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CHINA UNCOVERED
THE NEED FOR SPEED. China runs on two gears as it moves millions of people around every day. A young driver of one of the world’s fastest trains and two seasoned pilots of one of the world’s biggest airlines are seeing the effects modernization and globalization have on their journeys. Meanwhile, in downtown Shanghai a recreational revolution is taking place as the youth choose bikes and skateboards over four wheels.
BOTETI: THE RETURNING RIVER
For 20 years the Boteti River in northern Botswana has not flowed. What was once an expansive and prolific body of water gradually dried up, leaving zebras, hippos, elephants and crocodiles dependant on the few pools formed from the occasional rains.But now, for the first time in 30 years, rain has fallen in sufficient quantities hundreds of miles to the north in the Angolan highlands, sending a stream of water through the river bed. After years of extreme drought, the river has finally returned in all its glory, transforming the landscape. Filmed in stunning HD, ‘Boteti – The Returning River’ documents this extraordinary transformation and the dramatic changes it brings to the resident animals.During the years of drought, we see how desperate battles for survival play out along the dormant river, watched over by the elephants of the area. One of the few species that adapts well to the situation by carefully conserving what little water is available, the elephant is an expert at digging channels in the mud so water collects in sufficient quantities to drink.Vultures lurk ominously on the dusty banks adjacent to the pools, waiting patiently for dehydration to claim another victim. Crocodiles use caves to escape the heat of the sun and only emerge reluctantly to hunt when huge flocks of quelea birds arrive at the water. The crocs, along with numerous other species, are bound to this area because there is simply nowhere else to go. Beyond the dry river bed, semi-desert extends for hundreds of miles in all directions.With the arrival of the life-giving waters, there is a burst of activity. Fish and dragonflies soon emerge with their attendant predators and frogs appear in their thousands, attracting huge numbers of birds. The deluge also brings instant relief to the hippos by flushing out their fetid pools, while elephants celebrate by swimming and hosing each other down. Jackals and packs of wild dogs appear from nowhere to harass the drinking herds.But the most significant change occurs when the water reaches the parched wasteland of the Makgadigadi Salt Pans. Here, the coming of the flood sees flocks of pelican, flamingo and red-billed teal arrive to set up new breeding colonies.Filmed over a period of two years, this film provides a lasting and unique record of the transformation of an entire environment and contains many examples of previously unrecorded behaviour.
NEW FRONTIER
THE INNER WORLDS. They orbit between us and our Star, the inner worlds; hidden within the sun's glare often only visible at sunrise or sunset. Venus the first and brightest star in the evening sky, and Mercury fleeting across the solar disk. They are half of our solar system's terrestrial planets yet we know so little. As we begin to take a closer look at our companions they are posing more questions than answers.
NEW FRONTIER
NEXT STOP MARS. It has fired our imaginations for millennia, Mars, the God of War and the source of Man's science fictional demise. We know the dry barren planet was once flowing with vast reservoirs of water, the sky thick and filled with clouds and the tantalizing possibility of life. It is the only other place in our solar system than Man might one day call home.
SPITSBERGEN
ICY ISLAND. 360° GEO - Report attended German supplier Rupert Krapp, on his tours through the rough landscape and picturesque fjords of Spitsbergen.The Arctic autumn is short. As early as the end of September the inhabitants of Spitsbergen prepare themselves for the long dark winter. Those who can leave the island. But a small group of people stays, mostly comprised of students, scientists and logisticians: among them is Rupert Krapp.Since late 1999, he has been living in Longyearbyen, the largest settlement on the main island. From here, he delivers goods to all those requiring supplies at their solitary stations and on their scientific research vessels.
THE LAST ORANGUTANS OF SUMATRA
Today there are only 6000 Orang-Utans living in Sumatra. According to pessimistic evaluations the chances of this threatened species to survive seem rather limited. The main reason for their extinction is that their natural habitat is being destroyed for the more profitable cultivation of palm oil plantations. By today already 70 % of the Sumatran Island is already covered by palm oil trees. In addition most of the local population sees them more as an object of entertainment rather than a national heritage which is worth being protected. Since that common attitude in society is even changing it could still come too late for those anthropoid apes. Ian Singleton who moved here from England is dedicating his life to the care of these apes. Since 20 years, he is working to facilitate a refuge for the last ones of their kind so they could live again untroubled in Nature and maybe even decrease their population
PAST HUNTERS
S1 EP 10: CARNFIELD HALL. Carnfield Hall is a country house dating from the 15th and 16th Centuries. This private residence turn event hall is using its paranormal activity to draw in business. Are these spirits the old residents?
