Daily Archives: June 15, 2022

A BUCKIE man's bold bid to raise 1 million for charity by perching on Rockall may have been shelved, but it is has not stopped him finding another rock in the meantime.

Chris 'Cam' Cameron, who now lives in Wiltshire, had intended to lead a team of daring souls to squeeze into a space measuring just 3m x 1.4m during the Queen's jubilee week in aid of veterans' charities and a host of other good causes.

However, a combination of circumstances has meant that the dream to head for the rock 200 miles off the coast of Scotland in the Atlantic has had to be put on hold for another year.

He said: "Fuel costs and being unable to get a skipper to take us out and back to Rockall were big factors in forcing us to change our plans.

"Everybody's pockets are tight at the moment with the cost of living crisis and the Ukraine war has had an impact, too.

"It's unfortunate timing, I suppose, but we've got to be pragmatic about it. We're hoping we'll have better luck next year."

However, Mr Cameron, who is a former Gordon Highlanders soldier and is currently a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy Reserve, has not let the enforced change of plan set him back too much. Last Monday saw him, along with Dr Chris Grieco, Adam Styles and Nick Thrall, head for the the opposite end of the country in the shape of Goose Rock off the coast of Newquay, Cornwall.

Mr Cameron said: "I know the area well I was married in Crantock, which is near Newquay and I could actually the village see from Goose Rock and I've swum out to it a few times though I've never been on it.

"While we couldn't get to Rockall I thought it would be good to have the opportunity to test both our equipment and ourselves ahead of next year. It was about getting the niggles ironed out in everything from our [accommodation] pod to the amount of rations and water we need to take and it's been a really, really useful experience.

"As far as I know there hasn't been a survey done on Goose Rock so we might be the first people to actually stay on it!"

The group were to experience the great British weather in all its unpredictability.

"When we arrived on Monday it was glorious sunshine and we got a bit sunburned we even went caught spider crabs for lunch," he continued.

"However, by Tuesday we had 30 knot winds and it was pouring with rain.

"Our pod was leaking so we got soaked, as did our stuff but we managed to get it dried out a bit on Wednesday. At least we've got more space on Goose Rock than we'll have on Rockall. There were three flat spaces we could've camped although the rest of the rock which is about twice the size of the Bow Fiddle Rock at Portknockie is razor sharp. With the rain, the rock became very slippery.

"We had quite a few visitors coming round the rock to see us, including paddle boarders and even the local RNLI."

For more details of Mr Cameron's Rockall quest, visit https://www.rockall2022.org/

If anyone can help the team out with a boat to ferry them to the rock, email him at freuchny@gmail.com

BLOB for more photo, visit http://www.grampianonline.co.uk

just postponed, test out equipment/back on rock 200 miles off scottish coast in atlantic ocean

website/former soldier now naval reserbist/first to stay on rock

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Rockall can wait, it's Goose Rock ahoy for Buckie's Cam!

A BUCKIE man's bold bid to raise 1 million for charity by perching on Rockall may have been shelved, but it is has not stopped him finding another rock in the meantime.

Chris 'Cam' Cameron, who now lives in Wiltshire, had intended to lead a team of daring souls to squeeze into a space measuring just 3m x 1.4m during the Queen's jubilee week in aid of veterans' charities and a host of other good causes.

However, a combination of circumstances has meant that the dream to head for the rock 200 miles off the coast of Scotland in the Atlantic has had to be put on hold for another year.

He said: "Fuel costs and being unable to get a skipper to take us out and back to Rockall were big factors in forcing us to change our plans.

"Everybody's pockets are tight at the moment with the cost of living crisis and the Ukraine war has had an impact, too.

"It's unfortunate timing, I suppose, but we've got to be pragmatic about it. We're hoping we'll have better luck next year."

However, Mr Cameron, who is a former Gordon Highlanders soldier and is currently a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy Reserve, has not let the enforced change of plan set him back too much. Last Monday saw him, along with Dr Chris Grieco, Adam Styles and Nick Thrall, head for the the opposite end of the country in the shape of Goose Rock off the coast of Newquay, Cornwall.

Mr Cameron said: "I know the area well I was married in Crantock, which is near Newquay and I could actually the village see from Goose Rock and I've swum out to it a few times though I've never been on it.

"While we couldn't get to Rockall I thought it would be good to have the opportunity to test both our equipment and ourselves ahead of next year. It was about getting the niggles ironed out in everything from our [accommodation] pod to the amount of rations and water we need to take and it's been a really, really useful experience.

"As far as I know there hasn't been a survey done on Goose Rock so we might be the first people to actually stay on it!"

The group were to experience the great British weather in all its unpredictability.

