August 06, 2020

Portuguese artist Artur Bordalo who goes

Portuguese artist Artur Bordalo who goes by the artistic name Bordalo II poses in his studio in Lisbon on May 3, 2018. Lisbon to Los Vegas Born in Lisbon in 1987, he took his first steps as an artist in the studio of his grandfather, a painter known for his watercolours of Lisbon who died last year. The message he wishes to convey though is always the same. "Lisbon is one of the first world capitals to have created a legal framework that allows artists to paint on walls," said Pedro Farinha, of Estrela dAlva Tours, which has since 2014 staged tours of the citys street art. The problem is going to be finding time!" the artist said, smiling. "My productions depend a lot on wherever in the world I find myself," said Bordalo II, whose works have decorated streets in Berlin, Paris, Las Vegas and Baku in Azerbaijan. He uses materials in his work that are harmful to animals to raise awareness, he said, in an interview with AFP at his Lisbon studio, as he hand drilled a paw out of plastic cut from a rubbish bin lid for a rodent sculpture. (Photo: AFP) LISBON: Broken crates and worn pipes pile up in the studio of Portuguese artist Bordalo II, who uses rubbish to create surprising animal sculptures to warn about the dangers of pollution. "One day I started to assemble objects I had put aside to create a stand to paint on and then I realised I could use these objects to create something aesthetically interesting, while giving them meaning," he said. Bordalo II said Lisbon "understands that urban art is a plus for the city.Bordalo II is part of a growing group of artists such as Vhils and Pantonio who have used Lisbons streets to display their works, thanks to municipal policies that favour street art. He said he got the idea to make sculptures from trash while doing graffiti. Bordalo II went on to study art at the University of Lisbon but he decided to focus on his passion -- graffiti. Art in public spaces is an ideal way to change mentalities because "it has the power to mark spirits," he added. Related StoriesMonet sister paintings reunited in US for first timeRobots help artist bring fine bison hair to pricey paintingsPaintings celebrate union between humans & nature. "Animals are the characters which the public can identify most easily with when I want to show the ravages of our society on nature," said Artur Bordalo, who prefers the artistic name Bordalo II, a tribute to his late grandfather, painter Artur Real Bordalo. The statue of Plastic Fruit Containers Manufacturers a bear and her cub "draws attention to the ecological damage we are leaving to future generations," said the museums spokeswoman, Ines Rapazote.Plus for city In a sign of Bordalo IIs mainstream success as an artist, Lisbons prestigious Gulbenkian Foundation, one of Europes richest collections, is displaying one of his works in its garden until the end of the month. When he is not travelling abroad, he works on his sculptures in his tiny studio on the ground floor of a building in a working class northern Lisbon neighbourhood while listening to electronic music.The bearded 31-year-old has decorated the Portuguese capital and other cities around the world with his colourful foxes, owls, monkeys and chameleons. Bordalo II, who wore a grey hoodie and jogging pants that revealed his tattooed calves, collects the trash he uses to make his sculptures from Lisbons rubbish dumps and curbsides. In Lisbon, one of his best-known works is a four-metre (13-foot) high raccoon assembled from old tyres, car bumpers and electronic components that gazes down on pedestrians in the riverside Belem district.He uses materials in his work that are harmful to animals to raise awareness. "I have a busy schedule for the next few years."Grey walls have nothing to tell," he added. "We must be interested above all in the state of the world and nature," he said

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July 24, 2020

Traditionally, they cant take part in politics

Traditionally, they cant take part in politics, the rules are very clearly demarcated between male and female," she told AFP. "The composition of the melody comes from the bottom of my heart," mother-of-three Pyndaplin Shabong told AFP. The traditions days may be numbered, though, as the modern world creeps into Kongthong in the shape of televisions and mobile phones. The birds, so many animals, they have ways of calling each other.Kongthong has long been cut off from the rest of the world. Everyone in the village, inhabited by the Khasi people, will then address the person with this individual little tune -- and for a lifetime. Days are spent foraging in the jungle for broom grass -- the main source of revenue -- leaving the village all but deserted, except for a few kids. Harmony with natureKongthong has long been cut off from the rest of the world, several hours of tough trek from the nearest town. Its people calling out to each other in music -- an extraordinary tradition that may even be unique."We are living in far-flung villages, we are surrounded by the dense forest, by the hills. Statecraft and all that is (a) male function." The custom is known as "jingrwai lawbei", meaning "song of the clans first woman", a reference to the Khasi peoples mythical original mother. And youngsters are increasingly going off singing out their friends melodic names, preferring instead to phone them. So we are in touch with nature, we are in touch with all the gracious living things that God has created," says Khongsit. "It expresses my joy and love for my baby," the 31-year-old said, her youngest daughter, two and a half years old, on her knee. To walk along the main road in this village of wooden huts with corrugated tin roofs, perched on a ridge miles from anywhere, is to walk through a symphony of hoots and toots. (Photo: AFP) KONGTHONG, India: Curious whistles and chirrups echo through the jungle around Kongthong, a remote Indian village, but this is no birdsong. A mother looks after a family, after the inheritance we get from our ancestors," Khongsit said. To call out to each other while in the forest, the villagers would use a long version lasting around 30 seconds of each others musical "name", inspired by the sounds of nature all around. On one side a mother calls out to her son to come home for supper, elsewhere children play and at the other end friends mess about -- all in an unusual, musical language of their own.Women "dont have decision-making powers. "But if my son has done something wrong, if Im angry with him, he broke my heart, at that moment I will call him by his actual name," rather than singing lovingly, said Rothell Khongsit, a community leader. Modern worldBut according to anthropologist Tiplut Nongbri, a professor at Jamia Millia Islamia university in Delhi, it is something of a "disguised patriarchy". "Creatures have their own identity."The origin of "jingrwai lawbei" isnt known, but locals think it is as old as the village, which has existed for as long as five centuries. Electricity arrived only in 2000, and the dirt road in 2013. Property and land are passed down from mother to daughter, while a husband moves in with his wife and takes her name. end-of Tags: kongthong, india, culture, tradition, meghalay Related StoriesEffect of British rule destroyed our pride in our cultureTraditional TalesSpiritual detox. "Taking care of the children, thats the womens responsibility. Some of the newer melodic names are inspired by Bollywood songs. "We consider the mother the goddess of the family. Here in the lush, rolling hills of the northeastern state of Meghalaya, mothers from Kongthong and a few other local villages compose a special melody for each child. They have conventional "real" names too, but they are rarely used. Plastic clamshell packaging boxes Factory This photo taken on July 12, 2018 shows Indian villagers returning from a day working in nearby fields in Kongthong village, in East Khasi Hills district in India's eastern Meghalaya state. And unusually for India, this is a matrilineal society