A YEAR IN THE WILD
EP.2. A resident baboon on one of the ranches requires some human help to extract a snare. The splinters pack run into a coalition of cheetahs. Jess visits the new-born Splinters pups. Pungwe are on the hunt for big game as they take on formidable buffalo. The Splinters once again demonstrate their extraordinary hunting tactics.
HIDDEN TRACES
On the 11th of November, 1918, the First World War drew to an end with a terrible toll… after a conflict unlike anything Humanity had ever seen before. For 4 years and 3 months, soldiers from at least 20 countries were plunged in the hell of trenches… caught under a deluge of bombs.
DEPLETED URANIUM
More than 50 countries now possess weapons based on depleted uranium (DU). Experimentation has been rife, and the consequences for civilians and the military alike have been dramatic. This investigation compares and contrasts the arguments of those who defend and attack a technology that is highly toxic. For 20 years, scientists, doctors, veterans and activists have denounced the use of DU. Against them are the arms industry lobbyists and nuclear authorities who continue to minimise the risks. Through archive documents, interviews and in situ investigations, accompanied by key witnesses (victims, experts...) we aim to present a clearer picture of the issues and stakes linked to the use of DU. Quick-paced, with a sense of urgency, the film underlines the essential background and conflicting viewpoints, enabling viewers to make up their own minds about a subject that concerns us all.
OUTTA TOWN ADVENTURES (6)
S2. Outta Town Adventures travels both near and far to discover the best advenures the destinations have to offer. This TV series is dedicated to presenting history, culture and geography in a fun and pisitive way. It encourages people to explore this beautiful world - something that starts with simply getting out of town!
OUTTA TOWN ADVENTURES (7)
S2. Outta Town Adventures travels both near and far to discover the best advenures the destinations have to offer. This TV series is dedicated to presenting history, culture and geography in a fun and pisitive way. It encourages people to explore this beautiful world - something that starts with simply getting out of town!
MOST INTRIGUING SAFARI DESTINATIONS
CAMP AMALINDA. Karina visits the awesome Matobo Hills national park. She spends a few days at the magnificent Camp Amalinda, nestled within the caves with the most intriguing character and wonderful views. Karina enjoys Amalinda’s delectable signature dish. The very knowledgeable guide, Ian Harmer, leads her to one of the many cave painting spectacles. They go in search of the endangered white rhino and have a brush with near heart failure!
TRAVEL THRU HISTORY
TORONTO. TTH heads to the great white North…kind of. We visit the world class city of Toronto. There we'll head straight up the Western Hemisphere's tallest structure, the CN Tower. Next we score a look at the Hockey Hall of Fame and see a North American castle at Casa Loma. Finally we see how the British defended their city against the newly formed United States at Fort York.
TRAVEL THRU HISTORY
LOS ANGELES. Go for launch! We visit Space Shuttle Endeavor at the California Science Center. Then, we check out the glitch and glamour at the Hollywood Museum. We'll learn about the Holocaust at the Holocaust Museum and Japanese Internment during WWII at the Japanese/American National Museum. After that, we dig for bones at the famous La Brea Tar Pits.
BLACK MAMBA: KISS OF DEATH
It’s ‘Silly Season’ in Mamba Valley and like zombies from their graves, the heat draws Black Mambas from the shadows. They’re on the hunt for summer lodgings but as the deadliest snake on the planet, they’re not popular neighbors. Many will fall foul to a gunshot or the sharp end of a shovel. But some will be lucky enough to be ‘rescued’ by a snake wrangling team with a passion for Mambas and a unique facility where these snakes can be housed and observed. One snake has a special mission –she’s recently mated and ready to deliver a new generation of silver killers into Mamba Valley. She’s the deadliest snake on the planet, but can she outwit her greatest enemy and unleash her fearsome spawn on the valley?
