#Quit India Movement explained

[manasastuff-blog]

[myemuisemo]

"The Strange Story of Jonathan Small," part 12 of The Sign of the Four in Letters from Watson, is indeed strange. The truth turns out much more convoluted than the Moonstone-esque "stolen from a temple" explanation I'd been expecting... but still manages to reflect badly on everyone involved.

First, though, there's the small matter of the policeman waiting for Watson in the cab. I'm utterly confused by giving an "inspector" this babysitting duty, since that should be a managerial rank; and the rank did exist in 1890. But that could be my misunderstanding of some change in nomenclature. The real issue is this:

His face clouded over when I showed him the empty box. “There goes the reward!” said he, gloomily. “Where there is no money there is no pay. This night's work would have been worth a tenner each to Sam Brown and me if the treasure had been there.”

How bad is pay if a member of the Metropolitan Police is working for tips?

According to the Friends of the Metropolitan Police Heritage Charity, typical pay in 1890 was 25-35 shillings a week. (This source also provides other juicy tidbits, like the first official rules on handling a murder scene were set as recently as 1879, which explains why so many detectives at Holmes' crime scenes were sloppy about crime scene contamination. And the first Thames Police steam launch was floated in 1885!)

The midpoint of 30 shillings means about USD 266 a week in today's money, or an annual salary in today's USD of $13,832. The current poverty line for a single person is $15,060. Even as approximations, these point to policing not being a well-paid job.

And then we get the story of Jonathan Small.

Small is from Pershore, a village left being by Worcestershire's industrialization and losing population. His "chapel-going" family means he was raised as a Nonconformist: Protestant but not Anglican, most likely Presbyterian or Methodist. By the time of Small's youth in the middle of the 19th century, most civil rights had been restored to Nonconformists, though his family would have been taxed to pay for the Anglican parish church, and he could not have enrolled at Oxford.

The latter seems not to have been an aspiration, since Small was, by his own account, "a bit of a rover." He didn't seek employment in the carpet mills or glove factories -- where, in the usual Victorian manner, conditions were dreadful for most laborers. (Revolutionary Players does a terrific slideshow on the Kidderminster carpet mills.) His "spot of trouble over a girl" would likely have been getting a local young woman pregnant, or perhaps raping a young woman. The subsequent crocodile incident confirms he was a heedless fool, but nothing thereafter rules out being worse than that.

(I'm not dealing with the 3rd Buffs because I understand nothing of Victorian UK Army divisions.)

Small lands on his feet (well, foot) by being hired by The Man With the Most Overtly Racist Name, Mr. Abelwhite, as overseer on an indigo plantation.

From our dear friend Wikipedia:

The demand for indigo in the 19th century is indicated by the fact that in 1897, 7,000 km2 (2,700 sq mi) were dedicated to the cultivation of indican-producing plants, mainly in India. By comparison, the country of Luxembourg is 2,586 km2 (998 sq mi).

Indigo was grown on plantations, farmed by slave or near-slave labor, so yep, Jonathan Small is a slave overseer.

Then comes the 1857 Rebellion. A good ThoughtCo piece explains:

The Sepoy Mutiny was a violent and very bloody uprising against British rule in India in 1857. It is also known by other names: the Indian Mutiny, the Indian Rebellion of 1857, or the Indian Revolt of 1857. In Britain and in the West, it was almost always portrayed as a series of unreasonable and bloodthirsty uprisings spurred by falsehoods about religious insensitivity. In India, it has been viewed quite differently. The events of 1857 have been considered the first outbreak of an independence movement against British rule. The uprising was put down, but the methods employed by the British were so harsh that many in the western world were offended.

The piece goes on to detail the ample reasons that Indians would want to rebel against the occupying UK Army and the British East India Company. The uprising itself was incredibly bloody -- possibly the only thing I recall about Flashman in the Great Game is the graphic descriptions of the carnage, which is not what one reads the Flashman novels for.

Caught up in the fighting, Small ends up at the Agra's Red Fort, which was completed in this form in 1573. The British captured it in 1803. It is enormous -- 94 acres -- and designed to defend from, among other things, battering down the gates with elephants.

This was a real battle site in the 1857 Rebellion... and so here is Small, assigned to guard duty with two Sikhs, who are somehow loyal to the colonizing force.

Many Sikh were loyal soldiers for Great Britain, to the point that Sikhs were popularly idolized as the perfect soldiers. This excerpt from Faithful Fighters, by Kate Imy, gives a sense of how thoroughly British imagination defined Sikhs as loyal soldiers, and how this was problematic on so many dimensions. It's also generally agreed that Britain could not have quashed the 1857 Rebellion without Sikh soldiers.

From this point, everybody becomes driven by greed and pride, including the unfortunate Major Morstan, father of Mary. The only exception in this general degradation of spirit is, surprisingly, Tonga! Being loyal-unto-death to the white man who saved his life is absolutely a trope ascribed to "primitive" peoples, but it's also nobler than anything anyone else does at this stage in the story. (Admittedly, Small tries to be loyal to his Sikh co-conspirators in his original plans for escape, but he's so damn stupid that his loyalty is worthless. He also treats Tonga no better than he would a monkey.)

And so the story winds down, and Watson drops the bombshell that he's engaged to Miss Morstan. Holmes' response raises what I'm sure are false hopes:

I think she is one of the most charming young ladies I ever met, and might have been most useful in such work as we have been doing. She had a decided genius that way: witness the way in which she preserved that Agra plan from all the other papers of her father.

Yes! Include Miss Morstan in your adventures! She is sensible and organized!

I feel in my bones that nothing of the sort will happen. But in a few decades, Dorothy Sayers will devote Gaudy Night to exploring Holmes' claim that love has a bad effect on reason.

Meanwhile, we still don't know what Watson was sending at the post office, back at the beginning.

[beardedmrbean]

Oh actually there’s running gag in how convenient that a lot of historical figures are in one game

AC syndicate is one of the most infamous, because despite it taking over a year. We meet Frederick Abberline, Charles Dickinson and Darwin(actually there a lot of tongue meta jokes with him. As his theory of evolution is still accurate in ac. He doesn’t know that humanity to primatesto what dogs are to wolves), Karl Marx (sadly you can’t kill him), Alexander Graham Bell, Nightingale, and the motherfucking Queen Victoria

Not counting dlc with Arthur Doyle and Deup Singh

And yes we do have dlc centered around Jack the Ripper

Oh shit I forgot there ww1 segment where you work with Winston Churchill

Another thing, so in the halo series, there a propaganda line of “Spartans never die, there just Missing In Action”

It took Herdotus in odyessy, yes the Father of History (or Lies to the Egyptians), saying that Spartan poem of them being immortal I went

“Wait that where halo got it from?!”

Actually leaks said William Adams is going to be in the game too. I presuming third act or late game, wait could Adams travel to other places after becoming a samurai? I can see him being used a mechanic to explain how we can go to other countries like India

Btw I meet Rolo of Normandy in Valhalla when he was 17…in a medieval bdsm dungeon while he blindfolded and wiped

Dear god Middle Ages England was truly the apocalypse

Also I only realize it after the endgame…young Rolo actually lives in my settlement for a bit

But yeah I can see them making up a relationship with Yasuke and William Adams. Oh another joke

A Japanese: another Gajin join us?’

Yasuke: Yes and make him a proper samurai this time

Oh this is Valhalla main menu theme. But rest to sure the ac red music will be authentic

https://youtu.be/bApSPN-5TxQ?si=FcMKeReMxCuxGpxW

Hell the teaser trailer I sent actually ends with the game Japanese cover of ac iconic song ezio family

Lots of stuff ending with Oh shit I forgot there ww1 segment where you work with Winston Churchill

Doyle and Churchill don't quite fit, Deup Singh either but in the other direction

It took Herdotus in odyessy, yes the Father of History (or Lies to the Egyptians), saying that Spartan poem of them being immortal I went “Wait that where halo got it from?!”

Josephus is a good historian to read too, and it's entirely possible that's where they got it, not sure the poem tho so can't say for sure.

