text:
Hitler Began as German Army Covert Agent
Hitler "tried to enter the postal service as a mail carrier.
His services were refused because he was unable
to pass the intelligence test."
– Captain Karl Mayr
Plied with sausages and beer supplied by the army, the tavern audiences applauded Hitler. Mayr writes.
"The experiment with Hitler was considered highly successful by his [army] sponsors"
and Hitler got the Jeanne D'Arc job.
Christopher Bjerknes's new book Hitler- Zionist and Bolshevik puts this curious document into a new perspective. Mayr was a socialist. This was published in November 1941 only after Hitler attacked the Soviet Union.
But why did Mayr and the German army put Hitler into power in the first place? Bjerknes says Hitler was a Communist, and so were the people pulling the strings in Germany. The whole Nazi Party was false opposition staged by the Jewish bankers to promote war with the USSR, destroy Germany and establish Israel.
Bjerknes writes, p.19 — "The timing of Mayr's revelations, which disclosed the fact that Hitler was a mere puppet, but concealed the fact that Hitler was a Communist, is key to understanding Mayr's intent in exposing Hitler in late 1941. The document was published just as Stalin was about to take the lead in the war and push Germany back, while concurrently transforming all of Eastern Europe into a Communist Bloc. Mayr was aiding the Soviet campaign against Germany–as was Hitler, but only after Hitler had invaded and softened up Eastern Europe to ripen it for Communist conquest and had created the territorial theatre necessary for Stalin's advances in all the regions he sought to take."
"The string that binds the whole story together is the fact that Hitler was a propaganda liaison for the Soldiers' Councils of the Bavarian Soviet Republics. He was also a rat informing on his comrades. This made him the perfect controlled opposition candidate who was a Communist at heart and misled the anti-Communists to give Lenin and then Stalin exactly what they wanted, WW II."
(Originally, " I Was Hitler's Boss" from May 31, 2008.)
By Henry Makow PhD.
The man who became the personification of evil was probably the puppet of a hidden power still in control of the world.
This view is supported by a curious little-known document entitled "I was Hitler's Boss" by Captain Karl Mayr published in the New York-based magazine "Current History" (November 1941.)
As Hitler's boss in the "Instruction Dept." of the Reichwehr in Munich, Capt. Mayr had "daily contact" with Hitler for 15 mos. (March 1919-June 1920.) Corporal Hitler was charged with propaganda functions and infiltrating labor groups.
Mayr portrays Hitler, left, as a "tired, stray dog looking for a master," a mere factotum first of General Ludendorff and then of Goering. He was considered dispensable after fulfilling his purpose.
He "tried to enter the postal service as a mail carrier. His services were refused because he was unable to pass the intelligence test. His school education in his Austrian village would have been quite sufficient, but his mental capacity suffered after he was gassed in the war."
While I believe Captain Mayr, who later opposed Hitler and joined the Social Democrats (he was killed in Buchenwald) wrote this essay, it may be "black propaganda." Published the month before the US entered the war, and five months after Hitler invaded Russia, it may have been designed to create division between Hitler and his designated successor (Goering) and to anger Hitler by belittling him.
The editor of "Current History" was "Spencer Brodney." His real name was Leon Brotzky, who was a long-time Communist. "Current History" was published quarterly by the New York Times Company, the organ of the central banking cartel.
Nevertheless, although black propaganda spins the truth, its effectiveness depends on including a considerable amount of fact. Much of what Mayr says is consistent with other sources. I will provide a summary of his revelations and then briefly consider the implications.
HITLER A MISFIT BECOMES 'MAN ON THE HORSE'
Capt. Mayr says that in 1919, Hitler was "one of the many thousands of ex-soldiers who walked the streets looking for work. At this time, Hitler was ready to throw in his lot with anyone who would show him kindness…He would have worked for a Jewish or French employer just as readily as for an Aryan". He was "totally unconcerned about the German people and their destinies."
Hitler "talked and walked in his sleep and made himself generally a nuisance." He had no friends, and was shy and self-conscious because of a "deformity [which] made him unlike other men–in my opinion this infliction made Hitler a lone wolf and outsider." Hitler apparently had only one testicle. Funny Mayr doesn't mention this detail if he is trying to discredit Hitler. Hitler was "continually chaffed by his comrades."
According to Mayr, General Erich Ludendorff (1865-1937) left, the hero of World War One met weekly with a coterie of industrialists at the Hotel Four Seasons in Munich and plotted vengeance for Germany's war loss.
The challenge was to mobilize the dispirited German worker to fight again. Ludendorff decided they needed a Joan D'Arc figure, a common person who heard God's voice, to lead them into battle. He even roamed the Bavarian Alps looking for a "red-headed peasant girl" who could be sold as a divine messenger.
HITLER- ARMY AGENT
Ludendorff and his friends " were like Hollywood scouts looking for talent…" At the same time, Hitler was involved in an army "experiment." He was given money to hold meetings of the German Workers Party in taverns and buy everyone beer, sausages and pretzels. After some rousing songs, when everyone felt "happy and grateful," Hitler would jump on a chair or a table and started with "fellow-workers, Germany, awake!"
"In such a genial atmosphere it was a pleasure for workers to awake and manly applaud everything." Mayr writes. "The experiment with Hitler was considered highly successful by his sponsors" and Hitler got the Jeanne D'Arc job.
"The program was carefully concocted to fit with the wishful thinking of the majority."
The leaders knew "a minority must suffer, and so the German Jews were made the chief scapegoats because their destruction would gain millions of votes for the Nazis. Small shopkeepers hated Jews because they owned the chain stores; farmers wished their destruction because they were indebted to Jewish bankers; even intellectuals were jealous because Jews held lucrative positions in the arts and sciences and professions. The Communists also had to be destroyed, but that was because they took their orders from Russia and would never vote for an Imperial Germany."
(Karl Mayr, 1883-1945)
"The Nazis salesmen offered anything and everything to make the people war-minded… Therefore, their sales talk was: Germany is a have-not country; other nations have all the wealth; Germany must fight them successfully, and so be entitled to that wealth."
Thus the Nazis catered always to the desires of the majority. "No one cared what happened to Germany as long as the result was the restoration of the good old days …"
Hitler was looked upon as "a good salesman for the Nazi ideology, who would be paid off when he was no longer needed."
HITLER THE FIGUREHEAD
Mayr maintains that Hitler never was the real leader of the Nazis. "As a leader, Hitler is probably the greatest hoax ever played on the world… His reports always had to be rewritten… His intellect was not higher than that of an eight-year-old child… Hitler has never been capable of making a decision of his own…he certainly never wrote a line of Mein Kampf; …[but] was, of course, proud to sign his name as the author of a book."
"Before every important speech, Hitler was, sometimes for days, closeted with Hess who in some unknown way, got Hitler into that frenetic state in which he came forth to address the public. Just before Hitler had appointments to receive statesmen or foreign correspondents, he was minutely coached as what to say. Sometimes when unexpected questions were put to him, he just walked away, or started his senseless political ranting."
According to Mayr, Ludendorff lost control of Hitler to Ernst Roehm and Hermann Goering who engaged in a bitter war for Nazi supremacy that lasted a decade. Finally, Goering won the battle in the purge of June 30, 1934. By this time, Mayr had become associated with Roehm. We assume this is the basis of his information.
"The way was now clear for Goering and he lost no time. Conscription; occupation of the Rhineland; total rearmament; intervention in Spain; invasion of Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland and other countries followed."
"Germany has many Fausts, but their Mephistopheles is Goering who was able, through crafty propagandists like Goebbels, to sell Hitler to the entire world as a patriotic superman. Goering alone engineered the burning of the Reichstag and had a feebleminded boy executed for it…It was he that arranged Hitler got the false material to convince him that Roehm intended to kill him unless he killed Roehm first. Goering's fawning on Hitler was sheer hypocrisy designed to mislead public opinion."
The prevalent view of historians is that Goering was an ineffectual leader, who preferred to go hunting and collect (or steal) art than run the Luftwaffe. Supposedly he lived in fear of Hitler.
Mayr's view is in stark contrast with the conventional view of Hitler. Either Mayr is lying or the majority of modern historians are engaged in building Hitler up to seem like a credible leader and personification of evil. During the war and after, Allied historians have largely ignored police reports that Hitler had been a homosexual and male prostitute in Vienna.
I believe that Hitler was stage-managed by the Illuminati, i.e. Freemasons organized around the Rothschild's desire for world tyranny to protect their monopoly on credit. I believe someone like Lionel Rothschild was referring to a Hitler figure when he wrote in the Protocols of Zion:
The Secret Masonry is setting up "our own, to all appearance, off position, which in at least one of its organs will present what looks like the very antipodes to us. Our real opponents at heart will accept this simulated opposition as their own and will show us their cards." (Protocol 12.11)
Chris Jon Bjerknes has shown that the Rothschilds belonged to a heretical Jewish sect, the Sabbateans, who believed that, as King of the Jews. the Rothschilds were destined to rule the world.
In the Protocols, Lionel Rothschild, talks about his world control by virtue of his credit monopoly. He says that when he "comes into [his] kingdom," he'll make sure private individuals like himself no longer exercise this power.
He also says that if any nation raises an objection to Rothschild domination, "it is only pro forma, at our discretion, and by our direction, for their anti-Semitism is indispensable to us for the management of our lesser brethren." (Protocol 9)
My current hypothesis is that there is a direct line between Hitler and the Rothschild agenda, through a long line of "cutouts" (agents). Some of these cutouts were "useful idiots" like Erich Ludendorff who retired from politics when he realized Rothschild's Bank of England was financing Hitler. Bjkernes believes Ludendorff was really a Freemason and Communist rather than the anti-Mason Conservative he pretended. After all, he helped send Lenin to Russia in the sealed train to start the Bolshevik Revolution.
(You know Warburg was pulling the strings because Wikipedia has almost no info on him.)
Possibly Max Warburg, Chief of German Army Intelligence, member of the Rothschild- affiliated banking family, and Mayr's real boss in 1919, was the Rothschild point-man in the "Hitler Experiment." Through the "secret masonry" the central bankers created both Communism and Nazism which, thanks to WWII, advanced the destruction of Western (Christian) civilization.
The human race is fast becoming the Rothschilds' ant farm. Thanks to their control over the media and education (through cutouts), information and entertainment are mostly tools for social control and behaviour modification. Obscure documents like Captain Mayr's "I was Hitler's Boss" remind us that we are manipulated and betrayed in a most egregious way.
Related: More on Mayr and Hitler's career as "political officer."
Hitler was Illuminati Hired Gun
Hitler Used Rothschild Banker's Typewriter
and Did Bormann Run Hitler for the Illuminati?
Thanks to John Hankey for bringing Mayr to my attention. John is the creator of the video JFK II-The Bush Connection.
https://www.henrymakow.com/002132.html
2 comments on "Hitler Began as German Army Covert Agent"
larryzb
You, sir, are a victim of misinformation.
Perhaps your are …. totally brainwashed ?
This entry was posted on May 6, 2019 by HKW in Uncategorized and tagged Adolf Hitler, Bolsheviks, Captain Karl Mayr, Christopher Bjerknes, German Army Covert Agent, Germany, Henry Makow, History, Nazis, Soviet Union, Zionists.
https://wp.me/p4Esvw-6ER


