I'm an MBA student who's really interested in participating in case competitions. I think it would be a great opportunity to challenge myself and apply what I've learned in a real-world scenario. However, I'm struggling to find information on upcoming case competitions.
I've looked at my school's website, but they don't seem to have a comprehensive list of all the competitions happening around the world. I'm wondering if anyone knows of any resources or websites that keep track of these competitions.
Also, if anyone has any tips on how to prepare for a case competition, I would love to hear them! Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

Hi lovely people
I don't often see Australian centric recaps, so here is my contribution! My husband *gasp* and I got married a few weeks ago in Sydney, Australia. It was fully paid for by us, other than my family paying for my wedding dress/alterations. My partner's family gave us a cash gift as a wedding present later, so we've used some of this to offset some of our costs.
The Background
Both of us are expats, so settling on a European vs ANZ location was always going to be tricky. We decided that the most fair option was to make all of our family and friends travel, as it wasn't going to be convenient for anyone, and then at least it was convenient for us. This meant our families could at least use the trip as an opportunity to spend time with us, rather than just us jetting in and out to a honeymoon later. We also wanted to book something local to Sydney, so that everyone would land and then not need to travel again regionally.
Guests
Total invited: 143 including us (knowing many of these were family who could never afford to come)
Total RSVPs: 82
Total attended: 80
Venue capacity: 107
We did invites (no save-the-dates) in stages. Stage 1 was all global family and close friends who would have to travel significant distances (~24 hours), and we gave them 14 month notice so they could decide/book flights at cheapest possible 12 month mark. We asked them to decline ASAP if they couldn't make it, which helped smooth out the next round. Stage 2 was all friends who would have to travel less but still significant planning (~4 hours), and we gave them 10 months notice. Stage 3 were local friends, we gave them 5 months notice. I don't know about other AU planners, but I've received 1 save-the-date in all the weddings I've ever been to - all others have been direct invites and around 6 months in advance.
We had 2 late notice cancels due to family emergencies the week of, but otherwise no other cancellations. We had 1 late addition of a very new newborn who ended up being too hard to find care for as the time came around. We didn't hear them once, slept through the whole wedding. We did not invite children as our venue was completely not suitable for anything other than babes-in-arms.
Wedding Party
We had a semi-informal group of wedding-mates - I had 3 girls and 2 guys, partner had 3 guys. It worked completely fine. We didn't do formalities and didn't ask them to walk in officially, once pre-photos were taken they became like usual guests.
The Week Plan
As we had so many people travelling, our families really wanted multiple events. I was ok with drinks, but wasn't so much on brunch. It's really hard to find venues that we wouldn't end up spending $5k on a group of 40 people for breakfast, and it just wasn't in our budget. We compromised with a day after picnic, and international drinks on the Thursday prior. No rehearsal dinner as our wedding party weren't a part of the ceremony.
The Day Plan
My partner got ready in a hotel 10mins down the road, I got ready at home. I fully, fully condone sleeping alone the night before your wedding. I had 9 hours of sleep and woke up excited and refreshed for the day. My girls arrived at 7:30am, we walked down to a hair salon and did hair together in one block. I invited closer family to join this too. Make up was done 1 by 1 at our place while we snacked on breakfast and chatted. We then were picked up by BMW vans separately, and met at a garden spot in the city for first look and family/bridal party pics from 2pm-3:45pm. We then met our bridal party +1s and wider family at a bar near the venue for a pre-wedding drink (paid by us), and then headed to the venue with just immediate family. Bridal party were then guests from meeting their +1s onwards. The ceremony was from 6:15pm-6:45pm, canapés and cocktails happened while we took 15mins of pics. We joined the reception at 7pm, in time for our MC to start! The event wrapped at midnight, we danced everyone out and were the last people there. We even snuck off for a cheeky after drink with some friends to their place after. In bed by 2am. Big day!
The Venue
Our venue was fairly all inclusive, and had a day of coordinator attached. I don't recall anything about them other than a brief intro, but nothing went wrong so (I guess?) everything was fine. We decided on an open bar last minute which was less expensive than I expected. We also opted for the more luxe beverage package that had more wine & beer options. Our package included Chefs Selection Canapés (3 pieces pp), shared cheese & meat boards for the table, 3x shared platter mains, 3x sides, sourdough rolls & butter, 3x roving dessert canapés. We opted for them to make the cake too (70x fingers, served roving). Amazing feedback on all the food, we were super happy. They were generally easy enough to deal with but found the coordinator in the lead up a bit challenging.
Music
I really wanted both a band AND a DJ for the wedding. We managed to find a duo who did both, which was absolutely awesome. 100% can recommend if you want their details - DM me.
Budget Recap
Flowers were not a priority, so we did wedding party bunches only, plus bouts for men + corsages for mums and spent on fairy lights that the venue set up. No videographer, but the most epic photographer ever. We did all our own printing for welcome signs, menus and seating charts. My partner designed everything. We did digital invites only.
​

