Zen (first generation)

# Zen (first generation)

## Abstract

Zen is the first iteration in the Zen family of computer processor microarchitectures from AMD. It was first used with their Ryzen series of CPUs in February 2017. The first Zen-based preview system was demonstrated at E3 2016, and first substantially detailed at an event hosted a block away from the Intel Developer Forum 2016. The first Zen-based CPUs, codenamed "Summit Ridge", reached the market in early March 2017, Zen-derived Epyc server processors launched in June 2017 and Zen-based APUs arrived in November 2017.

Zen is a clean sheet design that differs from AMD's previous long-standing Bulldozer architecture. Zen-based processors use a 14 nm FinFET process, are reportedly more energy efficient, and can execute significantly more instructions per cycle. SMT has been introduced, allowing each core to run two threads. The cache system has also been redesigned, making the L1 cache write-back. Zen processors use three different sockets: desktop Ryzen chips use the AM4 socket, bringing DDR4 support; the high-end desktop Zen-based Threadripper chips support quad-channel DDR4 memory and offer 64 PCIe 3.0 lanes (vs 24 lanes), using the TR4 socket; and Epyc server processors offer 128 PCIe 3.0 lanes and octa-channel DDR4 using the SP3 socket.

Zen is based on a SoC design. The memory controller and the PCIe, SATA, and USB controllers are incorporated into the same chip(s) as the processor cores. This has advantages in bandwidth and power, at the expense of chip complexity and die area. This SoC design allows the Zen microarchitecture to scale from laptops and small-form factor mini PCs to high-end desktops and servers.

By 2020, 260 million Zen cores have already been shipped by AMD.

## Design

According to AMD, the main focus of Zen is on increasing per-core performance.

New or improved features include:

- The L1 cache has been changed from write-through to write-back, allowing for lower latency and higher bandwidth.

- SMT (simultaneous multithreading) architecture allows for two threads per core, a departure from the CMT (clustered multi-thread) design used in the previous Bulldozer architecture. This is a feature previously offered in some IBM, Intel and Oracle processors.

- A fundamental building block for all Zen-based CPUs is the Core Complex (CCX) consisting of four cores and their associated caches. Processors with more than four cores consist of multiple CCXs connected by Infinity Fabric. Processors with non-multiple-of-four core counts have some cores disabled.

- Four ALUs, two AGUs / load–store units, and two floating-point units per core.

- Newly introduced "large" micro-operation cache.

- Each SMT core can dispatch up to six micro-ops per cycle (a combination of 6 integer micro-ops and 4 floating point micro-ops per cycle).

- Close to 2× faster L1 and L2 bandwidth, with total L3 cache bandwidth up 5×.

- Clock gating.

- Larger retire, load, and store queues.

- Improved branch prediction using a hashed perceptron system with Indirect Target Array similar to the Bobcat microarchitecture, something that has been compared to a neural network by AMD engineer Mike Clark.

- The branch predictor is decoupled from the fetch stage.

- A dedicated stack engine for modifying the stack pointer, similar to that of Intel Haswell and Broadwell processors.

- Move elimination, a method that reduces physical data movement to reduce power consumption.

- Binary compatibility with Intel's Skylake (excluding VT-x and private MSRs): RDSEED support, a set of high-performance hardware random number generator instructions introduced in Broadwell. Support for the SMAP, SMEP, XSAVEC/XSAVES/XRSTORS, and CLFLUSHOPT instructions. ADX support. SHA support.

- RDSEED support, a set of high-performance hardware random number generator instructions introduced in Broadwell.

- Support for the SMAP, SMEP, XSAVEC/XSAVES/XRSTORS, and CLFLUSHOPT instructions.

- ADX support.

- SHA support.

- CLZERO instruction for clearing a cache line. Useful for handling ECC-related Machine-check exceptions.

- PTE (page table entry) coalescing, which combines 4 kB page tables into 32 kB page size.

- "Pure Power" (more accurate power monitoring sensors). Support for intel-style running average power limit (RAPL) measurement.

- Support for intel-style running average power limit (RAPL) measurement.

- Smart Prefetch.

- Precision Boost.

- eXtended Frequency Range (XFR), an automated overclocking feature which boosts clock speeds beyond the advertised turbo frequency.

This is the first time in a very long time that we engineers have been given the total freedom to build a processor from scratch and do the best we can do. It is a multi-year project with a really large team. It's like a marathon effort with some sprints in the middle. The team is working very hard, but they can see the finish line. I guarantee that it will deliver a huge improvement in performance and power consumption over the previous generation.

The Zen architecture is built on a 14 nanometer FinFET process subcontracted to GlobalFoundries, which in turn licenses its 14 nm process from Samsung Electronics. This gives greater efficiency than the 32 nm and 28 nm processes of previous AMD FX CPUs and AMD APUs, respectively. The "Summit Ridge" Zen family of CPUs use the AM4 socket and feature DDR4 support and a 95 W TDP (thermal design power). While newer roadmaps don't confirm the TDP for desktop products, they suggest a range for low-power mobile products with up to two Zen cores from 5 to 15 W and 15 to 35 W for performance-oriented mobile products with up to four Zen cores.

Each Zen core can decode four instructions per clock cycle and includes a micro-op cache which feeds two schedulers, one each for the integer and floating point segments. Each core has two address generation units, four integer units, and four floating point units. Two of the floating point units are adders, and two are multiply-adders. However, using multiply-add-operations may prevent simultaneous add operation in one of the adder units. There are also improvements in the branch predictor. The L1 cache size is 64 KB for instructions per core and 32 KB for data per core. The L2 cache size 512 KB per core, and the L3 is 1–2 MB per core. L3 caches offer 5× the bandwidth of previous AMD designs.

## History and development

AMD began planning the Zen microarchitecture shortly after re-hiring Jim Keller in August 2012. AMD formally revealed Zen in 2015.

The team in charge of Zen was led by Keller (who left in September 2015 after a 3-year tenure) and Zen Team Leader Suzanne Plummer. The Chief Architect of Zen was AMD Senior Fellow Michael Clark.

Zen was originally planned for 2017 following the ARM64-based K12 sister core, but on AMD's 2015 Financial Analyst Day it was revealed that K12 was delayed in favor of the Zen design, to allow it to enter the market within the 2016 timeframe, with the release of the first Zen-based processors expected for October 2016.

In November 2015, a source inside AMD reported that Zen microprocessors had been tested and "met all expectations" with "no significant bottlenecks found".

In December 2015, it was rumored that Samsung may have been contracted as a fabricator for AMD's 14 nm FinFET processors, including both Zen and AMD's then-upcoming Polaris GPU architecture. This was clarified by AMD's July 2016 announcement that products had been successfully produced on Samsung's 14 nm FinFET process. AMD stated Samsung would be used "if needed", arguing this would reduce risk for AMD by decreasing dependence on any one foundry.

In December 2019, AMD started putting out first generation Ryzen products built using the second generation Zen+ architecture.

## Advantages over predecessors

### Manufacturing process

Processors based on Zen use 14 nm FinFET silicon. These processors are reportedly produced at GlobalFoundries. Prior to Zen, AMD's smallest process size was 28 nm, as utilized by their Steamroller and Excavator microarchitectures. The immediate competition, Intel's Skylake and Kaby Lake microarchitecture, are also fabricated on 14 nm FinFET; though Intel planned to begin the release of 10 nm parts later in 2017. Intel was unable to reach this goal, and in 2021, only mobile chips have been produced with the 10nm process. In comparison to Intel's 14 nm FinFET, AMD claimed in February 2017 the Zen cores would be 10% smaller. Intel has later announced in July 2018 that 10nm mainstream processors should not be expected before the second half of 2019.

For identical designs, these die shrinks would use less current (and power) at the same frequency (or voltage). As CPUs are usually power limited (typically up to ~125 W, or ~45 W for mobile), smaller transistors allow for either lower power at the same frequency, or higher frequency at the same power.

### Performance

One of Zen's major goals in 2016 was to focus on performance per-core, and it was targeting a 40% improvement in instructions per cycle (IPC) over its predecessor. Excavator, in comparison, offered 4–15% improvement over previous architectures. AMD announced the final Zen microarchitecture actually achieved 52% improvement in IPC over Excavator. The inclusion of SMT also allows each core to process up to two threads, increasing processing throughput by better use of available resources.

The Zen processors also employ sensors across the chip to dynamically scale frequency and voltage. This allows for the maximum frequency to be dynamically and automatically defined by the processor itself based upon available cooling.

AMD has demonstrated an 8-core/16-thread Zen processor outperforming an equally-clocked Intel Broadwell-E processor in Blender rendering and HandBrake benchmarks.

Zen supports AVX2 but it requires two clock cycles to complete each AVX2 instruction compared to Intel's one. This difference was corrected in Zen 2.

### Memory

Zen supports DDR4 memory (up to eight channels) and ECC.

Pre-release reports stated APUs using the Zen architecture would also support High Bandwidth Memory (HBM). However, the first demonstrated APU did not use HBM. Previous APUs from AMD relied on shared memory for both the GPU and the CPU.