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July 16, 2020

Blood-soaked bodies lay crumpled underneath

Blood-soaked bodies lay crumpled underneath tables of food and other goods, as men gathered around wounded people.The deaths came as top diplomats from 17 countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, met for Fruit clamshells the first time in Vienna to seek a political path out of the conflict.More than 250,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in March 2011.A regular targetThe market's corrugated metal rooftops had been twisted and blown apart in the attack, left dangling over mangled bicycles and shredded signs.The Douma Coordination Committee, a local activist group, published a gruesome video of what it said was the aftermath of more than a dozen rockets smashing into the market.According to Abdel Rahman, "Douma is one of the areas in Syria where there are the highest number of deaths since the beginning of the war.Douma, in Syria, has witnessed highest number of deaths since the beginning of war A Syrian army tank fires during fighting in Jobar, Damascus (Photo: AP) Douma, in Syria, has witnessed highest number of deaths since the beginning of war Beirut: Forty people, including a child, were killed on Friday when rockets fired by Syrian government forces crashed into a market in a rebel-held area outside Damascus, a monitor said. Throughout Syria's brutal war, both the government and opposition forces have been condemned by rights groups for indiscriminate fire on civilian areas.Rebel-held Douma lies in Eastern Ghouta, the largest opposition stronghold in Damascus province." Government forces regularly target the region with rocket fire, shelling and aerial raids, while opposition groups there also launch rockets into the capital. He said the latest attack took place as residents gathered at the market, leaving corpses piled on top of each other. "Since your father was killed in the last massacre, your mother has been telling you to stop working in the market. A young boy in a sky-blue sweater stood on the sidelines, looking stunned. "There is still heavy fire now, with both rockets and mortars," he said, adding that the toll was expected to rise as people were still being pulled out of damaged buildings.In August, 117 people were killed in a single day of air strikes in the town, causing a global outcry.He added that one child was among the dead. Why did you go Why " he cried. An AFP photographer at the scene said on Thursday's attack had wounded hospital staff, limiting the treatment available for the wounded on Friday."There were 40 people killed and at least 100 wounded in the centre of Douma," a town on the eastern edges of the Syrian capital, Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said.In the chaotic aftermath, a man in his thirties cried over the body of a young boy killed in the attack.Government air strikes on Thursday also hit a Douma market and a hospital, killing at least nine people, the Observatory said

