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|Out of stock
*Back In Stock!!!!
There has been overwhelming demand for the 92DL Supreme
After 100 years of innovation, design, and manufacturing of the saxophone, Henri Selmer Paris redefines the modern identity of the alto saxophone with the Supreme series. The creation of the Supreme embodies the culmination of centuries of expertise, combined with a perfectly mastered manufacturing process that lives up to the ambitions of Henri Selmer Paris.
The Supreme rises above musical genres. It has all the qualities common to the models that precede it and meets the desires of all saxophonists. Its design and manufacturing incorporates the beauty and care created in the Balanced Action, the legendary suppleness of the Mark VI, the ease of play experienced in the Super Action 80 Serie II, the precision and elegance of the Serie III, and the power and roundness of the Reference.
It is characterized by a perfectly balanced accuracy, infinite sound colors, and incredible ease of response. It hides the natural and inherent constraints of the saxophone, therefore, making the playing limitations non-existent. Its roundness and projection capacity make it an instrument that is both traditional and resolutely modern.
The refinement and care taken to produce this instrument, as well as the corrected ergonomics, reveal a level of supreme playability and enjoyment never before captured in a saxophone.
* Also available in Sterling Silver (92A), Black Lacquer (92BL), Gold Plated (92GP), and Silver Plated (92SP).
Watch Henri Selmer Paris Supreme 92DL in action! Hear from Jerome Selmer, President of Selmer Paris talk about the inspiration and design concept behind the new professional alto saxophone model. Also hear classical and jazz artists explore the color, timbre, and versatility of this completely revolutionary instrument

domain: design


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Montana Fringed Bag
- Unit Price
With this Montana Fringed Bag you are sure to make a statement. This messenger style fringe tote gives the perfect boho vibes and features the most lux mix of leather, tufted fabrics, and shell beading.
Features: Messenger silhouette, mixed material and leather fabrication, magnetic snap closure, macrame fringe
How to wear it: This is the perfect everyday bag that truly speaks to your bohemian style.


For many companies, reporting on event performance is a real challenge, a symptom of the disconnect between the tools used to collect leads at events and the rest of your sales and marketing toolkit. But even the companies that do produce event reports aren't necessarily reporting on the right things. Today we're looking at the most common event vanity metrics, and what to report on instead.
4 Event Vanity Metrics
1) Social media mentions
Lots of businesses use events as a branding activity, as well as an opportunity to generate new business leads. This normally means their attendance at the event is accompanied by a flurry of social media activity, designed to get their brand in front of a wider audience.
While it's always nice to see a spike in social shares and social media mentions, these are unlikely to deliver return on investment, so have no place in your events report.
2) Number of badges scanned
If you're reporting on the number of badges scanned during an event, all you're reporting on is how many people your sales team spoke to, or how busy they were. It doesn't give any insight to the quality of conversations or whether you've got any genuine new sales opportunities - just how quick your team are with a badge scanner.
3) Number of leads collected
This number is more useful to report on than number of badges scanned, but unfortunately many companies collect contacts, not leads.
While this number can help you quantify how busy the event was and how many people your sales team spoke to, if you're just getting lists of contacts without additional qualifying context, then this gives no indication of how this event will drive revenue and deliver return on investment.
4) Event registrations
The number of pre-registered visitors doesn't align with the number of people through the door. If you're hosting your own event, or running a seminar that requires pre-registration, reporting on event registrations can help you get an indication of expected numbers, but shouldn't be shared as 'proof' of success.
Additionally, you should always expect to see a significant number of no-shows - along with a number of walk-ins, so numbers on the day will differ significantly from your pre-registration numbers.
What to report on instead
If you recognize a lot of these metrics as key components of your event reports, here's some things you could report on instead, to better communicate the value of your events:
1) Contacts by lead life-cycle stage
Tracking your leads by life-cycle stage is a quick way to get an at-a-glance understanding of how successful your event was, before enough time has passed to complete any deals.
For example, one of our customers tracks the number of sales qualified leads (SQLs) generated as their key metric to measure their events. This helps you understand the value of the event in terms of potential sales opportunities: a poor-fit event will likely deliver fewer sales qualified leads than one that's closely aligned with your business offering.
2) Total leads collected
But only if they're real leads, not contacts (see above for why you shouldn't measure this).
Number of leads is still a bit of a vanity metric, but it can be useful for bench-marking how successful an event has been, right after it closes - as long as you can get hold of that data quickly, and are able to compare it against the other events in your calendar.
3) Revenue from the event
You won’t be able to track this immediately after the event, but it's definitely worth tracking in the long term. This may mean you need to revisit your event numbers, leads and sales after several months - which is easily forgotten, but so worthwhile.
Being able to report on revenue from the event (even if an event was only a single touch-point during the sales process) will help you understand how events drive revenue for your business. And this in turn will help you make crucial decisions as to which events are worth exhibiting at next time around.
Measure what matters
By tracking event metrics, you'll be able to make real, informed decisions about which events are worth investing in, and which don't deliver value to your business. But don't get caught out by vanity metrics; measure what matters to understand the real value of your events program for generating new business leads.
Download our guide and learn how to measure what matters at events, trade shows and conferences.


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Pages 12, 13, and 37 cover the story, On the Boulevard, by Melanie Knight, which includes pictures and history of the neighborhoods of Bellaire. Also included is the cover, and page five of the magazine.
Blanton, Jack Sawtelle, 1927- ;
Gas industry -- Texas -- Houston;
Businessmen -- Texas -- Houston -- Interviews;
Philanthropists -- Texas -- Houston -- Interviews;
Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art (Austin, Tex.);
Mr. Blanton discusses his life in Houston, art collecting, the Houston Endowment, and Houston leadership.
Bryant, Thelma Scott, 1905-;
African Americans--Texas--Houston--Social life and customs--History;
Thelma Scott Bryant, a centenarian from Houston, talks about her life as an African American growing up at the beginning of the 20th century. She describes the black community where she grew up; the churches, schools, theaters and businesses; and...
Denkler, Joan--Interviews ; Fourth Ward (Houston, Tex.) ; Housing and authorities ; Housing--Texas--Houston ; Neighborhoods--Texas--Houston ; League of Women Voters of Houston ; Oral histories
Mrs. Joan Denkler is a self-proclaimed "activist" for affordable housing in Houston and has been included in many areas as an advocate for affordable housing in the Houston area, especially Fourth Ward and Allen Parkway Village. In her interview...

domain: geography


Whiteline 02-06 R53 & 06+ R56 Mini Cooper S Front Swaybar link kit-adjustable ball end links
Not many enthusiasts are aware that OE and more importantly aftermarket sway bar effectiveness can be hindered by worn or inadequate mounts, drop links and lateral stoppers. Whiteline adjustable sway bar links are engineered to be up to the task with top spec, light weight componentry combined with a window of adjustability, eliminating sway bar preload on installation but most importantly ensuring the maximum output of the sway bar for improved grip and better handling.
- 2.1 lbs
- 14.500008 × 3.799215 × 0.799213 in
ANZO 2003-2005 Nissan 350Z Projector Headlights w/ Halo Black
Whiteline 08/06-09 Pontiac G8 Sedan Rear 22mm X Heavy Duty Adjustable Swaybar
Perrin 13-16 Subaru BRZ / 13-16 Scion FR-S / 17-19 Toyota 86 License Plate Holder


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This was the 2008-09 Irish Ice Hockey League season.
The league was cancelled mid-season, and the Dundalk Bulls were named champions.
- Season on SFRP's Hockey Archive
|This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at 2008-09 Irish Ice Hockey League season. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Ice Hockey Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA).|

domain: sports


Like four of the past five months, April was colder than average. (February, the mildest on record, was the outlier.) This was the chilliest April since 1975, 3.5 degrees below average. Eight days had mean temperatures ten degrees or more colder than average (and half of the month's days were five degrees or more below average). Just three days had highs of 70°+, the fewest since April 2000. Two of them were back-to-back: 82° and 77° on 4/13 and 4/14. Earlier that week the month's coldest temperature, 32°, was posted on consecutive days, on-par with what the coldest reading is during a typical April (33°). However, the number of days with highs chillier than 50° (nine) and lows in the 30s (sixteen) was well above average (three and five days, respectively).
April was also a wet month, with 5.78" of precipitation measured, making it the third month in a row to receive more than five inches (5.83" fell in February, 5.17" in March). The last time this occurred was August-October 2011. More than half of the month's precipitation fell during a rainstorm on 4/15-16 that dropped 3.29", the biggest deluge since April 30, 2014. Finally, Easter, which fell on 4/1, was sunny and pleasant, with a high of 60°. However, 5.5" of snow fell the next morning (forcing postponement of the Yankees' home opener). This was the biggest snowfall in April since 1982.
April 2018 was just one of three Aprils since 1970 to have an average temperature below 50.0 degrees (coming in at 49.5). Before 1970, however, April temperatures this cool were much more common, with half of the Aprils between 1869 and 1969 being that chilly. Therefore, when compared to all Aprils, this April ranks as 44th coolest overall. Finally, March and April 2018 combined were the coldest first two months of meteorological spring since 1984, and the third coldest in the years since 1970.