### Power consumption and heat output

Processors built at the 14 nm node on FinFET silicon should show reduced power consumption and therefore heat over their 28 nm and 32 nm non-FinFET predecessors (for equivalent designs), or be more computationally powerful at equivalent heat output/power consumption.

Zen also uses clock gating, reducing the frequency of underutilized portions of the core to save power. This comes from AMD's SenseMI technology, using sensors across the chip to dynamically scale frequency and voltage.

### Enhanced security and virtualization support

Zen added support for AMD's Secure Memory Encryption (SME) and AMD's Secure Encrypted Virtualization (SEV). Secure Memory Encryption is real-time memory encryption done per page table entry. Encryption occurs on a hardware AES engine and keys are managed by the onboard "Security" Processor (ARM Cortex-A5) at boot time to encrypt each page, allowing any DDR4 memory (including non-volatile varieties) to be encrypted. AMD SME also makes the contents of the memory more resistant to memory snooping and cold boot attacks.

SME can be used to mark individual pages of memory as encrypted through the page tables. A page of memory that is marked encrypted will be automatically decrypted when read from DRAM and will be automatically encrypted when written to DRAM. The SME feature is identified through a CPUID function and enabled through the SYSCFG MSR. Once enabled, page table entries will determine how the memory is accessed. If a page table entry has the memory encryption mask set, then that memory will be accessed as encrypted memory. The memory encryption mask (as well as other related information) is determined from settings returned through the same CPUID function that identifies the presence of the feature.

The Secure Encrypted Virtualization (SEV) feature allows the memory contents of a virtual machine (VM) to be transparently encrypted with a key unique to the guest VM. The memory controller contains a high-performance encryption engine which can be programmed with multiple keys for use by different VMs in the system. The programming and management of these keys is handled by the AMD Secure Processor firmware which exposes an API for these tasks.

### Connectivity

Incorporating much of the southbridge into the SoC, the Zen CPU includes SATA, USB, and PCI Express NVMe links. This can be augmented by available Socket AM4 chipsets which add connectivity options including additional SATA and USB connections, and support for AMD's Crossfire and Nvidia's SLI.

AMD, in announcing its Radeon Instinct line, argued that the upcoming Zen-based Naples server CPU would be particularly suited for building deep learning systems. The 128 PCIe lanes per Naples CPU allows for eight Instinct cards to connect at PCIe x16 to a single CPU. This compares favorably to the Intel Xeon line, with only 40 PCIe lanes.

## Features

### APUs

APU features table

## Products

The Zen architecture is used in the current-generation desktop Ryzen CPUs. It is also in Epyc server processors (successor of Opteron processors), and APUs.

The first desktop processors without graphics processing units (codenamed "Summit Ridge") were initially expected to start selling at the end of 2016, according to an AMD roadmap; with the first mobile and desktop processors of the AMD Accelerated Processing Unit type (codenamed "Raven Ridge") following in late 2017. AMD officially delayed Zen until Q1 of 2017. In August 2016, an early demonstration of the architecture showed an 8-core/16-thread engineering sample CPU at 3.0 GHz.

In December 2016, AMD officially announced the desktop CPU line under the Ryzen brand for release in Q1 2017. It also confirmed Server processors would be released in Q2 2017, and mobile APUs in H2 2017.

On March 2, 2017, AMD officially launched the first Zen architecture-based octacore Ryzen desktop CPUs. The final clock speeds and TDPs for the 3 CPUs released in Q1 of 2017 demonstrated significant performance-per-watt benefits over the previous K15h (Piledriver) architecture. The octacore Ryzen desktop CPUs demonstrated performance-per-watt comparable to Intel's Broadwell octacore CPUs.

In March 2017, AMD also demonstrated an engineering sample of a server CPU based on the Zen architecture. The CPU (codenamed "Naples") was configured as a dual-socket server platform with each CPU having 32 cores/64 threads.


Gjon Ndoja

# Gjon Ndoja

## Abstract

Gjon Zef Ndoja (born 18 May 1991 in Shkoder) is an Albanian professional basketball player who last played for KB Vllaznia in the Albanian Basketball League.


The Devonsville Terror

# The Devonsville Terror

## Abstract

The Devonsville Terror is a 1983 American supernatural horror film directed by Ulli Lommel and starring Suzanna Love, Donald Pleasence, and Robert Walker. The plot focuses on three different women who arrive in a conservative New England town, one of whom is the reincarnation of a witch who was wrongfully executed along with two others (Morrigan Hurt and Barbara Cihlar) by the town's founding fathers in 1683.

Inspired by the Salem Witch Trials, writer-director Lommel and his wife, actress Suzanna Love, co-wrote the screenplay for The Devonsville Terror with George T. Lindsey. The film was shot in Lincoln County, Wisconsin in 1983, and was intended for a theatrical release but instead was released directly to home video in October 1983 through Embassy Home Entertainment. Anchor Bay Entertainment reissued the film in 1999 on both VHS as well as a double billing DVD paired with Lommel's The Boogeyman (1980). In 2016, a new edition was released on Blu-ray and DVD through the UK distributor 88 Films.

The film has been noted by some film scholars as an early example of a feminist -inspired horror film.

## Plot

On November 7, 1683 in Devonsville, Massachusetts, three women — Jessica Morley, Mary Pratt, and Rebecca Carson — are kidnapped by the townsfolk based on accusations of witchcraft. Jessica is disemboweled by hogs, and Mary is killed with a breaking wheel. Rebecca, the last to die, is burned at the stake. After Rebecca's execution, her apparition appears in the sky and a thunderstorm begins.

Three hundred years later, Devonsville remains a small, conservative farming community far from major cities. The killing of the three women as witches has become known as the Devonsville Inquisition. The local town doctor, Dr. Warley, is investigating the witches' purported curse on Devonsville; he also finds himself plagued by a bizarre illness in which worms crawl from his skin, an apparent curse linked to his ancestors' involvement in the inquisition. Meanwhile, three liberated, assertive women move to the town: Jenny Scanlon, the new schoolteacher; Chris, an environmental scientist; and Monica, a radio disc jockey. Their presence angers the town's bigoted patriarchs, among them Walter Gibbs, a middle-aged store owner who has recently murdered his sick wife, Sarah. While a medical examination shows that Sarah was killed rather than dying of natural causes, Dr. Warley provides a death certificate certifying natural causes so Walter can collect the insurance payout. Upon Jenny's arrival in town, she is greeted by brothers Ralph and Matthew Pendleton, both of whom are friendly. Later that night in his store, Walter witnesses an apparition of a nude Jenny. Ralph Pendleton meets with Dr. Warley during an annual medical visit who uses hypnosis on Matthew to examine Ralph's links to the inquisition. Ralph states that his ancestor accused Jessica of witchcraft for spurning his sexual advances.

Jenny infuriates the local parents when she tells her class that God was considered a female in Babylonian times, and that God's representation as a father figure was introduced with Judaism. Chris is investigating the water quality at a local lake that the town's sewage dumps into. This causes the townspeople to fear that she will claim they are destroying the local environment. Monica hosts a radio call-in show where she often gives advice to female callers inquiring about relationship problems. This angers several men in the town who believe Monica is subverting their authority and corrupting local women with progressive ideas. Walter becomes romantically obsessed with Jenny, but she turns down his advances at his store one night. He then has a nightmare in which Jenny reveals to him that she knows that he murdered Sarah, before drowning him in a bog. Jenny visits Dr. Warley for her insomnia, and Warley suspects Jenny is one of the three witches reincarnated. Under hypnosis, Jenny states she is not a witch but actually a "messenger from the unknown."

Convinced that Jenny, Chris, and Monica are the witches reincarnated, Walter persuades Matthew and others kidnap each of the women one night. Chris is taken into the woods, bound, and killed by hunting dogs mirroring the death of Jessica. Monica is taken from her radio station and dragged behind a truck mirroring the death of Mary. Jenny is kidnapped from her home and bound to a stake. The group recreates the Devonsville Inquisition and threatens to burn Jenny like Rebecca. However, Jenny unleashes her power, kills them all violently with witchcraft, and releases herself from her bindings. The next morning, Jenny boards a bus leaving Devonsville. A postscript intertitle from Dr. Warley's journal states that the curse has been lifted, and the Devonsville terror is over.

## Cast

- Suzanna Love as Jennifer "Jenny" Scanlon

- Donald Pleasence as Dr. Warley

- Robert Walker Jr. (as Robert Walker) as Matthew Pendleton

- Paul Willson as Walter Gibbs

- Mary Walden as Chris

- Deanna Haas as Monica

- Michael Accardo as Ralph Pendleton

- William Dexter (as Bill Dexter) as Aaron Pendleton

- Priscilla Lowe as Myrtle Pendleton

- Angailica (as Angelica Rebane) as Angel Pendleton

- Morrigan Hurt as Jessica Morley

- Barbara Cihlar as Mary Pratt

- Leslie Smith as Rebecca Carson

- Joanna Andruss as Sarah Louise

- Wally Flaherty as Preist

## Analysis

Film scholar Heather Greene interprets The Devonsville Terror as a feminist -inspired horror film that uses the "accused woman construction" in which a woman accused of mal-intended witchcraft returns to seek vengeance, similar to The Crucible and Three Sovereigns for Sarah, reflecting a "certain trend toward expressing a feminist ethos." She adds: "Though not a polished film, The Devonsville Terror offers a loosely constructed commentary on contemporary gender politics. The male characters want to rid themselves of the progressive women. They are portrayed as murderous, lecherous, and gang-like, and are often showed gathering around a dinner table discussing their plans... Unlike most horror witch films, it is the men who are evil."