Classes and any sort of education, whether they are formal or informal, that scream for a few words to be written about them.
Here is a great video that shows how to field dress an elk in less than 10 minutes via the "gutless field dressing" method.
If you are wanting to save the hide to tan out, then this would NOT be the method to use unless you wanted a lot of small chunks of leather to work. I personally fight with the animal so that I can tan out each and every hide I collect. The leather is then used for various projects I have throughout the year.
For those that are deep in the woods and just need to get the meat out, I think I would definitely recommend this method.
Good luck and happy hunting this upcoming season!
This entry was posted in Classes/Education and tagged field dressing, processing game on August 4, 2016 by Woodsbum.


text:
package cern.laser.console;

import java.util.Collection;
import java.util.Iterator;

import cern.laser.console.Configuration;
import cern.laser.console.User;
import cern.laser.console.UserHandler;

public class TestConfigurationBrowsing {
  public TestConfigurationBrowsing() {
    try {
      UserHandler handler = UserHandler.get();
      Collection users = handler.getUsers();
      Iterator iterator = users.iterator();
      while (iterator.hasNext()) {
        User user = (User) iterator.next();
        System.out.println(user);
        Collection configurations = user.getConfigurations();
        Iterator conf_iterator = configurations.iterator();
        while (conf_iterator.hasNext()) {
          Configuration configuration = (Configuration) conf_iterator.next();
          System.out.println(configuration);
        }
      }
    } catch (Exception e) {
      System.err.println("stack trace : ");
      e.printStackTrace();
      System.err.println("root cause : ");
      e.getCause().printStackTrace();
    }
  }

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    TestConfigurationBrowsing testConfigurationBrowsing = new TestConfigurationBrowsing();
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Alexia Sinclair Collections About Contact
A Swedish Affair
Last year I received a very exciting invitation from The Royal Armoury in Stockholm, to be part of their much anticipated exhibition Images of Christina.
The exhibition is based on the fascinating life of Christina of Sweden, the rebellious 17th Century Queen who became a favourite of the Vatican. Remarkably, Queen Christina is one of only four women to be buried in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica, alongside the remains of the popes. The exhibition includes rare artefacts from the Vatican Library, along with a collection of Christina's portraits, including my artwork Christina of Sweden – The Androgynous Queen from The Regal Twelve series.
My next exciting invitation arrived by post, to attend the inauguration of Images of Christina in the State Hall of the Royal Palace in Stockholm. Speakers included Sweden's current Princess Christina, The Prefect of the Vatican Library and the Swedish Minister of Culture.
Thirty hours of flying later, we had the pleasure of attending the inauguration, where we were treated to opera performances and a session with the amazing cellist Linnea Olsson.
Inside The Royal Armoury we got to experience the exhibition we'd travelled so far to see. I felt so honoured to be a part of this collection!
Here's a little treat we made for you, a 360 degree image we shot so you can experience a small part of this extensive exhibition.
To see this exhibition in person, it is open to the public from 19th April, 2013 – 5th January, 2014.
The Royal Armoury
Slottsbacken 3 (The Royal Palace)
http://livrustkammaren.se
Alexia Sinclair's Picture
Read more posts by this author
Follow @alexiasinclair
Copyright © 2019 Alexia Sinclair • Sinclair & Hill • Melbourne, Australia

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Рододе́ндрон лапла́ндский () — кустарник, распространённый в альпийских и субальпийских районах Северного полушария, вид рода  семейства .

Ботаническое описание

Рододендрон лапландский — низкий полувечнозелёный кустарник, не превышающий 1 м в высоту. Молодые веточки ржавочешуйчатые, волосистые. Листья обратноланцетовидные до эллиптических, не более 2,5 см длиной, с цельным краем, кожистые, с обеих поверхностей с золотистым или ржаво-коричневым опушёнием. Черешок листа железисточешуйчатый.

Соцветие кистевидное, состоит из 3—6 цветков, распускающихся до появления листьев. Венчик колокольчатый, до 15 мм длиной, розового или сиреневого цвета, изредка белый. Чашечка маленькая, ржавочешуйчатая. Тычинки в количестве 5—10, неравные, голые или слабо опушённые. Пестик голый, завязь чешуйчатая.

Плод — коробочка 4—7×2—3 мм, ржавочешуйчатая и опушённая.

Число хромосом — 2n = 26, 52.

Экология
Рододендрон произрастает в тундре и близлежащих горных районах, на высоте до 1900 м над уровнем моря.

Ареал
Рододендрон лапландский распространён в Скандинавии, на севере Европейской части России, в Сибири, в Гренландии, а также в Канаде и на севере США, заходя на юг в Пенсильванию.

В культуре
Выращивается в качестве декоративного садового растения.

Выдерживает зимние понижения температуры до −32 °С.

В условиях Нижегородской области хорошо зимует при наличии снегового покрова, плодоносит.

Болезни и вредители

Таксономия

Естественные гибриды
  [Rh. lapponicum × Rh. tomentosum]

Синонимы

  — Рододендрон мелколистный

Примечания

Литература

лапландский
Флора Евразии
Флора Северной Америки
Декоративные кустарники
Растения, впервые описанные в книге Species Plantarum

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Location: Archon Die Wehrmacht, The magazine... Die Wehrmacht, The magazine...
Die Wehrmacht, The magazine of the Nazi-German Army, 1939-1945 | Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust
Title: Die Wehrmacht, The magazine of the Nazi-German Army, 1939-1945
Predominant Dates: 1943
The German Army magazine, published by the OKW, the Supreme Command of the German Army.
OKW, Supreme Commandof of the German Army (1938 -- 1945)
Die Wehrmacht was a German Military magazine, which was published from 1936 to 1944 to serve Nazi-German propaganda purpose.
It promoted the newly formed Wehrmacht, official editor was the new Oberkommando der Wehrmacht from February 1938 onwards.
Aimed at young readers, the price was only 25 Reichspfennig, and illustrated in color, mainly by Theo Matejko. In September 1944 it was cancelled.
The Wehrmacht was the unified armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1946. It consisted of the Heer (Army), the Kriegsmarine (Navy) and the Luftwaffe (Air Force).
The Frankfurt Constitution of 1848 designated all German military forces as the German Wehrmacht, consisting of Seemacht (see forces) and the Landmacht (land forces). In 1919, the term Wehrmacht also appears in the Weimar Constitution. From 1919, Germany's national defense forces were also known as the Reichswehr. This name was dropped in 1935 in favor of Wehrmacht on March 16, 1935.
By 1922, Germany had begun covertly circumventing the provisions of the Versailles Treaty with regard to building the new army.
A secret collaboration with the USSR began after the treaty of Rapalo.
Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943)
Battle of Stalingrad, 1942 -- 1943, photo-documents
Eastern Front, German military campaign
Food supplies in German air-bombs, 1943
Food supplies in German air-bombs, 1943, photo-documents
Foreign military ataches at the Germany's West Front, 1939 -- 1945
Foreign military ataches at the Germany's West Front, 1939 -- 1945, photo-documents
General-Colonel Dietl, Northern Eastern Front, 1890 -- 1944
General-Colonel Dietl, Northern Eastern Front, 1890 -- 1944, Photo-documents
Generals of Nazi Germany, 1933 -- 1945
German air force, pilots are trained for flights on the high altitude, 1943
German air force, pilots are trained for the flights on high altitude, 1943, photo-documents
German armed forces in Tunisia, 1942--1943
German medical personnel at the front-lines, 1939 -- 1945
German military hospitals in Northern Africa, 1942 -- 1943
German military presence in southern France, 1943
German military presence in southern France, 1943, photo-documents
German Northern Eastern Front, 1939 -- 1945
German Northern Eastern Front, 1939 -- 1945, photo-documents
German nurses at the military hospitals, 1939 -- 1945
German nurses in Northern Africa war-theater, 1942 -- 1943
German nurses in Northern Africa war-theater, 1942 -- 1943, photo-documents
German reports from the frontlines, 1939 -- 1945
German resistance in Stalingrad
German resistance in Stalingrad, 1943, photo-documents
German tank forces, 1939 -- 1945
German tank forces, the Panther tanks, 1943 -- 1945
German tank forces, the Panther tanks, 1943 -- 1945, photo-documents
German warfare in Stalingrad
German women in the war effort, 1939--1945
German women in the war effort, 1939--1945, photo-documents
Heroization of German soldiers at Stalingrad, 1942 -- 1943
Heroization of German soldiers at Stalingrad, 1942 -- 1943, photo-documents
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 1941
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 1941, photo-documents
Kriegsmarine (navy of Nazi Germany)
Narratives of German soldiers from Stalingrad, 1942 -- 1943
Narratives of German soldiers from the frontlines, 1939 -- 1945
Naval combat operations, US-Japanese warfare, 1941 -- 1945
Nazi German Army, 1939 -- 1945
Periodical of Wehrmacht, Wehrmacht, 1936 -- 1944
Periodicals of Wehrmacht, 1939 -- 1945
Romanian armed forces in Kuban region, the USSR, 1943
Romanian armed forces on Eastern Front, Kuban region, 1943
Romanian armed forces on the Eastern Front, Kuban region, 1943, photo-documents
Romanian military base Florescu in Kuban region, 1943
Romanian military base Florescu in Kuban region, 1943, photo-documents
Soviet tactics of sending small groups of soldiers behind the German lines, 1943
Wehrmacht, Nazi -German Army, 1939 -- 1945
Wehrmacht, unified German armed forces, 1935 -- 1946
Wehrmacht High Command, 1939 -- 1945
Wehrmacht High Command, 1939 -- 1945, publications and periodicals
Scope and Contents: This publication reflects on the news from the front-lines and geopolitical situation in the world in the course of the Second World War
RG-77.01, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, Febuary 1943, No 4, Part 1
RG-77.02, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, February 1943, No 4, Part 2
RG-77.05, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, March 1943, No 6, Part 1
RG-77.09, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, May 1943, No 10, Part 1
RG-77.13, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, June 1943. No 12, Part 1
RG-77.19, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, July 1943. No 15, Part 1
RG-77.23, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, August 1943. No 18, Part 1
RG-77.25, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, September 1943. No 19, Part 1
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 1: RG-77.01, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, No. 4, Part 1, February 1943
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 2: RG-77.02, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, No 4, Part 2, February 1943
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 5: RG-77.05, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, No 6, Part 1, March 1943
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 9: RG-77.09, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, No 10, Part 1, May 1943
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 10: RG-77.10, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, No 10, Part 2, May 1943
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 13: RG-77.13, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, No 12, Part 1, June 1943
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 18: RG-77.18, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, No 14, Part 2, June, 1943
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 19: RG-77.19, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, No 15, Part 1, July 1943
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 23: RG-77.23, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, No 18, Part 1, August 1943
Document/Artifact of Item-Level 25: RG-77.25, Die Wehrmacht, The Army, No 19, Part 1, September 1943