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COPENHAGEN — Shakespeare’s Marcellus was right. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
In this hotbed of homogeneity, where global warming is a sacred assumption for the faithful, 15,000 people will come together from 192 countries to pray for two weeks over what can be done to save the Earth from certain doom. Few places are better suited to handle the throngs of unquestioning believers who will journey from around the globe.
Dissent is not tolerated, and diversity — in any form other than biodiversity — is not welcome here.
But it turns out that Denmark’s big claim to greenery isn’t quite so impressive when you find out that they do not include one of their biggest and dirtiest industries — shipping — in calculating their annual carbon footprint.
That’s because the last great world climate treaty, Kyoto, does not make them include their nasty shipping business in the calculation. No wonder the Danes liked that so much.
Even if President Obama gives away the farm when he arrives next week and signs some drastic pledge, it will be a treaty that must be ratified by the Senate.
His Democratic majority dwindles to basically nothing without members from coal states, heavy-industry states and other states where people generally would like to find a job.
But this crowd gathering here is far worse than just a bunch of hand-wringing Hamlets dithering in Denmark.
Some 40,000 tons of carbon will be spewed getting this crowd together and keeping them in comfort.
That is the daily amount of carbon dioxide produced by 30 of the world’s smaller countries, according to UN statistics.

domain: news


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Tuesday's District 10 girls soccer highlights, Oct. 14
NORTH EAST -- Alli Hart scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the second half to break open a close game and help Fairview clinch a share of the Region 3 title with a 5-2 victory over North East on Tuesday.
Maya Fanazini had a goal and two assists for the Tigers (14-1-0, 10-0-0), who held a slim 2-1 lead at halftime before Hart's goals gave them control.
Andrea McGee and Alessandra Piazza added goals for Fairview, which opened a 21/2-game lead over the Grapepickers (8-5-2, 7-2-1) in region play. Macy Putman and Erin Baker had goals for North East.
- Iroquois 1, Seneca 0: At Iroquois, Abbi Young's second half goal gave the Braves the lead, and Rosemary Campbell and Aislin Shannon teamed up to post a shutout as Iroquois (5-9-2, 3-7-1) earned a Region 3 win.
Brooke Argeny had the assist on the goal.
- McDowell 5, Central Tech 4 (OT): At Veterans Stadium, Mariah Elwell scored with 6 minutes, 47 seconds remaining in the first overtime to lift the Trojans (6-9-1, 4-3-0) to a Region 6 victory over the Falcons (6-9-1, 1-6-1).
Nikki Saur had three goals for McDowell, while Kylie Franz added a goal and two assists. Jaida Dixon had two goals and an assist for Central.
- Mercyhurst Prep 5, Strong Vincent 0: At Veterans Stadium, Elyza Pilatowski and Tamara Carrier posted shutouts as the Lakers (10-6-0, 6-2-0) earned a Region 6 victory.
Mercyhurst Prep had goals by Morgan Perkins, Sydney Johnston, Jen Shreve, Kyla Dwyer and Hannah Marshon. Amanda Costello, Dwyer, and Johnston also added assists for the Lakers.
Strong Vincent slips to 4-8-1, 0-6-1 after the loss.


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Michigan State says campaign has raised more than $1 billion
EAST LANSING (AP) — Michigan State University announced it has surpassed the $1 billion mark in its major fundraising campaign.
The East Lansing school said Friday it overtook that milestone last month toward its larger goal of raising $1.5 billion. Michigan State made the announcement about a year after launching the public phase of the capital campaign that began in 2011 and had raised $780 million in its "silent phase" by that point.
One major mission of the effort is to boost the university's endowed faculty professorship and chair positions. When the school started the campaign, officials say the school's number of endowed faculty positions was among the Big Ten's lowest.
Scholarship and fellowship funds also have been created during the campaign. University officials say roughly 221,000 people have donated, including about 105,000 alumni.
The announcement follows some recent gifts from two high-profile alumni.
Michigan State announced Thursday that former Michigan Gov. James Blanchard and his wife, Janet, donated $1 million to create a public service award and related lecture series. In the same week, the school announced that Golden State Warriors standout Draymond Green was giving $3.1 million and that a strength and conditioning facility at the Breslin Center would be named in his honor.
The public portion of the campaign kicked off last fall with some major gifts.
MSU graduate Eli Broad and his wife, Edythe, contributed $25 million to the business school that bears their name, raising their total donations at the time to nearly $100 million. The school also announced a $10 million gift for athletics.

domain: economics


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Details — Click to read
The killing of 13-year-old Adam Toledo was riddled in controversy. On March 29, 2021, Adam Toledo was shot and killed by the Chicago Police Department. There were multiple versions of how the shooting and killing took place from “armed confrontation” to passive surrender. On April 15, 2021, the Chicago Police department released the body cam video of officer, Eric Stillman, the person responsible for the shooting. The video showed Adam’s hands up, after dropping his gun and turning toward the officer. The debate surrounding this shooting stems from proper training vs, instinctual repercussions from situational awareness. This case sparked protests in Chicago as well as around the world, in a post George Floyd narrative. It also highlighted the continual story of disproportionate police violence against Latinos and children of color.


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Truck hits railroad overpass in Greenwich
GREENWICH — For the second time in a 10-week span, the railroad overpass on Steamboat Road was struck by a truck.
A driver behind the wheel of a box truck for an office-furniture company slammed into the railroad overpass on Steamboat Road at about 6:30 Tuesday morning. A previous crash there took place June 29.
No injuries were reported. The truck sustained significant damage, and its roof was nearly torn off.
Police Lt. John Slusarz said the overpass has been struck repeatedly through the years. “The truck driver doesn’t read the signs, and they’re going to get struck,” he said.
In the north end of town, the King Street bridge just inside the New York state border has been been hit twice in one month this summer. The last crash took place July 26, causing traffic problems in Greenwich as a result.
Transportation and elected officials from around the region have been working to lessen the number of these accidents, but the problem has persisted. Government officials and software experts have been attempting to ensure GPS systems and mapping software used by truckers alert them to low overpasses.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority police handled the aftermath of the crash; the overpass belongs to the MTA.
The truck belonged to Creative Installations.


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In the minds of some influential pundits and observers, Hillary Clinton's campaign is already all but dead and buried. (And, predictably, much of the narrative among those saying this is about Clinton's obstinacy -- the usual meme about Clinton being power hungry and ruthless prevails again, though there's little evidence any of those pushing it have done any reporting to back up their words.)
In the latest issue of Newsweek, Jonathan Alter writes,
If Hillary Clinton wanted a graceful exit, she'd drop out now -- before the March 4 Texas and Ohio primaries -- and endorse Barack Obama ... Imagine if, instead of waiting to be marginalized or forced out, Hillary decided to defy the stereotype we have of her family? Imagine if she drew a distinction between "never quit" as it applies to fighting Kenneth Starr and the Republicans on the one hand, and fellow Democrats on the other? Imagine if she had, well, the imagination for a breathtaking act of political theater that would make her seem the epitome of grace and class and party unity, setting herself up perfectly for 2012 if Obama loses?
The conventional view is that the Clintons approach power the way hard-core gun owners approach a weapon -- they'll give it up only when it's wrenched from their cold, dead fingers. When I floated this idea of her quitting, Hillary aides scoffed that it would never happen. Their Pollyanna-ish assessment of the race offered a glimpse inside the bunker. These are the same loyalists who told Hillary that she was inevitable, that experience was a winning theme, that going negative in a nice state like Iowa would work, that all Super Tuesday caucus states could be written off. The Hillary who swallowed all that will never withdraw.
In his column Monday, Robert Novak wrote,
Wise old heads in the Democratic Party [are] asking this question: Who will tell her that it's over, that she cannot win the presidential nomination and that the sooner she leaves the race, the more it will improve the party's chances of defeating Sen. John McCain in November?
In an ideal though unattainable world, Clinton would have dropped out when it became clear even before Wisconsin that she could not be nominated.
We, however, tend to think Balloon Juice's John Cole makes a good point when he says, "Why should she get out now? She has spent years preparing for this run, has millions of supporters who want her to continue, she still has a shot (albeit a small one, I think) at winning, and I think she owes it to herself and those who have sacrificed so much to get her this close to continue on. Should she lose the next few states and really start to trail badly in delegates, I think she should probably get out, but it should be on her own terms. Trying to pressure her out right now doesn't sit right with me, though. What is so bad about letting the voters have their say?"
It's not as though Clinton is stubbornly holding on without any supporters. She doesn't trail by much in the overall popular vote, and as of the time of this post the Real Clear Politics national poll average shows her just 4.8 percentage points below Obama -- and that appears skewed by an outlying poll that has Obama up 12. Beyond that, let's not forget what happened in the New Hampshire primary. Plenty of people were already ready to dance on Clinton's grave when she came up with a surprise victory in New Hampshire. As Time's Karen Tumulty says, in a blog post cleverly titled "Memo to Myself: Get a Grip,"
Granted, it's hard to find much that is positive for Clinton in the general direction of things. But if there's anything the primary season thus far should have taught all of us, it is to expect the unexpected. With a week and a half left to go before Ohio and Texas, anything could happen. You can bet the Obama campaign understands that, as evidenced by this week's visit by campaign manager David Plouffe to North Carolina -- a state that doesn't hold its primary until May 6.


