Enter the magical world of bellydance and celebrate the joy and individual expression inherent in this popular dance form.  Bellydance is a lovely art form that is accessible to women of all ages and body types.  It can be a powerful tool for women to awaken their bodies, rekindle their spirits, and change their lives for the better. A new six- week session of Beginning and Advanced Bellydance lessons begins Wednesday, November 7, at the Yucca Valley Community Center.  Beginning classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Advanced classes are from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

The class is part of the ongoing recreational activities organized by the Town of Yucca Valley’s Community Services Department.  Those interested in participating in Bellydance classes are required to pre-register and pay a $35.00 fee at the Yucca Valley Community Center.  Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration is also available online at www.yucca-valley.org   Classes will introduce students to some of the basic movements of Middle East dance.  Wear comfortable clothing. For more information please call the Yucca Valley Community Services Dept at 760 369-7211

The Town of Yucca Valley has opened registration for its upcoming trip for adults and seniors to Cleopatra: The Exhibition on Wednesday, October 24. The escorted motor coach will depart from the Community Center at 9:30 a.m. travel to Los Angeles for lunch and the exhibition, expecting to return by 7:00 p.m.

Don’t miss the only West Coast appearance of Cleopatra: The Exhibition at the California Science Center. This dramatically staged 13,000 square-foot exhibit features the largest collection of Cleopatra-era artifacts from Egypt ever assembled in the United States. Here for a limited time only. There are more than 150 priceless Egyptian artifacts that had been swallowed by the sand and sea after a series of earthquakes and tsunamis nearly 2,000 years ago.

The timeless legend of Cleopatra has captivated the world for centuries. She has been immortalized by Renaissance artists, had numerous plays and books written about her and in modern times has been glamorized on the silver screen. Yet we only know a fragment of her real story. The exhibition features colossal statues, jewelry and coins from Cleopatra’s lost palace in Alexandria, and reveals the excavation process involved in recovering these hidden treasures. Walk among towering monuments and glittering jewels that may have been part of the queen’s daily life. Learn how these Egyptian relics reveal mysteries of this past era. A complimentary audio tour, told in her voice, provides compelling insights into Cleopatra’s time.

Participants will start their day in Los Angeles with lunch at the Original Philippe’s French Dip Restaurant, where there is a choice of any sandwich, a side, non-alcoholic beverage and dessert. After lunch participants will go to the California Science Center at Exposition Park. While at the California Science Center those who are interested can purchase tickets on your own to enhance your Egyptian experience by seeing Mysteries of Egypt on the seven-story IMAX screen—the largest in Los Angeles.

The $85 per person registration fee includes, lunch, admission into the California Science Center and transportation.  Space is limited, so early registration is advised. Reservations can be made at the Community Center between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or online at www.yucca-valley.org. For more information call 760 369-7211

The Philippines has approved measures to prosecute users that post “defamatory” comments on social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook. They will be liable for a fine of 1 million pesos (US$24,000) or face up to 12 years in prison.

Websites that publish the material may also be shut down.

The cyber-law has been branded as ‘draconian’ and a serious violation of freedom of speech by rights groups.

“The cyber crime law needs to be repealed or replaced,” said Brad Adams, Asia director of the Human Rights Watch. “It violates Filipinos’ rights to free expression and it is wholly incompatible with the Philippine government’s obligations under international law.”

He stressed that while the bill was in action it will have a “chilling effect over the entire Philippines online community.”

The new legislation extends Philippines libel law, which has been previously contested by Human Rights Watch, into cyberspace.

Aside from prosecuting users who post material deemed offensive, the bill grants authorities the power to collate and retain information from people’s Facebook and Twitter profiles, as well as eavesdropping on conversations over Skype.

“Anybody using popular social networks or who publishes online is now at risk of a long prison term should a reader – including government officials – bring a libel charge,” Adams said. “Allegedly libelous speech, online or off-line, should be handled as a private civil matter, not as a crime.”

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In an attempt to save money on insurance, a city in South Florida has banned hiring employees who smoke or use tobacco products, causing some Americans to complain that the government is controlling too much of their personal life.

Delray Beach City Commissioners on Tuesday announced a policy that would help the financially struggling city save money – refusing to hire smokers. Each smoker costs a company or government agency an average $12,000 in health and disability-related costs.

Delray Beach officials say that the new policy would both save money and  promote a healthier lifestyle.

The measure would rely on honesty from job applicants, who would be required to sign an affidavit swearing they have not smoked in 12 months. The policy resembles others already implemented in other South Florida cities.

“We just ask them that they not be smoking for a year prior to employment,” Hallandale Beach City Commissioner Alexander Lewy told NBC6. “We’re not Big Brother, so we don’t check up on our employees. We just encourage a healthy lifestyle.”

In the South Floridian city of Hollywood, employees caught smoking are instantly terminated from their positions.

In neighboring Broward County, the ban is not in place, but tobacco users are required to pay an additional $20 a month for their insurance. Since implementing the surcharge, the county has seen a 38 percent reduction in the number of employees who smoke.

Employees hired before Oct. 1 will be exempt from the new rules.

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