text:
Škoda rebrands with a flat logo
By Alexander Shapkin Sep 01, 2022
At a special meeting, the Czech car brand Škoda, which has been a member of the Volkswagen Group for 30 years now, recently announced a comprehensive rebranding and unveiled its view of the upcoming Škoda design language.
Based on its "Next Level – Škoda Strategy 2030" published last year, the automaker has presented a fresh version of its visual identity. As the car industry is undergoing big changes, Škoda, according to the company's CEO Klaus Zellmer, is facing new conditions, accelerating the development of the technology for e-mobility, software-supported vehicles, and customer-oriented solutions. By 2026, the company is going to launch three pure EV's. The marque's VISION 7S concept research gives a look at one of the models, first showing Škoda's future branding.
So the changes in the corporate strategy are reflected in the new visual identity including a logo and other design elements, like brand colors and typography. As the company stated, it has carried out the most dramatic redesign since it joined the Volkswagen conglomerate.
Škoda's iconic winged arrow was reworked, accordingly to the modern logo design trends. While the previous version featured a gradient design which gave a perception of flexible and chrome dimensionality, the new logo looks flat, executed in a light green color. This simpler form was created, considering the increasing role of digital environments in marketing and communication.
The Škoda wordmark was remarkably changed as well. Combining symmetric forms and sloped edges, it is planned to be used even more often than the arrow in promotional materials. As the company says, the most challenging task was to integrate the caron above the "S", the so-called "haček", relating to Škoda's Czech heritage, into the lettering. Eventually, it was encoded, in a way, in the cut-out in the "S".
As for the color palette, Škoda Auto will use two shades of green: dark Emerald green and light Electrogreen. With these colors, the company wants to emphasize the topics of e-mobility, steadiness, and sustainability.
Crystal Mountain has renovated its logo before the new ski season
Google presents new logos for its G-Suite services
Formula One presents a logo for its 70th anniversary
Omegle Logo
Kansas City Chiefs Logo
Philadelphia Eagles Logo
Google Logo
Batman Logo


Now, Anki has released a Fast & Furious edition of OVERDRIVE, which throws Dom Toretto's crew and cars into the mix. I've been playing with the kit for a few days, and it's proven to be a pretty fun toy. And given all the technology that's packed into it, I'm inclined to believe that it's worth its hefty $169.99 MSRP. Plus, who doesn't love Vin Diesel?
As you might imagine, the OVERDRIVE: Fast & Furious Edition is essentially just the OVERDRIVE with a heavy Fast & Furious theme to it. This is most noticeable in the app, which has artistic renderings of the F&F team along with customized voices, and the cars, which are models of those used in The Fate of the Furious. There's also some Fast & Furious branding on the three straight, six curved track pieces, and single "Power Zone" piece, which are incredibly easy to put together thanks to small magnets built into the ends.
Two cars are included: Dom's Ice Charger and Hobbs' International MXT. The cars have more squished proportions than real ones, lending them a cartoony look, but they still give off a Fast & Furious vibe. They have the wide assortment of lights that all Anki cars have, which definitely gives off a more futuristic feel. Only the rear tires are super sticky, with the fronts being bare plastic; this is likely to allow for easier turning. My review kit came with another new car called Nuke Phantom, which, as all additional cars do, will cost a steep $50.
Other things in the box consist of twelve guardrail pieces (which are a bit difficult to get to stay on), two bridge pieces, a car charger that can simultaneously juice four cars up at the same time, and a tire cleaner (a sticky pad that will take the dust off the tires). Oh, and we can't forget about the fancy poster, which features the same graphic that is on the box.
If you're unfamiliar with Anki, you're probably thinking that $169.99 for two cars and a few plastic track pieces is absurd. Thankfully, there is quite a bit of technology packed inside this kit that justifies this price. Each car has an infrared light and camera that can read information underneath the track, which includes the car's current position, the four lanes, and the start/finish line. The car's location is sent via Bluetooth to your connected Android or iOS device.
Speaking of which, you use your phone to control the cars. The Fast & Furious edition requires its own version of the OVERDRIVE app to use, since it brings unique game modes and voices. In the controls, there's a throttle slider, a brake, as well as slots for weapons depending on what mode you're in or how far along in the game you're in. To change lanes, you simply tilt your phone left or right. The cars have momentum, too, so they don't instantly stop when you let go of the throttle.
Location data is broadcast 500 times per second between cars for precise weapon data, and the cars have lights on top that can flash red, yellow, or green depending on what health level the cars are at. This light is also used to show the battery level when the cars aren't driving, as well as to show the car's connectivity. There are also taillights that come on when you hit the brakes, which is a neat touch, though they don't actually match up with where the cars' taillights would be in real life.
The cars' batteries last about seven or eight races, at which point you'll have to place them back on their charging dock. The fun will resume quickly, though, because the cars only take about ten minutes to fully recharge.
Watching some toy cars that aren't under your complete control drive around a track may not seem all that exciting, but it's a lot more fun in person. The combination of your own personalized track, the lights, and the weapons make for a surprisingly cool toy.
The app has three single-player modes: Campaign, Open Play, and Test Track. In Campaign, various Fast & Furious characters challenge you to races and to disable each other with assorted weapons. In Open Play, there are six sub-modes: Race, Battle, Battle Race, King of the Hill, Takeover (which requires a separate "Supertruck" vehicle), and Time Trial. And in Test Track, you can do whatever you want.
I've mainly been playing the Campaign mode, as well as some Multiplayer later in the period (which ultimately proved to be a flawed experience). Each win gets you a certain amount of cents (odd choice of currency, but alright), which you can spend on upgrades in the Shop. There's even a constantly changing Goals page. The app truly makes the toy feel like a proper video game.
What really distinguishes Anki's OVERDRIVE from regular slot cars is the combat. Each car comes with its own set of abilities; for instance, Dom's Ice Charger has a machine gun, while Hobbs' MXT has spike strips. This adds a lot of excitement to the races, and the Campaign mode even has events revolving around using these weapons to take out the AI x number of times. You can view your own health on screen, and you can see how the other car is faring by looking at the light on the top of the car. The majority of upgrades in the Shop are weapon-related, which just goes to show how major of a part weapons are in the OVERDRIVE universe.
You don't even have to be behind the wheel (phone?) to appreciate how cool the OVERDRIVE system is. Before each race, the cars will take a fully autonomous test lap in order to map the track, even if it hasn't been changed. If the track layout has been changed, the cars will take a few laps. As you progress or change layouts, you'll notice that the cars sometimes run off the track if you don't decelerate while turning; unfortunately, the guardrails are very weak and don't hold onto the track very well.
When a car does lose control and spin out from a nudge from a competitor, it's able to quickly get back on its way so long as it doesn't stray too far off the actual track pieces, which is unfortunately not too common. It is kind of a pain to have to reach over and put the cars back on the track when they run off, but that's kind of a first-world problem. I'd say the only other downside of the product's implementation is how much floor space the track takes up, but they're so easy to take apart and reassemble that it's really a non-issue.
The multiplayer mode is arguably one of the biggest selling points of the OVERDRIVE. Yes, they're just little cars going around a track, but adding friends and family puts a competitive aspect that just can't be described into the mix. You can play in all the modes above (my favorite of which is race and battle), which is pretty cool. Unfortunately, the experience is hampered by bugs, which you can read about below.
There are a few annoying issues I've run into. My phone would sometimes refuse to recognize the cars that I'd been racing with in the previous event while trying to enter a new event; however, turning the cars off and exiting the app, then turning them on and reopening it would solve the issue. I also had problems with the cars being unable to continue a race after running off the track, even when put back on. These were quite infuriating at times, so hopefully, they get worked out soon.
In multiplayer, the cars would often randomly disconnect after being rear-ended. When this happened, the car would continue to go around the track slowly without any control and with a pulsating green light on top, and I'd have to quit the game. That's inconvenient for obvious reasons.
Additionally, I'd like to see more Fast & Furious vehicles added to Anki's collection since the current lineup of futuristic racecars doesn't really fit the F&F motif. Anki has informed me that these are being considered, but we'll have to wait and see if anything comes of this.
Anki's OVERDRIVE is still a great product, and the Fast & Furious Edition only makes it better if you're a fan of the movie series. It's easy to set up (the magnetic track pieces are awesome) and fun to play thanks to its video game-esque campaign mode.
If you've got the dough to buy your kid (or yourself, I won't judge) a kit, go for it. This would make a great birthday or Christmas present, and the fun will keep on going if you buy more Supercars/Supertrucks or expansion kits. I'd keep the issues mentioned in the "Complaints" section in mind, but they can likely be fixed via software. Just remember that the additions can add up quickly, so keep an eye on the old wallet. And if you don't want the Fast & Furious theme, you can always grab the standard version for $20 less.
You can pre-order the Anki OVERDRIVE: Fast & Furious Edition for $169.99 USD / $229.99 CDN at Anki's website, and it will officially launch on September 24th. In the US, it'll be for sale at Anki.com, Best Buy, Target, and Toys "R" Us, and in Canada, it'll be sold in Best Buy, Amazon, indigo.ca, and Toys "R" Us. Anki is planning for availability to spread to the UK, Germany, Australia, and Nordic countries as well.