Actually leaks said William Adams is going to be in the game too. I presuming third act or late game, wait could Adams travel to other places after becoming a samurai? I can see him being used a mechanic to explain how we can go to other countries like India

Ya Tokegawa let him go back to England even at some point, he had freedom of movement probably had to still have permission from the boss to leave Japan but well

List of foreign-born samurai (Yasuke doesn't make the cut because they can't 100% prove he was or wasn't a samurai.) but this list goes through their credentials or however you want to put it.

For Addams it was

250 koku. He was granted the rank of Hatamoto, a fief and 80-90 servants. Interpreter and shipwright of Tokugawa Shogunate.

Only one managed a higher worth.

Btw I meet Rolo of Normandy in Valhalla when he was 17…in a medieval bdsm dungeon while he blindfolded and wiped Dear god Middle Ages England was truly the apocalypse

Not just in Europe either, though that's where we have the specific information about things, shit was bad in Asia, the middle east, and Africa too. Lots of those areas had the same problem too.

But yeah I can see them making up a relationship with Yasuke and William Adams. Oh another joke A Japanese: another Gajin join us?’ Yasuke: Yes and make him a proper samurai this time

I take it Yasuke managed to pick up the language ok then, Addams did ok but still had a interpreter with him all the time too just in case.

Oh that's pretty

Hell the teaser trailer I sent actually ends with the game Japanese cover of ac iconic song ezio family

I didn't catch that apparently, that's cool af

[shut-up-rabert]

Do you think Hinduism should become an expansionist religion?

😂😂😂 Sham Sharma ki Video dekhi na tu?

Anyways, my answer to the question is that it depends.

In our current geopolitical atmosphere and the anti Hindu forces working tenuously to shrink us further, it is somewhat required. We have seen how not using the expansionist stratergy has costed the Jews over millenia, as it has done to us because the radicals we are against (obviously, I do not mean an average Christian or Muslim but just the radical elements) are expansionists.

Because the truth is that the conversion situation is more dire than we like to think, more people leave Hinduism than the reverts who join, and although we talk about muslim radicals, the christian missionaries are the ones leading the penchant fr.

And, it is not like we cannot do it. On the contrary, I feel like we will do it quite splendidly given how we attracted the likes of George Harrison, Julia Roberts, Miley Cyrus, Will Smith, Stallone either partially or fully to our faith without trying, and organisations such as ISCKON who do not even consist of 1% of total Hindus have done a steady job in bringing people to Hinduism, becasue Hinduism has a pluralistic and flexible belief system that connects to both religion and spirituality.

And we have done it before. Adi Shankaracharya did that when India was becoming dangerously close to becoming a Budhhist nation, so it is totally fine as long as it is to save our identity/make people aware of the truth of Hinduism like jagatguru did when people were converting out due to not understanding it properly, and not dominate the world.

If even 20% of Hindu population starts spreading their faith to the curious minded induviduals, we can hold up on our own against the offenders.

And I do not mean aggressive tactics or freebie promises at all, but a simple sharing of faith to those interested. Please, keep your mouths shut to people who already are in love with their religions.

The Ghar Wapsi initiative has been popular but failed to attract enough people as expected, simply because of the aggression that surrounds it. Its beginnings and the intrusive hindu groups that exploit the word have made people (especially non Hindus) wary of it, and an average Hindu is still a person who is not a fan of unwarranted conflicts and does not care what faith other people practice. The truth is that initiatives like ghar wapsi can only work within India as long as it does not rid itself of the radical elements around it.

ISCKON has used nothing but song, dance and love of God and today Hare Krishna movement is spread worldwide. They have done the mere job of actually making people aware of God, whereas Ghar Wapsi is based more on an Individual being a Hindu than an actual affiliation to God (reason #956834 why I don’t believe that extremists actually care about our Gods). Which is again why it cannot be popular outside India; you need to know about the Gods you are considering following, and while you can expect Indian Non-Hindus to know since this is a Hindu majority country, you cannot really expect that of people in Russia, Cambodia, El Salvador etc.

This is all I can say for now, the rest I will explain later.

[avani008]

Dear Yuletide Writer 2024

Here are some things I think are rad: snark. friendships. sneaky twisty endings. stories with bite. characters with personalities. stories that make their writers happy. mythology. humor. stories that dig into and expand on the canon, whether that’s backstory or minor characters or worldbuilding. brown paper packages tied up with string.

Stuff I’m not so keen on: rape, incest, mentions of RL pandemics/quarantines or cancer? more into het and femslash than slash. no modern AUs for the fandoms I’ve selected this year, as I’m interested in the canon settings; AUs that preserve the canon setting (either canon divergence or trope-based [soulmate, daemons, fantasy elements in non-fantasy canons]) are not just fine but would be much adored!

Treat Policy: Yes, please!

Fandoms Requested: Devil’s Cub- Georgette Heyer, Mystic Pop-Up-Bar (TV), Spymaster series- Joanna Bourne

First of all, I’ve repeated requests, despite being lucky enough to receive AMAZING fic for them in the past; but they are all still Yuletide-sized, and greedily I still want more. 

Devil’s Cub- Georgette Heyer

Characters Requested: Mary Challoner, Dominic Alastair

Where to Find Source Material: your local library or bookstore!

Problematic as this book is, I read it at an impressionable age, and so can’t help but have a reluctant soft spot Mary/Dominic—but mostly Mary Challoner and the wit and sparkle of Heyer’s prose. Not to mention Mary’s snark and competence, and Dominic’s grouchiness paired with his utter adoration of Mary, or everything about the utter farce that leads up to the climax in Dijon, or—like pretty much every reader of this book ever— that one scene where Mary shoots him. Give me more of their  delicious dynamic, and I will be over the moon! Requesting this fandom has produced incredible stories in the past,  but what is Yuletide for than coveting MORE CAKES in teeny fandoms?

 Consider:

* Dominic and Mary meeting the first few times, Sophia included with Mary (I’m sure) crankily falling for him while Dominic remains oblivious (or does he?)!

*A tropey AU (or multiple in one fic), whether social media/fandom-based, daemon AU, or any other fusions you enjoy!

* Finally, this is completely optional, but I’ve had this prompt rattling around my brain since I created this graphic—I would love a racebent version of Mary and Vidal, whether that means they’re Indian immigrants who’ve settled in Victorian Britain, or transplanted into the intrigues of the Mughal court, or whether involvement in the Quit India movement, or lack thereof, is an additional tension in their relationship!

--

Mystic Pop-Up Bar

Characters: Weol-joo, Gwibanjang | Yi Hon

Where to Find Source: Netflix

This was a delightful canon to find during a stressful time, and the honest sweetness of the main leads always brought a smile to my face. I have been lucky enough to get amazing fics for this in the past, and have loved them every time, so please know I will be delighted with pretty much anything. SPOILER warning from now on, just to explain what I enjoyed the most about canon–

–but I really adored Weol-jo and the Crown Prince’s romance above all else. 500 years of pining, secret identities/identity porn, and bonus bickering friends turned lovers the second time around made for everything I wanted, especially with a fantasy twist. The story was always Weol-joo’s, in all her prickly glory, and Gwi was–in his own words–only there to help her. I also really, really loved that despite their shared sense of humor, Weol-joo and Gwi are both extraordinarily competent and good at their jobs, and canon goes out of its way to emphasize that. Yes, they might bicker about nonsense –and my reading of the situation is that most of this is being intentionally facetious, both to be underestimated and because it appeals to their shared sense of humor. So some prompts, to be combined as you wish:

* More about how Yi Hon and Weol-joo met and fell in love! If I understood the prologue correctly, they both entered Yi Hon’s dreamworld to put down multiple angry ghosts, with a vendetta against the royal family, and I’d love to see how this played into the start of their romance. For one, their feelings–shallow as they initially seem–were strong enough to last half a millenium, and so must have been born in adventure and magic; for another, as demure as young Weol-joo was, I refuse to believe her usual snark didn’t show its head as she got to know the Crown Prince.

