Wadiyar heir gives birth to many Firsts

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

A Wadiyar heir after five decades, the infant is also the first royal born to a non-Ursu queen

WadiyarHeirBF08dec2017

The two-day-old “royal” son of Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar has a few firsts. Though the erstwhile Mysore rulers have a strong connect with Bengaluru, Yaduveer’s son is the first royal heir to be born in this city. Not just this, the baby is also the first royal heir born to a non-Ursu queen — to a Rajput and a Suryavamshi.

Born on Wednesday night, just four days before his grandfather Srikantadatta Wadiyar’s fourth death anniversary (December 10), the boy’s arrival has ended the infamous Alamelamma curse — Wadiyars saw a heir after more than five decades. The birth of the baby has brought much excitement to the family members.

Yaduveer was anointed as custodian of Wadiyar family in May 2015 after he was legally adopted by late Srikantadatta Wadiyar’s wife Pramoda Devi. Formerly Yaduveer Gopal Raj Urs, he is from Bettada Kote family. He is the son of Tripurasundari Devi and grandson of Gayatri Devi who is the eldest daughter of 25th maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar and Srikantadatta’s sister. The 27th head of Yadu dynasty, Yaduveer married Trishika in June 2016.

Interestingly, in spite of the Wodeyars having strong roots in Bengaluru, contributing to the growth of institutions in the city and developing residential colonies and signature properties (including Bangalore Palace), none of the heirs were born here. Another interesting fact is that the infant is also the first royal heir born to a non-Ursu queen.

A source close to the family said, “Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was the first royal to marry a Rajput, Princess Pratapa Kumari, from a small princely family from Vana in Saurashtra. He was childless. Next, Jaya Chamarajendra Wodeyar married Sathya Prema Kumari, a Rajput princess from Jigni in Madhya Pradesh, and the couple did not have children. After six years, he married an Ursu, Tripura Sundari Ammani. She was the daughter of Bala Nanjaraja Urs, an officer in the Mysore government. Through her, Wodeyar had six children — five daughters and a son, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar. Born in 1953, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar succeeded Jaya Chamarajendra Wodeyar.”

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Bangalore> Others / by Kushala Satyanarayana, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / December 08th, 2017

City Corporation honorary lifetime award for Kadri Gopalnath

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, Sports
Mayor Kavita Sanil addressing a press conference at the Mangaluru City Corporation on Tuesday.
Mayor Kavita Sanil addressing a press conference at the Mangaluru City Corporation on Tuesday.

Three more chosen in Yakshagana, Education, Sports categories

A committee of the Mangaluru City Corporation has chosen well-known saxophonist Kadri Gopalnath for the corporation’s first Ullal Srinivas Mallya Memorial Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award carries a purse of ₹ 1 lakh, a memento and a citation. The award will be presented during the Mangaluru City Corporation Day at the Town Hall here on December 8.

In addition, the committee has chosen three persons for the Ullal Srinivas Mallya Memorial Award for Yakshagana, Education and Sports.

They are Agari Raghurama Bhagavatha (Yakshagana); K.A. Rohini (Education) and M.R. Poovamma (Sports). Each one of them would be given away a purse of ₹ 50,000, a memento and a citation.

Announcing the awards here on Tuesday, Mayor Kavita Sanil said that the corporation has instituted the awards for the first time to recognise the contribution of those who have brought laurels to Mangaluru.

The selection committee comprised B.A. Vivek Rai, former Vice-Chancellor of Kannada University and also Karnataka State Open University; B.A. Abdul Rahman, former Vice-Chancellor, Kannur and Calicut universities, K.N. Tingalaya, former Chairman of Syndicate Bank, Rita Noronha, a social worker, and Manohar Prasad, a journalist. The Mayor is the ex-officio chairperson of the committee.