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July 09, 2020

This is one of the key features of sustainable

A traveller interacts with locals during one of Antara’s tripsThe World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) defines sustainable tourism as "Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities", while The Global Development Research Center, an independent non-profit think tank, describes it as being "an industry which attempts to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate income, employment, and the conservation of local ecosystems". It’s a marketing or advertising gimmick and makes it very difficult for the consumer to be able to differentiate between what is really environmentally friendly and what is just a commercial gimmick," she says and points out how very often elephant riding is promoted as an eco-friendly activity when it’s not. However, Sushma does her bit to preserve the environments she is in. "I never carry plastic to the mountains, or chemically-saturated products like shampoos and lotions.A bird spotted on one of the birding trails on Farm of HappinessEthical tourismWhile travellers are doing their bit to keep their travel plans sustainable, there are also those within the travel industry who are championing sustainable tourism, encouraging travellers to explore the ecology and biodiversity of a place, but in a responsible fashion. The community itself became the watchdogs. I brief the people in terms of what the culture is like and what we need to take care of. You can create awareness about different communities. To become a part of them, you have to leave your ego behind," she says.Akanksha’s travel enterprise does something similar, but focusses on international experiences.This is one of the key features of sustainable tourism, where the focus lies on promoting local economies through community-based initiatives. Depleting natural resources, excessive commercialisation, unmanageable waste output had dented the environment and these are serious concerns in most tourist spots across India. Their eco-lodge, which is situated on a certified organic farm in Kodagu (Coorg) in southern Karnataka, invites conscious travellers to not only explore the flora and fauna of the Western Ghats and tropical forests, but also learn about biodiversity conservation and organic farming through workshops and forest ecology trails. It makes them realize that anything they do relating to the environment and their carbon footprints can go a long way in their own lives and not necessarily only when they travel. "As a policy, we don’t hire anybody apart from the local villagers. But as travellers evolve, they hope to acquire a deeper insight and want their experiences to be more inclusive and sustainable. There’s a concept called ‘greenwashing’ which unfortunately happens not just in tourism, but in other areas as well, like organic food, where the marketeers will say something is organic or natural or ‘eco’, but it’s not."Travellers collect mangoes on the Farm of Happiness. It helps one be open to new experiences in a responsible way and look at other aspects, including nature, in the same manner we look at our families. We also forbid our guests from using plastic bottles and encourage them to not leave behind any plastic waste," says the botanist. Also, we make it clear that we’re looking for authenticity rather than ‘touristy attractions’. This makes you compassionate about both — the environment and the communities that live there. You will automatically become a vigilant traveller and see to it that your actions are sustainable. Alternatively, her team works on setting up culturally significant properties such as small museums that preserve artefacts, folklore and become a permanent cultural asset for a village. And that’s the way sustainable tourism is going to be," says Akanksha. It also means asking whether the money being spent by you is going back into the economy or to a multi-national office located in another city. "They are the first people to be stopped from entering, despite being dependent on the natural resource for generations. She says, "It’s true that travel is a super competitive industry, but it can also work in another way, where people co-operate and work with each other," which seems to be the spirit that guides sustainable tourism. She tied up with a Roma gypsy she met on one of her previous travels to facilitate staying options and community interactions. So, while travelling, you’re not just having a good time, but also giving back. The goal is to boost local economies and share the spotlight with local partners to draw attention to them.Travellers are opting for sustainable travel options and immersive experiences that also protects the interests of local communities. "Monetarily, it might benefit the locals, but I wonder if we’re exposing them to urbanised comforts and desires. And that’s where sustainable tourism comes into the picture. Antara, who in her previous corporate job got a chance to engage in rehabilitation activities in Uttarakhand right after the 2013 floods, understands well the impact community-first tourism can have on local economies. We can’t afford to not be responsible anymore. She says, "It’s all about empathy and compassion towards everyone and the places you visit. "The point is to promote a cultural exchange so that communities can learn from each other. Rahul and his wife set up the traditional Konkani homestay in 2014, when the duo decided to take to farming to feel closer to nature. Conscious travellers have thus altered their choice of destination to opt for nature-based, eco-friendly and community-based tourism. It is local experiences that help you learn more about a place and make you concerned about its wellbeing as well," she opines. There is always a wall between you and what you’re viewing and this makes you feel disconnected and uncompassionate towards anyone or anything other than yourself.However, there are some in the space who are going the extra mile to walk the talk.A traveller tries her hand at weaving using sustainably-produced yarnGreen with empathyIn 2018, the residents of Shimla made a plea to tourists to skip the much-favoured summer destination. I want to evoke, empathy, compassion and conversation," she explains. "This is a farmer’s opportunity to enlighten people about his daily struggles and let the consumer connect to his own food," he says. However, the very fact that you’re asking these questions means that you’ve taken the first step in the right direction," concludes Mariellen. So, we are in the space of supplementing rural livelihood," says Antara. Even Rahul Kulkarni’s ‘Farm of Happiness’, located in the biodiversity-rich Konkan region, is a similar sustainable destination that facilitates ecotourism, while encouraging guests to feel closer to nature. Today, it’s more experiential. So, you must engage with nature and those who inhabit the place. However, founder of the award-winning travel blog ‘Breathedreamgo’, Mariellen Ward underscores how the term ‘ecotourism’ has been misused as well.Antara believes that travel organisers like herself too can help change attitudes of travellers, so that they truly connect with a place and act responsibly. Such journeys encourage deep diving into a locality’s ecosystem, while also bolstering local habitats and economies. Though the eco-lodge invites human beings to take a closer look at the Western Ghats, Sujata says that they try their best to reduce the traveller’s carbon footprint by introducing sustainable initiatives on the lodge and farm. "We use solar energy for lighting and heating purposes, biogas for cooking, compost for farming, practice rainwater harvesting and recycle waste. Also, there is no waste as the leftovers are passed through the animal house; the rest is used for biogas," informs Rahul. You