With a footprint across five continents, Cipla is moving fast towards its goal of making affordable healthcare available to all. The Company's revenue from operations on a consolidated basis during the financial year 2014-15 amounted to Rs.11,345 crore against Rs.10,173 crore in the brvious year, recording a growth of 11.5%. The income from operations for domestic business increased by 18%, from Rs.4,090 crore in the brvious financial year to Rs.4,825 crore in the financial year under review. Total exports increased by 5.6% during the year to Rs.6,058 crore. During the year under review, operating margin reduced by 2.7%. This was primarily due to the change in product mix, higher investments in research and development, and talent acquisition. Profit for the year reduced by 15% to n,181 crore from Rs.1,389 crore in the brvious financial year.
India Ratings and Research Private Limited, a Fitch Group Company, assigned a Long-Term Issuer Rating of IND AAA with a stable outlook to the Company. The rating is the highest assigned in Fitch's rating scale and indicates the highest degree of safety regarding timely servicing of financial obligations and lowest credit risk.
No material changes and commitments have occurred after the close of the year till the date of this Report, which affect the financial position of the Company.
As one of India's leading pharmaceutical companies, Cipla is in a strong position to fulfill its commitment to provide modern and affordable medicines to patients. This year, despite the challenges, as per IMS Health data, Cipla's domestic business revenues grew by 20% compared to the industry growth of 12%.
India business contributed 42% to overall Company revenues, with new products contributing 3.2%. Market share of our branded generics currently stands at 5.27%.
Cipla continues to focus on in-licensing opportunities. In FY 2014-15, Cipla has in-licensed darbepoetin. Cipla successfully launched the generic drug sofosbuvir in India for the treatment of hepatitis-C under the brand name HepCvir. In India alone it is estimated that 12-18 million patients are infected with hepatitis-C, of which up to 2 million may need treatment. Sofosbuvir is a new antiviral drug which in combination therapy has shown to have higher cure rates. It rebrsents a breakthrough in the treatment of hepatitis C.
As one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in South Africa, Cipla has a market share of more than 5%. South Africa contributes 14% to the overall Cipla revenues on a consolidated basis. The South Africa business revenue has grown at 9% in the private market over the last three years. On a like-for-like basis, the South Africa business registered a revenue growth of 4% for the year. The Cipla brand inspires trust and has become a household name among consumers, pharmacies, brscribers and key opinion leaders.
The private market contributed 73% of revenues. Cipla also won Government tenders in antiretrovirals (ARV), respiratory and newer areas such as mental health, cardiovascular and women's health categories. The manufacturing facility at Durban provides the Company a competitive edge and is the first Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention (PlC)-compliant facility in the country. The manufacturing unit generated a profit, as compared to a loss last year, achieved by significantly improving utilization, improved efficiencies and cost control measures.
Capitalizing on its defined future portfolio, key development and in-licensing projects, and streamlined global organizational structure, Cipla South Africa will leverage synergies from its international family. Plans are on track and the integration across manufacturing supply chain, finance and human resources is complete. The Company has leveraged its skill and scale to drive down costs in areas such as procurement.
Aligning with Cipla's philosophy of providing South Africans with access to a broader range of affordable medicines and leveraging the leadership position in South Africa, Medpro Pharmaceutica (Pty) Ltd — a subsidiary company of Cipla Medpro — entered into a sales and distribution arrangement with Teva Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd, an affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical lndustries Ltd. The collaboration will focus on the following therapeutic areas: oncology, central nervous system, women's health, cardiovascular, ophthalmology and other specialty products.
Cipla is making innovative, affordable medication accessible in over 20 countries across Europe. The European business contributed 4% to the overall Company revenues, recording a decline of 24% in revenues for the year. The drop was driven by a one-off event in the brvious year, a decline in partner based business and some supply-related issues. Plans have been put in place to address these issues and regain business momentum.
Cipla is focused on adding innovative elements to products, services and information through research and partnerships. We now have seven different inhaler products in the market in at least one European country. Our flagship product, the salmeterol-fluticasone MDl, is now in the market in Croatia, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium and Hungary. The pricing level is set in accordance with the rules set out by individual countries, our estimation of affordability per country and our cost of goods, so the price differs somewhat from country to country.
Cipla Europe NV signed a distribution agreement with Serum lnstitute of lndia Ltd. (Sll) to market pediatric vaccines in Europe and expects to commence filings in the near future.
Cipla also signed an exclusive partnership with BioQuiddity to market OneDose ReadyfusORTM in anesthetic applications for post-surgical pain management. Cipla intends to launch the CE Marked One Dose Readyfus ORTM br-filled with ropivacaine under its own label in Europe in the next year. The ready-to-use infusion systems are non-electric, ambulatory, and should enable seamless transition between sites of care.
The Company initiated emergency supplies in Greece and Spain for ONCO BCG, a therapeutic product made from the BCG vaccine, indicated for the treatment of bladder cancer.
The North American business contributed 8% to overall revenues and recorded 20% growth for the year. Cipla made 12 filings in North America in FY 2014-15 with a focus on respiratory, oncology and anti-infective therapies.
In the last quarter of FY 2014-15, the Company achieved a big milestone through the launch of its own label products in the market, including amlodipine, doxycycline, lamotrigine, meloxicam, topiramate and valacyclovir.
Cipla signed an agreement with Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a US-based specialty pharmaceutical company. Under the agreement, Cipla has granted Salix exclusive rights under certain patent applications in the Rifaximin Complexes patent family controlled by Cipla. The grant is on a worldwide basis, excluding the countries of Asia (other than Japan) and Africa. Salix is required to make an up-front payment and upon achievement, additional regulatory milestone payments to Cipla, in respect of the new license agreement regarding the Rifaximin Complexes patent rights. Salix will also pay a royalty on net sales of products covered by the Rifaximin Complexes patents licensed to Salix.
In the last quarter of financial year 2014-15, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the first generic equivalent to Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium) delayed-release capsules in the United States. Cipla is the supplier of the finished formulation to Teva.
Through a combrhensive partnership approach, Cipla has been dedicated to providing access to medicines to US patients for over 30 years. We have a strong team in place which is focused on executing our North America strategic plans.
International is defined as all export markets for Cipla excluding North America, Europe and South Africa. With a diverse range of more than 1,000 products and 180 global partners across 120 countries, Cipla has a brsence in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Asia Pacific, China, and Russia. International contributes 25% of Company revenues and grew by 9% over the last year. Cipla's products are currently being used to treat more than 1.7 million HIV patients, 55 million malaria patients, and 300,000 patients in the area of reproductive and women's health.
Cipla implemented a business model change in 15 countries including Morocco, Algeria, Yemen, Sri Lanka and Uganda, adopting the direct-to-market (DTM) approach. This strengthening of the Company's front-end brsence in markets was done through different entry modes such as acquisitions, joint ventures and Managed Sales Force (MSF). The Company will continue to build its front-end brsence in select markets and will also continue to deepen its relationship with existing partners.
The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Meditab Holdings Ltd., Mauritius recently divested its 48.22% stake in CDYMAX, based in Jiangsu, China at a value of $18.5mn, which was the initial value of our investment in the entity. Cipla is currently evaluating opportunities which will aid the overall growth of the Company in China.
Cipla was among the first Indian companies to develop and manufacture Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), the vital raw materials for making drug products. We currently have over 200 APIs in our portfolio. Our state-of-the-art API plants meet stringent quality and current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) requirements as well as environmental and safety standards. Our API plants are approved by various international regulatory agencies including the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA).
During the year, Cipla manufactured APIs for more than 300 partners globally and a significant share was consumed internally to support Cipla's own formulation requirements.
Captive API requirements increased significantly owing to front-ending in several new markets and key launches globally, witnessing a more than 30% increase in captive consumption over the brvious year, with the trend likely to continue in the coming year.
External API revenues contributed 6% to the overall revenues, with major contributions from the antiretroviral, gastroenterology, respiratory, neurology and oncology segments.
Cipla has established a robust portfolio selection process to build a future-ready pipeline of complex products which will help in providing early launch capabilities along with Intellectual Property (IP) advantages.
In the past year, we have added more than 70 new products to our development pipeline and are continuously adding more with a view to expand our reach across the key therapeutic segments for the future as far as 2024. Although the effects of the new portfolio will be evident starting only in 2017, we are confident that the selected new products will invigorate our business both for APIs and for captive formulations across top markets.
Cipla has been at the forefront of innovation for inhalation therapy in India. The Company has played a leading role in educating the nation on inhalation therapy and over the coming years Cipla will continue to work on topics such as patient awareness, acceptance, compliance and usage, physician training, medical camps and counselling. Strongly focused on access and affordability, Cipla Respiratory continued to strengthen its efforts through the "BreatheFree" patient awareness and education programs across markets, dedicated to making a difference to both patients and medical practitioners.
Over the last 40 years, the Company has been focused on bringing this innovation to markets across the globe. Today, Cipla Respiratory products are available in over 100 countries. Cipla offers the world's largest portfolio of inhalation products, with 27 molecules and combinations across a range of devices, to suit individual patient needs. The Company manufactures metered dose inhalers (pMDIs), dry powder inhalers (DPIs), nasal sprays, nebulisers and a range of inhalation accessory devices. The company has five manufacturing facilities dedicated to respiratory products and is currently the third largest manufacturer of pMDIs in the world.
This year Cipla Respiratory launched several inhalation products across European markets. In parallel, significant progress has been made on the development of critical new products for the US and other priority markets. Cipla's team of world-class specialists continues to collaborate seamlessly across functions to drive Cipla Respiratory to new frontiers. Competition remains aggressive and the Company needs to continue to maintain its agility to retain leadership.
During the year under review, Cipla acquired a 60% stake in Jay Precision Pharmaceuticals Private Limited, a leading respiratory device manufacturer. Cipla has a long history of collaboration with Jay Precision for device design and manufacturing. As Cipla aims to make a strong foray in overseas markets, de-risking the respiratory devices supply through backward integration is key to strengthen the foundation. The deal provides in-house access to technical know-how for current and future device design, development and manufacturing. Cipla has end-to-end capability across respiratory care covering the value chain from API, formulation, device development and manufacturing to medical and patient education.
Since its inception, Cipla's ethos has been firmly rooted in the vision "None shall be denied". The Company strongly believes that access to high quality, affordable medicines is a basic human right.
Cipla Global Access (CGA) is a tender-based institutional business that concentrates on four key therapy areas: HIV/AIDS, malaria, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, and reproductive health. The Company aims to reach out to 80 million patients in these four therapies by 2020.
Cipla has developed and fostered robust relationships with all the major global organisations, regulatory bodies, public institutions and funding agencies that work towards this common cause. Additionally, Cipla has partnered with several global scientific research organisations to develop innovative, effective and affordable formulations for these four therapeutic areas.
Cipla is among the leading manufacturers of ARV drugs in the world. In 2001, Cipla was the first pharmaceutical company to supply ARVs to countries with a high HIV burden at less than a dollar a day. In the financial year 2014-15 alone, our ARV formulations covered nearly two million HIV patients in 100 countries. The Cipla ARV portfolio includes treatment for all age ranges of patients for effective management of HIV. Cipla has by far the highest number of ARV products approved for the treatment of both children and adults. In addition, newer molecules in novel dosage forms such as pellets are being developed to help optimise dosage for the current regimens, for the treatment of children and also to reduce the pill load, thereby offering better adherence and success of treatment. Cipla is adding new capacity for the growing demand for ARV products and expects the expansion to be completed in FY 2015-16.
Cipla is also one of the largest suppliers of antimalarial drugs in the world. This portfolio covered treatment for more than 55 million malaria patients across all the affected countries. The coverage is increasing every year and thus saving millions of lives. Cipla anti-malarial treatment costs less than a dollar for the entire course. Cipla has always been at the forefront in initiatives to identify, develop, manufacture and supply low cost treatment with the artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs). All the ACTs supplied by Cipla are approved by WHO. Cipla is endeavouring to expand its portfolio. It will be expanded with more potent and safer antimalarials, using novel drug delivery systems.
Cipla has a strong second line TB drug (SLTB) portfolio for treating multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB). It is aggressively expanding its MDR TB portfolio to meet the challenges of resistance which develops among TB patients due to the high rate of dropout from treatment. Till now, Cipla's SLTB drugs catered to a moderate patient base globally, but this is likely to increase significantly with the use of new diagnostic methods of detection drug-resistant TB. Future development in the MDR TB therapy area will be focused on newer molecules which can significantly reduce treatment timelines. Currently, Cipla services around 70 countries in this area.
Reproductive health and family planning segment is an emerging segment in which Cipla currently caters to over 300,000 patients worldwide. Cipla has aligned its strategy with international development initiatives to provide safe and effective contraceptive drugs for 120 million more women by 2020.
Cipla Global Access also provides medications for helminthic infections, schistosomiasis and kala azar, which pose major health threats in low and middle income countries (LMIC).
In FY 2014-15, Cipla signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Gilead for manufacturing and distribution of sofosbuvir mono, ledipasvir mono, the fixed-dose combination of ledipasvir with sofosbuvir and the combination of sofosbuvir or ledipasvir with other active substances, for the treatment of hepatitis C. Under this licensing agreement, Cipla will be allowed to manufacture and market sofosbuvir, and ledipasvir in 90+ countries including its home markets, India and South Africa, under Cipla's own brand names. It also covers countries like Egypt which have a high brvalence of hepatitis C. The countries within the agreement account for more than 100 million people living with hepatitis C, rebrsenting 54% of the total global infected population.
The pharmaceutical world is seeing significant shifts — towards biology-based medicine; towards finding new value in old drugs, with blockbuster research output dwindling; and towards brvention, wellness and self-care. Cipla launched Cipla New Ventures (CNV) last year, as its impact investment arm, to nurture and build innovation-led business streams for Cipla, distinct from the mainstream business of today and tomorrow.