* Chief Gwi’s first eleven months as Weol-joo’s manager, complete with silent pining and unknowing painful jabs on the part of an oblivious Weol-joo, and how exactly Gwi manages to break through Weol-joo’s shell so effectively by the time we meet them. (Potentially the answer to that might be an impetuous, desperate hookup Weol-joo at least is going to pretend never happened.)I've previously received amazing gifts covering just that, but there is such potential for adventures we missed, and I’d love to see your take on it too!

* Finally, if you want to write post-canon casefic, what about another grudge that the family settles (along with getting accustomed to be an actual family)–potentially something where the reincarnation of Won-hyung’s sister (she was jilted by her childhood friend and orphaned by the same man on her wedding day; and we saw everyone else who was affected by the tragedy leading into Weol-joo’s death, except her) appears, either for revenge or to have closure; or–and this could play into the previous prompt too!–any ghost/grudge-holder who forces the trio to explore either his parents’ past lives or a canon-divergence AU where Weol-joo and the Crown Prince never died, and Kang-bae was born to them, either as a royal prince, or as their child in hiding? (Of note, if you go with this one, I love Weo-rin to bits, and I’d love to see her get to discover her boyfriend’s big secret at last!)

--

Spymaster Series- Joanna Bourne

Characters Requested: Justine DeCabrillac, Adrian “Hawker” Hawkhurst

Where to Find Source Material: Your local library, bookstore, or ebook supplier!

The Spymaster series is all brilliant characterization and intrigue. The action plots are superbly paced, where the romance doesn’t take up too much from the main plot, and the limited perspective works so well–the Annique twist in the first book took me utterly by surprise, and then delighted me. 

So writer, if your long standing dream has been to write canon-typical plotfic, I would be so ecstatic! Couples working and bantering together is always one of my favorite things to read, and the espionage aspect of this series is a particular strength . While we see a lot of glimpses of the Adrian-Justine relationship, I think there’s always room for more, so whether you want to add a post-canon adventure, or invent one we didn’t see between flashbacks, it would be great!

I also love these characters, and their relationship–I love the pining in the face of duty, the very real tragedy* I love how it extends in bits and pieces of the years, I love how it’s frequently interpreted and misinterepreted through outsider POVs. Something that plays with outsider POVs would also be so fascinating, again, at any time during the series; or, what a happily ever after looks like for these two crazy kids.

*again, DNW caveat: it’s okay to acknowledge canon-accurate mentions of prior assault in this case, but I would really prefer that it be kept to a minimum, with no on-screen incidences.

I was lucky enough to get amazing Cami/Pax exchange fic for the prompt "5 ways they didn't meet and one way they did" and if you want to adapt that (or another 5+1 AU format) to Adrian and Justine's story, that would be great!

Finally, although I haven’t formally requested, Annique (and her irreverent narration) is always a delight. I love her instant platonic-soulmates friendship with Adrian, and I am intrigued by Joanna Bourne’s words on her blog on how Annique compares with Justine:

When I was writing Annique, I was making her the other side of the coin with Justine. They were both child spies, about the same age. Both raised by Lucille. One relatively protected, innocent, a child of the light, one who had not killed. The other abandoned and debauched, a child with little light inside her, a willing killer.

And they knew each other, of course, as they were growing up. They were more than a little jealous. When Annique makes the remark about the doppleganger, she’s thinking of Justine.

Adrian, in TSL, come fresh from one side of the coin to the other and neither Annique nor Adrian realize this.

This is such an amazing dynamic we never see on-screen, and I would love to dig into it further at both ends.

I hope at least some of these prompts help! Thank you in advance and have a wonderful Yuletide yourself:D

[bitternest]

Alright, because it amuses me to pour over pictures of scantily clad men in a cafe instead of the work I'm supposed to be doing, have a bunch of ratings no one asked for!

Bolivia: Damn. Strong start. No notes, on the outfit or man, the camera probably could have chosen a slightly bigger angle because its doing him and the mantle a disservice. 8/10

Brazil: Extremely chic, definitely something you could wear out and about on the daily (minus the headgear). Tasteful bared midriff that shows off the work the man put in. Gets a 7.5/10 only because the fit doesn't exactly pop which unfortunately disadvantaging in this competition.

Cambodia: Very nice, I like the layers and beading. Not much of the man on display but I feel like that's another camera choice - I suspect he's bare-legged quite high up with that loincloth piece coming down. I'd like to see the outfit move. 7/10.

Cuba: 2/10 and it only gets that high because yeah no that's Cuban. For the love of god the shirt looks like you removed it from the Amazon packaging 15m before going on stage. You could have undone a button or two, c'mon man!

Czechia: Flare, and colours, and layers, and textures oh my! The costume team killed it. Alas, for a beauty competition, not enough of the man on diplay, though the pose and 5 o'clock shadow do draw the eye. 6/10.

Dominican Republic: Oh my god. This outfit is 50% of the way to a 10/10 and it STILL scores high. Those pants were a CHOICE and it was the RIGHT ONE. The doublet ALMOST gets the same effect, but suffers because it can't really be as thin and form fitting by necessity but also it's got lovely tassels and brocade. The MOVEMENT captured in the shot is also fantastic, kudos to the camera for capturing it and the model for delivering what I have to imagine was a very sharp, very precise torso twist. Also it looks like if you took a historical portrait and slutted it up, which is incredible. 8/10

Ecuador: Bolivia is lucky Ecuador didn't precede him. Again, no notes, the camera did better and the fit just delivers more - you could criticize it as busy, if it weren't deliberately going for it. 8.5/10.

France: Okay, someone's gonna have to explain to me why Mssr. La France is Aquaman as a flying fish. Yeah yeah, le Tricolour, great bod, but I am seriously confused. 6/10 because I feel like he's appropriating something (which is on brand!) but I have no idea what.

Hong Kong: SIR. Another great every day fit along the lines of Brazil, definitely feels like it could be street fashion (minus the headband). Gets higher than Brazil because it naturally pops more with the B/W contrast and parasol. More of the man on display too, and well posed. 8/10

India: Interesting, but falls into a lot of the same traps Czechia does. Better motion that shows off the outfit very well, but even less of the man on display and also I'm 90% sure someone this light skinned was chosen to represent because of India's internalized racism issues, but that's not really his fault so not holding that against him. 6/10

Indonesia: Incredible costume, dynamic posing, and the look he's giving the camera… Mnf. I'd like to see a little more of him but MNF. Great job all around, model, costume team and camera nailed this one. 8.5/10

Japan: Okay, I love the tease going on here. I love it a lot. And the minimalism and the posing. I feel like the outfit (and model) would be better pitched with a gallery that opens with this shot, rather than a single picture though. 7/10

Loas: Goddamn. Someone knows how to emphasize assets. Another great costume that shows off the man and his work well - the colours and textures come through nicely despite the darkness and I can FEEL the weight of those necklaces(?). 8/10

Macau: I am once again confused. Is this a racing thing? What am I missing here. I do love the translucent suit with the boyshorts underneath very cute. Matches his smile, which is I think the most natural on display. 6.5/10 because I cannot countenance rating him as low as France. Okay, 7/10. It's a really nice smile.

Malaysia: Ohhh, best posing so far, really sells the outfit and also a bit of the legs. Love me an ankle shot. The fabric looks like something I'd love to get my hands on. I also think its another case like Japan where more shots are necessary to really sell it, so 7/10.

Mexico: Ayyyy holy shit of the headdresses and mantles so far this is my favorite and not just because of the bisexual flag. The whole thing needs closeups of the rhinestones and flash and I want to see that train MOVE. Señor is also WELL on display. Despite the camera letting him down, 8.5/10 - an easy 9 with better shots and motion!

Myanmar: My guy you look like this got picked up by the costume team from Walmart. The creases are worse than Cuba's but the drapery is nice, so 3/10.

Nigeria: …oh. Oh. I'm seeing a lot of similarities with my home country's Junkanoo and that makes a lot of sense. Bold, great eye contact, fantastic costume design and construction. The camera and pose hides some of model, but what's on display kind of fills in the details. Those HANDS. 8.5/10, biased.