SHATTERED GROUND
Hydraulic Fracturing or “Fracking” is a new technology that has opened up immense resources of natural gas buried in deep shale beds. Some see it as the answer to the energy crisis and a chance at energy independence. But fracking has become an incredibly divisive issue ripping apart communities and even families. The backlash is unprecedented, with states and countries adopting fracking bans. Shattered Ground is a one hour documentary that looks past the rhetoric and emotional arguments to find the real issues involved in hydraulic fracturing, the opportunity, and the potential health and environmental issues that will affect us all.
WORLD AFTER FUKUSHIMA
The derisory dosimeters, located at crossroads and hanging around children’s necks, are a constant reminder of the invisible monster and of the deadly particles people attempt to retain by placing bottles of water on windowsills. 2 years on, in the region of Fukushima, people’s lives - or at least their “existences” - carry on, as they integrate radioactive pollution into their daily lives. Beyond the earthquake and the tsunami, the nuclear catastrophe has revealed the shortcomings of a system and its criminal arrogance. And everyone remembers with dread the series of errors and procrastinations that sealed their fate, as politicians preferred to “downplay the situation instead of reducing risks”.
SARAH SHARK
EP. 03. Sarah travels to one of the top 10 dive destinations in Australia (Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, NSW) to dive with three species of Wobbegong Sharks within the Cape Byron Marine Park. She also conducts a street poll with members of the public to find out what they think about sharks.
ORGANIC PANIC
HOME. Is your home making your family sick? From cleaners to carpets, most of our homes are filled with potentially deadly chemicals. New mother Jaya Bone wants to keep her baby happy and healthy, but worries that she can’t afford an all-organic house. She visits eco-expert Kym Klopp at her natural lifestyle store. Kym describes key home products and furnishings that can be toxic and identifies organic alternatives. Brendan Seale, Sustainability Manager for Ikea tries to convince Jaya that everything doesn’t have to be organic to be safe. Jaya becomes emotional when she struggles to make the best choices for her daughter.
CHEETAHS OF THE DEEP
The Canary Islands are sheltered by a mild climate, protected from any extremes of weather. But high up on the towering mountains, the conditions can turn treacherous. In winter, water is released by high altitude storms and fertilized by nutrients washed from the soil. As this drains into the sea the soupy waters around the islands attract a huge variety of life, draw in in from the vast Atlantic Ocean. Many whale and dolphin species congregate in these waters, but above all Short-finned pilot whales are found here in the vast numbers.Isora is the leader and matriarch of one of the largest resident pilot whale pods between Tenerife and La Gomera and we document her activities over a one year period. Several females and their offspring form the hard-core of this close-knit society where all the main family members are related to the mother. Males in the pod also play a role, but not in reproduction, as they are blood relatives. With their vow of chastity, they ensure the protection of newborns and juveniles – a long-term investment which is crucial for pod survival.Physical contact is important for the whales and the film reveals moving and rarely-seen interaction between the older pod members and the new arrivals. But this carefree innocence is undermined by harrowing footage of the effect plastic waste is having on the whales and other species. Large squid are the pilot whales’ preferred food source and the best feeding grounds lie a thousand metres deep. But they are masters of deep diving and are involved in titanic battles with the squid on daily basis.As the mothers give birth we examine the close bonds between the new arrivals and the pod, and how the whales deal with the tragic death of one of the calves.This film also looks at other whale and dolphin species which frequent the area, including the rarely seen Risso’s dolphin, Brydes Whales and Atlantic Spotted Dolphins. Green sea turtles also frequent the area, attracted by the rich-sea grass beds which surround the islands.Filmed in stunning HD, this film delivers a comprehensive portrait of a unique and protected underwater haven, one of Europe’s last frontiers before the mysterious deep Atlantic takes hold.
EUROPEAN ISLANDS EP
05: LA PALMA. The European islands are renowned primarily for their hotel resorts. However, we will show you a completely different face of theirs: forests, beaches, coves, mountains, valleys and rivers. Perhaps you will find places that will take your breath away. Why just lie on the beach when there is so much to see? Put on some good hiking shoes, pull your shoelaces tight, and get to know the entire island like the back of your hand.
JOURNEYS IN AFRICA
VICTORIA FALLS: THE SMOKE THAT THUNDERS. One of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls is an amazing spectacle that straddles the Zambia/Zimbabwe border. The force of the water is so intense that the water bouncing back creates a rainforest. Remarkably, the wildlife in the area is as abundant as the water going over the falls.
