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People Places and Things
Goan doctor
pioneers bionic eye
Joaquim Fernandes , TNN
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4172875,prtpage-1.cms
23 Feb 2009,
PANAJI: A UK
based opthalmologist of Goan origin, Dr Lyndon da
Cruz, is credited with conducting the first three
successful operations to implant artificial
electronic retinal devices in the eyes of the blind.
The device is called a bionic eye.
On a visit to his grandfather’s house in Saligao,
the 44-year-old University of Australia graduate
told TOI he was also part of another project — the
pioneering work of transplanting stem cell-derived
retinal cells for restoring sight to blind patients.
Both projects are at the trial stage.
Da Cruz is chief investigator and surgeon for bionic
eye implants in London. There are a total of 18
bionic eye implants all over the world, including 12
in the USA and Mexico and six in Europe. Da Cruz has
done all three bionic eye operations in Britain.
Says da Cruz, “Since these patients were totally
blind, after the operation they don’t see like you
and I do. But they receive light to see where
objects are, so they can navigate without the need
of a stick or guide dog. Da Cruz explains that
bionic eyes are a pair of video glasses to capture
objects that wirelessly transmit the signal to the
device implanted in the eye. The device stimulates
the residual retina to generate a signal which the
optic nerve carries to the brain.
“The trials will continue for three years. If
doctors can prove that patients benefit from the
bionic eye, the device will become widely
available,” says da Cruz.
Da Cruz is also working on another revolutionary
project — transplanting stem cell-derived retinal
pigment epithelium cells into patients suffering
from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Da Cruz
said, “We have succeeded in turning stem cells into
retinal pigment epithelium cells. These are
presently being tested in animals to see if they are
safe and stable to be implanted into humans who have
lost those cells due to diseases.”
Da Cruz, who was born in Mombassa, Kenya, migrated
with his family to Australia where he studied
medicine, obtained eye surgery training and
eventually a doctorate in gene therapy. In the UK,
he trained further in retinal surgery. |
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Goan Seniors
Attend
Man Of La Mancha “Dream The Impossible Dream”
THE BEST SEASON EVER !!
February 2009.
By Muriel Lucas
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Writer Muriel Lucas with Lead star Kevin
Fleetwood as (Don Quixote),Warren Lobo
as (Barber) and Therese Fernandez (TEGSA). |
Kevin Fleetwood (Don Quixote), Warren
Lobo (Barber) with their cast. |
Lead stars Pegi Reininger (Aldonza) and
Kevin Fleetwood (Don Quixote) |
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Click image
to view large |
Marquee Theatrical
Productions, featured yet another inspirational
show, “Man of La Mancha.
The play ran concurrently at Newmarket Theatre
February 4- February 8th and at City
Playhouse-Vaughan February 12 thru February 15th
2009.With a reputation for high quality productions,
this wonderful show marks steps in a new direction
for Marquee, which is a show of a style and nature
beyond popular family musicals, for which they are
renowned.
This 386 seat proscenium theatre, which opened in
September 1996, featuring it’s 5th play, was packed
to capacity on the last day, of the matinee show. It
is no wonder – with an amazing Cast and Crew of 2l
talented and inspirational performers who captured
the audience’s attention with enthusiasm and rather
mystical to the end!
Often described as a drama –with-music rather than a
musical, “Man of La Mancha” is an intensely
emotional and moving story of hope and courage in
the bleakest of times, as experienced in the mind of
an optimistic and slightly eccentric poet,
Miguel de Cervantes,
(later Don Quixote), while imprisoned in a dungeon
in 16th century Seville at the height of the Spanish
Inquisition. Based on a play-within-a-play format of
story telling, the audience is challenged to wonder
: are we witnessing the roving adventures of a
creative mind, or a man’s slow descent into madness
? His poignant story is revealed with drama and
comedy, using words and beautiful music that come
together in familiar songs such as
“Dulcinea”, “I’m Only Thinking of Him”,
the ubiquitous title song, and of course
“The Impossible Dream”
which has become a classic among Broadway standards.