Panama: Well. I like the beadwork and the bracelets. But the costume is really letting this man down - it doesn't highlight his best assets (thighs) and obscures and draws the eyes away from the rest of his very much on display body. And the CREASING. Sorry Panama, you deserved a better costume department. 4/10

Peru: laskjaslkdfja;sd SIR. Sir. Sir your… Hnng. HNNG. 10/10 everyone go home. Costume knew EXACTLY what they were doing and the model understood the assignment PERFECTLY. HOW DID THIS LOSE?!

Philippines: Oooooh. If Peru hadn't just blown my… mind, this man would be leading. Fantastic posing, fantastic model, gorgeous, intricate costume. 9/10

Puerto Rico: /insert gabriel eglesias rant how to tell if someone is puerto rican 4/10 man, come on

Romania: Okay, they get kudos for choosing an older representative but otherwise this is a lesser Czechia or India. Nice layers and presentation, but very plain and the points of interest draw your eyes in conflicting directions - I DO want a closeup of those boots. 5.5/10

South Africa: I was gonna lead with another "SIR" but honestly I can't stop laughing. I think they were going for a flamingo but all I can think is "pretty princess birthday dress." Nice package though, the model carries this. 7/10 and I need to be clear THE MODEL CARRIES THIS.

South Korea: /grabs everyone with creased and messy textures LOOK AT WHAT YOU COULD HAVE BEEN. Wonderful layers and textures, the reserved details and classic pose. I wish there was more of the model on display but this is a fine piece of art. 7/10

Spain: fuck off THIS WON?! I cannot find a single redeeming feature from the model to the costume to the post. No, wait. I wanna see the shoes in detail. 1/10 i hate everything

Sri Lanka: Another beatiful costume than needs more movement. Really undersold as it is - that skirt looks like there would be series flare with hip movement and the wings are begging to not be stationary. I would also like to see more of the model because he looks less like the ripped and dehydrated entries for skin-on-display types. 7.5/10 camera and posing let you down, king

Switzerland: You know, I'm not sure if I'm impressed or disappointed that Switzerland went with slutty-drunkard-in-lederhosen. A 4 that I'm bumping up to a 5 because of that grin. That's not even a smile, that's a grin of a man who's just happy to be there. Ehn 5.5/10

Thailand: Okay. Fuck. Thailand would have taken this for me without Peru blatantly stacking the deck. Almost everything is better - the posing, the costuming, the model… but Peru is just sluttier and out for my dick. 9.5/10 you were robbed, king.

United Kingdom: Like. I know the logic behind the costuming decision. But it sucks. There's a beefcake with fat tits and a belly under there. Let him out! Let's see some more tats! 4/10 deeply disappointing, model was utterly failed by costuming decision.

USA: WHAT ARE THOOOOOOSE?! AHAHAHA. Well. I'm hoping its self-aware and parody. If it is, 6/10 for being appropriately on-the-nose and showing off the model's hard work. If it isn't, 0/10 for being bad, appropriative, ugly as sin with a model who looks like he's in the NYC subway and needs to shit.

Venezuela: I feel like there's something being said here with the youthful model wrapped in the flag with cheap stars pinned to a suit that disappears into the background. It has to be deliberate, right? I was going to rate this very low, but the more I think about it, the more I respect the message I think it's trying to deliver. 4/10 on costume, 7.5/10 on messaging.

Vietnam: Love me a treasure trail. And yet, not as dynamic as Thailand and a far cry from Peru's sluttiness. But the understated movement works well, the detailing on the costume is wonderful, the model understood the assignment and between this and Spain my god, king, you were ROBBED. 9/10

brb the whole discord in an uproar at the UNCONSCIONABLE results of Mister Global 2022

[healoxy-india]

A Practical Guide to Renting Wheelchairs in Noida

For someone with a disability that is temporary or permanent, having access to an available wheelchair can make all the difference in their quality of life. Healoxy, being a reliable healthcare solutions provider, offers people in Noida and all of India with a convenient way of availing a Wheelchair on Rent. It is more practical for recovering injury, surgery, or any illness, or those maybe in need just for a certain period of time, to hire a wheelchair. It will guarantee that patients have the most comfortable, top-quality wheelchairs and mobility accessible and stress-free.

Renting a wheelchair can easily give flexibility and affordability to any individual who perhaps does not require it for very long. Wheelchair rental services of Healoxy range from Standard Manual, Advanced Electric Wheelchairs, and many others. Rentals will also save one from the strain of a huge initial cost that is incurred while acquiring a wheelchair, thus meeting the needs for the short period. Either for travel, rehabilitation, or for temporary use, renting thus provides a patient with access to a reliable mobility solution with no full burden of purchase. This service is very helpful to the people who need movement help, especially to the patients at their recovery period from surgery or injury.

For patients in Noida location, Healoxy offers an inclusive, professional Wheelchair on Rent in Noida with rapid delivery and personalized service, that is, the wheelchair would reach the patient's doorstep well prepared to be used. It has a dedicated team that helps set it up and explain the working of it so that the patient can operate a wheelchair with ease and comfort. It makes this local focus ensure that patients in Noida get mobility solutions without a delay so that they may move about safely and confidently.

Renting a wheelchair offers a major flexibility for a Wheelchair Rental, particularly for those who are recovering from surgery or injury. The patients are able to regain their mobility and do so without making the long-term commitment or the expense of buying a wheelchair. Healoxy gives the customer various rental options suited for different needs, duration, and situation, and very cost-effective for the individual. In that way, the healing period is spent quite comfortable and stable, which is less concerned with mobility issues.

Healoxy has a much wider reach than just Noida. Their Wheelchair Rental Service in India is designed to cater to people all across the country. They ensure that your mobility needs are met promptly and with care, whether you reside in a major city or a remote area. Their rental process is streamlined and lets customers choose from the vast lineup of wheelchairs available right from the comfort of their own home. There is a wide variety of what Healoxy would need for each scenario of the patients so that the right equipment reaches the right person in need.

Healoxy doesn't only hold to a wide range of wheelchairs but also towards proper maintenance and care for their rental equipment. The Company ensures that every wheelchair provided is well serviced and cleaned to the highest hygiene and safety standards. Additionally, the Wheelchair Rental Service provides high standard customer support. It is staffed with an expert who is readily available to answer every question and clarify every concern for patients during the entire duration of the rental period.

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] Junior doctors during their indefinite hunger strike over RG Kar Medical College incident in Kolkata | (Photo: PTI)4 min read Last Updated : Oct 12 2024 | 6:39 AM IST Junior doctors in West Bengal continued their indefinite hunger strike for the sixth consecutive day, drawing support from several senior doctors across the country and prompting the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to urge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to intervene before the situation escalates. The ongoing agitation has also led the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) to warn that it would declare a nationwide "complete shutdown of medical services" if any "any harm befalls brave junior doctors". Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The agitating doctors are demanding justice for their murdered colleague at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, along with a safer working environment and other important issues.  On Friday, IMA national president RV Asokan met the fasting junior doctors to hear their concerns. After visiting another junior medic admitted to RG Kar hospital, he expressed his admiration for the protesters, stating, "I am touched by the way these children are fighting for the cause of the people and not for themselves. They are the real heroes, and we are all very proud of them."Asokan called on the CM to address the situation "without wasting any more time." He noted that while the junior doctors did not discuss ending their fast, they remained focused on their demands and confident in their pursuit of justice for their late colleague. "They did not talk much about withdrawing the fast but focused on their demands and the indifferent attitude of the state government towards their movement. They are quite confident about carrying forward their protest and get justice for the deceased woman doctor," he said. In a show of solidarity, the junior doctors encouraged the public to observe "Arandhan" (no cooking) on Ekadashi, coinciding with the completion of their seven-day fast. "When our freedom fighters were on hunger strike, the common people observed 'Arandhan' in their support," one doctor explained. In response to the protesting doctors' recent mail, chief secretary Manoj Pant provided a status report on various healthcare initiatives in West Bengal, outlining extensive safety improvements being implemented, including the installation of over 7,000 CCTVs, new duty rooms, and better facilities across medical colleges. "To enhance the safety and security of medical professionals, extensive infrastructural developments are underway across various medical colleges. We are installing a total of 7,051 CCTVs, 893 new duty rooms and 778 washrooms. Additionally, proper lighting arrangements, alarm systems and biometric access control is also being implemented across all medical colleges and hospitals state-wide," Pant wrote. As the hunger strike continued, several senior medics and community members joined the junior doctors at Esplanade, where a large crowd gathered, chanting, "We want justice, we demand justice. Meanwhile, the health condition of Aniket Mahato, a junior doctor who has been hospitalised after his condition deteriorated due to his fast since Sunday, is reported to be "critical but stable," with signs of improvement. He began responding to treatment, according to a member of the five-doctor team monitoring him in the critical care unit. He was admitted to the state-run hospital on Thursday night. Regarding the six other junior doctors on hunger strike since Saturday night, their health is also declining, though they remain determined to protest. "This is the sixth consecutive day of fasting, so it's natural their condition will worsen. However, they are determined to continue their protest," said one of the agitating doctors, Debasish Halder. An ICU ambulance has been stationed nearby for rapid response in case of any further deterioration. Meanwhile,

