Latest news with #Ber
GMA Network
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- GMA Network
EDSA rehab, odd-even scheme moved to 2026 — DPWH
The EDSA rehabilitation and implementation of the odd-even scheme will push through in 2026, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Thursday. According to Joseph Morong's exclusive report on '24 Oras' on Thursday, the DPWH said the EDSA rehabilitation will begin next year as it is already the rainy season in the country, which will be followed by the Christmas rush during the "Ber" months. 'If we have the space early next year, then we can start. Some of the sections na hindi most traveled (that is not most traveled), and that will not affect substantially the traffic movement,' DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said. He added the DPWH is also looking into a more efficient and affordable technology to rehabilitate the 23.8-kilometer stretch of the historic highway that is considered Metro Manila's major thoroughfare. In the original plan, EDSA would be reconstructed lane-by-lane, with each being replaced by a new road. The whole project would cost from P8 to 17 billion. However, DPWH is studying the 'time and motion' process where a layer would be placed above the surface of EDSA. 'It looks promising. We are not going to scarify it anymore. We'll just put it on top but we have to stabilize it properly. Tataas ng konti yung EDSA. hindi naman gaano mataas (EDSA will be raised a bit),' Bonoan said. He added the roadwork would be done at night, but the odd-even scheme must still be implemented to lessen the volume of vehicles. The DPWH will submit its recommendation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. once it finalizes the technology that will be used for the EDSA rehabilitation. More buses, trains in EDSA Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it will continue its plans to add more buses to the EDSA busway. It is also studying if the operation hours of MRT-3 can start earlier and if the 24 new Dalian trains can be utilized since it was not used since it did not match the MRT system. 'Sa checklist nila ng Sumitomo, there are only two or three out of ten left. For the 8 trains, kung ma-clear yun, then we can start using these trains,' DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon said. (In Sumitomo's checklist, there are only two or three out of ten left. For the 8 trains, if it is cleared, then we can start using these trains.) —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
1News
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- 1News
Jaws turns 50: how two musical notes terrified an entire generation
Our experience of the world often involves hearing our environment before seeing it. Whether it's the sound of something moving through nearby water, or the rustling of vegetation, our fear of the unseen is rooted in our survival instincts as a species. Alison Cole, a composer and lecturer at University of Sydney, breaks down what makes the soundtrack so chilling. Cinematic sound and music taps into these somewhat unsettling instincts – and this is exactly what director Steven Spielberg and composer John Williams achieved in the iconic 1975 thriller Jaws. The sound design and musical score work in tandem to confront the audience with a mysterious killer animal. In what is arguably the film's most iconic scene, featuring beach swimmers' legs flailing underwater, the shark remains largely unseen – yet the sound perfectly conveys the threat at large. Creating tension in a soundtrack Film composers aim to create soundscapes that will profoundly move and influence their audience. And they express these intentions through the use of musical elements such as rhythm, harmony, tempo, form, dynamics, melody and texture. ADVERTISEMENT This image released by Peacock shows cinematographer Bill Butler, standing, and director Steven Spielberg during the filming of "Jaws." (Source: Associated Press) In Jaws, the initial encounter with the shark opens innocently with the sound of an offshore buoy and its clanging bell. The scene is established both musically and atmospherically to evoke a sense of isolation for the two characters enjoying a late-night swim on an empty beach. But once we hear the the low strings, followed by the central two-note motif played on a tuba, we know something sinister is afoot. This compositional technique of alternating between two notes