text:
package com.tenaris.bigdata.dataeng.tools;

import java.io.Serializable;

public class ParquetStatsBean implements Serializable {

	/*
	 * File statistics; number of files, total size, avg, std dev, min and max
	 * value of files in a folder
	 */

	private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;

	private int numFiles;
	private double totalSize;
	private double meanSize;
	private double standardDeviation;
	private double min;
	private double max;

	public ParquetStatsBean() {
	}

	public int getNumFiles() {
		return numFiles;
	}

	public void setNumFiles(int numFiles) {
		this.numFiles = numFiles;
	}

	public double getTotalSize() {
		return totalSize;
	}

	public void setTotalSize(double totalSize) {
		this.totalSize = totalSize;
	}

	public double getMeanSize() {
		return meanSize;
	}

	public void setMeanSize(double meanSize) {
		this.meanSize = meanSize;
	}

	public double getStandardDeviation() {
		return standardDeviation;
	}

	public void setStandardDeviation(double standardDeviation) {
		this.standardDeviation = standardDeviation;
	}

	public double getMin() {
		return min;
	}

	public void setMin(double min) {
		this.min = min;
	}

	public double getMax() {
		return max;
	}

	public void setMax(double max) {
		this.max = max;
	}

}


There are places where history is so evident that its presence is near dimensional. Like height, width, and depth its existence is both natural and conspicuous. These places do not invoke a sense of nostalgia, the living have no direct involvement with events there. They, instead, invoke a sense of relevance. They stand as witness to peoples and events of significant bearing, and a special few hold relevance across multiple eras. Shepherdstown, WV occupies the center of such a place.
In 2015, I was given the opportunity to write several articles about historic sites in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. Though I had never visited, researching the history proved easy. Because the area's history stretches back to the colonial period, and it figured prominently in many of our nation's early story, there is ample written material about the region's development. The more I researched the more my wife and I wanted to visit. Our window of opportunity for travel was small, we only had two days to spend. Going online we found what looked like a nice place to stay, she booked the room, and off we went.
We chose to stay at the Thomas Shepherd Inn in Shepherdstown. Occupying a structure constructed in 1868, the Inn has served as a parsonage and a doctor's office. It was a great decision. Proprietors, Dave and Lauren Duh, are exceptional hosts. The Inn is both clean and charming. It is a great representation of historic Shepherdstown. On Sunday morning, we shared a breakfast table with several other guests. The food was delicious and the company was enjoyable. If you plan on visiting Shepherdstown, West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, or Central Maryland, I highly recommend you stay at the Thomas Shepherd Inn.
Upon entering the city of Shepherdstown, it is clear that historic preservation is engrained in local culture. The town's main street, West German Street, features many great places to visit. I recommend you visit Shepherdstown Visitors Center online for a map of the many shops and restaurants. Our first stop was the Entler Hotel/ Historical Shepherdstown and Museum. Housed in the restored Entler Hotel, museum exhibits catalog Shepherdstown's history from the Colonial Era to modern times. Some of the more memorable exhibits (you will have your own list) include Sheetz long rifles and a functioning replica of James Rumsey's 1787 steamship. Shepherdstown is home to many historic structures and walking the streets is a great way to enjoy the town. We also visited the Rumsey Monument and Morgan's Grove Park. Morgan's Grove is served as the rendezvous point for Hugh Stephenson's company of riflemen that marched from Shepherdstown to Boston. In an event that came to be known as "The Bee Line March" Stephenson's men covered a distance of 600 miles in 24 days. Revolutionary War General Horatio Gates called the area home.
We also drove to Boteler's Ford. Though most people are familiar with the Battle of Antietam, fewer are familiar with the Battle of Shepherdstown. Antietam, the third battle in Robert E. Lee's Maryland Campaign, produced a much needed Union victory. A victory that provided President Lincoln the victory he felt he needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. However, the Union victory was somewhat hollow. General McClellan's hesitation after Antietam allowed Lee to escape by crossing the Potomac at Boteler's Ford, just outside Shepherdstown. Lee had been trapped by the river and its narrow fords, if McClellan had pursued Lee immediately after Antietam, he may have ended the career of Robert E. Lee and shorten the war in the East. When McClellan finally decided to chase Lee, the last battle of the Maryland Campaign occurred at Boteler's Ford. The Battle of Shepherdstown, as it came to be known, was a Confederate victory that insured Lee's escape. McClellan was sacked for his timidity and the war dragged on. In an effort to preserve the battlefield, property surrounding Boteler's Ford and the battlefield site has now been added to Antietam National Park.
After Sunday morning breakfast, we drove to Antietam. If you are interested in Civil War history, Antietam is a must visit. It was the bloodiest single day battle of the war and the Park Service has done an excellent job of telling the story. Walking and driving lanes are well marked, indicating the battle's progress and the significance of each engagement. Over one hundred memorials commemorate the soldiers who fought and died. The park is not without controversy. Confederate monuments are scarce, just four out of more than 100, and there now is a moratorium on the placement of new monuments. Many question the existence of monuments dedicated to Confederates. Some wonder if it is possible to recognize a historic reality without memorializing insurrection and slavery.
There are many other places of historical significance in close proximity to Shepherdstown. Some of the other sites include, but are not limited to, Antietam National Park which is only six miles to the north. Charles Town, WV, founded by George Washington's younger brother Charles, lays eleven miles to the south. Martinsburg, WV, site of many historical events like the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 is just nine miles to the west. Twelve mile southeast is Harper's Ferry, WV, and its rich Civil War history.
Although experiencing the local history was the purpose of our trip, food and drink were also important components of the trip. We ate lunch at the Blue Moon Café, the food and service was excellent. If you are in the mood for a great sandwich, I recommend either Jesse's Meato Escondido or the Gobbler. Their selection of regional craft beer is more than sufficient. Dinner at Rathskeller's in the Bavarian Inn continued our good luck with food. The Duroc Pork Chop is fantastic. Again, both the food and the service was exceptional. We also sampled the Pressed Flour, a bakery that produces excellent pastries. Grapes and Grains sells wines and craft beers, they have a wide selection and the staff was quite helpful.
Shepherdstown, WV is centrally located to many metropolitan areas in the eastern United States. Detroit, Columbus, Cincinnati, Huntington, Charlotte, New York City, and Rochester are all within a seven-hour drive. If you are looking for a weekend trip or want to continue a visit to other nearby locations such as Washington, D.C., Gettysburg, or Hershey, PA please consider visiting Shepherdstown, WV.
I recommend every history buff download the Clio app on their iPhone or Android device. I have had the privilege of writing many articles for Clio. It is the brainchild of one of my former professors at Marshall University, Dr. David Trowbridge. Clio utilizes a mobile device's GPS to locate historic sites relative to the users position. It provides directions, a backstory, images, links, and other useful information about the historic site. Just search "The Clio" in your app store. If you are travelling, get this app.
New places to visit are always appreciated. I also have a deep interest in the Civil War and am currently writing a book based on a diary by one of the members of the Mississippi Ram Boats. So guess I'm in a slightly different direction, but need to know everything I can about the war in general.