She said that the corporation would conduct a drawing competition for primary and high school students within the jurisdiction of the corporation in the forenoon on December 8. The topics would be Mangaluru International Airport; New Mangaluru Port; National Institute of Technology, Surathkal; National Highway 66 and Mangaluru-Hassan railway line.

The topics have been selected on the basis of contribution of late Mallya for their development. The venue would be the mini Town Hall. There will be three awards each in primary and high school categories. Students will have to register their names either by sending a message on WhatsApp to 9964160249 or 9113995063 before December 6.

She said that the programmes of the City Corporation Day would be conducted from 2.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. The awards would be presented at 6.30 p.m. There would be cultural programmes before and after the award presentation. D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala, would present the awards.

The Mayor would present a karate demonstration after the award presentation.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Mangaluru / by Special Correspondent / Mangaluru – Decemberj06th, 2017

Jack of all fruits and king of Tumakuru

Agriculture, Business & Economy
The unique jackfruit variety has coppery red flakes. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The unique jackfruit variety has coppery red flakes. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A single jackfruit tree will fetch ₹10 lakh for a farmer in Karnataka

Forty-year-old S.S. Paramesha of Chelur village in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district is proud that his jackfruit tree “has made it big.” Planted 35 years ago by his father S.K. Siddappa, it produces a unique variety of jackfruit, with deep, coppery red flakes that are not only tasty but also have high nutritive value. Now it turns out it also has a high market value.

“All of us knew that it was a unique variety as there was a great demand for the fruits from this tree from all our friends and relatives. But we always gave them away as gifts. We never sold a single one,” recalls Paramesha. But now the farmer is set earn ₹10 lakh from this tree over the next one year.

Since Paramesha does not have the wherewithal to multiply this variety, the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with him under which its scientists will multiply it through grafting. IIHR will not only sell these saplings under its banner but will also provide 75% of the proceeds to the farmer. It has also nominated Paramesha as “the custodian of genetic diversity” for this particular variety, and named it ‘Siddu’ after his father.

According to IIHR Director M.R. Dinesh, the institute has already received an order for 10,000 saplings, and the formal sales will commence in two months. Paramesha stands to earn over ₹10 lakh from the sales of these 10,000 saplings. According to Karunakaran, head of IIHR’s Tumakuru-based Central Horticultural Experimental Station (CHES) and the scientist who identified this unique tree, the biggest advantage of this variety is that it yields very small fruits with an average weight of 2.44 kg, as against the 10-20 kg of normal varieties. “The main problem with normal jackfruit varieties is that the fruit is difficult to carry owing to its weight. But it is easy to carry ‘Siddu’ as it is lighter,” he says.

While the health benefits of ‘Siddu’ jackfruit are still being analysed, the bio-chemical analysis has revealed that it has high lycopin content of 2 mg per 100 gm of pulp, as against 0.2 mg in normal varieties. It is also rich in anti-oxidants, the scientist points out.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by B.S. Satish Kumar / Bengaluru – December 04th, 2017

A milestone in the offing in rail history of Mysuru-Bengaluru

Business & Economy, Records, All
Once electric services between Bengaluru and Mysuru are introduced, the entire journey on the Mysuru-Chennai section will be by electric locomotive hauled trains.
Once electric services between Bengaluru and Mysuru are introduced, the entire journey on the Mysuru-Chennai section will be by electric locomotive hauled trains.

Track electrification complete; inspection by Commissioner of Railway Safety today

The electrification of the double track between Mysuru and Bengaluru has been completed. The Commissioner of Railway Safety (Southern Circle) will inspect the work on Tuesday before according his clearance which will pave the way for the introduction of electric train services between the two cities.

A historic development from the point of view of transport infrastructure linking the two cities, the electrification of tracks between Mysuru and Bengaluru was part of the recently completed track doubling work and was taken up concurrently. Once the electric services between the two cities are introduced, the entire journey on the Mysuru-Chennai section will be by electric locomotive hauled trains.