CNV has over the past year built up four independent and strong business streams, putting in place specific capabilities and technologies while building a clear roadmap for each business. Ranging across diverse and promising areas such as biologicals, small-molecule innovation, consumer healthcare, and regenerative medicine, CNV's investments are poised to shape the future of Cipla.
Earlier this year Meditab Specialities Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company acquired 75% stake in Mabpharm Private Limited ('Mabpharm'). Mabpharm has now become a 100% subsidiary of the Company. Cipla BioTec (formerly Mabpharm) focuses on research, development, manufacturing and marketing of biosimilars, in the fields of cancer, auto-immune diseases, respiratory diseases and diabetes. Through innovative technology and go-to-market solutions, it aims to create a transformational impact in the way these medicines are used.
Cipla believes that the potential of currently used drugs is not fully exploited, and with smart delivery technology and modern repurposing tools available today, new value can be created that will enhance the patient experience. Towards this, the CipTec Discovery Engine (DE) was envisaged as the small-molecule innovation engine of Cipla. Today, the CipTec DE pipeline consists of exciting early stage ideas in central nervous system (CNS) and oncology therapies, including a strategic investment in the US-based R&D Company, Chase Pharmaceuticals, during the brvious year. Chase Pharmaceuticals has two lead assets in the pipeline for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease, of which the first, CPC-201, has progressed to Phase II trials which are expected to be completed over the following year. CipTec continues to focus on developing and extending its pipeline, partnering with other innovators on medically and commercially attractive opportunities.
Through Cipla Consumer Healthcare (CHC), Cipla has entered the rapidly growing over-the-counter (OTC) healthcare market in India. The vision is to improve the lives of Indian consumers, making full use of Cipla's strengths in bringing good science to good medicine, while also leveraging its market outreach and equity with the Indian healthcare system. The business will focus on opportunities arising from the shift towards wellness and self-care.
Stempeutics Research is a group company of Manipal Education and Medical Group and a joint venture with Cipla Ltd. This year, Stempeutics Research got its novel pool technology patent granted in the USA as well as an Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product ('ATMP') classification from the European Medicines Agency for its lead product, Stempeucel, for the treatment of various indications including Buerger's disease, critical limb ischemia and osteoarthritis. Stempeutics has also received its first commercial approval for Stempeucare for cosmetic applications in India.
Cipla's Integrated Product Development (IPD) organisation includes formulations and API R&D, clinical, analytical, regulatory and pharmacovigilance functions. Cipla's R&D expense increased from 5.4% of total revenue in FY 2013-14 to 6.2% in FY 2014-15. The Company has undertaken expansion of its R&D Centre with new buildings and facilities at Vikhroli, Mumbai.
Development projects, targeted filings and regulatory approvals have progressed well this year. Currently there are over 200 projects in development indicating a robust pipeline. In FY 2014-15, there were 70 submissions for formulations in Europe, 12 filings in North America, and over 1,000 filings in other international markets. The Company received more than 100 approvals in Europe, 5 in North America and more than 800 approvals in other International (rest of the world) markets.
Cipla completed a combrhensive 'Jaagruti' transformation programme aimed at increasing efficiency across all teams resulting in reduced timelines, development costs and more timely regulatory approvals. The process improvements in analytics, regulatory, procurement and project management continue to drive improved turnaround time and throughput levels.
The Company has expanded applications across multiple technology platforms including implants, microspheres, ready-to-use injections, cochleates, nanotechnology, brservative-free ophthalmics, nasal sprays, foams, and spray patches among others.
pediatric lopinavir and ritonavir oral pellets for the treatment of AIDS in infants and young children. Cipla has long recognized the lack of access to life-saving child-friendly formulations for the treatment of HIV, which prompted the Company to develop an innovative formulation of lopinavir and ritonavir oral pellets. The pellets are produced by melt-extrusion technology and are enclosed in capsules. The pellets have to be sprinkled on sweetened porridge for infants and administered to them.
Cipla has made large strides in FY 2014-15 towards forging partnerships with global generic and innovator firms to fast track development of critical molecules in the areas of oncology, ARVs and respiratory, and has taken steps towards being a thought partner to key regulators on the policy and development fronts.
Cipla has forged linkages with novel technology firms. It has also established and strengthened in-house techno-commercial capabilities to identify and capture 505(b)(2) & biosimilar opportunities.
On the organizational capability front, IPD strengthened its team in FY 2014-15 in areas of quality by design, new drug delivery systems, device design and manufacturing. IPD also strengthened existing functions operationally to deliver superior value to Cipla in line with the Company's future aspirations.
Cipla launched the second wave of the 'Jaagruti' transformation programme aimed at reducing business complexity and strengthening operations. Under this initiative the manufacturing divisions freed up valuable resources using strategies of network optimisation, energy efficiency, better management of human resources, and a review of capital and operational expenses.
Cipla's operations in Cipla QCIL, Uganda were also covered in the second phase of 'Jaagruti'.
During the year under review, the Company commissioned additional API manufacturing capacity of 60 MT/year at Kurkumbh. The Company scaled up 20 key APIs and undertook cycle time reduction and cost improvement projects.
Serviceability of formulation products was significantly improved by formula harmonisation, batch size scale-ups and unit balancing.
The Company is continuously upgrading all the manufacturing facilities in terms of technology, automation, safety, environment and systems as well as procedures for energy and water conservation.
Several dosage forms and APIs manufactured at the Company's facilities continue to enjoy the approval of major international regulatory agencies. These agencies include the US FDA, MHRA (UK), PIC (Germany), MCC (South Africa), TGA (Australia), APVMA (Australia), the Department of Health (Canada), ANVISA (Brazil), the Danish Medical Agency, and the WHO.
The pharmaceutical industry has always been under intense scrutiny by various regulatory authorities, both Indian and international. This trend continues resulting in regulatory standards being upgraded all the time. An overview of the status of the industry is referred to in the Chairman's letter at the beginning of this report. The Company continues to track all these changes, increase vigilance, and strives to maintain the highest quality standards. It is close to two years since the new pricing regulation was enacted in the Indian market. Over the last one year, the Company took various steps to mitigate the initial impact of the decline in prices. Since the pricing regulatory authorities are reviewing the existing pricing mechanism and are considering expanding the scope, the threat of future decline in price remains.
Cipla has some pending legal cases related to alleged overcharging in respect of certain drugs under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995. The aggregate amount of the demand notices received is about Rs.1,768.51 crore (inclusive of interest). The Company has been legally advised that based on several High Court decisions and considering the totality of facts and circumstances that these demand notices may not be enforceable. However, any unfavourable outcome in these proceedings could have an adverse impact on the Company.
Cipla operates in a number of markets where geo-political risks exist. No significant or material orders have been passed by the Regulators or Courts or Tribunals which may impact the going concern status of the Company and its future operations.
HSE measures remain a priority for Cipla. During the year under review, no major hazardous accident at the workplace was recorded. The Company continues to upgrade HSE standards at all locations. ISO 50001 implementation is being taken horizontally across all our locations, to benchmark energy conservation threshold levels for a greener environment.
Cipla's manufacturing facilities including Goa, Bengaluru, Baddi, Indore, Kurkumbh, Patalganga and Sikkim, are certified for ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards. The Company continues to upgrade HSE standards at all locations. Specialized safety training programs such as process safety, road safety, and behavioral safety are regularly imparted to increase safety awareness at all working levels. Safety Week and Electrical Safety Day are celebrated and Fire Service Day is observed at the manufacturing units to create awareness among employees. Learning visits across different industrial sectors are conducted with a view to strengthen the HSE knowledge base and implement best HSE practices. Hazards and risks associated with site activities are identified across all manufacturing locations and risk control and mitigation measures are continuously implemented. Online systems are in place to monitor applicable legal compliance.
The Company's various locations have received HSE awards including Best Environment, Health and Safety Practices, Paryavaran Gaurav, and 5S Excellence.
Villagers and school children living around the Company's units across India also participate in HSE programs. Fire safety and road safety training is conducted in schools. A well-equipped ambulance service has been made available to nearby villages for use in emergency situations. Medical camps for polio immunization, asthma, blood donation, and dental health are conducted in the surrounding villages. World Environment Day and Earth Day are celebrated by conducting a green drive program of mass tree plantation. The Company continues to maintain modern, well-equipped effluent treatment plants and effluent testing systems at its manufacturing facilities. Treated water from these zero-discharge facilities is recycled for utility purpose.
The Company's internal control procedures are adequate to ensure compliance with various policies, practices and statutes in keeping with the organisation's pace of growth and increasing complexity of operations. Cipla's internal audit team supplemented by various internal auditors carries out extensive audits throughout the year across all functional areas, and submits its reports to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. During the year under review, no fraud was reported by the auditors to the Audit Committee/Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors at its meeting held on 14th August 2014 approved the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy as required under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014, on the recommendations of the CSR Committee. The CSR policy is available on the Company's website at <http://www.cipla.com/CiplaSite/> Media/PDF/Corporate_Social_ Responsibility_Policy.pdf.
2014 as amended from time to time forms part of this Report as Annexure I.
As mandated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), a standalone Business Responsibility Report (BRR) forms part of the Annual Report and is available on the Company's website at www.cipla.com The BRR contains a detailed report on Business Responsibilities vis-a-vis the nine principles of the National Voluntary Guidelines on Social, Environmental and Economic Responsibilities of Business framed by the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Any shareholder interested in obtaining a copy may write to the Company Secretary at the Registered Office of the Company.
vi. devised proper systems to ensure compliance with the provisions of all applicable laws and that such systems were adequate and operating effectively.
The Company is committed to good corporate governance practices. The report on corporate governance as stipulated under Clause 49 of the Listing Agreement forms part of this report.
As required under section 134(3)(m) of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 8(3) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014, the relevant information and data are annexed to this report as Annexure II.
The Company has in place a Policy on Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment at workplace in line with the requirements of The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. An Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) has been set up to redress complaints received regarding sexual harassment. The policy has set guidelines on the redressal and enquiry process that is to be followed by complainants and the ICC, whilst dealing with issues related to sexual harassment at the workplace towards any employees. All employees (permanent, temporary, contractual and trainees) are covered under this policy. All employees are treated with dignity with a view to maintain a work environment free of sexual harassment whether physical, verbal or psychological. A total of 17 cases were reported under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy during financial year 2014-15, out of which 3 cases were under investigation at the end of financial year. Subsequently, all the cases were satisfactorily addressed and appropriate action was taken.
As required under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Share Based Employee Benefits) Regulations, 2014, the applicable disclosures as on 31st March 2015 are annexed to this report as Annexure III.
There is no material change in the Employee Stock Option Schemes during the financial year under review and the Employee Stock Option Schemes are in compliance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Share Based Employee Benefits) Regulations, 2014.
The Human Resources function contributes to Cipla's growth story by working as a strategic partner to the business. The technical and quality demands of pharma combined with our own vision to grow significantly over the next few years are driving the need for us to build an agile, engaged, and energized work force. While doing this, your Company continues to retain focus on Cipla values and its core philosophy of placing people before profits.
Our core objective has been to build organizational capability through skill enhancement across levels, sales force training and enhancing competencies in line with changing business needs. There has also been a focus on strengthening existing, middle and senior leadership.
The Company has institutionalized a robust performance management process; individual goals and key performance indicators have been aligned to organizational goals and imperatives.
In making "Caring for Life" translate to "Caring for employees", various employee centric interventions like people friendly policies and work-life balance have been launched. While serving global customers, employing people across the globe is an equally important aspect of our vision thereby building a truly global company. Employees are motivated through various skill-development, engagement and voluntary programs. We also ensure that employees are aligned with our organizational culture and values whilst never losing sight of our business objectives.
Details of remuneration as required under section 197(12) of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Rule 5(1) of the Companies (Appointment and Remuneration of Managerial Personnel) Rules, 2014 is annexed as Annexure IV.
Particulars of loans, guarantees and investments under Section 186 of the Companies Act, 2013 are provided in Notes 39 and 13 to the financial statements.
Extract of Annual Return in the brscribed format under the Companies Act, 2013 forms part of this Report as Annexure V.
The Board had appointed M/s. BNP & Associates as the secretarial auditor for the financial year 2014-15. The secretarial audit report for the financial year ended 31st March 2015 is annexed to this report as Annexure VI. The report does not contain any qualification, reservation or adverse remark.
The Company believes in upholding professional integrity and ethical behavior in the conduct of its business. To uphold and promote these standards, the Company has formulated a Vigil Policy which serves as a mechanism for its directors and employees to report genuine concerns about unethical behavior, actual or suspected fraud or violation of the Code of Conduct without fear of reprisal. The details of Vigil Policy is available on the Company's website at <http://www>. cipla.com/CiplaSite/Media/PDF/ code_of_conduct/Vigil_Policy.pdf.
All contracts / arrangements / transactions entered by the Company with related parties during the financial year 2014-15 were in the ordinary course of business and on an arm's length basis. No material related party transactions were entered into by the Company during the year under review.
The policy on materiality of and dealing with related party transactions is available on the Company's website at <http://www>. cipla.com/CiplaSite/Media/PDF/ Policy/Policy_on_Related_Party_ Transactions.pdf.
The Company has in place adequate policies and procedures for ensuring the orderly and efficient conduct of its business, including adherence to the Company's policies, the safeguarding of its assets, the brvention and detection of frauds and errors, the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, and the timely brparation of reliable financial disclosures.