Ceremony & Reception, (inc Cake and Decorations)	$18,413
Photographer - 12 hours + Engagement shoot	$4,400
Celebrant & Paperwork	$1,490
Band/DJ Duo - 6 hours	$2,970
Bar tab (fully open, house spirits)	$1,500
Flowers	$1,147
Printing	$322
Hair (7 people, mix blow dries and styles)	$690
Make up (4 people)	$600
Vans (3 hours)	$660
Drinks for minivans	$300
Hotel for groom	$568
Thursday Welcome drinks + food	$3,500
Sunday picnic	$1,334
Drinks pre-wedding with family	$800
Honeymoon	$6,830
Total	$45,604

What we paid ourselves/out of my family's dress contribution:
​

Dress (Anna Campbell)	$6,750
Alterations	$1,200
Veil	$250
Shoes	$200
Dry cleaning	$700 (veil + dress)
Wedding bands	$3,000
His suit	$1,000
Total	$13,100

As he paid for my (very expensive) engagement ring, I opted to pay for our wedding bands myself. He paid for his own suit. We didn't have wedding party formal outfits, just asked everyone to wear something navy/charcoal for men and black dresses/nude shoes for ladies.
Total... for real.... $58,704 (rounded up to $59k for the heading). I can't say what else we spent on Ubers, quick car rentals for chores, etc - likely in excess of $61k across the time of planning/organising. We also took our families out for a thank you dinner at the end of the week for $1,500, not included above.
What went well/badly
Nothing really went wrong. The weather could have been better that week (very seasonally warm for the city), but aside from that, it was fine. My hair dropped quickly due to sweat, but I can't complain - my make up stayed put which was more important!
Our family and friends went above and beyond for us. We received over $15k in cash gifts from our friends and family at the end, which we put towards our honeymoon and funding a few other things. The rest will go back into savings!
Advice
It does go by very fast. Enjoy every moment of the week, it's a super special time. Also, HOLY HELL dry cleaning is expensive.

Juices have become an increasingly popular drink choice in recent years, with a variety of flavours and brands available. But what is the significance of juice flavours manufacturers or soda flavours manufacturers India, and how do they create the delicious drinks that we enjoy? Let's have a better understanding of the role of juice manufacturers and the importance of their work.
The Growing Popularity Of Juice Flavours
The popularity of juice flavours has steadily grown over recent years, with manufacturers creating unique and delicious flavours to satisfy customer preferences. With access to a wide range of ingredients, juice manufacturers can cater to various tastes while ensuring quality and consistency across batches. Online selling has also extended its reach internationally, making it easier for consumers worldwide to access their products.
The juice market is estimated to grow by around 5% in 2023, leading to increasing demand for healthy and natural flavours. Fruit juice concentrate manufacturers are becoming more innovative, market-driven, and cost-efficient to meet this demand. Growing consumer awareness about the nutritional benefits of fruits is driving demand even further. Additionally, sugar replacement options and sustainability initiatives give juice manufacturers an edge over other market players. Many now focus on minimising waste while optimising efficiency throughout the production process.
Overall, juice flavour manufacturers play a crucial role in providing consumers with unique and delicious juices that cater to their preferences while maintaining product safety and integrity. Achieving this feat requires experienced professionals who understand traditional craftsmanship and modern technology.
What Do Juice Manufacturers Do?
Juice manufacturers produce, manufacture, and distribute various juice flavours. They create recipes based on customer preferences, using natural and artificial ingredients. To remain competitive, they research trends, set prices, and work with other food companies to develop similar flavours. Quality control measures, eco-friendly packaging options, and innovative marketing techniques are used to provide an optimal experience for customers. Raw materials are sourced from health-conscious suppliers, and all products undergo rigorous quality checks before shipping. Overall, there are many aspects involved in the juice manufacturing process that require attention to detail, research, and implementation of the latest technologies.
Juice Manufacturing Processes
As a juice manufacturer, you know the importance of producing high-quality products that provide customers with delicious and nutritious drinks. But what about juice flavour manufacturers? Experts in understanding the nuances of various types of fruits, vegetables, and other juicing ingredients, these manufacturers use processes to ensure that the quality and nutritional value of their products meet food safety regulations and governing body requirements.
Beyond delivery systems that maintain freshness, many juice flavour manufacturers have a wide variety of fruit juices available for their consumers. They also focus on innovative new products and have the expertise to increase distribution networks and enhance product quality. By using experienced professionals in this industry, your business can trust reliable services from leading providers who understand what it takes to design high-quality beverages that keep customers coming back for more.
Advances In Juice Preservation Technology Over Time
The advancement in juice preservation technology has allowed juice producers to extend their product lines, diversify flavouring, and offer longer-shelf life products. Juice manufacturers must understand contemporary developments in production techniques and technologies to ensure cost-effectiveness and quality outcomes, particularly given the increased demand for modernised and fresh flavours. Understanding the various technologies available is key for juice manufacturers to stay ahead of evolving trends and preferences. Fruit and vegetable juices have many nutritional benefits but can pose shelf life challenges, where advanced food preservation technologies come into play. These processes have allowed for an increased variety of appealing food products containing intense flavours that are both safe from contamination and appealingly palatable from batch-to-batch production runs.
Final Thoughts
The expanding popularity of juice flavours and the demand for health-conscious and sustainable products have made it increasingly crucial for juice manufacturers to understand the nuances of various types of fruits, vegetables, and other juicing ingredients. With advances in food preservation technology over time, they can offer longer-shelf life products while ensuring cost-effectiveness and quality outcomes. Additionally, flavour enhancers are playing an increasingly important role in creating unique drinks that capture both taste and nutritional value. By employing experienced professionals in this industry, businesses can trust reliable services from leading providers who understand what it takes to design high-quality beverages that keep customers coming back for more. Contact Fab Flavours for more information!

