#traditions while ushering in new waves of progress and advancement

[molagboop]

Mawkin children undergo several maturity rites before they're granted full tribal citizenship. The first occurs around eight years old, involving a basic academic evaluation and the child's choice between a physical fitness test or a dream-walk.

The evals are simple: how much has the child learned, what do they know, where can we supplement their education, etc. How can we stimulate their curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning? Have they displayed any skills or passion for any particular subject? How can we encourage their hobbies and interests? Those are the kinds of questions the adults involved in carrying out the evaluation are asking themselves.

The evaluations help parents figure out (or reaffirm what they already know) ways to engage their childrens' interests in a fun or productive way, and how to help their child along the path to success, academic or otherwise. Every child is different: they have their own needs, and while 8 years old isn't old enough for anyone to ascertain exactly what they wanna be when they grow up, the evaluation is a good starting point for the rest of their academic track until their next formative rites.

The next part of the rites is a branching path. The fitness test is typically favored by more outdoorsy or athletic types, as well as children who are afraid of specters or arent very interested in the old ways. That's fine: old people stuff can be boring! The priests go on and on about the ancestors during holidays, but you're eight years-old and you've never seen the ancestors show up before, so big whoop. You've got toys to play and things to learn.

Another general assumption is that children who are likely to grow into steadfast warriors or athletes may pick the fitness test enthusiastically and without thinking about it, but again, this is an evaluation, and the kids are like, eight. Nothing is set in stone. Eight year olds also typically love playing outside.

A number of kids, hearing about all the cool things their elders know and are capable of, or just being curious about what their ancestors might have to teach them, opt for the dream-walk.

The dream-walk involves exposure to psychoactive fumes, but is nonetheless completely safe: the kid is monitored and made as comfortable as possible.

The dream-walk is overseen by priests and doctors. The burners are lit and the trial-goer falls asleep, entering a state similar to lucid dreaming.

Everyone's experience is different. Some kids have profound surreal experiences: others spend the entire time sitting at a table with a long-dead ancestor having a meal. Some kids are shown events from the past by an old ghost: some even experience said event from the perspective of someone who was there when it happened.

For others, the dream is of an old-fashioned hunt, typically guided by a departed grandparent or neighbor. It's not unusual for Mawkin kids to have experienced the act of hunting for food or sport by this point in their lives: many who hunt take their babies out with them on their backs. The quarry during the dream-walk, however, is typically more than your mundane game beast.

Tribal scholars and doctors of psychology have posited that the dream walk largely reflects the experiences of those involved. Formative memories and strong feelings, they believe, greatly affect the appearance of conjured apparitions in the dream. If a kid is fighting any demons at eight years old or harbor any powerful fears, they may very well be forced to face them head-on during this trial.

Therein lies the value of the dream-walk: it's not just a curiosity to get the kids to engage with cultural practices of yore, it has utility in teaching children valuable lessons through experience without actually making them fight the six-eyed serpent of a hundred and seventeen mouths. And they're usually not facing it alone: the ancestors quite literally walk with plenty of kids during these trials.

There are some truths a given child must face alone, and plenty do. But when they wake, they will find themselves among familiar company, the sweet smell of wood smoke permeating the air and a feast awaiting back home to celebrate their first milestone towards becoming an adult.

Some kids don't fight any major bosses or experience the heat death of the universe through the eyes of a slug, instead deriving value from the dream-walk in the form of sensory-guided introspection. The lesson they learn may not even be apparent to them until six years down the line. It doesn't have to be deep: it can just be an experience that gives then a new perspective on the world.

The senses are heightened supremely during the dream-walk, allowing the dreamer to experience the world in a whole new way. Tasting color, feeling the vibration of every sound beneath one's skin, perceiving the shape of every smell. Even if the kid walks away thinking "huh, I've never experienced the world that way before", the trial will have been a success. In the very least, a child should come out of that dark room with a unique memory for them to examine later on.

Several minor rituals and evaluations occur around twelve and fifteen years, but the foremost citizenship rites occur around seventeen, when an individual's stomach is strong enough to handle sap wine in greater quantities without suffering catastrophic liver failure. The dream-walk is a requirement this time around, as well as a combat test. The combat test is the actual rite that determines one's status as an adult: the mandatory dream-walk occurs beforehand as a way to shed all doubts about the strength of one's resolve if they have any insecurities, and perhaps gain some personal insight in the process. Introspection assisted by psychoactive substances.

You may be wondering how those with varying degrees of disability come of age if they can't engage in the rite of combat. There are alternatives to the combat test if the participant doesn't feel able enough to fight, or otherwise can't exert themselves without experiencing undue pain and discomfort.

There are alternative rites for individuals of every combination of physical and cognitive impairment, and all are treated with the same gravity and dignity afforded to the typical rites. Poetry recitals, music, research projects, an oath of maturity: these are a few examples of things disabled Mawkin have done to establish their claim to adulthood in place of the rite of combat. An individual doesn't have to be "good" at something: they just have to show that they accept the responsibility that comes with being an adult, or are otherwise committed to their community and the tribe at large.

For some people, that commitment comes in the form of thriving to the best of their ability. Surviving to the next day, striving for tomorrow to hurt a little less than yesterday. It doesn't matter whether they can "contribute" or be a "productive member of society": all are one, and one serves all. The Mawkin take community very seriously. There's an age-old adage that says something to the effect of "if one is suffering, all are injured", and "when one is deprived of dignity, we are all cast naked face-down into the mud".

Anyways, that's how juvenile Mawkin are granted all the rights, responsibilities and privileges that come saddled with being an adult. It's worth noting that most of these rites line up with a typical Chozo's molting cycle, with the final rites occurring just as young warriors are shaking off the last loose feathers of their old coat and displaying their first (clear) adult patterns.

#mawkin #chozo #headcanons #txt #the dream-walk not only gives children a stronger bond with the honored dead #it gives them a window into the lives of the priesthood #some are intrigued by what they experience and eventually dedicate themselves to learning about and preservong the old #traditions while ushering in new waves of progress and advancement #preserving the old while welcoming the new. #i put emphasis on the old and the new bevause using drugs to see ghosts specifically is a very very old practice #some traditions evolved with technology and the Mawkin's migration to ZDR: others remained relatively untouched #most people keep some sort of house shrine or curio to honor their ancestors: only the priests and people who need advice #are getting zonked off their gourd to talk to ghosts #and most normal people aren't even given the chance to commune with the dead outside of the maturity rites #some of the blends these priests are burning would knock a grown unaccustomed warrior flat on their back #straight into concussion territory #they are not for the faint of heart. #to clarify inhaling fumes to see ghosts isn't all the priests do. but it's part of the job for a specific subset of them #the dead walk among the mawkin ans their wisdom is appreciated #priests are historicans lorekeepers and storytellers as well as dead-talkers #they're librarians and funeral directors and community hermits and warrior monks

[bradyfinch06]

Uncovering the Protective and Green Tints of Vegas Powder Coating

Metalwork has been an artform and an essential fabrication for human needs for millennia. In the modern era, as we become increasingly aware of our environment and the materials that surround us, finding solutions that marry longevity with eco-friendliness is crucial. Powder coating—especially the advanced methods used in bustling hubs like Las Vegas—is one such solution that not only enhances protection but also minimizes environmental impact, ushering in a new wave of eco-conscientious metal fabrication.

Understanding Powder Coating's Framework

Before we glide into the green details, understanding the very framework and working of powder coating is essential. Unlike traditional liquid paints, powder coating doesn't require solvents to keep the binder and fillers in a liquid suspension, making it a 'dry' coating process. This reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is significant, contributing to cleaner air and less impact on the atmosphere. The powder itself is a blend of resins, pigments, and fillers uniformly mixed and processed into a fine powder.

Durability Balances Environmental Concerns

The durability of powder coating is a remarkable aspect. Once cured, typically through heat, the result is a flexible and long-lasting finish that resists cracking, peeling, and is impervious to chemicals. What this means for metalwork is less frequent recoating, and thus, a minimized environmental footprint. Furthermore, the fact that powder coating can be made to be ultra-thin while maintaining its protective qualities means that less material is needed per coating, again contributing positively to environmental conservation efforts.

The Allure of Vegas Powder Coating's Green Approach

Las Vegas, known for its glitz and glamour, stands out not just for its night skyline but for its steadfast commitment to progressive environmental standards, including in the art of powder coating. Vegas powder coating reflects the city's dedication to sustainable growth. The techniques and materials used by Vegas' powder coaters are often at the forefront of environmental regulations, showcasing that high-stakes quality and environmental responsibility need not be at odds.

The Eco-Friendliness is Clear

The environmental story of powder coating is compelling. With reduced waste due to its electrostatic application process, which ensures that most of the powder adheres to the product, minimal overspray is almost a given. Where there's chairing, it's often recycled, further reducing the environmental burden. The industry's shift towards eco-friendly powders, composed without heavy metals and other harmful additives, is a testament to the commitment of powder coaters towards a sustainable future.

Long-Term Benefits for Consumers and the Earth

Consumers who opt for powder-coated products are not only choosing a durable and high-quality finish but are also making a small yet significant contribution to the preservation of our planet. The resistant nature of powder-coated metals means they last longer, leading to less waste over time. It's a sustainable circle where the benefits to the consumer—finishes that don't fade or require regular maintenance—echo the global benefits in terms of the environment.

Looking to the Horizon

The shift from traditional paint to powder coating is not just an industrial trend; it is a vital step towards a greener future. The example set by Vegas powder coating companies highlights the possibilities of large-scale adoption of sustainable practices in metal fabrication. With innovations in both technologies and materials, the horizon for powder coating appears green and promising.

Powder coating offers a lustrous, durable finish that respects our environment. In a world where green is the new gold, Vegas powder coating exemplifies how functionality and environmental responsibility can converge, making for a future that is bright—in all the right ways.

[maturemindz]

Ai & Automation 3.0

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation has been nothing short of transformative. From streamlining processes to revolutionizing entire industries, the impact of AI & Automation 3.0 is undeniable, particularly within the realm of engineering. This latest wave of innovation is poised to reshape the way we approach design, manufacturing, and problem-solving, ushering in a new era of efficiency and productivity.

The Evolution of AI & Automation

AI & Automation 3.0 represents the culmination of decades of progress in AI research and technological advancements. Unlike its predecessors, this iteration is characterized by its ability to not just perform repetitive tasks but also to adapt, learn, and make decisions autonomously. Powered by cutting-edge algorithms, machine learning techniques, and vast amounts of data, AI & Automation 3.0 has unlocked unprecedented capabilities across various industries.

Impact on Engineering

In the field of engineering, AI & Automation 3.0 is revolutionizing traditional practices, offering engineers powerful tools to optimize processes and drive innovation. One of the most significant impacts is evident in design optimization. AI-powered algorithms can analyze complex design parameters and constraints to generate optimized solutions, leading to more efficient and cost-effective designs. This not only accelerates the product development cycle but also enhances performance and reliability.

Moreover, AI-driven predictive maintenance is transforming how industries manage their assets. By leveraging IoT sensors and AI algorithms, engineers can monitor equipment in real-time, predict potential failures, and schedule maintenance proactively, thereby minimizing downtime and reducing maintenance costs.

AI Tools Empowering Engineers

The arsenal of AI tools available to engineers today is diverse and powerful, empowering them to tackle complex challenges with precision and efficiency. Among these tools, generative design stands out as a game-changer. By combining AI algorithms with CAD software, generative design enables engineers to explore a myriad of design options based on specified parameters, ultimately leading to innovative solutions that human designers might not have considered.

Another essential AI tool for engineers is simulation software enhanced with AI capabilities. These advanced simulations can accurately predict the behavior of complex systems, allowing engineers to optimize designs and make informed decisions before physical prototypes are built. This not only saves time and resources but also enables engineers to push the boundaries of innovation without the fear of failure.

Furthermore, natural language processing (NLP) technologies are bridging the gap between human and machine interaction in engineering workflows. Engineers can now communicate with AI systems using everyday language, making it easier to extract insights from data, issue commands to automated systems, and streamline collaboration between man and machine.

Beyond Engineering: Societal Impact

The impact of AI & Automation 3.0 extends far beyond the realm of engineering, influencing various aspects of society and the economy. While automation has raised concerns about job displacement, it has also created new opportunities and transformed the nature of work. Rather than replacing human labor, AI & Automation 3.0 is augmenting it, allowing humans to focus on higher-value tasks that require creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.