text:
NGT pulls up Haryana, MoEF over 'forest land'https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/ngt-pulls-up-haryana-moef-over-forest-land-5618727/
NGT pulls up Haryana, MoEF over 'forest land'
It was in June 2017 that Lt Col (Retd) Sarvadham Singh Oberoi approached the NGT, alleging that the proposal of M/s Ajay Enterprises Pvt Ltd and M/s Bharti Land Limited to develop a residential complex in the area was in violation of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
Written by Sakshi Dayal | Gurgaon | Published: March 10, 2019 1:51:43 am
Subansiri dam: Work on despite assurance to NGT that it won't
NGT imposes Rs 100-crore penalty on Andhra Pradesh govt over illegal sand mining
Court cases against Punjab officials if they fail to deliver, warns NGT committee on pollution
Aravali range hills and forest in Faridabad and Gurgaon District, for Hardlook, on Friday, March 01, 2019. Express photo by Abhinav Saha
In what is being touted as a historic order, the National Green Tribunal has recognised a 52.3 acre-piece of land in Faridabad's Sarai Khawaja village as 'deemed forest', dashing hopes of two builders to develop a residential complex there.
In its order, the Tribunal stated that the stand of the State of Haryana, which insisted the land was not "forest", is "erroneous in law". It also reprimanded the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) for "mechanically" upholding this stand and entirely "ignoring" an enquiry report regarding the matter, which had concluded that the land is "forest as per dictionary meaning".
"If such an enquiry report was to be disagreed, it was necessary for MoEF to have given its reasons. The enquiry report was based on valid factual and legal basis, which have been brushed aside in agreeing with the erroneous view of the State of Haryana," states the order.
"It is difficult to uphold the stand of the State of Haryana, with which MoEF has agreed, that the area in question is not a forest area. Once it is so, mere fact that the area is included in part of Sector 47 in the Master Plan is not conclusive to hold the same to not be covered by the definition of 'forest' in terms of law… The land in question is, thus, held to be deemed forest," it states.
It was in June 2017 that Lt Col (Retd) Sarvadham Singh Oberoi approached the NGT, alleging that the proposal of M/s Ajay Enterprises Pvt Ltd and M/s Bharti Land Limited to develop a residential complex in the area was in violation of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. He also alleged that letters written by the Additional Chief Secretary (Forests), directing that permission be granted for felling of over 7,000 trees at the spot, were in violation of a Supreme Court judgment.
The State of Haryana, however, relied on four arguments to justify its stand — that the land "is not a recorded forest"; is not notified under Section 4 or 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900; includes no plantation under the Aravalli project; and is not included in areas identified as "reserve forest, protected forest un-classed forest" by the expert committee constituted as part of the T N Godavarman case.
An enquiry report on the matter — dated August 17, 2017, and submitted by the Conservator of Forests (Central), Northern Regional office to the DIG in the MoEF — considered two critical judgments, one by the Supreme Court and another by the NGT. The enquiry report concluded that these judgments had been violated by the state in granting permission for tree felling.
In its order, the NGT stated: "… the stand of the State of Haryana that land was not recorded as forest land and has to be taken as non-forest… is erroneous in law."
Welcoming the order, environmentalists said this sets an "important precedent". "This is a historic moment in the forestry governance of Haryana, with implications for the 50,000 acres of Aravallis which are outside the PLPA special sections 4 and 5 notifications, including Mangar Bani and the Aravalli Biodiversity Park. The judgment provides a glimmer of hope at a time when the state is effectively repealing the PLPA through retrospective amendments," said environmental analyst Chetan Agarwal.
moef
1 As complaints pour in from Amrapali buyers, a police desk just for them
2 Will ensure MCD hospitals run Ayushman Bharat: Manoj Tiwari
3 Delhi: Centre halted CCTV work, will begin next week, says Arvind Kejriwal

