Latest news with #NorthStar
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Mountainhead' reviews: Jesse Armstrong's ‘Succession' follow-up is ‘rich in laughs' but focuses too much on ‘cruel intentionality'
Just like Succession, HBO's gone-but-not-forgotten drama series, Mountainhead comes from the satiric mind of Jesse Armstrong and focuses on a group of unserious billionaires. However, critics aren't as enthusiastic about the new TV movie as they were with its Emmy-winning predecessor. Mountainhead follows four wealthy tech bros — played by Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Cory Michael Smith, and Ramy Youssef — who meet at a swanky ski resort. Their retreat soon descends into chaos as a global crisis unfolds, exacerbated by the actions of one of their companies. More from GoldDerby 'The Handmaid's Tale' star Elisabeth Moss on directing the series finale and June's new mission: 'She has to fight a different battle now' 'The Handmaid's Tale' EPs on the series' final scene: 'It was the North Star I was aiming for the whole time' Billie Eilish sweeps 2025 American Music Awards: See all the winners Armstrong is a seven-time Emmy winner for Succession (four for writing, three for producing), but this is his feature directorial debut, and critics are well aware of the fact. Fair or not, most of the initial reviews included comparisons between Succession and Mountainhead. The new telefilm, with its runtime of 109 minutes, is "rich in laughs but lacks the substance of Succession," says Shaina Weatherhead (Collider), who adds, "If you come solely for the comedic stylings of four powerhouse actors, Mountainhead will certainly win you over if you don't take it too seriously." Christian Zilko (IndieWire) writes, "While Succession was all about delusion, with the Roy children cluelessly thinking the family business needed them while everyone maneuvered around their childish stunts, Mountainhead is all about the cruel intentionality of men who actively choose to burn down our world and just might have the competence to do it." Peter Bradshaw (The Guardian) says, "This is a movie driven by the line-by-line need for fierce, nasty, funny punched-up stuff in the dialogue, and narrative arcs and character development aren't the point. But as with Succession, this does a really good job of persuading you that, yes, this is what our overlords are really like." Addressing the satire angle that Armstrong is known for, Chris Barsanti (Slant Magazine) writes, "If there's a moral here, it might be that the only thing worse than a competitive billionaire is a bored one. By following Succession with another acid-singed comedy about a slightly different subset of 0.01 percenters, Armstrong is sticking to a kind of satire he knows well." Liz Shannon Miller (Consequence) says, "Armstrong's dialogue flows like no one else's, but there's something just a little bit unbearable about listening to stupid people talk like they're smart, and Armstrong doesn't pull away from that aspect. There was an emotional core to the Succession story ... The lads up on the mountain, meanwhile, are all about posturing amongst themselves." Mountainhead delivers "a decent amount of laughs," says Tim Grierson (The A.V. Club), who calls it "a wry smackdown of four insanely rich bros hanging out at a gaudy estate in the Utah mountains." However, the movie "is best when Armstrong puts satire aside for rage, seething at the tech kingpins destroying our society to increase their profits." Nick Schager (The Daily Beast) writes, "Prescient about the dangers posed by AI and, more pressingly, the cutthroat, avaricious, and egotistical madmen who wield it, the film is an incisive portrait of 21st-century villainy, if ultimately a satire that can't quite locate the funny in the horror." Finally, Nadia Dalimonte (Next Best Picture) says, "Mountainhead arrives at a time when reality has certainly caught up with Armstrong's sharp eye, making the film a depressingly perceptive mirror of the current state of the world." Mountainhead will premiere May 31 on HBO and Max. It will compete at the 2025 Emmys in the TV movie/limited series categories. SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby 'The dialogue is king': 'Adolescence' sound editor James Drake on the 'chaotic and intense' first episode 'The Handmaid's Tale' star Elisabeth Moss on directing the series finale and June's new mission: 'She has to fight a different battle now' 'The Pitt' star Tracy Ifeachor thinks about Collins and Robby's backstory 'all the time': 'It just didn't work out because it's not the right time' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NorthStar Gaming Reports First Quarter 2025 Results