never get a chance to interact with the locals, except for maybe, the people working there. However, Rahul too ensures that his agro-eco tourism initiative doesn’t defile the environment.For the community, by the communityDespite impressive growth in the tourism industry in the last few decades, local communities did not have much role in tourism development.This thought is echoed by Shikha Bala, a photographer who confesses taking multiple trips in a year. Indian tourists have forever explored each destination with the spirit of conquerors, hopeful of ticking off a laundry-list of attractions. Botanist Dr Sujata Goel, who runs ‘Rainforest Retreat at Mojo Plantation’, a unique project that combines ecotourism with sustainable agriculture and environmental education, along with her husband Anurag, says that awareness about the Earth’s fragile state is driving responsible travellers to explore ecotourism. Also, I never expect lavishness when it comes to the stay or any of the facilities. "The impact on the local environment and culture is the crucial consideration. Often, it resulted in conflicts between the community and the industry. The tourism industry is still unorganised in India, yet for many states, it is the biggest source of revenue. As the growing breed of ‘conscious’ travellers opt for pristine, lush green destinations, or to connect with secluded communities, one wonders if it can negatively impact the area and the locals. And so, while visitors are taken on treks and boat rides and birding trails to view more than a 100 species that abound in the lush landscape, they are also given a tour of his organic farm, encouraging them to participate in any or all of the farming activities. Marginalized communities, no matter where they live, do have serious, often similar issues, so there’s great possibility of learning from each other. You have to go in as an equal; you don’t go in as a ‘visitor to the zoo’. Also, visiting offbeat places puts them on the map, and that leads to more people visiting them. "When I engage with people from the place, I develop a relationship with the place and this makes me want to be cautious about the way I dispose my garbage, refrain from using and throwing plastic items and opt for homestays rather than five-star properties. So, we have to put them first by training them to earn a livelihood by conducting ecotourism activities like birding, trekking, setting up homestays and allied businesses. The hilly capital of Himachal Pradesh was facing an acute shortage of water and the peak tourist season was contributing to its woes. It is because we ask for lavishness that big hotels come up and ruin ecologically sensitive spaces," she avers. They should not be employed for our experience, but be the owners of our experience," she insists. "We’re very conscious that it’s a partnership model. For her recent trip, she invited city-dwellers to live with Romanian gypsies so that they could get a feel of the community and their lives. Rahul Kulkarni, owner of ‘Farm of Happiness’, an agro-eco tourism destination says, "Tourism norms in India are changing a lot. Thirty-two-year-old Akanksha Pundir, an avid traveller with a travel enterprise of her own called ‘Grass on the Hill’, foregoes the jargon and describes sustainable tourism in a manner that’s relatable and inspiring. So, though I enjoy my trips, it’s not entirely guilt free," says Sushma Hegde who plastic Tray container Factory often makes trips to the Himalayas. "Many times, a term is used just for marketing purposes.Antara also focusses on setting up workshops that connect city-based women with their rural counterpart so that both groups can share knowledge and experiences with each other. Our team is also strictly local," avers Rahul. "We curate experiences by identifying local communities and organisations already working in their respective regions and then partner with them through workshops and other activities. I don’t like staying in hotels because it’s too impersonal. Ankit Sood, founder member of ‘Sunshine Himalayan Adventures’ who motivated locals around the ‘Great Himalayan National Park’, now a World Heritage Site, to take up eco-tourism believes it is important to empower locals as they are the ones most affected wherever ecologically sensitive areas are converted into wildlife sanctuaries or national parks. Therefore, it is essential to involve locals and boost the local economy. We cook using biogas made on the farm; our meals too are derived from farm produce.And it is introspection and empathy that makes one act responsibly and sustainably.And so, her travel initiative ties up with local partners to help them find a footing in the tourism industry. We don’t want local communities to be ‘putting up a performance’ for us.While individuals like Rahul and Ankit are helping boost local economies through ecotourism activities, there are also sustainable tourism initiatives like Antara Chatterjee’s ‘The Little Local’, a two-and-a-half-year-old travel company that puts local communities completely in charge of tourism in their respective areas. You stay in your comfort zone of being a ‘tourist’ and look at the animals cordoned off by enclosures. I bring back all my non-compostable waste and dispose it in the correct manner after I reach the city. Earlier, it used to be about sightseeing. We can’t allow big tourism companies and hotels to siphon away these opportunities," he says. "If you’re truly concerned about where the world is going, you’ll be a vigilant traveller yourself. Unfortunately, there’s no way of getting the perfect answers even if you do a lot of research. So travellers should ask themselves how their journey is impacting the local environment, the culture, and the community. "Ecotourism makes a person aware about the ecology of the place.Right thoughts, right deedsIt is this spirit of cooperation, understanding and empathy that, experts believe, will prevent the sustainable tourism industry from succumbing to the problems the ecotourism industry encountered. In fact, they hope to contribute towards its conservation and proliferation. "The farm is working towards being a sustainable system in itself. So, if a community doesn’t have a traditional dance, it’s fine. Travellers are interested in stepping into someone’s shoes to get an insight into their way of life.A city-based traveller enjoys a game with a local womanThe sustainable travel enthusiast says, "I was sick of the tick-mark kind of tourism, because, to use an analogy, it makes you feel like a visitor to a zoo. She too believes that engaging with local communities fosters sustainable travel practices."Conscious travellers have thus altered their choice of destination to opt for nature-based, eco-friendly and community-based tourism." Akanksha recalls the shift she has seen in her own travel patterns, as the desire to establish a deeper connect with the environment and the people of the place takes precedence. A ridiculously cheap hiking company was banned in Ladakh for behaving irresponsibly in the area. "Having a context or expectation setting session at the beginning of the trip is extremely important, because this helps travellers to understand the local communities they will be visiting, better. In a quest to explore the unexplored, responsible and eco-conscious travellers today choose to explore every destination without proving to be a threat to the locality, community or habitat. Darting from one ‘touristy’ landmark to the next, most of these touch-and-go visits offered only a cursory glimpse. We want to draw people outside concrete confinements and make them aware of the habitats we are losing," shares Sujata." Akanksha echoes this view when she says, "‘Immerse’ is an important word, because when you immerse yourself in a place, you will behave in a manner the community is used to when you’re with them