JOURNEYS IN AFRICA
NORTHERN CAPE - SOUTH AFRICA’S DESERT. Once a year in good rain years, the deserts of South Africa explode in color. This is the greatest flower bloom in the world. We venture into the desert to experience this first-hand and film the rare animals that call this arid land home.
SAVE THE BUCARDO
During many years, scientists and institutions fought to avoid the extinction of the Bucardo, a rare Pyrenean mountain goat. In 2003, Spanish and French scientists managed to clone the last bucardo. It was the first time in history that an extinct animal came back to life. They took a historic step in science, the first de-extinction in the world, the first real “Jurassic Park” and a new door was opened to hope.
CROC LABYRINTH
Herpetologist Vince Shacks and underwater cameraman Brad Bestelink go on a unique crocodile diving adventure to find out more about these cave systems, and how the reptiles use them. They enter a dark underworld of mystery and danger, and they find themselves doing things that no one has ever attempted before. Apart from swimming with huge crocodiles, they’re the first to noose a wild Nile crocodile underwater, and they’re the first to attach a remote camera to it, to see where it goes.
THE DIVIDE
The Divide tells the story of 7 individuals striving for a better life in themodern day US and UK-where the top 0.1% owns as much wealth as the bottom 90%. By plotting these tales together, we uncover how virtually every aspec tof our lives is controlled by one factor: the size of the gap between rich and poor.
CHEETAH: THE PRICE OF SPEED
The cheetah is a highly specialised animal. It excels at one thing alone, running down high-speed prey faster than any other mammal on earth.But this specialisation comes at a cost. The cheetah as a predatory model seems focussed on one single area of expertise. Outside of pursuing prey, how effective is this animal when compared to the other apex predators of the savannah?Alongside lions, leopards, vultures and hyenas how does the cheetah fit into the efficient cogs of the savannah system? Can it compete, or is it an outsider, cornered by it’s own specialisation?The primary character in the story is a cheetah mother, who goes about her daily life, hunting for her three cubs. Her trials and tribulations highlight the refined hunting system of the cheetah, but they also shed light on her weaknesses, and the lack of robustness in the species itself.
GREAT WHITE CODE RED
The Great White shark is a highly complex predator with advanced sensory weaponry. Two shark specialists, Dr Craig O’Connell and Dr Geremy Cliff look beneath the skin of the Great White to reveal the true source of its extraordinary predatory abilities and discover the secrets of one the world’s most feared predators.
ROLL ON CINEMA
This film endeavours to show how the invention of cinema was in no way inevitable, and how it may well have been a mere accident. To pinpoint the start, it all began in the heart of Paris, in the depths of darkened room, on 28 March 1798, when Etienne-Gaspard Robertson gave one of his first screenings of his "Fantasmagoria" - making ghosts and spectres dance. But how did we move from perfecting the magic lantern to the cinematography of the Lumiére brothers? The invention was born throughout the 19th century, out of the unpredictable crossing of two parallel research paths - that of philosophical toys and the photography of movement. Originally-named optical devices - such as the kinesigraph, the zoetrope, the praxinoscope and the phenakistoscope, without forgetting the photographic revolver or gun - associated the realm of toys with the realm of thought, reflecting both a fascination for the magical effects produced by animation and speed, and a desire to understand human anatomy, and analyse the phenomenon of vision. All these pre-cinema optical devices literally stemmed from a desire for spectacle and the will to acquire knowledge. Robertson, Reynaud, Plateau, Muybridge and Marey spearheaded the adventure. Thanks to these brilliant inventors, we travel across the 19th century, ending in Paris in 1895 in the Salon Indien du Grand Café, where the first public movie screening took place.