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Gucci Mane and luxury fashion brand Gucci are finally teaming up on a collaborative collection.
The rapper who now posts Instagram looks that are dapper guy style goals has not always been this fly. Before Gucci Mane decided to transform his life while in prison the Atlanta bred rapper sported an iced out Bart Simpson chain and oversized polos. Now Gucci Mane and wife Keyshia Ka’oir are on high fashion radars.
“It took me going to prison to be able to sit down, write, and reflect on my life. I always knew that I was an amazing person, and I’m saying this as humbly as I can, but a lot of artists are super talented, but they’re not fascinating” Gucci Mane tells Vulture in 2017.
Now in 2019, Italian designer brand Gucci, where Guwop adapts his stage name has finally given him the spotlight. The Gucci Cruise 2020 campaign stars Gucci Mane alongside Sienna Miller and Iggy Pop.
The campaign, #ComeAsYouAre_RSVP, was shot by Harmony Korine and, creative directed by the fashion label’s Alessandro Michele. An image from the shoot will serve as Gucci Mane’s album cover for his forthcoming project WOPTOBER II.
Gucci shares footage from behind the scenes with Gucci Mane. View the video below:

domain: celebrity


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Posted by: Patrice Delchambre
August 21, 2011 |
For three weeks now, since the 29th of July 2011, 56 art objects have been shown in a solo exhibition at the Beeldentuin called the Heerdenberg in Cadier en Keer, near Maastricht. On the opening night we received at least 80 visitors and since then about 50 daily. This means people are inspired, talk about art, visit from far or simply take their bikes and end up at the beautiful Sculpture Garden Heerdenberg in the lovely village of Cadier en Keer. We are grateful to Jose de Goede who hosted me and did a lot of publicity together with her family.
Last year part of this art work was hosted in a group exhibition on contemporary artists living in Zimbabwe, in Beijing and attracted numerour visitors.
As from Monday evening, the 22nd of August, the exhibition “Corals from Zimbabwe” will be seen at the restaurant Sofa in Maastricht, next to the Castle Hogeweerd. The owner Eveline, a fellow Rotarian will offer her space and beautiful setting to continue showing the bowls and corals, for the next coming weeks. Sofa has a luxurious part in a modern trendy setting and a very pleasant brasserie, as well as an exquisite garden area where one can have drink and relax.
Part of the proceedings will go the building of classrooms, library, gardens and drilling of a waterhole at a rural government school north of Harare, called Chengeta Primary.


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Their purpose is to further artistic and scientific knowledge by fostering the meeting of art and science in the field of technologies. The Foundation seeks to nurture a critical awareness of technology's implications for human beings and their natural and cultural environments and to promote the
exploration of aesthetics suited to environments shaped by human beings.
For the Garage festival 09 Free Soil have conducted a site specific research project investigating the environment of the Baltic Sea.
We created an alternative archive of political and historical events that have occurred in the Baltic Sea region, especially Stralsund and linked these with the sea’s responses. The impact of Industrialisation, population growth and political changes has resulted in climatic and environmental changes recorded in the sea. Nature retaliates by creating new forms, one of the most significant being the spread and growth of toxic Blue Green Algae or “phytoplankton”
Images: wooden sewerage pipe from Stralsund. &
Portrait of William Lindley the designer of the first sewerage system in Stralsund, algae on paper.