Company Continues Its Record of Solid Revenue Growth and Margin Expansion Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 28, 2025) - NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSXV: BET) (OTCQB: NSBBF) ("NorthStar" or the "Company") today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025. All dollar figures are quoted in Canadian dollars. "We are pleased to begin 2025 with another quarter of strong year-over-year growth, with revenue increasing by 32% and gross margin up 58% over Q1 2024," said Michael Moskowitz, Chair and CEO of NorthStar. "At the same time, we continue to effectively manage our major operating expense items which are decreasing as a percentage of revenue. Our results are being driven in part by ongoing product and promotional innovations that reinforce our premium positioning." Financial Highlights for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2025 ("Q1 2025"): Revenue1 was $7.8 million in Q1 2025, a 32% increase from $5.9 million in Q1 2024. Revenue in Q1 2025 includes $0.2 million of managed services revenue, which compares to $0.1 million in Q1 2024. Gross Margin was $3.0 million, a 58% increase from $1.9 million in Q1 2024, while the Gross Margin percentage increased to 38.5%, up from 31.5% in Q1 2024. Profit before marketing and other expenses1 was $0.6 million in Q1 2025 compared to a loss of $0.6 million in Q1 2024. General and administrative expense was $2.4 million in Q1 2025, a decrease of 1% from Q1 2024, and represented 31% of revenue compared to 41% a year earlier. Marketing expense of $4.1 million increased 11% over Q1 2024, and represented 52% of revenue compared to 62% in Q1 2024. Recent Operating Highlights: NorthStar recorded the highest customer retention rate in its history in Q1 2025, driven by its delivery of a superior customer experience, innovative promotions and a focus on high-value players through the NorthStar Elite program. NorthStar increased the number of games offered on its Casino platform by 15% to more than 1,800 games during the first quarter. NorthStar Bets Blackjack VZN went live on March 19, 2025. This innovative multiplayer Blackjack game has the feel of live Blackjack, and reinforces the Company's premium positioning through NorthStar Bets branding. Integrated new product analytical tools to help us measure and track the player journey and accelerate product enhancements and development. On March 20, 2025, NorthStar unveiled the new Spring Tournament Series with premium online tournaments spanning Live Blackjack, Slots and Sports betting. The series builds on innovations developed for last fall's NorthStar Blackjack Championship event. On January 27, 2025, the Company announced that it entered into a credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement") in respect of a senior secured first lien term loan facility providing for loans in an aggregate principal amount of up to $43.4 million CAD (being the approximate equivalent of $30 million USD). The Company expects that the Credit Agreement will strengthen its balance sheet and enable it to accelerate its growth initiatives. Outlook "We anticipate another year of solid top line growth and margin expansion in 2025, supported by our recently strengthened balance sheet. Major expense items should continue to decline as a percentage of revenue as we realize further operating leverage through the scaling of the business," said Mr. Moskowitz. "We expect the managed services business to help drive revenue growth this year. Looking ahead, the Alberta government recently took another step forward in establishing a regulatory regime to become the second Canadian province to license online gaming as early as the end of this year, and we eagerly await further details." Restatement of Results The comparative results for the three months ended March 31, 2024 have been restated in the financial statements and management's discussion & analysis ("Q1 2025 MD&A") for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 to include additional merchant fees and player bonus expenses which were not captured in the previously published financial statements (please see note 2 of the Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025). Additional Information For additional information, please refer to the Company's condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025, and the corresponding management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A"). These documents are available on SEDAR+ at and on the Company's corporate website at About NorthStar NorthStar proudly owns and operates NorthStar Bets, a Canadian-born casino and sportsbook platform that delivers a premium, distinctly local gaming experience. Designed with high-stakes players in mind, NorthStar Bets Casino offers a curated selection of the most popular games, ensuring an elevated user experience. Our sportsbook stands out with its exclusive Sports Insights feature, seamlessly integrating betting guidance, stats, and scores, all tailored to meet the expectations of a premium audience. As a Canadian company, NorthStar is uniquely positioned to cater to customers who seek a high-quality product and an exceptional level of personalized service, setting a new standard in the industry. NorthStar is committed to operating at the highest level of responsible gaming standards. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Non-IFRS Financial Measures Throughout this document, management uses certain non-IFRS financial measures and supplementary financial measures to evaluate the performance of the Company. The term 'Profit/(Loss) before marketing and other expenses' is a non-IFRS financial measure. This measure is not a recognized measure under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and is, therefore, not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, this measure is provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective and to discuss NorthStar's financial outlook. Accordingly, this measure should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of the Company's financial information reported under IFRS. We believe that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures, including industry metrics, in the evaluation of companies in our industry. Management also uses non-IFRS measures and industry metrics in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, the preparation of annual operating budgets and forecasts and to determine components of executive compensation. Operating Results Marketing expenses are a key driver of the business but are completely discretionary. Management considers "Profit/(Loss) before marketing and other expenses" to be a good indication of the extent to which the business' Gross Margin is in excess of its overhead costs, and therefore offsetting some portion of marketing expenses, reflecting improving economies of scale. $ Millions(unaudited) Three months ended March 31,2025 March 31,2024 Revenue $ 7,849 $ 5,930 Cost of Revenues 4,830 4,060 Gross Margin 3,019 1,870 General and administrative expenses 2,434 2,449 Profit/(Loss) before marketing and other expenses (1) 585 (579) Marketing 4,097 3,688 Loss before other expenses (1) (3,512) (4,267) Other expenses 2,288 2,554 Net loss $ (5,800) $ (6,821) (1) These measures are not defined by IFRS, do not have standard meanings and may not be comparable with other industries or companies. Beginning in Q1 2025, the Company is no longer disclosing the two non-IFRS measures Total Wagers and Gross Gaming Revenue. These measures no longer reflect the full scope of the Company's business, as both are recorded only in Ontario where the Company owns and operates the licensed iGaming platform Managed services revenues are generated outside of Ontario through services the Company provides to the Abenaki Council of Wolinak, which owns and operates the iGaming platform As a result of the ongoing growth in the Company's managed services revenue, management believes revenue, gross margin and profit (/loss) before marketing and other expenses are more relevant measures of the Company's progress. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements This communication contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada ("forward-looking statements"), including without limitation, statements with respect to the following: expected performance of the Company's business, the Company's growth plans being fully funded, expansion into new markets and future growth opportunities, and expected benefits of transactions. The foregoing are provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's anticipated financial position, results of operations, and operating environment. Often, but not always, forward- looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. This forward-looking information is based on management's opinions, estimates and assumptions that, while considered by NorthStar to be appropriate and reasonable as of the date of this press release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward- looking information. Such factors include, among others, the following: risks related to the Company's business and financial position; risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry risks; future legislative and regulatory developments; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; and those factors discussed in greater detail under the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recent annual information form, which is available under NorthStar's profile on SEDAR+ at Many of these risks are beyond the Company's control. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the opinions, estimates or assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results or future events might vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents NorthStar's expectations as of the date specified herein, and are subject to change after such date. However, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws. All of the forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements. For further information: Company Contact: Corey GoodmanChief Development Officer647-530-2387investorrelations@ Investor Relations: RB Milestone Group LLC (RBMG)Northstar@ 1 Revenue includes managed services fees, and Gross Gaming Revenue net of bonuses, promotional costs and free bets. To view the source version of this press release, please visit Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Penguin' Director Jennifer Getzinger: Learn How to Keep Quiet