TROUBLE IN LEMUR LAND
High up in the mountains of north-eastern Madagascar lives one of the world’s most critically endangered primates. There are less than a thousand Silky Sifakas alive today and this area of remote rainforest, known as Marojejy–Anjanaharibe-Sud, is their only home.In the past, the rugged terrain here kept the Silkies relatively safe but things are now changing at an alarming pace. This magical place is under serious threat from illegal logging operations as international demand for highly sought-after rosewood and ebony increases. Unscrupulous logging gangs are encroaching on the Silkies’ last remaining habitat.‘Trouble in Lemur Land’ follows two men, an American primatologist and a Malagasy conservationist, on their quest to protect this rare species, at the same time providing a rare glimpse into the life of this extraordinarily beautiful and graceful animal.The film centres around the arrival of two babies in the group – a glimmer of hope in an otherwise desperate situation. Lemur reproduction rates are slow and Silkies only mate one day in the year, so it is a very special moment when primatologist Erik Patel sees the newborns for the first time. He has a permanent camp on the outskirts of their last remaining territory and we are given a rare glimpse into this intimate, close-knit group as the babies develop in the sanctuary of the forest canopy.Meanwhile, taking advantage of long-term political instability, the loggers are steadily extracting Madagascar’s rosewood for export to China. Although they are well armed and highly motivated, conservationist Desire Rabary is not afraid to confront them, regardless of the risks. He heads up a network of local people who play a vital role in the survival of the forest and its lemurs. Over the past five years, he has worked hard to actively expose the loggers’ illegal trail of destruction but, as this film reveals, the heart of the problem starts on his own doorstep.This 50-minute HD film brings the forest to life, with stunning images of many of its other species, including the striking helmet vanga bird, white-fronted brown lemur, red-bellied lemur, green tree frogs, panther chameleons and the elusive fossa. This treasure trove of endemic Madagascan wildlife is a timely reminder of what we stand to lose if the environmental issues so critical to their survival are not urgently addressed.
IN THE SEA
About 71% of our planet’s surface is covered by water, and about 97% of it is in the oceans. The sea also produces most of the oxygen we breathe. Thus, stimulating conservation and learning about also produces most of the oxygen we breathe. Thus, stimulating conservation and learning about the marine environment is fundamental to our very existence. This series follows scientists who work in five projects in the Petrobras Socio-environmental Program.
IN THE STARLIGHT
In the Starlight is an intimate portrayal about the life of nature photographer Paul Zizka and his quest to capture the night skies.
PAST HUNTERS
S1 EP 08: BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is one of the most visited attractions in the United Kingdom. People visit it not only for the fun, but to also hopefully catch a glimpse of the many ghosts that haunt there.
LOOKING FOR SULTAN
Despite efforts to protect tigers for the past 4 decades, tigers continue to be hunted down - poached, poisoned and squeezed into small pockets of protected forests.Tigers play a pivotal role in maintaining the health of the forest ecosystem and there is an urgent need to protect the tiger and its habitat.In India and across the world, Tigers have captured our imagination for centuries. We have feared them, respected them and even worshipped them. But during the colonial times tigers were hunted in thousands.At the turn of the century over a 100,000 tigers existed on the planet. Almost 40,000 of these were in India. But today only 3800 tigers survive across the world and 70% of these are in India.Today each and every tiger is important and that’s why we need to find Sultan.This film follows the story of Sultan, the up and coming dominant tiger of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve who vanished suddenly.Father and son wildlife filmmakers, Mike and Gautam, had been following and filming him since he was a cub and are now trying to put the pieces together to solve this mystery.More than 12 tigers have gone missing in Ranthambhore between 2012 and 2017. Young tigers who go missing are usually thought to have been poached or just lost forever. But the story is much more complicated.Tigers are born in parks and forests - a safe, secure place protected by their mother. But once these tigers mature they must find new homes but the question is where will they go? Trackers on ground have proved that tigers leave the protected territory of national parks to walk great distances in search for new territory. Tigers know no borders and young sub adult tigers must walk hundreds of kilometres to find a new home, prey and a new mate. Once they walk out of the protected area of the forest they are in direct contact with human habitation. People and tigers now share a complicated relationship - one of constant fear of the other.This is the story all across the country. Isolated populations of tigers in small fragmented forests surrounded by human beings and villages. The film looks at broader issues of conservation of tigers and their relationship with the people who share their habitat and the different efforts being made towards conservation in India through the story of Sultan.
SALTY LOVE
Salty Love is an underwater story of love and how marine life has found ingenious ways to reproduce. From the magic of coral spawning, the dance of the manta ray, the bond of marine mammals, the dedication of the male sea horse, the labour of love by sea turtles there are so many amazing underwater relationships.