"When we arrived on Monday it was glorious sunshine and we got a bit sunburned we even went caught spider crabs for lunch," he continued.

"However, by Tuesday we had 30 knot winds and it was pouring with rain.

"Our pod was leaking so we got soaked, as did our stuff but we managed to get it dried out a bit on Wednesday. At least we've got more space on Goose Rock than we'll have on Rockall. There were three flat spaces we could've camped although the rest of the rock which is about twice the size of the Bow Fiddle Rock at Portknockie is razor sharp. With the rain, the rock became very slippery.

"We had quite a few visitors coming round the rock to see us, including paddle boarders and even the local RNLI."

For more details of Mr Cameron's Rockall quest, visit https://www.rockall2022.org/

If anyone can help the team out with a boat to ferry them to the rock, email him at freuchny@gmail.com

BLOB for more photo, visit http://www.grampianonline.co.uk

just postponed, test out equipment/back on rock 200 miles off scottish coast in atlantic ocean

website/former soldier now naval reserbist/first to stay on rock

email

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Rockall can wait, it Goose Rock ahoy for Buckie's Cam! - Northern Scot

Tyler Perry is clarifying his interaction with Will Smith after the actor took to the stage and slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinket-Smith. Some thought it looked like Perry was comforting Smith in the wake of the slap, which didnt sit well with some, but hes revealing that wasnt the case at all.

During a chat with Gayle King as a part of the Tribeca Film Festivals Directors Series in New York City, per People, Perry addressed his actions with Will Smith following the slap. While it appeared as if he was comforting him, he says he was trying to deescalate the situation:

Theres a difference between comforting and deescalating, thats No.1. And I left early to get to Chris to make sure he was okay. Being friends with both of them has been very difficult.

Perry gives Chris Rock all the credit for being the biggest person in the situation and that the incident was especially painful for him. That being said, he also said that it was painful for Smith, who was clearly triggered and acted extremely out of character:

Trust me, as painful as it was for all of us in the room, it was as painful for Chris, who was a pure champion for the way he handled it. But I want you to understand that some happened that was extremely painful for [Will] as well. That is no excuse. He was completely wrong for what he did. But something triggered him that is so out of everything he is.

The director and actor also added some clarity about how Will Smith was feeling right after everything happened. He says when he went over to him, the actor was clearly devastated and he couldnt believe that he had just done what he did:

And Ill tell you, when we walked over to him, he was devastated. He couldnt believe what happened. He couldnt believe he did it. Im looking at this man in his eyes going, What are you doing? This is your night. And to get all the way to this moment, winning an Oscar, that was one of the crowning moments of his career that he wanted so desperately, and to have something like that happen

I can now see how Perry was deescalating the situation and not trying to comfort Will Smith, he was the aggressor. Like everyone in that room, I dont think Perry could believe that Will Smith would do something like that so was just trying to calm everything down, in case things got worse. Being friends with both men, Im sure this was no easy position for Perry to be in.

What are YOUR thoughts on Tyler Perrys actions regarding Will Smith and Chris Rock on Oscar night after the slap?

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Tyler Perry says he was not comforting Will Smith after Oscar slap - JoBlo.com

There are already many summer trends circulating the fashion scene. A great way to indulge and utilize these looks is to wear them in the color that aligns with your zodiac sign. While they may not be your favorite color per say, the elements of it relate to your unique astrological DNA.

For instance, Aries are warriors who wear red because its aggressive and dominant. Whereas shades of yellow are ideal for Gemini, who is a communicative sign, as this color helps in self-expression.

Wearing your zodiac signs signature color is more of an enhancer than anything else. Itll boost your positive qualities and show your vibe. This means that Aries can assert their power and bravado by wearing red. Gemini can think and talk clearly by adding yellow to their wardrobe.

So, you can build the perfect summer outfit by finding the perfect trend for your sign while incorporating your power color to embrace your flair this season.

Amalfi Coast dressing is all about passion especially when in vibrant prints of red (think of following the styling of fellow Aries Kourtney Kardashian Barkers wedding in Italy for inspiration). Try roses, polka dots, hearts in the color of desire which also happens to be Aries power color. Itll make Aries extra creative and full of life during the hot summer days.

Cut-out garments are one of the hottest summer trends right now and are in high demand in Tauruss signature color, green (one of the colors that Venus, the Bulls planetary ruler loves). An emerald or grassy shade of green will bring abundance, joy, and decadence to the world of the earth sign, while letting Taurus take on trendy silhouettes.

Twin star Gemini is known to wear similar clothes with their better half it is just that their better half happens to be themselves or the lesser seen side of their personality. A matching two piece monochrome or print set in yellow (the color that resonates the most with Gemini) will be a fun and amazing look for the air sign to wear this summer.