at an increasing speed has long been employed by composers, including by Antonín Dvořák in his 1893 work New World Symphony. John Williams reportedly used six basses, eight cellos, four trombones and a tuba to create the blend of low frequencies that would go on to define his entire Jaws score. The bass instruments emphasise the lower end of the musical frequency spectrum, evoking a dark timbre that conveys depth, power and intensity. String players can use various bowing techniques, such as staccato and marcato, to deliver dark and even menacing tones, especially in the lower registers. This image released by Peacock shows Roy Scheider in a scene from Jaws. (Source: Associated Press) ADVERTISEMENT Meanwhile, there is a marked absence of tonality in the repeating E–F notes, played with increasing speed on the tuba. Coupled with the intensifying dynamics in the instrumental blend, this accelerating two-note motif signals the looming danger before we even see it – tapping into our instinctive fear of the unknown. The use of the two-note motif and lower-end orchestration characterises a composition style that aims to unsettle and disorientate the audience. Another example of this style can be heard in Bernard Herrmann's car crash scene audio in North by Northwest (1959). Similarly, in Sergei Prokofiev's Scythian Suite, the opening of the second movement (Dance of the Pagan Gods) uses an alternating D#–E motif. The elasticity of Williams' motif allows the two notes to be played on different instruments throughout the soundtrack, exploring various timbral possibilities to induce a kaleidoscope of fear, panic and dread. The psychology behind our response What is it that makes the Jaws soundtrack so psychologically confronting, even without the visuals? Music scholars have various theories. Some suggest the two notes imitate the sound of human respiration, while others have proposed the theme evokes the heartbeat of a shark. Williams explained his approach in an interview with the Los Angeles Times: ADVERTISEMENT "I fiddled around with the idea of creating something that was very… brainless. Meaning something could be very repetitious, very visceral, and grab you in your gut, not in your brain. It could be something you could play very softly, which would indicate that the shark is far away when all you see is water. Brainless music that gets louder and gets closer to you, something is gonna swallow you up." Williams plays with the audience's emotions throughout the film's score, culminating in the scene Man Against Beast – a celebration of thematic development and heightened orchestration. The film's iconic soundtrack has created a legacy that extends beyond the visual. And this suggests the score isn't just a soundtrack – but a character in its own right. By using music to reveal what is hidden, Williams creates an intense emotional experience rife with anticipation and tension. The score's two-note motif showcases his genius – and serves as a sonic shorthand that has kept a generation behind the breakers of every beach. Author: Alison Cole is a Composer and Lecturer in Screen Composition, Sydney Conservatorium of Music at the University of Sydney This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence.
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Pretty lizzie dares the Thar noon
Only those as mad as a hatter would venture into the noon / afternoon heat of the Thar desert for a foodie binge. But for the Brilliant Ground agama (Trapelius / Agama agilis Olivier), a lesser known lizard and commonly confounded by locals with a girgit/korkirla (Garden lizard), the inferno of the desert is best suited for predation on insects and its own safety. This is precisely the time, as the wise lizard knows, the avian hunters such as falcons, hawks and eagles will have beaten a retreat to a shady 'thikana'. Insects, too, are active at this infernal time in the native flora of the Thar: Kheep, Ber, Jaal, Kumbat, Aak etc. Insects feed on foliage and lay eggs, and in turn are gobbled by the 'lizards who duel at high noon'. The lizard is a burrowing species, with the female adapted to dig into the soil for nesting and protection while the male simply slithers under the Thar rocks. 