Get the course here: https://www.genkicourses.com/product/igor-kheifets-email-farming-system/
[Get] Igor Kheifets – Email Farming System
Igor Kheifets – Email Farming System Download Full Course Instant delivery 📷

• E-FARMING CHALLENGE
• 30-Day e-Farming Challenge
• Best Done For You Income Streams Rolodex
• e-Automation Quick-Start Guide
• Fill-In-The-Blanks e-Letters
• “Passive Income Machine” Training
• Igor’s e-Farm Fertilizer Sources
• Done For You e-Farm
• FAST ACTION BONUSES
• Advanced e-Farming
• 1-Click Done-For-You e-Farm
• How To Build Your First 10,000 Person e-Farm Fast
• Free e-Farming Campaign Critique
• e-Farm Profits Multiplier Site
• 6-Step Advanced e-Farming Checklist
• $100K e-Farming Campaign Case Study
• e-Farming Promo-In-A-Box System
• Private Done-For-You Income Streams
• 7 Most Profitable e-Campaigns

I want to compare industrial cameras, particularly regarding image noise.
What is the best way to compare noise characteristics?
Some data sheets have S/N measured in dB. Others have sensitivity measured in least significant bits. This makes it challenging to compare objectively.
I’m familiar with the consumer digital camera market where ISO represents gain, and I can easily compare visually between two sensors (out of experience). For instance I could easily see an image and subjectively say it has too much noise - but I just need a ubiquitous measure that I can use to draw a line and say “the camera we choose must have better noise performance than X units”.
Thanks in advance. I’m new to this world and am trying to translate my digital camera knowledge into industrial camera knowledge!