Regency core inspired by our favorite TV shows Bridgerton and The Great. Pastel florals, whimsical satin fabrics, or threads of silver worked through the fabric are ideal for the fairy tale that Cancer has spun for themselves.

There truly is nothing more regal than liquid metal clothing (like chain metal tops or clothing in shiny metallics). Golden hues that match the fur of the almighty lion will allow Leo to embrace their role as the ruler and trendsetter they were born to be. Plus, the sunny hue will add strength and tenacity to the spirited vibe of the fearless and fiery lion.

Varsity chic is a great look for Virgo this summer. Not only does it align with their aesthetic for more refined clothes without the added flash, but it also brings out their sophisticated and intellectual side. A track jacket with patches, pleated cheerleading skirts, and cardigans with initials on it in hues of brown like beige will blend with any and every item in Virgos pristine wardrobe.

Barbie core may be a newer trend but Libra wont mind dressing in shades of pink 24/7. After all, pink is one of the colors aligned with their planetary ruler, Venus, because it adds creativity and love to their lives. Libra doesnt have to dress like a Barbie; however, they will want to wear a dash of bright pink since its this seasons hottest color.

Scorpio can channel their inner wild child by wearing the pop-punk trend this season in the transformative and protective color black. Lace bustiers, pleather shorts, shiny combat platform shoes, and chokers with studs is the vibe that Scorpio is aiming for all year long it just happens to be one of the baddest and most amazing ways that they can channel their attitude towards now.

Being that Sagittarius is one of the most honest and transparent signs, they will opt to wear sheer articles of clothes, which is one this seasons biggest trends. The archer leaves nothing to the imagination, as does mesh. Any article of sheerness in all shades of purple will give the fire sign luck, bravery, and valor when they need it the most.

The Coastal Grandmother look is perfect for Capricorn, as the sign can be like a parental figure at any age due to their authoritative nature and demeanor. Itll be the perfect sentiment for them to calmly relax and reflect at the beach or in the company of loved ones especially in shades of heather that aligns with their power color, which is gray.

Aquarius likes to mix and match vintage items with modern looks. Therefore, a psychedelic retro print from the 1960s and 1970s in shades of their signature color light blue is the ideal vibe for the water-bearer to rock all season long. No matter if its a bikini top or shorts Aquarius will love this look and act out the part of the mod pixie.

Netted or crochet knits in sea foam green make Pisces lean into their truest nature as a free spirit. The sea-witch will feel at home in this light and airy aesthetic, as it allows them to swim in the sea which is their home away from home. These little fishies will feel cool and chic throughout the season by throwing on a crochet top or dress.

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The Hottest Summer Trends of 2022 by Zodiac Sign - Teen Vogue

WORCESTER For the second time in four years, and the second time in three seasons, Taunton baseball is headed to the Division I championship game.

The No. 2 Tigers took down No. 3 Catholic Memorial 8-4 Tuesday in a Final Four matchup at Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field to book their spot in the title game.

I told the guys weve got to score one run an inning and if we can score at least seven runs, I like our chances, Taunton coach Blair Bourque said. Our pitching staff did a great job today throwing strikes and we made a lot of defensive plays and just execution with guys in scoring position coming up big.

The Tigers combined for eight runs on 11 hits, four walks and an error whilebatting around in the second inning, with seven of the batters stepping up to the plate in the inning with two outs on the board.

Theyshowed what theyre capable of offensively, Bourque said.That was a great pitcher and we put a lot of quality at-bats together. I was really proud of what they did and what theyve done so far.

The Tigers also got quality appearances out of three of their top pitchers. StarterShawn Cali earned the win, going two innings giving up two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two. Ryan MacDougall tossed three full innings of relief, giving up two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one and Colin Botelho closed it out strong as he went two shutout innings giving up a hit and a walk while striking out four.

I cant say enough about the pitching staff to come in with the way they were swinging it, Bourque said. We knew it was going to be a tough game and a tough battle and they were up for the task and Im really proud of what theyve accomplished so far.

Vote:Whois the Taunton Daily Gazette Player of the Week for June 6-12

For Taunton, pitching has really been an all around team effort this year between a mix of different pitchers who each bring something different to the mound.

Weve kind of rode a lot of guys this year in terms of pitching and I dont think we really have that true ace that some other teams that are this deep have, but what we do have is a lot of competitors, guys that can compete on the mound and throw strikes and trust our defense and they showed what they can do today, Bourque said.

The Tigers, playing as the home team due to their higher seed, struck first in the bottom of the first as Braden Sullivan hit a single up the middle before coming home on a MacDougall double to the right center gap. Back to back singles loaded the bases, alowingMacDougallcame home on a groundout to third by Colby DeCouta to make it 2-0.