domain: artistic


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How Chilean Cinema Ruled in 201328 December, 2013
If the last few years have witnessed growing recognition, both critically and commercially, for the Chilean film industry, 2013 has been a year of consolidation for cinema in the narrow country, as Chile provided further justification to those who believe it currently boasts Latin America’s brightest film scene. Following a number of internationally well-received Chilean films over the last couple of years (Patricio Guzmán’s Nostalgia for the Light, Andrés Wood’s Violeta went to Heaven and Pablo Larraín’s No, to name but three), filmmakers continued to display talent and confidence in several films and documentaries which made a splash across different continents in 2013.
The rise of Chilean film was emphasised by the announcement late last year that the Pinochet-era drama No would compete against four other films for the Best Foreign Language Oscar in 2013, the first time a Chilean film had made the final nominations at the world’s grandest awards show. Although No eventually lost out to Michael Haneke’s Amour, its presence in the final shortlist reemphasised the film’s compelling content, merging fact and fiction in a tale of social unity against tyranny. No was an international success, thanks to its weighty narrative and the presence in the lead role of brilliant actor, beautiful human specimen and all round good egg, Gael Garcia Bernal.
But No was a hit in its native country in 2012. So, what was this year’s equivalent, a film to showcase the verve of contemporary Chilean cinema, which would be just as well-received by international audiences as by those at home? The Chilean film of 2013 was undoubtedly Sebastián Lelio’s Gloria, the widely-acclaimed tale of a mid-fifties divorcee for whom singledom and age initially represent no barrier to exploring life’s pleasures yet, for Paulina Garcia’s eponymous heroine, this ultimately results in an emotional void until new relationships serve as a conduit through which to examine Gloria’s, and to an extent Chile’s, past. Gloria was ‘at once funny, uplifting, moving and deeply disquieting’ said The Observer, while Time Out noted the film’s socio-political commentary, saying it was ‘a portrait of a certain comfortably-off segment of Chilean society, still somewhat unsure as to how to cope with its recent history.’ Garcia’s superb performance in the lead role was recognised with the Best Actress Award at the Berlin Film Festival.
Released around the same time as Gloria, El Futuro was the first cinematic realisation of the work of late Chilean author Roberto Bolaño, whose Una Novelita Lumpen was retitled and brought to the screen by Alicia Scherson. Opening with the car wreck that orphans the two teenage sibling protagonists, the narrative follows Bianca and Tomás as they attempt to adapt to a new reality of self-dependence, a state which leads them to formulate a plan involving an ex-Mr Universe, played by Rutger Hauer. It is a strong first attempt at a Bolaño dramatisation, and poses the question as to whether there are any filmmakers out there willing to take on the immense task of adapting the writer’s 21st century masterpiece, 2666.
The recently-announced Cinema Tropical awards also reflected the current strength of Chilean filmmaking with a preponderance of films from the country. Gloria and No were both among the nominees for Best Feature Film, while Pablo Larraín also received a Best Director nomination for No, along with Sebastián Silva for Crystal Fairy. With just five films in either category, the presence of two Chilean productions on both shortlists gives another sign that Chilean cinema is currently riding a particularly creative wave. Not bad for a country with less than a tenth of the population of Brazil. The Cinema Tropical awards will be held in late-January.
Crystal Fairy was undoubtedly a Chilean film, with its panoramic shots of the Atacama Desert and recreation of countless youthful road trips conducted through the country’s extensive northern landscapes. But it was a film with its eyes firmly fixed on the foreign market, evident in the presence in the lead roles of North American actors Michael Cera, as the nerdy slacker on a pilgrimage to find the hallucinogenic San Pedro cactus, and Gaby Hoffman as the ditsy hippy girl who tags along annoyingly at first but then provokes a humanitarian awakening in her self-centred compatriot. This was one of two films from Sebastian Silva in 2013, the other, Magic Magic, shifting the action to the south of Chile in another play to international audiences, as a couple of North American backpackers travel the region while slowly losing touch with reality. The foreign focus of these films meant they were less popular in Chile than certain other productions but, by setting his films at opposite ends of the country, Silva highlighted one of the great advantages and traits of national cinema: namely that in spite of relatively low budgets, Chilean filmmakers are blessed with a stunning natural environment in which to frame their projects, and the majestic landscapes that feature along the country’s full length are a key characteristic of national cinema.
Chile’s striking imagery is a brooding, powerful presence in its films, and perhaps no other film summed this up more in 2013 than Dominga Sotomayor’s De Jueves a Domingo (Thursday till Sunday), winner of the national prize at the 2012 Valdivia Film Festival, and another story based around a road trip through the arid north. Sotomayor’s debut features a typical nuclear family in the lead roles, as the increasingly barren landscapes serve as a metaphor for the parents’ lifeless relationship (mum and dad played by Paola Giannini and Emiliano Freifeld), both trying to maintain the illusion of normality for the sake of their two young children. Held together through an excellent central performance from Santi Ahumada as twelve-year old Lucia, all too aware of her parents’ crisis, the film is a simply-constructed but pointedly-told account of decent people drifting apart.
Carne de Perro (Dog Flesh) marked the full-length debut of another young director of rich promise. Fernando Guzzoni’s film centres on Alejandro, an ageing ex-military official who is prone to bouts of psychosis that manifest in extreme violence. Haunted by undocumented events from before the film’s timeframe, Alejandro (played by Alejandro Goic) strives to hold down a normal life but grows increasingly more volatile as nothing works out, sending him deeper into a spiral of perpetual torment. The protagonist presents a conundrum as he attempts to redeem himself from the wickedness of past deeds that he nevertheless took part in. In his strife, Alejandro is far from a sympathetic figure yet evidently a tragic one.
The years of the military dictatorship have provided scores of Chilean filmmakers with politically-relevant content over the years, and it was another era-set film which was perhaps the most controversial film of the year. Mateo Iribarren’s El Tio is based on the life of Jaime Guzmán, one of General Pinochet’s key economic advisors, who drafted the 1980 Constitution consolidating military rule in Chile and later went on to found Chile’s largest right-wing political party, the Unión Democrática Independiente (UDI) , which forms the majority in the governing coalition of current president Sebastián Piñera. Guzmán was assassinated by left-wing militants in Santiago in 1991 and as such is a martyr to the Chilean right. El Tio, starring Guzmán’s actual nephew Ignacio Santa Cruz in the lead role, is critical of the military authorities but looks favourably on the man, one of Pinochet’s favourites. An interesting aspect of the film was its frank portrayal of Guzmán’s homosexuality, rarely referenced by conservatives vehemently opposed to gay marriage.
Documentaries also made a strong impression in 2013. Probably the most acclaimed was El Otro Día (The Other Day), by Ignacio Aguero, in which the director turns the tables on the various visitors to his door, asking them to open up their private spaces, i.e. their homes, to his camera’s curious gaze. Mélanie Brun’s No Habrá Revolución sin Canción examined the political context of Chilean music, from cultural icons Victor Jara and Violeta Parra to dictatorship-era punk bands like Fiskales Ad-Hok, featuring interviews and archive performances from many of the socially-conscious musicians in Chile over the past half-century. El Salvavidas, Maite Alberdi’s look at a lifeguard on a typical Chilean beach, was as far removed from Baywatch as a film about lifeguards possibly could be. And arguably the year’s most moving film was La Última Estación (The Last Season), Cristián Soto and Catalina Vergara’s portrait of mortality framed within an old people’s home and soundtracked to melancholy and reflection.
Although Gloria narrowly missed out on achieving a second consecutive Oscar nomination for Chile, 2013 has been a fantastic year for national filmmaking. It is a creative surge that looks likely to continue for the foreseeable future as well, as greater recognition and success has a knock-on effect through the industry, securing new levels of financing and attracting international figures to collaborate with Chilean cineastas. With the number of productions increasing year by year, there is a strong case to be put forward that Chilean cinema is not only currently leading the way in Latin American, it is also arguably one of the world’s most exciting emerging film industries. 2014 promises to be fun.
Sounds and Colours’ Top Ten Chilean Films of 2013 (Click on the title to watch the trailer)
1 – Gloria, Sebastian Lelio
2 – El Futuro (The Future), Alicia Scherson
3 – El Otro Día (The Other Day), Ignacio Aguero
4 – De Jueves a Domingo (Thursday till Sunday), Dominga Sotomayor
5 – La Última Estación (The Last Season), Cristián Soto & Catalina Vergara
6 – No Habrá Revolución sin Canción (There Will Be No Revolution without Song), Mélanie Brun
7 – Carne de Perro (Dog Flesh), Fernando Guzzoni
8 – Crystal Fairy, Sebastian Silva
9 – El Salvavidas (The Lifeguard), Maite Alberdi
10 – Donde Vuelan los Cóndores (Where the Condors Fly), Carlos Klein
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While the UN devotes its human rights operations to the demonization of the democratic state of Israel above all others and condemns the United States more often than the vast majority of non-democracies around the world, the voices of real victims around the world must be heard.
Taliban leaders have publicly pledged to be magnanimous in victory, assuring government officials, troops and the people of Afghanistan that they have nothing to fear as ever larger swaths of the country fall under their control.
But Afghans pouring into Kabul and those still in Taliban-held areas say they have witnessed unprovoked attacks on civilians and executions of captured soldiers. In addition, they say, Taliban commanders have demanded that communities turn over unmarried women to become wives for their fighters.
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul said Thursday that it had received reports of the Taliban executing members of the Afghan military who had surrendered. “Deeply disturbing & could constitute war crimes,” the embassy said on Twitter.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, denied the group had killed any prisoners, saying that would violate its principles. He also said allegations that the Taliban was forcing women into marriage were false, and that such actions would be contrary to the rules of Islam and violate cultural tradition.
On Wednesday, Mawlawi Abdul Qadir, a senior Taliban religious official, said in a speech in the newly captured capital of Badakhshan province that government soldiers who surrender and “confess their crimes” would be able “to live like a Muslim under the flag of the Islamic Emirate.”
The deal reached last year by the Trump administration and the Taliban, under which the U.S. agreed to withdraw its forces, didn’t spell out any human-rights standards for the Taliban to follow. The group, however, promised to seek a peaceful settlement and a negotiated cease-fire with the Afghan government. Some of those fleeing the violence as more provincial capitals fall have ended up in Kabul. One badly injured woman named Wazir Nazari, a member of Afghanistan’s Shiite Hazara minority, lay motionless on her side on a thin mattress on the roof of a house in the western part of the capital.
Her father, Abdul Rezaq Rezaie, said she had been shot in the head in early July by Taliban fighters going door-to-door in their village in the Malistan district of Ghazni province in central Afghanistan. Villagers said it was unclear what they were after.
Malistan is almost entirely populated by Hazaras, whose Shiite Islam is viewed with disdain by the strictly Sunni Taliban. In the 1990s, the Hazaras offered stiff resistance to Taliban efforts to take over the country and subsequently faced persistent persecution at Taliban hands.
The fighters shot Wazir’s sister-in-law in the stomach and she collapsed to the floor mortally wounded. As Wazir, who is in her 40s, bent to help her, she was shot in the face, Mr. Rezaie said. He said a bullet entered her right temple and exited from her left eye.
The family took Wazir by taxi on a 10-hour journey over unpaved roads to a hospital in a neighboring district that was still in government hands. Eleven days later, a military helicopter carried her to Kabul. Mr. Rezaie said she has suffered serious brain damage, can no longer see and is barely able to move.
“It would have been better for her if they had killed my daughter than leave her in this state,” Mr. Rezaie said.
Later that week, when the Taliban reached the neighboring village of Paai Julga, community leaders, including the principal of a girls high school there, Baba Ali Rahmani, went to see the local Taliban commander, known as Mawlawi Mosafir.
The commander assured them that the Taliban had no issue with the Shiite village and that residents could continue with their usual way of life, said Mr. Rahmani’s son, Sharif.
Days later, government forces attempted a counterattack in the district and the Taliban turned violent against Hazara civilians, Sharif Rahmani said. His father ventured outside the house and was killed. Neighbors said he had been shot by Taliban fighters on a motorcycle, Mr. Rahmani said.
Mr. Rahmani said he didn’t know why his father, who was hit three times in the torso and once in the neck, was singled out.
Mr. Rahmani, 26, has since fled to Kabul with his two adult sisters, and is staying with relatives. Left behind in the village are his mother and three younger siblings, still children. “My mother said she has nothing left to lose, so she stayed,” he said.
An estimated 2,200 mostly Hazara families from Malistan have escaped to the relative safety of Kabul since the Taliban conquest, said Khaliqdaad Fitrat, a community leader in the district.
Mr. Fitrat said he fled as a Taliban search party approached. They opened fire as he ran, he said.
The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission says at least 27 civilians have been killed in Malistan since the Taliban takeover, with 10 others injured.
Mr. Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said that in Malistan, no civilians were harmed after the takeover. After a pitched battle between government forces and Taliban fighters in the southwestern province of Nimroz, people there said, the Taliban executed a dozen captured soldiers. One of the prisoners had his eyes gouged out and another had his ears cut off, according to local residents who later retrieved the bodies for burial.
Pictures purporting to show the soldiers’ dead bodies were shared by local Taliban fighters on messaging apps.
Mr. Mujahid denied the group had executed captured soldiers in Nimroz.
A senior Afghan government official in Kabul, who corroborated the local residents’ accounts, said that the images from the execution had spread fear among troops ahead of the fall of Nimroz’s provincial capital, Zaranj, last week.
Shaharzad Akbar, head of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, said mounting evidence was emerging of the execution of captured soldiers around the country. She said civilians, especially those who work for the government, were also being targeted.
“There is absolute disregard for international humanitarian law,” Ms. Akbar said. “My biggest fear is that this will become a pattern that will keep repeating itself.”
In Spin Boldak, a town on Afghanistan’s southern border with Pakistan, the Taliban executed 44 people after taking over in mid-July, according to an investigation by Human Rights Watch.
Those killed were supporters of a family that controlled the border crossing and ran a pro-government militia, the rights group said. Videos shared by pro-Taliban accounts on social media showed a fighter with a machine gun shooting bound prisoners by the side of a road.
In many newly conquered areas, the Taliban have imposed harsh restrictions on the movement of women, not allowing them to leave the house without male relatives and mandating that they wear the all-enveloping burqa, according to local residents reached by phone.
A man who fled Badakhshan province, in the northeast, said the Taliban had told his village that women weren’t to leave home without male chaperones. Men were ordered to go to the mosque for prayers five times a day. Families with more than one man were required to provide one to fight with the militants, he said.
The United Nations warned this week that it was receiving deeply distributing reports of human-rights abuses in Afghanistan.
“Hampering a woman’s ability to leave home without a male escort also inevitably leads to a cascade of other violations of the woman,” said Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.
After the insurgents in late June took the Rustaq district of the northern province of Takhar, a senior local Taliban figure addressed residents in the mosque during Friday prayers. All girls over the age of 15 and widows younger than 40 should be married to the insurgent fighters, he told the congregation, according to a local man who was present.
The man was later summoned and ordered to hand over his 15-year-old daughter. He said in a telephone interview that he fled the area and was trying to make his way to Kabul from the province, whose capital fell to the Taliban on Sunday.
Experts said the openly declared demand for women for their fighters showed the Taliban had grown even more extreme than they were when their regime was in power the 1990s. The practice shows the influence of Islamic State, which enforced sexual slavery on women on a massive scale in Syria and Iraq.


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Wild Kratts - Koala Balloon
Martin and Chris must protect a young koala stranded in the Australian Outback, and help him get back to his Eucalyptus forest habitat. On their quest to return the adorable animal home, the brothers discover lots of interesting facts about how animals are specialized to their own environment, and with some tips from an intrepid desert dweller called the thorny devil, they must survive the desert crossing and bring the koala home.
Series Website: http://pbskids.org/wildkratts
Recent and Upcoming Airings

domain: biology


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KEY TAKEAWAY: The biggest reason for the projected “flat spending” in DTD advertising is due to the simple fact that there aren’t going to be and new products that are intended to be targeted towards big audiences. Drugs in development are specialty drugs and as thus they will require targeted marketing to reach their audience.
Another big pharma client informed us, yesterday, that they were going to cut their DTC in 2017 by 20-30%. “We don’t have a portfolio that warrants an investment in any new DTC initiatives” the marketing VP said. The ad agency people in attendance I think were the most shocked, but it’s consistent with what we heard at other clients.
By far the biggest investment in new drugs is in the area of oncology, but today a majority of drug companies are not sold on the value of DTC marketing for cancer drugs. Diabetes drugs are battling it out on TV, but the insurers are having a bigger say about what drugs can and should be prescribed.
The days of $200 million DTC launches may be over but that’s not a reason to believe that DTC marketing can’t be effective in driving demand. DTC marketers first have to drive awareness, which is usually done via TV, but the disconnect seems to be connecting the line between awareness and an Rx. As another client told us “today patients have a lot of choices when it comes to treatment options and in some cases it’s coming down to price and awareness”. Welcome to marketing.
What we have also found is that too many pharma companies ee digital marketing as a “black hole” of spending. They are unsure how to prioritize digital marketing buckets and as a result, their websites often suffer with a lack of testing and research. We recently advised one client to cut their search marketing budget by half and invest the money on the online branding experience to which they replied “what does that mean?”. Ouch.
Some consumer marketers are having the same thoughts, especially with the decline in TV ratings for the NFL. In short, it means that marketers are going to have to start thinking like consumers instead of marketers and ask “where and how can I reach my audience?”.