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Fr. Thomas Kelly, 89, dies; private funeral Mass planned at St. Anthony, Bartonville
By: The Catholic Post - July 3, 2020 - News Article
Father Thomas Kelly is pictured at Independence Village in Peoria in 2016 prior to observing the 60th anniversary of his priestly ordination. (The Catholic Post/Jennifer Willems)
A private funeral Mass was planned at St. Anthony Church in Bartonville for Father Thomas F. Kelly, a senior priest of the Diocese of Peoria and a former pastor of St. Anthony Parish as well as St. Columba Parish in Ottawa.
Father Kelly, who also served for 14 years in campus ministry at the University of Illinois and Bradley University, died on Tuesday morning, June 30, 2020, at Independence Village in Peoria. He was 89.
Father David Heinz, current pastor of St. Anthony Parish, will preside at the funeral Mass with Msgr. Douglas Hennessy as homilist. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in West Peoria. A public Memorial Mass and visitation will be scheduled at a later date.
Born July 11, 1930, in Peoria to Martin and Margaret (O'Loughlin) Kelly, he attended St. Patrick School and was a 1948 graduate of Spalding Institute. Father Kelly would later say his vocation to the priesthood was influenced by the School Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Patrick, the Benedictine monks who taught at Spalding, and his uncle, Father Thomas Kelly, "who was always around the house."
He studied at St. Bede Junior College and then went on to St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein. He would later earn a master's degree in guidance and counseling from Bradley University.
Father Kelly was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria by Bishop William E. Cousins at St. Mary's Cathedral on May 27, 1956.
His early assignments were as parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish, Rock Island, and St. Paul Parish, Odell. In 1959, he began four years of service as assistant chaplain at St. John's Newman Foundation on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign, where he also taught liturgy and moral theology. He would continue in campus ministry at Bradley University in Peoria, where he was named Newman Center chaplain in 1963.
Active in civil rights and peace efforts, he took part in the last leg of the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965 in support of racial equality and the Voting Rights Act, hearing Dr. Martin Luther King speak when they arrived.
In 1973, he began a decade of leadership at St. Columba Parish in Ottawa, first as co-pastor, then administrator, and from 1978 to 1983 as pastor.
He served as administrator of St. Mary Parish in Tiskilwa for two years before being named pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Bartonville, where he served from 1985 until being granted senior status in 1999.
While at St. Anthony's, Father Kelly oversaw construction of the parish church and was instrumental in introducing many people to the Catholic Church through RCIA.
In his retirement years, he lived for a time in Wisconsin. After returning to the Peoria area, he led Scripture reflections for a small group and contributed to The Catholic Post's "Living the Word" series.
Father Kelly is survived by two sisters, Elizabeth Vickrey of South Elgin and Rosemary Kelly of Elk Grove; three nieces: Caitlin Kelly of Washington, D.C., Megan Murcur of Virginia, Mary Rosenquist of Chicago; two nephews: Tim Kelly of Elgin and Jim Kelly of Lockport; and special friends Sister Eleanor Hoffmann and Sister Rosalind Forrest.
He was preceded in death by two brothers: Father Joseph Kelly and Jerry Kelly.
Memorials may be made to St. Anthony Parish, Bartonville.