## Production

### Inspiration

The Devonsville Terror was written by Lommel and George T. Lindsey, and draws on numerous historical aspects of the witchcraft inquisition in the colonial era of the United States. Lommel stated that he had spent some time in Massachusetts and was inspired by the Salem Witch Trials. Star Suzanna Love, Lommel's wife, also helped write the film.

### Filming

Filming took place in the fall of 1982 in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, in the city of Tomahawk, where a small local film studio was located. The historic Brickyard School in Merrill, Wisconsin, was also used as a filming location, and received a fresh coat of paint to its exterior funded by the production company.

The film's special effects were created by makeup and effects artist Matthew Mungle.

## Release

The Devonsville Terror was given theatrical marketing through Motion Picture Marketing company (MPM) in 1983, though it never had a theatrical release. It had a one-time showing at the ANCO Theater on 42nd Street in New York City on December 2, 1983. The film was mentioned in a lawsuit regarding CinAmerica Pictures, a production company who falsely claimed to have produced the film (along with several other films by Lommel, including The Boogeyman and Olivia), with net profits of $150,000; however, according to the film's actual production company, New West Films, The Devonsville Terror had no net profit.

### Critical response

Brett H. from Oh the Horror criticized the film's lack of sense, dialogue, but ultimately stated that the film was "a bit of a mess, but it’s ultimately a very amusing mess."

### Home media

Embassy Pictures released the film on VHS in October 1983. Anchor Bay Entertainment re-released the film on VHS in 1999, along with a double-billing DVD paired with Lommel's The Boogeyman (1980), which is out of print. The UK distributor 88 Films released new region -free Blu-ray and DVD editions of the film on December 26, 2016. Vinegar Syndrome released a new Blu-ray edition, made available through their online store on February 14, 2023, ahead of a wide release scheduled for March 28, 2023.

## Sources


Annick Lambrecht

# Annick Lambrecht

## Abstract

Annick Lambrecht (born 9 December 1969) is a Belgian politician and member of the Chamber of Representatives. A member of Vooruit, she has represented West Flanders since June 2024. She had previously been a member of the Chamber of Representatives from January 2017 to May 2019. She was a member of the Senate from July 2019 to May 2024 and a member of the Flemish Parliament from June 2019 to June 2024.

Lambrecht was born on 9 December 1969 in Sint-Amandsberg. She has a degree in commercial sciences from the Sint-Aloysius School of Economics (EHSAL). She was a lecturer at the Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen for ten years.

Lambrecht was elected to the municipal council in Bruges at the 2006 local election. She became schepen (alderman) for personnel, mobility and sports from 2007 to 2017. She was re-elected at the 2012 and 2018 local elections. She was elected to the provincial council in West Flanders at the 2012 local elections.

Lambrecht contested the 2007 federal election as the Socialist Party Different (SP.A)'s 14th placed candidate in West Flanders but was not elected. She contested the 2014 federal election as the SP.A's first placed substitute candidate in West Flanders and received 8,728 preference votes. She was appointed to the Chamber of Representatives in January 2017 following the resignation of Johan Vande Lanotte. She was elected to the Flemish Parliament at the 2019 region election. She was elected to the Senate by the Flemish Parliament in July 2019. She was elected to the Chamber of Representatives at the 2024 federal election.

Lambrecht is in a relationship with Renaat Landuyt and has two daughters.


I Can Do It with a Broken Heart

# I Can Do It with a Broken Heart

## Abstract

" I Can Do It with a Broken Heart " is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). Written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, the song is about Swift's perseverance and professionalism while going through personal hardships during the early days of the Eras Tour. Musically, "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" is characterized by its upbeat, electropop and dance-pop production, incorporating house and bubblegum beats, and salient synth arpeggios.

Upon release of the album, critics considered the song a standout due to its sanguine music, in contrast with the generally downtempo mood of the rest of the album. Swift included the song as a regular on the revamped setlist of the Eras Tour in 2024. "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" was released as the second single from The Tortured Poets Department on July 2, 2024. The song's accompanying music video is a compilation of footage from the Eras Tour and its rehearsals.

Commercially, "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" peaked at number five on the Billboard Global 200 chart and placed within the top 10 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It received certifications in Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

## Background and release

Swift started working on The Tortured Poets Department immediately after she submitted her tenth studio album, Midnights, to Republic Records for release in 2022. She continued working on it in secrecy throughout the US leg of the Eras Tour in 2023. The album's conception took place amidst media reports on Swift's broken relationship with the English actor Joe Alwyn while she was starting the Eras Tour. She described The Tortured Poets Department as a "lifeline" for her and an album which she "really needed" to make.

Republic Records released The Tortured Poets Department on April 19, 2024; "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" is 13th on the track list. From May 2024, the track was included in the revamped setlist of the Eras Tour. To celebrate the European leg of the tour, Universal Music Group released the song to Italian radio as the second single from the album on July 2, 2024. In the United States, Republic Records sent the song to pop radio stations on July 12, 2024. The track was released digitally on music streaming services on July 16, 2024; the cover artwork is a capture of Swift's performance of the song at the Eras Tour concert in Lyon, France, on June 2, 2024.

The music video for "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" was released on August 20, 2024, and premiered during the final show of the European leg of The Eras Tour. The video features a compilation of footage and behind-the-scenes clips of Swift preparing for the tour. It also included rehearsals for the live performance of "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart", costume changes and Swift entering a cleaning cart prop used to transport her onto the raised stage. The video also features the tour's choreographers, backing vocalists, and guitarist Paul Sidoti.

## Music and lyrics

Swift wrote and produced "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" with Jack Antonoff, who programmed the track and played the drums, piano, and synthesizer. The track was recorded by Laura Sisk and Oli Jacobs, who provided background vocals, percussion, and a spoken word. "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" is an upbeat electropop and dance-pop song. The song is written in common time with tempo of 132 BPM and in the key of C major. Its incorporation of house elements and a bubblegum - and dance -friendly beat is a contrast to the album's predominantly moody atmosphere. It is instrumented by percolating synth arpeggios. Critics compared the song's production to Swift's 2022 track " Mastermind " and the music of other artists such as Robyn or the Pet Shop Boys.

The song is lyrically a "pep talk" to oneself about persevering in the face of being a public figure despite personal heartbreak. Joel Calfee of Harper's Bazaar considered it to be a "deceptively upbeat" song, wherein "Swift gets candid about what it was like to perform through the heartbreak". Music journalists suggested "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" discusses Swift's need to hide her negative emotions regarding the breakup while performing on her tour ("All the pieces of me shattered as the crowd was chanting 'more'."). Will Harris of Q wrote that the lyrics showcased "romantic confusion and heartbreak", citing the lyrics, "I'm so depressed, I act like it's my birthday every day/ I'm so obsessed with him, but he avoids me like the plague."

## Critical reception

Variety gave the song a positive review in its review of the parent album, considering it to be the album's climax and suggested it was "sure to be one of the most talked-about and replayed tracks". In a ranking of all 31 tracks of The Anthology edition of The Tortured Poets Department, Billboard ranked the song in eighth place, considering the song "rollicking, snarky and strikingly funny". Clash 's Lauren Webb described the track as "triumphantly-erupting". Josh Kurp of Uproxx selected "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" as one of the album's "strong songs", while Alex Hudson from Exclaim! opined that its production makes it the only track that stands out on the album. Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine opined that the song was a "viable radio ".

Writing for The Guardian, Laura Snapes considered the lyric "lights, camera, bitch smile" to be " meme -worthy" and "makes clear why she wanted back on TikTok." In NME, Laura Molloy deemed "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" "poised for internet virality than anything more substantial". Olivia Horn from Pitchfork similarly suggested that the lyrics were "versed in memespeak" and the music was too familiar to Swift and Antonoff's past collaborations. By contrast, Tom Breihan of Stereogum wrote that the song showcased "a musical energy and inventiveness" that suggested a new path for Swift's artistry, praising the vocals and keyboard instrumentation. Writing for Beats Per Minute, John Wohlmacher said the song is "so unabashedly unhinged and manic that it’s pure joy".

## Commercial performance

Following the album's release, its tracks occupied the top nine of the Billboard Global 200; "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" debuted at its peak of number five on the chart, where it extended Swift's top-10 entries to 33. In the United States, the song opened and peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It along with 13 tracks from the album made Swift the first artist to monopolize the top 14 of the Hot 100. The song also charted at number 7 on Adult Pop Airplay when it was released. In Australia, it reached number five on the ARIA Singles Chart and made her the artist with the most entries in a single week with 29.