The electrification project was taken up by the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), Allahabad, which completed the installation of poles in the first phase and drew overhead cables along the different stretches. The sub-stations at Bidadi and Yeliyur will feed power to the locomotive through the overhead catenary or cables.

K.A. Manohar, CRS, will conduct the statutory inspection of electrification besides the speed trial of AC electric loco hauled service on the broad gauge double line section between Yeliyur and Mysuru on Tuesday. Vijaya, Chief Public Relations Officer, South Western Railway, said the inspection will start from Yeliyur and continue till Mysuru.

“During the inspection, the traction sub-station at Yeliyur will also be inspected. After the inspection at enroute stations and yards including Level Crossings Gates, return speed trial between Mysuru-Yeliyur will also be conducted. Works related to the electrification of the double line between Yeliyur and Mysuru have been completed recently and once the Commissioner of Railway Safety accords authorisation, electric trains between Mysuru Bengaluru will become a reality,” she added.

Bidadi substation

It was only in March that the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation (KPTCL) powered the Bidadi railway substation which facilitated the railways to operate electric locomotives till Mandya.

Until recently, the Electric Multiple Units (EMU) services operated on the Bengaluru-Ramanagaram section which was powered by the electric substation at Whitefield. The completion of the Bidadi and Yeliyuru substations were major turning points that paved the way for operationalising electric locomotive hauled trains on the Bengaluru-Mysuru section.

Reduced time

With improved traction, the running time of some of the express services are expected to be reduced. Further, it will obviate the need of a few trains like Chennai-Mysuru-Chennai Shatabdi Express to change to diesel engine for its journey on the Bengaluru-Mysuru leg and from diesel to electric on the return journey.

In all, 24 pairs of trains (including the non-daily services) operate on the highly-saturated Mysuru and Bengaluru lines. With the completion of track electrification, regular suburban services between the two cities will be introduced, reducing commuting time and enhancing connectivity.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – December 05th, 2017

Bharatavani portal offers digital dictionaries of vanishing Indian languages

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

BharatvaniBF04dec2017

The online platform hosted by the Central Institute for Indian Languages, Mysuru, publishes content in 121 Indian languages, and is working towards starting online classes.

The word for sunlight or sunshine in Angami — a language spoken by around 130,000 people in the North East — is niakikezie. In the Ao-language of Nagaland, it is anüpu oranüsangwa. And this reporter in far away Bengaluru could look up these words and many more from several Indian languages, thanks to digital dictionaries available on the Bharatavani website.

Most cities in India have infrastructure to teach many foreign languages . But how many look inwards to tap the domestic cultural motherlode of more than 1,500 Indian languages? It is this question that spurred Bharatavani, an online Indian Languages platform hosted by the Central Institute for Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, to not only publish content in 121 Indian languages, but work towards starting online classes.

Searchable resource

What is particularly causing ripples of excitement among linguists and researchers is the compilation of digitised searchable dictionaries. In a little over a year since its inception, the portal offers 262 unilingual and multilingual dictionaries in 50 Indian languages — all of them in a searchable format on android platforms — which can be accessed on Bharatavani’s free Android app.

The number of languages covered will soon cross a hundred, said Beluru Sudarshana, consultant with CIIL. “Bharatavani is not publishing new works, but we are for the first time digitising available dictionaries in smaller languages, to bring it to a wider audience,” he said. Malto-English-Hindi, Odia-Ho, English-Ao and Lepcha-English are some of the dictionaries on offer — most of them available in a searchable format and not as cumbersome PDF files.

Prof. Panchanan Mohanty, Dean, School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad and an expert in Eastern Language research, who is also on the Bharatavani committee, likened Bharatavani to Project Tiger, arguing for conservation of India’s fast-depleting language heritage. But more significantly, the digitised database of dictionaries is a goldmine for linguistic research in the country, he said.