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Did You Know?
The film went in production in the spring of 1942 and was launched amid a spectacular publicity campaign as it was to be directed by the famous actor Osvaldo Valenti on location in Lybia, then occupied by Fascist Italy. All the outdoors scenes were shot and the cast and crew came back to Italy to shoot the remaining scenes in studio but the war interrupted the production. It was never resumed. See more

domain: entertainment


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Central & South Asia
People & Power
This month on Al Jazeera
city > Soweto
1 - 10
Al-Nakba is not over
Palestinians continue to face ethnic cleansing and community decimation to this day.
Last updated: 15 May 2014 13:12 GMT
Mandela mystique clings to Soweto streets
In areas of Johannesburg where Mandela forged his political career, his presence was strong but not always enough.
Last updated: 05 Dec 2013 23:21 GMT
Mandela coup plotters jailed in South Africa
Members of right-wing group Boeremag sentenced in post-apartheid trial for plotting to assassinate Mandela.
Last updated: 29 Oct 2013 15:18 GMT
Joblessness plagues South Africa's youth
The country's poor education system and weak governance mean young people suffer from high rates of unemployment.
Last updated: 18 Jun 2013 16:30 GMT
New probe into Winnie Mandela-linked pair
New investigation launched into apartheid-era disappearances, implicating Nelson Mandela's ex-wife.
Last updated: 20 Dec 2012 10:29 GMT
S Africa lifts curtains for new Soweto stage
First publicly funded theatre since the end of apartheid era is set to open in historic township.
Last updated: 24 May 2012 12:21 GMT
SAfrica school rethinks Israel ties
University of Johannesburg threatens to sever ties with Israeli Ben-Gurion University if certain conditions are not met.
Last updated: 30 Sep 2010 01:21 GMT
Court rules against SA strikers
"Essential employees" prohibited from taking part in industrial action over pay.
Last updated: 22 Aug 2010 00:28 GMT
Police clash with S Africa strikers
Police fire rubber bullets at civil servants protesting outside a hospital in Soweto.
Last updated: 19 Aug 2010 17:41 GMT
Kick it up South Africa
How a group of Sowetan girls have brought a female voice to World Cup 2010.
Last updated: 12 Jul 2010 09:31 GMT
Featured on Al Jazeera
Rising tide of UK anti-immigrant sentiment
Swathes of the British electorate continue to show discontent with all things European, including immigration.
A glimpse into the universe's oldest galaxies
Astronomers have captured images of primordial galaxies that helped light up the cosmos after the Big Bang.
The photo controversy over indigenous people
Critics assail British photographer's portrayal of indigenous people, but he says he's highlighting their plight.
'We got this, Bob Geldof, so back off'
As Western stars re-release 1980s charity hit, many Africans say it's a demeaning relic that can do more harm than good.
JOURNALISM UNDER FIRE
Sexual violence continues for Myanmar women
Tin Tin Nyo
OPEC in the age of climate change
Berlin and the global digital resistance movement
The 'Jewish state bill' doesn't matter to us, Palestinians
South Sudan: A 'thankless kid'?
Why is Nigeria's Jonathan worried?
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The G man comes to Beaver Creek
Those long, curly locks. Tall, well-dressed with chiseled good looks and a shining personality, to boot. Forget all of that Kenny G blows … the saxophone that is.But what you may not know about Kenny G is that he can ski.Im actually a really good skier. Yeah, been skiing since I was 10, Kenny G said. Unfortunately Kenny might not get a chance to hit the slopes during his visit to Beaver Creek for his Vilar Center show Saturday night, he said.
As one of the worlds most famous saxophonists, many people know the name Kenny G (short for Gorelick), even if theyve never heard a single song by the man after all its not like hes going to be sandwiched between The Killers and Jack Johnson on your local Top 40 radio station. But Kenny Gs dedicated and unrelenting work ethic has helped make his name very recognizable in the instrumental music world. He practices playing the saxophone a minimum of two hours a day, his recorded catalogue boasts over 25 albums some that went platinum and collaborations with many of the music industries biggest names. He even won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition in 1994 for his single Forever In Love.We know were good at what we do, we take it seriously, Kenny G said, referring to his backing band. He compared his 20-year career playing with the same five-piece band to a championship basketball team that never breaks up. Kenny G is no stranger to playing in the valley either, having opened for James Brown at the Dobson Ice Arena almost 15 years ago. Selling records and tickets to shows seems to come naturally to Kenny G, who has a very large fan following and consistently high album sales.Ive been lucky that the music I like, people like, so thats a good thing. It means that I dont really have to think about adjusting my music if Im trying to sell records, Kenny G said. He feels that many artists in the biz are more concerned with writing music that they think will sell instead of the music they want to write. I dont like that. Ive never done that before. So maybe I think Ive been around this long because my integrity has always been there, he said.
The G-man whose career as a saxophonist spans over three decades has no plans to slow down or end his career either. He continues to release albums inspired by his desire to be creative and grow as a musician. Rhythm & Romance, Kenny Gs newest release, is his first original work in five years and the first Latin jazz album of his career.People really enjoy (Latin) music. Its new but it still sounds like me, Kenny G said.While on tour in support of his new album, he said audiences can expect to hear a blend of his classic material with many songs from his new release.But what inspires Kenny G to write songs that are so widely received? Is it experience, mood, politics, society? According to him, theres no one topic that makes for easy songwriting. I think the main thing is, you have to at least be comfortable on an instrument, whatever the instrument is, and so I know how to play the saxophone, obviously, so when I sit down to write, think about music, at least the saxophone is something I can use to bring life to ideas, Kenny G said.
Kenny Gs connection to the saxophone started when he was a kid. His mom never made him play, he said, it was simply something hes wanted to do since he first saw someone playing a saxophone on TV. When he finally got his hands on one he practiced non-stop, eventually earning a gig at the age of 17 with legendary soul-man Barry White. He was eventually signed by Arista Records. (He is currently signed to Concord Records.)I really dont think about it too much. I dont walk around with a success meter out there to see how good I am, he said. I concentrate more on practicing and just trying to become a better saxophone player, and thats what I work at really hard.But even with all of his personal success, one moment of his career that he never expected was sleeping in the Lincoln Bedroom at the White House after playing a gig for then-President Bill Clinton a saxophone player himself. He even jammed with Clinton once, he said.I just have to make sure he inhales, Kenny G said.High Life writer Charlie Owen can be reached at 748-2939 or firstname.lastname@example.org.
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Located in Amelia Island in the Florida region Villas Of Summer Beach Condo has a patio. This apartment features 2 bedrooms a TV and a kitchen.
Amelia Island Beach is 1969 feet from the apartment. The nearest airport is Jacksonville International Airport 16 mi from Villas Of Summer Beach Condo.
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.Parking
Free public parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).Pets
Pets are not allowed.Children and extra bed policy
Children of any age are allowed. No cots are available. No extra beds are available.
, Fernandina Beach

domain: travel


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- Media category
- Materials used
- etching and engraving
- 32.0 x 39.0 cm platemark; 47.0 x 59.2 cm sheet
- Purchased 2006
- Not on display
- Accession number
- Artist information
Works in the collection
Hogarth trained as a silver engraver and was practicing as an engraver by 1720. After studying in Vanderbank's and Thornhill's Academies, he became active as a painter c.1728; in 1735 he set up his own drawing academy in St Martin's Lane. At first he painted conversation pieces, but he achieved his greatest success with the "modern moral subjects" (beginning with the 'Harlot's Progress') that he engraved himself and sold by subscription to a wide public. He also painted history subjects and, in the 1740s, applied himself to portraiture. In 1757 he was appointed Serjeant painter to the King. Hogarth exhibited at the Society of British Artists in 1761 and was elected to the committee of the Society in the same year. His 'Analysis of Beauty' was published in 1753.
Hogarth's reputation as an artist has been based almost exclusively on his engravings rather than his paintings. They established him as an entirely original force in English art and marked the beginning of an unrivalled tradition of visual satire. By organizing images into series that tell a complete story of contemporary life Hogarth created a new kind of work of art, one that has its counterpart in the pages of Defoe, Swift and Hogarth's friend and admirer, Henry Fielding.
'A Harlot's Progress', the story of a girl arriving in London and being led into prostitution, was the first of Hogarth’s printed series. It appeared in April 1732. Though the series was sold by subscription, the method of marketing was new and ingenious. The basis was a series of painted versions which were available for viewing in his studio in Covent Garden. (The paintings were destroyed by fire in 1755).Contributions were raised initially by means of an engraved subscription ticket as a way of getting half the payment in advance for the series.
According to George Vertue, a rival engraver and chronicler of the period, Hogarth made the series because of the favourable reactions of visitors to his studio when shown an enticing painting of a 'common harlot, supposed to dwell in drewry lane, just riseing about noon out of bed', and that 'this whore's desabille careless and Countenance & air' had proved attractive to visitors who urged him to add other paintings to it. For whatever reasons the subscription was a great success and Vertue notes that 'persons of fashion and Artists' took out 1,240 subscriptions at one guinea each.
This plate shows Moll as a Covent Garden prostitute at her morning toilette. Instead of a black houseboy in a turban she is attended by a noseless servant, and her deceitful nature is suggested by the watch, presumably stolen from her lover the night before. Through the doorway arrives the magistrate Sir John Gonson, together with his bailiffs, who will shortly arrest her.The pin-up portraits beneath her window illustrate her false ideals: Captain Macheath of 'The Beggar’s Opera' and the dubious Tory divine, Dr Sacheveral.
Other works by William Hogarth
See all 32 works