Elsewhere, "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" reached the top 10 in Canada (4), Ireland (5), Singapore (5), New Zealand (6), the United Kingdom (8), and the Philippines (10). It also charted within the 20 in many countries: number 11 in Austria, number 12 in Latvia, number 14 in Malaysia and Portugal, number 15 in Belgium and Luxembourg, number 17 in Sweden, and number 19 in Croatia, Denmark, and South Africa. The song received certifications in Australia (gold), New Zealand (gold), Portugal (gold), and the United Kingdom (gold).

## Personnel

- Taylor Swift – vocals, songwriter, producer

- Jack Antonoff – producer, songwriter, drums, piano, Juno, M1, percussion, programming

- Oli Jacobs – background vocals, percussion, spoken word, recording engineer

- Serban Ghenea – mixing

- Bryce Bordone – mix engineer

- Laura Sisk – recording engineer

- Jon Sher – assistant recording engineer

- Jack Manning – assistant recording engineer

- Lauren Marquez – assistant recording engineer

- Joe Caldwell – assistant recording engineer

- Randy Merrill – mastering

- Ryan Smith – mastering

## Charts


Hyderabad, Sindh

# Hyderabad, Sindh

## Abstract

Hyderabad (Sindhi: حيدرآباد; Urdu: حيدرآباد; / ˈ h aɪ d ər ə b ɑː d /) is a city and the capital of Hyderabad Division in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is the second-largest city in Sindh, and the fifth largest in Pakistan.

Founded in 1768 by Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro of the Kalhora Dynasty, Hyderabad served as a provincial capital until the British transferred the capital to Bombay Presidency in 1840. It is about 150 kilometres (93 mi) inland of Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan, to which it is connected by a direct railway and M-9 motorway.

## Toponymy

The city was named in honour of Ali, the fourth caliph and cousin of Muhammad. Hyderabad's name translates literally as "Lion City"—from haydar, meaning "lion", and ābād, which is a suffix indicating a settlement. "Lion" references Ali's valour in battle, so he is often referred to as Ali Haydar, roughly meaning "Ali the Lionheart", by South Asian Muslims.

## History

### Founding

The River Indus was changing course around 1757, resulting in periodic floods of the then capital of the Kalhora dynasty, Khudabad. Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro decided to shift the capital away from Khudabad, and founded Hyderabad in 1768 over a limestone ridge on the eastern bank of the Indus River known as Ganjo Takkar, or "Bald Hill." The small hill is traditionally believed to have been the location of the ancient settlement of Neroon Kot, a town which had fallen to the armies of Muhammad Bin Qasim in 711 CE. When the foundations were laid, the city came to be known by the nickname Heart of the Mehran.

Devotees of Imam Ali advised Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro to name the city in honour of their Imam. The Shah of Iran later gifted the city a stone which purportedly bears the imprint of Ali's feet. The stone was placed in the Qadamgah Maula Ali, which then became a place of pilgrimage.

### Kalhora

In 1768, Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro ordered a fort to be built on one of the three hills of Hyderabad to house and defend his people. The fort was built using baked clay bricks, earning it the name Pacco Qillo, meaning Strong Fort in Sindhi. The fort was completed in 1769, and is spread over 36 acres. Mian Ghulam Shah also built the "Shah Makki Fort", commonly known as Kacha Qila, to fortify the tomb of the Sufi saint Shah Makki.

Hyderabad remained the Kalhora capital during the period in which Sindh was united under their rule. Attracted by the security of the city, Hyderabad began to attract artisans and traders from throughout Sindh, thereby resulting in the decline of other rival trading centres such as Khudabad. A portion of the population of Khudabad migrated to the new capital, including Sonaras, Amils and Bhaibands. Those groups retained the term "Khudabadi" in the names of their communities as a marker of origin.

Mian Ghulam Shah died in 1772, and was succeeded by his son, Sarfraz Khan Kalhoro. In 1774, Sarfraz Khan built a "New" Khudabad north of Hala in memory of the old Kalhoro capital, and attempted to shift his capital there. The attempt failed, and Hyderabad continued to prosper while New Khudabad was abandoned by 1814. A formal plan for the city was laid out by Sarfraz Khan in 1782.

### Talpur

Mir Fateh Ali Khan Talpur captured the city of Khudabad from the Kalhoros in 1773, and made the city his capital. He then captured Hyderabad in 1775, and shifted his capital there in 1789 after Khudabad once again flooded. Renovation and reconstruction of the city's fort began in 1789, and lasted for 3 years. Celebrations were held in 1792 to mark his formal entry in the Pacco Qillo fort, which he made his residence and held court.

Talpur rule maintained Hyderabad's security, and the city continued to attract migrants from throughout Sindh, turning the city into a major regional center. Lohana Hindus from Afghanistan migrated to the city and set up ship as metalworkers. The city's goldsmiths, silversmiths, and leather tanners began to export their Hyderabadi wares abroad. The city's textile industry boomed with the arrival of Susi and Khes cotton cloth and handicrafts from towns in rural Sindh. The city's became renowned for its calligraphers and bookbinders, while its carpet dealers traded carpets from nearby Thatta.

Henry Pottinger traveled up the Indus River in the early 1830s on behalf of the British. He claimed to have seen 341 ships over the course of 19 days at Hyderabad, indicating its importance as a major trading center by this time. Hyderabad's goods were mostly exported to markets in Khorasan, India, Turkestan, and Kashmir - though some Hyderabadi wares were displayed at The Great Exhibition of 1851 in London.

In order to use the Indus River for commercial navigation to Punjab, the British signed a treaty with the rulers of Hyderabad and Khairpur that guaranteed the British free passage along the Indus and through Sindh. Mir Murad Ali was pressured into accepting an 1838 treaty which resulted in the stationing of a British Resident in the city. The British also signed a treaty of "eternal friendship" with the Talpur rulers of Hyderabad in the early 19th century, who promised not to allow the French to set up residency in Sindh. In 1839, they were pressured into forcing another treaty that guaranteed the British trade and security privileges.

### British

The British defeated the city's Talpur rulers at the Battle of Hyderabad on 24 March 1843. The provincial capital was then transferred to Bombay Presidency by the British general Sir Charles Napier. Being the last stronghold in Sindh, the conquered city was the final step in the British Conquest of Sindh. Following the success of the British, several of the city's Talpur Mirs rulers were exiled and died in Calcutta. Their bodies were eventually brought back to Hyderabad, and were buried in the Tombs of the Talpur Mirs located at the northern edge of the Ganjo Hill.

Hyderabad's prosperity did not initially decline after the shifting of Sindh's capital to Bombay Presidency. Merchants there forged links with the commercial community in Hyderabad, and began exporting Hyderabadi wares to distant markets. Following Sindhi's assimilation into the Bombay Presidency in 1847, the city emerged as hub for a style of handicrafts known as Sindwork that was peddled in Bombay, and prized by its European residents for its perceived authenticity of style. The work was then shipped from Bombay to Egypt in order to be sold as souvenirs to tourists there. Hyderabadi traders also spread east towards Singapore and Japan as well. Unable to fulfill demand for its products, Hyderabad's traders began to import crafts from Kashmir, Varanasi, China, and Japan to ease demand. Sindwork handicrafts thus placed Hyderabad at the center of a new trading network that was almost entirely dominated by Hindus from the city's mercantile Bhaiband segment of the Lohana caste, although the artisans themselves were primarily Muslim.

The city's jail was built in 1851, and the Municipality of Hyderabad was established in 1853. In the Pacco Qillo the British kept the arsenal of the province, transferred from Karachi in 1861, and the palaces of the ex-Amirs of Sind that they had taken over. In 1857, when the Indian mutiny raged across the South Asia, the British held most of their regiments and ammunition in this city. Though the city did not witness major fighting, the British demolished the large round tower that once stood outside of Pacco Qillo, deeming it a potential risk to their rule were it to fall into the hands of rebels.

Hyderabad's Rani Bagh ("Queen's Garden") was established as Das Gardens in 1861, and was re-christened in honour of Queen Victoria. British-style schools were introduced in Hyderabad by the 1860s, while the St Joseph Missionary School was established in 1868. Further European schools were opened, while Hyderabad's Hindu and Muslim elite established schools for their respective communities throughout the British colonial period. A hospital, psychiatric institution, and quarters for officials were built in 1871. By 1872, 43,088 people lived in the city. The city by 1873 had 20 kilometres of metalled roads that were lit at night by kerosene lamps. The newly built urban quarters of Saddar and Soldier Bazaar further expanded the city.

The British built a rail network throughout the western part of South Asia in the 1880s, and purchased the private Scinde Railway to connect the province to Kabul trade routes. The rail network would later be called the North-Western State Railway. The Kotri Bridge was completed in 1900 to traverse the Indus, and link Hyderabad to Karachi. Hyderabad's economy grew as a result of improved transportation. The city increasingly developed into a consumer market under British rule, and the city's exports began to decline, though increased transit trade allowed the city's economy to continue growing.

In 1901, 69,378 people lived in the city. Hinduism was the most dominant religion with 43,499 followers, while 24,831 Muslims made up the largest religious minority. The city ranked seventh in the Bombay Presidency in terms of population. By 1907, the Gazetteer of Sindh claimed that 5,000 Hyderabadi merchants were to be found dispersed throughout the world. The city's Navalrai Clock Tower was built in 1914. Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore remarked in the early 20th century that Hyderabad was the "most fashionable" city in all of India.