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June 22, 2020

For tracking the heart rate and blood

For tracking the heart rate and blood pressure, there’s an Osram SFH7070 optical sensor placed at the bottom of the tracker.The Sonic V08 sports a Nordic 52832 processor that powers a KX023-1025 sensor.0 app on your smartphone. Nonetheless, the H Band 2. While we noticed that when new, the tracker snaps in well, but over time, we could see the plastic notch that holds the tracker in, possibly wearing off.The tracker, when in Bluetooth earphone mode, can either playback music or answer calls. You have got the latest and best from one of the spectrum in the form of Apple’s Watch, whereas there are a bunch of functional ones available for dirt cheap prices from brands such as Xiaomi and others. At first use, we did not need the silicone ear tips as we preferred using it similar to how Apples earphones are used. Probably a huge drawback for a fitness band, but since this has a Bluetooth earphone functionality which forces it to lose out on the IPX rating. The convenience of a health tracker fused into a Bluetooth earpiece makes it one of the most exciting products in its category. Everything needs to be done from the smartphone itself. Soulfit should work on a robust release mechanism, ensuring that the tracker only comes out of the slot when the user demands.The weight of the earpiece is well balanced, ensuring a comfortable fit.With inputs from Francis DSa, Editor, TechnologyAlso published on Deccan Chronicle You can get one for Rs 9,999 — a price that pushes it pretty much into the Fitbit territory.0 app provides the user with a lot of options to tinker around with various parameters, such as setup auto heart rate and blood pressure tracking, alarms and even locate the smartphone.Nonetheless, if you are looking for a fitness tracker that does more than simply track/record your health data, then the Soulfit Sonic V08 is definitely a must buy. It would have been nice if the tracker could use the touch sensor with a series of gestures to help with volume, track, pause/play and alike. The earbud resembles Apple’s EarPods with the design almost identical to the bud. However, the tracker release mechanism is easily its biggest weakness, requiring Soulfit to polish up on the design. However, you can also set up the tracker to keep a tab on the heart rate and notify you if there’s a sudden bump in the readings. This, indirectly means that the tracker is meant or designed by the company for those who will wear it on the left hand. China Plastic Fruit Containers The Soulfit Sonic V08 is one of the best concepts we have seen, in the wearable category, in a while.

Not using the silicon eartip makes the tracker unit fit loosely into the strap, and if your release button is accidentally pressed, the tracker will definitely fall off without the user knowing it. And when it comes to charging the device, the Sonic V08 thankfully doesn’t sport any micro USB port or a power jack — there’s a charging dock that uses POGO pins to charge the onboard battery, similar to the Pebble or Mi Band. Rating: Smart wearables are dime a dozen in the market these days.The earpiece is designed for the right ear only and does not turn around the other way. Therefore, does it justify itself as being good at both the functionalities of a health band as well as a Bluetooth earpiece?The Sonic V08 looks like any other health tracker at first glance. The Sonic V08 can track steps, calories, heart rate, blood pressure, sleep and features additional basic functions such as notifications, alerts, alarms and a few more.98-inch display manages to show content from supported apps and messages very well. Lastly, the release mechanism is made from plastic, which could see a wear and tear earlier than usual as this tracker will also continuously be used as a earphone. In short, this tracker is not meant for music but has a USP only meant for phone calls. The company should think about those users who prefer using a health band on their right too. However, the tiny form factor and the dual-device function does deserve some raised eyebrows. We found the manual connection setup a bit annoying, considering that most other fitness bands connect to smartphones once the Bluetooth has been switched on. There’s also a camera mode in the app that allows the band to act as a remote Bluetooth shutter button for snapping photos without shakes — a feature that was very interesting and well thought of. However, we have been using the device since two weeks and arent as sure till further exhaustive use of the tracker. The eartip will also give you a snug fit when in the ear canal apart from adding to the grip when being used. the microphones sensitivity is also very good and voice calls are absolutely no problems.The Soulfit Sonic V08 is one of the best concepts we have seen, in the wearable category, in a while. This is why their Sonic V08 health band doubles up as a Bluetooth earpiece for taking calls on the move. As for calls, the touch sensor will allow receiving the call, but not hang up.However, Soulfit believes that health bands can actually be more than simply a tracker resting on your wrist all day. There’s a pebble-shaped tracker unit sitting neatly into the strap. The steps and calories are tracked on their own. The H Band 2. Soulfit claims that the product has been tested for such conditions and assured us that the release mechanism will not fail or wear off as easily as we thought. The tracker houses a 0. Most of them, apart from the new Apple/Android stables basically do the same, albeit in different forms and function — track steps and heart rate, show notifications and act as a controller for your smartphone, and so on. The ones that qualify as health bands simply constrain themselves to the basics. As a result, there have been multiple moments when we almost lost the tracker while outdoors. One can even choose from three watch faces for the puny display, which is a nice touch.The Sonic V08 doubles up as Bluetooth earpiece, making the fitness band almost inseparable. The straps slot has a low-powered magnet on one end and the tracker has a magnetic sensor which helps in answering or disconnecting a call. Soulfit also bundles along two silicon ear tips meant to increase the comfort while wearing (and keep the tracker intact within the strap — more on that later). This feature will monitor your heartbeat continuously and periodically to ensure you are alerted accordingly, but will sacrifice on battery life in the bargain.For the tracker part, it works well — the tracking is mostly accurate.The audio quality is very good for calls and basic music playback; however, there’s noticeable distortion at higher volume. On an average, the Sonic V08 managed to last for up to three days, where we kept it connected to our smartphone and attended most of the calls using the earpiece, while the device additionally did the job of health tracking. Yes, a health band that can do all the usual tracking stuff and also receive calls when required. There are absolutely no controls on the unit for answering or disconnecting the call or to even increase the volume or changing tracks.Connectivity was a bit of a trouble. Like most other fitness trackers, you can tap on the touch button and go to the desired tracking mode for manually tracking the data for the heart rate and blood pressure.96-inch OLED display with a touch button below it, which is the sole medium of interaction. It’s smart as well — it shows notifications and provides convenient ways to interact with your smartphone (summoning the voice assistants).However, when you consider the earpiece part, you will find the Sonic V08 very useful — simply plug out the tracker when a call comes in and use it as a Bluetooth receiver. Almost. The trackers release mechanism has a slight design flaw. The release button is prone to accidental bumps and brushes when in a crowded area, thereby accidentally releasing the tracker from the slot even when you don’t need it. There’s also a physical button or release mechanism on the strap, which releases the tracker from the strap when you need to use it as a Bluetooth earpiece. In order to keep the tracker from falling off, even if the release mechanism is accidentally triggered, the user will have to use the silicon ear tips to ensure a snug fit into the strap and prevent it from falling. To receive a call, simply press the release mechanisms button, and the tracker pops out of the strap. For that, you will have to install the H Band 2. As for disconnecting, you simply place it back into the strap and the call disconnects.0 app is necessary to connect the band to your smartphone and record all vital data. Though the trackers functionality has this brilliant feature, raising our expectations from all health trackers from other established manufacturers, theres not all good here. Put it in your ear to take the call — no need to press any buttons for answering as the tracker senses that you have removed it from the strap and automatically answers the call. Lastly, the tracker is made of durable plastic too, but does not feature water-resistance. It’s also surprising that the 0. The strap comprises entirely of rubber, and the tracker slot is made from plastic — all of it ensures an irritation-free wear experience. However, when in a noisy area, the microphone also picks up the ambient sound, causing a disturbance to the person on the other end of the call. Lastly, as for music, the audio quality is average but not as enjoyable as you would find on stereo headphones. This being a continuously tracking health band-cum-Bluetooth earpiece, the battery life on the Soulfit is decently good. What seems to be the main USP of the Sonic V08 is possibly one of its biggest drawbacks, almost. The one area where Soulfit has nailed it is the battery.Keeping aside the release mechanism design issue, the tracker is a great gadget as an overall