These dictionaries can now be linked to create a large database of words across various languages, using English, Hindi or regional languages as the source words. With over seven lakh source words at present, the potential of the database is immense. For instance, the use of Odia source words will result in an Odia-English-Ho-Munda-Khadia-Kui-Oraon-Saura dictionary, integrating a family of Austroasiatic languages spoken in central-eastern India. The integration of these dictionaries is still a work in progress.

Accessible curricula

Linguist G.N. Devy, who spearheaded the People’s Linguistic Survey of India, believes this resource will help speed up socio-linguistic research and not just along themes of structure and genealogy, thereby ensuring better development planning.

“One serious challenge is that children from communities speaking non-scheduled languages are pushed out of schools leading to development deprivation. For an imaginative user, content on Bharatavani may help in designing a curriculum in these languages,” he said, adding that starting from scheduled languages, Bharatavani has now broadened its scope to smaller languages that have over 10,000 speakers. “But there are several languages with fewer than 10,000 speakers, which Bharatavani needs to work on in its second phase.”

Challenges ahead

This undertaking is not without it challenges. For one, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is still in a primitive stage even for major Indian languages. Thus constructing digitised databases for smaller languages will be a problem as their script cannot be scanned and converted into text format. Tedious desktop publishing is the only viable option.

Another hurdle is that unicode script input drivers are available in only recognised scripts. Incidentally, the Bharatavani portal will soon provide a virtual keyboard, integrating all available Unicode drivers of India languages for users to search for words by typing in language of their choice.

The bigger problem, however, is proofreading, said Mr. Sudarshana. “Ideally, for a multi-lingual digital dictionary we need to carry out a collaborative online proof-reading process, each expert looking at their language of expertise. In most of these smaller languages, it’s tough to even get language experts. Most are old and not equipped to proofread online. We have opted for assisted online proof reading, where a person reads out the text to the expert and makes suitable changes in the database on the expert’s recommendation, which is time consuming,” he said,

Bharhavani is steering in uncharted terrain, but researchers and linguists on board this project are optimistic that it will unveil India’s landscape of languages to its citizens despite the many challenges.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sci-Tech> Tech> Sunday Special / by K.V. Aditya Bharadwaj / December 02nd, 2017

Nokia goes native in Bengaluru

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

NokiaBasavannaKF03dec2017

Perhaps for the first time, a multi-national corporation has decided to give itself a desi touch and named its facilities in Bengaluru after two Kannada philosophers. The Finnish telecom network equipment giant Nokia has named its recently inaugurated R&D facilities here after 12th century icons Basavanna and Allama Prabhu.

Nokia, which has presence in more than 170 countries, named its facilities after the philosopher poets “to create awareness of Basavanna and Allama to foreign employees and foreign visitors.” The centre, Nokia’s largest global R&D site, currently employs more than 6,000 engineers.

Speaking to The Hindu on Saturday, Vinayak Andangoudar, Head of Location Development, and Rajesh K, Financial Controller, of Nokia, Bengaluru, said there was “a lot of enthusiasm among employees” about these Kannada philosophers.

“After consultations and discussions with employees, we decided to name facilities after Basavanna and Allama,” said Mr. Andangoudar.

“We have over 6000 employees in our R&D and there are a good number of Kannadigas. Visiting foreign employees inquire about the two philosophers after naming the two halls after Basava and Allama,” said Mr. Rajesh.

Minister for Information and Technology Priyank Kharge inaugurated a new R&D centre at the Manyata Technology Park here.

Appreciating company’s decision, Mr Kharge tweeted: “Kannada philosophers seem to have positively impacted the IT industry with their thoughts. The new Nokia facility have collaborative spaces named after our Philosopher poets Basavanna & Allama.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> news> States> Karnataka / by Nagesh Prabhu / Bengaluru – December 03rd, 2017

Salil S. Parekh appointed CEO and MD of Infosys

Business & Economy
Salil S. Parekh, who has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Infosys | Photo Credit: File Photo
Salil S. Parekh, who has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Infosys | Photo Credit: File Photo

Mr. Parekh joins Infosys from Capgemini, where he was a member of the Group Executive Board.