### Modern

The City of Hyderabad served as the capital of Sindh province between 1947 and 1955. The Partition of India resulted in the large-scale exodus of much of the city's Hindu population, though like much of Sindh, Hyderabad did not experience the widespread rioting that occurred in Punjab and Bengal. In all, less than 500 Hindu were killed in Sindh between 1947 and 1948 as Sindhi Muslims largely resisted calls to turn against their Hindu neighbours. Hindus did not flee Hyderabad en masse until riots erupted in Karachi on 6 January 1948, which sowed fear in Sindhi Hindus despite the fact that the riots were local and regarded Sikh refugees from Punjab seeking refuge in Karachi.

The Hindus who departed had played a major role in the city's economy, and formed the majority of the Hyderabad's population. The vacuum left by the departure of much of the city's Hindu population was quickly filled by newly arrived refugees from India, known as Muhajirs. By 1951, 66% of the city was made up of Muhajirs. Though Hyderabad became a majority Urdu -speaking city in the 1940s, the arrival of Pashtuns and Punjabis from northern Pakistan further diversified the city's ethnic composition over the next few decades.

Animosity between Urdu and Sindhi speakers first arose in 1967, it intensified under the Pakistan People's Party government in the 1970s, which were widely perceived by Muhajirs to be a pro-Sindhi administration. Violence erupted between Urdu and Sindhi speakers during riots in 1971 when the provincial government wished to impose Sindhi-language requirements on Urdu speakers, and again in 1972 in reaction to the 1972 Sindhi Language Bill.

The Khuda-ki-Basti Incremental Development Scheme was launched in Hyderabad 1981 as a way to provide housing to low-income residents by forming local cooperatives pool funds to gradually provide increased services that would in turn be managed by community members. Success of the project resulted in the programme being launched in Karachi as well.

The late 1980s saw turbulent ethnic rioting between Sindhis and Muhajirs. On 30 September 1988, militants from the Sindh Progressive Party drove into Muhajir dominated areas in the city, and opened indiscriminate fire in busy crossroads. The so-called " Hyderabad Massacre " resulted in the deaths of over 60 people in a single day, and more than 250 deaths in total. In a backlash, more than 60 Sindhi speaking people were gunned down in Karachi. The city began to divide itself ethnically, and the Muhajir population migrated en masse from Qasimabad and the interior of Sindh into Latifabad. Similarly, Sindhis moved to Qasimabad from Hyderabad and Latifabad. Further ethnic disturbances occurred in May 1990, including a police-led siege of the Pacco Qillo fortress in the center of Hyderabad, in which Muhajir activists claim 150 were killed. 2 bombings on trains in Hyderabad killed 10 people in 2000.

Much of Hyderabad's public spaces have been encroached upon by illegally-constructed homes and businesses. Much of the city's historic structures are badly neglected, with little preservation being undertaken by the provincial administration.

## Demographics

### Population

Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, including the cantonment area, is home to 1,733,622 people as per the 2017 Census of Pakistan. The city gained 565,799 residents since the 1998 Census, representing an increase of 48.5% - the lowest growth rate of the ten largest Pakistani cities. The city has 903,327 males, 830,038 females and 257 Transgender people. Hyderabad has a literacy rate of 71.72% for people over 10 years of age: 74.51% for males and 68.66% for females.

### Ethnicity

Hyderabad was a majority Sindhi Hindu city prior to 1948, when many migrated to India and elsewhere after the independence of Pakistan 1947. Hindus who departed had played a major role in the city's economy, and formed the majority of the Hyderabad's population. The vacuum left by the departure of much of the city's Hindu population was quickly filled by the newly arrived Urdu speaking Muslim refugees from India, known as Muhajirs.

Following the arrival of Muhajirs, Hyderabad became a majority Urdu -speaking city, with Muhajirs making up 66% of the city's population. The arrival of Pashtuns and Punjabis from northern Pakistan further diversified the city's ethnic composition over the next few decades. At the time of the 2017 census, 52.57% of the population spoke Urdu, 31.88% Sindhi, 5.25% Punjabi, 3.76% Pashto, and 1.29% Saraiki as their first language. Most Punjabis and Pashtuns are distinct and separately living near the railway station and its vicinity. The city therefore has cosmopolitan atmosphere with multiethnic and multicultural communities.

Languages of Hyderabad (2017)

### Religion

Hyderabad is noteworthy in Sindh and Pakistan generally for its comparative tolerance towards religious and ethnic minorities. The spread of Islamist militancy and extremism has been stymied in large parts of Sindh by vibrant civil society, and Sindh's progressive politics.

The city has a long association with Sufism. In the 18th Century Syeds from Multan migrated and settled in the city's Tando Jahania neighbourhood, making it a sacred place for Muslims. The Syeds came from Uch Sharif, via Jahanian Sharif, 42 km from Multan Sharif. They were mostly descendants of Hazrat Syedna Jahaniyan Jahangasht رضي الله عنه- a Sufi Saint who is very popular in Sindh and Punjab. Hyderabad is near some of Sindh's most important Sufi shrines, being situated 49 kilometres (30 mi) from the joint Muslim-Hindu Shrine at Odero Lal Sharif, 59.3 kilometres (36.8 mi) from the Shrine of Hazrat Syedna Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai رضي الله عنه, 146 kilometres (91 mi) from the Shrine of Hazrat Syedna Lal Shahbaz Qalandar رضي الله عنه.

Hindus once formed the majority in Hyderabad prior to 1948, and today account for the largest religious minority in Hyderabad - forming 5% of the total population of the city. Hyderabad's Amil Hindus clan of the Lohana caste had been employed previously the Talpur Mirs for their Persian language proficiency and skills in bureaucracy - this role continued under the British as the Amils were recruited into colonial administration. The Amils formed the Amil Colony, which was where some of Hyderabad's finest colonial architecture was found. The Bhaiband clan, also of the Lohana caste, dominated commerce in the city.

While Christians account for 1% of the total population, Hyderabad is the seat of a diocese of the Church of Pakistan and has five churches and a cathedral.

## Geography

### Location

Located at 25.367 °N latitude and 68.367 °E longitude with an elevation of 13 metres (43 ft), Hyderabad is located on the east bank of the Indus River and is roughly 150 kilometres (93 mi) away from Karachi, the provincial capital. Two of Pakistan's largest highways, the Indus Highway and the National Highway join at Hyderabad. Several towns surrounding the city include Kotri at 6.7 kilometres (4.2 mi), Jamshoro at 8.1 kilometres (5.0 mi), Hattri at 5.0 kilometres (3.1 mi) and Husri at 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi).

### Climate

Hyderabad has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh), with warm conditions year-round. The city is famous for its winds which moderate the otherwise hot climate. As a result, Hyderabadi homes traditionally feature "wind-catching" towers that funnel breezes down into living quarters in order to alleviate heat.

The period from mid-April to late June (before the onset of the monsoon) is the hottest of the year, with highs peaking in May at 41.4 °C (106.5 °F). During this time, winds that blow usually bring along clouds of dust, and people prefer staying indoors in the daytime, while the breeze that flows at night is more pleasant. Winters are warm, with highs around 25 °C (77 °F), though lows can often drop below 10 °C (50 °F) at night. The highest temperature of 50 °C (122 °F) was recorded on 25 May 2018, while the lowest temperature of 1 °C (34 °F) was recorded on 8 February 2012.

In recent years, Hyderabad has seen great downpours. In February 2003, Hyderabad received 105 millimetres (4.13 in) of rain in 12 hours, leaving many dead. The years of 2006 and 2007 saw close contenders to this record rain with death tolls estimated in the hundreds. The highest single-day rain total of 259.7 millimetres (10.22 in) was recorded on 12 September 1962, while the wettest month was September 1962, at 346 millimetres (13.62 in).

### Topography

The city was initially founded on a limestone ridge on the eastern bank of the Indus River known as Ganjo Takkar, or "Bald Hill." The limestone outcropping provided several scenic vistas in the city, as well as inclined routes. The most famous incline, the Tilak Incline, is named after the early 20th century independence activist Lokmanya Tilak.

## Economy

The industrial sector contributes 25% to the GDP of Pakistan, with a major concentration of industry in an arc stretching from Karachi to Hyderabad. 75% of Sindh's industry is located in the Karachi-Hyderabad region. The Sindh Industrial Trading Estate, home to 439 industrial units, was established on the outskirts of Hyderabad in 1950 which prospered with until the urban violence of the 1980s. Much of the city's industrial base was weakened by ethnic violence in urban Sindh in the 1980s, although poor infrastructure and supply of electricity has also hampered growth.

Hyderabad is an important commercial centre where industries includes: textiles, sugar, cement, manufacturing of mirror, soap, ice, paper, pottery, plastics, tanneries, hosiery mills and film. There are hide tanneries and sawmills. Handicraft industries, including silver and gold work, lacquer ware, ornamented silks, and embroidered leather saddles, are also well established.

