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Archive | January 6, 2015
January 6, 2015  

Boston Ballet ‘Nutcracker’ 2014: Mesmerizingly Otherworldly; Way Beyond Expectations.

.Anura Guruge December 2014 thumbnail
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by Anura Guruge

Related posts:
>> Wolfeboro 2014 Nutcracker.
>> Durham 2014 Bon-Bon.
>> Durham 2014 post-show.

>> Wolfeboro 2013 performance.
>> Durham 2013 performance.
>> Teischan as a Bon-Bon.

♥♥ Boston ‘First Night’ 2015.

++++ Search on ‘Nutcracker’, ‘ballet’ & ‘Snow White’ for more >>>>

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To say it was magical, magnificent & mystical, or amazing, astounding & alluring or stupendous, spectacular & stirring would NOT do it enough justice.

It really was an inspired, mesmerizing & jaw droppingly brilliant tour de force.

We went to the 11 am performance on Christmas Eve 2014 — and am I glad we did. It was on my modest and boring bucket list. I had wanted to see the ‘Nutcracker’ by the Boston Ballet, in Boston and attend Boston ‘First Night‘. At the end of last year, in the course of a week, I managed to cross them both off my list. Wow.

As a father of 4 kids I really have lost count of the number of times I have seen the ‘Nutcracker’ on stage. With Teischan, now doing ballet, she was in “Northeastern Ballet’s” annual Nutcracker, as a ‘Bon Bon’ in 2013 and 2014. Of course we went to those shows. But, as far as I can remember, I had only see the Nutcracker in New Hampshire: at least twice at ‘The Palace’ in Manchester and once, in Concord, at the ‘Capitol Center for the Arts‘ when Devanee was quite young. Teischan, as she reminded me early in December, had only ever seen it on TV — given that you don’t get to see it when you are taking part in it.

So I decided that 2014 will be the year. Finally go to Boston to see the ‘Nutcracker’. And that is what we did. I got the tickets online. They were reasonable. Parking, downtown, cost nearly as much as a ticket!

I had forgotten the gorgeousness of the Boston Opera House. So Parisian. To be honest I have only been to it twice, the last time at least 14 years ago. The first time, during a major Nor’easter was in 1986 or 1987, to see ‘Les Miserable’. It was a struggle to get there — on time. When I got there, with about 5 minutes to spare, I was too rattled to fully appreciate the surroundings.

The show exceeded all of my expectations and more. Yes, I had heard how good it was. I had heard that nobody else did an expanding Christmas tree like Boston. So I was waiting for that. In my mind I was working out what they would do. When it happened it was like nothing that I had imagined. My imagination, alas, is not that grandiose. It was just jaw slackingly amazing.

Deanna, Devanee and I loved it. I think it overawed Teischan, plus I think there was some jealousy! Seeing the real McCoy made her realize that her show was not as wonderful as she quite rightly had believed. That is OK. Now she has a new standard.

Given that I am new to this I am not sure how much the show changes from year to year. I won’t go and see it again this year if much of it, in terms of set, costumes and production are the same. Yes, I realize that they can’t really change the story or music. But, I would like to see it again. Maybe not an annual pilgrimage, say as with Revels, but maybe every few years.

It really was an experience. A great way to start Christmas Eve.

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January 6, 2015  

China’s ‘TP-Link’ Has The Potential To Be THE Next Networking Heavyweight IF It Can Stay Clear Of Security Woes.

.Anura Guruge December 2014 thumbnail
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by Anura Guruge

Related Posts:
 >> TP-Link TL-WA850RE going strong.
>> TP-Link TL-WA850RE Wi-Fi Range Extender.
>> Ordered TP-Link.
 >> Returned RE2000.
>> I file BBB complaint.
>> Cisco Linksys Sales will LIE.
 >> Linksys brain-dead as well.
**** Search ‘Linksys’ and ‘Cisco’ for other posts >>>>

I discovered TP-Link, serendipitously, last May when I was looking for a viable Wi-Fi Range Extender to replace the beyond pathetic Linksys RE2000 & offerings.

I have had a TP-Link TL-WA850RE Range Extender, in daily use, for the last 6 months. I have been BEYOND impressed and happy. Far, far, far, far superior to the damn Linksys offering. Night and day. Chalk and cheese. The TL-WA850RE which only cost $25, to the $60 to $90 for a Linksys, works like a champ. Very few issues. I only have to recycle power on it very occasionally. It delivers a good signal, consistently.

I am looking at a new Wi-Fi router. In the process of upgrading our network again. I like to stay abreast of the latest networking technology, especially Wi-Fi. Though the Linksys router we now have is not more than 2 years old I want to get a new 802.11ac compatible Wi-Fi router. So I started looking around. Guess what I found TP-Link. I was kind of surprised. I didn’t expect them to dominate the high-end too. I asked around. Others are discovering TP-Link.

I did some research. It sure has potential. Chinese company. That, in this case, is an advantage. 95% of networking gear is manufactured there to begin with. So that is not an issue. Plus most of the software that goes into routers has to be standards-based and there is plenty of open-source code bases to get one going. So TP-Link seems to have got the formula right.

The only problem they face is concerns about SECURITY — a very germane and valid fear. Chinese networking companies are being accused of putting in Trojan Horse software in their products to monitor and ‘hack’ the traffic that they handle. That is naughty. Actually criminal. This is why I won’t use an ‘antivirus’ from Russia though I am fairly sure that Avast! monitors my data!

I am going to do some more due diligence on TP-Link. IF I don’t find too many nasties about their security I will get their high-end Wi-Fi router. I will, if course, keep you posted. Fingers crossed.

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