Moreover, AI-powered technologies are driving advancements in healthcare, finance, transportation, and many other sectors, leading to improvements in efficiency, safety, and quality of life. From personalized medicine and autonomous vehicles to smart cities and predictive analytics, the possibilities are limitless.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite its promise, AI & Automation 3.0 is not without challenges and considerations. Ethical concerns surrounding data privacy, algorithmic bias, and job displacement must be addressed to ensure that AI technologies are deployed responsibly and equitably. Moreover, there is a growing need for interdisciplinary collaboration and workforce upskilling to harness the full potential of AI & Automation 3.0 and mitigate potential risks.

Conclusion

As AI & Automation 3.0 continues to reshape the landscape of engineering and beyond, it is clear that we stand on the brink of a technological revolution with profound implications for society. By embracing these transformative technologies, harnessing their capabilities, and addressing the challenges they present, we can unlock new opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and human progress. The journey ahead may be complex, but with the right approach, AI & Automation 3.0 has the potential to usher in a brighter and more prosperous future for all.

#artificial intelligence #automation #digital marketing

[themodernraajkali]

The Modern Raajkali: A Fusion of Tradition and Innovation

The modern Raajkali is a nuanced fusion of tradition and innovation, seamlessly blending the old with the new to create a unique tapestry that resonates with the contemporary spirit. In an age where rapid advancements in technology and globalization have ushered in a wave of change, the Raajkali has adapted itself, becoming a symbol of cultural continuity and resilience.

At its core, the modern Raajkali preserves the age-old customs and rituals that have defined its legacy. The echoes of ancient ceremonies and festivals still reverberate through the corridors of time, connecting the present to a rich historical tapestry. Whether it be the grandeur of royal weddings or the solemnity of religious celebrations, the modern Raajkali ensures that these traditions are not lost but are instead celebrated with renewed vigor.

Yet, what sets the modern Raajkali apart is its ability to embrace innovation without compromising its heritage. In a world driven by technology, the traditional Raajkali attire now incorporates contemporary designs and fabrics, striking a balance between the classic and the modern. Similarly, One Shoulder Leather Dress for Sale the art forms that once adorned royal palaces have found new life in digital platforms, reaching a global audience while staying true to their cultural roots.

The modern Raajkali also extends its influence beyond the realms of fashion and art. In governance and leadership, the principles of benevolence, justice, and wisdom, which were once the pillars of a bygone era, find resonance in the contemporary political landscape. Leaders inspired by the ethos of Raajkali strive to create societies that are just, inclusive, and progressive, mirroring the values embedded in their cultural heritage.

Moreover, the modern Raajkali is not confined to geographical boundaries. In an interconnected world, where cultures converge and diversity is celebrated, the essence of Raajkali transcends borders. It becomes a global phenomenon, representing a shared human heritage that is cherished by people from all walks of life.

In essence, the modern Raajkali is a bridge between the past and the future, a living testament to the adaptability and resilience of culture. It is a celebration of the rich tapestry of traditions that have withstood the test of time, while also acknowledging the need for evolution in a rapidly changing world. As we navigate the complexities of the modern era, the Raajkali serves as a guiding light, reminding us of the importance of staying rooted in our cultural identity while embracing the opportunities that progress brings.

[arbabakhan]

Revolutionizing Industries: AI-Powered Solutions at the Helm

In the digital age, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force, driving innovation and reshaping traditional industries. This article explores the profound impact of AI-powered solutions across various sectors, revolutionizing processes, enhancing efficiency, and unlocking unprecedented possibilities.

Body:

Smart Manufacturing: AI is transforming the manufacturing landscape through predictive maintenance, quality control, and supply chain optimization. Smart factories leverage AI to predict equipment failures, minimize downtime, and streamline production processes, ushering in a new era of efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Healthcare Revolution: AI is making waves in healthcare with applications ranging from diagnostic imaging and personalized medicine to virtual health assistants. Machine learning algorithms analyze medical data, assisting in early disease detection, treatment planning, and improving overall patient care.

Financial Intelligence: The financial sector is experiencing a paradigm shift with AI-powered solutions. From algorithmic trading and fraud detection to customer service chatbots, AI enhances decision-making, automates routine tasks, and ensures secure and efficient financial transactions.

Retail Reinvented: AI is revolutionizing the retail industry by providing personalized shopping experiences, optimizing inventory management, and powering recommendation engines. Chatbots and virtual assistants enhance customer interactions, while demand forecasting algorithms help retailers stay agile in a dynamic market.

Education and Learning Transformation: AI is reshaping education through personalized learning platforms, intelligent tutoring systems, and adaptive assessments. These solutions cater to individual student needs, providing a more effective and engaging educational experience.

Smart Cities and Urban Planning: AI plays a crucial role in developing smart cities, optimizing infrastructure, traffic management, and public services. From predictive maintenance of public facilities to real-time traffic analysis, AI enhances urban living and sustainability.

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability: AI contributes to sustainable practices by optimizing energy consumption and reducing environmental impact. Smart grids, predictive maintenance for renewable energy sources, and energy-efficient buildings are among the AI-powered solutions driving the shift towards a greener future.

Enhanced Customer Service in Telecommunications: Telecommunications leverage AI for improved customer service through virtual assistants, chatbots, and predictive maintenance. These solutions enhance user experiences, streamline troubleshooting, and optimize network performance.

Agricultural Innovation: AI is revolutionizing agriculture with precision farming, crop monitoring, and predictive analytics. Farmers can make data-driven decisions, optimizing resource allocation, reducing waste, and improving overall agricultural productivity.

Security and Cyber Defense: AI bolsters cybersecurity by detecting and mitigating threats in real-time. Machine learning algorithms analyze vast datasets, identifying patterns indicative of cyber attacks and enabling proactive defense mechanisms.

Conclusion: Artificial Intelligence is not just a technological advancement; it is a paradigm shift reshaping industries across the board. With AI-powered solutions at the helm, businesses and sectors are realizing unprecedented efficiencies, fostering innovation, and creating a future where intelligent automation drives progress and enhances the way we live, work, and interact.

#AI powered Solutions

[ritishamittal]

Redefining Fastening Solutions: The Fusion of IoT and Intelligent Technologies with Rivets

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, a marriage between traditional mechanical elements and cutting-edge digital advancements has given rise to remarkable progress across diverse industries. Amidst this surge of innovation, an extraordinary convergence has emerged within the realm of fastening solutions. This convergence elegantly unites the timeless simplicity of rivets with the limitless potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) and intelligent technologies. As we embark on an expedition into this captivating domain, join us in exploring the seamless amalgamation of IoT and intelligent technologies in the realm of fastening solutions.

Unveiling the Essence of Rivets: A Time-Honored Art of Fastening

Before delving into the realm of IoT and intelligent technologies, it is paramount to ponder the intrinsic significance of rivets. These unpretentious metallic fasteners have been guardians of structural integrity for centuries, forming unbreakable bonds that withstand the tests of time and stress. From towering skyscrapers to intricate machinery, rivets have consistently showcased their resilience in fortifying structures worldwide.

The IoT Revolution Unveiled: Where Rivets Meet Cutting-Edge Technology

In the heart of the digital era, the Internet of Things emerges as a transformative force. IoT empowers ordinary objects with the ability to communicate, collect data, and make informed decisions. Now, envision the fusion of these smart devices with the steadfast reliability of rivets. The outcome? A revolutionary paradigm shift within the realm of fastening solutions.

Elevating Structural Vigilance with Intelligent Rivets

Enhanced with sensors, intelligent rivets usher in a new era of structural monitoring. These discreet devices can discern shifts in temperature, stress levels, and pressure, providing real-time insights into the health of structures. Imagine a bridge that communicates its stress levels, empowering engineers to address potential concerns proactively. The confluence of rivets and IoT transforms this vision into reality.

Streamlining Maintenance Through Data-Driven Insight

Gone are the days of manual inspections and guesswork. Smart rivets capture data from their surroundings, transmitting it to centralized systems for comprehensive analysis. This wealth of information facilitates predictive maintenance, preemptively identifying and rectifying potential faults. This approach minimizes downtime while optimizing efficiency, resulting in resource conservation and peak performance.

Diverse Applications: From Aerospace Marvels to Everyday Goods

The fusion of IoT and intelligent technologies with rivets extends beyond individual sectors; it's a versatile solution with myriad applications.

Ascending Innovations in Aerospace

Safety reigns supreme in the aerospace industry. Smart rivets enhance vigilance by continuously monitoring aircraft structures for signs of stress, fatigue, or corrosion. This real-time data enriches flight safety, prolongs aircraft lifespans, and reduces maintenance costs – a triumvirate of advantages.

Driving Automotive Excellence and Efficiency

The automotive sector eagerly embraces the synergy of rivets and IoT. Smart rivets contribute to the evolution of self-monitoring vehicles that assess their own structural integrity. From chassis stability to airbag deployment mechanisms, every aspect of the vehicle benefits from this technological alliance.

Reimagining Consumer Goods

Even consumer goods ride the waves of transformation. Picture a bicycle enhanced with smart rivets that communicates maintenance needs to the rider. Envision a smart garment with rivet-based sensors adjusting its temperature based on the wearer's comfort. These innovations redefine user experience and foster sustainable product lifecycles.

Overcoming Challenges: Integration and Security

As with any innovation, challenges emerge. Seamlessly integrating IoT components into rivets necessitates meticulous engineering to uphold fastener integrity. Moreover, as data transmission assumes significance, safeguarding the security and privacy of this information becomes paramount. Manufacturers must prioritize cybersecurity measures to thwart potential breaches.

The Unveiled Future: Limitless Possibilities

As we traverse the realms of innovation and potential, one truth crystallizes: the potential of IoT-integrated rivets knows no bounds. From smart cities boasting self-regulating infrastructure to adaptable robotics, the future holds promises once confined to the realm of science fiction.

In Conclusion: Tradition Meets Transformation

In summary, "Rivets in the Digital Age" signifies the harmonious blend of tradition and technology, reliability and intelligence. The integration of IoT and intelligent technologies with rivets revolutionizes fastening solutions across diverse industries, from aviation to everyday consumer goods. As we journey forward, embracing the transformative power of this fusion, we witness a future where physical and digital realms coalesce harmoniously – where the enduring strength of rivets converges with the limitless horizons of innovation. Prepare for an enduring riveting revolution that is here to stay.

[orwofamily]

Orwo Family Explains the Technology's Impact on the Film Business

In cinema, technology has always played a pivotal role in shaping the industry's trajectory. One remarkable player in this narrative is the Orwo family of products, a name synonymous with innovation and evolution in the film business. From the earliest days of black-and-white celluloid to the modern digital age, Orwo has navigated the dynamic landscape of technology, leaving an indelible mark on the world of filmmaking.

The Orwo family's journey began in the tumultuous years of the 20th century. Established in East Germany, it was born out of a commitment to creating high-quality photographic and cinematographic materials. The first significant innovation came in the form of black-and-white film stock, revolutionizing the artistic potential of visual storytelling. Filmmakers were suddenly able to capture emotions, narratives, and atmospheres in ways previously unattainable. Orwo's early offerings laid the foundation for the cinematic language we know today.

As technology surged forward, Orwo was quick to embrace the color film. The transition from black-and-white to color was a monumental shift that broadened filmmakers' palettes and ushered in a new era of creativity. Orwo's color films, known for their vivid hues and lifelike tones, allowed stories to unfold in captivating dimensions. This evolution had a profound impact on the film business, driving increased engagement from audiences and opening doors for diverse narratives to flourish.

However, the most significant upheaval was the advent of digital technology. As the industry transitioned from physical film reels to digital files, Orwo once again demonstrated its adaptability. While some might have viewed this as a threat to traditional filmmaking, Orwo saw it as an opportunity to innovate once more. The company embraced digital advancements by producing high-quality digital camera systems, post-production tools, and even software for color grading. This pivot not only showcased Orwo's commitment to staying relevant but also cemented its status as a trailblazer in the digital film domain.

The impact of Orwo's technological contributions reverberated across the film business in multifaceted ways. Firstly, it democratized the filmmaking process. With digital tools, aspiring filmmakers found it easier to bring their stories to life, unburdened by the costs and limitations of traditional film stock. This democratization led to a surge of fresh and diverse voices entering the industry, enriching the cinematic landscape.

Secondly, the incorporation of digital technology streamlined the production process. From shooting to editing, digital tools offered greater flexibility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Filmmakers could experiment with different shots and styles without the constraints of physical film rolls, ultimately fostering greater creativity and experimentation.

Furthermore, the digital revolution facilitated global collaboration. Filmmakers and technicians from around the world could collaborate seamlessly, sharing their expertise and pushing the boundaries of storytelling. Orwo's contributions to digital cinema not only bridged geographical gaps but also accelerated the pace of innovation through shared knowledge and experiences. In conclusion, the Orwo family's legacy is a testament to the transformative power of technology in the film business. From its humble beginnings in black-and-white film to its embrace of digital filmmaking tools, Orwo has consistently harnessed technology to drive progress and creativity. By adapting to changing times and innovating with each technological wave, Orwo has not only survived but thrived in an ever-evolving industry.