Hyderabad produces almost all of the ornamental glass bangles in Pakistan, as well as layered glass inlay for jewelry. The glass industry employs an estimated 300,000-350,000 people in manufacturing units centered on the Churi Parah neighbourhood. The industry frequently uses recycled glass as material for its bangles.

Hyderabad is surrounded by fertile alluvial plains, and is a major commercial centre for the agricultural produce of the surrounding area, including millet, rice, wheat, cotton, and fruit.

## Cityscape

### Local architecture

Hyderabad's local architectural patterns reflect the region's harsh climate and local customs. Walls of most traditional-style buildings were made of mud bricks, which helped keep the structure cool in summer and warm in winter. Hyderabad is famed for its heat-relieving winds, and so homes also featured wind-catchers that directed cool breezes into each homes' living quarters.

Residential structures in Hyderabad's Old City, and in Hirabad typically have a small inward facing courtyard that afforded privacy from the city's streets. Walls facing the street are typically plain, though the home may display an elaborate entryway. Inner courtyards and doorways of more elaborate homes would be decorated with jharoka balconies, floral motifs, ornamented ceilings, and decorative arches. Most residential homes, however, were utilitarian in design.

Homes built during the British colonial period contain introduced architectural elements like balconies and decorative columns as part of an elaborate outward-facing façade. Such examples can be found in the Saddar neighbourhood of Hyderabad. Large decorated windows were featured as part of Hyderabad's colonial style in order to ventilate the building. Tall and multi-sectional windows with stained glass windows became a hallmark of Hyderabad's colonial-era architecture. Homes of wealthy residents, especially among the city's Bhaiband community, the presence of windows was a marker of status, and allowed wealthy Hindus to practice the custom of purdah. Balconies were sometimes affixed to the front of a building, and were typically made of wood or cast-iron. Such homes would also sometimes have painted facades.

## Civil administration

Before the government of Abubaker Nizamani, the District Hyderabad included the present-day District of Badin. The current mayor of Hyderabad is Kashif Shoro, The longest-serving mayor of Hyderabad was Jamil Ahmed, who served from 1962 to 1971.

In 2005/2006, General Pervaiz Musharraf again divided it into four more districts Matiyari, Tando Allahyar, Tando Mohammad Khan and Hyderabad. Hyderabad district was subdivided into five talukas

- Hyderabad City Taluka

- Hyderabad Taluka (rural)

- Tando Jam

- Latifabad

- Qasimabad

### Judiciary

Court of District & Sessions Judge Hyderabad was established in 1899 under the subordination of Judicial Commissioner of Sindh.

## Transportation

### Hyderabad Metro Bus

Peoples Bus Service, formally known as the Sindh Intra-District Peoples Bus Service Project is a public bus service by the Government of Sindh operating in Karachi, Hyderabad and Larkana.

### Road

The M-9 motorway is a six-lane motorway that connects Hyderabad to Karachi, 136 kilometers away. The city will also be connected to Sukkur by the M-6 motorway, being built as part of the wider China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. From Sukkur, motorways will continue onward to Multan, Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad, and Peshawar.It is connected to the oldest and longest N5 Route from Karachi (Sea) to Torkham 1819 km long.

### Rail

Hyderabad Junction railway station serves as the city's main rail station. Passenger services are provided exclusively by Pakistan Railways. The city's station is serviced by the Allama Iqbal Express to Sialkot, the Badin Express, and the Khyber Mail to Peshawar. Hyderabad has trains to Nawabshah, Badin, Tando Adam Junction, Karachi, and points in northern Pakistan.

### Air

Hyderabad Airport is situated at the east of the city Hyderabad near Gulistan e Sarmast which is an area of Latifabad but it is no longer served by commercial air traffic. The last services were suspended in 2013. Passengers must now instead rely entirely on Karachi's Jinnah International Airport.

## Education

75% of males and 65% of females over the age of 10 were literate in Hyderabad District in 2010, a region which includes rural areas around the city. In 2010–2011, 2.96 Billion Rupees were spent on public education in Hyderabad District, and number which increased to 3.99 Billion Rupees in 2011–2012. 26% of children in Hyderabad District were enrolled in paid private schools in 2010.

The University of Sindh was founded in Karachi in 1947, before moving to Hyderabad in 1951. The Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences was founded in nearby Jamshoro in 1951.

The Public School Hyderabad was founded in 1961, one of the oldest school in Hyderabad which is located at the autobahn road. The first boarding school in Hyderabad started by Mr. Niaz Hussain Tunio, After his death local government has manage all the Administration of the school, After that since 2018 IBA Sukkur management is assign to manage all the Administration.

## Sports

The Niaz Stadium of Hyderabad, with a seating capacity of 15,000 is home to the Hyderabad cricket team since 1961. It is known for Pakistani bowler Jalal-ud-Din 's hat-trick, which was the first ever hat-trick taken by a bowler in a one-day match in 1982. Hyderabad also has a hockey stadium. Hyderabad has also Sport Club name "Sindh Sports Board Hyderabad Club" which is a platform to boost sports activity.

## Landmarks

- Pacco Qillo

- Tombs of Talpur Mirs

- Rani Bagh Zoological & Botanical Garden

- Sindh Museum

- Hyderabad Cantonment

- Niaz Cricket Stadium

- Kacha Qilla

- Hyderabad Junction railway station

- Hyderabad Airport

- Ganju Takar Mountain Range

- Gulistan-e-Zeal Pak Colony

## Media

### Literature

As tradition goes, Sindh had always been a hub for Sufi poets. With a foothold on strong educational foundations, the city of Hyderabad was made into a refuge for thriving literary advocates. Of the few, Mirza Kalich Beg received education from the Government High School, Hyderabad and carried the banner of Sindhi literature across borders. Modern novelists, writers, columnists and researchers like Musharraf Ali Farooqi, Ghulam Mustafa Khan and Qabil Ajmeri also hail from Hyderabad.

Hyderabad has served many Sindhi literary campaigns throughout the history of Pakistan as is evident from the daily newspapers and periodicals that are published in the city. A few worth mention dailies are the Kawish, Ibrat, and Daily Sindh.

### Radio and television

With the inauguration of a new broadcasting house at Karachi in 1950, it was possible to lay the foundations for the Hyderabad radio station in 1951. The initial broadcast was made capable using 1 kW medium-wave transmitter. With the first successful transmissions on the FM 100 bandwidth in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad in October 1998, the Government decided on opening transmissions to other cities where Radio Pakistan had found success. This made available the FM 101 bandwidth transmissions to Hyderabad and other cities in Sindh.

A relief from the regular broadcasts in other cities, entertainment content on the Hyderabad radio gave birth to many a star whose names became an attribute to Hyderabad's richer media content. Among them were actor Shafi Mohammad, a young man who had recently finished his postgraduate degree from the University of Sindh. Such fresh and young talent became a trademark to entertainment in Hyderabad.

Pakistan Television had only had half-a-decade broadcast success from 1963 to 1969 that people in the radio entertainment business felt destined to make a mark on the television circuits. Prominent radio personalities from the Hyderabad radio station like Shafi Muhammad Shah and Mohammad Ali left the airwaves to hone their acting skills on the television. Television shows and content enriched with the inclusion of Hyderabadi names however PTV never opened a television station in Hyderabad.

While the year 2005 saw new FM regular stations set up at Gawadar, Mianwali, Sargodha, Kohat, Bannu and Mithi, private radio channels began airing in and around Hyderabad. Of late, stations like Sachal FM 105 and some others have gained popularity. But the unavailability of an up-to-date news and current affairs platform renders the services of such stations of not much value to the masses but nonetheless appealing to youngsters.

As the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (abbreviated as PEMRA) gave licenses to private radio channels, so were television channels owned privately given a right to broadcast from the year 2002, and Daily Kawish, a prominent Sindhi newspaper published from Hyderabad opened a one-of-its-kind private Sindhi channel Kawish Television Network. Many followed in its path namely Sindh TV, Dhoom TV and Kashish TV premiering Sindhi content.

## Notable people

- Maulana Muhammad Saeed Jadoon (1964-2022) Religious, political, social personality, Principal Jamia Arabia QowwatulIslam Garebabad, Caliph Hazrat Maulana Pir Abdul Qudoos Naqshbandi, Former President Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat District Hyderabad Sindh

- Hoshu Sheedi, General of Talpur Mirs' Army, who fought against British in the Battles of Miani and last Battle of Dubbo.

- Jivatram Kripalani (1886–1982), Indian politician and Indian independence activist.

- Mirza Kalich Beg (1853–1929), civil servant and author

- K. R. Malkani (1921–2003), Indian politician. Lieutenant-Governor of Pondicherry (2002–03)

- Allama Imdad Ali Imam Ali Kazi (1886–1968), philosopher and scholar

- Sadhu Vaswani (1879–1966), Hindu spiritualist. Founder of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission.

- Nabi Bakhsh Khan Baloch (1917–2011), linguist and author

- Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo (born 1915), scholar and translator

- Rizwan Ahmed, Secretary to Government of Pakistan

- Ghulam Mustafa Khan (born 1912), researcher, and linguist

- Syed Qamar Zaman Shah (born 1933), the nephew and son-in-law of Late Syed Miran Mohammad Shah. Senator during the early 1970s.

