Latest news with #Ochs
The Hindu
01-08-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Pathiri mango: a variety introduced by German missionary in Tamil Nadu's Mayiladuthurai
In the world of mangoes, Pathiri is to Mayiladuthurai (or Mayavaram) what Alphonso is to Maharasthra. Alphonso is named after Afonso de Albuquerque, the viceroy of Portuguese India from 1509 to 1515 CE. Jesuit missionaries, who first began grafting mango plants in Goa between 1550 and 1575 CE, also introduced the Alphonso variety. Once confined to the western parts of India, the fruit is now cultivated nationwide. William Dalrymple, the author of The White Mughals, writes about the correspondence between British officials Palmer and James Kirkpatrick. In it, Palmer offered to send him a selection of mango grafts for his orchards. The two were soon comparing notes on their favourite varieties, agreeing — sensibly enough — that the Alphonso was hard to beat. Pathiri, on the other hand, remains unique to Mayiladuthurai and the surrounding areas. The name is short for Pathiriyar, the Tamil word for a Christian priest (Father). Rev. Ochs, a German missionary and pastor of the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) Holy Immanuel Church in Mayiladuthurai, was the first to plant the sapling of this variety. Hard to resist While a fine variety of Alphonso remains beyond the reach of the common man, Pathiri, with its unique aroma and sweetness, floods the markets of Mayiladuthurai and neighbouring areas during the season. The green-yellow skin and red-yellow pulp are hard to resist. Like the Kathali banana, the sugar content of the fruit is concentrated as the skin of the fruit shrinks. People prefer the fruit with shrunken skin, as they make a hole and suck the pulp as if they were drinking juice from a bottle through a straw. There is an apocryphal story about the propagation of the Pathiri mango. Rev. Ochs, who came to Mayiladuthurai in 1845 for missionary work and stayed there until 1857, is said to have found a mango seed floating in the waters of River Cauvery. He planted the seed. After a few years, it began yielding fruit. The unripe fruit was extremely sour, and Ochs was initially disappointed. However, when fully ripened, the fruit emitted a distinctive aroma and had a delightful taste. He distributed it to visitors to the church. People liked it and began calling it Pathiri, as it had been given to them by the Pathiriyar. Though the original tree planted by Ochs died a few years ago, a few of its 'descendants', majestic in size, still stand in the garden of the Mayiladuthurai church. The last fruits of the season, some of them already tasted by squirrels and birds, still hang from the trees. Their yellow-red pulp offers a hint of the fruit's flavour and taste. 'There were nine trees in the garden, including the first one planted by Rev. Ochs. But it died a few years ago. Its 'offspring' are still in the garden and bear fruit,' says A.J. Alphonse, the gardener. Presented by a convert An article published in the souvenir of the TELC says a sapling of Pathiri was given to Rev. Ochs by Gnanachiriyam, a Christian convert who was in charge of the Saraswathi Mahal Library in Thanjavur. He was instrumental in populating the garden of the church with various trees. 'It was he who presented Ochs with a grafted sapling of a mango tree. Ochs, known for his green fingers, paid special attention to growing the mango plant. As the tree bore fruit with extraordinary taste and aroma, it became popular amongst the locals. They named it Pathiri,' says the article. The entire garden is still known as Pathiri Thottam. It was so popular that people in Mayiladuthurai planted at least one sapling in the vacant space around their homes. The aroma is overpowering, and the fruit easily attracts the attention of customers in the market. 'It will announce its presence by its aroma. People buy it and send it to their relatives in the country and abroad,' says Thulasiraman, a fruit vendor in Mayiladuthurai. The original tree, which lived for 125 years, was cut down in 1982 after losing its branches and starting to decay. But saplings grafted from the tree have spread to many parts of Tamil Nadu. 'Grafting is vital' R. Venkatraman, Deputy Director of the Horticulture Department, Thanjavur, says that while a new plant can be grown from the seeds of the Pathiri tree, there is no guarantee that it will possess all the characteristics of the original plant and fruit. 'The best way to ensure the original characteristics and quality is grafting. The upper part of the sapling should be grafted with a branch from the original tree.'