consultants at the Fortis Group of Hospitals have said they will suspend all non-emergency services starting October 12 (Saturday), according to a statement released by the organisation. In a related development, the Calcutta High Court granted interim bail to nine youths arrested for raising "We want justice" slogans outside a Durga Puja marquee on October 9. The youths had been remanded to seven days of police custody earlier. The junior doctors are demanding justice for their murdered colleague and the immediate removal of Health Secretary NS Nigam. They also seek the establishment of a centralised referral system for hospitals, a bed vacancy monitoring system, increased police protection in hospitals, and the swift filling of vacant healthcare positions. The doctors initially ceased work following the rape and murder of a fellow medic on August 9 and ended a previous 42-day strike on September 21 after receiving assurances from the state government. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)First Published: Oct 12 2024 | 6:39 AM IST [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] Junior doctors during their indefinite hunger strike over RG Kar Medical College incident in Kolkata | (Photo: PTI)4 min read Last Updated : Oct 12 2024 | 6:39 AM IST Junior doctors in West Bengal continued their indefinite hunger strike for the sixth consecutive day, drawing support from several senior doctors across the country and prompting the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to urge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to intervene before the situation escalates. The ongoing agitation has also led the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) to warn that it would declare a nationwide "complete shutdown of medical services" if any "any harm befalls brave junior doctors". Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp The agitating doctors are demanding justice for their murdered colleague at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, along with a safer working environment and other important issues.  On Friday, IMA national president RV Asokan met the fasting junior doctors to hear their concerns. After visiting another junior medic admitted to RG Kar hospital, he expressed his admiration for the protesters, stating, "I am touched by the way these children are fighting for the cause of the people and not for themselves. They are the real heroes, and we are all very proud of them."Asokan called on the CM to address the situation "without wasting any more time." He noted that while the junior doctors did not discuss ending their fast, they remained focused on their demands and confident in their pursuit of justice for their late colleague. "They did not talk much about withdrawing the fast but focused on their demands and the indifferent attitude of the state government towards their movement. They are quite confident about carrying forward their protest and get justice for the deceased woman doctor," he said. In a show of solidarity, the junior doctors encouraged the public to observe "Arandhan" (no cooking) on Ekadashi, coinciding with the completion of their seven-day fast. "When our freedom fighters were on hunger strike, the common people observed 'Arandhan' in their support," one doctor explained. In response to the protesting doctors' recent mail, chief secretary Manoj Pant provided a status report on various healthcare initiatives in West Bengal, outlining extensive safety improvements being implemented, including the installation of over 7,000 CCTVs, new duty rooms, and better facilities across medical colleges. "To enhance the safety and security of medical professionals, extensive infrastructural developments are underway across various medical colleges. We are installing a total of 7,051 CCTVs, 893 new duty rooms and 778 washrooms. Additionally, proper lighting arrangements, alarm systems and biometric access control is also being implemented across all medical colleges and hospitals state-wide," Pant wrote. As the hunger strike continued, several senior medics and community members joined the junior doctors at Esplanade, where a large crowd gathered, chanting, "We want justice, we demand justice. Meanwhile, the health condition of Aniket Mahato, a junior doctor who has been hospitalised after his condition deteriorated due to his fast since Sunday, is reported to be "critical but stable," with signs of improvement. He began responding to treatment, according to a member of the five-doctor team monitoring him in the critical care unit. He was admitted to the state-run hospital on Thursday night. Regarding the six other junior doctors on hunger strike since Saturday night, their health is also declining, though they remain determined to protest. "This is the sixth consecutive day of fasting, so it's natural their condition will worsen. However, they are determined to continue their protest," said one of the agitating doctors, Debasish Halder. An ICU ambulance has been stationed nearby for rapid response in case of any further deterioration. Meanwhile,

consultants at the Fortis Group of Hospitals have said they will suspend all non-emergency services starting October 12 (Saturday), according to a statement released by the organisation. In a related development, the Calcutta High Court granted interim bail to nine youths arrested for raising "We want justice" slogans outside a Durga Puja marquee on October 9. The youths had been remanded to seven days of police custody earlier. The junior doctors are demanding justice for their murdered colleague and the immediate removal of Health Secretary NS Nigam. They also seek the establishment of a centralised referral system for hospitals, a bed vacancy monitoring system, increased police protection in hospitals, and the swift filling of vacant healthcare positions. The doctors initially ceased work following the rape and murder of a fellow medic on August 9 and ended a previous 42-day strike on September 21 after receiving assurances from the state government. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)First Published: Oct 12 2024 | 6:39 AM IST [ad_2] Source link

[flowmorepump]

Propeller pumps are devices that can provide efficient and productive pumping of large quantities of water with a relatively small but stable head. Most often, these pumps are used for industry, as they are quite economical and powerful. The resistance of materials to chemically aggressive substances is also quite high, which is why the devices are quite popular on the market. The main design feature is the presence inside the body of the propeller, which is responsible for ensuring the pumping of water.

What is Propeller?

A propeller happens to be a fan that pushes fluid away from it, converting rotational motion into linear motion (outside motion). Similarly, in the case of a boat, the propeller acts as a fan to generate thrust, thereby driving the movement of the boat. Propellers typically consist of three or four blades that rotate around an axis to produce forward motion. As the blades rotate, the water pressure behind them increases, causing the boat to move through the water.

This is possible because the blades protrude at an angle from the hub, allowing water to go from the front strut to the rear without pushing the water to one side. Generally speaking, the more blades a propeller has, the more power it can generate for the aircraft. Increasing the number of blades can also reduce the amount of drag that is produced. The thrust produced by the propellers can be explained by Bernoulli's theorem or Newton's laws of motion.

Advantages of using propeller pumps.

These pumps are mainly used for large company tools or in projects where it is necessary to constantly supply large volumes of water evenly over a certain period of time. They often operate submerged in liquid and do not require the liquid to be previously poured into the body.

[saskiamcc]

Shoot day 1 - One More Day

Prior to this shoot, Finlay explained to us that there was going to be a very specific set up for the prep day. The crew was going to be split into two groups - camera, and production design - each to be supervised by Finlay or our AD for the day, Vanessa. My team's job was to dress the set to save time for the next day. Prior to this, I showed India and Vanessa my plan for dressing the set, so that set up went as smooth as possible, and everyone knew what they were doing.

As soon as we arrived, we got clearance to clean the room and get as much dust and rubble out of the room as possible to ensure safety for all of the crew and cast.

the best production design team

Because the bunker is such a big space, and the distance between the set and the green room was huge, I was given a radio as head of department for my team so that I received any crucial information from Finlay (producer), Vanessa (1st AD), and Robbie (Script Supervisor). This was not only fun, but also helped me massively learn how to use a walkie-talkie for my other project that I am producing.