- Syed Miran Mohammad Shah, former speaker of Sindh legislative Assembly, Minister in the Sindh Government, former Ambassador of Pakistan to Spain.

- Qabil Ajmeri (1931–1962), recognised as a "senior" poet of Urdu

- Usman Ajmeri (1944–2019), recognised as a Most Senior Journalist in Hyderabad and was the Bureau Chief of Daily Nawaiwaqt newspaper until his death. He was the founder member of Hyderabad Press club. Held strong influence among politicians and industrialists. His last resting place is Tando Yousuf graveyard.


Dejan Ranković

# Dejan Ranković

## Abstract

Dejan Ranković (Serbian Cyrillic: Дејан Ранковић; born 25 July 1976) is a Serbian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

## Career

### Smederevo

Born in Smederevo, Ranković passed through the youth ranks of the club then called Sartid. He was later loaned to Železničar Smederevo in order to gain experience. Later on, Ranković also spent some time at Dubočica while serving his military duty in Leskovac.

In the summer of 2000, Ranković returned to Sartid and played three games in the 2000–01 season. He also sat on the bench in all four matches in the 2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup. However, with the arrival of Dragan Žilić and Nebojša Milekić, Ranković was sent out on loan to Bosnian side Slavija Sarajevo for the rest of the 2001–02 season.

In the summer of 2002, Ranković made another return to Sartid and became a member of the squad that won the Serbia and Montenegro Cup in the 2002–03 season. He began receiving more playing time after the departure of Žilić in the summer of 2004. Following the club's relegation from the top flight in 2008, Ranković established himself as the team's first-choice goalkeeper and helped them earn promotion back straight away. He continued playing regularly for the side over the next three seasons.

### Later career

In July 2012, Ranković moved to fellow Serbian SuperLiga club Sloboda Užice on a free transfer. He missed just one league game in the 2012–13 season, as the team narrowly fell out of a UEFA Europa League spot. In the following campaign, Ranković again missed just one league match, but failed to help the side avoid relegation from the top flight.

During the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons, Ranković played regularly for Serbian First League club Sloga Petrovac.

## Personal life

Nicknamed Šnicla (Serbian for " schnitzel "), Ranković is a car mechanic, owning and maintaining an oldsmobile from 1968.

## Honours

- Serbia and Montenegro Cup: 2002–03


Deke Sharon

# Deke Sharon

## Abstract

Deke Sharon (born December 12, 1967) is an American singer, arranger, composer, director, producer, author, coach, pioneer, and teacher of a cappella music, and is one of the leaders and promoters of the contemporary a cappella community. He has been referred to as "the father of contemporary a cappella" and "the godfather of a cappella".

## Early life

Deke Sharon was born and raised in San Francisco. He started singing in choir groups at age five, including the San Francisco Boys Chorus. He attended Town School for Boys and San Francisco University High School, where he sang lead (second tenor) in the barbershop quartet his freshman year in "The Music Man," and kept it going all four years, learning to direct and arrange a cappella.

### College

Sharon spent his college years in Boston, graduating from Tufts University with a Bachelor of Arts in childhood studies, and a Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory of Music with a focus on vocal jazz, third stream (now called "contemporary improvisation"), and music theory.

In college, he directed the collegiate a cappella group the Tufts Beelzebubs, transforming the group's sound to reflect modern rock, with intricate instrumental vocalizations and the integration of vocal percussion. The 1990–1991 Beelzebubs album Foster Street that he directed musically is credited with the creation of contemporary a cappella sound. Sharon had to audition three times before he was accepted, as he was seen as "overzealous" during a time when a cappella was not popular, a fact which was mentioned in the book "Pitch Perfect." Beca and Benji in the Pitch Perfect films are partially based on Sharon. During this time, he decided to make a career of contemporary a cappella and popularize this new style, despite being laughed at and told it was impossible, "like making a career of professional Tiddlywinks."

## Film

Sharon was the music director and arranger for the film Pitch Perfect, as well as singing on several of the songs, where he was credited on screen as "Male Voice #1." He returned for Pitch Perfect 2, in which he has a brief cameo as the German judge and broadcaster. He helped involve several professional a cappella groups and singers with the film, including The Filharmonic, Penn Masala, and Pentatonix. Sharon also worked with the Green Bay Packers. He returned to music-direct, arrange, and vocally produce for Pitch Perfect 3. He had also arranged for the film, The Social Network.

## Television

In December 2009, he acted as music director, arranger, coach, and consultant behind the scenes on America's first a cappella reality show competition, titled The Sing-Off, and returned in 2010 as one of the show's producers. He also served as Executive Music Producer on the Dutch Sing Off, Sing Off South Africa and Sing-Off China, including several guest appearances as a judge and performer.

Along with The House Jacks, he sang and performed the 2011 Monday Night Football theme song "Are You Ready for Some Football" with Hank Williams, Jr.

He worked with Straight No Chaser on their first PBS special Live in New York.

He appeared in front of the camera for the first time on Lifetime 's Pitch Slapped reality show, in which he coached after school high school a cappella group Stay Tuned from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, focusing both on their musicality and emotional delivery. The show also aired overseas in London, Israel (where its name in Hebrew means "a cappella battle") across Latin America, Indonesia and the Philippines (under the name Pitch Battle).

As of summer 2017 he is series music director for a new competitive choir show on BBC1 called Pitch Battle, as well as appearing on camera each episode providing insight and commentary. He was also the third judge for the season one live finale.

He judged Eurovision Choir 2019. In 2022 music directed "Best in Snow" for Disney+ as well as co-arranged/vocal produced the a cappella scenes in Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin.

## Performing career

Upon graduation in 1991, he moved back to San Francisco, bringing with him a handful of other collegiate a cappella singers to form The House Jacks, a pioneering a cappella group known for its original music and sound, often called "the original rock band without instruments", in part because they were the first a cappella group with a designated vocal percussionist.

The House Jacks have released seven albums (signed to Warner Brothers/Tommy Boy Records in the mid-1990s) and completed several world tours. He has performed with many musicians, including Ray Charles, Crosby, Stills and Nash, LL Cool J, Run DMC, The Temptations, and James Brown. They have won "Best Pop Rock Album" from the Contemporary A Cappella Society, for "Unbroken" (2004), "Level" (2010), and "Pollen (2014).

He also performs as a solo artist, with groups such as the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and at events like Singapore's "Vocal Edge" and directing DCINY's annual "Total Vocal" at Carnegie Hall as well as serving as Emcee for a cappella events, such as the annual Techapella concerts in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Studio session credits include the Wii game Just Dance Kids 2 including the songs " The Lion Sleeps Tonight ", " Barbara Ann ", and " Mahna Mahna ".

## Arranging

A prolific, award-winning vocal music arranger, he has arranged more than 2,000 songs for a wide range of ensembles, including some of vocal music's best-known groups. The Best Arrangement award at the Colorado Harmony Sweepstakes is named after him, and he has won the best arrangement award at the Harmony Sweepstakes several times since 1991. He was named "favorite arranger" in the 2010 A Cappella Community Awards and won "Best Professional Arrangement" in 2019.

## Live music direction and production

He founded and directed a cappella groups at Walt Disney World / Epcot (American Vybe) and Disneyland (Groove 66). In 2013, he created a new professional a cappella ensemble in New Mexico: "Voasis". In 2014 and 2015 he music-directed the Sing Off Live tour He created Vocalosity for which he was artistic producer, music director, and arranger. They started touring in 2016 and their debut album was released on Universal Classics.

In December 2017 he announced the formation of DCappella, a seven-member contemporary a cappella group launched in 2018 that will tour performing arts centers singing music from classic and contemporary Disney films. He serves as the group's co-creator, music director, arranger, album producer and artistic producer integrating modern sounds and technology. He also Music Directed "Disney: The Castle" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2023

His production with Columbia Artists Management, "A Cappella Live," toured the US featuring four a cappella acts: Committed (vocal group), The Filharmonic, Women of the World, and Blake Lewis.

## Album production

As a producer of a cappella recordings, he is known for having changed the sound of collegiate a cappella recording via the Beelzebubs' album Code Red. He has arranged and produced multiple albums and tracks for Atlantic Records' Straight No Chaser, including the certified gold "Christmas Cheers".

In the early 1990s, he co-founded The Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) compilation, which he now produces annually with Varsity Vocals.

## Event production and promotion

In college, he brought the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival to the East Coast, producing the first Boston regional with the Beelzebubs. Shortly after college he founded the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA), the West and East Coast A Cappella Summits (the first contemporary a cappella conferences), and a number of other a cappella-related projects, programs, and events with the goal of popularizing a cappella. Recent festivals include Aca-West in San Francisco, VoiceJam in Arkansas, Solevoci in Italy, Vocal Asia (in Japan, China, and Taiwan), Aarhus Vocal Festival in Denmark, and Croappella in Croatia where he often hosts the evening concert or competition as well as teach during the day.