The Hindu
01-08-2025
- General
- The Hindu
A mango filled with unique aroma and taste and introduced by a missionary
In the world of mangoes, Pathiri is to Mayiladuthurai (or Mayavaram) what Alphonso is to Maharasthra. Alphonso is named after Afonso de Albuquerque, the viceroy of Portuguese India from 1509 to 1515 CE. Jesuit missionaries, who first began grafting mango plants in Goa between 1550 and 1575 CE, also introduced the Alphonso variety. Once confined to the western parts of India, the fruit is now cultivated nationwide. William Dalrymple, the author of The White Mughals, writes about the correspondence between British officials Palmer and James Kirkpatrick. In it, Palmer offered to send him a selection of mango grafts for his orchards. The two were soon comparing notes on their favourite varieties, agreeing — sensibly enough — that the Alphonso was hard to beat. Pathiri, on the other hand, remains unique to Mayiladuthurai and the surrounding areas. The name is short for Pathiriyar, the Tamil word for a Christian priest (Father). Rev. Ochs, a German missionary and pastor of the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) Holy Immanuel Church in Mayiladuthurai, was the first to plant the sapling of this variety. Hard to resist While a fine variety of Alphonso remains beyond the reach of the common man, Pathiri, with its unique aroma and sweetness, floods the markets of Mayiladuthurai and neighbouring areas during the season. The green-yellow skin and red-yellow pulp are hard to resist. Like the Kathali banana, the sugar content of the fruit is concentrated as the skin of the fruit shrinks. People prefer the fruit with shrunken skin, as they make a hole and suck the pulp as if they were drinking juice from a bottle through a straw. There is an apocryphal story about the propagation of the Pathiri mango. Rev. Ochs, who came to Mayiladuthurai in 1845 for missionary work and stayed there until 1857, is said to have found a mango seed floating in the waters of River Cauvery. He planted the seed. After a few years, it began yielding fruit. The unripe fruit was extremely sour, and Ochs was initially disappointed. However, when fully ripened, the fruit emitted a distinctive aroma and had a delightful taste. He distributed it to visitors to the church. People liked it and began calling it Pathiri, as it had been given to them by the Pathiriyar. Though the original tree planted by Ochs died a few years ago, a few of its 'descendants', majestic in size, still stand in the garden of the Mayiladuthurai church. The last fruits of the season, some of them already tasted by squirrels and birds, still hang from the trees. Their yellow-red pulp offers a hint of the fruit's flavour and taste. 'There were nine trees in the garden, including the first one planted by Rev. Ochs. But it died a few years ago. Its 'offspring' are still in the garden and bear fruit,' says A.J. Alphonse, the gardener. Presented by a convert An article published in the souvenir of the TELC says a sapling of Pathiri was given to Rev. Ochs by Gnanachiriyam, a Christian convert who was in charge of the Saraswathi Mahal Library in Thanjavur. He was instrumental in populating the garden of the church with various trees. 'It was he who presented Ochs with a grafted sapling of a mango tree. Ochs, known for his green fingers, paid special attention to growing the mango plant. As the tree bore fruit with extraordinary taste and aroma, it became popular amongst the locals. They named it Pathiri,' says the article. The entire garden is still known as Pathiri Thottam. It was so popular that people in Mayiladuthurai planted at least one sapling in the vacant space around their homes. The aroma is overpowering, and the fruit easily attracts the attention of customers in the market. 'It will announce its presence by its aroma. People buy it and send it to their relatives in the country and abroad,' says Thulasiraman, a fruit vendor in Mayiladuthurai. The original tree, which lived for 125 years, was cut down in 1982 after losing its branches and starting to decay. But saplings grafted from the tree have spread to many parts of Tamil Nadu. 'Grafting is vital' R. Venkatraman, Deputy Director of the Horticulture Department, Thanjavur, says that while a new plant can be grown from the seeds of the Pathiri tree, there is no guarantee that it will possess all the characteristics of the original plant and fruit. 'The best way to ensure the original characteristics and quality is grafting. The upper part of the sapling should be grafted with a branch from the original tree.'