When you're first starting out as a director, it can be easy to hold tight to your vision as if it were some kind of North Star that can do you no wrong. It's good to have that passion and confidence, but when it comes to actually executing most productions, time can't be wasted trying to explain the minutiae of your inner thoughts. In fact, as explained by TV director Jennifer Getzinger, more often than not conciseness and clarity is more appreciated from actors than trying to dissect every element of a scene. During the latest episode of 'What No One Tells You,' Getzinger told IndieWire's Future of Filmmaking that when she was training to become a director, she tended to be 'a little bit afraid' of working with actors. To overcome this fear, she took a workshop with Adrienne Weiss, an acting coach and instructor who came out of the Yale School of Drama. It was here that she started to understand what performers really needed out of a director. More from IndieWire 'Hacks' Renewed for Season 5 at HBO Max AI Experts Debate What Will (or Won't) Be Disrupted by the Technology | Future of Filmmaking Summit at Cannes 'You would rehearse the scenes and then you would put them up in front of the class,' Getzinger said. 'And then at the end, the director would sit up on stage and everyone would critique what you did as a director.' This was unusual as typically it's the director commenting on the work of the actor, but in creating this even playing field, Getzinger began noticing patterns within the notes that spoke to a persistent problem amongst many first-time directors. 'It's unlike anything you'll ever ever have in real life as a director because no actor is going to tell you like, 'Oh, this was terrible. That note you gave me was awful,'' she told IndieWire's Future of Filmmaking. 'And the thing I learned the most was just stop talking so much. Stop giving so many notes.' In pursuit of their own objectives, Getzinger realized many directors were treating actors as devices rather than human beings. This didn't ultimately help the performer, but instead just overcomplicated whatever perspective they were trying to bring to the scene. 'You can't give someone 5 things to play in between every take,' said Getzinger. 'I think every new director just keeps talking and talking and talking and is hoping they're saying something that has some wisdom in it and you really need to stop.' Getzinger went on to direct for 'Mad Men,' 'Westworld,' and most recently on HBO's hit series 'The Penguin,' starring Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti. Watch a clip from her episode of 'What No One Tells You' below. Want to find out more about Future of Filmmaking and 'What No One Tells You?' Visit our new Future of Filmmaking landing page and sign up for our weekly newsletter, 'In Development.' Best of IndieWire Nightmare Film Shoots: The 38 Most Grueling Films Ever Made, from 'Deliverance' to 'The Wages of Fear' Quentin Tarantino's Favorite Movies: 65 Films the Director Wants You to See The 19 Best Thrillers Streaming on Netflix in May, from 'Fair Play' to 'Emily the Criminal'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Has Polaris always been the North Star? How Earth's 26,000 year cycle changes the 'pole star'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Polaris, also known as the 'Pole Star' or 'North Star', is arguably the most famous stellar body to hang in the western hemisphere's night sky. For centuries it has served as a vital waypoint for explorers navigating both Earth's physical oceans and the celestial starfield above. Its apparent importance is reflected in the fact that the entire night sky appears to revolve around it. This happens because Polaris' location happens to be closely aligned with Earth's north rotational axis, which is known as the celestial pole when projected outwards into space. However, Polaris isn't the first North Star to shine down on humanity, nor will it be the last. Earth is engaged in a constant gravitational tug of war with the moon and sun, which over time has created a bulge at our planet's equator, according to NASA. As a result, Earth's axis of rotation has developed a distinct wobble - known to scientists as axial precession - which sees the celestial pole trace a wide, lazy circle over a roughly 26,000 year period, coming close to several other prominent stars besides Polaris. Read on to discover more about the past, present and future North Stars, including how to find them for yourself in the night sky in the northern hemisphere. Amateur stargazers new to the night sky may want to make use of our guide to the best stargazing apps available in 2025, many of which have free functionality, and make use of augmented reality tech to help you find Polaris and navigate the stars. Polaris is the logical starting point for any North Star tour, given that it is the reigning title holder and a key waypoint for many attempting to find their way around the night sky. The current North Star can be found easily by locating the Big Dipper asterism in Ursa Minor, which is high overhead