When you open up settings, switch the difficulty to 1-Hit-Death. That's the easiest thing you'll do this entire run. From my experience, it's like a puzzle. But the puzzle is on fire, and your house is on fire, and you're asphyxiating. It's a very difficult run, and of course, spoilers. I suggest doing this run after you've completed the game on hybrid difficulty at least once.
​
​
When you start gaining skills, put some into stamina, evasion, and defense. You'll need at least 2 levels in defense, mainly.
The starting island is pretty straightforward, until you realize that you can't mine any of the lava. This completely blocks you off of getting most diamonds, gold, and deeper resources until you have 6 defense. Continue as you would normally, though you're restricted from getting a lot of coins. Something useful to do is to find the chest with a diamond, and use it to make an Enchanted Shield. Build the market, complete the quests for the pig pen, and the wyrm pen quest. Having plenty of dragonblood is very useful. Build the boat, and head over to Sunset Haven.
Continue as if it was a normal run, and then you hit the first actual challenge: The bandits, while nothing more than a nuisance in most runs, become a real problem. Get a revolver with plenty of bullets, and dig a one tile deep hole to avoid getting hit by them. Continue on as normal, build the factory, and make Great Armor. At this point, you should have at least two points in defense. When the Great Armor is equipped, and you have 2 points in defense, you're strong enough to mine lava. That's one of the weird parts of one hit death, and I assume it's because of a way the game was coded, that the one hit death multiplier was added after the other damage calculations. Anyways, I recommend purchasing the owl from the night trader on Sunset Haven, as it lets you see everything a lot easier. Go back to the Starting Island, and collect three more wyrms, which you should convert to baby dragons. If you already have five, then don't immediately give them to the Dragon. First, make sure you have at least twelve Dragon Blood for the twelve permanent buff potions you'll need. Speed is necessary for evading enemy attacks, endurance is just overall useful, and stamina is also really, really nice to have. Anyways, one you have those, head to the Eastern Islands, complete the quests as normal, but stop when you get to the Old One. It's nearly impossible to complete.
Get Dragon Armor, by raising a new dragon, you'll need the original dragon as well as the dragon armor. Head into the whirlpool between the starting island and Sunset Haven, and head to the ice islands, then to the minotaur island. Equip your spirit goggles to get the Dragon Sword recipe. Cheese the minotaur with a revolver, and collect everything from the island. Don't go into the minotaur door, as it's a waste of time, and you'll probably die. Make the Dragon Sword, and fly to the Cultivator Island. You can easily cheese the Cultivator by flying back and forth behind it, and the Dragon Sword's high base damage, and fire element strength and burn allows you to obliterate the Cultivator. Fly your Adult Dragon to the Cultivator Island, and land it on the Vine Copse. When you do this, make sure to have a horn on you to increase the Dragon's damage at the Vine Copse. Make sure to have plenty of rations, as continually using the dragon's attack is very costly in terms of energy. The synthesizer can easily get you enough steak. Once you have the horn, you'll need to do a bit of a funky trick. Pack up your dragon, and fly to the whirlpool. Fly over the pirates, and place down your dragon. From there, you can destroy the pirates from above, and take the Hi-Tech parts. The pirates are pretty fast and the dragon's breath is somewhat slow, so it'll take a minute or two to do. Once you have the Hi-Tech parts, loot the warehouse, and dismantle the Advanced Lab. You can rebuild it back on Sunset Haven. The reason for getting the Advanced Lab is the Space Gear it provides. I recommend that you get the Space Armor, Space Helm, and Laser Gun. This should be enough to get through the cargo hold, read the logs, and spare the Mirrows with the dragon armor. (This is a work in progress, and I'll update it once I'm further in the game.)

The Endoscope Reprocessing Market Report Summary summarizes the latest trends and figures revealing a comprehensive analysis of market drivers, revenue shares, segmentation, and geographic markets. Examine a wide range of topics such as regional market coverage, application of various product markets, market size by specific products, sales and revenue by region, production cost analysis, supply chain, market impact factor analysis, market size estimation, etc.
Request a Free PDF Sample Copy: https://exactitudeconsultancy.com/reports/9004/endoscope-reprocessing-market/#request-a-sample
The key Vendors of the Global Endoscope Reprocessing Market are Cantel Medical, Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), Olympus Corporation, Ecolab, STERIS, Getinge AB, Wassenburg Medical, CONMED Corporation, Belimed AG, Endo-Technik W. Griesat, and Custom Ultrasonics, and others.
Description and forecast for the industry:
First and foremost, here you'll find information on the current state of the Endoscope Reprocessing Market and its development. This section includes industry indicators such as size, trend, lifecycle and projected growth. This report provides statistics to support your business concept. The global Endoscope Reprocessing Market is segmented into North America. Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; Middle East and Africa.
Market Segmentation Analysis
Global Endoscope Reprocessing Market by Product, 2023-2029, (USD Million) (Thousand Units)
High-Level Disinfectants And Test Strips
Detergents And Wipes
Automated Endoscope Reprocessors (Portable, Standalone)
Endoscope Drying
Storage And Transport Systems
Others
Global Endoscope Reprocessing Market by End-User, 2023-2029, (USD Million) (Thousand Units)
Hospitals
Ambulatory Surgery Centers
Others
Global Endoscope Reprocessing Market by Region, 2023-2029, (USD Million) (Thousand Units)
North America
Europe
Asia Pacific
South America
Middle East And Africa
Important Countries In All Regions Are Covered.
Geographically, the detailed analysis of consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate, historical data and forecast:
· United States
· Europe
· China
· Japan
· India
· Southeast Asia
· Latin America
· Middle East and Africa
Detailed statistical coverage will develop a keen sense of understanding:
· The report includes a complete qualitative method of the Endoscope Reprocessing Market. There is a thorough explanation of the various short- and long-term elements that affect growth. The future potential has been found for both current industry participants and newcomers.
· The worldwide supply chain is explained in conjunction with the PESTEL study for five well-known nations. The paper also discusses the stockpile problems and existing gaps.
· In order to confirm market patterns in terms of cutting-edge technologies and to emphasize consumers’ preferences for a specific type of product the authors also spoke with vendors and purchasers.
· Organizations focus on methods like international expansion, market segmentation, etc. in order to safeguard current market share. Especially experienced businesses must comprehend the market mix and indeed the function of regional players in order to implement these approaches.
Thank you for reading the report. The report can be customized as per the requirements of the clients. For further information or query about customization, please reach out to us, and we will offer you the report best suited for your needs.
About Us
Exactitude Consultancy is a Market research & consulting services firm which helps its client to address their most pressing strategic and business challenges. Our professional team works hard to fetch the most authentic research reports backed with impeccable data figures which guarantee outstanding results every time for you. So, whether it is the latest report from the researchers or a custom requirement, our team is here to help you in the best possible way.
Connect Us:
PHONE NUMBER +1 (704) 266-3234
EMAIL ADDRESS: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
Endoscope Reprocessing Market Size, Endoscope Reprocessing Market Growth, Endoscope Reprocessing Market Companies