The path of the Orwo family highlights how closely connected technology and the movie industry are. There will surely be new opportunities and difficulties as technology develops. And as Orwo's tale shows, individuals who are prepared to accept change, use innovation, and push the bounds of what is possible will continue to influence the development of cinematic history.

#movies #production #camera #enjoy #filmindustry #orwofamily #entertainment #film

[soliair]

Can Complementary and Alternative Medicine Help Fight CoronaVirus (Covid-19)?

It Goes Without Saying that New, stunningly virulent and resurgent illnesses have been escalating around the globe, with alarming intensity, and advancing more rapidly than ever before. This epidemic of epidemics, and now the pandemic of pandemics in the coronavirus (COVID-19) phraseology, not only signal a crisis in human history, but also the tizzy dance of mutual adaptation that we ‘share’ with our microbial fellow travellers. We have got only to blame ourselves for such a horrid reality and also complexity. We have brought the pathogen ‘wolf’ through the door by rendering and disturbing the natural fabric of our environment, while changing our behaviours and, paradoxically, by our ingenuity to increasing the length and quality of our lives without nurturing the nature of our soul.

So, how — and, most importantly, why — have we gone wrong? In the words of Arno Karlen, PhD, a psychoanalyst, researcher, and author, “for each new disease known to the general public, there are a dozen others; because, the wheels of biological change keep turning faster. The common progression of humans and microbes has accelerated to a frenzied pace. For example, much has been written about AIDS, but far less about other new diseases.” He adds, “our scientific and historical research is fragmented, like pieces of mosaic rarely assembled in more bits and patches. We have been slow to understand that we live in a new bio-cultural era. For decades, we cherished the myth that infectious diseases were fading forever. This was a posture born of inherited optimism.” Karlen’s words speak of one inescapable truth: about new emerging viruses, such as the novel COVID-19, and its disastrous, cascading magnitude that has brought the world to its feet, aside from increased microbial resistance to drugs.

You get the point. Without seeing our larger evolutionary picture, we cannot respond intelligently to challenges facing our health and survival. For thousands of years, since the first hunter gatherers settled in villages, infections killed more people than war and famine. New diseases, as is obvious, do not fall from the sky, or leap from some mysterious black punnet. To paraphrase Karlen, “parasitism and disease are a natural, in fact necessary, part of life. They are fundamental to the existence of everything — from the earliest, simplest organisms to human beings.” Add to this, international travel and technology, our changing diet patterns, clothing, other fads, warped relationships and work-life (im)balance, and you are witness to a hysterical wave of new-fangled epidemics. This has also led to the (re)emergence of a chaotic, also amplified, panorama in the chronicle of natural history of disease retold.

Savage Test

This is a savage test: where do new diseases come from, why have old spectres, such as tuberculosis (TB) and malaria returned with avengeance, and why now? This is not all. Think of the terrifying impact of measles and smallpox that trembled the ancient empires of Rome and China, not to speak of intertwined stories of leprosy and the assault of European microbes that overwhelmed the natives of America, including the flu pandemic that killed millions, over a century ago — or, the diabolical emergence of new illnesses, with weird names, such as the ‘old-new’ dengue, chikungunya, SARS Coronavirus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), H1N1 influenza, Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Corona-virus (MERS-Cov), among others.

It is vital for us to understand the complex and dynamic relationship that exists between man and microbes, in the emergence of new difficulties postured and challenges flung by new diseases, especially viral illnesses. “Every age of new plenty,” as Karlen outlines, “demanded a price of biological re-adaptation.

Diseases occurred in increased numbers when our ancestors left the trees for the ground; when nomads became hunters and spread around the world; when village life began, and with the growth of cities; with the start of global travel, and then with the Industrial Revolution; and, with the social and technological results of prosperity.”

Mayan Saga Revisited

When we analyse history, it provides us with a gloomy case of the ordeals of the Mayan culture, to highlight a famed exemplar. The Mayan empire covered 200,000 square km and lasted 1,500 years, what with its fabulous stone cities. Yet, a thousand years ago, the empire collapsed; the jungle reclaimed its ruins, and people returned to village life. Studies of Mayan bones and of the Mayans’ living descendants showed that they were clued-up for catastrophe by their ‘use’ of the environment and their parasites.” Is this not a gloomy, yet dispassionate, example for everyone to learn from — in terms of history and reality?

It is apparent that for a thousand years before their empire fell, the Mayans’ over-reliance on maize and beans compacted their size and strength. “The skulls of ancient Mayan children showed pitting of the orbital bones and spongy degeneration of the cranium — a classical sign of acute iron-deficiency anemia. The soil the Mayans farmed was also poor in iron. As a result, so were their crops and mother’s milk. Their diet was low in vitamin C — which the body needs to absorb and use iron — and, protein, which is prerequisite for hemoglobin synthesis.”

“The custom of soaking maize in water,” as Karlen puts it, “destroyed most of the folic acid and vitamin B12 (cobalamin) needed for developing red blood cells. Maize contains iron, but it also has phytic acid, which inhibits iron absorption in the intestine. The Mayan practice of stone-grinding maize altered it chemically, so iron absorption was further inhibited. Heavy sweating, unavoidable in the Mesoamerican tropics, caused more iron loss, as did intestinal bleeding caused by hookworm, tapeworm, and other parasites common in Mayan farmers. In addition, the Mayan diet lacked zinc and other substances (nutrients) needed for growth and resistance to infections.”

The situation today is no less gloomy; it is also challenging, but not impossible. There is hope, notwithstanding the continuing misuse of our ecosystem, flawed food habits, the over stressed hygiene factor, which cares less for our natural immunity, or immunology, and more for promoting hand wash, soap, and sanitizers, aside from the dramatic changes that has emerged in the biosphere. The irony is stunning. Our forebears had to cope with new diseases, and so did our Stone Age forebears. So did the first farmers and the first city dwellers. However, in spite of all the struggles and crises, they were able to survive the challenges. Obviously, we all will too with modern medicine’s much-vaunted, also spectacular diagnostic and remedial armamentarium — which has, ironically, been found appallingly wanting in the COVID-19 pandemic, so far — and, other traditional systems of healing, aside from our buoyant, if lopsided, immune response, and imagination, including our amazing ability to adapt and flourish.

It goes without saying that we are caught in a flagrant web — the repetitive episodes of health crises through which we are accelerating the escalation and extension of new pathogens. They, like us, are trying to acclimatise and survive. The best thing to do is — we ought to, no matter what, conquer a majority of the illnesses, or diseases, and make a prudent armistice with some we just can’t defeat, despite our high-tech medical and therapeutic progress.

Let Nature Be

The lockdown has ushered in a skewed sense of time. For some, time just flies, as for others time stands still. Literally. So much so, an event that happened early this year feels like something that occurred 30 years ago. More than that an eerie sense of trepidation also seems to crawl at the back of everyone’s mind — there is an element of foreboding that pervades the horizon too.

This is a time when modern medicine is groping in the dark, trying to search for safe, and effective, drug interventions and vaccines. The twist also is the focus, as a result, has ‘shifted’ to natural treatments, viz., complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), as also integrative medicine, among others. The premise for such a change, however, is not for thrusting the all-too-cliched magic potion, as some proponents of CAM are animatedly indulging in, but to ‘up’ one’s immunity in the best manner possible. CAM and other protocols have had a long tradition in providing that natural fillip to our immune defenses. This holds the key to fight Covid-19 from the inside out and to the best extent possible.

Natural Supplements

Curcumin has been extensively used as a healing agent — right from ancient times. The active principle in turmeric, which also gives the herb its yellow hue, is curcumin. Curcumin is nature’s antiseptic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antioxidant. It is evidenced to have ‘aspirin-like’ anti-inflammatory effects, yet it is relatively safe, when used prudently, than conventional or synthetic aspirin. This primeval element has been confirmed and replicated through clinical studies.

That curcumin has received a renewed ‘look-in’ as a natural candidate to ‘jazz up’ our immunity, ever since the outbreak of COVID-19, is no surprise. Some open-minded physicians have been advocating the use of curcumin for reducing inflammation in the lung caused by coronavirus and also as a possible ‘preventative.’ Others maintain that curcumin has the ability to augment our immunity and possibly help to curtail certain COVID-19 symptoms.

It’d be interesting to note that most conventional treatment choices help, at best, to reduce just a few pro-inflammatory cytokines — a large group of proteins, peptides, or glycoproteins, which are secreted by specific cells of our immune system. Curcumin, on the other hand, has the potential to suppress more than just a handful of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Curcumin delivers other benefits too — it helps to cleanse, or ‘detox,’ the respiratory tract and combat infections that trigger cold and flu. It is a first-rate immunity booster for individuals that suffer perennially from allergies, sinusitis and bronchitis. It helps to ease inflammation in the upper as well as the lower respiratory tract — this alleviates nasal congestion, bronchial asthma and other related conditions. Most important — the antiviral factor in curcumin reduces the replication of viruses.

The use of curcumin has amplified in the wake of the COVID-19 storm — be it Asia, the Middle East, Europe, or elsewhere. Most of us, especially in the East, have been consuming turmeric powder, as a tradition, in warm milk. However, the fact is — the quantity of curcumin in turmeric powder is just not adequate, or optimal. It is, therefore, imperative that consuming high-quality curcumin supplements is the need of the hour — primarily because the dose of curcumin in quality supplements is optimal, also therapeutically appropriate.

Thanks to best practices and new strategies aimed to resolve the ‘poor’ bio-availability and low aqueous solubility of ‘regular’ curcumin, you’ve a select range of high-quality curcumin supplements to pick from. In simple terms, they correspond to scientifically accurate and sufficient dosages of curcumin ‘earmarked’ to provide optimal relief, from viral and other symptoms, and with real-time safety.

A clinical trial of ArtemiC (artemisinin and curcumin), a food supplement, for the treatment of patients suffering from COVID-19 infection is now underway in Israel. The study is designed to help address viral infections with inflammatory complications. Open scientific data on artemisinin and curcumin support the testing of ArtemiC in COVID-19 patients. The double-blind, placebocontrolled trial will investigate the safety and efficacy of ArtemiC, a natural formulation intended for immune-modulation. The purpose of the project is to effectively treat certain pathophysiological complications of COVID-19.

In this context, it’d only be appropriate, also imperative, to highlight the recommendations of the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM), US, and its approach to the COVID-19 crisis:

1. Adherence to all health recommendations from official sources to decrease viral transmission. 2. Optimising modifiable lifestyle factors in order to improve overall immune function. 3. Reduce progression from colonisation to illness. 4. Personalised consideration of therapeutic agents that may: a. Favourably modulate cellular defence and repair mechanisms. b. Favourably modulate viral-induced pathological cellular processes. 5. Promote viral eradication, or inactivation. 6. Mitigate collateral damage from other therapeutic agents. 7. Promote resolution of collateral damage and restoration of function. 8. Treatment of confirmed COVID-19 illness (as per conventional standards and practice): -- May reduce the severity and duration of acute symptoms and complications. -- May support recovery and reduce long-term morbidity and sequel.

A coronavirus, such as COVID-19, as the IFM underlines, can be lethal because of its capability to ‘fuel’ a part of the inherent immune response called the inflammasome (immune system receptor and sensor), which can cause unrestrained discharge of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to ‘cytokine storm’ and severe, sometimes irreparable, damage to respiratory epithelium. The COVID-19 virus has been shown to trigger inflammasome. It is evidenced that certain natural compounds, or phytonutrients, such as curcumin (turmeric), resveratrol, found in grapes, EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), found in green tea, and quercetin, found in onion, are potent inhibitors of the inflammasome. Besides, such phyto-nutrients regulate inflammation. This is useful to counteract the COVID-19 ’hyper-inflammation.’ It is also suggested that such bio-active compounds may have the ability to inhibit the COVID-19 main protease, which is required for viral copying. Though supplementary research is necessary to prove their usefulness, the existing credo provides biologic plausibleness and systematic support for COVID-19 protease inhibition to support their use.

In an article published in Journal of Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, H A Mousa et al articulate, that, “in recent years viral respiratory tract infections, especially influenza viruses, have had a major impact on communities worldwide as a result of unavailability of effective treatment or vaccine. The frequent alterations in the antigenic structures of respiratory viruses, particularly for RNA viruses (Note: COVID-19 is one such virus), pose difficulties in the production of effective vaccines. The unavailability of optimal medication and shortage of effective vaccines suggests the requirement for alternative natural therapies. Several herbal remedies were used for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory illnesses.