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June 18, 2020

When Olympic sailors compete in Rio the cameras

 When Olympic sailors compete in Rio the cameras will show a made-for-television scene of sparkling tropical waters and mountains.Her brother Marco, who is also in the Brazilian sailing team, said all competitors run the same risks, where a simple plastic bag around a centerboard or rudder could ruin a race.When the races start, the floating garbage collectors will be out in force.So, chances are that the contests will pass off without incident. Another body part washed up on Copacabana beach, just outside Guanabara, in June. But I am very optimistic that we can guarantee a fair regatta.Surveying the scene, Rio's state secretary for the environment, said eco-barriers are enough to ensure a trouble-free Olympics -- or almost."Unthinkable:Martine Grael, daughter of five times Olympic medalist Torben Grael, is an outspoken critic of the pollution failure.All competitors run the same risks, where a simple plastic bag around a centerboard or rudder could ruin a race.Having completely failed to deliver, Rio opted for emergency measures. At best only half the sewage they produce is treated before it pours into the city's watery heart. These are nets placed across 17 rivers entering Guanabara -- rivers used by millions of people as garbage dumps and open sewers."It could happen," he told AFP."We've found dead dogs, rats, cats, everything," recalled one of the workers, who said he makes only 1,400 reais a month ($432) and works nine hour days.A fleet of 12 trash-collecting boats called "eco-barcos" have spent months patrolling the bay, China Blister packaging Factory plucking an average of 45 tons of rubbish a month -- about one and a half tons daily -- from the water, according to officials.The New York Times published a picture this week of a bloated human body in the bay.Incredibly, the fact that sailors will compete in a giant cesspit -- which Brazilian researchers say contains drug-resistant superbacteria -- is not their main worry." end-of."The sailors' best ally will be mother nature: tidal streams keep areas picked for the contests relatively clean, while the dry August weather means less rain to wash garbage downstream. Luckily, the billions of viewers won't catch the revolting stink.More than nine million people live in Rio and towns around the rest of Guanabara Bay."It's shameful," Kunze told AFP. It is a dirty, potentially dangerous job performed amid the choking stench of raw sewage, some of which comes from a favela slum next door. "It's not something I even like to think about.The first lines of defense, though, are so-called eco-barriers.Because garbage collection in greater Rio is no better than the sewage treatment, the bay brims with plastic bags, bottles, discarded furniture and dead animals.Each day, labourers go out in a small aluminum boat, scooping up some pieces and pushing the rest towards the bank, where a digger is used to shovel the debris into a dumpster."Is there a chance we'll have some problem " he asked.It's the big, floating stuff capable of snaring or even damaging boats and medal dreams that keep athletes like Kahena Kunze and her 49er crewmate Martine Grael up at night.jpeg All competitors run the same risks, where a simple plastic bag around a centerboard or rudder could ruin a race."We were hoping for something better" from the Olympics, he said sadly.At a an eco-barrier on the River Meriti in the Duque de Caxias neighborhood, there was a soup of plastic, car tires, children's toys and household appliances including a microwave and a fridge.Emergency measures:As part of its winning 2009 bid to host the Olympics, Rio promised to treat 80 percent of the pollution, a task requiring enormous, expensive infrastructure improvements. aa gARBAGE CLEANING. She was famously pictured on a paddleboard in Guanabara pretending to watch a television she'd just found."But the Games will go away and the pollution will stay," said Torben Grael, who now coaches the Brazilian sailing team."That's not going to happen. "It's not impossible