Sonali Weljali and Tukaram Sonawane’s innovative product ‘electric bull’ helps in inter-cultivation of agricultural crops.
With more than 1.4 billion population to feed, India is one of the countries where farm mechanisation is as low as 45 per cent as compared to other countries like the US where it is 95 per cent. Farm mechanisation is far more complex in India due to the diversity in rural landscape and agricultural practices, and hence most of the innovation and mechanisation has been “technological” and “corporate-driven” rather than understanding the practical needs of farmers.
One such gap, identified by the husband-wife entrepreneur duo Sonali Weljali and Tukaram Sonawane, was lack of equipment for inter-cultivation in farms. The duo founded “Krishigati” startup in 2021 to make farming easier, less expensive, and more rewarding for small-scale farmers with their product called the “electric bull” or AgriEV alpha which is an “axle-less” battery powered vehicle. It can be used for all kinds of inter-cultivating operations like weeding, earthing up, spraying and precision sowing.
Sonali and Tukaram are mechanical engineers belonging to farmer family and settled in Pimpri-Chinchwad near Pune. Tukaram has mentored about 2,000 startups as coach, while Sonali was working in a multinational company manufacturing agricultural machinery. During the first Covid lockdown, they worked from home, but decided to go to their hometown Andarsul, in Yeola tehsil of Nashik, for a change, when the second lockdown was implemented.
“Being farmers and watched farming closely since childhood, we both realised that agricultural practices have not changed much. Tractors, spraying pumps, tillers, and other modern equipment were being by farmers but they were not necessarily convenient and ergonomic to use. Despite mechanised solutions available, farmers had no choice for inter-cultivation of food grain crops and it was still carried out in a traditional way,” Sonali said.
“We decided to interact with farmers about their problems. Even though lockdown was in place, farmers used to meet every day at their farms. After discussion with more than hundred farmers, we realised that they had problems and solutions too, but those were limited to their own farms and unscalable for implementation. Since we had farming as well as technical knowledge, we thought we can design and develop a product which will solve critical issues faced by farmers. especially in the inter-cultivation of crops.
Labour and draft animal shortage
Inter-cultivation activities were traditionally carried out by farm labourers or draft animals. Tractors or other equipment are not suitable to be used in these operations as they may damage the crops in the field.
Highlighting some disturbing trends in agricultural practices in rural India, Sonali said, “Inter-cultivation activities need to be done in a certain timeframe or else unseasonal rain or harsh weather conditions can ruin crops and result in loss for farmers. The unfortunate reality in rural regions is that nobody wants to work in harsh conditions at the farm and hence labour is difficult to source. Rich farmers, large landholder can afford such labour by paying more, but smallholders cannot. If we look at draft animals, cows are being preferred as they also become an additional source of income derived from milk and dairy products. Bulls, on the other hand, are costlier to maintain and there is a trend to train them for racing activities rather than agricultural practices. If we compare, cows outnumber bulls by over three to one.”
Inter-cultivation means activities which are carried out after sowing of crops. Typically, inter-cultivation includes three activities – thinning and gap filling, weeding, hoeing, and earthing up.
Sonali said, “The grain filling period is important in food grain crops like wheat, jowar (sorghum) and bajra (pearl millet). For example, in October, excessive heat and unseasonal rains can affect the crops. Traditionally, farmers used to apply additional soil on the roots of the crop thereby creating a valley between the rows. Rain water would flow through this ‘valley’ and moisture content of the soil protected the crop from excessive heat. This simple practice of farmers can improve the production and quality of crops by 20 to 30 per cent. But nowadays, this practice is not being followed resulting in damaged crops and production losses.”
“Mechanisation solutions are available in abundance in the harvesting stage, but not in inter-cultivation stage. Only draft animals and human labour could do it. While designing our product, we had to take all these factors in consideration and come up with a product which is not only technologically superior but ‘local’ in look and ergonomic to use. For example, we had an option of using high-quality grinding machine blades, but we went for ‘blacksmith’ blades to give a local touch to our product. Due to these ‘hybrid’ features, we could build a cost-effective and more productive machine,” Sonali said.
Krishigati was formally incorporated in 2021. The initial product design and prototyping involved a lot of trials and error and took nearly six months. Sonali said, “Initially, we had designed the machine to be operated on diesel engine. However, some of our mentors, including IV Rao, former executive advisor and R&D head at Maruti Suzuki India; and Rashmi Urdhwareshe, former director at Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) advised us to make it battery-operated (EV) considering future requirements. The prototype was completed in next six months and final product cost us around ₹7 lakh.”
“We have spoken in person as well as over phone to more than 4,000 farmers till date. They feel we can solve their problems and have very high hope from us. Mechanisation that has happened over years has been driven by highly qualified engineers, but there is a gap between actual requirements of farmers and the products they receive. Farmers adapted to the new machines, but their requirements were not fully met. So, while designing the machine we took this aspect into consideration. We developed the axle-less technology for which we have also received a patent in just 13 months. Axle was the major barrier in inter-cultivation operations as we could take the machine inside crop lanes in farms only if the axle was absent. Furthermore, we are now aiming to power our battery-operated vehicle through renewable energy sources like solar power,” Sonali said.
Sonali said, “While designing the product we have also considered the international market requirements. Within India too, there is a lot of land and crop field diversity from Jammu and Kashmir to northeastern states. Farmers can convey their specific requirements and we will offer customised solutions to them. We have a strong team of 15 members, including the research and development team, to provide such unique solutions.”
Sonali and Tukaram set up their first 2,500 square feet-sized plant in Alandi MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) area. The first batch was manufactured recently and three machines were delivered to farmers from nearby village areas.
“We are appointing dealers and distributors across India starting with Maharashtra. They have been appointed at Akola in Vidarbha and Aurangabad and Beed in Marathwada region. Our next focus is Nashik district. Rajasthan government has placed an order for 1,000 machines for a single village. We have obtained consent letter for 200 machines from the government and are in discussion with investors to meet the demand. We will set up a bigger plant soon,” Sonali said.
Krishigati is a bootstrapped startup with Sonali and Tukaram putting in around ₹20 lakh. Tukaram was aware of different government schemes, grants and challenges where they applied and emerged winners.
“One of such challenges was organised by STPI-COE (Software Technology Parks of India-Centre of Entrepreneurship) ‘Motion’ in Bhosari where Krishigati was shortlisted. It was meant for electric mobility (on road vehicles) startups, but they gave us an opportunity considering our battery-operated vehicle for agriculture,” said Tukaram.
Krishigati participated in the Kisan Sammelan organised on October 17 and 18 in which 300 startups were shortlisted from 3,000 applicants. Further, only 25 startups were shortlisted for the startup conclave visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sharing her experience with the prime minister, Sonali said, “The interaction was a good opportunity for us and we will never forget it. The questions PM Modi asked were relevant which only an informed person could put to us. He also wanted to drive the machine and asked his security personnel to make necessary arrangements. While they were doing it, he asked whether women can operate the machine and hence I demonstrated it myself.”
Krishigati team is planning to increase its monthly production capacity 10x. “Farmers can rent the machine from farmers’ producer organisations (FPOs) and farmers’ producer companies (FPCs) on hourly charges basis. Besides India, we are also targeting Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the US, and the UK markets. We will be launching sub-variants of the existing product within a year. Also, we have set a target of achieving 500 units production per month.”
Source Article: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/pune-news/startup-mantra-farming-made-easy-and-reap-benefits-101670083326859.html


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Live action Mad Max 4 underway?
Last we heard Mad Max 4 was likely to be made as an 3-D Japanese style anime, as opposed to a live action film.
But it could be that Mad Max 4 will start production this year sometime, with a new Mad Max and not as an anime.
Despite Mel Gibson being less than impressed with the script he was sent for Mad Max 4, George Miller has carried on regardless. Then in March this year, Miller said he planned on making Mad Max 4 as a 3-D Japanese style anime feature. This without Mel Gibson, who he has presumably given up on.
Now The Herald Sun, through First Showing.net, say that Miller is planning on filming the fourth film this year. They also say that scouting for locations is already underway. The plan seems to be to cast a new younger Max.
It's hard to know if this is a definite, or if the anime film is still the plan. He sounded pretty excited about it when it came up. Do you want Mad Max 4? Do you like the sound of an anime film, or should it be live action? Any idea who could play Max?


The Antec NX110 ARGB Mid Tower Gaming Chassis is great addition to your gaming arsenal with its ease of use, transparent side panel and ARGB lighting. This gaming case effortlessly combines a bevy of in-demand features: USB 3.0 connectivity, ample storage drive bays, room for expansion, and includes one 120mm regular fan in rear. With support for up to a 240 mm liquid cooling radiator in front, NX110 is easy to build with, and easy to cool. It also supports up to 4 fans for cooling, has 300 mm graphics card support, comes with a LED button on the front IO to change the lighting options.
Antec NX110 ARGB Tempered Glass Side (GPU 350mm) ATX|Micro ATX|Mini ITX Gaming C
- ATX motherboard support
- ARGB lighting
- Transparent side panel
- USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 port front IO
- 240mm Radiator support