Get the course here: https://www.genkicourses.com/product/igor-kheifets-email-farming-system/
[Get] Igor Kheifets – Email Farming System
Igor Kheifets – Email Farming System Download Full Course Instant delivery 📷

• E-FARMING CHALLENGE
• 30-Day e-Farming Challenge
• Best Done For You Income Streams Rolodex
• e-Automation Quick-Start Guide
• Fill-In-The-Blanks e-Letters
• “Passive Income Machine” Training
• Igor’s e-Farm Fertilizer Sources
• Done For You e-Farm
• FAST ACTION BONUSES
• Advanced e-Farming
• 1-Click Done-For-You e-Farm
• How To Build Your First 10,000 Person e-Farm Fast
• Free e-Farming Campaign Critique
• e-Farm Profits Multiplier Site
• 6-Step Advanced e-Farming Checklist
• $100K e-Farming Campaign Case Study
• e-Farming Promo-In-A-Box System
• Private Done-For-You Income Streams
• 7 Most Profitable e-Campaigns

I apologise for this vague, odd and hyper-specific request, but this has been driving me insane. I read Ann Leckie's wonderful Imperial Radch series when the books were first released and now I'm searching for a specific passage that I would like to re-read. In the part I'm looking for protagonist Breq discovers a game that she enjoyed because it challenged her intellectually. I'm really fuzzy on the details, and it may have been an item, like a puzzle box or something, rather than a board or card game. I'm certain it's not the game 'counters' that several characters play in the books.
I own the Kindle versions of the books, but searching for 'game' etc. hasn't been helpful. I'm starting to wonder if this passage was from a different book altogether and I got it mixed up.
I would be extremely grateful if anyone can confirm if this was indeed from the Imperial Radch series and even more so if you can tell me which book and maybe even the chapter.
Alternately, if anyone knows of similar scenes from other books (involving logic games or puzzles that challenge and engage the characters), I would love some recommendations. It doesn't have to play a significant part in the plot at all, I'm just looking for a good scene or two involving that sort of thing.
Thanks so much in advance!

I'm looking at buying some stockli nelas (specifically either the 80 or 88), but it's a lot of money, so I'm here asking for advice before I jump in and spend like 75$ on a demo LOL, and then 850$ for the actual skis. (They are on that sweet sweet end of season sale.)
First, I am 5'7, 110-115 pounds, and a pretty advanced skier. (I'm also a teenager, if you are wondering, so that's probably why I'm so thin.) I'm willing to go on any marked trail, and I'm pretty willing to go into basically any off the map tree run you would ask me to, in most reasonable conditions. I am a skier in the east coast, and mainly ski Sugarbush, Killington, and Stowe.
I mainly like skiing things that I find challenging, and probably spend 30% of my time in the moguls, 50% of my time in the icy steep terrain, and the rest in the woods.
This season, I have been skiing on Volkl Kenjas which are 149 cm long, and 88 mm underfoot. I like them, however they're somewhat slippy on ice, and I want something a bit easier to really get digging into those really icy conditions that happen after a bit of rain out here. It's something I can do, but it takes a bit too much effort to hold the ice than what I want.
So mainly my questions are:
First: Length and width. I rather like my kenja's length, and the nela 80s come in that length, which is a boost for the nela 80s in my mind, however I would like skis that will perform in the bumps somewhat. Will the 80 mm underfoot perform okay in the bumps or would I have to bump up to 152 and 88mm underfoot to have performance in the bumps?
Second: How are they are they at carving through harder ice that the kenjas just wanna skid on?
Third: What's any users of the stokli nela's experiences with them? What do you bring them on? Do you have other skis for moguls, trees, etc (I'm not gonna put rocks on here because I'll probably use my kenjas to go through more rocky surfaces, and save a brand new ski for a season at least...)
Fourth: Bumps, trees. How do they go? Sort of tied into the first and third.
Fifth: Are there any skis that I might prefer better? I want something that can carve better than the kenjas but will still do fine in the bumps and trees. I don't care if they're womens, mens, unisex, or even kids skis (I was on kid skis mounted up with tele bindings last season actually, I quite liked them but grew out of the boots. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find more boots for those skis yet!) as long as they do what I want them to do. I've got my heart somewhat set on the stocklis, since they seem quite all purpose, but I would be willing to put my eye on some other skis (assuming the price isn't outrageous!)
​
I'm new here and this is my first set of skis I've ever bought for myself, been using my parents hand me downs for this season, so don't bash me to hard for being absolutely insane lol.