I think with that hit in the first we really set the pace of the game, so I think that was really big for all of our guys, including me, MacDougall said.It gave me a confidence boost and just set the tone of the game.

The Knights were ready to fight, however, and wasted little time responding in the top of the second. Gabe Malaret led off the inning with a single before John Gannon and Nolan Mullen both got out. Scott Longo walked, then a single to shallow left by Brett Mulligan drove in Malaret and a second single to right by Conor Coulter brought home Longo to bring CM back even at 2-2.

Looking to respond back just as fast, Evan Cali hit a first pitch single to start off the bottom of the second but was thrown out at second while trying to stretch it to a double by Coulter in center. A strikeout by Andrew Cali put the Tigers down two outs and it looked like the game was set to be a back and forth battle.

Then suddenly, momentum shifted.

Anerror by shortstop Nick DiRito saw Brayden Cali get on, which was followed up by an infield single from Sullivan and then a single to right by MacDougall to drive home Brayden Cali and give the lead back to Taunton. A single by Dawson Bruce and a walk to AJ Lewis followed to load the bases, and a walk to DeCouta saw MacDougall come home to make it 5-2.

MacDougall replaced Shawn Cali on the mound to start the third but three straight singles by Tom Goonan, Curt Boyd and Malaret saw the latter drive in Liam Lawn, pinch running for Goonan, to make it 5-3. A double steal on the next at bat saw Malaret take second while Boyd took advantage of the throw to come home and bring the Knights back within one.

That was the closest CM would come again to the Tigers however, as MacDougall adjusted his approach and retired six of the last seven batters he faced.

The first inning was tough but then I settled in, MacDougall said. I was throwing way too many fastballs but then I settled in and started throwing off-speed changeups and curveballs and they were working, so Im glad I settled in.

For Bourque, MacDougall keeping the opponent at bay while also scoring some runs of his own has become par for the course.

MacDougalls been our rock all year, both offensively and defensively, Bourque said.Hes the (Hockomock League) MVP for a reason. We trust him and he throws strikes. He had a couple big hits, a couple RBIs there that got us going early, so hes a big boy and he puts us on his back sometimes and he carried us today.

Tauntonadded another run in the top of the fifth as Evan Cali hit a triple to the deep right corner then came on a throwing error by the second baseman Mullen, who was acting as they cutoff man. They alsoplated two more runs in the sixth as Brayden Cali led the inning off with a single and MacDougall was intentionally walked, then pinch ran for by Jared Spencer, setting upBryce to hit a triple to the deep left corner and drive in both, solidifying the Tigers advantage with a 8-4 lead.

Botelho pitched the last two innings for Taunton and was lights out, retiring six of the eight batters he faced, three of which came after allowing a walk and a double to start the seventh as the Tigers booked their chance to play for the state title.

For Bourque, one of the biggest assets his team has is their consistent ability to come through in the clutch combined with a never give up attitude.

They compete, Bourque said. Theyve competed from an early age and theyre used to competing from an early age.

Its those lessons instilled early by the youth baseball coaches in Taunton that Bourque really credits for the continued success of the program.

I think its a testament to the program and then the youth program and developing players from an early age and making sure theyre ready when they come to us, so all the youth coaches do a great job and Im kind of just taking the torch and going with it, but they go really hard, Bourque said. Its all them, they deserve all the credit.

'A lot to be proud of': Despite disappointing end, D-R baseball happy they made Final Four

Taunton now heads to the state championship game where they'll face a very familiar foe in Hockomock League rivals Franklin, the top seed in Division I who the Tigers beat 7-5 at home in their first outing at home in April but fell 7-1 on the road in May. The Panthers beat No. 4 Shrewsbury 4-3to book their spot in the title bout.

The championship game is set to be played Saturday, at 6 p.m., at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, home to the Div. 1UMass Lowell River Hawks college baseball team.

Its going to be tough, Bourque said. Its not going to be easy. Were going to have to play sound defensively, were going to need to make sure we make our pitches. Its a good team over there, theyre well coached and we know were going to be in for a battle.

For MacDougall, the only remaining player from the 2019 state championship team, he said while the Tigers have a young team, he feels they have what it takes to get the job done and claim another state title for the program as long as they keep playing like they have.

Im glad I (was on the 2019 team)and I learned a lot from it and were just going in and going to play it like a normal game and I think we can come out on top, MacDougall said. Weve got a good team so Im confident.

MacDougall led the way for Taunton on offense, going two-for-three with two runs and two RBIs while Bryce went three-for-four with two RBIs, Brayden Cali went one-for-three with two runs and Evan Cali went one-for-two with a run.