1. My new 'do. It reminds me of the ocean.
I like the cotton candy blue hair! I bought you a mother's day gift from your "things I want" list. You will have to be surprised about which one I picked. Love you!
aright mermaid girl.... You know, you really should re-dye that, maybe you should try pink! Or maybe random women at A.C. Moore should mind their own damn business! I think the hair looks awesome. Thanks for feeding my craft habit with me!
hearting it. And hearting you. And a million thanks for your hilarious post at my cookieblog. you rock and for god's sake I didn't know you had a shop at esty!? is the craypron still around? if so I'd like to write about it. email me--puh-leeze!


This Bluetooth wireless headphone system includes Bluetooth wireless audio transmitter and Matrix3 wireless HD headphones. Stream audio wirelessly to Bluetooth headphones and speakers. Comfortable over-the-ear design with ultra-soft earpads, built-in microphone and remote for headset functionality with phones and tablets. Connect to a TV or other audio device via RCA, optical TOSLINK, or 3.5mm headphone jack and pair with up to two Bluetooth headphones or speakers. Add another Bluetooth headphone or speaker and stream audio to both simultaneously. Get the ultimate movie or music experience with clear, crisp high-quality sound delivered wirelessly. The MEE audio Connect T1M3 wireless headphone system includes the Connect Bluetooth Audio Transmitter and Matrix3 Low Latency Wireless HD Headphones, paired and ready for use right out of the box.
User manual. Additional Bluetooth headphones and Bluetooth speakers sold separately.
audio inputs 3.5mm; optical TOSLINK. Measures 2.2 x 2.2 x 1 inches, weighs 1.1oz.


The Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Office Chair is perfect for fans that spend hours in the office. This ergonomic chair has all of the great features one would expect with a high end +office chair. Its top grain leather, contoured lumbar support, padded seat, and tilt and height adjustment all combine to provide maximum comfort. Your favorite team's logo on the headrest adds the finishing touch to this beautiful chair!