this time of year. Draw an imaginary line from the magnitude 2.3 star Merak, which forms the outer base of the 'bowl', through Dubhe, the star positioned as the 'pouring tip' of the asterism. Follow that line outward and the next similarly bright star you find on this path will be Polaris. This bright point of light is in fact a triple star system, though only two of the stars are visible through a backyard telescope. The largest of the stellar trio is a supergiant star that burns over 2,000 times brighter than our sun, according to NASA. Polaris will continue to be the pole star for a few thousand years to come, until Earth's rotational axis wanders inexorably away on its 26,000-year wobble. Jumping back in time, Thuban was positioned as a North Star some 4,700 years ago, as early civilizations thrived in Mesopotamia and Egypt, according to NASA. Thuban is located some 270 light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco - hence its official name of Alpha Draconis - and is comprised of a pair of stars known as an 'eclipsing binary.' In 2020, a team of scientists revealed that these two ancient stars regularly eclipse one another over the course of their 51-day orbital period from the perspective of Earth, leading to periodic dips in brightness based on data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. A good way to find Thuban is to locate the bright stars Phecda and Megrez that form part of the 'bowl' of the famous Big Dipper asterism in the constellation Ursa Major, which is located high overhead at this time of year. Draw a line from Phecda through Megrez out into space continuing for twice the distance separating the two guide stars and you will find the patch of sky containing Thuban. Both Kochab and Pherkad were close to the celestial pole around 3,00 years ago, granting them the moniker of 'Guardians of the Pole', according to stargazing website Kochab came particularly close to the celestial pole between 1700 BCE-300 CE, and may even have been referred to as "Polaris" by some in antiquity, according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The stellar duo are particularly easy to find once you know the location of Polaris, as all three belong to the same constellation of Ursa Minor, or the 'Little Bear'. Ursa Minor boasts a pan-like outline featuring a 'bowl' and 'handle', with Polaris is located at the end of the handle, while Kochab and Pherkad form the outer edge of the 'bowl'. Some archaeologists believe that the Ancient Egyptians may have orientated the Great Pyramids of Giza to face an alignment of the stars Kochab and Mizar - a star in the Big Dipper asterism - which were on opposite sides of the celestial pole around that era. However, there is contention as to which stars were used to orientate the pyramids - an important distinction as it has a direct bearing of our understanding of when exactly they were built, per the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias. The K-type star Errai - or Gamma Cephei to give it its official name - is the first future North Star on our list. In just 2,200 years Errai will be situated a mere 3 degrees from the north celestial pole in the night sky, according to The University of Virginia, putting an end to Polaris reign. Gamma Cephei is actually two stars, a binary star system located some 45 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cepheus. Its primary star plays host to a Jupiter-like gas giant, the discovery of which was first announced in 1988, before being swiftly withdrawn due to a lack of confidence in the data, according to NASA. Its existence was confirmed by a later study, and had it not been withdrawn, the planet - named Gamma Cephei A b would have been forever known as the first exoplanet ever discovered beyond our solar system. Errai can be found using the same trick used to locate Polaris. Simply draw an imaginary line from Dubhe - the tip of the bowl in the Big Dipper asterism - through and past Polaris. The next bright star on that path will be Errai. In around 5,000 years, Alderamin - another star in the constellation Cepheus - will be crowned the North Star, per the Royal Museums Greenwich website. Many observers have likened the five stars of Cepheus to a child's drawing of a house. Following that visualization, Errai marks the top of the roof, while the magnitude 1.5 star Alderamin forms the lower right foundation. It can be found by locating the stars Shedar and Caph in the 'W' shaped constellation Cassiopeia. Draw a line from Shedar through Caph and beyond, and Alderamin will be directly on this path. The magnitude 1.2 star Deneb passed close to the celestial north pole 18,000 years ago according to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and will again around the year 9,800 CE, at which point it will be around seven degrees from the pole. To spot it, simply look to the Eastern sky after sunset during spring, where you will see the trio of bright stars that form the Summer Triangle asterism. Deneb will form the lower left point of the triangle relative to the horizon. The