text:
March 23rd, 2021 by: Soumya VinayanN. Lalitha
Farmlands of Gold
Technology's Stories vol. 9, no. 1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15763/jou.ts.2021.03.23.04
Vinayan_Narayanan
"I will continue cultivation of pokkali while I can. This rice is natural and uses no chemical fertilizers. New generations might not take up this kind of arduous labor. There are changed ways of living now; in earlier times, cultivation was part of our lives; it was an integrated ecosystem, but now there are challenges in cultivation and processing as well as variations brought about by changes in lifestyle".
These words from one of the members of the Women's Group we met at a village in the Ernakulam district of Kerala succinctly summarizes the tenuous status of pokkali agriculture today. Pokkali rice is a traditional rice variety grown in the coastal wetland zones of Kerala (across the districts of Ernakulam, Alleppey, and Thrissur). Both the variety and its mode of cultivation are understood as traditional because pokkali cultivation is one of the oldest surviving traditions of rice cultivation in South India.[1] Pokkali cultivation alternates rice growing and prawn production on the same land. Farmers cultivate rice from June to October when salinity is low and shift to prawn cultivation from November to May as the salinity of the water increases. It is an organic rice cultivation system; the prawn's excreta becomes the manure for rice cultivation, while the stubble of the paddy becomes fodder for prawn. This form of rotating rice/prawn production is a treasure trove of traditional knowledge and practices and produces a unique and uniquely productive ecosystem. Formerly it was practiced across as many as 25,000 hectares of the Kerala coast. It is now reduced to 7000 hectares, although less than one-third of this area is now under cultivation.[2] For all of its appeal, pokkali cultivation is now in jeopardy. Yet it still has much to offer a world facing climate change and negative consequences of contemporary chemically-enhanced agriculture. This article explores the challenges pokkali cultivation is facing, and how it may yet survive.
The Unique Practice of Pokkali-Prawn Cultivation
The farmers we interviewed outlined the processes that ensure the viability of this unique form of rotating production: preparing land, producing and maintaining supplies of seed, and regulating water distribution to the farmland from backwaters.[3] Each involves labor-intensive processes such as
the maintenance of bunds (the raised edges around rice fields) and sluice gates (see Figures 1 and 2)
the repair and rejuvenation of bunds(chira vettuka),
making the mounds on which seeds are sown[4],
the conditioning and sowing of seed,
harvesting and drying the crop,
maintaining security and electricity supply. (Farms are lit during late night and early morning).
Cooperation and efforts to build trust among farmers are essential to ensure that cultivation is successful and none of these elements are disrupted. Some of the veteran cultivators of this unique ecosystem whom we had met during the field survey underscored the importance of cooperation and trust:
"The sluice gate is often shared among farmlands. It is quite possible that they cater to more than one or two farmers' land. Thus, there needs to be a great level of understanding and trust among these farmers, especially in drying the land for Pokkali cultivation after the harvesting of prawn (around mid-April) as well as to maintain the regulation of water during Pokkali cultivation."
In fact, the operation of a sluice gate (see Figure 3) to regulate water is crucial in the first four weeks of germination. The farmers take extreme care to ensure that water levels are properly maintained between the mounds and that excess water is drained. These steps are necessary to reduce the salinity of the soil. To further accelerate desalination, fresh sweet water is allowed through the sluice as the monsoon progresses. The seeds are pre-treated before being sown by soaking them in water twice, to aid germination. Any interruptions to the monsoon can lead to disruptions in this pokkali seed processing.
Figure 3. Sluice gate. Image by author.
The name Pokkali derives from the fact that this rice variety stands tall in the wetland fields ("pokkam" means tall in the Malayalam language) (see Figure 4), while it lodges, or falls over, towards harvest time (see Figure 5). When the time comes for harvest, laborers, mostly women, stand knee-deep for long hours in the marshy land to harvest the paddy (see Figure 6). Harvest requires knowledge and skill – working in the marshy land is tricky and requires experience to do well and to avoid harm from the sharp edges of the paddy. Farmers note that only those familiar with Pokkali cultivation can properly harvest the crop. The laborers harvest only the top portion of the paddy, leaving the stalk behind. The harvested paddy is then transported, often by laborers themselves or on small boats, to be dried and sent to a mill for de-husking.
Figure 4. Pokkali rice in the field.
Figure 5: Pokkali rice which has lodged.
Figure 6: Women harvesting pokkali rice.
After the mid-October pokkali harvest, farmers turn to prawn cultivation. The farmers are required to obtain a "filtration license" from the Kerala State Government's Fisheries Department. This license enables them to use water from public water bodies for aquaculture. They then strengthen the bunds, undertake repairs of sluice gates and dig channels within the fields leading to the sluice pits. By mid-November, depending on the tidal flow, farmers open and close the sluice gates, allowing saline water to enter the field during high tide and flow out during low tide. A conically shaped net with an opening at one end fixed inside the sluice gate ensures that the young prawns flow into the fields along with the water. Farmers install hurricane lamps to attract prawns during the night. After the tide, farmers remove the nets and affix a bamboo screen to prevent the prawns from flowing out. Farmers also make sure that 30 cm of standing water is retained at all times during this period.
Figure 7: Unpolished pokkali rice.
Figure 8. Polished pokkali rice.
After the pokkali harvest, the rice in paddy form is sold to cooperative societies and mill owners, although a significant proportion is kept aside for consumption by the farmers themselves.[5] The rice is consumed both in unpolished and polished form (see Figures 7 and 8).
It is also transformed into value-added products including rice powder (see Figure 9) which is used to prepare several local dishes such as puttu (a cylindrical steamed rice cake). Individuals purchase pokkali rice in these various forms from mills or through local retail stores. Pokkali rice offers numerous benefits for consumers. Because no chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used or needed, pokkali is organic. Studies have found that it has medicinal properties, is high in antioxidants, and low in carbohydrates.[6]
Figure 9. Rice powder.
Just as importantly, pokkali cultivation offers environmental benefits. It uses land sustainably and helps to maintain biodiversity. Scientists and farmers are quick to point out pokkali's flood resistance. The floods of 2018, touted as the biggest in a century, devastated several cities in Kerala, but the pokkali crops were more or less unaffected.[7] Furthermore, the rotation of pokkali and prawns maintains a symbiotic relationship between farm and yield. The stubble of pokkali becomes the feed for the prawn and the excreta and other organic waste from prawn cultivation form the fertilizer/manure for pokkali cultivation. This rotation ensures a balance of use and production that protects the environment. Farmers are aware that prawn cultivation alone may lead to ecological imbalances and biodiversity degradation. For this reason, they embrace pokkali cultivation and cooperate with the mandatory requirement to procure filtration licenses from officials (to engage in prawn cultivation). Regular check-ups by inspectors from the Fisheries Department cross-verify the validity of such licenses.
Challenges to Traditional Pokkali – Prawn cultivation
Despite its benefits, the escalation of costs and the non-remunerative price of the paddy threaten the economic viability of pokkali-prawn cultivation. The labor intensiveness of the processes pushes costs upwards. The price per kilo of pokkali rice for consumption is near $1.50, almost double that of non-pokkali varieties. In a survey of 154 farmers in November 2018 (see note 5), we found that the total cost of cultivation of Pokkali per hectare stood at $886 while the income received was only $178. For prawn cultivation, the total income per hectare stood at $2218 versus the costs of $1057 per hectare. Pokkali-prawn cultivation, therefore, has only slender profits.
Labor is also a challenge.
"There have been instances where some of the farmers do not engage in harvesting the paddy since they are unable to find enough hands to help, as well as the fact that it is very costly. So they would rather prefer to leave it to decay in the farm such that they can engage in prawn cultivation at least, given such conditionality for obtaining the license for prawn cultivation".
"We have tried to get migrant labourers involved in the Pokkali harvesting. It was, however, not successful since they were not familiar with the landscape; and had to be helped by others to be lifted out of the marshy farmland."
Since it is both difficult and skilled work, shortages of labor are common. The younger generation has neither the required skills nor the interest to do such strenuous work aspiring instead to other kinds of work, especially in the service sector. Farmers mentioned that women prefer to work as housekeeping staff or maids or in supervisory roles in supermarkets/malls rather than engage in the hard labor of pokkali cultivation. Some farmers have tried to mechanize the harvest, but the marshy nature of the farmland made this difficult. One farmer commented:
"Electrical initiatives have failed, but whether electronic solutions can be found remains to be seen, (such as the use of robots for harvest)".
Farmers also pointed out that in earlier times homes and homesteads had enough infrastructure facilities in terms of space and storage to thresh the paddy within the first few days after the harvest. This is not always so today. At times, harvested paddy is stored in gunny bags, which may lead to decay and to poor germination in the next year when these seeds are planted. In fact, one informant pointed out that the decaying of paddy due to inadequate storage facilities in 2018 had led to a shortage of seeds in 2019. Moreover, farmers noted that earlier there were mills in and around the area which were actively engaged in preparing value-added products. With shrinking cultivation, these mills have disappeared.
They point out too, that ways of life that were previously synchronized with the calendar of cultivation are now changing.
"Earlier, at the beginning of the month of Karkidakom,[8] there were dietary changes made to the food consumed by the family members. Medicinal plants, local vegetables and porridges were part of the daily intake. These were followed keeping in view the harvest month of Pokkali in Thulam,[9] so as to maintain health as well as boost immunity to undertake harvesting in marshy lands. Now-a-days, such practices are broken and younger generation prefers fast food and new generation jobs".
Beyond these local problems, several exogenous factors are contributing to the decline of pokkali cultivation. Rapid urbanization, especially the conversion of agricultural lands to dumps for solid waste, or for building sites to suit booming real estate demand, has polluted pokkali land with industrial effluents, reducing the amount of land that can be cultivated.[10] Similarly, tidal flows which are so crucial to both Pokkali and prawn cultivation have been obstructed due to industrial projects such as the establishment of a container terminal at Vallarpadam.[11] Moreover, the invasion of weeds and overgrowth of mangroves make it difficult for pokkali cultivation to be reintroduced in those areas. This decline in pokkali cultivation has, in turn, led to increasing pollution in fields which have proved disastrous to prawn farming. The lack of decaying rice stubble removes a vital component of the overall ecological balance of this system, and thus its viability.[12]
Hope for the Future: Supporting Pokkali
Despite these challenges, there have been positive developments that could attract consumer attention to pokkali-prawn cultivation. The Geographical Indications (GI) tag, for example, is an intellectual property right that recognizes the uniqueness of the pokkali system in both ecological and geographic terms. GI empowers farmers within the geographic region to build the brand of pokkali, raising awareness among consumers. One cooperative, the Korampadam Cooperative Society has introduced the brand "Gramika" (see Figure 12), to market pokkali and encourage value-added products. Another positive development is the recognition accorded to one of the Padasekhara Samitis (farmer groups). They received the Plant Genome Saviour Community Award (a national award) for protecting this indigenous variety of pokkali.
Figure 10: Gramika logo
New initiatives go a step further, including the integration of cage culture of fin fish with pokkali cultivation. The unutilized sluice pit and channels in pokkali fields are used in this method. This approach, pioneered by Krishi Vignan Kendra and the Central Marine Fisheries Institute, would not disturb the traditional pokkali farming system. Projects like these are funded by the National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA).[13] [14]
These initiatives could motivate the farmers to continue with this unique system of farming by making sure that they do not have to incur losses. Farmers, as well as consumers, should be educated about initiatives and opportunities like these that can be done through collective action to promote pokkali and thereby build wider awareness and an understanding of its value.
One progressive farmer noted that the key to successfully managing pokkali farming and making it profitable was to reduce the cost of cultivation:
It is not necessary that farmers suffer losses in pokkali cultivation and then make it up through prawn cultivation. There are possibilities of making pokkali cultivation profitable. I started cultivating around a decade ago with 3 acres and now have increased it to 12 hectares. There are several ways to reduce the cost of cultivation.
Firstly, building a fixed sluice (instead of wooden one which needs annual maintenance and replacement over years); secondly, the use of concrete bunds instead of mud bunds; thirdly, the use of pump set for draining the water; fourthly, the timely sowing and transplanting; fifthly, no wastage of yield through proper handling and storage; the mechanisation of threshing/drying processes; sixthly, maintaining the depth of the farmland in such a way as to enable Pokkali farming.
In addition, building sheds/road ways to transport the yield from interiors of the farm; and the promotion of sustainable tourism through home stays during pokkali farming needs to be encouraged. I have also been involved in the production of value added products (the production of popular snack items like kurkure, noodles and vermicelli from pokkali rice have already been piloted).
The key to operationalizing such initiatives, however, is to engage in group farming to minimize costs. Undertaking pokkali cultivation in less than a hectare is not feasible anymore and thus, it is important to federate farmers together and reduce the cost of production. There is also need to integrate pokkali farming with fish culture; not as a system of rotation of paddy with crop. I have seen that it is possible to simultaneously undertake fish culture and paddy since these are wetlands"
Pokkali, the golden colored grain, has led local populations to refer to the farmland or the locale as 'Kanakam vilayum Kudi' (the land which produces gold), as one of the women we met during the survey noted:
"Two or three decades ago, it was a matter of pride to marry into a household engaged in pokkali cultivation. The farmlands are referred as those which cultivate gold, given the golden colour of the Pokkali paddy. This place, Kadamakudi, is actually a variant of Kanakakudi or land of gold".
Kadamakudi, in fact, is one of the panchayats within Ernakulam district which is a prominent area under paddy cultivation even today. [15] In fact, the farmer group which received the Genome Award also hails from this locale. Despite the unique challenges faced today by this unique method of cultivation, concerted practical efforts can help us sustain this traditional farming system and turn it once again into the land that produces gold.
Copyright 2021 Soumya Vinayan and N. Lalitha.
Soumya Vinayan is Assistant Professor at Council for Social Development, Hyderabad, India. Her research interests focus on the issues of sustainability with special emphasis on intellectual property rights, livelihoods, and disability.
N. Lalitha is Professor at Gujarat Institute of Development Research, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. She is focusing on understanding the role of Geographical Indications as a tool for rural development in India's context.
Email: [email protected], [email protected].
This article is drawn from a larger study on Geographical Indications Registered Agricultural Products in Select States of India, and the authors gratefully acknowledge the Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi for the financial support.
[1]Kerala has three important rice cultivating areas based on the extent of paddy cultivation, traditional varieties cultivated, and traditional farming systems. Mathew K Sebastian, P. A. Aziz, Chaithra Shree Jayasimhan, and P. Arun, "Ecological and Ethno-Cultural Examination of the Rise and Fall of Rice Culture in Southern India with special reference to the Western Ghats", Final Report submitted to Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, New Delhi by Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore. 2015.
[2] Discussion with Prof Shyla Raj at Rice Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University, Vyttilla.
[3] For a detailed account of cultivation practices please see Soumya Vinayan, and N. Lalitha, "Climate Change and Paddy Cultivation: The Relevance of GI tagged Pokkali rice from Kerala". Paper presented at INSEE-CESS International Conference on "Climate Change and Disasters: Challenges, Opportunities and Responses" held from 6-8 November at Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad. 2019.
[4] Women farmer groups we met had pointed out that this unique way of sowing seeds on a mound is inherently different from paddy cultivation in non-wetlands.
[5] Around 35% in 2018 as evident in the study by N. Lalitha, Soumya Vinayan, and B. Madhusudan, "Geographical Indications Protected Agricultural Products from the Select States of India: An Enquiry into the Economic, Livelihood and Institutional Aspects". Final Report submitted to Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi by Gujarat Institute of Development Research, Ahmedabad and Council for Social Development, Hyderabad. 2020.
[6] K. S. Shylaraj, Soumya G Nadh, and Simmi K Chandran. 'Comparative Analysis of Grain Quality and Nutraceutical Properties of Selected Rice Varieties from Kerala', Current Science 114, no 5 (2018): 1088-1094; M.K. Srivastava, "Speciality Rice Varieties of Kerala are Storehouse of Nutrition: Study', The Hindu Business Line, 23 March 2018. Available at https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/science/speciality-rice-varieties-of-kerala-are-storehouse-of-nutrition-study/article23334574.ece, accessed on April 16, 2019.
[7] See Shreeshan Venkatesh, and Rejimon Kuttappan. (2018) "This is why Kerala floods were the worst in a century", Down To Earth, September 12. (https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/climate-change/this-is-why-kerala-floods-were-the-worst-in-a-century-61491) (Accessed on January 18, 2021).
[8] The last month of Malaylam (calendar – lunar) falls between mid-July to mid-August.
[9] The third month of Malayalam calendar falls between mid-October and mid-November.
[10] See P.T. Dipson, Spatio-temporal changes in the wetland ecosystem of Cochin city using remote sensing and GIS, PhD Thesis submitted to Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Cochin. 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10603/19147, accessed on May 10, 2019; P.R. Jayan and Nithya Sathyanathan. 'Overview of farming practices in the water-logged areas of Kerala, India', International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 3, no 4 (2010): 28-43. Available at https://www.ijabe.org/index.php/ijabe/article/view/333, accessed on April 15, 2019; and V.R. Deepak, "Development with an ecological perspective focusing on Wetlands of Kadamakudy Panchayat, Kochi", International Conference on Emerging Trends in Engineering, Science and Technology (ICETEST- 2015), Procedia Technology, 24 (2016): 1691-1698.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212017316302869 accessed on April 16, 2019.
[11] Agile Joy, "Development Impact on Pokkali Fields: A Case of International Container Transshipment Terminal", IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS), 10 no 5 (2013): 1-5. www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jhss/papers/Vol10issue5/A01050105.pdf?id=6238, accessed on April 16, 2019.
[12] For more details, see Antony P. Kuriakose, "Economic Analysis of Rice based Cropping System in Coastal Agro-Eco System of Kerala Thesis". Unpublished Ph.D Thesis Submitted to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam in partial fulfillment of the requirements under the Faculty of Social Science. 2015. http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/handle/10603/111459 accessed on July 26, 2020; and M. Suchitra, and P. N. Venugopal. "In Troubled Waters", Down to Earth, 15 December 2015. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/in-troubled–waters-10519 accessed on January 1, 2019.
[13] M.J. Prabu, "Shrimp, Fish and Paddy cultivation in same field is lucrative". The Hindu. 6 June 2013.https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/shrimp-fish-and-paddy-cultivation-in-same-field-is-lucrative/article4785499.ece accessed on July 8, 2020.
[14]C Mohanakumaran Nair, K.R. Salin, Devika Pillai, S. Sarath, C.K.Manoj. "Simultaneous rice-fish culture system in modified Pokkali rice fields – a possible alternative to improve sustainability", In B. Meenakumari, M.R. Boopendranath, Leela Edwin, T.V. Sankar, Nikita Gopal & George Ninan (eds.), Coastal Fishery Resources of India-Conservation and Sustainable Utilisation, Kochi: Society of Fisheries Technologists (India), Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, 2010, pp.59-66.
[15] The data provided by Pokkali Land Development Agency, a Kerala Government agency, which also is the registered proprietor of the GI tag, indicates that while there are around 5900 hectares of Pokkali land available (Ernakulam district accounts for 4055 hectares followed by Alappuzha (977) and Thrissur – 855), the area under cultivation is much lower. In 2018-19, the total area under Pokkali cultivation stood at 995 hectares, of which 604 hectare was in Ernakulam district.