Improving coding skills in three months requires a focused effort and dedication to practice. Here are some tips to help you improve your coding skills:
​
Tips & Tricks

1. Practice coding regularly: Set aside time each day or week to practice coding. Consistency is key, and even a little bit of practice each day can help you improve your skills.
2. Solve coding challenges: There are many online platforms that offer coding challenges and puzzles to solve. These can help you improve your problem-solving skills and familiarize yourself with different programming concepts. One such resource, which I find very relevant, is the Logicmojo course on "Advanced Course of Data Structures, Algorithms & Problem Solving. This course is designed to help students master data structures and algorithms to crack coding interviews for top product-based companies.
3. Work on personal projects: Choose a personal project that interests you and work on it using your coding skills. This will help you apply what you have learned and gain practical experience.
4. Learn from others: Attend coding meetups, participate in coding communities, and seek out mentorship or guidance from more experienced coders. This can help you learn new skills and improve your coding techniques.
5. Read code: Reading other people's code can help you learn new techniques and best practices. Look for open-source projects on GitHub or other platforms and study the code to see how it works.

Remember, improvement takes time and effort, and progress may not always be visible. Stay committed to your goal, and with consistent practice, you will see improvement in your coding skills.

Namaskar to everyone. Not sure this is the right sub for this but do read if it stays here.
(26M) It feels a bit weird to write introductions this way but that is how this world operates, so be it. Although I am not someone who took birth in Pune, I am surely someone Pune adopted. This land has been my land in all of my conscious memory and have never thought about it from an outsider's perspective. I must admit that I will never become even the tiniest percentage of the Great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj but this city has already been Mother Jijau to me. It has taken care of me, has trained me, has looked out for me and has blessed me with a few friendships that are forged in the fire of life.
I have always considered myself to be an above average writer and thus wanted to take a shot at writing something for a long time. What better place to test it out than in my own backyard. As I have mentioned Queen mother Jijau before, let me take this opportunity to start with women empowerment. It has been in focus for most of this century and rightly so. Individuals, teams, smaller and larger groups of people including organizations and nations are trying to make us aware of the impact women have on this world. The world celebrates the 8th day of March every year as International Women's day and on that day a lot of us post our tributes to the women in our lives on our media platforms, celebrate the day and then somehow we choose to forget about it from 9th day of the same month till we reach 7th day of the same month next year only to re-remember it on the 8th day again.
Throughout our history we have never had the need to look out far for empowered women. In our (I will extend our to Maharashtra's) case we have been listening, sharing and living our lives understanding and appreciating the extraordinary life and tales of Queen Mother Jijabai. Even after this huge history and background when today someone speaks of strong independent women we forget to include our homemakers as strong and independent women. Most people paint that picture with job and career oriented women only. I am not saying that it's evil but we are just conveniently forgetting about the people closest to us at our homes. Our Mothers. If you think that it is an easy job raising a household and doesn't make them count in as strong or independent then well in simple words you need more than an awakening.
It took me a lot of time to realize this as well. I mostly thought of famous female personalities as strong and independent. For example, When I saw Journalist Shereen Bhan break the sound barrier. I thought, Wow! Such a strong independent woman. I saw another one of my favourite journalists Palki Sharma Upadhyay taking down people with her great arguments when on stage and again thought of it the same way. I am not taking anything away from the challenges these ladies have to deal with as professionals in their career and perhaps yes that does require them to push many more boundaries than a normal homemaker would but does that make strong and independent exclusive to those women.
I can't think of a more important and responsible job than that of being a mother and thus I am more inclined to think that my mother (a homemaker) is one of the strongest people I have known in my life. I think it is her achievement that she raised this family so well that others including me could go on to do what they wanted to do in their lives. It is a sacrifice and a huge one if you ask me. Also from what I know sacrificing something takes courage, courage stems from bravery and independence. My mother is the strongest woman I know not because she is a homemaker and has raised this family but also because of the strength that resides in her. The strength to take a decision and the independence to act upon it. I will tell you the story of her marriage. She had a love marriage against the will of her family. To marry my father who had lost his right leg in a road accident a few years ago and was specially abled when she choose to marry him. He was in treatment for several years and was struggling with his life to say the least but even at that time my mother found compassion in her heart to make his life better by marrying him. Not out of sympathy for him but in love and she understood what getting married to him meant yet she found the strength to do it. Her life was filled with difficulties and challenges that she had to overcome and there were a lot of sacrifices that she had to make but she took that decision and has stood by it with all her grace in the 30 plus years that they have spent together.
Honestly, If you ask me I do not think that I have the strength in me if I have to ever take a similar decision where I know well in advance about the sacrifices that I will have to make and that is why my Mother is the strongest and the most independent women I know.
I wanted to write this on woman's day and this is long due but my dad has started to struggle health wise in the past few months. I was not in the right frame of mind to write something at that time but to all the lovely women out there this world runs so smoothly because of you beautiful creatures and we are all so indebted for all of your invaluable contributions to our life.
My best wishes and prayers to each one of you. Have a great day, please.
Thank you!
Please do leave your feedback/suggestions. It would be lovely to know what you think.