ZENITH
EP. 11. Zenith – Advances in Space Exploration reveals these latest developments and the implications they hold for all of us.
ZENITH
EP. 12. Zenith – Advances in Space Exploration reveals these latest developments and the implications they hold for all of us.
MINDWORKS
AUDITORY ILLUSIONS. Understanding how we think and see by playing games with our brains. This factual entertainment series explores the way we see and interpret the world around us with engaging tests, activities, demonstrations and explanations. In each episode we experience visual and audio illusions, sensory puzzles and brain tricks from the worlds of art, science, nature and psychology and learn why they baffle our senses.
THE MYSTERY OF DARK MATTER
Dark matter, which is unknown and undetectable in our physical models, would appear to populate the cosmos on a massive scale. For the first time, a film portrays the wild scientific quest that dark matter gives rise to. A real thriller. In our physical models, the weight of all observable matter (stars, galaxies, etc.) accounts for just 4% of the universe, whereas an invisible, unknown matter that no tool has ever been able to detect appears to populate the universe on a massive scale. Today, astrophysicists and cosmologists - researchers in the fields of the infinitely large and the infinitely small - are joining forces to solve a major mystery: what is this famous “dark matter” made up of? A breath-taking thriller that leads us to the dawn of a scientific and metaphysical revolution, akin to Copernic’s or Galileo’s. It could totally change the way we perceive our world. 2013 : Best film Award at the International Science Film Festival (Athens, Greece).
CATHEDRAL BUILDERS
The epic history, in 3D, of Strasbourg Cathedral and its outstanding builders. A fascinating docudrama, from start to finish. Strasbourg Cathedral, a gothic jewel and the highest monument in the West until the 19th century, was both an excessive dream and an architectural feat. How, in the Middle Ages, was such a wonder made possible? Behind its elegant, pink sandstone façade and its famous rose window, which is set ablaze at sunset, three centuries of visionary and inspired master-builders followed on from one another – Erwin de Steinbach, Ulrich d’Ensingen and Jean Hültz – as did craftsmen with a savoir-faire that was envied all over Europe. They return here in fiction form. An epic blending mystery, doubt, revelations, intrigue and tragedies. Best 3 D Documentary Film Award - Festival Dimension 3 (Saint-Denis - France).
THE BOY FROM THE WILD
Growing up on a Game Reserve meant to help wildlife get out of captivity, it shares how it began & how Peter Meyer survived some incredible moments in the wild.
WONDER
PHENOMENAL. Seg 1 Iridescence. Iridescence is the phenomenon where surfaces reflect a multitude of colors at once and could change color perspectives upon shifting the angle of viewing. Iridescence is caused by interference, where light gets reflected or cancelled out by the structures of the surfaces. Seg 2 Chemiluminescence. Chemiluminescence is the phenomenon of producing light energy through chemical reactions. The byproduct of a chemiluminescent reaction, instead of heat energy, is a photon or a light particle. Only selected compounds are capable of producing chemiluminescence, usually highly oxidized compounds when reacting with another compound. Seg 3 Bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is a form of chemiluminescence, only that this occurs in living things. Special compounds collectively called as luciferin oxidizes upon catalysis by enzymes called luciferase, producing oxyluciferin. Upon decay, oxyluciferin releases photons or light particles. Bioluminescence serve different functions for each organism, but all for survival purposes. Seg 4 Gemstone Coloration. A gemstone acquires its color through elements that are essential to its structure or through impurities, or elements that replace some of the metallic ions in the structure that will affect which colors in the visible spectrum gets absorbed or reflected. Seg 5 Mechanical Plant Defenses. Mechanical plant defenses demonstrate how survival instincts are incorporated into plant morphologies and physiologies by growing or producing various defensive features such as thorns, spines, and prickles to the less obvious ones like trichomes and raphides and less aggressive forms of defense like thigmonasty.
BIG COAST
HARTLEY BAY HUMPBACKS AND CHINOOK. Humpback Whales, perfect water, summer sunshine and one of the finest fishing Chinook Salmon solo fishing days!
BIG COAST
BC CENTRAL COAST SALMON SAFARI. Running Southbound outside on Central Coast with a big Tyee Chinook Release finish North of Milbanke Sound!