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Heliconius melete är en fjärilsart som beskrevs av Felder 1865. Heliconius melete ingår i släktet Heliconius och familjen praktfjärilar. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

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It was the year 1994 when former pro wrestler and movie star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson reached peak '90s fashion, decked out with chain necklace over black turtleneck, gripping a brown leather fanny pack. Don't forget a pack of tissues so you can keep your turtleneck spotless while leaning casually against various backdrops.
April 26, 2017 by Agatha
Peak '90s Bolton
In Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special, singer Michael Bolton is tasked with encouraging couples to make love and make 75,000 babies, in order to clear the excess inventory of toys in Santa's workshop. When all seems lost, he activates Peak '90s Bolton, golden locks, denim suit, and all, which pushes the making babies count over the top.
Corey Mason
In Empire Records, Corey Mason (Liv Tyler) and the other record store employees are trying to stop the store from being bought out by a competitor. First they have to figure out how to replace the $9000 one of the managers lost gambling. Sound like a party might be the perfect solution.
The Spice Girls was the British answer to American boy bands like 'N Sync and Backstreet Boys. Each girl adopted a persona and a nickname that played off the word spice. They became international stars known for endorsing girl power as well as hits like Wannabe and Spice Up Your Life.
May 26, 2014 by Jaime
Before there were Harajuku girls, Gwen Stefani was fronting No Doubt and setting trends for teenage girls everywhere. Pairing tomboy with girlie girl, '90s Gwen is easy to pull off. All you need is a crop top and bright red lipstick. You can also pull out those bindis you've been hiding since 1995.
October 26, 2013 by Jaime
Try as he might to make a new name for himself, Robert Van Winkle, better known as Vanilla Ice, will always be remembered for such classics as "Ice Ice Baby" and "Ninja Rap." While the rapper now dresses like a member of Limp Biscuit, it's his hi-top haircut and harem pants of the '80s that make his costume fun to imitate.
Beck has come a long way since writing songs like "Loser" and "Devil's Haircut" but oddly enough his fashion sense is still pretty much the same. Pick up a leather jacket and dress pants at the thrift store and you can pass as '90s or present day Beck. The boombox is optional.
Lisa Loeb became America's sweetheart when she burst onto the music scene with her song "Stay." While she may be considered a one-hit wonder to some, her style has managed to stick around. While dressing in all black is simple you really need the tortoise shell cat eye frames to make this look work. Otherwise people might just think you're a beatnik.
Now this is the story all about how Will Smith's life got flipped, turned upside down. He plays a street-smart teenager in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, who is sent from his West Philadelphia home to live with his rich relatives in Bel-Air. He brings with him his unique sense of style, often wearing colorful prints with matching hats.
July 7, 2013 by Tom
Andre Agassi has an aggressive playing style and the fashion sense to match. With everything from his dyed mullet and neon Nike apparel to his outspoken personality, he's responsible for bringing excitement back to professional tennis in the 90's.
Beverly Marsh from It (2017)


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Q: Is the CurrentRoleInstance.id permanent in deployed apps? I have a brief and simple question i think.. in the emulator the role id changes in every run. What about in a real azure deployment? After a restart of the vm does the role gets the same id?

A: If you look at the id for the deployed instances in the cloud, you'll find that they are always named in this fasion: [RoleName]_IN_[XXX] where XXX is a number depending on the number of instances deployed. So to answer your question, since the pattern for naming the instance is the same, I would say you'll get the same id. It's a different question if the VM represented by that instance id would be the same. There're 3 scenarios to cover:

*

*A role instance is rebooted: If you reboot a particular instance, my guess is you will get the same instance id.

*A role instance goes down: Though we don't really have an option of killing a specific instance thus we can't really test it, if a particular instance goes down and Azure stands up a new instance for you for that instance you would get the same instance id.