Pegi Reininger as (Aldonza)..played
her part to perfection and was thrilled to be back
at Marquee,her 25th production this millennium. She
conveys her thanks to her teacher/life coaches and
this great Cast for such a wonderful experience!
One of the talented performers is the well-known
young and good looking, none other than
Warren Lobo, who
is a popular artiste among our Goan Community and
made his Debut way back in Nairobi, East Africa. His
thirst for acting still continued on in Canada .
This is Warren’s third production with Marquee,
following his role as the
“Calypso Brotha” in
“Joseph” and the teacher in
“Singin’ in the Rain”
He is happy to be working with another fun and
talented group of people once more.!! Warren has
played lead and ensemble roles in
6 Gilbert and Sullivan
productions and several dramas and comedies. A
banker by day, in l989, Warren initiated a
not-for-profit
theatre company called
“Goans on Stage!” aimed at mentoring
children and young adults in leadership and life
skills through the planning and staging processes of
a Broadway Musical. Through that venture, he has
produced and directed “The
King and I”, “The Sound of Music”, and a
unique East-meets-West version of
“Jesus Christ Superstar”!!
Needless to say he played the part so well as
“Barber” in Man of La Mancha, since first seeing the
show in his teens, it became a personal favorite and
hence he was spurred to audition for it –for the
role of “Barber” – a part he executed so well!
I was fortunate to meet Warren after the show and
was thrilled to be introduced to the
“STAR” of the show, Kevin Fleetwood, who
played the lead role of
“DON QUIXOTE” featuring
“MAN OF LA MANCHA”!!
I asked Kevin what will be the next play, he sadly
indicated that he is rather sorry it has come to an
end as they will both miss the happy times shared
with the amazing cast and crew, but is looking
forward to an excellent dinner with his family and –
no doubt, will thank them for their patience with
too many “QUIXOTE”
lines coming out over the supper table!!
While Warren on the other hand quipped – “It’s been
a rewarding experience for us in the cast. The
compelling story has spun us into a close-knit
family of 21 and we’re thoroughly enjoying enacting
the adventures of “Don-Quixote under the sensitive
and creative vision of our director
“Michael MacLennan.” –
Director/Choreographer. He owes a debt of
thanks to Sheryl Thomas
–Executive Producer and an original
founder of Marquee
Productions & who has more than 30 years
experience in musical theatre, both onstage and
behind the scenes!! (and much to our amazement -
started at the age of 2 years old!!), for the
opportunities and is grateful and excited to have
been a part of Michael’s keen artistic vision.!!
What’s next for Warren? - His Hunger and Thirst in
his expertise for acting knows no bounds…….I guess
he surely has something up his sleeve…
The Best is Yet to Come!!
See You Next Time Around Warren!!
Goan Attendance:-
Total 68, mostly TEGSA members
Comments :-
- "The Cast and
Crew were outstanding performers and I
thoroughly enjoyed the show from start to
finish. I was truly delighted to meet
Warren Lobo and the lead player, Kevin
Fleetwood after the show. Warren’s voice was
stunning and I wish I could hear him sing
again”!!
.......Judy Deane –
Oakville.
- “Wow !! what a
super show and cast." Highlight for the
night was meeting Warren and Kevin Fleetwood.
.......Therese
Fernandez – Richmond Hill.
- " I was
particularly impressed with the highly charged
emotional story that swayed from the rash
bravado of Don Quixote to his tender chase of
the impossible dream with Dulcinea. Nice acting
from the barber Warren Lobo "
........Dr.Sal Rocha.-
Stouffville.
- " A formidable
challenge for this Cast and Crew, who put "Heart
and Soul" into music, comedy and history, all
rolled into one remarkable production and which
was carried out to perfection from start to
finish"
.......Joe Papa –
Mississauga.