Drew Delucia took the loss for CM, going one and two-thirds innings giving up five runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out three. Connor Nelson went three and two-thirds innings giving up an unearned run on three hits andtwo walks while striking out three before Tom Goonan went two-thirds of an inning, striking out both batters he faced.

The Knights were ledoffensively by Malaret, who went two-for-four with a run and RBI while Boyd went two-for-four with a run and Goonan went one-for-three with a run.

Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.

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Taunton beats Catholic Memorial to advance to second D1 title game in three seasons - Taunton Daily Gazette

Call us peculiar or idiosyncratic, but we are what we are, and so blooming proud to be so. Down in the dumps or back to the wall, the citizens of this holy city are so downright at ease with themselves. They bounce back, redouble, live in lofty optimism, absolutely bindass, if you allow me to borrow the Mumbaikar terminology. And yet the visitors, including the Bambaiya, the Bengali, the Madrasi et al, marvel at us Ambarsaris.

Agog and wonderstruck they often remark about the laid-back attitude, the no hurry-no worry lifestyle, our oddities, and the happy-go-lucky demeanour. Yet that is so, and we take the observations and some sniggers in our stride without batting an eyelid.

There is an air of celebration, joie de vivre if one may, an exuberance in our social milieu and in our living style which leaves the outsider a bit taken aback. What the heck are they so thrilled about? They wonder. This is what is elucidated in the Geeta Saar, the summary of Bhagavad Gita, the divine vision of Lord Krishna, which establishes that all that has happened, will happen, is happening, is good, and that change is the essence of life. Live with that or crib your hearts out, if you will.

Anand is one of the core beliefs that emanate from the Gurbani too, the spirit of joy in spite of, despite, or because of a life event or situation. The belief that everything comes and goes, even moments of sadness and pleasure, yet what remains is the equilibrium of your connection with the good lord. Anand is thus sung at the end of all life situations, in celebration of a birth, when one marries, or when someone dies.

We close each of these diverse ceremonies with the singing of His name- Naam with joy. So there.

Since life is a celebration, thus our festivities are prolonged affairs, be they weddings or others. The great Indian wedding was perhaps a term that originated from this city. A wedding means not just the band-baaja-barat, but a colossal fest spread usually over a week, if not more. But preceding that are the basics. First, the matrimonial alliance itself, once all the proposals are vetted, rejected, or put in the maybe-bins; the patris and astrological charts are compared to affirm that there shall be no discord and the stars support the alliance; due diligence from both sides with ample assist from relative and community grapevines, and finally the visit to the mandir or the gurdwara. But then this is just the beginning.

What follows is the Rokaa, loosely translated as the full stop. So, no further flirtation or philandering chum, you are spoken for. This is a public event much like we give earnest money for a property deal or sign a memorandum of understanding in corporate terms. This is when the dates begin to be decided and the shopping forays start. Eventually, this buying carnival shall reach a crescendo, much like a band in action going from steady jazz to hard rock. All the heavenly blessings need solicitation, so the havans and the akhand paaths happen, those supplications to the Good Lord, to augur well for the betrothal itself.

My niece is getting married in February next year. Both the families have been scouting for destination venues for the past few months after the Rokaa happened. Trips have already been made to Jaipur, Goa, Mumbai, Delhi, Rishikesh, and more. Talk of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hua Hin have also ensued although the cities have been spared a visitfor now. The venue is still undecided and in heart of hearts, I am so wishing that they tire themselves out and narrow in on Amritsar as the destination. That would be simply divine, a winter wedding, in fact anywhere from October to March, when the weather is great and the air so very festive and crisp is the ideal in this holy city. Ah, the food, the festivities, the divine presence of the Gurus darbar, so many places to see, and so much local kitsch to borrow from.

Oh, but first the ring ceremony has to happen, the Shagan, the Mehndi. If you go by the gold standard in tradition, a Jaago ceremony must take place wherein the mami, the maternal aunt, carries the lamp-lit earthenware pot headload through the village, with all the womenfolk dressed in phulkari dupattas singing traditional songs, inviting all and sundry to the wedding. And eventually the marriage itself, close-knit at a destination far away, or with larger hordes back home. Then of course a reception party, perhaps a sundowner, downing many a tippler, and finally the honeymoon. And did I forget the pre-wedding bachelor party and the girls night-out in between? This is dizzy stuff, and we embrace all the local jing-bang and the foreign pomp and show with equal measure and much relish.