As soon as the room was clear, I got started dressing the set. My priority for today was ensuring the walls were covered the way we wanted it to be, so that tomorrow we can focus on blocking and little prop details. Finlay gave us 2 1/2 hours for this, and I was certain that we could complete it in this time. The main worry I had was the placement of the fabric, since I hadn't really figured out a way I thought looked good and made sense for the narrative.

I started covering the right side of the wall with large pieces of the Financial Times newspaper as the text is incredibly small, and it would make sense for the characters to use this as a base for their insulation. I then started tearing up other newspapers to layer over the top, ensuring that the notes that India and I prepared were in the front. I knew that there were not going to be any close ups of the wall - for both narrative and copyright reasons - however I wanted to include as much detail as possible no matter how small, to also show the efforts that my team and I put in to make the space look lived in. Finally, I took the science magazine and isolated the very general headlines about the state of the world and pinned those up - to indicate the point in time and the state that our characters are in right now. I knew that John's side of the wall was going to be more full and dense than Cam's, and I wanted to add a map - to show which areas around them had been "hit" by the apocalypse. Because I knew this map wasn't going to be shown in detail, I had a bit of fun with it. The whole crew and I put pins and crosses in places in Scotland that we all had connections to. I also felt that the space around the maps was quite bare, so I moved some of the science magazine headlines around the map and it really brought it to life more. Another bit of fun we had was filling in one of the crossword with all the names of the crew members to pay homage to everyone's hard work :)

wall details

After I finished with the wall, I moved into the floor space. I had collected two sleeping bags - ensuring to make space for the third, which is only available for the second day. I had previously discussed placement for the main props with Alfie prior to the shoot, and we drew out a very rough floor plan, where he showed me the actor's movements and blocking so that I don't place any props in the way of their path. I also asked our gaffer, Duncan, for the lighting plan so that I don't put any props in the way of the lights, flags of cameras.

rough floor plan and lighting plans from Duncan

I had a big plant pot, which I had planned to place the chess set on, however Duncan and I set out a really cool lay out with the *fake!!* candles and the lantern, which I thought worked even better!! I then had to improvise to find an interesting way to place the chessboard, as I didn't like that there were barely any levels on the set - everything was on one flat surface apart from the lights on the plant pot. I had the idea of using 4 cans placed under each corner of the chessboard to hold it up and it worked perfectly!!

floor set up

I enlisted the help of Alfie (director), to make some creative decisions on the fabric. I had the idea of making a "tent" on John's side of the room - almost as if he had made this with Sarah when she was still around, with the children's drawings scattered around the wall, above her sleeping bag. For this, I used the smaller grey sheet, which I had stepped on a bit on the dusty floor to make it a bit more worn. I used pins to pin them up, and placed the children's drawings in and around it. I did think it was a bit empty and the children's drawings were quite hidden, so I talked to Sophie (DOP) and Duncan about possibly having another practical light on that side of the room. They agreed as it gave more dimension to that side of the room, so I added some fairy lights under the tent. I am really really happy with this part of the room in particular, and I am quite proud of myself for being able to improvise in such an innovative way.

before and after we installed the practical lights

For the other side of the room, I wanted to show that Cam has a much less emotional relationship with the world and the people around him, so I wanted to make it as empty as possible. Alfie and I agreed that if we pinned the green cloth from near the ceiling down and ripped it in the middle, it would create a doorway to his "hole" of a home - which is much more desolate and less personable than John's side. I used the same technique of stepping on the fabric to make it more worn. We also added some random cut outs of faces on Cam's side which made it much less personal and wholesome to John's side of the room. I am really happy with the two personalities I have created in this room alone and I think it reflects the story really well.

Cam's side of the room

Final touches and notes were made from Alfie when I asked for a check towards the end of the day and I'm making sure to collect these things for tomorrow:

more newspaper on the walls

cans to be scattered either more haphazardly or methodically (i.e. pyramid)

finishing touches to the chess set

I had to much fun today bringing this set to life, I am so excited for what tomorrow will bring!!

[hellsitesonlybookclub]

Around the world in 80 days, Jules Verne

CHAPTER XVI. IN WHICH FIX DOES NOT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND IN THE LEAST WHAT IS SAID TO HIM

The “Rangoon”—one of the Peninsular and Oriental Company’s boats plying in the Chinese and Japanese seas—was a screw steamer, built of iron, weighing about seventeen hundred and seventy tons, and with engines of four hundred horse-power. She was as fast, but not as well fitted up, as the “Mongolia,” and Aouda was not as comfortably provided for on board of her as Phileas Fogg could have wished. However, the trip from Calcutta to Hong Kong only comprised some three thousand five hundred miles, occupying from ten to twelve days, and the young woman was not difficult to please.

During the first days of the journey Aouda became better acquainted with her protector, and constantly gave evidence of her deep gratitude for what he had done. The phlegmatic gentleman listened to her, apparently at least, with coldness, neither his voice nor his manner betraying the slightest emotion; but he seemed to be always on the watch that nothing should be wanting to Aouda’s comfort. He visited her regularly each day at certain hours, not so much to talk himself, as to sit and hear her talk. He treated her with the strictest politeness, but with the precision of an automaton, the movements of which had been arranged for this purpose. Aouda did not quite know what to make of him, though Passepartout had given her some hints of his master’s eccentricity, and made her smile by telling her of the wager which was sending him round the world. After all, she owed Phileas Fogg her life, and she always regarded him through the exalting medium of her gratitude.

Aouda confirmed the Parsee guide’s narrative of her touching history. She did, indeed, belong to the highest of the native races of India. Many of the Parsee merchants have made great fortunes there by dealing in cotton; and one of them, Sir Jametsee Jeejeebhoy, was made a baronet by the English government. Aouda was a relative of this great man, and it was his cousin, Jeejeeh, whom she hoped to join at Hong Kong. Whether she would find a protector in him she could not tell; but Mr. Fogg essayed to calm her anxieties, and to assure her that everything would be mathematically—he used the very word—arranged. Aouda fastened her great eyes, “clear as the sacred lakes of the Himalaya,” upon him; but the intractable Fogg, as reserved as ever, did not seem at all inclined to throw himself into this lake.

The first few days of the voyage passed prosperously, amid favourable weather and propitious winds, and they soon came in sight of the great Andaman, the principal of the islands in the Bay of Bengal, with its picturesque Saddle Peak, two thousand four hundred feet high, looming above the waters. The steamer passed along near the shores, but the savage Papuans, who are in the lowest scale of humanity, but are not, as has been asserted, cannibals, did not make their appearance.

The panorama of the islands, as they steamed by them, was superb. Vast forests of palms, arecs, bamboo, teakwood, of the gigantic mimosa, and tree-like ferns covered the foreground, while behind, the graceful outlines of the mountains were traced against the sky; and along the coasts swarmed by thousands the precious swallows whose nests furnish a luxurious dish to the tables of the Celestial Empire. The varied landscape afforded by the Andaman Islands was soon passed, however, and the “Rangoon” rapidly approached the Straits of Malacca, which gave access to the China seas.

What was detective Fix, so unluckily drawn on from country to country, doing all this while? He had managed to embark on the “Rangoon” at Calcutta without being seen by Passepartout, after leaving orders that, if the warrant should arrive, it should be forwarded to him at Hong Kong; and he hoped to conceal his presence to the end of the voyage. It would have been difficult to explain why he was on board without awakening Passepartout’s suspicions, who thought him still at Bombay. But necessity impelled him, nevertheless, to renew his acquaintance with the worthy servant, as will be seen.

All the detective’s hopes and wishes were now centred on Hong Kong; for the steamer’s stay at Singapore would be too brief to enable him to take any steps there. The arrest must be made at Hong Kong, or the robber would probably escape him for ever. Hong Kong was the last English ground on which he would set foot; beyond, China, Japan, America offered to Fogg an almost certain refuge. If the warrant should at last make its appearance at Hong Kong, Fix could arrest him and give him into the hands of the local police, and there would be no further trouble. But beyond Hong Kong, a simple warrant would be of no avail; an extradition warrant would be necessary, and that would result in delays and obstacles, of which the rascal would take advantage to elude justice.