Among those that were found effectiveincluded maoto, licorice roots, antiwei, North American ginseng, berries, echinacea, plants extracted carnosic acid, pomegranate,guava tea, and Bai Shao. There is scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of several complementary therapies for colds. Oral zinc may reduce the length and severity of a cold. Taking vitamin C supplements on a regular basis only slightly reduces the length and severity of colds. Probiotics were found better than placebo in reducing the number of episodes of acute upper respiratory tract infections, the rate of episodes of acute upper respiratory tract infection and reduced antibiotic use. Alkaline diets or drinks might have antiviral properties as in vitro studies demonstrated inactivation effect of alkaline medium on respiratory virus.”

Astragalus - has traditionally been used to fortify the immune system and to treat colds, among other viral disorders. Some studies suggest that certain compounds found in the herb ‘upturn’ the production of white blood cells, particularly T-cells, macrophages and other cells imperative for immune system function. Astralagus has anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects;this includes a certain activity against a specific type of coronavirus that frequently infects poultry. In China, astragalus, alone and in combination with other herbs, has been advocated to possibly help prevent COVID-19 infections. The fact, however, is there is no fullscale clinical evidence that it can, like other popular herbs, prevent, or treat, coronavirus infection.

Green Tea - modulates the inflammasome while potentially targeting the COVID-19 main protease — in so doing, it reduces viral replication. Green tea has also been found to be useful in preventing flu in healthcare professionals.

Melatonin - may have an inhibitory effect on the inflammasome. This has led to the idea of using melatonin as a healing agent in COVID-19-like infections.

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) - has been shown to be protecting in influenza. Says Richard Firshein, DO, a pioneer in integrative medicine, “Modern science offers (very) few drugs to combat viruses, but NAC may offer hope in this area. A study in Anti-Viral Research reports that NAC inhibited replication of the hepatitis B virus, reducing viral DNA fifty-fold. Exciting new research also indicates that NAC may protect the body against HIV.”

Quercetin - reportedly has antiviral effects against RNA (e.g., influenza and coronavirus) and DNA viruses (e.g., herpes virus). Quercetin is an antioxidant. It has anti-inflammatory properties; it modulates signalling alleyways related to post-viral remedial outcomes.

Resveratrol - is evidenced to ease the inflammasome. It has also been shown to have useful antiviral activity. Vitamin C promotes immune defence by enhancing a host of cellular functions of the immune system. Vitamin C augments microbial annihilation. Supplementation with vitamin C appears to prevent and also treat respiratory and systemic infections. Vitamin C has been used in hospital practice to manage and treat COVID-19 infections. Vitamin D supplementation may prevent upper respiratory infections. It may also ease, or alleviate, illness from COVID-19 infection.

Zinc - props immune defence. Studies suggest that it suppresses viral attachment and replication. Zinc deficiency is common with most people at risk of severe COVID-19 infections. It is reported that zinc supplements prevent viral infections; they also reduce their severity and duration. It has also been evidenced that zinc reduces the risk of lower respiratory infections. This obviously holds significance in COVID-19.

Other Options

Ayurveda is the Science of Life. It promulgates the bounty of nature in the maintenance of optimal health and well-being — and, not merely the absence of disease, or illness. Ayurveda’s extensive knowledge base on preventative care accrues from two models based on dinacharya — daily regime — and ritucharya — seasonal regime — to sustain a healthy, balanced life. Ayurveda is a plant based science. Candace Pert, PhD, the co-discoverer of peptides, our ‘molecules of emotions,’ referred to Ayurveda as the completest of medical sciences. The amplification of consciousness about oneself and the synchronization of each individual, as Ayurveda also emphasizes, can be achieved by elevating and preserving our immunity in accordance with the medical system’s pristine and classical scriptures. That the genius of Charaka (300 BCE), the first physician to present the foundational premise of digestion, metabolism and immunity, could so articulately describe the contextual and also the ‘contour’ of a virus, such as COVID-19, is testimony to its great legacy.

It’d be heartening to note that the government of India has approved of a randomized controlled clinical trial to assess the efficacy of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) as a potential preventative intervention among healthcare professionals and high-risk coronavirus population vis-à-vis hydroxychloroquine. The joint initiative of the ministries of Ayush, health, science and technology, through the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), with technical support from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), will encompass formulated and designed clinical research protocols for prophylactic studies and add-on interventions in COVID-19 positive cases through review and consultative process of experts of high repute from different organisations across the country. The purpose is to analyse and study different interventions — viz., ashwagandha, yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra), guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), pippali (Long pepper) and a poly-herbal formulation (Ayush-64).

This isn’t all. The Ayurvedic formula Fifatrol is reported to act as an immune booster. The natural formula is a multi-drug combination of Ayurvedic classical medicines and herbs. Research suggests that Fifatrol acts as a natural antibiotic and fights infection, flu and ache. It is evidenced that Fifatrol provides quick relief from nasal congestion, sore throat, body ache and headache. The formula also has micro-nutrients, along with a balanced combination of vital phyto-constituents, immune-modulators and antioxidants — this, according to clinicians, apparently justifies its beneficial effects in the treatment of upper respiratory tract (viral) infections.

Homeopathy is ‘bespoke,’ or personalised, medicine. Homeopathy treats the individual; it does not limit treatment to the diagnosis of illness alone. When you are ill, your illness has its own unique pattern of symptoms. You tend to get illnesses that result from the particular pattern of imbalance with your immune and other systems — one that is distinctive to your unique disposition and/or susceptibility.

Homeopathy is based on the principle that one can treat ‘likes with likes’ — that is, a substance which causes certain symptoms, when taken in large doses, can also be used in small (‘less is more’) amounts to treat the ‘same,’ or ‘similar,’ symptoms of the illness, or health issue. Homeopathy is unlike conventional medicine, where individuals are diagnosed on the foundation of just the illness, or disease — and, the same medicine is prescribed for each illness. Homeopathy prescribes a different remedy for a given illness, depending on a multitude of factors, such as the personality, or constitution, of the individual, their state of mind and lifestyle. In other words, the illness may be the same by name, but the presentation in no two individuals is always the same — so, they are given different homeopathic remedies that match their unique personality, or ‘individuality.’

Homeopathy has a long history in preventative medicine. Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843), MD, the founder of homeopathy, was the first to achieve significant outcomes in the prevention and also of the scarlet fever epidemic, a vicious form of ‘strep’ throat, which swept Germany in 1802. He was also the first experimental physician to lay emphasis on the importance of preventative medicine. This wasn’t all. He was also the first medical pioneer to think of ‘immunization,’ when Louis Pasteur, the founder of vaccination, was eight years old.

To highlight a case in point. The flu pandemic of 1918 is reminisced for its devastating death toll. It was the worst epidemic in US history, with 600,000 people dead. Besides, the deadly flu took away the lives of hundreds of thousands of people elsewhere. The Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy (1921) reported, that in Dayton, Ohio, the overall mortality rate of flu patients was 28 per cent, and in 26,000 cases of flu treated homeopathically the mortality rate was 1 per cent.

The homeopathic Arsenicum album 30c is advocated to be a useful ‘immune booster.’ Ayush ‘recommends’ its use in India. Camphora 1m — with its classical pathophysiology that corresponds to COVID-19 — has emerged as the genus epidemicus — a remedy identified for preventing communicable illnesses in certain quarters. There are reports that it has been used with ‘good’ effect in Iran, also Europe, and elsewhere.

It’d be interesting to note that with Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) ‘making’ news headlines — albeit the credo of its ‘utility value’ to ‘easing’ the COVID-19 effect in certain countries, including India, is being debated — one could also, perhaps, think of a homeopathic corollary in the context. Bacillinum (made from maceration of the typical tuberculous lung) may, perhaps, be used as an ‘intercurrent,’ immune-boosting ‘prophylactic’ remedy, as also Tuberculinum (a nucleo-protein; a ‘nosode’ made from tubercular abscess).

The whole idea is, of course, ‘nascent,’ a probability premise. It led this writer into a conversation with Lionel Milgrom, PhD, the English chemist and homeopath, who graciously delved into its ‘nitty-gritty’ and formulated a possibility construct. Milgrom’s ‘take’ is simple, also reflective — if one were to ‘buy’ the so-called conspiracy theory approach and work on the basis that COVID-19 is a laboratory-based organism, then in order to grow and manipulate such a thing would require a substrate. There was this recently published article which suggested that the substrate for growing such a virus is bovine serum. So, there it is. Using something like Bacillinum and Tuberculinum — from a totally different perspective and/or the homeopathic miasmatic (constitutional susceptibility, or predisposition) point-of-view — would, perforce, make some sense, although its full essence and purpose may only be found, or established, by experiment. 

The Society of Homeopaths, UK, states, that, “Homeopathic medicines have been used extensively for flu-like symptoms and in epidemics around the world. If you decide to take a homeopathic medicine, this should be in addition to the various measures recommended and should not be your only approach. Selection of the most appropriate homeopathic medicine is based on an individual’s unique symptoms.” The European Committee for Homeopathy says, “(That) homeopathic health professionals should inform patients of the standard hygiene practices to contain and mitigate the spread of the epidemic. They may inform their patients of potential non-specific measures to increase their immunity. Homeopathic symptomatic treatments offer a safe and cost-effective possibility to support the self-healing processes of patients and are to be considered (within the therapeutic tool kit).”

Other adjuvant measures that would be useful are meditation, yoga, biofeedback, and counselling — especially to combating depression, anxiety, and stress, aside from the undulating effects of homebound, ‘shelter’ living, or isolation, and social and physical distancing.

Best Regards Solomon J. (Ayurvedic/Alternative Therapist)  

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** A New Hope for the Corona-Virus (COVID-19) Patients!

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[khalilhumam]

How Cleveland’s innovation district is advancing equity through a new kind of anchor institution

New Post has been published on http://khalilhumam.com/how-clevelands-innovation-district-is-advancing-equity-through-a-new-kind-of-anchor-institution/

How Cleveland’s innovation district is advancing equity through a new kind of anchor institution

By Julie Wagner The COVID-19 pandemic and its cascading economic effects have erased the economic progress of hundreds of millions of people across the globe. To jump-start inclusive economic growth during this time of crisis, cities and regions require bold and committed leaders at the local level and well-designed economic recovery packages at the national level. One type of economic hub well-positioned to play this role is an emerging geography of urban innovation known as an innovation district. These are areas where a concentration of R&D activities—such as research universities and medical institutions—is combined with distinctively urban assets such as walkable streets, restaurants, creative convergence spaces, and transit. The potential for innovation districts to advance a more inclusive future is exemplified by the Cleveland Health-Tech Corridor. Stretching between Cleveland’s downtown and University Circle, the district is anchored by R&D-intensive institutions such as Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals of Cleveland, VA Medical Center, and Cleveland State University. Designated as an innovation district over a decade ago, the Health-Tech Corridor now has over 170 biomedical and health care companies in addition to the four universities and colleges and four health care institutions.

A new kind of anchor with a new kind of growth

Over the past 20 years, economic growth in the United States has become increasingly uneven, driving a wedge of economic disparity between and within cities and metropolitan areas. Innovation districts are often physically adjacent to neighborhoods with low educational attainment, high levels of unemployment, and marginal levels of private investment. Their success—and that of their cities and regions—demands long-term and highly intentional strategies that combine advanced, innovative development with inclusive growth. In Cleveland, the Health-Tech Corridor has made inclusive economic growth a key aspect of its mission, striving to create equitable community development in adjacent low-income neighborhoods, train local residents to participate in the innovation economy, and signal to the private sector that the region is a place for future growth and investment. Efforts to promote equitable development have been reinforced in Cleveland with a new kind of anchor: the Cleveland Foundation, which is the nation’s first community foundation and has over $2.5 billion in assets. After over 100 years operating in downtown Cleveland, the Foundation’s headquarters will move to the Health-Tech Corridor in 2022, physically positioning itself between downtown and University Circle. This relocation will strengthen the Foundation’s efforts to catalyze growth within the district and spur equitable neighborhood development, alongside the activities led by the Corridor’s more traditional anchors and companies. Because the Corridor is surrounded by several economically distressed neighborhoods, driving a new wave of inclusive growth is paramount. According to analysis conducted by Case Western’s Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development, 24% of the residents living adjacent to the Corridor were unemployed between 2007 and 2011. On average, nearly a quarter of residents age 25 and older did not have a high school diploma; another 34% had only a high school diploma or GED equivalent. While these statistics are almost a decade old, those working on the ground believe the data has changed very little. Moreover, our current economic reality amid COVID-19 likely means the picture is even more dire. By physically locating itself among these neighborhoods, the Cleveland Foundation aims to spur new community-centered development in the Corridor, while also signaling to the private sector that this is a place of future growth and investment. The physical design of their new headquarters—along with over 20 additional acres set aside for complimentary development—aims to create an accessible sense of place for the Health-Tech Corridor. “Our goal with this new district is to create civic and green space, bring new enterprises to the neighborhood, revitalize existing businesses, and establish a sense of place that builds on the history of surrounding neighborhoods,” said Ronn Richard, the Foundation’s president and CEO.