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June 04, 2020

This latest generation fan design was inspired

The products include the Triton 900, Triton 500, Helios 700, Helios 300- 17 inch, Helios 300- 15Inch.2 Gen 3 x4 PCIe SSDs using NVMe technology in RAID 0, and up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM for superior gaming performance at a value. Acer India also launched Nitro 7, Nitro 5 17-inch, Nitro 5 15-inch, and associated accessories.6-inch display reproduces lifelike colors at a 144Hz1 refresh rate with a 3ms response time for a tear-free gaming experience — crucial while in the throes of battle.3 mm (0.78 inches) thin with a 78 percent screen-to-body ratio and up to 8 hours of battery life. Users can optimize streaming performance with an 8th Gen Intel® Coreâ„¢ i7/i5 processor, up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, and an integrated capture card. It features 1080p Full HD Display, high refresh rate up to 144HZ and 1ms visual response time.Acer Accessories: Nitro Stream specificationsAcer’s Nitro Stream is a dedicated, plug-and-play Personal Streaming PC (PSPC) for PC and console game broadcasters.9 mm (0. The slimmed-down Triton 500 can easily be slipped in a backpack or briefcase, but once taken out and powered on, it becomes a gaming powerhouse. Most critical at keeping the temperature low is a dual-fan cooling system that includes one of Acer’s 4th Gen AeroBladeâ„¢ 3D Fans. Both the display features 144Hz refresh rate and 3m response time or a tear-free, seamless gaming experience.Predator Triton 900The Predator Triton 900 is a gaming notebook in a robust futuristic convertible metal chassis wih innovative new design features.

It has a durable, all-metal chassis and narrow bezels measuring just 6. It delivers eye-popping 4Kp60 gaming experience while streaming at 1080p with the capture card’s Pass-Through feature.Both Predator Triton 900 and 500 receive their gaming cred with Acers advanced cooling system that includes 4th Gen AeroBladeâ„¢ 3D metal fans that increase airflow by 45 percent, and Coolboostâ„¢ technology that keeps the notebooks cool during extended gaming sessions and while playing demanding AAA titles. With 9th Gen Intel® Coreâ„¢ i9 processor, two 512GB 1M. The integrated card does the heavy lifting to capture, record, and stream high-quality content and can enjoy smooth gameplay with no China Blister packaging services Factory lag between gaming and streaming displays.6-inch Full HD gaming notebook sits at a mere 17. The AOPEN monitor also features flicker-free and low blue light technology.