text:
When Spain undertook the expansion of European civilization into the New World, the conquistadores were her agents. They were not just military conquerors, although military conquest was part of their work. They were explorers, governors, exploiters, Christianizers; men with a mission to spread their faith; men with a desire to gain wealth and position; men with a curiosity that led them into a gigantic project for which their means were quite inadequate. Some were illiterate; some were trained lawyers. They flourished during the first half of the 16th century and for perhaps another half-century or so on the frontier. When a settled society was achieved, the work of the conquistador was done. He had not only lost his place in the New World, but often the respect of the society he had helped to make possible. Few were the conquistadores who lived a long life, enjoying wealth, position, and honor. Columbus was only the first of the founders of the Spanish American empire to see his titles, positions, and prestige dwindle. Death by assassination or murder was a commonplace end for a conquistador.
Mexico and Peru, the centers of population and wealth, attracted the conquistadores. There men such as Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro gained their fame. These adventurers, however, were not limited by geography.
They spread throughout the islands of the Caribbean, into the southern part of North America, and across the mountains, deserts, and jungles of South America.
Mexico. The conquest of Mexico was achieved by the prototype of the conquistadores, Cortés. Contemporary documents such as Cortés's own letters to Emperor Charles V, the authorized history by Gómara, and the story told by the veteran soldier (in his own words one of the first conquistadores of New Spain) Bernal Díaz del Castillo, give a vivid account of the project.
Cortés was born in Medellín, a small town in Extremadura, the province in Spain from which so many conquistadores came. He spent some time at the University of Salamanca but was in Española by 1504. He went to Cuba with the Velázquez expedition of 1511. Cortés had already gained a reputation for audacity when, at about the age of 33, he was put in charge of the third expedition to Yucatán, being prepared by the governor of Cuba, Diego Velázquez. The governor, prompted by his distrust of the dynamic Cortés and by pressures from relatives, shortly withdrew the appointment. Cortés had anticipated this and sailed before the order could be made effective. Agents of the governor sent after him usually were inveigled by Cortés into joining him instead of arresting him. Ultimately, with fewer than 700 Spaniards, 16 horses, a few cannons and muskets, but supported by thousands of Native American allies he had cultivated or conquered or both, Cortés led an expedition toward Tenochtitlán, the capital of the Aztec Empire. Before marching inland Cortés founded the city of Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz and the new municipality elected him governor of the area, subject only to the king of Spain.
The Spaniards entered Tenochtitlán peacefully on Nov. 8, 1519. But the conquest was not so easily achieved. While Pedro de Alvarado was in charge of the Spanish forces in the city, their wanton massacres of Aztec nobles during a festival endangered the entire undertaking. Even with reinforcements Cortés could not hold the city. On la noche triste, June 20, 1520, the Spaniards tried to fight their way across the causeways and out of the city. Across the water that was gorged with bodies of dead Spaniards, dead Native Americans, dead horses, and baggage of all sorts, the bedraggled remains of Cortés's forces made their way. Muskets and crossbows were lost in the melee. Through it all, "Cortés showed himself very much a man, as he always was," reported Bernal Díaz.
Six months later Cortés had his troops, sheltered during that time by their allies, the Tlaxcalans, ready to return. He had only 550 Spaniards but many Tlaxcalans were trained to fight with them. When siege did not bring the surrender of the Aztecs, Cortés decided that the only way to achieve victory was to level the city. House by house, temple by temple, the Spaniards moved in. Díaz says the siege lasted 93 days; in August 1520 it ended. Tenochtitlán was gone and with it the treasures of the Aztec king.
Cortés immediately set to work establishing the Spanish dominion. He built Mexico City on the site of the old Aztec capital. He sent his captains out in all directions to command the allegiance of the surrounding tribes. He apparently tried to preserve native institutions and to maintain the caciques in their political roles, but these aims, even though supported by royal order, were unsuccessful in the face of demands by his men for vassals. In October 1522 Cortés was appointed governor and captain general of New Spain. While he was away on an expedition to Honduras, however, the Spaniards in Mexico City began to challenge his rule. In 1529 Cortés went to Spain and got his titles and authority confirmed by the emperor. On his return to Mexico he found established there an audiencia, even though a venal one, also with royal authority. When the audiencia failed to establish order, Charles V appointed a viceroy. Cortés was reduced to conducting exploratory expeditions on the Pacific and to developing his own estates. When he again took his claims to the Spanish court, he was coldly received. He died in Spain in 1547.
In the conquest of Mexico Cortés met the best organized resistance the Europeans ever encountered in America. He multiplied his meager resources by cunning, diplomacy, and force. His men followed him even on vain expeditions such as the one into Central America. W. H. Prescott says of him:
If he was indebted for his success to the cooperation of the Indian tribes, it was the force of his genius that obtained command of such materials. He arrested the arm that was lifted to smite him, and made it do battle in his behalf …. He broughttogether the most miscellaneous collection of mercenaries who ever fought under one standard;… this motley congregation was assembled in one camp, compelled to bend to the will of one man…. It is in this wonderful power over the discordant masses thus gathered under his banner, that we recognize the genius of the great commander no less than in the skill of his military operations.
But Cortés did not stop there. Under his direction a political entity was established that preserved organized society and prepared an empire for Spain.
Peru and Chile. The Spanish American empire gained another valuable area in the empire of the Incas. No letters from the conqueror of Peru to the emperor tell us the details of the conquest. Pizarro never even learned to sign his name. His birth date is unknown, but he was born in Extremadura and was an illegitimate son of a military man. He had no inheritance and no education. The New World could offer nothing but an improvement in his station. He was there in Española by 1509 or 1510 and was a member of the unsuccessful expedition led by Alonso de Ojeda. Subsequently he associated himself with Vasco Núñez de Balboa and was with the group that first sighted the South Sea. As an encomendero in Panama, Pizarro started a business partnership with Diego de Almagro, another soldier of fortune, and Fernando de Luque, a canon of the cathedral. After having undertaken a number of successful business ventures, the three partners obtained permission from Governor Pedrárias to search for the rich lands reputed to be to the south. Pizarro and Almagro were probably men in their 50s when the first attempt was made in December 1524. In 1528–29 Pizarro went to Spain and got full authorization from the king to continue the planned conquest. He brought back with him his four brothers and a cousin.
It was 1530 before an expedition actually invaded the Inca empire. By then a civil war was in progress there over the succession to the throne. The Spaniards entered the fray when Pizarro and his men seized the Inca Atahualpa, at a meeting in Cajamarca. The Inca's attendants had come unarmed to the ceremonial encounter and thousands, unable to defend themselves, were killed. While Atahualpa's ransom was being collected all over the land (and much of the artistic work of the Incas was being melted into gold ingots by the Spaniards), Almagro arrived with reinforcements. The other claimant to the Inca throne, Huascar, was killed in the south by Atahualpa's orders. Shortly after the Spaniards accused Atahualpa of treason and executed him. Thus the Spaniards lost the key to political control of the highly organized Inca empire. They pushed on with military force. In November they took Cuzco and the men immediately set to work plundering the city. Pizarro left his brothers Juan and Gonzalo in charge there and headed for the sea. Near the harbor he founded Lima, the City of the Kings (1535). Attempts to set up Spanish authority on a regular basis, however, foundered on the revolt of Inca Manco (1536) and on dissension among the Spaniards. As a result of wounds received in the suppression of the Inca revolt, the first of the Pizarro brothers, Juan, died.
Almagro and Francisco Pizarro grew more and more apart. Almagro felt ill-treated in the division of titles and wealth, particularly after his profitless expedition to Chile. On his return he captured Cuzco and imprisoned Hernando and Gonzalo Pizarro. The civil wars among the Spaniards were underway. Almagro was persuaded by Francisco Pizarro to release Hernando, supposedly to go to Spain. Instead the Pizarros joined forces; Hernando captured Almagro and had him strangled in 1538. The next year Hernando went to Spain bearing the great treasures of Cuzco. Almagro's supporters, however, were already there to accuse him of murder. Hernando spent the next 22 years in prison. The prisons evidently were of varying degrees of rigor for he was married during that time. Imprisonment may have saved his life; supposedly he lived to the age of 100. None of his brothers did. Francisco Pizarro was assassinated June 26, 1541, by the Almagristas; Almagro's son Diego was captured and beheaded in September 1542. When Gonzalo Pizarro assumed control of Peru, he protested against the enforcement of the New Laws of 1542 and led a rebellion against royal authority represented by Viceroy Blasco Núñez de la Vela. In a battle in January 1546, the viceroy was unhorsed and beheaded.
In another attempt to restore order in Peru, Charles V dispatched the priest Pedro de la Gasca. He was given unlimited authority to do whatever should be necessary. The emissary worked slowly and finally persuaded most of the rebellious group to join the royal forces. Gonzalo Pizarro's army deserted him and he had to surrender without a battle. He was beheaded in 1548. Only then could Spain establish a regular administration in Peru and take advantage of the riches that were hers as a result of the work of the indomitable, if bloody, conquistador Francisco Pizarro.
Just before Gonzalo Pizarro's capture, one of his supporters, Francisco de Carvajal, viewing the military force ranged against them, was reported to have said that it must be led by Pedro de Valdivia or the devil. Valdivia was another native of Extremadura. He was probably of a poor noble family and was somewhat unusual among the conquistadores because he had regular military training. He entered the army in 1520 or 1521 and served Charles V both in Italy and Flanders. He was also an educated man. After the battle of Pavia (1525) he returned to Extremadura, married, and lived as a country squire for 10 years. He went to America in 1535, first to Venezuela, and then to Peru the next year with reinforcements for Pizarro. For three years Valdivia supported Pizarro and received position, property, and wealth as a reward. He did not remain on his land long. In April 1539 Valdivia asked permission from Pizarro to explore and conquer Chile. There the enemy were the intractable Araucan people. Valdivia's attempts to colonize Chile ended with his capture by the Araucan at the end of 1553. The rumors about the manner of his death cannot be verified, but they all included torture and the eating of the body by his captors.
Colombia. The conquest of the home of the Chibcha involved no such bloody siege as that of Tenochtitlán or civil war such as that in Peru. The lives lost in the expedition of Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada were not lost in battle.
Jiménez de Quesada was born in Córdoba about the beginning of the 16th century. He was a lawyer and went to America in 1535 as a magistrate in the company of Pedro de Lugo, the newly appointed governor of Santa Marta. He was in his mid-30s when the governor put him in charge of an expedition of about 900 men to explore and conquer a rich country rumored to be south of Santa Marta, high in the mountains. The expedition started up the Magdalena River in 1536. Nature and indigenous tribes, concealed by the jungle and armed with poisoned arrows, made it a harrowing trip. Almost a year elapsed before the expedition reached the upland plains inhabited by the Chibchas. Only about 166 of the Spaniards were still alive. Jiménez de Quesada gave strict orders that peaceful methods must be used for the conquest and that anyone who violated this policy would be punished by death. By the end of 1538 he had established his authority over the numerous population in the Chibcha country. It was challenged early in 1539 by other groups of Spaniards coming in first from Venezuela and later from Peru. Quesada by judicious use of gifts of gold averted civil war and maintained control.
Out of the 166 who had arrived on the plateau, three or four died on exploring expeditions. One man was hanged on a charge of looting the natives. Jiménez de Quesada had received no reinforcements, but with these few men, almost all preserved through his care, he had conquered the area. Leaving the new city of Santafé de Bogotá in 1539, he went to Spain but did not receive the appointment as governor of the territory. With an honorary title, Jiménez de Quesada returned to the New Kingdom of Granada, where he served in minor offices until his death at about 80.
Other Areas. One of the distinctive conquistadores in the Caribbean and in Panama was Balboa, who moved from being a stowaway into the leadership of the expedition supposedly commanded by lawyer Martin Fernández de Enciso. Balboa gained enough authority and power to arrest Enciso and send him back to Spain and then ensured his position by fairness and consideration in dealing with his men. After he discovered the South Sea and was preparing ships to embark on it in search of the rich lands to the south, Governor Pedrárias sent Francisco Pizarro to arrest him. Balboa was accused of treason and beheaded; it was Pizarro who then went on to the rich lands of the Inca.
The search for the fountain of youth was made by a knight. Juan Ponce de León was a member of the Spanish nobility. He was born about 1460 and went through the training of a page and a squire before going to America. On a return trip to Spain he was knighted by King Ferdinand. Before that he had founded a settlement on the island of Puerto Rico and subjugated the native peoples. Rivalry with Diego Columbus cost Ponce de León the governorship, but the Crown authorized him to undertake other explorations if he wished. On March 3, 1513, he set out from Puerto Rico on the expedition associated with the search for the fountain of youth. Most of the early Spanish American chroniclers mention this as a possible reason for the expedition but only in addition to the desire for economic gain. Bartolomé de las casas simply states that Ponce de León went for slaves and pearls. The expedition was unsuccessful: 16th-century Florida had no fountains of youth, good slaves, or pearls. In 1521 Ponce de León tried again. He outfitted a colonizing expedition and sailed up the west coast of Florida. The Native Americans attacked, Ponce de León was wounded, and he died in Havana.
The names of many more conquistadores could be added: Pedro de Alvarado in Guatemala, the licentiate Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón in the Carolinas, Pánfilo Narváez in the Floridas, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in the southwest of the present United States, Hernando de Soto in Florida and the lower Mississippi basin, Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and Domingo Martínez de Irala in La Plata, and probably hundreds of lesser men who assumed the role of the conquistador in a small area. With them came the priests who served as missionaries but often also as explorers, secretaries, and chroniclers. When the age of the conquistadores was past, the missionaries themselves expanded the empire, particularly from northwest Mexico up into California. But the shadows of the conquistadores seem to reach all the way to the caudillos of independent Spanish America.
Bibliography: f. a. kirkpatrick, The Spanish Conquistadores (2d ed. London 1946). w. l. schurz, This New World (New York 1954). Hernando Cortés: Five Letters, 1519–1526, tr. j. bayard morris (New York 1962). b. dÍaz del castillo, The Discovery and Conquest of Mexico, 1517–1521, tr. a. p. maudslay (New York 1956). f. lÓpez de gÓmara, Cortés: The Life of the Conqueror by His Secretary, ed. l. b. simpson (Berkeley 1964). w.h. prescott, History of the Conquest of Mexico (New York 1843); History of the Conquest of Peru (New York 1847), and later eds. k. romoli, Balboa of Darién (Garden City, N.Y. 1953). r. b. c. graham, The Conquest of New Granada: Being the Life of Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada (London 1922). i. s. w. vernon, Pedro de Valdivia: Conquistador of Chile (Austin, Tex. 1946).
[j. herrick]
New Catholic Encyclopedia HERRICK, J.
HERRICK, J. "Conquistadores ." New Catholic Encyclopedia. . Encyclopedia.com. 16 Oct. 2020 <http://www.huofeng58.icu>.
HERRICK, J. "Conquistadores ." New Catholic Encyclopedia. . Encyclopedia.com. (October 16, 2020). http://www.huofeng58.icu/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/conquistadores
HERRICK, J. "Conquistadores ." New Catholic Encyclopedia. . Retrieved October 16, 2020 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.huofeng58.icu/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/conquistadores
CONQUISTADORES. Spain authorized military expeditions by conquistadores (conquerors) in the Americas. The conquistadores were armies typically numbering a thousand soldiers, but the term denotes primarily the intrepid leaders of these expeditions. Driven by an insatiable booty mentality reminiscent of medieval crusaders, they expected to secure entitlement, land, power, and tributes during the Spanish entrada (entrance) of the sixteenth century.
As the Spanish penetrated the American mainland, fantastic stories of Cíbola, Gran Quivira, El Dorado, fountains of youth, and amazon women fired their imaginations. Hernán Cortés in 1519 vanquished the Aztecs of Tenochtitlán with the assistance of rival Natives. Juan Ponce de León, who sailed around Florida in 1513, was encouraged by Cortés's triumph to undertake a return expedition to the peninsula in 1521. He died from wounds received in a fight with the Calusas. To the south, the conquest of the Incas by Francisco Pizarro in 1532 revivified the visions of grandeur.
In 1528, Pánfilo de Narváez surveyed the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas, but Apalachee archers and a tempest brought the mission to an end. Four castaways, including álvar Nú?ez Cabeza de Vaca, Alonso del Castillo, Andrés Dorantes, and the black slave Esteban, survived and managed to reach Galveston Island. They traveled among the Natives until 1536, when Spanish slave hunters found them in the province of Sinaloa, Mexico. In 1539, their observations became entangled with the claims of the Franciscan Fray Marcos de Niza regarding the treasures of Cíbola to intensify the allure of the "northern mystery."
Further expeditions pushed the frontiers of the Spanish empire from Georgia to New Mexico. In 1539, Hernando de Soto, a seasoned veteran of the Incan conquest, maneuvered nine ships and more than six hundred soldiers on a journey in search of another Cuzco. After landing in Florida, De Soto and his companions literally fought their way through the woodlands. They crossed the Mississippi River about twenty-five miles below Memphis and advanced into Arkansas and Oklahoma. However, De Soto died from an illness in 1542. His men left his body at the river before returning to New Spain empty-handed. Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in 1540 commanded an army that crossed the Rio Grande and attacked the Pueblo Indians. Coronado dispatched several reconnaissance parties, and after a two-year quest that ended in the midcontinent grasslands, he conceded that there were no golden cities in North America. In 1598 the last conquistadore, Juan de O?ate, directed a colonization venture into Pueblo lands, thus initiating a new phase of mission building and permanent occupation.
From the Andes Mountains to the Grand Canyon, the conquistadores unleashed a catastrophe of a magnitude unknown before the sixteenth century. Although the Spanish Orders for New Discoveries in 1573 curbed the atrocities, the explorers left behind smallpox, malaria, measles, and sexually transmitted diseases. Their discoveries unveiled the physical and cultural geography of Native America, but their presence turned the New World upside down.
Stannard, David E. American Holocaust: Columbus and the Conquest of the New World. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.
Thomas, Hugh. Who's Who of the Conquistadors. London: Cassell, 2000.
Weber, David J. The Spanish Frontier in North America. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1992.
Wood, Michael. Conquistadors. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000.
Brad D.Lookingbill
See alsoCoronado Expeditions ; Explorations and Expeditions: Spanish ; O?ate, Juan de, Explorations and Settlements of ; Western Exploration .
Dictionary of American History Lookingbill, Brad D.
Lookingbill, Brad D. "Conquistadores ." Dictionary of American History. . Encyclopedia.com. 16 Oct. 2020 <http://www.huofeng58.icu>.
Lookingbill, Brad D. "Conquistadores ." Dictionary of American History. . Encyclopedia.com. (October 16, 2020). http://www.huofeng58.icu/history/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/conquistadores
Lookingbill, Brad D. "Conquistadores ." Dictionary of American History. . Retrieved October 16, 2020 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.huofeng58.icu/history/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/conquistadores
Conquistadores, the conquerors of a New World empire for Spain in the sixteenth century. The conquistadores were men who participated in the conquest of Mexico, Peru, and other regions of what became the Spanish Empire from the early sixteenth century to approximately 1570. They went to the New World seeking a better life for themselves and their families, and often endured incredible hardships in their pursuit of this dream. While the vast majority were laymen, a number of dedicated clerics also participated in the conquests, adding a spiritual dimension to the military ventures.
The conquistadores represented every segment of Spanish society except the high nobility. The early conquistadores and their most celebrated leaders—Hernán Cortés, Francisco Pizarro, Francisco de Montejo, Hernando de Soto, and others—were born in Spain, frequently in Estremadura, and arrived in the New World as young men. Typically they led privately financed expeditions and shared any booty with their men. Most initially saw their exploits as a means to provide wealth which would enable them to return to Spain and live a life of leisure. Except for some participants in the capture and ransom of the Inca Atahualpa, however, few realized their dream, for the rewards of conquest were typically encomiendas, land, and offices, commodities not transferable to Spain. Most conquistadores remained in the New World, some moving every few years in pursuit of "another Peru."
As a group, the conquistadores shared the desire to own a big house and a horse; marry a Spanish wife; be able to entertain family, retainers, and friends lavishly; and live off the labor of natives held in encomienda. Those who were successful diversified their investments and engaged in stock raising, farming, mining, commerce, and officeholding. They and their heirs were a central part of the early colonial aristocracy.
See alsoCortés, Hernán; Encomienda; Pizarro, Francisco; Soto, Hernando de.
Bernal Díaz Del Castillo, The True History of the Conquest of New Spain, 1517–1521, 5 vols. in 4, translated by Alfred P. Maudslay (repr. 1967).
James Lockhart, The Men of Cajamarca: A Social and Biographical Study of the First Conquerors of Peru (1972).
Elizondo, Carlos. El escorpión de oro: Luces y sombras en la extraordinaria vida de Hernán Cortés. México, D.F.: EDAMEX, 1996.
Grunberg, Bernard. "The Origins of the Conquistadores of Mexico City." Hispanic American Historical Review 74, no. 2 (May 1994): 259-283.
López de Gómara, Francisco and Silvia L. Cuesy. Historia de la conquista de México. México, D.F.: Editorial Océano de México, 2003.
Thomas, Hugh. Conquest: Montezuma, Cortés, and the Fall of Old Mexico. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993.
????????????????????????????????Mark A. Burkholder
Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture
"Conquistadores ." Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. . Encyclopedia.com. 16 Oct. 2020 <http://www.huofeng58.icu>.
"Conquistadores ." Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. . Encyclopedia.com. (October 16, 2020). http://www.huofeng58.icu/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/conquistadores
"Conquistadores ." Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. . Retrieved October 16, 2020 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.huofeng58.icu/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/conquistadores
con·quis·ta·dor / kôngˈkēstəˌdôr; känˈk(w)istə-; kən-/ • n. (pl. -quis·ta·do·res / -ˌkēstəˈdôrēz; -ās; -ˌk(w)istə-/ or -quis·ta·dors) a conqueror, esp. one of the Spanish conquerors of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
"conquistador ." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. . Encyclopedia.com. 16 Oct. 2020 <http://www.huofeng58.icu>.
"conquistador ." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. . Encyclopedia.com. (October 16, 2020). http://www.huofeng58.icu/humanities/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/conquistador-1
"conquistador ." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. . Retrieved October 16, 2020 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.huofeng58.icu/humanities/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/conquistador-1
conquistador Leader of the Spanish conquest of the New World in the 16th century. Conquistadores ('conquerors') were often ex-soldiers unemployed since the completion of the Christian reconquest of Spain. The most famous were Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro.
"conquistador ." World Encyclopedia. . Encyclopedia.com. 16 Oct. 2020 <http://www.huofeng58.icu>.
"conquistador ." World Encyclopedia. . Encyclopedia.com. (October 16, 2020). http://www.huofeng58.icu/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/conquistador
"conquistador ." World Encyclopedia. . Retrieved October 16, 2020 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.huofeng58.icu/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/conquistador
conquistador a conqueror, especially one of the Spanish conquerors of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century.
The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES
ELIZABETH KNOWLES "conquistador ." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. . Encyclopedia.com. 16 Oct. 2020 <http://www.huofeng58.icu>.
ELIZABETH KNOWLES "conquistador ." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. . Encyclopedia.com. (October 16, 2020). http://www.huofeng58.icu/humanities/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/conquistador
ELIZABETH KNOWLES "conquistador ." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. . Retrieved October 16, 2020 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.huofeng58.icu/humanities/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/conquistador
Francisco Vasquez De Coronado , Coronado, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, Francisco Vásquez de Salamanca, Spain September 22, 1554 Spanish conquistador "Neither gold nor silver nor a… Pedro De Alvarado , Pedro de Alvarado (pā′??rō dā ?lv?r?′??ō), 1486–1541, Spanish conquistador. He went to Hispaniola (1510), sailed in the expedition (1518) of Juan de… Sebastian De Benalcazar , Sebastián de Benalcázar The Spanish conquistador Sebastián de Benalcázar (died 1551) conquered large areas of Colombia and founded several cities in… Francisco Pizarro , Born in Trujillo, Spain, the product of an illegitimate liaison between Captain Gonzalo Pizarro and Francesca Gonzales, a peasant girl, there was not… Gonzalo Jimenez De Quesada , Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada (1509-1579) was a major Spanish conquistador. His conquest of the Chibchas brought one of the i… Bernardo De Galvez , Gálvez, Bernardo de Bernardo de Gálvez Bernardo de Gálvez, an aristocrat born in Spain and trained for a military career, became governor of the Span…
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
Spanish Exploration and Settlement
Cortés, Hernán (c. 1484–1547)
The Conquest of the Americas (Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries)
Alvarado y Mesía, Pedro de (1485?–1541?)
MEXICO, COLONIAL
Hernando de Soto and the Spanish Exploration of the American Southeast, 1539-1542
Soto, Hernando de
Conquests and Colonization
Conquest, Robert 1917-
Conquest, Ned
Conquest, (George) Robert (Acworth)
Conquest through Independence
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Conquest of the Normans
Conquest of the Desert
Conquest of Space
Conquest of Mycene
Conquest of Cochise
Conquest by the Rules
Conquest 1998
Conques, Abbey of
Conquered Provinces Theory
conq.
Conowingo Dam
Conover, Willis Clark, Jr.
Conover, Roger L(loyd)
Conover, Anne 1937-
conoscopic
Conopophagidae
Conrack
Conrad Bosinlother, Bl.
Conrad discontinuity
Conrad Hilton
Conrad I (ruler of the Holy Roman Empire)
Conrad II (ruler of the Holy Roman Empire)
Conrad II, Holy Roman Emperor
Conrad III (ruler of the Holy Roman Empire)
Conrad Industries, Inc.
Conrad Michael Richter
Conrad Moffat Black
Conrad of Bavaria, Bl.
Conrad of Constance, St.
Conrad of Gelnhausen
Conrad of Offida, Bl.
Conrad of Ottobeuren, Bl.
Conrad of Parzham, St.
Conrad of Querfurt
Conrad the Red
Conrad von H?tzendorf, Franz, Graf
Conrad von Zabern
Conrad, C.A.
Conrad, Chris 1970- (Chris A. Conrad)
Conrad, Christine 1946–
Conrad, David 1967–