Our fairs are also beyond compare. The Vaisakh da mela or the Vallah da mela or the Baba Roda Shah da mela. Just to add that air of familiarity in common parlance they are pronounced with an extended e at the end as if it were a term of endearment. Vasaakhee, Valle, and Rode Shah. Dont ask me why though.

But back to Baba Roda Shah who gave an issueless farmer the blessing of a child after many years of infertility. When the happy father offered a princely sum, he was asked instead to service the devotees with liquor daily till the amount was expended. So began the tradition. Though a major two-day event takes place every March, the lively prasaad is offered daily. The bottles offered by devotees are emptied into plastic buckets and distributed among the pilgrims. All said and done, everyone goes back in a merry state, though some who manage the lions share include tipsy priests and inebriated cops lying about on roadsides.

Another intriguing fest is Kanjakaan, which entails washing the feet of nine girls below the age of puberty, tying red threads (Molis) on their wrists, giving them gifts, and then treating them to a feast. The festival is in celebration of the nine forms of Goddess Durga.

Oh, by the way, we did mention the peculiar feast of luchhi that is on offer only on this day, did we not? That with black gram and suji halwa? The luchhi, a typical delicacy, that is neither the puri nor the bhatura, but one that is thin to the extent of starvation yet lissome as feasible, one that is just dropped into the oil for a few seconds and considered good to eat. It is quite the pop-up bread available only for this day of the year, the pre-puberty fest.

We have a 10-day Langur mela as well, centred around the Bada Hanuman Mandir. While some do it for a token one time, others come from far and near, stay a full 10 days, and dress up their blessing, their son, twice a day as Langurs. Wearing silver and red attire, with silver dunce caps, tails to match, jingling bells around the ankles, a Hanuman mace, the gada in one hand and accompanied by dholis, they arrive dancing up to the temple as thanksgiving for the progeny. The boy child shall each year be dressed as a Langur for the vanar sena of Hanuman. Some poor sods whose parents have let this ceremony slide for many years, wear this fancy dress even after they are grown-up teenagers.

And while the world we know celebrates the Holi festival for a few hours on a particular day, it is no holds barred here. We celebrate Holi and Hollah Mohallah, hold your breath, for an entire week. The walled city, its bazars, mandis and kuchhas close down for seven days of revelry and much grime. We do the colours, even chemical perma dyes (shudder), andaas for the egg chucking, and garbage as well. Its a veritable free for all, so while the kids, and some of those who never grow up, fling the spectrum unabashed, the careful stay at home lest they be stained by the fervour. But lets also mention the mindful few who do the decent marigolds and dry organic powdered colours too.

And for all our fests and celebrations, deeds and misdeeds, passing aways and passing outs, the farewells and welcomes we pitch a tent. In fact, I must share my visit to the top gun homeopath of the city. He is great at his job and perfects the art of roadside dispensing as well. The patients are required to line up on the Grand Trunk Road outside his clinic. A cemented bench and a score of plastic chairs are at hand, and a tamboo (tent) is set up across the side lane for respite from the blistering summer sun. He is assisted by efficient ladies who give out token numbers, and then call them out from the highway one by one. They stand in front of anyone who tries unnumbered ingress in open effrontery almost like bouncers, albeit prettier. For those on repeat medication the assistant hands over little khaki envelopes at the doorstep. Succour by the roadside indeed.

And then if ordained, you enter. A mahogany desk seats two doctors including the boss. The patient sits on a single stool outside of a thick plastic curtain. Any accompanying attendant must stand beside. I felt much favoured as I sat on a distant stool within. The symptoms are called for, a couple of quick questions, an exchange of looks and a word if necessary, and the khaki lifaafa of the sure-to-cure magic potion is ready.

Talking about the tent and four poles, the tamboo, it is pretty much a way of life for us. Someone passed away at home, oh no; someone getting married, oh yes; an outing for the good lord with kirtan and bhajans in celebration or in remorse, yup yup. All you do is dig up the road outside and pitch the tent baby, Gadd deo tamboo. And guess what, when one tries to gain road access driving down and finds that there is no road where it used to be, you just mutter under your breath, reverse, and find another pathway. Its okay. Its either what is it to us huh (sannu kee) or live and let live (jio te jeen deo).

And in all that we do, everything comes through at the last moment. Since you are not expected to be on time, if you do the stupid punctuality thing, you will wonder if you got the dates wrong when you see that the tent-wallas are still pitching tents, the hosts nowhere to be seen, the marigolds still being put up and ladders everywhere. As the easy-going Ambarsari says, Chill and not worry ji, it will happen when it does, and if it does not, then what? (Ho hayegaa, thand rakho. Nahee hoyeyaa? koyee naa, mitti pao.)

And people talk about the Happiness Index elsewhere. Well, little do they know! Meanwhile, life goes on in the city of Amritsar where we are what we are and it is what it is.