Happy opening to Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street this evening! I attended the tale this past Friday evening and felt compelled to share my thoughts in addition to the opening night hype this evening.
On March, 1, 1979, the world was shocked by Sweeney Todd. With this being the 3rd revival on Broadway since it's original conception, there are both age old and brand new expectations that theatregoers are expecting that contrast the initial conception. No longer are we being introduced to a new production that has to prove it's worth to a new audience - people love this show. As a professional musician, I speak for many that pinnacle this the "magnum opus" of Stephen Sondheim - his greatest work. Musically, this brilliant score now has inspired 44 years worth of musicians, actors, and directors. This performance somehow shattered any preconceived notion of expectations I had going in or reviews I had read online. While I will showcase multiple perspectives, the vocal/musical performance will remain the primary focus.
Vocal Performance
Wow. Every singer on stage is incredible. Outstanding vocal performances from every soloist, duet, trio, quartet, and ensemble member.
The chorus/company ensemble is phenomenal. The diction is so clear that you can laugh, cry, scream because you hear every cutoff to every syllable. They carry this show on their back and love what they are doing. Every time they are on stage, you want more of them. Sopranos are in tune on the crazy high melodies and each soloist is great. They achieved such a balanced sound - I was so impressed. 10/10.
Josh Groban (Sweeney Todd) will get his own review, but Annaleigh Ashford (Mrs. Lovett) sounded great. There are only a few times when Mrs. Lovett isn't supplying comedy in her vocal lines. These moments Ashford sounded so damn great. Specifically in "Worst Pies" and "Not While I'm Around", she gave an outstanding vocal performance that had charm, great tone, and was perfectly in tune.
I was so proud of Gaten Matarazzo (Toby) !!!! His voice sounds so good!!! His instrument is really starting to blossom. I believe he can start to slay dark tenor roles because he can confidently sing in his in chest and throughout the top register!! He is not straining at all and he sounds so healthy in his voice. 9/10
Maria Bilbao (Johanna), Nicholas Christopher (Pirelli), and Ruthie Ann Miles (Beggar Woman) are my honorable mentions for being so great!!!! Jamie Jackson (Judge Turpin) sounded so similar to the OBC rendition that it was nostalgic. 10/10
I personally thought Jordan Fisher did a solid job as Anthony. For really only responsible for "Johanna", he did well. There were moments he sounded relaxed, free, and outstanding in the song. At times, he was out of tune and popped out of placement. A few inconsistencies across the performance but I liked it alot. My girlfriend and best friend who saw it with me agreed he was the most lacking vocalist of the evening. 8/10
Josh Groban's Vocal Performance - 10/10
Oh my god - the most anticipated feeling for this whole revival was for Josh Groban. I value Groban's vocal technique, timbre, and performance style so much that I showcase him constantly to my vocal students. In February 2023, I read the Playbill.com interview where he acknowledging not being the typical choice for Sweeney as an actor, but I knew he could sing the shit out of it. I never doubted his ability to sing the title character of Sweeney Todd and neither should you. Being one of the most iconic baritone roles in the contemporary musical theatre canon, I wasn't worried about Groban being able to access both the low and high registers that the role calls for. He has mastered in his tone a constant body of warmth and a balanced resonance. He approached every single melody with intention, a great breath, and a proper onset. I wasn't scared for his vocal folds during the chaotic moments because he's Josh Groban.
I knew he would slay tf outta "My Friends" and holy fuck did he. One of my favorite songs in the whole score and it was absolutely gorgeous. The line, "well I've come home" on the Db 4 was just outstanding. Anytime he was in this part of the voice (C-Eb) throughout the show, it seemed so effortless that you could truly be entranced by his voice. What was so beautifully to hear was the start, "These are my friends, see how they glisten." That was just melted butter over the audience. Warm, connected, smooth every time; his vibrato grew over the barline so well that I my mouth dropped. His placement was just perfect for the role - he really did it justice to what the role calls for in the score. This number is also one of the first moments we hear Sweeney sing solo for multiple bars since it happens early in Act I and I was in heaven. All graduate level baritones should listen to his rendition.