Please have a look around my website and do email/call if you would like further information. I would love to hear from you.
I make beautiful handmade storage boxes, such as sewing boxes, jewellery boxes and large toy boxes. All the items are handmade by my carpenter husband and upholstered in beautiful fabrics that I love.
I also make gorgeous footstools, all of which have solid legs and are upholstered using both traditional and modern upholstery methods.
In addition to the above I love to give old chairs and sofas a new lease of life. If you have a piece of furniture that is cherished and loved by your family but needs some TLC, please get in touch.
© Ellis Upholstery All rights reserved.


Label Distribution will release Clayton Jacobson's Brothers' Nest across Australia on 10 May.
12 years after the phenomenal success of Kenny, director and actor Clayton Jacobson reunites with his brother Shane Jacobson for what is a very different film.
On a cold morning in the middle of country Victoria, two brothers arrive at the family home with treacherous intent. Terry and Jeff's motive is to make sure their dying mother's plan to change her will in favor of her husband – their stepfather – is upturned.
It is all meticulously planned, but there is one crucial thing the boys didn't take into account – spending an entire day together. Old grudges, different worldviews and a general troubled history will pit these two brothers against each other. Brothers' Nest is a pitch-black tragic comedy about family, loyalty and murder – demonstrating that 'brotherly love' has its limits.
Written by Jaime Browne and Produced by Jason Byrne, Brothers' Nest also features Kym Gyngell, Lynette Curran and Sarah Snook.
← Occupation set to invade Brisbane – New poster revealed!


If you want to buy 1940 Real Companhia Velha Old Bottling, at Uvinum you will find the best prices for Porto & Douro sweet wine.
It is not possible to buy 1940 Real Companhia Velha Old Bottling right now.
Notify me when I can buy 1940 Real Companhia Velha Old Bottling.
Give us your email and we will notify you when you can buy 1940 Real Companhia Velha Old Bottling online.
The 1940 Real Companhia Velha Old Bottling : a sweet wine from Porto & Douro produced by Real Companhia Velha that is made of 1940 grapes. Uvinum users evaluate this sweet wine with 4 out of 5 points.
Very light flavour. A surprisingly fresh wine.
I drank this 1958 with my co-workers.
It has a very nice colour. Real Companhia Velha with a rough taste.
We drank it with appetizers.


text:
Nannostomus espei is een straalvinnige vissensoort uit de familie van de slankzalmen (Lebiasinidae). De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1956 door Meinken.

