNebraska Zen Center. Dsh received dharma transmission from Dainin Katagiri Rshi and inka shmei from James Myun Ford Rshi in the Harada-Yasutani lineage. Dshs translation and commentary onThe Record of Empty Hall: One Hundred Classic Koansis due out in February, 2021 (Shambhala). He is also the authorofKeep Me In Your Heart a While: The Haunting Zen of Dainin Katagiri.

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Reflections on Zen Practice Now and What Comes Next - Patheos

Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.

-Rumi

But, in todays times, the most difficult thing is probably to find someone to listen to you even when you do manage to raise your words. Spoken, an initiative by Kommune does just that. It not only gives one a platform to raise their words but also amplifies it so that it is heard by a wider audience. Here one can use their words to articulate their intensely intimate thoughts as well as their robust reactions to the society. Kommune was able to get so many people to speak their truths simply because I think we started with a belief that we are a safe space for people. Even when we used to initially do our catch ups four years ago, we would get people together into almost like a sharing circle. And they would tell their stories, and come up and speak on a microphone, and we would record them. But we would always seek their permission saying, do they want to share what they have to say. I think all people wanted was a way to creatively express themselves, which is what I've managed to do with the team at Kommune, says Roshan Abbas who co-founded Kommune with Gaurav Kapur and Ankur Tewari in 2015.

Kommune is a platform where artists, producers, patrons and collaborators come together to support artists and performances. It is a place where new performance concepts are discovered and nurtured; ultimately helping them reach the right audience.

We really feel that there is a there is a hierarchy of needs that a creator has at the very basic level, a creator just wants to maybe consume creative things. At the next level, they want to know the tools of how to develop it. They want to be challenged and want to be able to earn money from it and be recognised. And then they want to collaborate with bigger people. So I think that's what Kommune is trying to provide them a platform for creative expression, a stage for every story. And to do it truthfully, honestly with no filter. I think the other joy is that we are a very young, very small team and we respect each other's views. We respect our audiences views and of course our creators views. And that's where I think this whole ecosystem has grown," explains Abbas, who has hosted two seasons of The Storytellers (by Kommune) on Amazon Prime.

Spoken has been one of the most noteworthy initiatives by Kommune, a festival where poets, spoken word artists, storytellers from India and abroad come together. This year, due to the pandemic, the festival went digital. During the pandemic from being a big celebration of the live performance art, we went into being a virtual celebration of the performance art. And the one new thing that it actually gave us was this whole focus on learning because they realized that they were able to create e-learning modules around creativity was so much more exciting. We also tried about 20 different formats. And these are something that people really enjoyed. And people started coming back to us and saying that these are great. I think we built a largely loyal audience. So I think that's the one unique thing that's happened. We did a spoken reunion that happened online, we had about 2000 people who attended it," says Abbas, a distinguished theatre actor, TV anchor, director and RJ, and heads the event management company, Geometry Encompass.

In the past, Spoken has seen participation by artists such as like screenwriter-lyricist Varun Grover, comedian Rohan Joshi, journalist Faye D'Souza, actor Kubra Sait, actor Radhika Apte, commentator Harsha Bhogle, and social media influencers like Srishti Dixit and Kusha Kapila.

In January, we hope we can do a hybrid spoken by when we will have it online, but we'll also have smaller physical gigs that will happen and maybe not in one city when maybe in multiple cities simultaneously, he adds.

It was in March last year when Kommune launched an initiative, creating an anthem, which brought 100 poets together, who created a poem on theme, My Right To Write. This effort had been inspired by Rakesh Tiwaris Sau Hazaar Likhne Wale (A Hundred Thousand Writers Can). This year, Kommune decided to celebrate Diwali by inviting entries with a line on their idea of home.

The entries are being currently reviewed, after which Osho Jain shall compose Kommunes first ever song, which shall release on November 11. Abbas was pleasantly surprised at the number of entries that they received, and is looking forward to make people enjoy the Diwali spirit.

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Creating a safe space to speak - Free Press Journal