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Description: Big Rivers Regional Trail is built on an old railroad bed which provides picturesque views of the Minnesota and Mississipi Rivers. The rails to trails asphalt trail rests between high limestone bluffs and scenic river valleys.
Length: 4.4 miles one way. It is an out and back trail with a consistent gradual decline/incline between Mendota Heights and Lilydale. You can skate further to Harriet Island along and to the Missisippi River, however, to be safe, you will need to be comfortable road skating with no shoulders and an occasional vehicle.
Getting There: To get to the Mendota Heights (higher elevation – you will skate down) parking lot, take Highway 55 South over the Mendota Bridge. Stay on highway 55 and turn right on to Highway 13. Turn right onto Mendota Heights Rd. The trailhead is at the junction of Highway 13 and Sibley Memorial Highway (or Old Highway 13).
Lilydale entrance (lower elevation – will skate up to Mendota Heights) take Highway 35E to Highway 13. Travel North on 13, then turn right on Lilydale Rd. Lilydale Rd travels under Hwy 13 bridge down a hill where public parking is available.
Parking: West Trailhead (1498 Mendota Heights Road, Mendota Heights)
Overlook parking entrance is off Sibley Memorial Highway just northwest the intersection of Highway 13 and Mendota Heights Road in Mendota Heights, MN. There is free, limited parking available at stone overlook.
East Trailhead (1292 Lilydale Rd., St. Paul)
A smaller parking lot is available at the east end of the trail just off Hwy. 13 on Lilydale Road. *Note: The private Yacht Club is unwelcoming of public parking.
Usage: There is mild to moderate use of the Big Rivers Trail. Use during the day is generally mild, while weekends results in an uptick of use, but never too crowded.
Surface Condition: The trail is a consistent incline from Fort Snelling overlook down to Lilydale. What goes down must go up, so expect to skate uphill on the way back from Lilydale. The surface is fairly smooth to weathered in specific areas.
Scenery: The trail offers picturesque views overlooking the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississipi Rivers as well as Fort Snelling State Park.
Water: No water source available. We recommend bringing a personal water source, snack and minor skate repair tools.
Difficulty: Intermediate. There is a long gradual incline from one Lilydale to Mendota, but it is not too tough.
Skating ability recommendations: We recommend proficiency in OSB Level 1 – 4, and trail skate 1. Skaters’ who can stop, start and turn with ease on flats and down mild inclines; are able to employ the defensive skate position, stabilizer, heel brake stop are prepared for Big Rivers Regional Trail.
Fitness recommendations: We recommend skaters can skate at least 8 miles on intermediate inline skate trail or just skate
Other Trails that Connect: No other asphalt skate trails connect to The Mendota Big Rivers Regional Trail.
Commentary: The trail is a very scenic skate with beautful views of Minnesota’s best rivers. Due to its friendly long gradual incline, Big Rivers is very useful for hill workouts.
Lesson Meeting Place: We meet at the Mendota Heights parking lot.
Student Joan Gregg Skating the Big Rivers Regional Trail
June 28, 1938 to June 4, 2016.


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Posted on 25 Mar 2019
Global stocks rallied on confirmation of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy U-turn, but ended the week lower amid fears of a deepening economic slowdown. In contrast, bonds rallied sharply over the week.
The FTSE 100 slipped 0.3% over the week.
It was another frantic week in UK politics, which saw Brexit delayed by at least two weeks. John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, ruled that the Prime Minister could not present her EU withdrawal agreement to MPs again without material changes. At a meeting with EU leaders, Theresa May secured a short extension to Article 50 until 22 May – providing her deal is ratified by the UK parliament. If her deal fails to secure parliament’s backing, the UK has until 12 April to present a way forward or will need to leave the EU without a deal.
As widely expected, the Bank of England kept rates on hold. The central bank indicated that uncertainties over Brexit were too great to provide a clear forecast for the outlook for the UK economy.
UK retail sales jumped by a stronger-than-expected 0.4% in February. The surprise increase in February follows a similar rise during January when sales rose by 0.9% after an exceptionally weak December. There was little sign that stockpiling was the driving factor behind the jump in February as food sales were the only sub-category to see sales decline over the month.
UK inflation rose to 1.9% in February, up from 1.8% in January.
The number of people in work rose by a larger-than-expected 220,000 in the three months to the end of January, the biggest rise since November 2015. This helped push the unemployment rate down to 3.9%, the lowest rate since 1975. Average earnings growth slowed to an annual rate of 3.4% in the three months to January, down from an upwardly revised figure of 3.5% in the fourth quarter of 2018.
The S&P 500 slid 0.7% over the week.
The Federal Reserve signalled it will refrain from raising interest rates for the rest of the year, warning that “recent indicators” pointed to “slower growth of household spending and business fixed investment”. It also said it will slow the monthly reduction of its Treasury holdings starting from May with a cut from $30 billion to $15 billion and will cease trimming its balance sheet in September.
Worldpay was acquired by Fidelity National Information Services for $43 billion.
The Eurofirst 300 dropped 1.3% over the week.
The flash estimate of the eurozone composite purchasing managers’ index fell back to 51.3 in March, down from 51.9 in February. The manufacturing component fell to a five-year low of 47.7 in March, compared to 49.4 in February.
The IHS Markit German manufacturing purchasing managers’ index slumped to 44.7 in March, from 47.6 in February. This is the lowest reading in more than six and a half years.
The IHS Markit composite purchasing managers’ index for France dropped to 48.7 in March from 50.4 the previous month, with both factory and services sectors moving back into contraction Europe continued.
The Norwegian central bank raised interest rates by 25bps to 1.0% and signalled that it may raise rates again as early as June. The move, which is out of step with the more dovish tone in other developed economies, was prompted by a stronger-than-expected growth outlook for 2019, helped in part by higher oil prices.
The Nikkei 225 rose 0.8% over the week.
The Nikkei-Markit Japan manufacturing purchasing managers’ index held at 48.9 in March, remaining close to its lowest level in three years.
Japan’s exports fell 8.4% in January compared with a year earlier, the steepest decline since October 2016, with China the biggest culprit.
Japan’s core consumer price index, which excludes fresh food prices, rose 0.7% year on year in February, compared to 0.8% in January Headline inflation was 0.2% higher while core-core inflation, which strips out both fresh food and energy prices, rose 0.4%.
Singapore’s exports rose 4.9% in February, ending three months of falls. The data raised hopes that south-east Asian economies could end up as beneficiaries of the US-China trade dispute.
Brazil’s benchmark Bovespa stock index touched 100,000 points for the first time in its history, amid growing optimism about the reform agenda of newly-elected President Jair Bolsonaro.
Former Brazilian president Michel Temer was arrested in corruption probe. Mr Temer, who was replaced as president by Jair Bolsonaro on January 1, is the second former Brazilian leader to be arrested as part of the investigation, following the detention and subsequent conviction of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in April last year.
The yield on the 10-year US Treasury bond fell back below 2.5%, its lowest level since January 2018, while the yield gap between two- and 10-year US Treasury bonds fell to just 5bps, sinking below the previous low of 15bps hit in January to notch its lowest level since 2007.
The difference between the three-month and 10-year yields turned negative for the first time since August 2007 – such an occurrence has preceded every US recession since the second world war.
The yield on the 10-year German Bund fell below zero for the first time since October 2016 following exceptionally weak purchasing managers’ index readings for March.
UK government bonds rallied by the most since Theresa May’s government faced a bout of resignations four months ago, reflecting the intense nerves over Brexit with negotiations reaching a critical stage. Yields on the 10-year gilt fell to 1.06%.
Emerging market currencies weakened, led by the Turkish lira as an unexplained drop in foreign reserves fuelled speculation the central bank was using its holding to prop up the currency ahead of this month’s elections.

domain: finance


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Both an homage to Camus and a commentary on the complex world humanity must still navigate today, Jay Neugeboren’s new novel After Camus is to be savored by Camus fans, French literature lovers, and literary writers alike. And for those who traversed France in their youth, it may bring back memories to savor.
Jay Neugeboren’s most recent novel After Camus tracks the story of a married couple’s relationship. Their meeting takes place following Camus’ unexpected death, but Camus and his philosophy touch every scene, hauntingly so–sometimes standing in the shadow of a phrase, sometimes as a ghostly character who survives death in the protagonists’ minds and work. Female protagonist Tolle’s fleeting affair with Camus and the inspiration it engendered follows her, even 40 years into a now-troubled marriage. Her partner, male protagonist Saul, becomes a research scientist, also inspired–by Camus’ The Plague. The resulting story is an intersection between the rational and scientific with the imaginative passion of artistic expression, reaching across the last six decades to connect the Vietnam War protests to today’s wars and protests, the TB epidemic to the HIV/AIDS pandemic to Covid-19. And of course, with migration and immigration, war after war, only the borders have moved from one century to another.
After Camus manages to tie our 21st-century laments to Camus’ life and works, exploring how mind, sexual intimacy, and imagination intertwine, how often memory and legacy give us hope more than irate activists, living scientists, and idealistic humanitarians. It leaves the reader pondering all the ways the past informs the present.
Plus ca change, eh? One can almost hear Camus’ wry whisper.
Camus didn’t enjoy being called an existentialist, but he definitely lived and died with existential irony. This book, which has its own ironies, offers both tribute to Camus and solace for the rest of us in these tricky times (and perhaps for as long as war, pestilence, and politics swirl around us). To be human is to know both suffering and desire. Though the things that make us suffer bridge time and space, so do love and art.
It may be a rare occurrence in 2024 for lovers to quote a philosopher or novelist, but for one who did just that in youth, who fell in love between verses of a sonnet, this is a precious book, which can provide those who dare tread its literary pages a certain map, with some optimism for the world’s future. Can love and the family unit remain steadfast? Can humanity rise above the groans of a heavy universe? Only if the human mind and heart allow it–through memory–the recollection of the moment life’s passion lit our lives. But After Camus shows that the echo of the impact of love might be all that remains to inspire our future.
— Kathryn Brown Ramsperger, Author of The Shores of Our Souls and A Thousand Flying Things
You can find more information about the author and all his titles at his website:

domain: library


We caught up with Sam Blenkinsop and his new and very sparkly Norco Aurum HSP 29 after practice for the Crankworx Rotorua Downhill. Sam doesn't ride this bike much in the offseason as it's too stiff for anything but racing and prefers to ride his trail bike.
Sam's new paint job for 2020 is mighty fine and matches his Norco Sight.
Sam runs his Code RSC brakes with minimal lever throw and changes pads frequently.
Sam runs his fork very hard and very fast.
An extra custom guard to keep the high pivot chain from making too much noise.
Custom stem cap and fender.
Sam runs Cush Core front and rear to prevent any tire burping as he runs low pressures.
Code RSC brakes for max stopping power.
Personalised HT pedals is a nice touch.
RockShox Super Deluxe coil out back with a custom link for Sam providing more mid-stroke support.