How the Cleveland Foundation will economically anchor the district 

The ability for cities to attract and retain talent is viewed as essential for achieving economic growth and prosperity. Yet what continues to be missed is the imperative to develop talent from local neighborhoods—primarily those where a higher percentage of workers are in low-wage, low-growth jobs. This is where the Foundation will lead, and it is best illustrated by the work they have previously advanced. In 2007, the Foundation commissioned a study on how to stimulate an anchor-based cooperative strategy that could support local businesses in the area. The findings led the Foundation to convene the Corridor’s anchor institutions in the creation of the Evergreen Cooperatives—a network of worker-owned, community-based, and ecologically sustainable businesses that were established through consolidated anchor procurement. Today, one of Evergreen’s businesses, Green City Growers, is comprised of 3.25 acres of “cutting-edge urban hydroponic greenhouses” that produce millions of pesticide-free vegetables sold to restaurants, groceries, and food processors. Another business, Evergreen Cooperative Laundry, provides all of the laundry services for the region’s primary health systems. Another business, Evergreen Energy Solutions, provides next-generation lighting systems and solar power solutions for area businesses, institutions, and residential properties. Today, the Evergreen Cooperatives count 260 people as part of their worker-ownership structure, all receiving quarterly profits like shareholders. The Foundation is also driving an inclusive approach to the innovation district through coordinated workforce training programs. In 2010, the Foundation, in concert with other partners, launched NewBridge, a workforce training and social services organization located in the Corridor to train residents for positions in the anchor health institutions. The program now places approximately 300 residents in health positions each year, at an average starting salary of $26,000. Similarly, Magnet, a manufacturing group, announced the establishment of a new innovation and workforce training hub in the heart of the Corridor.

Redefining metropolitan growth and prosperity amid COVID-19

Today’s economic devastation will require bold, innovative ideas to usher in equitable recovery. Barbara Snyder, former president of Case Western, best illustrates the power of future-focused anchors in accomplishing this: “In linking construction of its own space to a broader approach to innovative community-building and economic development, the Cleveland Foundation again demonstrates how strategic collaboration can lead to benefits far greater than individual entities could ever create on their own.” Together, the Foundation and its Health-Tech Corridor partners are positioned to redefine metropolitan growth and prosperity during this uncertain time.

[anycontentposter]

Omega Watches Ultimate Buying Guide

In terms of the most recognizable watch brands in the world, one of the few to really give Rolex reason for the occasional anxious glance over its shoulder is Omega. Their extensive portfolio contains a raft of iconic models, made memorable by some of history’s greatest achievements, and some of pop culture’s most enduring heroes. The lineup includes names familiar even to those with the merest passing interest in horology; and for the real aficionados, they speak of adventures on land, beneath the waves, and some that are genuinely out of this world.

Omega has existed since 1848 and has evolved over the last 170+ years into one of the true greats of the Swiss watch industry. Their classic yet innovative designs have been favored by a diverse assortment of personalities including President JFK, Elvis Presley, Tom Hanks, Cindy Crawford, Michael Phelps, and George Clooney. On-screen, you will see them worn by Tony Montana in Scarface, and most famously of all, they have been the brand of choice for the James Bond since the mid-90s.

However, perhaps their greatest claim to fame, and one that outdoes just about every other manufacturer on the planet, is Omega’s status as the brand behind the first watch worn on the moon. Since 1963, they have been the official timepiece supplier to NASA, and the Speedmaster chronograph accompanied Apollo 11’s astronauts on their inaugural trip to the lunar surface.

If that wasn’t enough, they were also the only company with the foresight to recognize the genius of George Daniel’s Co-Axial escapement, arguably the biggest revolution in watchmaking since the 18th century. By transforming the traditional lever escapement’s sliding motion, as its pallet fork’s teeth lock and unlock into a radial movement, the Co-Axial eliminates the inherent problem of friction that has long hindered the performance of the standard arrangement. In doing so, it has ushered in a level of long-term accuracy and resilience previously unheard of in mass-produced luxury watches. Omega bought the patent to the Co-Axial escapement in 1999 and has since gone on to build most of their modern timepieces around the system. Together with their own Master Chronometer rating certificate, this advanced technology helps puts the brand at the very forefront of what is possible in mechanical watchmaking.

Today, the Omega catalog is comprised of four main collections (the Speedmaster, Seamaster, De Ville, and Constellation), and each one is split into a number of sub-groups. The company offers world-class dive models, industry-leading chronographs, supremely elegant dress pieces, and rugged everyday beaters, with price points ranging from the extremely attainable to top-end expensive.

Below we have put together a quick buying guide on Omega watches as an overview of the manufacturer’s biggest hitters. While it doesn’t touch on every available piece, it gives a good starting point for what can, at times, be a confusing selection. We’ve also elected to avoid the limited edition models, as there may not be enough space on the internet to list them all.

Omega Speedmaster 

Arguably the most well known of Omega’s collections thanks to its association with the Space Race, the Speedmaster was introduced in 1957 and became the chronograph against which all others would be measured. The first to move the tachymeter scale from the dial to the bezel, thus offering unparalleled legibility, plus its bombproof engineering was enough to win it the NASA gig. Following on from those early days, the Speedy name has been used for a wide variety of different models, including everything from faithful reissues of that moonwalking original to quartz-powered analog/digital display pieces for a new generation of astronauts. There is a broad collection to choose from, and we have isolated a few of the most important.

  Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch 42mm 

With the possible exception of the Rolex Daytona, there is no other chronograph out there to match the Moonwatch’s fabled appeal. It is virtually a direct recreation of the model Buzz Aldrin wore during his historic feat, complete with a hand-wound movement and Hesilite crystal. One of the most well-loved watches of all time, every collector should own a Speedy at some point.

Size: 42mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Stainless Steel (Or Black Leather) Movement: Caliber 1861 (Or 1863 on Display Back Models) Retail Price (MSRP): $5,350

  Speedmaster FOiS 39.7mm

Although also called a Moonwatch, this smaller, more retro-designed Speedy is actually subtitled ‘The First Omega in Space’ (FOIS) and is centered around the model worn by Wally Schirra on his 1962 Earth orbit flight aboard Sigma 7.

Size: 39.7mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Brown Leather Movement: Caliber 1861 Retail Price (MSRP): $5,300

  Speedmaster Co-Axial 44.25mm Grey Side of the Moon ‘Meteorite’

Omega has been among the pioneers of using ceramic for watch cases, the material forming the basis of their ‘Of The Moon’ range in colors of black, white, blue, and grey. The Grey Side of the Moon models are available with a standard dial, or one taken from a slice of ancient meteorite, acid etched to expose its unique natural pattern. Larger than the standard Omega Moonwatches, it also benefits from the automatic Co-Axial caliber 9300.

Size: 44.25mm Case: Grey Ceramic Bracelet: Grey Leather Movement: Co-Axial Caliber 9300 Retail Price (MSRP): $15,600

  Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 Chronograph 45mm

A natural progression of the classic mechanical Moonwatch, the X-33 is a 45mm titanium-forged, analog/digital LCD timepiece powered by a multifunctional thermo-compensated quartz chronograph movement. Able to display a timer, MET (Mission Elapsed Time), PET (Phase Elapsed Time), three alarms and a perpetual calendar, it has been approved by the European Space Agency (ESA)

Size: 45mm Case: Grade 2 Titanium Bracelet: Grade 2 and Grade 5 Titanium Movement: Quartz Caliber 5619 Retail Price (MSRP): $5,900

  Omega Seamaster

The most stylistically diverse range of watches in Omega’s whole collection, the Seamaster takes in everything from pieces made originally for scientists and technicians, to extraordinarily robust dive monsters able to withstand impossible depths. While the name itself might lead to some puzzlement, many of the Seamaster models are among the most well-known of all, helped along by a certain fictional super spy. From a huge selection of watches, below we have picked out some of the most noteworthy.

  Seamaster Diver 300m Co-Axial Master Chronometer 42mm

When Pierce Brosnan slipped on the quartz version of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m in 1995’s Goldeneye, it triggered a resurgence for the brand that they have been riding ever since. The latest iteration comes in 23 different possible configurations, with the steel-cased, blue bezel/dial model remaining the closest to Bond’s original Omega of choice. Now a 42mm piece powered by the Master Chronometer Caliber 8800 movement, it remains one of their most popular offerings, with the beautiful laser-etched wave pattern across the face making a very welcome comeback in recent years.

Size: 42mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Steel (Also available on a rubber strap) Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8800 with Date Retail Price (MSRP): From $5,200

  Seamaster Railmaster Co-Axial Master Chronometer 40mm

The Railmaster series was initially its own line of watches, making up one-third of Omega’s original 1957 Professional Collection, along with the original Speedmaster and Seamaster. Intended as a model for scientists, it contained a soft iron interior shield to protect the movement’s delicate components from strong magnetic fields. Nowadays, it is part of the Seamaster range and its Co-Axial caliber, made with naturally antimagnetic parts, means that it no longer has any need for the extra inner shielding, allowing the state-of-the-art movement to sit on display through its sapphire caseback. Simple, elegant and accomplished, this is Omega at its most practical.

Size: 40mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Nylon Fabric (Also Available on Steel and NATO) Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8806 Retail Price (MSRP): $5,200

  Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial Master Chronometer 43.5mm

Positioned as Omega’s collection of ultra-capable dive watches, the Planet Ocean series was launched in 2005. Boasting twice the water-resistance of the Seamaster Diver 300m, they are also offered in a variety of sizes (39.5mm, 43.5mm, and 45.5mm), with three-handed date versions alongside chronographs and a GMT. Materials range from stainless steel, Sedna gold (18K rose), or titanium, and all are modern models are driven by Master Chronometer Co-Axial movements.

Size: 43.5mm Case: Steel Bracelet: Steel Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8900 Retail Price (MSRP): $6,550

  Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial Master Chronometer GMT 43.5mm

Sporting the world’s first polished, bi-ceramic black and white bezel, the GMT-equipped Planet Ocean 600m is one of the most all-around useful versions of Omega’s versatile diver. The contrasting colors on the bezel offer the clearest indication of night and day, as well as giving the watch a beautifully sophisticated visual. Like the rest of the series, the in-house Co-Axial movement is Master Chronometer certified.

Size: 43.5mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Black Leather with Rubber Lining Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8906 Retail Price (MSRP): $7,900

  Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m Co-Axial Master Chronometer 41mm

Another relatively new addition to the Seamaster family, the Aqua Terra range first appeared in 2003. As a water-resistant watch with an elegantly formal aesthetic, the series is more in keeping with the original Seamaster models dating from 1948. It is also hugely diverse, with a total of 86 different watches, covering a variety of sizes (including ladies’ pieces), mechanical and quartz movements, and even some impressive complications. The 41mm Co-Axial Master Chronometer is available with a selection of dial colors, all featuring etched grooves to emulate the look of a yacht’s decking. Bracelets also come in steel, rubber, or leather, giving the piece either a sporty or dressy look. A handsome, somewhat minimalist watch with a cutting-edge caliber, the Aqua Terra represents exceptional value for money.

Size: 41mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Stainless Steel (Also available with rubber or leather straps) Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8900 Retail Price (MSRP): $5,500

  Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m Omega Co-Axial 41.5mm >15,000 Gauss

The world’s first completely antimagnetic watch, the Aqua Terra >15,000 Gauss contains the Co-Axial Caliber 8508, developed by teams from ETA, ASULAB (the research and development laboratory for Swatch Group), Nivarox, and Omega themselves. Able to withstand magnetic fields greater than 1.5 tesla, it represents the brand’s commitment to completely safeguarding the performance of their watches.

Size: 41.5mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Stainless Steel Movement: Co-Axial Caliber 8508 Retail Price (MSRP): $6,600

  Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer GMT Worldtimer 43mm

  An extraordinary addition to the Aqua Terra collection, this 18k Sedna (rose) gold piece includes a Worldtimer complication, with an outer chapter ring displaying the names of 24 international cities, one for each time zone. The 24-hour inner scale rotates once a day and shows the time in other locations on the dial, one half in dark blue to indicate nighttime and the other in a silvery opaline representing daylight. In the center is a beautifully realized globe on a Grade 5 titanium plate, laser-ablated to leave a relief map of the continents. The top of the Aqua Terra range, it manages to be both a highly intricate dress watch and robust enough to remain water-resistant to 150m.