His voice never sounded tired or flat throughout the show. He portrayed Sweeney with a paced energy that had a natural eben flow to it. I appreciated that as a vocalist audience member.
Acting Performance
Overall, acting was outstanding. The dark comedy was hilarious. The tragedy was believable. Annaleigh Ashford is in her prime. She absolutely knocked this role out of the park. She was so funny and comedic that she deserves a Tony. I personally felt she had bigger shoes to fill with Lansbury than Groban did to Cariou (OBC). I had high expectations for the role and found to love her choices. The way she adds intimacy and sexuality to the role is refreshing and new. It really worked in terms of breaking the mold and not comparing it to Lansbury. It felt original and I loved it. Her physicality in "Worst Pies" and "A Little Priest" made the whole audience laugh and I applauded for her so loud afterwards.
Groban takes a more genuine approach that makes you feel bad for Sweeney Todd overall. I personally thought it really worked. When the role called for chaos and crazy he definitely gave it. But so often it doesn't - he is confused, questioning, and trying to understanding context too. Since I loved his vocal performance so much, I didn't need it to be crazy all the time. He really played with these themes/emotions throughout scenes and I liked that over crazy. His rendition "Epiphany" offers more voice over actions and I didn't mind it. Could have it been more insane physically and vocally? Sure, but you could understand that his mind cracked on stage in his choices. He absolutely slayed "A Little Priest" as he was funny and serious in his plan for revenge so I felt it was a nice balance. Ashford and Groban's chemistry develop so great over the plot. It was constantly sad and funny. 10/10.
Everyone else is so great too. 9.5/10
Choreo Performance
omg - they added new dance moments to some scenes and it was so great!!! It really added to the overall theatrical experience. The opening number has such a cool combo that they deserve a S/O.
Tech/Theatrical Performance
Whoever's idea it was for how Act I and II end deserves a Tony. Spoiler: the way the lights go out dramatically on both Groban and Ashford gives you no other option than to thunderously applaud.
The bridge set is awesome and really works from my MEZZ Balacony view. It really was quite minimal since the music is the main focus and I liked that. A real S/O is when Sweeney got his real barber chair. The was such a beautiful moment and I loved the crane. Also, anytime the razor was out, it would glisten towards the audience, almost playing a role itself. I loved that. Anything with blood was done super well. A woman behind me audibly gasped during the "Act II Sequence" when the real work of Sweeney starts. S/O to the fire oven and the harmonium - they are so cool and mesmerizing to watch.
Mics and sound production were great. Not too loud and no dropped lines. Bartenders are on it. Buy any souvenir you want because they are cool. The pit orchestra carries the score and sounds incredible. Big and full sound with an appreciation towards the slow and low moments. HOT TAKE: They got rid of the glass whistle sound which, honestly, is okay with me. We get it - it's a thriller. We don't need to hear the squealing after every murder anymore.
Overall Review
If you have admired this show for years, like I have, you need to see this show. If you loved Josh Groban's voice for years, you need to see him in this role in his prime. (He has recovered from this Mid-March sickness). If you are able to travel to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, you need to see this show. There is minimal wrong with this revival. The plot is digestible and more approachable than the original. Those who are going in blind have a solid chance of understanding the plot. For example, I believe a verse is cut from "Johanna" to have some dialogue exchange some plot. I noticed that a lot throughout the show and it felt refreshing to watch. Old expectation were met with creating new memories - signs of wonderful directing.
​
Of course, there are no perfect shows, but this is a near perfect rendition of how musically Sweeney Todd should be done. The leading/supporting roles are so dramatic, advanced, and challenging to achieve; everyone is seriously so qualified to do this show.
Overall Production: 9.5/10 - go see Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street NOW*.*
EXP: B.M. & M.M. in Music, current Music Director and Music Educator in PA, USA