*New deployment: If you do a brand new deployment (assuming with the same number of instances), you'll get the same deployment ids but the VM will be entirely different.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Hacienda League: Walnut Doubles Up
October 31, 2018 Bob Ramsey	Leave a comment
The Hacienda League Final followed the form from the previous league meets Tuesday, when they competed again on the rolling 3-mile course at Bonelli Park.
2018 Hacienda League Finals Results
Chloe Arriaga – Hacienda League Champ
Walnut were the easy winners in the earlier league girls races, with West Covina & South Hills two and three, and they followed that order again. The Mustangs were missing one of their usual first four, but they still took the first four places to finish with just 17 points.
Chloe Arriaga won her 4th Hacienda Championship in 19:06, followed by Emma Arriaga – 2nd/19:10, Amanda Ghibaudo – 3rd /19:39 and in a nice step-up, Milo Santiago – 4th/20:27. Karla Galvan also stepped up to close out the scoring at 7th/21:01.
Girls First Team Varsity: Chloe Arriaga, Emma Arriaga, Amanda Ghibaudo, Milo Santiago, Arissa Hatcher, Kaylee Sanchez, Karla Galvan and Alyssa Ruiz
South Hills Arissa Hatcher – 5th/20:36 and Los Altos Kaylee Sanchez – 6th/20:56 took the remaining two All-League spots to break up the Mustangs. Arissa's Huskies were 3rd, which was enough to hold off the Conqs. West Covina was second on the strength of their relatively close 1-5 grouping. Their best was Alyssa Ruiz – 8th/21:07.
Diamond Ranch edged out Charter Oak in the final two spots, and were led by Alyssa Blanco – 12th/22:18 and Guadalupe Perez – 22nd/24:17, respectively
On the Boys side, Walnut had won both previous races Mustangs also won the earlier boys races, while South Hills and Los Altos had traded the second spot. Walnut were again the winners, while the Conquerors regained second place on a six-man tie-breaker with the Huskies.
Hacienda Champ Devin Hightower
South Hills senior Devin Hightower finished the league season undefeated in 16:15, followed to the line as he was in the earlier races by Walnut's Jesse Alvarado – 2nd/16:29, and brother Dillon Hightower – 3rd/16:39 in a race where the leaders were quite a bit spread out.
Boys Varsity First Team: Dillon Hightower, Jesse Alvarado, Devin Hightower, Luke Francis, Chris Razo, Conner Parker, Fernando Padilla and Robert Arriaga
Los Altos was led by a 4 & 7 finish from Luke Francis (16:48) and Fernando Padilla (17:17), with the remaining All-League Spots going to Walnut's Chris Razo 5th/17:09 and Diamond Ranch's Conner Parker – 6th/17:17, who will advance to CIF as an individual.
West Covina finished fourth, led by Francisco Murillo – 11th/17:41, Diamond Ranch was fifth, and Julian Mireles – 26th/18:57 led Charter Oak.
Photos of the Varsity 2nd-Teams, and Top 10's of the JV and Frosh/Soph races after the jump.
Continue reading Hacienda League: Walnut Doubles Up →
Mission Valley Final: Arroyo Has Two Big Wins
Arroyo has been moving from strength to strength this season. They had a strong group of returners on both the boys and girls teams, and both teams have been helped by the seasonal rise of young runners, and they closed the deal Tuesday in the Mission Valley Finals at Legg Lake in South El Monte.
The boys, led by an easy 15:10 win Noah Hibbard, hit the perfect 15 they've been chasing all year. Rosemead was second, led by Fausto Reyna – 8th/16:40. Gabrielino was third again, led as they have been all year by soph Nicolas DiConti, who after breaking up Arroyo in the first meet slipped to 6th/16:25.
Next to the line was Carlos Martinez of El Monte at 7th/16:30, capping a big seasonal rise after finishing 15th at the first MVL meet, and he led the Lions to the fourth and final CIF qualifying spot in this seven team league.
The remaining three places were South El Monte, led by David Aguilar – 9th/16:43, Marshall led by Claudio Reynoso – 23rd/17:44 and Robinson Kao was up front for Mountain View – 42nd/21:43.
MVL Champ Melanie Mach (third from right) leads out the front group early in the race.
The Arroyo girls faced a stiffer challenge from CIF Div. 3 ranked Rosemead. The Panthers Melanie Mach added on more win to her extraordinary senior year with a big 18:37, and was helped by an excellent 4th/19:12 finish by senior Cassandra Chin. The Panthers narrowed their margin from the 2nd cluster meet, but that wasn't enough to hold off the Knights, who put their scoring five in the first nine.
Arroyo was led by four girls in the All-League spots, Mollie Hake – 2nd/18:50, Amelia Rivas – 3rd/19:10, Kelly Luna-Flores – 4th/19:13 and Karina Felix – 6th/19:21, resulting in a strong defense of their title.
Frosh Kristen Song of Gabrielino grabbed the final All-League place in 7th/19:27, moving up from 11th and 9th in the first two meets, and her team was fourth, taking the final CIF spot. A young (four of five scorers were frosh or sophs) South El Monte was third, led by Karla Ortega – 12th/20:20.
The remaining teams were El Monte, led by Arai Medina – 25th/22:02, Marshall – their best was Candace Fisher – 24th/21:56, and Jarethzy Roman – 30th/22:43 was best for Mountain View.
Great thanks to Gabrielino parent Andy DiConti for the photos.
Suburban Final: La Mirada are 2 x Champs
Natalia Zuniga at the Apache Invite
La Mirada is the only SGV team in the four school Suburban League, and they claimed both league championships Tuesday at La Mirada Park.
The boys had a comfortable 39-51 edge, and Christian Santiago closed out this part of his senior year with a15:55 win for the championship. He was joined in all-league honors by soph Rainier Villanueva, who moved up from 11th & 12th in the first two league meets to finish 5th/16:47.
The girls had an even stronger team effort, putting their first five in the top ten and three in the first seven: Mia Gutierrez – 2nd/19:55, Kayla Zendejas – 4th/20:18, & impressive 5th/20:20 from frosh Natalia Zuniga, moving up from 15th & 10th in the cluster meets.
Baseline Finals: Damien Disappointed While Ebiner Moves On
Damien and St. Lucy's are the only SGV schools in the Baseline League, and the only Div. 3 & Div. 4 schools, respectively in the a league of Div. 1 schools. So they faced an uphill battle all year.
Boys Results
Girls Results
Coming into the final Tuesday at Central Park in Rancho Cucamonga, the SGV #10 Spartans were fourth, and needed a top three finish to advance, since they'd (inexplicably?) fallen out of the Div. 3 rankings.
Injuries limited the Spartans chances, and they finished fourth (and nearly 5th). Their one bright spot was soph Danny Ebiner, who finished 6th/15:59 and will advance to CIF individually. Damien's best races had come when they finished fairly close together, but with one runner out and another hobbled, they were too spread out to get the score they needed.
The Regals were fifth coming in to the meet, and finished there again, while frosh Sarah Gann capped her rapid seasonal ascent with a 5th place finish in 18:47, earning an individual CIF spot.
Horizon League: Ramona Convent & Alverno Advance
The six small prep schools of the Horizon League held their Finals at the Cornfield in Los Angeles on Tuesday. This was the sixth (!) meet the league held this season, and this one followed the same order as the first five.
LA's Sacred Heart of Jesus won, as they had in all of the meets, and CIF ranked Ramona Convent finished second again in the closest finish of the year. Two Tigers made All-League – frosh Emily Silva – 5th/20:37 for 5000m and soph Isabelle Mix-Vachon – 6th/21:00
Alverno was once again third, and they will also advance to CIF from this six-team league. Their best was Katie Maruna – 15th/22:35. San Gabriel Mission was sixth, and their best was senior Ashley De La Cruz – 25th/24:29
Camino Del Rey Association: Amat & Bosco Tech Move On
The three league Catholic school Camino Del Rey Association held their finals Tuesday at Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale. The Bishop Amat girls finished their season-long lead of the Del Rey League, while the boys return of Bosco Tech to CIF with the big news on the boys side.
Senior Olivia Paez scored a huge victory leading the Lancers, winning by nearly a minute in 17:29 on the flat 3-mile course. Frosh Janelle Santos continued her rapid rise, finishing 4th/18:46 as Amat put their scoring five in the first eight. This was a strong effort, but it was also the first time their first four was broken up the other teams.
St. Paul had moved from fifth to second in the second cluster meet, and had high hopes of advancing. They finished a disappointing fourth, so their season ends here, except for senior Reagan Lucero. Reagan completed her season-long rise up the Del Rey league, finishing 13th in the first meet, 8th in the second, and a CIF-qualifying 6th in 19:01.
Newly promoted Pomona Catholic struggled all year in the higher Del Rey and finished fifth. They were led by junior Brooke Burciaga at 11th/19:43, her best finish of the year.
On the boys side Bishop Amat were second, as expected, led by two excellent efforts from Isaiah Hernandez – 2nd/15:15 and James Leon – 4th/15:26. Don Bosco, traditionally one of the SGV's best Div. 4 schools, was a solid third and will return to CIF for the fist time since 2014. They were led by Aaron Dominguez who was 8th/15:33 in this very competitive race, and they sealed the deal with a tight grouping of their 2-5 runners.
La Salle was fourth and St. Paul fell to fifth and will not advance. The Lancers were led by Daniel Piesik – 13th/16:01 and the Swordsmen by Owen Lozano – 7th/15:32, who heartbreakingly missed earning a individual CIF spot by 3/10th's of a second.
In the middle level Camino Real League, the La Salle girls secured a CIF spot with a second place finish in this four team league. In a race where the teams ran mostly in groups, the Lancers earned their spot with a 5-6-7-8 finish led by Margaret O'Hagan – 6th/22:25 and Michelle Algiers – 7th/22:32. Cantwell Sacred Heart were a non-advancing third, and were led by Rivera Ciclari – 11th/24:03.
The CSH boys compete in the third level Santa Fe league. They were fifth in this five team league, but just missed advancing to CIF by 5 points. Their top finisher was Josue Banuelos – 17th/21:25
CIF Rankings – Week 9: Six More Schools Punch Their Ticket
This was the third week of the CIF Southern Section Rankings expanding to 16, and the San Gabriel Valley increased its share in the rankings from 26 teams to 27.
Close readers will remember that we listed 25 SGV teams in the CIF rankings last week. It was actually 26 – we missed Ramona Convent's first week in the Div. 5 rankings (Sorry, Tigers!). This week, the South Pasadena girls enter the Div. 4 rankings for the first time this week at #7, probably due to an oversight by the CIF rankers.
Six schools clinched a CIF spot by earning their second ranking in the expanded polls – Flintridge Sacred Heart (D4), Vivian Webb (D5) & Ramona Convent on the girls side, and South Hills (D3), Pioneer (D4) and Maranatha (D5) on the boys.
The Bonita girls were the first team to officially advance via the rankings when they finished fourth in the Palomares League.
Four of the SGV Girls Top Ten were unranked: #4 Glendora, #5 California, #9 Arcadia & #10 Arroyo, while #8 Rowland, #9 Glendora and #10 Damien are unranked among the boys. Glendora finished 6th in both races in the Palomares Final, so their season is over. Damien is the only team unranked in CIF that is likely to need an at-large spot to advance..
You can view the entire rankings here
CIF-SS Rankings Week 8 – 10/22
San Gabriel Valley Girls
*=Clinched At-Large CIF berth.
Div 1 – #6 – # Walnut* (Same as last week)
Div 2 – #1 – Claremont* (Same)
Div. 3 – #8 Bonita* (Same); #12 Rosemead* (13th)
Div. 4 – #5 – Bishop Amat* (Same); #7 South Pasadena (Unranked); #8 Mayfield* (7th); #10 Flintridge Sacred Heart* (10th) #11 – La Cañada* (11th)
Div. 5 – #2 – #5 CA Flintridge Prep* (Same); #6 Poly* (7th); #12 Webb* (12th); #13 Ramona Convent* (13th)
San Gabriel Valley Boys
Div 1 – #6= – La Serna* (#6); #6= Arcadia* (7th); #14 California* (Same)
Div. 2 – #2= – Claremont* (1st); 9th Arroyo* (Same)
Div. 3 – #10 Bonita* (Same); 12th Whittier* (Same); 16th South Hills* (Same)
Div. 4 – #4 – South Pasadena* (Same); #10 Pioneer* (Same) #12 Bishop Amat* (Same); #15 La Canada* (Same)
Div. 5 – #3 – Flintridge Prep* (Same); #12 Maranatha (11th)
Prep Final: Flintridge Prep Wins Both
Flintridge Prep has been one of the top Div. 5 programs in California this decade, especially the girls team, who are five-time CIF and four-time defending State champs. But in the Prep League, they've traded championships with Div. 4 Mayfield. This year, the Rebels stepped up to win the championship, contested on the tough, hilly 2.96-mile course at Pierce College.
Mayfield won the Prep Cluster meet in September, but FP was missing key senior Sasha Codiga. Both teams were at full strength today, and Sasha was the difference as FP edged Mayfield 41-43. Mayfield soph Audrey Suarez, the 2018 champ, defended with a 18:38 win. FP senior Haley Allen was 2nd in 18:47, Sasha was 3rd/19:06, and the Cubs Emma Cadena was 4th/1923.
Poly just edged out Chadwick, 67-70 with two in the first seven – Sophie Phinney 5th/19:26 and Alessia Checcone 7th/19:37 – and they will get the third CIF spot. Westridge was 5th, led by frosh Jazlyn Gutierrez at 20th/21:56.
In the boys race, Flintridge Prep defended with a clear win at 25 points, while senior Carson Hasbrouck moved up from 3rd last year to claim the championship with a 15:57 win. He was joined in the first 7 by teammates Bennett Oakes 4th/16:18, Hudson Billock 6th/17:04, and Ethan Moutes 7th/17:26.
The Prep League has only four boys teams, and Poly faced a stiff challenge to bump Chadwick out of the second and final CIF spot. They cut the gap from the cluster meet, but still fell short. Evan Hayes led the Panthers by finishing 5th/17:01 and he'll advance to CIF as an individual.
Palomares Final: Claremont Doubles Up, Bonita Moves On, Glendora Does Not
SGV #1 Claremont turned in two easy wins at Saturday's Palomares League Final, run over a fairly fast and flat 3-mile course at Legg Lake in South El Monte. Both Wolfpack teams scored 25 points to win comfortably over CIF-ranked Ayala. Bonita, which already held boys and girls at-large qualification spots through the CIF rankings, was third in the boys race and fifth in the girls. Glendora, SGV #4 for girls and #9 for the boys, needed a third place to advance to CIF, but both teams were a disappointing sixth.
In the boys race, Claremont ran together at the front, perhaps conceding the individual win to Andrew Martinez of Ayala in 14:47. Senior Ryan Cowgill was next at 14:55, and the Wolfpack's next four scorers – Aaron Reyes (Sr), Adam Trafecanty (Jr), Jacob Moran (Sr) & Jack Keough-Lansford (So) finished 4-7 and within 9 seconds, while putting their whole team of 7 in the first 11.
Soph Daniel Echeveste (13th/15:28)led Bonita to a very nice third place finish. It's hard to finish well when you're #1 is that far back, but the Bearcats next three finished with the next five spots & 15 seconds, which helped them overcome their #5 being further back than usual.
Glendora also had a tight 1-5 grouping but they were too far back to factor in the scoring. Their best was a very strong performance from their usual #4 Nicholas Vega at 15:50, but he was only 21st (and behind the first four for Bonita) nixing the Tartans chance to advance.
The Claremont girls also ran grouped up near the front. Frosh Maddie Coles went forward to challenge Ayala's Mikaela Ramirez for the win, coming up a bit short to finish 2nd in 17:11. The Wolfpack finished their scoring with a 4-5-6-8 finish by Sydney Hwang (17:20), Azalea Segura Mora (17:34), Kalinda Reynolds (17:35) & Julia Marriott (17:54).
Junior Lorelei Claxton was up front for Bonita, as she has been all year, and ran a strong 18:04 for 10th place. The rest of the Bearcats ran well, but the strength of the league pushed them back to 5th. They will advance to CIF through their CIF Div. 3 ranking.
Glendora came into the meet ranked ahead of Bonita but is unranked in CIF Div. 1, so they needed a top 3 finish to advance. Their strong performance last week at Riverside made that a real possibility, but the Tartans did not quite reach that level here and finished sixth. Tops for the team was senior Avery Kuehfuss who closed out her XC career with near life-time best performance of 19:21.
Apache Invite: Mach, Paez & the Pioneer Boys are the Best
The Apache Invitational, the final invite of the season went off over the fast 3-mile course at Arcadia Park on a warm Friday afternoon and evening.
Eighty-five schools, including 26 from the SGV took part. But with League Finals Championship meets just days away, almost all of the schools entered partial or B-varsity teams.
The exception was the SGV #11 Pioneer boys. Fresh off a strong effort at Mt.SAC, the Titans were second here in the Small Schools Sweepstakes. Junior Nathaniel Estrada ran 15:22 and was just out-leaned for the win. Teammate Sergio Martin was 4th in 15:30 and they were the SGV's two best on the day.
The La Mirada Boys – Winners of the Varsity – Small Schools Race
Also notable among the boys, in the Varsity -Small-Schools race, Pasadena super-frosh Isaiah Givens won the in 15:36, an excellent time in the heat. La Mirada were the winners with what looks like their full team, and they were led by senior Christian Santiago who was 2nd/15:39.
In the girls races, Rosemead senior Melanie Mach had a big life-time best in the Small Schools Sweeps to finish 2nd/17:45, just ahead of Olivia Paez (Sr, Bishop Amat) 3rd/17:47 – which was her best result since her sophomore year. Melanie's performance was matched by her teammates when they won the regular Small Schools Varsity Race without her – setting up the Panthers to make a strong run at Arroyo at next week's Mission Valley League Meet.
A mostly full strength La Serna was 3rd in the Large School Varsity race, led by soph Remi Vigil at 15th/19:07.
SGV Top 10 Performers Lists After the Jump Continue reading Apache Invite: Mach, Paez & the Pioneer Boys are the Best →