Size: 43mm Case: 18k Sedna Gold Bracelet: 18k Sedna Gold Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8939 Retail Price (MSRP): $36,200

  Seamaster 300 Co-Axial Master Chronometer 39mm

A wonderful throwback to the original Professional Collection, Omega launched the ‘1957 Trilogy’ on the 60th anniversary of that groundbreaking trio’s release. The Seamaster 300 from the series is an almost exact visual reproduction, with a host of vintage styling touches, but with the benefit of the brand’s latest movement technology.

Size: 39mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Stainless Steel Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8806 Retail Price (MSRP): $7,000

  Seamaster Ploprof 1200m Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer 55x48mm

With the advent of saturation diving, a new problem emerged for the industry’s deep divers. The mixed breathing gases they had to use contained a high proportion of helium, and the molecules were able to seep inside their watch cases. Upon the ascent, those bubbles would expand, blowing out the protective crystals covering the dials. While other brands, most notably Rolex, tackled the problem by inventing the Helium Escape Valve to let the gas purge without causing any damage, Omega went the other way and created a model so immense and solid that it didn’t let the helium inside in the first place. That watch was the Ploprof, an utter beast of a timepiece, water-resistant to more than 4,000ft underwater. There are now five in the series, and the modern versions are now fitted with helium escape valves, with this orange-bezel titanium slab among the standouts. Definitely an acquired taste, but massively impressive (and just plain massive) all the same.

Size: 55mm Case: Grade 5 Titanium Bracelet: Grade 2 Titanium Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8912 Retail Price (MSRP): $13,800

  Omega Constellation

Once the flagship from Omega, the Constellation collection, which also takes in the retro-inspired Globemaster subdivision, is the brand’s dress watch range. A focus on sophistication and refinement, it is an extensive series and features some notable complications and tasteful use of precious metals. Below are a few of its best examples.

  Constellation Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer 39mm

Omega’s first Constellation watch was launched in 1952 and was a tribute to the Lockheed Constellation aircraft which had served for the allies during WWII. Several generations have come and gone since then, and the current range has in excess of 150 different models in both men’s and women’s sizes. As extensive as the modern collection is, they all share certain stylistic touches, most prominently the four ‘claws’ on the bezel, the integrated bracelet design and the small star on the dial. The steel Co-Axial Master Chronometer 39mm is among the more understated models, available in a choice of colors and with Roman numerals engraved on its surround.

Size: 39mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Stainless Steel Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8800 Retail Price (MSRP): $6,050

  Constellation Globemaster Co-Axial Master Chronometer 39mm

A far smaller collection but an extremely popular one, the Globemaster watches are exemplified by their pie-pan dials, a much-missed element from the 1950s and 60s. The 17-strong range contains models crafted in steel and both yellow and Sedna gold, along with a number of bi-metal two-tone examples. All are given fluted bezels fitting for a dress watch and a variety of either steel bracelets or leather straps.

Size: 39mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Blue Leather Strap Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8900 Retail Price (MSRP): $6,900

  Constellation Globemaster Co-Axial Master Chronometer Annual Calendar 41mm

One of the most beneficial complications for a mechanical watch, an annual calendar compensates for months with varying numbers of days, adjusts itself automatically, and only requiring resetting once per year. On the Globemaster, each facet of the distinctive pie pan dial is given a month of the year, pointed out by an additional, blued hand. The 18k Sedna gold version with the sun-brushed blue dial is an absolute beauty and an ideal watch for formal occasions.

Size: 41mm Case: Sedna Gold Bracelet: Blue Leather Strap Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8923 Retail Price (MSRP): $23,700

  Omega De Ville

Introduced in 1960, the De Ville is another range that previously was part of the Seamaster collection, before breaking away into its own line in 1967. It is also the series most commonly used as a proving ground for Omega’s succession of innovations – for example, it was a De Ville watch that debuted the first Co-Axial movement in 1999. Containing some of the most intricate and flamboyant pieces in the whole of the brand’s portfolio, many crafted from precious metals, this is where many of the priciest offerings can be found.

  De Ville Prestige Co-Axial 39.5mm De Ville 50th Anniversary

Commemorating the ‘De Ville’ name’s half-century, Omega released anniversary watches in white, yellow, and red gold, each featuring a striking white enamel dial. The period-correct Arabic numeral hour markers are picked out in Anthracite, apart from the bright red 12 o’clock, and the inner railway minute track keeps everything suitably vintage looking. The caseback is engraved with Chronos, the god of time, and the watch is powered by the in-house Co-Axial Caliber 2500.

Size: 39.5mm Case: White Gold (Also Available in Yellow and Red) Bracelet: Grey Leather Strap Movement: Co-Axial Caliber 2500 Retail Price (MSRP): $12,500

  De Ville Tourbillon Co-Axial Numbered Edition 44mm

Although we said no limited editions, this one was important enough to break our own rule. A very special watch, with a very special price tag, the 44mm solid Sedna gold piece features a centrally-mounted tourbillon, with flying hands pointing out the time on an outer minute ring. The dial is sun-brushed and treated with blue PVD, while inside, the exclusive Omega 2638 movement is given an oscillating weight of 950 platinum.

Size: 44 Case: 18k Sedna Gold Bracelet: Blue Leather Strap Movement: Co-Axial Caliber 2638 Retail Price (MSRP): $156,000

*All images courtesy of OMEGA.

  The post Omega Watches Ultimate Buying Guide appeared first on Bob's Watches.

Read more about this at bobswatches.com

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[inhandnetworks-blog]

New Metamaterial Uses “Aluminum-Doped Zinc Oxide touchscreen vending  ” for Enhanced Performance

www.inhandnetworks.com

By using an “aluminum-doped zinc oxide,” or AZO, Purdue researchers have shown how to create metamaterials without using silver or gold. The new metamaterial consists of 16 layers alternating between AZO and zinc oxide and has enhanced performance that is compatible with semiconductors.

West Lafayette, Indiana – Researchers have taken a step toward overcoming a key obstacle in commercializing “hyperbolic metamaterials,” structures that could bring optical advances including ultrapowerful microscopes, computers and solar cells.

The researchers have shown how to create the metamaterials without the traditional silver or gold previously required, said Alexandra Boltasseva, a Purdue University assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering.

Using the metals is impractical for industry because of high cost and incompatibility with semiconductor manufacturing processes. The metals also do not transmit light efficiently, causing much of it to be lost. The Purdue researchers replaced the metals with an “aluminum-doped zinc oxide,” or AZO.

“This means we can have a completely new material platform for creating optical metamaterials, which offers important advantages,” Boltasseva said.

Doctoral student Gururaj V. Naik provided major contributions to the research, working with a team to develop a new metamaterial consisting of 16 layers alternating between AZO and zinc oxide. Light passing from the zinc oxide to the AZO layers encounters an “extreme anisotropy,” causing its dispersion to become “hyperbolic,” which dramatically changes the light’s behavior.

&ldq Industrial LTE Router  uo;The doped oxide brings not only enhanced performance but also is compatible with semiconductors,&rdindustrial iot gatewayquo; Boltasseva said.

Research findings are detailed in a paper appearing Monday (May 14) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The list of possible applications for metamaterials includes a “planar hyperlens” that could make optical microscopes 10 times more powerful and able to see objects as small as DNA; advanced sensors; more efficient solar collectors; quantum computing; and cloaking devices mri remote monitoring  .

The AZO also makes it possible to “tune” the optical properties of metamaterials, an advance that could hasten their commercialization, Boltasseva said.

“It’s possible to adjust the optical properties in two ways,” she said. “You can vary the concentration of aluminum in the AZO during its formulation. You can also alter the optical properties in AZO by applying an electrical field to the fabricated metamaterial.”

This switching ability might usher in a new class of metamaterials that could be turned hyperbolic and non-hyperbolic at the flip of a switch.

“This could actually lead to a whole new family of devices that can be tuned or switched,” Boltasseva said. “AZO can go from dielectric to metallic. So at one specific wavelength, at one applied voltage, it can be metal and at another voltage it can be dielectric. This would lead to tremendous changes in functionality.”

The researchers “doped” zinc oxide with aluminum, meaning the zinc oxide is impregnated with aluminum atoms to alter the material’s optical properties. Doping the zinc oxide causes it to behave like a metal at certain wavelengths and like a dielectric at other wavelengths.

The material has been shown to work in the near-infrared range of the spectrum, which is essential for optical communications, and could allow researchers to harness “optical black holes” to create a new generation of light-harvesting devices for solar energy applications.

The PNAS paper was authored by Naik, Boltasseva, doctoral student Jingjing Liu, senior research scientist Alexander V. Kildishev, and Vladimir M. Shalaev, scientific director of nanophotonics at Purdue’s Birck Nanotechnology Center, a distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering and a scientific adviser for the Russian Quantum Center.

Current optical technologies are limited because, for the efficient control of light, components cannot be smaller than the size of the wavelengths of light. Metamaterials are able to guide and control light on all scales, including the scale of nanometers, or billionths of a meter.

Unlike natural materials, metamaterials are able to reduce the “index of refraction” to less than one or less than zero. Refraction occurs as electromagnetic waves, including light, bend when passing from one material into another. It causes the bent-stick-in-water effect, which occurs when a stick placed in a glass of water appears bent when viewed from the outside. Each material has its own refraction index, which describes how much light will bend in that particular material and defines how much the speed of light slows down while passing through a material

Natural materials typically have refractive indices greater than one. Metamaterials, however, can make the index of refraction vary from zero to one, which possibly will enable applications including the hyperlens.

The layered metamaterial is a so-called plasmonic structure because it conducts clouds of electrons called “plasmons.”

“Alternative plasmonic materials such as AZO overcome the bottleneck created by conventional metals in the design of optical metamaterials and enable more efficient devices,” Boltasseva said. “We anticipate that the development of these new plasmonic materials and nanostructured material composites will lead to tremendous progress in the technology of optical metamaterials, enabling the full-scale development of this technology and uncovering many new physical phenomena.”

This work has been funded in part by the U.S. Office of Naval Research, National Science Foundation and Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Image: Purdue University

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New PANDORA Cryptocurrency Exchange Platform Opens Utilizing Forex Trading Technology

New PANDORA Cryptocurrency Exchange Platform Opens Utilizing Forex Trading Technology

PANDORA Introduces A Cryptocurrency Platform Drawn Upon FX Trading Technology

PANDORA, a next-generation cryptocurrency trading platform, is pleased to announce its launch to the public. PANDORA intends to start offering advanced forex trading technology to cryptocurrency traders starting from 3rd of December 2018. The new solution finally gives the crypto markets the much-enjoyed advantages in the forex markets like allowing investors to utilize MetaTrader 5 for trading. With experience in stocks, futures, forex, and cryptocurrency, PANDORA hopes to create a comprehensive trading ecosystem that leverages professional trading solutions.

Anton Kulikov, CEO of PANDORA, voiced his delight at the introduction of the “revolutionary” platform.

“PANDORA is honored to usher in the next wave of cryptocurrency trading, with a complete solution for traders who want to leverage robust professional tools to invest in the cryptocurrency market.”

While speaking at the launch of the platform, Kulikov further adds:

“Through PANDORA, investors will find managing their cryptocurrency portfolios easier than ever, using some of the same trading and analytical solutions those professional traders have relied on for years.”

What PANDORA Presents

According to the release statement, PANDORA intends to incorporate their experience within forex and the technology available for trading to create the cryptocurrency trading platform. Further details indicate that the PANDORA platform will allow interested crypto investors on MetaTrader 5 to trade and manage their funds on multiple trading exchanges.

Another perk that comes with the PANDORA crypto trading platform is the Pandfolio software solution. Users with portfolios can synchronize exchanges and access the statistics to track and analyze their investments. Binance, Kucoin, Bitfinex, and Poloniex are the lead crypto exchanges that customers will be able to connect and invest their crypto funds.

Also, PANDORA’s new trading solution will automate the users trading strategies through selected performance indicators and streamline their accounts. The traders will get access to premium trading bots, social trading strategies and indicators to allow them to utilize professional trading strategies similar to experienced investors. As a bonus, the PANDORA trading platform is providing users with a news and analytics section to keep investors updated on statistics and crypto headlines.

Fusing FX Trading And Cryptocurrency

Despite the crypto market slump, there is no denying the industry is maturing and evolving. PANDORA looks to bring crypto enthusiasts of all kinds an opportunity to trade in a world-class centralized platform. Currently, the platform’s development team is progressing with updating its Bitfinex Connection, trading fee counting, and the efficiency of the Pandfolio. There are also different updates under resolving to enhance the user’s experience.