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Diane Saldanha
on University of Toronto Mississauga biotechnology
students team for international business competition
dkurek@mississauga.net
http://www.mississauga.com/printArticle/24178
2009-02-18
A team of five biotechnology students from the
University of Toronto Mississauga has won the right
to compete at an international business competition
at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT).
UTM is the only Canadian school at the March 11-13
competition where it will face top American business
schools such as Harvard and Wharton. The winners of
the competition will go on to the international
finals this April in North Carolina.
Diane Saldanha, Gordon Lau, Marinha Capela, Roberto
Amato and Saad Mirza were underdogs going into the
Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) that
took place Jan. 26-28 at the University of Toronto’s
Rotman School of Management. There they beat out
eight other U of T teams.
The UTM students are enrolled in the Master of
Biotechnology program which integrates science and
business studies. “Going in and being the underdogs
and beating the MBA teams is really exciting,” said
Saldanha. “It definitely boosts our morale. It shows
the strong points of our program.”
The 23-year-old Mississaugan said her team worked
hard to prepare for the competition.
"We spent a month preparing ... learning how VCIC
thinks, how they work, ways to value a company,
understanding the financial aspects, learning how to
analyze risks effectively. We built a whole
strategy. We actually did a couple of mock days."
All the team members were attending class and
working full-time as part of the program’s co-op
while preparing for the competition. At VCIC the
group competed in front of judges. They had to make
mock business investment decisions while working
with real entrepreneurs. The team was coached by
professor Andrew Maxwell.
Article referred by Rudolph
Fernandes of Mississauga |
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Welcome to the
world of St. Peter's Church, Bandra.
http://www.stpetersbandra.in/
Browse around and discover for yourselves this
"Little bit of Heaven"
in the heart of Bandra.
You can also visit our school St. Stanislaus High
School's website:
http://www.stanislausbandra.in/ |
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There has never
been a better time to buy a car in Canada
OTTAWA, Feb. 20 /CNW Telbec/
- Consumers looking for a great deal in
uncertain economic times should look no further than
the retail automotive sector, said Canadian
Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) Chief
Economist Michael Hatch. A number of factors in
today's economy have combined to bring car prices to
near-record lows in recent months.
"In 2008, car prices declined to a 23-year low as a
ratio of personal disposable income," said Mr.
Hatch. "A vehicle purchased last year cost, on
average, just 18.2 weeks of pre-tax income for the
typical Canadian family. This is the lowest this
ratio has been since 1985." This situation is due to
a number of factors. First, many of the cars we see
currently on dealers' lots were purchased earlier
last year when the Canadian dollar was at or near
parity with the U.S. dollar. Also, manufacturers
that are facing a difficult set of circumstances are
aggressively seeking new business by offering more
incentives to buyers. The end result is quite
simple: "We don't believe there's ever been a better
time to buy a car in Canada," explained Mr. Hatch.
These factors have been reflected in recent price
levels. Statistics Canada's consumer price index
released today shows that in January, the price to
purchase or lease a car decreased by 8.2 per cent
from the previous month. "What we need to avoid in
Canada is a drying up in consumer credit that is
vital to finance car purchases, like we've seen
happen in the United States," said Mr. Hatch. "The
federal government has helped in this regard with
the $12 billion credit facility it made available in
its latest budget. This should soon start to ease
the liquidity concerns facing dealers and consumers
alike." Canada's dealer network directly employs
more than 140,000 Canadians in virtually every
community in the country.
The Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA)
is the national association for franchised
automobile dealerships that sell new cars and
trucks. Our 3,500 dealers represent a key sector of
Canada's economy. Through our dealers, we are
represented in nearly every community and those
dealers collectively employ over 140,000 people
across the country. |
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Goan
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Demerg Systems Indiaiaa, ,
ALFRAN PLAZA, "C" Block, 2nd Floor, S-43/44,
(Near Don Bosco School), Panjim, Goa-403001
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