Happy New Year everyone! Now, a lot has happened since September last year. Micro Mini Basu, a little boy, arrived on 29 October 2010. I thought motherhood the first time was difficult. But a quick look back reveals those were the good days - I was still doing my nails! Manicures are the last thing on the mind right now. I'm the mom of two under two. That's a lot of nappies, tears and youth rejuvenating serum. Still, I'm happy to report Micro Mini me is divine and angelic. God knows where he gets that from! Mini Basu, on the other hand, is shaping into a fiesty princess with a penchant for flouncy frocks. (Now, where did she get that from?!) And that I am still sampling the delights of wintry London, with the aid of a lovely Gujarati lady, albeit a little bleary eyed. As for quick Indian cooking. Did I even know that meaning of "quick" before I had two kids? During the day, quick means whatever I can rustle up while Mini Basu terrorises soft toys or hangs off my skinny jeans, and Micro Mini gets his beauty sleep. In the evenings, it's a real toss up between cooking and sleeping. Sleeping usually wins. Makes the 50-slide presentations I put together at work seem easy peasy! There would be no better to restart this blog than with another version of Dhaniya Murgh, or Coriander Chicken Curry, the perfect recipe for the exhausted on a quiet evening. This creamy yet low fat chicken curry is steeped in two of my favourite ingredients - coriander and yoghurt. This version has more curry and cooks quicker with the boneless chicken thighs. Here's to everything bigger, better and quicker in 2011. Happy New Year everyone!
Take the yoghurt out of the fridge. Roughly chop the onion and finely mince of puree the garlic ginger. Cube the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
In a medium-sized pan, bring the oil to heat on high. When it starts sizzling, add the onions, ginger and garlic and fry until the mixture is golden brown. The stir in the all the powders apart from the garam masala.
Fry the masalas for five minutes, adding a serving spoon of hot water if they start getting stuck to the bottom of the pan. Then mix in the chicken and seal on the high heat for about two minutes.
Next, spoon in the yoghurt, lower the heat to medium low and cook, stirring regularly for about 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked and oil floats to the surface of the curry. Finally stir in the coriander, garam masala and salt to your taste. Serve piping hot with freshly-made Basmati rice.
Happy New Year! I am in awe of you and every other mother out there, Mallika.
Amazing to "see" you Mallika! Congratulations on bringing another angel into this world! So happy for you! If only I could bring one into the world in 2011! Happy New Year to you and yours! Love the new design!
This dish looks, and sounds, fantastic. I can't believe you still have the time even to make this kind of a dish with two children. Bravo to you!
Happy New Year! I've been meaning to mail and tell you but I'll just tell you here – I finally found your book (after three attempts) and bought it – having fun reading it.
Happy New Year! dear Mallika. Congratulations! a few times. You have a lot of action in 2010 and here's wishing you a great 2011.
I've been reading your blog for a couple of months and i love it ! I also just bought your book on amazon – can't wait til I get it !
I'm a novice to the kitchen and your recipes are so quick and easy and explained well. I'm going to try the Dhaniya Murgh tonight, wish me luck!
Congratulations and glad to see you back with some recipes! Could do with some new inspiration this year – good luck with the two little ones!
So totally cool! Happy New Year!
Thanks for the super fast curry!
Hey I really love your take on Indian food. This recipe is really great.
I just came across your site and your recipes look delicious!
I was just wondering if it's ok to substitute the Greek yogurt with coconut milk?
Thanks so much everyone… It feels lovely to be back and it's all thanks to the words of encouragement!
Hi Sophiya – sounds like a great idea! You may need to add ginger too when you add the garlic just to lift the coconut milk… experiment away!
Congratulations on your beautiful family! I had a 2 year old and then b/g twins so I understand. It was survival mode for at least the first 6 months! You will get through it and once the baby is in a routine you will find you have more time to pursue your own interests again!
Wow! A girl and now a boy make your family complete. I'm so happy for you Mallika. Congratulations!
love your blog and website Mallika and your recipes. I just adore indian food every night of the week and your vegetarian recipes are awesome, already tried 2 and love reading your blogs. cant wait to return to the UK again this year!
Great recipe! I just made your coriander chicken today and it turned out fantastic! Thanks so much for the recipe.
I made this tonight for my fiance and we both loved it! Deeeelicious and easy!
interesting recipe…i will try and let you know how it comes out..
I stumbled across your website and tried out this recipe. My 3 yr old daughter loves the coriander chicken curry, she keeps asking for it. I cook this once a week now and it's her favourite! Thanks!
Yesterday, I was looking to cook something different with chicken. Dhania caught my attention. The recipe seemed simple enough with the ingredients that we usually have at home. I immediately cooked, sure enough, it was great success. Will try some of your other recipes in the coming weeks. Thanks for sharing your recipes!
As a new graduate student, I was attempting to cook chicken for the first time by myself and was looking for a simple yet flavourful recipe that takes minimal cooking time. Your recipe and cooking instructions made the process a breeze and me and my flatmate are not able to stop eating, it's come out beautifully!
Thank you so very much! Finding your website has been like uncovering a treasure trove, looking forward to trying more of these recipes out!