'In summer, male lizards always stay in the open. As temperatures can rise to 55°C, male lizards also get affected by the heat but they counter the onslaught by changing into beautiful colours, which are known to be less absorbent of debilitating sun rays. To humans, it may appear that the lizard has turned magically into a gorgeous creature but the stark colouration changes are critical for survival. So, the head and abdomen changes from the standard dull brown, sandy colour into a vivid blue peppered with white spots while the tail turns yellowish-orange. The male's entire lower surface turns white,' principal of the SBK Government PG College, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, and professor of zoology, Shyam Sunder Meena, told this writer. Meena was the first to venture into the field and study this neglected species of the Thar, resulting in a research paper: Sexual Selection and Sexual Dimorphism in Agama agilis. 'To further cut down on heat absorption, male lizards alternatively move their legs up and down to minimise contact with the warm surface. They also select perches on foliage which are 6-9 feet above the hot earth,' Meena added. The monsoons tail this cuckoo The very early advent of the monsoons this year has manifested itself in avian form. The Pied or Jacobin cuckoo, which is partly a resident species as also a summer migrant from Africa, has been spotted pretty early. The cuckoo migrates to the northern regions of India to lay eggs surreptitiously in the nests of other birds, especially the Turdoides babblers. Cuckoo chicks are then reared by surrogate babbler parents in what is known as 'brood parasitism'. A very early record for Punjab came on May 24, 2025, when birder Manish Ahuja spotted a cuckoo on a power transmission wire just outside Ferozepur. This writer heard a cuckoo late at night the next day in Sector 19 A, Chandigarh. The earliest record for the cuckoo as far as the tricity is concerned is May 23, 2009, when this writer observed one at the 16th hole of the Shivalik Golf Club (SEPTA), Chandimandir. Ebird India, which collates data on avian sightings, shows an unusual record. Samay Srivastava recorded a migrating cuckoo at the Jalvayu Towers Society, Gurugram, on May 1, 2025! Ebird also shows cuckoo records of May 18 and May 23, 2025, from Uttarakhand. The migratory component of the cuckoos is adept at harnessing monsoon winds blowing from the Horn of Africa to migrate 1,500-2,000 km to the Indian coastline and then fly further inland. The pattern that seems to come across is that the monsoon winds come in from the south west but the rains spread southeast to northwest in India. The cuckoos come in with the winds but then spread over India with the rains, southeast to northwest. Due to the cuckoo's augury of the impending monsoon, the bird enjoys cultural resonance, including a reference in Kalidas' Meghdoot as the 'Chataka': '(O cloud) the wind will be favourable, Slow and soft for thee and waft thee ahead, Close on thy left, The Chataka or the Rain lark, Will sing sweetly.' vjswild2@
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Minnesota State Fair announces 2025 free music, entertainment lineup
The free music and entertainment lineup for this year's Minnesota State Fair has been confirmed. The State Fair announced the list of performers will combine for more than 900 free shows at the fairgrounds over the course of the 12-day Great Minnesota Get-Together. Arguably the most sought-after free shows come in the evenings at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell, with singer-songwriter Rachel Platten, Mexican-American rock group Los Lobos, and Minnesota's own indie-pop artist Ber are among the headliners. There are dozens more acts performing on the various stages during the day and evening, with the full list of confirmed performers found below: Rachel Platten – Aug. 21 & 22 at 8:30 p.m. Arrested Development – Aug. 23 & 24 at 8:30 p.m. Los Lobos – Aug. 25 & 26 at 8:30 p.m. Tayler Holder – Aug. 27 & 28 at 8:30 p.m. Karla Perez: Selena The Show – Aug. 29 & 30 at 8:30 p.m. Ber – Aug. 31 & Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. The 34th Infantry Division 'Red Bull' Band Church of Cash Country Roads: The Music of John Denver Davina and The Vagabonds Dylan Salfer Jason Scott & The High Heat Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen Mariachi Campanas de America Matt Vee & The Killer Vees Celebrate the Music of Neil Diamond MPLS the band MSF Amateur Talent Contest Semifinals sponsored by Chase Parrothead Paradise – A Jimmy Buffett Tribute Rosie Flores Sarah Gayle Meech and The Meech