This latest generation fan design was inspired by bionic silent owl flight mechanics that maximize airflow and minimize noise. Keeping the notebook running cool and at peak performance is an advanced and efficient thermal design that unlocks the true potential of the Helios’s powerful hardware. To round out the package, both Triton 900 and Triton 500 features audio by Waves.HyperDrift for Enhanced CoolingThe all-new Predator Helios 700 features a unique HyperDrift forward-sliding keyboard that helps maximize airflow to keep the system running cool and enable gamers to push the powerful components to their highest potential. All that power makes games roar to life on the notebook’s 17-inch 144Hz FHD IPS display with 3ms response time and NVIDIA G-SYNCâ„¢ technology.Predator Triton 500 The Predator Triton 500 is a 15.Nitro VG0 series- VG240Y IPS Gaming MonitorThe Acer Nitro VGO Series of value-oriented gaming monitors aims to shake up the market with unique specs and affordability. Its GPU is overclockable and VR-Ready, letting gamers enjoy the latest cutting-edge gaming and VR experiences.Nitro 7 The Nitro7 gaming notebook is for casual gamers looking to boost their gaming performance as they connect with friends online and equip the tools to dominate the battlefield for the ultimate gaming experience.Nitro 5Acer’s updated Nitro 5 laptop allows users to enjoy their favorite games in exceptional detail with a Full HD IPS display in either a 17.3-inch narrow bezel display or 15.AOPEN Monitor AOPEN HC1-32-inch Gaming Monitor features a full curved 1800R display.75 mm (0. The laptop’s gorgeous 17. The Acer Predator Helios 700. It comes with per-key RGB backlighting, macro keys, and a switchable trackpad/Numpad. Users can also connect supporting gadgets with an array of ports such as HDMI 2.9mm in thickness and weighs approximately 2. Its twin fans push air out of the back-right edge of the chassis, covering temperatures, fan speeds and more. Powered by the newest 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processors for premium performance with the addition of the latest of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GPU with Max-Q Design supported by a Turbo key for one-punch overclocking and Killer DoubleShotâ„¢ Pro for fast and lag-free networking. Users can enjoy a hassle-free solution for high-quality Full HD streaming, share gameplay, and interact with friends and the gaming community thanks to its integrated hardware and software built from the ground up for live streaming.Nitro VG1 series- VG271U IPS Gaming MonitorWith an Eye on gamers, Acer new Nitro VG1 series comes with a fast 144HZ refresh rate to prevent screen tearing. NVIDIA G-SYNC technology creates fluid images as they zip across the screen while gaming or watching movies.The Predator Triton 500 infused with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPUs with Max-Q design, up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processors, NVMe PCIe RAID 0 SSDs, and up to 32GB DDR4 memory. Additionally, the Monitor also features ZeroFrame Design, Radeon FreeSync, Visual Response Boost (VRB) and Acer Ultra-Low Blue Light technology that reduces the amount of harmful blue light emitted by LED panel. With up to 32GB of DDR4 2666MHz memory and up to two PCIe NVMe SSDs in RAID 0 plus a hard drive, it’s the powerhouse gamers crave for playing today’s AAA games. The new 0.These exciting machines include the Triton 900, Triton 500, Helios 700, Helios 300- 17 inch, Helios 300- 15Inch. Streamers can free up valuable desk space with this single compact device that can even attach to the back of a display with a VESA mount.The most noticeable is the notebook’s cooling solution. The monitor also comes with UHD 4K IPS panel with a resolution of 2560x1440 WQHD and support for 95 percent of DCI-P3 wide color space. By simply sliding the keyboard forward, two additional air intakes are uncovered above the keyboard and below the display, giving the powerful heat-generating components extra airflow for maximum cooling and unleashed overclocking. The new Nitro 7 gaming laptop will turn heads with its sleek, mobile metal design measuring 19. It also allows for fan speed monitoring and adjusting in real-time, so gamers can customize their speed or set fans to the max when the heat is on. It also has ample storage, with two slots available for M. Mechanical keyboards will help when it comes to the comfort of typing and offers a better response rate compared to membrane keys. Additionally, users can set up a power plan to achieve optimal power usage in different scenarios, or access Acer TrueHarmony’sâ„¢ six sound modes, turn sticky keys on or off and activate the LCD overdrive to bring the display response time down to 3ms3. It effortlessly streams gameplay with Gigabit Wi-Fi 5 with 2x2 MU-MIMO technology. It’s also amazingly thin at just 23.0, USB Type-C 3. Acer unveiled a wide array of gaming laptops aimed at gaming enthusiasts across segments at an event in Mumbai.These devices are ready to conquer the gaming arena with the latest processors, integrated Pass-Through Feature, cutting edge 3D Technology, 4th Gen AeroBladeâ„¢, Waves MaxxAudio® Suite + Waves Nx® 3D Virtual Sound and much more to give the gamers an immersive gaming experience, more powerful devices that combine technical prowess. It features a CNC-machined Ezel Aero Hingeâ„¢ that flips, extends, or reclines the 17-inch display. The laptop also comes with five speakers and a subwoofer to keep the games immersive and engage with full and realistic audio.3-inch 4K IPS display floats above the chassis.Users can monitor and manage the Nitro 7 and Nitro 5 with NitroSense, accessible with one touch of the NitroSense hot key.2 PCIe NVMe SSDs in Raid 0, and up to 32GB DDR4 memory, gamers can power up the most demanding games and expect smooth, tear-free gameplay with up to 5GHz1Turbo, 8 cores, 16 MB of smart cache, and great battery life.Users can switch between four usage modes isplay mode for sharing the screen with friends during gaming sessions, Ezel mode for playing games on the touch screen, notebook mode for traditional gaming scenarios, and stand mode — effectively turning the Triton 900 into a tablet for gaming or using creator tools.6-inch with an impressive 80 percent screen-to-body ratio. The 15. The Triton series 900’s trackpad is placed beside the keyboard, giving users natural hand placement for gaming using both the keyboard and trackpad. The monitor is an IPS display with a focus on fast-paced gaming. And with up to 8-hours of battery life, users can play their favorite titles on the road or with friends away from home.2 Gen 1, and more. Waves Maxxâ„¢ delivers superior sound quality made immersive with Waves Nxâ„¢ with head tracking for a 3D audio experience.Predator Helios 300 (15 inch and 17inch)The Predator Helios 300 gaming notebook comes with a new sophisticated design that just got better with the addition of powerful technologies and killer features.1mm-thin fan blades include a serrated edge, winglets along the top and bottom, as well as a curved fin along the inner portion of each blade.Also,the metal chassis now rocks the stylish teal blue accents and keyboard backlighting found on other Predator notebooks.Predator Helios 700 Powering the uniquely designed Predator Helios 700 notebook is an all-new 9th Gen Intel® Coreâ„¢ i9 processor for the top of the line overclockable performance, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 or 2070 GPU, up to 64GB of DDR4 memory. The all-new Nitro 7 packs with Next-Gen Intel® Coreâ„¢ processor and the latest NVIDIA GeForce® Graphics to ensure a seamless gaming experience. The monitor also boasts a 4ms response time, 144 Hz refresh rate and AMD Radeon FreeSync technology.Featuring the new NVIDIA® GeForce RTXâ„¢ 2080 GPU and a 4K IPS touch display, the Predator Triton 900 brings gamers a great gaming experience. The glass panel also provides a view of the notebook’s heat pipes.The Nitro 5 combines a 9th Gen Intel Core processor, the latest NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX graphics, two M.1 kg, and is aimed for portability. TheMonitor also features VESA- compatible mount and has VisionCare technology,Flickerless, BlueLightShield, Comfyview and low dimming technologies to reduce eye strain during long gaming sessions. The new Predator Helios 700 consists of two of Acer’s custom-engineered Dual 4th Gen AeroBladeâ„¢ 3D Fans, five copper heat pipes, a vapor chamber, and Acer CoolBoostâ„¢ Technology. This results in up to a 45 percent improvement in airflow.25 inches) for an impressive 81 percent body-to-screen ratio.94 inches). A narrow bezel around the display and a redesigned keyboard with contemporary looking Predator fonts give it a hip and edgy look. Its high-resolution 15. In terms of connectivity options, the laptop gets a Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX 1650 and E3000 adaptors delivering up to four times more network capacity in dense environments than previous-generation wireless AC networks. Coupled with strategically placed intake and exhaust vents and Acer CoolBoostâ„¢ technology, the Helios 300 stays calm under pressure and handles intense overclocked gaming sessions with ease.Last but not least is a completely new keyboard featuring distinctive Predator fonts and 4-zone RGB lighting.2 Gen 3x4 PCIe SSDs using NVMe technology in RAID 0, and up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM with up to 2TB of HDD storage.6-inch 300 nits IPS display brings games to life with 144Hz refresh rates in overdrive at 3ms. Usability and functionality are improved with new PredatorSense and Turbo hotkeys, an enlarged spacebar, and concave shaped, highlighted WASD keys, arrow keys, and hotkeys. It comes in two displays sizes- 15 inch and 17 inch Full HD IPS display

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