Fix thought over these probabilities during the long hours which he spent in his cabin, and kept repeating to himself, “Now, either the warrant will be at Hong Kong, in which case I shall arrest my man, or it will not be there; and this time it is absolutely necessary that I should delay his departure. I have failed at Bombay, and I have failed at Calcutta; if I fail at Hong Kong, my reputation is lost: Cost what it may, I must succeed! But how shall I prevent his departure, if that should turn out to be my last resource?”

Fix made up his mind that, if worst came to worst, he would make a confidant of Passepartout, and tell him what kind of a fellow his master really was. That Passepartout was not Fogg’s accomplice, he was very certain. The servant, enlightened by his disclosure, and afraid of being himself implicated in the crime, would doubtless become an ally of the detective. But this method was a dangerous one, only to be employed when everything else had failed. A word from Passepartout to his master would ruin all. The detective was therefore in a sore strait. But suddenly a new idea struck him. The presence of Aouda on the “Rangoon,” in company with Phileas Fogg, gave him new material for reflection.

Who was this woman? What combination of events had made her Fogg’s travelling companion? They had evidently met somewhere between Bombay and Calcutta; but where? Had they met accidentally, or had Fogg gone into the interior purposely in quest of this charming damsel? Fix was fairly puzzled. He asked himself whether there had not been a wicked elopement; and this idea so impressed itself upon his mind that he determined to make use of the supposed intrigue. Whether the young woman were married or not, he would be able to create such difficulties for Mr. Fogg at Hong Kong that he could not escape by paying any amount of money.

But could he even wait till they reached Hong Kong? Fogg had an abominable way of jumping from one boat to another, and, before anything could be effected, might get full under way again for Yokohama.

Fix decided that he must warn the English authorities, and signal the “Rangoon” before her arrival. This was easy to do, since the steamer stopped at Singapore, whence there is a telegraphic wire to Hong Kong. He finally resolved, moreover, before acting more positively, to question Passepartout. It would not be difficult to make him talk; and, as there was no time to lose, Fix prepared to make himself known.

It was now the 30th of October, and on the following day the “Rangoon” was due at Singapore.

Fix emerged from his cabin and went on deck. Passepartout was promenading up and down in the forward part of the steamer. The detective rushed forward with every appearance of extreme surprise, and exclaimed, “You here, on the ‘Rangoon’?”

“What, Monsieur Fix, are you on board?” returned the really astonished Passepartout, recognising his crony of the “Mongolia.” “Why, I left you at Bombay, and here you are, on the way to Hong Kong! Are you going round the world too?”

“No, no,” replied Fix; “I shall stop at Hong Kong—at least for some days.”

“Hum!” said Passepartout, who seemed for an instant perplexed. “But how is it I have not seen you on board since we left Calcutta?”

“Oh, a trifle of sea-sickness—I’ve been staying in my berth. The Gulf of Bengal does not agree with me as well as the Indian Ocean. And how is Mr. Fogg?”

“As well and as punctual as ever, not a day behind time! But, Monsieur Fix, you don’t know that we have a young lady with us.”

“A young lady?” replied the detective, not seeming to comprehend what was said.

Passepartout thereupon recounted Aouda’s history, the affair at the Bombay pagoda, the purchase of the elephant for two thousand pounds, the rescue, the arrest, and sentence of the Calcutta court, and the restoration of Mr. Fogg and himself to liberty on bail. Fix, who was familiar with the last events, seemed to be equally ignorant of all that Passepartout related; and the later was charmed to find so interested a listener.

“But does your master propose to carry this young woman to Europe?”

“Not at all. We are simply going to place her under the protection of one of her relatives, a rich merchant at Hong Kong.”

“Nothing to be done there,” said Fix to himself, concealing his disappointment. “A glass of gin, Mr. Passepartout?”

“Willingly, Monsieur Fix. We must at least have a friendly glass on board the ‘Rangoon.’”

[ispravahomes]

From Farm to Table | Isprava Blog

“To understand why provenance is so important to chefs, one needs to unravel the food philosophy behind ingredient driven menus” – GAURI DEVIDAYAL

In March 2014, Devidayal took a small group of people to The Table Farm in Alibaug where they harvested the produce that was then used to make their lunch. Since then, excursions to the farm in Alibaug have been consistently sold out.

What’s really on your plate? And where does it come from? Gauri Devidayal, the woman behind some of our favourite Mumbai restaurants and The Table Farm in Alibaug, sheds light on produce and provenance, organic farming and building a real farm-to-table ecosystem.

”I’m fresh off a flight from California, the OG of the farm-to-table movement, championed by Alice Waters, who opened Chez Panisse in the early 1970s and was notorious for serving just one perfect peach with a knife for dessert. Fifty years later, the movement not only continues there, but is thriving. ‘Organic’ is no longer counterculture, it’s as mainstream as it gets. Almost every restaurant I had dined at, between Los Angeles and San Francisco, paid homage to the farms from which it sources its ingredients. But doesn’t all produce come from some farm or the other? So what’s all the fuss about?

To understand why provenance is so important to chefs, one needs to unravel the food philosophy behind ingredient-driven menus. I had the privilege of dining at Nopa in San Francisco, which is a restaurant that simply describes itself as specializing in “simple food created with seasonal ingredients sourced from local purveyors”. To really get under the skin of this, I accompanied production chef Sean Eastwood to the renowned Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

We spent a few hours that morning walking around several stalls with a large trolley that needed to be repeatedly loaded with crates overflowing with fresh produce, followed by multiple trips unloading it into Eastwood’s van. I asked him why he needed to come and personally buy produce from the market three times a week and why the farmers and vendors couldn’t just supply him at the restaurant directly, like we do in India. He explained, quite categorically, that if you want the good stuff you have to come and get it. There’s limited supply and demand is high.

The produce comes from small, local and regional farmers and ranchers, many of whom are certified organic. Being chemical-free means there’s scope for more spoilage of the crop due to pests and it also takes longer for produce to grow naturally when the process isn’t expedited using chemical fertilizers. All this results in it being considerably more expensive. But these very farmers are trustworthy sources of crops that are bursting with flavour and variety and which are sustainably farmed, ensuring that natural resources are not destroyed in the process. The microclimate of California has farms predominantly located within close proximity to the markets, which means the harvest has travelled a relatively short distance, thus reducing the environmental impact. Visit Isprava to read more.

[erishomedecor]

Order Table Runners Online for Summer Ready Table Decor

Spending time at home, bonding with your family and loved ones and enjoying meals together are the little pleasures in life that are definitely priceless.  These small joys which we had taken for granted are more valuable today than ever before considering what we all went through during the recent coronavirus pandemic. 

The happiness of relishing a meal on a well-set table amidst your near and dear ones in the comfort of your home is indeed invaluable.   And when it comes to setting your table aesthetically, the importance of a good table runner set can hardly be overemphasized. 

Table runners: the perfect accessory for your table

Luxury Table runners which are easily available online are an ideal way to dress up your table and give it a facelift. Luxury Table runners online come in a wide variety of materials, colours, prints and patterns including embroidery and motifs. 

They go a long way in lending an elegant look for your dining space.  Placed either directly over the table or layered over a table cloth, table runner set are versatile, easy to use and are a quick way to enhance the look and feel of your table.  They are an ideal option to add a stunning texture and subtle charm to your table. 

Eris home, one of India's leading responsible and sustainable home decor brands has a whole range of furnishings including online table runners and table mats.  Eris Home offers an extensive yet assorted range of table runner designs online; from simple, elegant designs to more majestic prints coupled with some bling which gives them a bold and shimmery look, Eris home has it all. 

Table runners online come in a plethora of colours, ranging from sparkling grey to champagne beige. Spread them across your dining table and create new looks every day! Whether, you prefer a calm and serene look, a Victorian feel or a simply a beautiful backdrop, these table runners designs are just perfect!

Linen Luxury Table Runners Online

Linen table runners which are also available online from Eris Homes are a great idea to elevate the entire dining table setting.  Linen table runners online, when spread across the dining table, can turn the whole exercise of eating a simple meal into quite a fanciful experience! 