Boys Sarah Morris Sean Ardoin Sweet Colleens Talking Dreads Tonic Sol-fa Deke Dickerson & The Whippersnappers – Aug. 21 & 22 at 8 p.m. Jonah Marais – Aug. 23 & 24 at 8 p.m. Poppa Bear Norton – Aug. 25 & 26 at 8 p.m. Lady Midnight – Aug. 27 & 28 at 8 p.m. First Avenue Goes To The Fair – Aug. 29 & 30 at 8 p.m. Joyann Parker – Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. & Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Cindy Lawson Cole Diamond Gary Rue's Magic Carpet Ride Ken Valdez Los Rebeldes Mary Bue Mother Banjo MNHS presents History On-A-Schtick Nicholas David Steve Solkela U.S. Navy Band Country Current Uncle Muskrat Wild Horses Sounds of Santana Starring Joe Cruz – Aug. 21 & 22 at 8 p.m. The Belfast Cowboys – Aug. 23 & 24 at 8 p.m. Jaybee and The Routine – Aug. 25 & 26 at 8 p.m. The Cedar Cultural Center Presents The Global Get-Together – Aug. 27 & 28 at 8 p.m. Malamanya – Aug. 29 & 30 at 8 p.m. Pam McNeill – Janis, Stevie, Dolly, and Me – Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. & Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Ballet Folklorico Mexico Azteca BATO BATO! Café Accordion Orchestra Gizzae Hank Thunander Band Intoxicats Jack Brass Band Los Elegidos De La Música Norteña Native Pride Dancers PanAtics TigerByteFace Tyte Phitt Brad Weston The Chipper Experience! Where Comedy & Magic Collide! The Dollipops Hip Hop Juggler Kenny Ahern Lizzy – Comedy Stage Hypnosis Monster Shop Bump'n MSF County Fair Talent Contest Armenian Dance Ensemble of Minnesota Art of Dance Studio Cinema Ballroom Dance Studio Dance and Entertainment Studios Daybreak Collective House of Dance Keri Simonson's Salsa Dance Line Dance Minnesota Line Dance with Billie Mactír Academy of Irish Dance Minnesota Africans United Minnesota Polka Dancers Miss Shannon's Sock Hop Pleasant Valley Cloggers Prairie Fire Choir Rhythm & Swing Rince na Chroi Irish Dance River City Cloggers Somali Museum Dance Troupe Square Dance Federation of Minnesota Tango Society of Minnesota West Coast Swing Wild Rose Cloggers Young Fiddlers Association of Minnesota Zumba® Fitness All-Star Stunt Dogs Splash and Timberworks Lumberjack Show at The North Woods Stage The daily parade at 2 p.m. with floats, special guests, the State Fair High School Marching Band Competition and more. Arts A'Fair, a celebration of performing arts in Minnesota with pop-up dance, theater and musical showcases (schedule to be announced) Mia Dorr's Premier Karaoke in The Garden.
Express Tribune
12-05-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
South Punjab losing native vegetation
Once the silent guardians of South Punjab's rural and urban landscapes, native trees that stood tall for decades are now vanishing, falling victim to rapid urbanisation, agricultural expansion and environmental neglect. About three decades ago, the region's villages and towns were dotted with indigenous species like Kikar, Shisham, Ber, Toot, Neem and Bohar. These trees, not only provided shade, shelter and sustenance but also formed an essential part of the region's cultural, spiritual and ecological identity. Today, their presence has drastically declined, and with them, a vital chapter of South Punjab's environmental and cultural heritage is fading. The decline of these trees is not just about biodiversity loss, it represents a cultural erosion. In many rural areas, the banyan tree was seen as a gathering place as its vast shade provided refuge from the desert sun. Children played on its hanging roots, and elders held community meetings beneath its branches. Neem, known for its medicinal value, was often planted near homes and mosques, while Shisham and Kikar were central to the furniture craft that once thrived in cities like Multan and Bahawalpur. The aggression expansion of agriculture has led to the clearance of native trees for cultivation. Environmental experts suggest that reintroducing native tree plantations along canals, roadsides, schools and government offices can help restore the ecological balance. Creating awareness among schoolchildren about the cultural and medicinal importance of indigenous trees can foster a sense of ownership in the younger generation. Community-based tree adoption programmes and incentives for farmers to maintain old trees on their land can also make a difference. According to forest department sources, tree plantations are under way on government land under the Plant for Pakistan project.