(Gunbir Singh is an Amritsar-based environmentalist, philanthropist and author who loves all things Ambarsari)

See the original post:

Amritsar Calling: Holy city where happiness index shoots through the roof - The Indian Express

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 will be the next-generation mainstream gaming graphics card, offering the latest graphics architecture based on Ada Lovelace GPUs. The graphics card will be replacing the RTX 3050, a very popular gaming graphics card in the sub-$300 US segment which is aimed at the mass consumer segment.

While there's no denying the enthusiasm around the higher-end GeForce RTX 4090, GeForce RTX 4080 & GeForce RTX 4070 series, or even the more mainstream RTX 4060 graphics cards that offer the best of the best gaming performance, the RTX 4050 series graphics cards will be designed around the $250 US segment which is a mainstream priced range aimed at the budget gamer who wants the same features as higher-end cards minus the performance, at a much lower price point.

It's simple, the RTX 4090 series will be aimed at users who want the best of the best without worrying about the amount of money they are spending while the RTX 4080 series is aimed at users who want the best performance at the best possible price. The RTX 4070 will be the sweet spot for high-end gaming, while the RTX 4060 is designed for the gaming masses at a price that will be hard to ignore given its performance, and the RTX 4050 is aimed at those who want to enter the new series at a budget tier pricing without losing the next-gen feature set.

Just like the generation before it, the RTX 3050 managed to offer performance close to the RTX 2060 but was hurt by its 128-bit memory interface. The RTX 3050 did offer better performance, features, and value (at MSRP) versus its competition, the RX 6500 XT but it took months to reach a price close to the MSRP. Overall, the RTX 3050 was a 1080p-focused and eSports-aimed graphics card and the same should be expected of the RTX 4050.

The '50-class' segment is the share-cow for NVIDIA and it's definitely something that NVIDIA wants to have priced right in its given performance.

We should expect similar things with the next-generation gaming solution too but an important factor to consider is that GPUs are becoming more power-hungry and more pricey. It is a trend that might continue into the future as we get better products but in return, there's always a cost to pay for end consumers. So starting with what we know so far, first we should take a look at the brand new Ada Lovelace or AD10* class GPUs that will be powering the next-gen GeForce RTX 40 series cards.

Starting with the GPU configuration, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 series graphics cards may utilize both AD106 and AD107 GPUs. We don't think there would be a 'Ti' configuration in the lineup as we didn't get that during the Ampere family but it could change. The reason I mention both AD106 and AD107 GPU for the same card is that the RTX 3050 did the same. The card was produced on GA106 GPUs before GA107 became widely available in the market after its mobile debut.

The RTX 3050 was always meant to utilize the GA107 GPU but NVIDIA made good use of the GA106 dies that couldn't reach the yields required for the higher-end cards. The GPU is said to measure around 150mm2 and will utilize the TSMC 4N process node which is an optimized version of TSMC's 5nm (N5) node designed for the green team.

The NVIDIA Ada Lovelace AD107 GPU is expected to feature up to 3 GPC (Graphics Processing Clusters). This is the same GPC count as the GA106 GPU. Each GPC will consist of 4 TPCs and 8 SMs which is the same configuration as the existing chip. Each SM (Streaming Multiprocessor) will house four sub-cores which is also the same as the GA106 GPU. What's changed is the FP32 & the INT32 core configuration. Each sub-core will include 128 FP32 units but combined FP32+INT32 units will go up to 192. This is because the FP32 units don't share the same sub-core as the IN32 units. The 128 FP32 cores are separate from the 64 INT32 cores.

So in total, each sub-core will consist of 32 FP32 plus 16 INT32 units for a total of 48 units. Each SM will have a total of 128 FP32 units plus 64 INT32 units for a total of 192 units. And since there are a total of 24 SM units (8 per GPC), we are looking at 3,072 FP32 Units and 1,536 INT32 units for a total of 4,608 cores.

NVIDIA AD103 'Ada Lovelace' Gaming GPU 'SM' Block Diagram (Image Credits: Kopite7kimi):

Moving over to the cache, this is another segment where NVIDIA has given a big boost over the existing Ampere GPUs. The Ada Lovelace GPUs will pack 192 KB of L1 cache per SM, an increase of 50% over Ampere. The L2 cache will be increased to 16 MB as mentioned in the leaks. This is an 8x increase over the Ampere GA106 GPU that hosts just 2 MB of L2 cache. The cache will be shared across the GPU.