Infosys has appointed Salil S. Parekh as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the company effective January 2, 2018. The announcement was made on Saturday.

“He has nearly three decades of global experience in the IT services industry. He has a strong track record of executing business turnarounds and managing very successful acquisitions,” said Nandan Nilekani, chairman of the board in a statement.

The Board believes that he is the right person to lead Infosys at this transformation time in our industry, Mr. Nilekani added.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairperson of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee said: “After a comprehensive global search effort, we are pleased to appoint Salil as the CEO and MD. He was the top choice from a pool of highly qualified candidates.”

Mr. Parekh joins Infosys from Capgemini, where he was a member of the Group Executive Board.

He has Master of Engineering degree in Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University, and a Bachelor of Technology degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

U.B. Pravin Rao will step down as the interim CEO and MD on January 2, 2018 and continue as Chief Operating Officer and a whole-time director of the company, according to the statement.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Jayashankar R / Bengaluru – December 02nd, 2017

Around the world in 80 days

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
Flying high: Captain Audrey Deepika Maben and her daughter Amy Mehta with their aircraft at the Jakkur Aerodrome in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Flying high: Captain Audrey Deepika Maben and her daughter Amy Mehta with their aircraft at the Jakkur Aerodrome in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Woman, daughter to fly 50,000 km to garner support for women’s empowerment

In Jules Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days, Phileas Fogg and his valet take steamers and trains and even an elephant while in India to win a bet with £20,000 at stake. Flying instructor Captain Audrey Deepika Maben and her 19-year-old daughter Amy Mehta are driven by a different goal as they get ready to fly around the world in 80 days in a motor glider: to spread awareness on women empowerment.

They will cover 21 countries and 50,000 km to garner support for the We! Udaan scholarship for underprivileged girls who want to fly.

K. Moses Chalai, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, congratulated the mother-daughter duo and also read a message on behalf of Menaka Gandhi. He said the expedition would be a great example of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign.

The expedition

Talking about the expedition, Captain Audrey said the it was very dear to her as it would help young girls around the country realise their dreams of flying. “This expedition is only one part of our mission. The larger goal is to encourage women across the country to take up flying,” she said.

She explained that this expedition would be a challenge as they would have to land for washroom breaks and prepare their bodies to accustom to tough conditions during their monthly cycles.

The expedition, in its planning stages now, will be finalised in the next two months. They plan to travel across 21 countries with 70 to 90 landings in between, which may vary depending on prevalent weather conditions and re-fuelling. They will fly eastward towards Japan, Russia, Alaska, North America, Greenland, Europe, Pakistan and back to India. As the motor glider requires fair weather and as Captain Audrey only has a daylight flying licence, they will be flying around 5-6 hours per day.

Training routine

As part of her training routine, Captain Audrey, a mother of three, works out everyday and has regular physical training. She is also following a strict nutrition plan along with yoga and meditation. The initiative is undertaken by an entertainment channel in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development and Social Access Communications.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Ashwini Raj / Bengaluru – November 30th, 2017

Ratna Prabha is new Chief Secretary

Business & Economy, Records, All

RatnaPrabhaBF30nov2017

She is the third woman CS of State

Additional Chief Secretary Ratna Prabha is the new Chief Secretary of Karntataka. She will head the State administrative machinery till March 2018.

Ms. Prabha is the third woman Chief Secretary of the State after Teresa Bhattacharya (2000) and Malathi Das (2006). She is set to succeed Subhash Chandra Khuntia, who is retiring on Friday.

Ms. Prabha, from the 1981 IAS officers’ batch, successfully conducted the Invest Karnataka Summit in 2016 and encouraged women entrepreneurship. A few years ago, she also bagged the ‘Woman of the Year’ award of the American Biographical Institute Inc., the U.S.