All these actions move PANDORA closer to achieving its goal of bringing together the two financial markets- traditional forex market and cryptocurrency. PANDORA hopes to leverage its sophisticated technology, and crypto-focused trading solutions could bring a new wave of crypto trading.

About PANDORA

PANDORA (i-Pandora) prides itself of having a development team with over a decade of professional experience in Forex and now crypto trading experience. Through the platform, PANDORA seeks to assist the growing cryptocurrency community to access an efficient trading platform with top-tier intelligence and analytical sources.

Source link https://ift.tt/2Eafxcs

[vanessawestwcrtr5]

New PANDORA Cryptocurrency Exchange Platform Opens Utilizing Forex Trading Technology

New PANDORA Cryptocurrency Exchange Platform Opens Utilizing Forex Trading Technology

PANDORA Introduces A Cryptocurrency Platform Drawn Upon FX Trading Technology

PANDORA, a next-generation cryptocurrency trading platform, is pleased to announce its launch to the public. PANDORA intends to start offering advanced forex trading technology to cryptocurrency traders starting from 3rd of December 2018. The new solution finally gives the crypto markets the much-enjoyed advantages in the forex markets like allowing investors to utilize MetaTrader 5 for trading. With experience in stocks, futures, forex, and cryptocurrency, PANDORA hopes to create a comprehensive trading ecosystem that leverages professional trading solutions.

Anton Kulikov, CEO of PANDORA, voiced his delight at the introduction of the “revolutionary” platform.

“PANDORA is honored to usher in the next wave of cryptocurrency trading, with a complete solution for traders who want to leverage robust professional tools to invest in the cryptocurrency market.”

While speaking at the launch of the platform, Kulikov further adds:

“Through PANDORA, investors will find managing their cryptocurrency portfolios easier than ever, using some of the same trading and analytical solutions those professional traders have relied on for years.”

What PANDORA Presents

According to the release statement, PANDORA intends to incorporate their experience within forex and the technology available for trading to create the cryptocurrency trading platform. Further details indicate that the PANDORA platform will allow interested crypto investors on MetaTrader 5 to trade and manage their funds on multiple trading exchanges.

Another perk that comes with the PANDORA crypto trading platform is the Pandfolio software solution. Users with portfolios can synchronize exchanges and access the statistics to track and analyze their investments. Binance, Kucoin, Bitfinex, and Poloniex are the lead crypto exchanges that customers will be able to connect and invest their crypto funds.

Also, PANDORA’s new trading solution will automate the users trading strategies through selected performance indicators and streamline their accounts. The traders will get access to premium trading bots, social trading strategies and indicators to allow them to utilize professional trading strategies similar to experienced investors. As a bonus, the PANDORA trading platform is providing users with a news and analytics section to keep investors updated on statistics and crypto headlines.

Fusing FX Trading And Cryptocurrency

Despite the crypto market slump, there is no denying the industry is maturing and evolving. PANDORA looks to bring crypto enthusiasts of all kinds an opportunity to trade in a world-class centralized platform. Currently, the platform’s development team is progressing with updating its Bitfinex Connection, trading fee counting, and the efficiency of the Pandfolio. There are also different updates under resolving to enhance the user’s experience.

All these actions move PANDORA closer to achieving its goal of bringing together the two financial markets- traditional forex market and cryptocurrency. PANDORA hopes to leverage its sophisticated technology, and crypto-focused trading solutions could bring a new wave of crypto trading.

About PANDORA

PANDORA (i-Pandora) prides itself of having a development team with over a decade of professional experience in Forex and now crypto trading experience. Through the platform, PANDORA seeks to assist the growing cryptocurrency community to access an efficient trading platform with top-tier intelligence and analytical sources.

Source link https://ift.tt/2Eafxcs

[courtneyvbrooks87]

New PANDORA Cryptocurrency Exchange Platform Opens Utilizing Forex Trading Technology

New PANDORA Cryptocurrency Exchange Platform Opens Utilizing Forex Trading Technology

PANDORA Introduces A Cryptocurrency Platform Drawn Upon FX Trading Technology

PANDORA, a next-generation cryptocurrency trading platform, is pleased to announce its launch to the public. PANDORA intends to start offering advanced forex trading technology to cryptocurrency traders starting from 3rd of December 2018. The new solution finally gives the crypto markets the much-enjoyed advantages in the forex markets like allowing investors to utilize MetaTrader 5 for trading. With experience in stocks, futures, forex, and cryptocurrency, PANDORA hopes to create a comprehensive trading ecosystem that leverages professional trading solutions.

Anton Kulikov, CEO of PANDORA, voiced his delight at the introduction of the “revolutionary” platform.

“PANDORA is honored to usher in the next wave of cryptocurrency trading, with a complete solution for traders who want to leverage robust professional tools to invest in the cryptocurrency market.”

While speaking at the launch of the platform, Kulikov further adds:

“Through PANDORA, investors will find managing their cryptocurrency portfolios easier than ever, using some of the same trading and analytical solutions those professional traders have relied on for years.”

What PANDORA Presents

According to the release statement, PANDORA intends to incorporate their experience within forex and the technology available for trading to create the cryptocurrency trading platform. Further details indicate that the PANDORA platform will allow interested crypto investors on MetaTrader 5 to trade and manage their funds on multiple trading exchanges.

Another perk that comes with the PANDORA crypto trading platform is the Pandfolio software solution. Users with portfolios can synchronize exchanges and access the statistics to track and analyze their investments. Binance, Kucoin, Bitfinex, and Poloniex are the lead crypto exchanges that customers will be able to connect and invest their crypto funds.

Also, PANDORA’s new trading solution will automate the users trading strategies through selected performance indicators and streamline their accounts. The traders will get access to premium trading bots, social trading strategies and indicators to allow them to utilize professional trading strategies similar to experienced investors. As a bonus, the PANDORA trading platform is providing users with a news and analytics section to keep investors updated on statistics and crypto headlines.

Fusing FX Trading And Cryptocurrency

Despite the crypto market slump, there is no denying the industry is maturing and evolving. PANDORA looks to bring crypto enthusiasts of all kinds an opportunity to trade in a world-class centralized platform. Currently, the platform’s development team is progressing with updating its Bitfinex Connection, trading fee counting, and the efficiency of the Pandfolio. There are also different updates under resolving to enhance the user’s experience.

All these actions move PANDORA closer to achieving its goal of bringing together the two financial markets- traditional forex market and cryptocurrency. PANDORA hopes to leverage its sophisticated technology, and crypto-focused trading solutions could bring a new wave of crypto trading.

About PANDORA

PANDORA (i-Pandora) prides itself of having a development team with over a decade of professional experience in Forex and now crypto trading experience. Through the platform, PANDORA seeks to assist the growing cryptocurrency community to access an efficient trading platform with top-tier intelligence and analytical sources.

Source link https://ift.tt/2Eafxcs

#IFTTT #Cryptocurrency and Bitcoin

[linabrigette]

Aragon Launches on Ethereum Mainnet: Killer Application of DAOs

Aragon version 0.6 is now live on the Ethereum mainnet and the release comes seven months after the company announced Aragon version 0.5.

The release is considered a major milestone for Aragon, a blockchain startup that managed to raise €25 million in under 1.5 minutes during their ICO.

Aragon is a tool, that allows entrepreneurs, blockchain communities and developers to create and manage DAOs. But, unlike previous Ethereum tools, the open source tools of Aragon are more advanced and enable the management of more robust organizations.

More about Aragon DAOs

The idea of DAOs is to create autonomous organizations without any form of hierarchical management by running hard coded rules on top of blockchain platforms. To this end, a DAO is simply a complex set of smart contracts where the by-laws and token governance rules of the organization are embedded into the smart contract.  Autonomous organizations are virtual, efficient but still allow for human collaboration while by-passing controlling legal systems. All transactions are executed on the underlying blockchain through smart contracts.

With the launch of Aragon 0.6, Alba, more robust DAOs can be created on the Ethereum mainnet with minimum fuss. Several Aragon organizations such as the company’s Survey App and DAppNode, have been running on the Ethereum mainnet in the last six months without facing any security or technical glitch.

The Benefits of Aragon DAO

This mainnet launch ushers in a period of improved human collaboration where entrepreneurs get access to greater features and interact with the ecosystem with improved user interface. Aside from the features, Aragon organizations enable seamless collaboration between investors as venture capital firms or community members plugging into the Aragon organizations have a common user interface to cooperate.

Developers desirous of creating governable applications can quickly make use of Aragon’s tested permission and proxying setups via AragonOS which provides a robust API for Aragon DAO integration. To avoid security lapses, AragonOS has been audited and is currently in version 4.

Aragon merges all features of a traditional company including voting, governance, administration and even identity. For full functionality, Aragon is made up of a card-based voting system for collaboration, a token manager allowing for membership and organization ownership and a transparent finance option enabling Aragon DAOs to own assets. Apart from the upgraded user interface, permissions infuse dynamism and allows for creation of customizable organizations.

Momentum is picking up and Space Decentral, a decentralized platform for devising and funding the next-generation space initiatives while linking scientists, astronauts and engineers, is using Aragon.

The Successful ICO and Set of Users

After a successful ICO back in July 2017 when they sold 70 percent of all their ANT tokens, Luis Cuende believe that three main users will begin using Aragon:

 The first people that will interact with Aragon is blockchain projects that will use the platform to govern their products, we already have many in line, waiting to start using it.

 The second wave of users will be open-source projects, where people can contribute to open-source projects and pay/reward with tokens of the project to get governance over the product being built. Until now, monetization of open-source has been hard, we hope to change that.

The third wave will be distributed companies that can for example easily pay their employees in the Ethereum tokens.

Even as companies begin creating DAOs, Aragon Foundation is encouraging users not to store large amounts of fund for security reasons. A bug bounty program is in progress.

The post Aragon Launches on Ethereum Mainnet: Killer Application of DAOs appeared first on BTC News Today.

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[anycontentposter]

Omega Watches Ultimate Buying Guide

In terms of the most recognizable watch brands in the world, one of the few to really give Rolex reason for the occasional anxious glance over its shoulder is Omega. Their extensive portfolio contains a raft of iconic models, made memorable by some of history’s greatest achievements, and some of pop culture’s most enduring heroes. The lineup includes names familiar even to those with the merest passing interest in horology; and for the real aficionados, they speak of adventures on land, beneath the waves, and some that are genuinely out of this world.

Omega has existed since 1848 and has evolved over the last 170+ years into one of the true greats of the Swiss watch industry. Their classic yet innovative designs have been favored by a diverse assortment of personalities including President JFK, Elvis Presley, Tom Hanks, Cindy Crawford, Michael Phelps, and George Clooney. On-screen, you will see them worn by Tony Montana in Scarface, and most famously of all, they have been the brand of choice for the James Bond since the mid-90s.

However, perhaps their greatest claim to fame, and one that outdoes just about every other manufacturer on the planet, is Omega’s status as the brand behind the first watch worn on the moon. Since 1963, they have been the official timepiece supplier to NASA, and the Speedmaster chronograph accompanied Apollo 11’s astronauts on their inaugural trip to the lunar surface.

If that wasn’t enough, they were also the only company with the foresight to recognize the genius of George Daniel’s Co-Axial escapement, arguably the biggest revolution in watchmaking since the 18th century. By transforming the traditional lever escapement’s sliding motion, as its pallet fork’s teeth lock and unlock into a radial movement, the Co-Axial eliminates the inherent problem of friction that has long hindered the performance of the standard arrangement. In doing so, it has ushered in a level of long-term accuracy and resilience previously unheard of in mass-produced luxury watches. Omega bought the patent to the Co-Axial escapement in 1999 and has since gone on to build most of their modern timepieces around the system. Together with their own Master Chronometer rating certificate, this advanced technology helps puts the brand at the very forefront of what is possible in mechanical watchmaking.

Today, the Omega catalog is comprised of four main collections (the Speedmaster, Seamaster, De Ville, and Constellation), and each one is split into a number of sub-groups. The company offers world-class dive models, industry-leading chronographs, supremely elegant dress pieces, and rugged everyday beaters, with price points ranging from the extremely attainable to top-end expensive.

Below we have put together a quick buying guide on Omega watches as an overview of the manufacturer’s biggest hitters. While it doesn’t touch on every available piece, it gives a good starting point for what can, at times, be a confusing selection. We’ve also elected to avoid the limited edition models, as there may not be enough space on the internet to list them all.

Omega Speedmaster 

Arguably the most well known of Omega’s collections thanks to its association with the Space Race, the Speedmaster was introduced in 1957 and became the chronograph against which all others would be measured. The first to move the tachymeter scale from the dial to the bezel, thus offering unparalleled legibility, plus its bombproof engineering was enough to win it the NASA gig. Following on from those early days, the Speedy name has been used for a wide variety of different models, including everything from faithful reissues of that moonwalking original to quartz-powered analog/digital display pieces for a new generation of astronauts. There is a broad collection to choose from, and we have isolated a few of the most important.

  Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch 42mm 

With the possible exception of the Rolex Daytona, there is no other chronograph out there to match the Moonwatch’s fabled appeal. It is virtually a direct recreation of the model Buzz Aldrin wore during his historic feat, complete with a hand-wound movement and Hesilite crystal. One of the most well-loved watches of all time, every collector should own a Speedy at some point.

Size: 42mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Stainless Steel (Or Black Leather) Movement: Caliber 1861 (Or 1863 on Display Back Models) Retail Price (MSRP): $5,350

  Speedmaster FOiS 39.7mm

Although also called a Moonwatch, this smaller, more retro-designed Speedy is actually subtitled ‘The First Omega in Space’ (FOIS) and is centered around the model worn by Wally Schirra on his 1962 Earth orbit flight aboard Sigma 7.

Size: 39.7mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Brown Leather Movement: Caliber 1861 Retail Price (MSRP): $5,300

  Speedmaster Co-Axial 44.25mm Grey Side of the Moon ‘Meteorite’

Omega has been among the pioneers of using ceramic for watch cases, the material forming the basis of their ‘Of The Moon’ range in colors of black, white, blue, and grey. The Grey Side of the Moon models are available with a standard dial, or one taken from a slice of ancient meteorite, acid etched to expose its unique natural pattern. Larger than the standard Omega Moonwatches, it also benefits from the automatic Co-Axial caliber 9300.

Size: 44.25mm Case: Grey Ceramic Bracelet: Grey Leather Movement: Co-Axial Caliber 9300 Retail Price (MSRP): $15,600

  Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 Chronograph 45mm

A natural progression of the classic mechanical Moonwatch, the X-33 is a 45mm titanium-forged, analog/digital LCD timepiece powered by a multifunctional thermo-compensated quartz chronograph movement. Able to display a timer, MET (Mission Elapsed Time), PET (Phase Elapsed Time), three alarms and a perpetual calendar, it has been approved by the European Space Agency (ESA)

Size: 45mm Case: Grade 2 Titanium Bracelet: Grade 2 and Grade 5 Titanium Movement: Quartz Caliber 5619 Retail Price (MSRP): $5,900

  Omega Seamaster

The most stylistically diverse range of watches in Omega’s whole collection, the Seamaster takes in everything from pieces made originally for scientists and technicians, to extraordinarily robust dive monsters able to withstand impossible depths. While the name itself might lead to some puzzlement, many of the Seamaster models are among the most well-known of all, helped along by a certain fictional super spy. From a huge selection of watches, below we have picked out some of the most noteworthy.

  Seamaster Diver 300m Co-Axial Master Chronometer 42mm

When Pierce Brosnan slipped on the quartz version of the Omega Seamaster Diver 300m in 1995’s Goldeneye, it triggered a resurgence for the brand that they have been riding ever since. The latest iteration comes in 23 different possible configurations, with the steel-cased, blue bezel/dial model remaining the closest to Bond’s original Omega of choice. Now a 42mm piece powered by the Master Chronometer Caliber 8800 movement, it remains one of their most popular offerings, with the beautiful laser-etched wave pattern across the face making a very welcome comeback in recent years.

Size: 42mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Steel (Also available on a rubber strap) Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8800 with Date Retail Price (MSRP): From $5,200

  Seamaster Railmaster Co-Axial Master Chronometer 40mm

The Railmaster series was initially its own line of watches, making up one-third of Omega’s original 1957 Professional Collection, along with the original Speedmaster and Seamaster. Intended as a model for scientists, it contained a soft iron interior shield to protect the movement’s delicate components from strong magnetic fields. Nowadays, it is part of the Seamaster range and its Co-Axial caliber, made with naturally antimagnetic parts, means that it no longer has any need for the extra inner shielding, allowing the state-of-the-art movement to sit on display through its sapphire caseback. Simple, elegant and accomplished, this is Omega at its most practical.

Size: 40mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Nylon Fabric (Also Available on Steel and NATO) Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8806 Retail Price (MSRP): $5,200

  Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial Master Chronometer 43.5mm

Positioned as Omega’s collection of ultra-capable dive watches, the Planet Ocean series was launched in 2005. Boasting twice the water-resistance of the Seamaster Diver 300m, they are also offered in a variety of sizes (39.5mm, 43.5mm, and 45.5mm), with three-handed date versions alongside chronographs and a GMT. Materials range from stainless steel, Sedna gold (18K rose), or titanium, and all are modern models are driven by Master Chronometer Co-Axial movements.

Size: 43.5mm Case: Steel Bracelet: Steel Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8900 Retail Price (MSRP): $6,550

  Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m Co-Axial Master Chronometer GMT 43.5mm

Sporting the world’s first polished, bi-ceramic black and white bezel, the GMT-equipped Planet Ocean 600m is one of the most all-around useful versions of Omega’s versatile diver. The contrasting colors on the bezel offer the clearest indication of night and day, as well as giving the watch a beautifully sophisticated visual. Like the rest of the series, the in-house Co-Axial movement is Master Chronometer certified.

Size: 43.5mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Black Leather with Rubber Lining Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8906 Retail Price (MSRP): $7,900

  Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m Co-Axial Master Chronometer 41mm

Another relatively new addition to the Seamaster family, the Aqua Terra range first appeared in 2003. As a water-resistant watch with an elegantly formal aesthetic, the series is more in keeping with the original Seamaster models dating from 1948. It is also hugely diverse, with a total of 86 different watches, covering a variety of sizes (including ladies’ pieces), mechanical and quartz movements, and even some impressive complications. The 41mm Co-Axial Master Chronometer is available with a selection of dial colors, all featuring etched grooves to emulate the look of a yacht’s decking. Bracelets also come in steel, rubber, or leather, giving the piece either a sporty or dressy look. A handsome, somewhat minimalist watch with a cutting-edge caliber, the Aqua Terra represents exceptional value for money.

Size: 41mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Stainless Steel (Also available with rubber or leather straps) Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8900 Retail Price (MSRP): $5,500

  Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m Omega Co-Axial 41.5mm >15,000 Gauss

The world’s first completely antimagnetic watch, the Aqua Terra >15,000 Gauss contains the Co-Axial Caliber 8508, developed by teams from ETA, ASULAB (the research and development laboratory for Swatch Group), Nivarox, and Omega themselves. Able to withstand magnetic fields greater than 1.5 tesla, it represents the brand’s commitment to completely safeguarding the performance of their watches.

Size: 41.5mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Stainless Steel Movement: Co-Axial Caliber 8508 Retail Price (MSRP): $6,600

  Seamaster Aqua Terra 150m Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer GMT Worldtimer 43mm

  An extraordinary addition to the Aqua Terra collection, this 18k Sedna (rose) gold piece includes a Worldtimer complication, with an outer chapter ring displaying the names of 24 international cities, one for each time zone. The 24-hour inner scale rotates once a day and shows the time in other locations on the dial, one half in dark blue to indicate nighttime and the other in a silvery opaline representing daylight. In the center is a beautifully realized globe on a Grade 5 titanium plate, laser-ablated to leave a relief map of the continents. The top of the Aqua Terra range, it manages to be both a highly intricate dress watch and robust enough to remain water-resistant to 150m.

Size: 43mm Case: 18k Sedna Gold Bracelet: 18k Sedna Gold Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8939 Retail Price (MSRP): $36,200

  Seamaster 300 Co-Axial Master Chronometer 39mm

A wonderful throwback to the original Professional Collection, Omega launched the ‘1957 Trilogy’ on the 60th anniversary of that groundbreaking trio’s release. The Seamaster 300 from the series is an almost exact visual reproduction, with a host of vintage styling touches, but with the benefit of the brand’s latest movement technology.

Size: 39mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Stainless Steel Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8806 Retail Price (MSRP): $7,000

  Seamaster Ploprof 1200m Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer 55x48mm

With the advent of saturation diving, a new problem emerged for the industry’s deep divers. The mixed breathing gases they had to use contained a high proportion of helium, and the molecules were able to seep inside their watch cases. Upon the ascent, those bubbles would expand, blowing out the protective crystals covering the dials. While other brands, most notably Rolex, tackled the problem by inventing the Helium Escape Valve to let the gas purge without causing any damage, Omega went the other way and created a model so immense and solid that it didn’t let the helium inside in the first place. That watch was the Ploprof, an utter beast of a timepiece, water-resistant to more than 4,000ft underwater. There are now five in the series, and the modern versions are now fitted with helium escape valves, with this orange-bezel titanium slab among the standouts. Definitely an acquired taste, but massively impressive (and just plain massive) all the same.

Size: 55mm Case: Grade 5 Titanium Bracelet: Grade 2 Titanium Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8912 Retail Price (MSRP): $13,800

  Omega Constellation

Once the flagship from Omega, the Constellation collection, which also takes in the retro-inspired Globemaster subdivision, is the brand’s dress watch range. A focus on sophistication and refinement, it is an extensive series and features some notable complications and tasteful use of precious metals. Below are a few of its best examples.

  Constellation Omega Co-Axial Master Chronometer 39mm

Omega’s first Constellation watch was launched in 1952 and was a tribute to the Lockheed Constellation aircraft which had served for the allies during WWII. Several generations have come and gone since then, and the current range has in excess of 150 different models in both men’s and women’s sizes. As extensive as the modern collection is, they all share certain stylistic touches, most prominently the four ‘claws’ on the bezel, the integrated bracelet design and the small star on the dial. The steel Co-Axial Master Chronometer 39mm is among the more understated models, available in a choice of colors and with Roman numerals engraved on its surround.

Size: 39mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Stainless Steel Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8800 Retail Price (MSRP): $6,050

  Constellation Globemaster Co-Axial Master Chronometer 39mm

A far smaller collection but an extremely popular one, the Globemaster watches are exemplified by their pie-pan dials, a much-missed element from the 1950s and 60s. The 17-strong range contains models crafted in steel and both yellow and Sedna gold, along with a number of bi-metal two-tone examples. All are given fluted bezels fitting for a dress watch and a variety of either steel bracelets or leather straps.

Size: 39mm Case: Stainless Steel Bracelet: Blue Leather Strap Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8900 Retail Price (MSRP): $6,900

  Constellation Globemaster Co-Axial Master Chronometer Annual Calendar 41mm

One of the most beneficial complications for a mechanical watch, an annual calendar compensates for months with varying numbers of days, adjusts itself automatically, and only requiring resetting once per year. On the Globemaster, each facet of the distinctive pie pan dial is given a month of the year, pointed out by an additional, blued hand. The 18k Sedna gold version with the sun-brushed blue dial is an absolute beauty and an ideal watch for formal occasions.

Size: 41mm Case: Sedna Gold Bracelet: Blue Leather Strap Movement: Co-Axial Master Chronometer Caliber 8923 Retail Price (MSRP): $23,700

  Omega De Ville

Introduced in 1960, the De Ville is another range that previously was part of the Seamaster collection, before breaking away into its own line in 1967. It is also the series most commonly used as a proving ground for Omega’s succession of innovations – for example, it was a De Ville watch that debuted the first Co-Axial movement in 1999. Containing some of the most intricate and flamboyant pieces in the whole of the brand’s portfolio, many crafted from precious metals, this is where many of the priciest offerings can be found.

  De Ville Prestige Co-Axial 39.5mm De Ville 50th Anniversary

Commemorating the ‘De Ville’ name’s half-century, Omega released anniversary watches in white, yellow, and red gold, each featuring a striking white enamel dial. The period-correct Arabic numeral hour markers are picked out in Anthracite, apart from the bright red 12 o’clock, and the inner railway minute track keeps everything suitably vintage looking. The caseback is engraved with Chronos, the god of time, and the watch is powered by the in-house Co-Axial Caliber 2500.

Size: 39.5mm Case: White Gold (Also Available in Yellow and Red) Bracelet: Grey Leather Strap Movement: Co-Axial Caliber 2500 Retail Price (MSRP): $12,500

  De Ville Tourbillon Co-Axial Numbered Edition 44mm

Although we said no limited editions, this one was important enough to break our own rule. A very special watch, with a very special price tag, the 44mm solid Sedna gold piece features a centrally-mounted tourbillon, with flying hands pointing out the time on an outer minute ring. The dial is sun-brushed and treated with blue PVD, while inside, the exclusive Omega 2638 movement is given an oscillating weight of 950 platinum.

Size: 44 Case: 18k Sedna Gold Bracelet: Blue Leather Strap Movement: Co-Axial Caliber 2638 Retail Price (MSRP): $156,000

*All images courtesy of OMEGA.

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