Finally, we have the ROPs which will stick to 16 per GPC. You are looking at up to 48 ROPs, the same as the current GA106 GPUs. There are also going to be the latest 4th Generation Tensor and 3rd Generation RT (Raytracing) cores infused on the Ada Lovelace GPUs which will help boost DLSS & Raytracing performance to the next level. Overall, the Ada Lovelace AD107 GPU will offer:

NVIDIA AD107 'Ada Lovelace' Gaming GPU Block Diagram Mock-Up (Image Credits: SemiAnalysis):

Do note that clock speeds, which are said to be between the 2-3 GHz range, aren't taken into the equation so they will also play a major role in improving the per-core performance versus Ampere.

NVIDIA may or may not offer two variants of the GeForce RTX 4050 graphics cards. That depends on whether they have enough chips or defective dies at hand to turn into discrete graphics cards but we know that there is indeed going to be an RTX 4050 graphics card. The laptop side may see more configurations but for RTX 4050 on desktops, we can expect the following specs.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 'Expected' Specifications

Based on NVIDIA's decision to do a mix of AD106/AD107 or go AD107 across its RTX 4050 series lineup we can see up to a total of 3072 cores. The AD107 GPU will come packed with 16 MB of L2 cache and up to 48 ROPs.

The clock speeds are not confirmed yet but considering that the TSMC 4N process is being used, we are expecting clocks between the 2.0-3.0 GHz range. The higher than usual clock speed bump comes from the fact that NVIDIA is making a two-node jump considering the Ampere GPUs with Samsung 8nm node was in reality a 10nm process node with some optimizations. NVIDIA is skipping 7nm and going straight for a 5nm node and not even the vanilla variant but an optimized version of it. With Pascal on the TSMC 16nm node, NVIDIA delivered a huge frequency leap and we can expect a similar jump this time around too.

As for memory specs, the GeForce RTX 4050 is expected to rock 8 GB GDDR6X capacities that might come at faster 20+ Gbps speeds across a 128-bit bus interface for over 320 GB/s of bandwidth. The thing is that you can either go 8 GB for such a graphics card in the given 128-bit bus or cut down to 96-bit for either 6 GB or 12 GB configurations.

The GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card is also said to rock a TGP of around 150W which is an increase of 30% over the RTX 3050 on the GA107 GPU. This is a massive TGP increase and the performance needs to be really good for NVIDIA to keep its efficiency numbers up.

As for its feature set, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 graphics cards will rock all the modern NV feature sets such as the latest 4th Gen Tensor Cores, 3rd gen RT cores, and the latest NVENC Encoder, and NVCDEC Decoder, and support for the latest APIs. They will pack all the modern RTX features such as DLSS, Reflex, Broadcast, Resizable-BAR, Freestyle, Ansel, Highlights, Shadowplay, and G-SYNC support too.

As for the performance of the gaming GPUs, we can only use theoretical numbers here since the launch is a bit far away but based on what we know, the RTX 40 series cards might be the first gaming cards to hit the 100 TFLOPs compute horsepower limit.

Just for comparison's sake:

Based on a theoretical clock speed of 2.2 GHz, you get up to 14 TFLOPs of compute performance and the rumors are suggesting even higher boost clocks. Now, these are definitely sounding like peak clocks, similar to AMD's peak frequencies which are higher than the average 'Game' clock. A 14+ TFLOPs compute performance means more performance on a '50-class' GPU than a '60-class flagship' which will be a good bump. But one should keep in mind that compute performance doesn't necessarily indicate the overall gaming performance.

This will be around a55% compute performance uplift for the GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card versus its predecessor and this is without even factoring in the RT and Tensor core performance which is expected to get major lifts too in their respective department. Now FLOPs aren't necessarily reflective of the graphics or gaming performance but they do provide a metric that can be used for comparison.

Gamers should most realistically expect good 1080p performance from the RTX 3050. The '50' series has always been targeted at budget 1080p solutions that are popular amongst eSports with technologies such as Reflex, DLSS, and various streaming capabilities at a mainstream price point.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 was launched at $249 US. We can expect NVIDIA to retain the same prices for these cards with a $10-$20 US pricing adjustment here and there.

NVIDIA really needs to secure more gamers in the $200-$300 US segment but they have to deliver a product that's worth the price. The RTX 3050 was a decent upgrade path given and what made it really interesting was its expansive 'GeForce RTX' feature set. This time, NVIDIA should focus on both the feature and performance side of things to lure more gamers into their ecosystem as this is going to be a really heated segment with Intel entering the space with its Arc lineup.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series graphics cards are rumored for a Q3 reveal and a launch is expected in Q4 2022 so we will know for sure what NVIDIA is up to in the next few months.

See the article here:

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Graphics Card Specs, Performance, Price & Availability Everything We Know So Far - Wccftech