In a first in State, two women hold top posts

With the elevation of Ms. Prabha, for the first time in the State’s history, two top administrative offices are being headed by women.

While Neelamani N. Raju became the State’s first woman Director-General and Inspector General of Police on October 31, Additional Chief Secretary Ms. Prabha is now set to head the State’s civil service force. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday evening tweeted congratulations to Ms. Prabha and added: “Karnataka’s admin (civil & police) is now headed by two women.”

Ms. Prabha belongs to the 1981 IAS officers’ batch and was serving as Additional Chief Secretary. Ms. Raju, a 1983 batch IPS officer, served as DGP, Fire and Emergency Services, before her elevation. Ms. Prabha successfully conducted the ‘Invest Karnataka summit’ in 2016 and encouraged women entrepreneurship. A few years ago, she also bagged the ‘Woman of the Year’ award from the American Biographical Institute Inc., U.S.

Ahead of polls

With the Assembly election fast approaching, Mr. Siddaramaiah may be looking to score points by picking Ms. Prabha, who is a Dalit.

In September 2016, when Mr. Siddaramaiah wrote to the Centre to relieve Subhash Chandra Khuntia, who was on central deputation, the State BJP played the Dalit card and backed Ms. Prabha. The State government can seek extension of the term of Ms. Prabha till the next Assembly elections are completed. For this, the State has to submit a recommendation to the Prime Minister to obtain the concurrence of the Union government, which is mandatory.

Former Chief Secretary S.V. Ranganath’s term was extended by the Jagadish Shettar government in 2013 citing elections in the State.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – November 29th, 2017

Exhibition of Jain murals from tomorrow

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Karnataka Lalithakala Academy chairperson M.J. Kamakshi says there is more to Shravanabelagola than the Gomateshwara monolith. Prakash Hassan
Karnataka Lalithakala Academy chairperson M.J. Kamakshi says there is more to Shravanabelagola than the Gomateshwara monolith. Prakash Hassan

Expo will introduce connoisseurs of art to some rare and finest murals of ancient times.

The Karnataka Lalithakala Academy will hold a seven-day special exhibition of ancient Jain murals, which have been documented by the academy, in Bengaluru in January 2018.

Speaking after receiving felicitations accorded by Kalamandala, Dharwad, here on Wednesday, academy chairperson M.J. Kamalakshi said that this special art exhibition will be organised on the historic occasion of Mahamastakabhisheka to be held in Shravanabelagola. The academy is also contemplating holding a similar exhibition in Shravanabelagola, she added.

This exhibition will introduce connoisseurs of art to some rare and finest murals of ancient times. They were originally painted on the walls of the Jain shrines in Shravanabelagola. Not many are aware that this famous Jain pilgrimage centre, well known for its Gomateshwara monolith, also houses ancient Jain mutts having some of the finest murals giving insight into Jain mythology. Some of these murals were lost in the passage of time. However, they have been copied and preserved by a team of artists in the 1970s. These rare paintings will be exhibited on this occasion, she said.

More to Shravanabelagola

Ms. Kamalakshi added that most of the visitors to Shravanabelagola do not visit any place other than the Gomateshwara monolith. And, this exhibition will introduce the rich heritage of murals of the State to tourists coming from across India and abroad, she added.

Ms. Kamalakshi said that during her tenure, she would plan to focus more on tribal and folk paintings and their documentation. An action plan would be chalked out in consultation with the members of the executive committee who are yet to be appointed by the State government, she said.

Earlier, Kalamandala president Madanmohan Tavarageri, Kumud Tavarageri, artists Madhu Desai, Gayatri Desai and writer Malati Pattanshetti felicitated Ms. Kamalakshi. Several artists from Hubballi-Dharwad were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News>  States> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / Dharwad – November 30th, 2017