Vogue
04-06-2025
- Business
- Vogue
Hervé Léger Resort 2026 Collection
The word of the season for Hervé Léger's Michelle Ochs: allure. And her motto? 'Give her a reason to shop.' Ochs and her fellow designers have the Herculean task of inspiring a consumer that, as has been widely reported by industry trades, is becoming less interested in engaging with the luxury market. But she seems to be taking the new status quo in stride, you could say she's actually having some fun imbuing novelty into this decades-old label. (Hervé Legér turns 40 this year.) Resort, which covers the holiday season, is crucial for a label like Léger with a proven track record in event dressing. Ochs reports that they've 'gained traction' with the introduction of woven styles as complements to the brand's famous bodycon knits. Her loosening of other silhouettes has also helped her push things forward. There were other novelties, too. A venture into the Léger archives inspired the return of a basketweave technique; Ochs has placed it under the bust for an elegant and flattering effect. Another archive find is the stretch lace that Ochs used on slimming frocks. Also fun—and a good reason to shop—are a spray metallic ombré treatment Ochs has developed to imitate the brand's signature bandage effect without the actual layering, and a grommet-like foiling on a few separates that reads like both the actual hardware and a cooler version of a polka dot. Ochs has also been working on introducing leather, as on a sexy midi-length red slip, and on playing up transparency with mesh inserts. She's even venturing into tailoring. These have all been welcome introductions, which she reports her customer has been receptive to. Yet most impactful is what she's done to the bandage dress itself. Making it sometimes longer and occasionally looser, angling it or deconstructing it, she's embraced the icon without letting it dictate too much of her output. 'People are loving the variation in lengths we've been giving,' said Ochs. 'We're educating her that it's not just tight mini dresses!'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Couple Requested Baker Make an Unusual Wedding Cake. Guests Were Left Shocked by the 'Insane' Creation (Exclusive)
Allie Grace Decker and Tyler Schouten got married on April 26 at The Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas The couple served two wedding cakes, a four-tiered treat with a cascading bow, plus a very realistic-looking rainbow trout "It was total conversation piece that had our guests talking and laughing all night," the bride tells PEOPLEAllie Grace Decker and Tyler Schouten made quite the splash at their wedding on April 26 at The Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas. Their 300 guests were hooked at first sight by their wedding cakes, one of which was modeled after a rainbow trout. "Everyone was in shock seeing the cake and all the guests were taking pictures," Leslie Ochs, lead designer of Alice and Apricot Weddings + Events, tells PEOPLE. A few days after the wedding, planned by Emma Weaver, Ochs posted a now-viral video on Instagram of Decker and Schouten's reactions to their individual bride and groom cakes. "… so different, but we can't get enough 🤣🤩🤯🎂," the luxury wedding planner and designer captioned the reel. The couple floundered in amazement as they walked into their reception space and saw their juxtaposing wedding cakes. "Shut up!" Decker exclaimed, with Shouten adding, "That's insane" when they approached the groom's cake. Sweet Treets Bakery was hired in February to make two wedding cakes for the couple's big day. The bride's was a traditional four-tiered white cake with a simple, draping fondant bow made by head decorator Michelle Leal. Meanwhile, the groom's vibrant rainbow trout wedding cake was so realistic that it was practically thrashing alive. The fish was brought to life by decorator Johnny Rodriguez, who spent five hours making the red velvet-flavored masterpiece. "I've been asked for a fish cake before, but not specifically a trout," says Virginia Acker, wedding coordinator for Sweet Treets Bakery. "The decorators here at Sweet Treets Bakery are incredibly talented, especially Johnny and Michelle. They make joy out of butter and sugar." "A groom's cake has been a tradition for a long time and not uncommon for a lot of our clients. The groom's cake is usually a fun way to do something specifically for the groom while leaving the traditional wedding cake to be elegant and classic for the bride!" adds Ochs, who noted that Schouten is "a big fisherman" and "wanted something that showcased his passion." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The yellow-green trout featured a red stripe on its side and a white underbelly. It also had black spots scattered across the body, including its tail and fins. The fish was presented on a bed of ice cubes made out of sugar, which sat inside a real YETI cooler atop fake grass. The bride's cake was surrounded by fresh white florals and greenery. "We absolutely loved our wedding cakes! My classic, timeless wedding cake was everything I dreamed of — elegant, beautiful, and the perfect complement to our day," Decker tells PEOPLE. The bride continues, "My husband's rainbow trout groom's cake was not only incredibly realistic and fun, but also a total conversation piece that had our guests talking and laughing all night. And the best part? It was red velvet — a sweet little nod to my favorite movie, Steel Magnolias. It made the whole thing even more meaningful and personal. Both cakes were unforgettable highlights of our wedding!' is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Wedding guests were obsessed with the catch of the day, but no one more than Schouten. "I think he was just genuinely shocked at how amazing it was and [how] realistic the fish looked!" Ochs says. "It was everything he wanted and he was so excited!" "You heard a lot of 'This is SOOO Tyler!' which was exactly our goal!" she adds. The cake was almost too fin-tastic to eat! Hundreds of commenters on Instagram agreed that the cakes were "exceptional," and commended Decker for encouraging Schouten to have his own unique cake. Read the original article on People
New York Post
21-04-2025
- New York Post
Teens are using AI to create fake nudes of their classmates — as a new form of bullying
They've turned tech into a weapon — and no one's safe from the scandal. Teens are using artificial intelligence to whip up disturbingly realistic nude images of their classmates — and then share them like digital wildfire, sending shockwaves through schools and leaving experts fearing the worst. The AI-powered tools, often dubbed 'nudify' apps, are as sinister as they sound. With just a headshot — often lifted from a yearbook photo or social media profile — these apps can fabricate explicit deepfake images that appear scarily real. And yes, it's already happening in schools. 3 AI 'nudify' apps are fueling a disturbing trend among teens: generating fake nude images of classmates and spreading them with devastating consequences. Getty Images These hyper-realistic images — forged with AI tools — are turning bullying into a high-tech nightmare. 'We're at a place now where you can be doing nothing and stories and pictures about you are posted online,' Don Austin, superintendent of the Palo Alto Unified School District, told Fox News Digital. 'They're fabricated. They're completely made up through AI and it can have your voice or face. That's a whole other world.' This is a full-blown digital crisis. Last summer, the San Francisco City Attorney's office sued 16 so-called 'nudify' websites for allegedly violating laws around child exploitation and nonconsensual images. Those sites alone racked up more than 200 million visits in the first half of 2023. 3 This trend is a full-blown digital crisis. Getty Images But catching the tech companies behind these tools? That's like playing a game of Whac-A-Mole. Most have skated past current state laws, though some — like Minnesota — are trying to pass legislation to hold them accountable for the havoc they're wreaking. Still, the tech moves faster than the law — and kids are getting caught in the crossfire. 3 AI apps are making bullying disturbingly easy — no skills needed, just a face and a few taps to create shockingly real fake nudes. Getty Images/iStockphoto Josh Ochs, founder of SmartSocial — an organization that trains families on online safety — told Fox News Digital that AI-generated nudes are causing 'extreme harm' to teens across the country. 'Kids these days will upload maybe a headshot of another kid at school and the app will recreate the body of the person as though they're nude,' Ochs revealed to the outlet. 'This causes extreme harm to that kid that might be in the photo, and especially their friends as well and a whole family,' he noted. He said parents need to stop tiptoeing around their children's digital lives — and start laying down some boundaries. 'Before you give your kids a phone or social media, it's time to have that discussion early and often. Hey, this is a loaner for you, and I can take it back at any time because you could really hurt our family,' Ochs said. In February, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill to criminalize publishing — or even threatening to publish — nonconsensual AI deepfake porn. It now awaits further action. Austin said the only way to get ahead of the curve is to keep talking — with parents, teachers, students, and anyone else who will listen. 'This isn't going away,' he warned. 'It's evolving — and fast.'