celestial north pole pointed to the bright star Vega some 14,000 years ago, at a time when our hunter-gathering ancestors roamed the Earth. NASA has estimated that Vega will become the north star once again in around 12,000 years from now, as Earth's rotational axis continues its lazy wobble through the stars. Vega is one of the brightest stars in the northern hemisphere, whose claim to scientific fame came in 1984, when scientists discovered the first evidence of what turned out to be an almost 100-billion-mile-diameter disk of dusty planet-forming matter in orbit around the star. Vega is the fifth brightest star visible in the northern hemisphere. Vega forms the top point of the famous Summer Triangle. Night sky lovers hoping to get a closer look at the night sky should check our guides for the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals available in 2025. Our guides on the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can also help immortalize your stargazing sessions! Editor's Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@
Observer
5 days ago
- Business
- Observer
Between the shores of the Indian Ocean
If you are a history buff, then you would have also been engrossed in the conversation which was part of a speech at an investment forum. The forum was on investment opportunities in East Africa, and as the chairman began to reveal the investment opportunities in the changing dynamics of development the region is going through, he took a moment to reflect. East Africa and Oman share a history spanning over twenty centuries, he said. And then the story began. Omani merchants arrived on East African shores as early as the 2nd century, establishing trade routes that thrived by the 1700s. And I thought, thus began a story that wove endless chapters that continue till today. And here I am, I spoke to myself, thinking how lucky I was to listen to this story which has a lot of my friends connected in one way or the other. They have told me their experiences and fond memories. The chairman of the East African Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Richard Ngatia said, "Our historical ties run deeper than mere trade, woven intricately through the fabric of our shared monetary and cultural heritage." According to him, the Sultanate of Oman introduced the rupee to Zanzibar as early as 1832, laying an important financial cornerstone for regional commerce. The rupee spread extensively into the East African hinterland from 1896 onwards with the commencement of the Kenya-Uganda Railway. "Our cultural linkages remain evident today; for example, rich Omani heritage is prominently reflected in the architecture and cultural traditions of Zanzibar, traditional Omani dance styles closely resemble those of Lamu Island in Kenya, and Omani influences appear in historical trading practices and cultural interactions in Rwanda. Reflecting our shared heritage," he said. Think about it - the waters of the Indian Ocean, nestling the wooden dhows that followed the currents and the wind sailing aligned to the North Star. No wonder the star near the North Celestial Pole is understood to represent hope, guidance and constancy. The Indian Ocean was the original link between East Africa and Oman, and it remains a vital resource today. And now, I wanted to know more, and one of the best persons to speak from experience is Ahmed al Mahrouqi. A phone call to ask him all the questions and to share all his thoughts on the journeys across the Indian Ocean. The best part is that his childhood travels never left him. He cherishes the memories. Somewhere deep in his mind, he longs for the adventure. I asked him which was the port he travelled from, and he said instantly, Duqm. He remembers travelling back and forth as a child between the coasts of East Africa and Oman because his father had a business in Dar es Salaam. Other options were Sur, Mahout, Suhar and Al Musannah and, of course, Muttrah. These areas also were used to travel to other countries, such as Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, pointed out Ahmed. As Ahmed went on the voyages to Tanzania or while coming back to Oman, they used to have stops. He remembers that they used to stop in Mogadishu, Somalia, Yemen, and other places for water. They used to travel after the monsoon. Around 70 people could travel in one dhow. They travelled together in six to seven dhows. Between Tanga and Zanzibar, the distance was like Shannah and Masirah, just about 30 km, he recollected. To Africa, Omanis went to the "Islands of the Moon", he said. And that made me look around and ask others about Juzur al Qamar. Then a friend explained, "The Comoros Islands." The Comoros Islands, the archipelago, are located in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mozambique. Apparently, the name is derived from the Arabic word "Qamar", which means "moon". The story goes that the name was given by Arab seafarers. Ahmed said excitedly, "If you go to Comoros, you will notice that it looks so much like Sur." Lakshmi Kothaneth The writer is senior editor of Observer