Havering councillors issued with final reminders for not paying council tax
Three Havering councillors were sent final reminders for unpaid council tax in the past two years, new figures show.
The councillors are elected to decide how to spend other residents’ tax – but the Recorder can reveal that a Freedom Of Information request showed that six had to be sent reminders to pay their own.
Four were issued with second reminders, while two were given final reminders in the past two years.
But the names of the representatives will not be revealed because Freedom of Information officers at the council have refused to name those involved because it would breach the Data Protection Act.
The notices were issued to them at various times between December 2010 and December 2012.
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All six councillors have since paid off their outstanding council tax and were not taken to court.
Robert Oxley, Campaign Manager of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “Councillors failing to pay their council tax on time will hardly inspire the confidence of local residents.
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“It’s not surprising that some of them are struggling though, like many households are finding it tough to afford the bill after a decade of Council Tax rises.
“These councillors should be setting an example and paying on time though, not creating more work and costing taxpayers’ money through reminder notices.”
He added that late payments of council tax can prevent the councillor from doing their job.
In March 2009 Cllr Michael Deon Burton could not vote on the council’s budget because his council tax was in arrears.


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Next week, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will meet to decide whether to recommend the bacterial meningitis vaccine to infants and children -- the population most at risk for contracting meningitis. Given how dangerous this disease is, there’s no excuse not to protect as many people as possible from bacterial meningitis.
No one knows this better than me. I contracted bacterial meningitis as a child, and while I escaped with my life, I lost all of my fingers and most of my feet, and spent months in the hospital. I don’t want any other children to have to experience something similar.
The symptoms of bacterial meningitis typically appear suddenly and resemble the flu, but bacterial meningitis is far more deadly: in some cases, it can kill within hours, and those who survive, like me, often suffer serious complications including lost limbs, brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities. It can be spread through casual contact, putting tight-knit communities and groups of people who live and interact in close quarters at greater risk.
Thankfully, a bacterial meningitis vaccine is available that is safe and effective. And there’s no reason not to make it available for children and infants.
We know that bacterial meningitis is dangerous, but we also know that it can be contained when the public health response is proactive and aggressive. Earlier this year, 16,000 people in NYC alone sought out a meningitis vaccine after a dangerous outbreak spread within the LGBT community. Since that aggressive vaccination campaign, no new cases of this deadly disease have been reported within the LGBT community.
It’s that type of strong will that we need right now from the Centers for Disease Control. That’s why I’m urging you to join with me and John Becker, who received the meningitis vaccine earlier this year amidst the public health scare, to call on the CDC to expand access to the vaccination by recommending it for children and infants.
Please sign this petition to urge the ACIP to add the bacterial meningitis vaccine to its list of recommended vaccines for infants and children.
- CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
I am writing today to ask the Center for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to add the bacterial meningitis vaccine to the list of recommended vaccines for infants and children.
Bacterial meningitis is an incredibly dangerous disease that has affected the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community since 2001. In New York City, 22 men have been infected with the disease, and seven have died. Other deaths have been reported in gay communities in California and Utah.
Thankfully, a bacterial meningitis vaccine is available that is safe and effective. The LGBT community knows this firsthand – officials in New York City and other cities with large gay populations began a vaccination program after a surge in new cases in the fall and winter of 2012. At least 16,000 people received the bacterial meningitis vaccine in New York City alone, through a campaign conducted at gay bars, public events, and through web-based marketing. Because of this aggressive approach to vaccination, no new cases of this deadly disease have been reported in NYC since February of 2013 – the longest the city has gone without a new case in more than a year.
The current CDC recommendations for the bacterial meningitis vaccine leave one critical group dangerously unprotected: infants and children. This is particularly alarming given the fact that the infection rate for invasive meningococcal disease is the highest for children under the age of one year.
Vaccinating babies and small children against bacterial meningitis will make children and families safer, including the more than 115,000 same-sex households with children in the United States. It will increase herd immunity by helping to prevent the spread of the disease, particularly to those with compromised immune systems, including people with HIV and AIDS. In short, it will protect children and save lives.
The LGBT community has seen the devastating impact bacterial meningitis can have, and we know all too well how health crises can spread and become epidemics. The best approach to fighting bacterial meningitis is to ensure that the vaccine is made available to everyone.
I urge you to do just that – please recommend the bacterial meningitis vaccine for babies and small children.
Julian Siwek and John Becker started this petition with a single signature, and now has 20,108 supporters. Start a petition today to change something you care about.

domain: medical


The women of Antique have busy hands. These tanned and lined hands hold both straws and twines for hours on end; threading and weaving something simple into handicrafts and fabrics of grand designs.
We were lucky enough to witness how these women wove their magic on the first few hours of our trip in the province.
Tobias Fornier was the first town we visited. Together with the a busload of students from the University of the Philippines in Visayas, we watched as the members of Buri Handicraft Association, Inc. of Antique braid buri palm into baskets, bags, mats, wallets and boxes.
Buri palms, which is said to be second only when it terms to usefulness to coconuts, grow abundantly on these parts of Antique. From the dried and dyed leaves of these plants, an industry handed down from one generation to the next is born. Their products are so good it now represents their municipality’s One Town, One Product project.
The lady weavers were kind enough to show us the intricacies of weaving buris. Both students and travelers converged around a weaver as she purposely slowed her pace and taught us how to transform simple buri leaves into works of art.
Moving into the next town of Bugasong, we visited a small community of weavers at Barangay Bagtason. From Tobias Fornier’s buri palms, we now witnessed a more complex kind of weaving that’s not only popular in Antique, but the whole of Visayas as well.
Patadyongs as the Bugasongnons call it is a type of textile made from cottons, abaca and even polyester. It is quite similar to malongs of the Muslims, the difference being in its signature plaid or checkered patterns. It is often used by ladies as skirts, baby hammocks and even portable bathrooms and changing rooms during olden days.
There are stories that tell of patadyong’s roots going all the way back from when Malay datus moved to Panay to escape prosecution from their native empire in Borneo and Sumatra. According to the legend, one of the datus, Datu Lubay, taught the art of weaving to the villagers of Bugasong.
Well, I’m not really sure if the legend is true but if it is, the datu taught his villagers well. The final products I saw displayed at the Bagtason Loom Weavers Associations lobby was nothing short of astounding. Looking at the detail and intricacy of finished patadyongs and how painstakingly slow it is made simply blew my mind.
The patadyong ladies of Bagtason of course indulged us in trying the process of making one for ourselves. Trying the weaving part, we realized that this is actually the final component of making a patadyong.
Our patient weaver explained to us that there are actually six stages for this; the measurement (pagsab-ong), the thread arrangement (paglikis), the thread insertion in the binting (pagbinting), the thread insertion in the reed (pagsulod), the thread transfer from cone to talingyasan (pagtalingyas) and final the weaving part (pagpanara).
Judging how slow and hard my co-travelers concentrated on finishing a few strands of patadyong, I’m guessing it’s not gonna be any easier when my turn came. I reckon I’ll leave the art of making a patadyong to these ladies, my hands has got no magic with these fabrics.
Buri Handicraft Association, Inc. (BUHAI)
Address: Barangay Diclum, Tobias Fornier, Antique
Contact Number: (036) 320-1434
Bagtason Loom Weavers Associations (BLWA)
Address: Barangay Bagtason, Bugasong, Antique
Contact Number: (0906) 843-8687
>> Visit Antique via Katahum Tours


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Costa Rica will be hosting the first Castillo International Ice Hockey Tournament with the participation of a home team, and three international sides, including one form the Falkland Islands. The competition is scheduled to take place at the Castillo Country Club in San Rafael de Heredia, on 18/19 November.
By Gwynne Dyer - China Mieville, a novelist I much admire, has published a history of the October Revolution to mark its hundredth anniversary (which is actually on 7 November, since the Russians were still using the Julian calendar in 1917). It had an unusual effect on me. It made me question whether I was right about the utter futility of that revolution.
United States interest rates are likely to rise again next month and a further three times next year, one of the Federal Reserve's rate-setters has said. John Williams, who sits on the lliams, advanced a rate rise in December makes sense, at least based on the information I have today.
Argentina's state-run oil company YPF is disappointed by cuts to the government's natural gas production subsidies and will re-allocate investment toward crude oil production.
Argentina’s government has decided to ditch a proposed tax on wine after vineyards complained the measure would cripple the industry, the governor of the country’s top wine-making province said.


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Telangana is one of the southern states of India offering medical studies to aspiring medical students across the country. Are you planning to study medicine in Telangana and searching for good colleges? Or you are planning to study MBBS abroad and have not yet decided about where? Studying MBBS abroad is not only a trend that many students in India wish to pursue, but due to the severe supply-demand gap, it is a viable alternative. If you too are dreaming about the same, then here is your opportunity. American University of Antigua College of Medicine (AUACOM) brings you the opportunity to study medicine for 2 years in India and the remaining 4.5 years in Antigua/US/Canada/UK.
The alternative way to pursue MBBS abroad for Indian students is to study medicine from AUACOM (American University of Antigua College of Medicine)
The fee structure for MBBS in the US is one of the most important aspects considered by Indian applicants. The average fee there costs around $200,000 for four years i.e. around $50,000 per year. In Indian rupee, this comes around Rs 30 to 35 lakhs per year making it around Rs 1.4 crore by the end of the fourth year.
At AUACOM, students from different countries are allowed to study medicine with scholarships.
Indian students are eligible for scholarships of $96,500 to study medicine in AUACOM.
Admissions are open. Click here to apply now.