So, what are you waiting for? Add a touch of class and panache to your dining space with our collection of online linen table runners which serve to enhance the vibe of the table. Light and breezy, linen is extremely popular when it comes to soft furnishings especially table runners. 

But do you know what makes linen table runners everyone's preferred choice? Below is the list of reasons which explain why linen table runners online are the best choice to adorn your dining table.

Linen table runners online: Advantages galore

Durable

Linen by itself is an extremely aesthetic looking and durable fabric. Given that the table is an area where there is plenty of movement, the durability of linen prevents the table runners from the wear and tear caused by adults and kids alike. So, linen Luxury table runners online not only help beautify your dining table but they are child proof too!  They are a long-term investment provided they are maintained with proper care.

 Reduce Carbon Footprint

Linen table runners online are a sustainable choice and the perfect replacement for plastic table runners. They are ideal to use as they reduce the carbon footprint and are much more reliable than paper towels or synthetic fabric table runners. Unlikeother kitchen wipes, they do not add to the garbage; instead, they can be reused and recycled. They are long lasting and retain their super chic and graceful look throughout.

 Highly Absorbent

Linen table runners online are highly absorbent. They can absorb water and other fluids effortlessly and can be easily cleaned too. Once the meal is done, you can simply use these table runners to absorb any spills and stains.  They are easily washable and once done, it is as good as new!

 5 Table Runners Online for Every Occasion

 Given the innumerable advantages of linen Luxury table runners, here is a list of five table runners online.  The exquisite table runner designs will sure make you fall in love with table décor and the whole idea of creating an attractive tablespace!

 Dreamy cranes - Spring Cheer

Made from 100% cotton, this range is one of the best and most popular table runners online. The table runner designs of this piece is inspired by a siege of wild cranes. Symbolic of long life and happiness in Japanese culture, these sage coloured runners sport motifs of beautiful branches and cranes coupled with delicate embroidery.  The design and colour of this Luxury table runner is suited for the summer season and sets the perfect ambience for outdoor dining. The fabric is chic and easily washable by hand. Just use, wash, iron and voila! 

 Bulbous Bloom

A riot of colours, this one is an ode to spring and its lovely blossoms.  An easy yet effective way to add cheerful vibes and a sense of brightness to your dining room, these luxury table runners are hand washable and dry quickly. The pastel hues and the bulbous flowery patterns are ideal if you want to add a pop of colour to your dining space.

 Unassuming Splendour - Drizzling Mist

It is often said that simplicity is the best form of sophistication.  And if you are someone who is a fan of understated beauty, Drizzling Mist is for you. Created with foil print, the foiled paisley pattern of this luxury table runner is sure to add a refined and tasteful look to your dining space.  Made from pure cotton, this one is lightweight and does not burn a hole in your pocket too!

 Glistening Celebration - Quicksilver

If you are looking to create a statement with your Luxury table runners- Quicksilver is what you should go for. Glistening with thousands of glass beads that are perfectly aligned and put together, this table runner is the best idea for a party or a grand celebration. This table runner design showcases the illusion of fully-bloomed chrysanthemums. The best part: its surface is easily wipeable and it can be cleaned in a jiffy!

 Everlasting Gingko - Champagne

Last but not the least, is the unique Everlasting Ginkgo - Champagne table runner designs. This exclusive piece is printed with the iconic ginkgo fan-shaped leaf. This beautiful pattern, along with an attractive brown coloured background, is everything you need for a distinguished ambience. Made with 100% cotton, this table runner is hand washable. Once washed and ironed on low heat, this online Luxury Table Runner is sure to enlighten your dining table almost effortlessly.

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CSK's Ravindra Jadeja's last-ball Last-Ball Win: A New Chapter in IPL History

CSK's Ravindra Jadeja's last-ball Last-Ball Win: A New Chapter in IPL History The IPL championship game was shortened to 15 overs due to rain delays on Monday night. Despite not being a T20 or T10 format, the Chennai Super Kings emerged victorious over their opponents, achieving a nail-biting victory off the final ball with five wickets in hand. The thrilling game concluded at 1.30 am on Tuesday in front of a packed crowd in Ahmedabad, with Ravindra Jadeja scoring the necessary 10 runs off the last two balls. In the reduced overs game, there was a lot of pressure on both bowlers and batters. Due to batters having only a limited number of overs to score runs, the powerplay was filled with aggressive play. Although the bowlers Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya were unable to create much movement, the leg-spinner Rashid Khan was unable to generate any turn in the ball. Despite the opposition's best efforts, Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad managed to score 52 runs without losing any wickets in just four overs. As a result, CSK only required 119 runs in the remaining 11 overs with all wickets still intact, which was a quite achievable target in a T20 game. Despite GT's valiant effort, they couldn't win the game. Similar to Chennai Super Kings, the key to Gujarat Titans' achievements is their consistency. However, they have been trying out different players at the No. 3 batting position. One such player is Sai Sudharsan, a 21-year-old left-handed batsman who has only played in half of GT's matches. Sudharsan displayed promise early on, but he came through when it mattered most, with a remarkable innings of 96 off just 47 balls, featuring eight fours and six sixes. A declaration directed at his team, explaining why he deserved more playing time, and addressing CSK, the franchise from his hometown who previously overlooked him despite his time with their junior team in TNPL.  Sudharsan comes from a family with a background in sports, as his father R Bharadwaj was a former India sprinter and his mother Usha played volleyball. GT selected him for a base prize of ₹20 lakh prior to IPL 2022. Sudharsan showed great fluency with the bat from the moment he stepped onto the pitch in the eighth over following Shubman Gill’s dismissal. He hit two impressive sixes off Maheesh Theekshana in the 15th over, one from a full toss and the other in the direction of cow corner. The left-hander reached his half-century in the subsequent over, having taken just 33 deliveries to do so. CSK’s powerplay bowling was uninspiring until Sudharsan arrived at the crease. The bowlers had a tendency to bowl down leg or pitch it too full. A sharp catch taken by Dhoni off Ravindra Jadeja helped slow GT down, sending Shubhman Gill (39) back to the pavilion. GT had reached 86/1 mid-innings, but the pitch was too flat for CSK’s spinners to gain control in the middle overs. The spin duo, consisting of Theekshana and Jadeja, conceded 74 runs in 8 overs. Though it seems distant, Sudharsan managed to control Anrich Nortje's speed on a difficult Ferozeshah Kotla surface during the beginning of IPL 2023. In his undefeated score of 62, he executed the ramp and scoop shots against Nortje's rapid pace. However, during the previous game against Mumbai Indians, Sudharsan's pace decelerated in the final overs, resulting in a retired out for the impressive Rashid Khan. Nevertheless, he rectified this issue in the current game. In the 17th over, he opened up some space and endeavored to reverse scoop Tushar Deshpande over short fineleg. Although the six was a result of a leading edge, Sudharsan's aim was evident. Subsequently, by using an innovative approach to unsettle Deshpande, the bowler began to deliver wider balls. Three consecutive boundaries ensued as the left-handed batsman exploited the gaps resulting from Deshpande's wider delivery. These gaps were located on both sides of mid-off, as well as through covers. This consequential 20-run over provided the required momentum for GT's late inning's attack. Unfortunately for Deshpande, he couldn't stop the flow of runs and leaked an additional 18 runs in his subsequent over, which Pandya capitalized on to maximum effect. Sudharsan's assault persisted during the last over, facing off against Pathirana, esteemed as one of the finest death-over bowlers in the tournament. Sudharsan anticipated everything, standing close to the crease. The Malinga-copy missed his aim twice, resulting in Sudharsan scoring two sixes. In the third ball, Pathirana finally delivered a yorker, ending Sudharsan's excellent innings just four runs shy of a hundred. Nevertheless, Sudharsan's captain approved of his performance, and the two players fist-bumped as Sudharsan basked in the applause of the audience. In the final five overs, GT scored 71 runs, bringing their total score to 214. Read the full article