Slankzalmen
IUCN-status niet bedreigd

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Scary Mary propels a Halloween cruise that seems otherwise becalmed in the same old haunted seas.
Have we mentioned that Scary Mary is really...well, um - scary? It's been over a week since we attended the opening of Queen Mary Dark Harbor, yet still she haunts are nightmares. That little girl is Creepy with a capital "C," and her maze is the highlight of the ship's Halloween cruise, thanks in no small part to her deranged and disturbing presence in the dark and dank hallways. Scary Mary is leagues ahead of Dark Harbor's other characters: Samuel the Savage and Half-Hatch Henry are virtual non-entities; the Captain is a one-note authoritarian with a skin condition; the Ringmaster is hopelessly out-of-place in an aquatic setting; the Voodoo Queen has a certain exotic appeal but no real haunting grounds since she got kicked out of her maze; the new Iron Master is supposed to be an irate Irishman, but his accent sounds more Liverpool than Limerick. Only Graceful Gale comes close to rivaling Mary, but even her silent, hypnotic beauty is no match for the terrifying tot's childish animosity.
In fact, now that we think of it, Scary Mary is the most grotesquely amusing character of any Halloween haunt in Los Angeles. The Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest has the Joker and Harley Quinn, but they're not really Halloween characters. The Knotts Berry Farm Halloween Haunt has the Green Witch, who's great, but like Snow White's wicked step-mother, staring into the magic mirror, she must learn to accept her second-best status. Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood has Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Leatherface, but they are just spring-loaded, sock-puppet versions of their true selves. None of them can hold a bloody candle to poor Mary, drowned and dead, but eager to play with you...forever.
We can nitpick many details in the Queen Mary's 2016 Halloween voyage, but Scary Mary makes makes it worth your while to book passage again.
In two words: not much. When the Queen Mary revised its Halloween haunt into the Dark Harbor back in 2011, the ship set sail on a bold new voyage into stranger seas, but for the past two years, its progress seems to have slowed. It's not exactly off-course, but it does seem a bit adrift, reaching only three or four new ports of call.
One major change is that Dark Harbor has dropped the introductory scenes that set the stage for some of the mazes in 2015. Though entertaining, these scenes slowed down line-flow while small groups of passengers waited for the scene to finish. Instead, any back story for the mazes is now conveyed by a series of signs posted along paths where passengers wait to board.
Evicted from her village, the Voodoo Queen now tends bar.
Another development is that the old Fisherman's Village is - for the first time in as long as we can remember - not being utilized as a location for a maze. Instead, it has been pushed into service as the Voodoo House Bar and Tasting Room. The concept sounds intriguing - a bar hosted by the Voodoo Queen herself! - but there is actually only a minimal atmosphere to the place. Some roving waitresses in fabulous skull-faced makeup roved around outside, selling "voodoo shots," but indoors the cashiers and bartenders were not costumed, and we had little or no sense of inhabiting a haunted voodoo swamp.
The absence of a maze in Fisherman's Village is a major loss for Dark Harbor. It's always been difficult for the haunt's landlocked mazes to compete with the creepiness of the Queen Mary's corridors. With its old-fashioned architecture, the village offered a perfect setting for old-school haunting that was seldom matched by the artificially constructed mazes in the Dome. The new Intrepid maze can hardly fill the void created by the loss of this splendid location, which over the years has hosted vampire, zombies, and many other traditional Halloween monsters.
The transformation of Fisherman's Village into a bar seems to represent a new course for the Queen Mary: drinking establishments are more prominent than ever: not only is there the old RIP Lounge; there are also at least two other watering holes. In fact, one can barely turn a corner without finding a place to drink; bars have become Dark Harbor's equivalent of Starbuck's.
Our favorite newbie is Panic, a "4-D virtual experience" consisting of a 3-D movie enhanced with in-theatre effects, including vibrating seats creepy crawlies at your feet. The film itself used computer-generated animation to simulate a speedy trek through a haunted house populated with fanciful monsters. The CGI stylization modulates the fear-factor; the film is more fanciful than frightening, but it is also wild and energetic. Filmed as if in a single, continuous take, the "Panic" suggests a motion-simulation ride, but instead of bouncing around like a pinball, audiences are poked in the back and dazzled by light and smoke effects that literally get those 3-D dust motes to float in the theatre.
Intrepid is the one new maze. Like the Circus, it is located in the Dome on the shore near the Queen Mary. Also, like the Circus, Intrepid features a fun-house approach to the sets - not literally but in the sense that there is no attempt to simulate a real environment; it's all chain link fences, enhanced with a few nice set pieces (such as a cauldron pouring red-hot molten iron). The concept is that Intrepid represents the foundry where the iron was forged to build the Queen Mary - which at least has the benefit of tying in with the star attraction of Dark Harbor. Not all of the ghosts accurately represented this theme, but we have to give the cast credit for working overtime to fill a not-too-exciting setting with abundant shrieks.
The final new attraction is the Hex Paint Ball Gallery, which replaces last Halloween's Anubis Paint Ball Adventure. As disappointed as we were with Anubis, Hex is even worse: the one halfway exciting element - the presence of live actors as targets - has been removed, reducing this to a conventional shooting gallery. The black-light atmosphere is nice but not as intriguing as the Egyptian decor of Anubis. Save yourself the up-charge by giving this one a pass.
Though not in a literal sense "new," we will mention Soulmate here, because it's been revamped into virtually a new maze. The abode of Graceful Gale, the eternal romantic searching for her perfect man (even if she has to stitch him together from bits and pieces of "donors), this maze is still situated near the stern of the Queen Mary, but the new path takes passengers on a trek through neglected areas last seen in 2014's Exclusive Encounter: past the propeller and deep down into the engineering section, before ascending back to the upper decks. The journey begins with an encounter with a woman in 1930s costume (perhaps Gale while she was alive?), then features an angry captain behind the wheel; the familiar figure of Gale emerges later.
The result feels a bit like two mazes joined together, and the long walk back up the stairs is a bit tiresome; nevertheless, we were glad to see Dark Harbor making more use of the Queen Mary's available space: the dark engineering section, overcrowded with pipes and metal railings, offers nearly unlimited hiding places for creatures lurking in shadows. We rank this year's version of Soulmate as somewhat of an improvement, thanks to the additional scare scene, but it is suffers from a weakened conclusion: the lofty, triangular "dance floor room," where Gale drifted with her masked suitors the past two years, is gone, replaced by a simple corridor, draped in fabric - a considerable drop in production value.
Lullaby: If there is one reason to climb aboard the Queen Mary for Halloween 2016, this is it. Now subtitled "Hush Hush Don't Cry," the maze has been enhanced with some new props and effects, which use window panes and running water with ghoulish finesse to create an eerie impression of Scary Mary suspended beneath the surface of the pool where she met her watery death.
Scary Mary returns in living dead form, manifesting throughout the lengthy maze. She as ubiquitous as the star performers in the Halloween Horror Nights mazes but with a crucial difference: Mary never wears out her welcome, because she offers more than repetitious jump-scares. In her dementedly playful way, she engages passengers, seeking new friends, and she will not take no for an answer. She likes to block your path and hold your attention past your comfort level, while her plaintive appeals rapidly modulate to angry demands, punctuated with wicked laughter.
Though not billed as one, Lullaby turns out to be a de facto interactive experience, forcing engagement with spirit whose persistence extends beyond the grave and into eternity, as she materializes time after time, barely giving you a chance to catch your breath before she appears again (a truly disorienting effect achieved by casting multiple look-alike actresses). Lullaby is also one of the most immersive of Los Angeles Halloween haunts, thanks to excellent use of rooms and corridors aboard the Queen Mary. This is among the Top 3 mazes we have experienced this Halloween.
As for the other mazes, we enjoyed B340 (also set on the Queen Mary) more than we did last year, though we cannot pinpoint exactly why, as there was little obviously new. Deadrise was somewhat improved, with the addition of a false wall that forces passengers to retrace their steps until a ghostly sailor shows them the way to proceed; though we find its simulation of a ship somewhat lacking when compared to the reality of the Queen Mary, the walk-through benefits from nearby fireballs blasting through the night air, enhancing the sense of being aboard a damaged vessel.
The Circus, set once again in the Dome, is really more of a fun house than a circus at this point. It's not our favorite theme, but the cast made the most of it, teasing and misleading visitors. There's a new bit at the beginning, an entry room that offers multiple paths into the maze: some are fake (leading immediately back to the starting point), but others do offer brief alternative experiences, which quickly merge back together for the majority of the way.
Sideshow Freaks & Oddities has been rearranged but still offers much the same experience as last Halloween: for a small extra charge, you can enter a maze of oddities before encountering Sparky, the sit-down comedian skeleton. After a few jokes, Sparky sends you through a maze filled withe white fog and lurking spirits, which deposits you into a stage area where you can sit and enjoy a drink while watching spirited magicians, flaming jugglers, and other memorable entertainment. Of all the opportunities Dark Harbor offers to sit down and have a drink, this is our favorite. We would have rated it more highly this year, but Sparky's material was weak - he's usually one of our favorites, so we expect only the best from him.
The Sideshow tends to be under-attended, partly because of the up-charge but mostly (we think) because it is mis-billed: potential passengers are likely to think it's a literal freak show, not realizing they are passing up what is essentially a separate entertainment experience, with its own mini-maze and stage show. Consequently, the stage artists sometimes find themselves performing to a half-empty house.
The situation has been somewhat rectified this Halloween by placing the Sideshow back-to-back with the Creepy Cabanas (which you can rent for the "reasonable" price of $99). These private cabanas face the central area of Dark Harbor, but their back curtains open onto the Sideshow stage. This seems to be another stratagem in the Queen Mary's attempt to turn Dark Harbor into an upscale event for cash-infused dilettantes more interested in drinking the night away than in enjoying true Halloween spirits.
Though we did take brief advantage of a Creepy Cabana provided for the press, we did not sample any of Dark Harbor's other upscale enhancements: those willing to drop a little extra coin into the Harbor's depths can get a private performance by Sideshow magician or sword-swallower; $99 buys a private tour through a maze, guided by its main character; and for $199, you can share a Tequila flight with the Voodoo Queen in the tasting house.
As idle as a painted ship upon a painted ocean."
The Queen Mary is not nearly as hopelessly adrift as the ship Coleridge described in "The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner," but the venerable floating attraction is not exactly churning full speed ahead, either. The stormy seas surrounding the Dark Harbor seem becalmed, and the ship - which launched on its refurbished Halloween cruise to exciting fanfare five years ago - is now making little progress from one year to the next. It's as if the navigators have charted a course toward bigger sales by dropping anchor on several lucrative up-charge events: Hex Paint Ball; Sideshow Freaks & Oddities; Creepy Cabanas; private parties in the RIP Lounge. There is not a lot of innovation in the attractions themselves, and most of the changes this year represent subtractions rather than additions (no introductory rooms to the mazes, no maze in Fisherman's Village).
Hollywood Gothique has long been a booster of the Queen Mary's Halloween events, in all their permutations, going back to the days of the Queen Mary Shipwreck. We still believe Dark Harbor offers a shipload of horrors, and our aging bones truly appreciate the condensed nature of the layout, with all attractions in easy walking distance, and with a wide variety of places to lounge and drink while recuperating before the next dive into the briny depths of doom. We just wish the Queen Mary would cruise into previously uncharted waters instead of sticking to well-traveled territory. Offer more novel entertainment like Panic. Avoid the simple fun-house style settings of the mazes within the Dome. Make better use of the ship and its haunted history. Utilize the immersive, interactive elements of Lullaby throughout the other mazes.
And most of all, try to elevate the entire cast of characters to the level of Scary Mary. Paramount among the paranormal, Mary is the true Queen of Dark Harbor, and her royal presence keeps the haunted ship afloat this Halloween.
← Get discounts for Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns!


Elton John's still standing — he just needs a little help for now after spraining his ankle.
The piano-rock legend, 72, shared on Instagram Thursday that he was recovering after suffering the leg injury. Though he didn't say how it occurred, he did post a photo of himself wearing a tracksuit, white sneakers and his signature colorful glasses while seated in a wheelchair.
Despite his pout, John seemed to be having the time of his life given his location — The Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy — and his upbeat caption.
"Not even a sprained ankle could keep me away from seeing one of the most beautiful museums in the world," he wrote.
The "Tiny Dancer" hitmaker is in Italy ahead of the upcoming European leg of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which is scheduled to commence in Vienna on May 1 and conclude on July 7 in Lucca, Italy, before he heads back to the U.S. and Canada. The tour will continue over the course of three years, comprising 300 dates total.
John wrapped the first leg of his tour in March, six months after kicking it off in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and playing a total of 77 shows.
Despite his positive attitude, John's tour hasn't been without health challenges for the singer even before his ankle incident. In November he canceled his concert in Orlando, Florida nearly 30 minutes after the show was scheduled to start. He subsequently canceled his performance for the following day in nearby Tampa, Florida.
John returned to Orlando's Amway Center to perform on March 18, and will take the stage at the Amalie Arena in Tampa on Nov. 4 of this year.


We file and prosecute patents, utility models, industrial designs and drawings for local and international clients in Chile. We have a broad network of international correspondents that work with us to advise our clients regarding the registration of their patents, utility models, industrial designs and industrial drawings in foreign countries.
Our firm works with excellent technical professionals with experience in IP matters who can assist our clients during the process prior to the filing by conducting searches of the prior art, analyzing the potential patentability of the product or process and drafting applications for the registration of patents, utility models, industrial designs and industrial drawings.
A key element of the drafting and registration of a patent is to determine what is the relevant state of the art, which will allow to accurately define the scope of protection and thus increase the possibilities of commercial exploitation. Additionally, and prior to the commercial exploitation of any technology, it is convenient to check whether it could affect third party rights. Our technicians have experience in searches of the state of the art and can advise our clients in these matters for the adequate protection of the inventions and exploitation of the new technological products.
In the area of Engineering and Electronics, we can advise our clients regarding the inventions associated to cars, medical tools and instruments, new materials, nanotechnology, products and process for aquaculture, products and processes for mining, products and processes for forestry industry, chemical products, renewable resources, telecommunications systems, electronic circuits and mechanisms for electronic control.
In the area of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Products, we can advise our clients in regards to inventions associated to food, cosmetics, new pharmaceutical compounds and compositions for medical or veterinary use, textiles, paper, plastics, polymers, explosives, chemical industrial products and processes, agrochemical products and processes, among others.


We are glad that you are looking at joining us! We accept any swimmers from stage 6 upwards. We strive to be a community club working in partnership at all levels and ages to inspire swimmers to reach their full potential. We provide a secure and caring environment where every member is valued and encouraged to achieve their goals and aspirations.