He is a frequent host and emcee at a cappella events, such as Silicon Valley's "Techapella", The National A Cappella Convention, The annual College Notes event in Walnut Creek CA, "Pacific Harmony" in New Zealand, AKA A Cappella in Singapore, and the Maui Barbershop Festival. Some of the videos he has posted to promote a cappella groups around the world have gone viral. He's also frequently in residency or headlining events at universities such as Indiana U, Midland U and Tufts U and co created as well as emceed the "History of Harmony" concerts with Chicago A Cappella.

He's also active in the choral world, presenting at choral festivals, such as the World Choir Games in 2021 in Flanders and 2024 in New Zealand, World Symposium on Choral Music, Cambridge Choir Festival, GALA Choruses and Chorus America, as well as the Barbershop community with the Barbershop Harmony Society and Sweet Adelines International

His work to popularize and promote a cappella worldwide is now being recognized by major media: "A Capella is more popular than ever, thanks to this guy" (NPR Here and Now), "Deke Sharon makes a cappella cool again" (NPR All Things Considered).

## Organizations

In his college dorm he founded The Contemporary A Cappella Society and The Ultimate A Cappella Arranging Service (which became TotalVocal). Shortly after graduation, he created the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards ("CARAs"), a cappella's equivalent of the Grammy Awards.

He formed the Contemporary A Cappella League, a new national network of adult "post-collegiate" a cappella groups.

## Writing

- A Cappella Arranging, his first book, co-authored with Dylan Bell, was published in 2012.

- A Cappella, a general interest book covering many aspects of the style, co-authored with Ben Spalding and Brody McDonald, was released in 2015.

- The Heart of Vocal Harmony, about how vocal harmony groups can perform with unified emotion, was released in early 2016.

- A Cappella Warmups for Pop and Jazz Choirs and

- So You Want To Sing A Cappella were both released in 2017.

- Teaching Music Through Performance in Contemporary A Cappella, the first contemporary a cappella repertoire guide, was released summer 2020

- "A Cappella Arranging 2.0: The Next Level" is coming out in 2024

Biographical Information about Deke Sharon can be found in Mickey Rapkin's Pitch Perfect (2008), Rick Smolan's 24 Hours in Cyberspace (1996), Joshua Duchan's Powerful Voices (2012), Alysia Abbott's Fairyland (2013) Darren Pleasance's "True North" (2023) and Carsten Gerlitz's Popchor (2018)

## Musical theater

The pioneering, first all-a cappella musical on Broadway, In Transit, for which he is co-producer and arranged all the music, opened at the Circle in the Square Theater on Broadway in December 2016. He started working with the production just after their off-Broadway run five years earlier.

Vocalosity, a live a cappella theatrical concert production with diverse cast, began touring in January 2016 and has performed in 30 states.

He has worked on a cappella musical theatre projects including "Street" and "Our World".

He arranged the opening number for Andrew Lloyd Webber 's new greatest hits musical "Unmasked", a fast-paced mashup of 17 of his greatest hits.

## Education

He co-founded and directs Camp Acappella for teens and adults each summer at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio and teaches the music production class Soup To Nuts periodically. as well as travels to other countries to work with groups in person, such as New Zealand, Brazil, Italy, Sri Lanka and Singapore.

His YouTube channel features a variety of educational topics including how to sound like several different instruments. A GE special features him discussing the physics of a cappella.

In 2016, he joined the California branch of the American Choral Directors Association as the first ever Contemporary A Cappella R&R chair. and co-created Acappella.how for google His Camp A Cappella Intensive in Washington DC started in 2022, a partnership with Ben Folds, Planet Word, and the National Symphony Orchestra.

## Awards

The Pitch Perfect soundtrack earned several awards, including an RIAA platinum record certification, the American Music Award for best soundtrack, an Online Film and Television Association nomination for Best Music, Adapted Song (Don't You Forget About Me) and an MTV Video Music Award for "Best Musical Moment".

The Pitch Perfect 2 soundtrack, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, secured the American Music Award for best Soundtrack and a Grammy nomination for Best Soundtrack.

As album producer, he was nominated for a Dove Award in 2012 (Best Contemporary Gospel Album: Committed).

In 2016, he became an honorary member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, one of only twenty since 1938, and he was named an honorary member of BYU Vocal Point. In 2017 he was awarded the P.T. Barnum Award for excellence in Entertainment from his alma mater, Tufts University.

He has received two lifetime achievement awards for his work in a cappella: in 2016 for the 25th anniversary of his founding of thee Contemporary A Cappella Society and in 2018, from the A Cappella Music Awards.

## Other

He is known for his ability to replicate a variety of instruments (e.g. trumpet, guitar, flute, violin, muted trumpet, harmonica) with his voice—which he teaches online and via "Singing Instruments" seminars —teaching summer camp for young vocalists, and adjudicating choral festivals around the world. He has worked with many professional pop vocal groups, including 98 Degrees, The Nylons and Boyz II Men.

Helping groups get started has been a ongoing goal of his for 30 years, which he does by providing free advice, support and arrangements. He also works with organizations philanthropically who support vocal harmony.

He served on the CASA board for almost twenty years, often as President or Vice President. Acapellablog named him the number-one "a cappella power player to keep an eye on in 2012", and NPR credits him for "making a cappella cool again".

In 2016 he launched an a cappella podcast called "Counterpoint" with co-host Robert Dietz and has appeared on other podcasts.

To help promote Good Omens, he arranged several songs for "The Chattering Order of St Beryl," a group of singing nuns., and co-created Walmart 's "Sparkappella."

When the cult NXIVM tried to use a cappella as a recruiting device, he drew out Keith Raniere in a public forum, resulting in his being put on their list of enemies.

He has been featured repeatedly in Kiplinger's Personal Finance for socially responsible investing.

He describes his life's work is "to get more people singing" because "music can build a better community" as "our country needs to understand the importance of working together". His motto is "Harmony through harmony."


2024 Austin FC season

# 2024 Austin FC season

## Abstract

The 2024 Austin FC season will be the club 's fourth season in Major League Soccer, the topflight of soccer in the United States. They play in the league's Western Conference.

## Background

Austin FC started playing in the MLS Western Conference in 2021, finishing in 12th place with a record of 9W-4D-21L. 2022 brought many new experiences to Austin FC. They lost their first ever U.S. Open Cup match against San Antonio FC in extra time, won their first trophy, the Copa Tejas, and qualified for their first-ever MLS Cup Playoffs in just their second season as a franchise. Austin FC advanced to the Western Conference Finals but lost to LAFC. Austin FC fell almost all the way to the bottom of the 2023 standings, with the team finishing in 27th place in Major League Soccer. The new sporting director Rodolfo Borrell was quoted as saying "The team overachieved last year, the team underachieved this year", but showed his support for coach Josh Wolff as the team looks to rebuild for the 2024 season.

## Summary

### Pre-season

Austin FC ended the 2023 season with multiple players at the end of their contract. The front office made their first move by signing Ethan Finlay to a new one-year contract with an option for a second year at the end of October. In addition to working on their roster Austin FC started making plans for their 2024 pre-season, announcing they would participate in the AEG sponsored Coachella Valley Invitational taking place February 4–17, 2024. In mid-November 2023, Austin FC announced their initial roster changes for the 2024 season. Alexander Ring met his performance metrics and his contract was extended automatically through the 2024 season. Both Daniel Perreira 's and Damian Las 's options were exercised for 2024. Charlie Asensio, Will Bruin, Sofiane Djeffal, Kipp Keller, Adam Lundqvist, Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, Rodney Redes, Memo Rodriguez, and Maximiliano Urruti options were all declined. Brandan Craig will return to the Philadelphia Union at the end of his loan.

Austin started the month of December, by announcing they had exercised Hector Jiménez option for the 2024 season. On December 11, 2023, Austin FC traded Nick Lima to the New England Revolution for $300,000 in GAM. On December 14, Austin traded up for the first pick in the 2023 MLS Re-Entry Draft and subsequently picked Jáder Obrian, who had previously played for FC Dallas. On December 19, 2023, Austin FC chose Nate Jones from University of Washington with the 5th overall pick, and subsequently traded him for $250,000 GAM and the 31st pick. Austin FC then picked Jimmy Farkarlun from UT Rio Grande Valley with that pick. Austin FC signed Stefan Cleveland on December 24, 2023, as a free agent, bringing the roster up to four goalkeepers.

On January 9, 2024, Austin FC announced they had traded Jhohan Romaña to the Argentine team San Lorenzo de Almagro for $750,000. The same day the team announced they had signed defender Guilherme Biro as a free agent. Biro spent the previous season with Brazilian team Mirassol. On January 10, Austin FC announced the signing of their second homegrown player, Micah Burton. Burton was signed to Austin FC II for the 2023 MLS Next Pro season and has multiple appearances with the United States men's national under-17 soccer team. The team reported for pre-season on January 13, 2024, and announced that Sebastián Driussi had obtained his green card and no longer would occupy an international spot on the roster. On January 29, 2024, Austin FC announced they has signed Damian Las to new contract through the 2026 season, with an optional additional year. Austin FC also announced that Las would be loaned to Louisville City FC for the 2024 season.

Austin FC started February off by adding another player to the roster when they announced the signing of Striker Diego Rubio as a free agent to a one-year contract, with an option for a second. On February 14 Austin FC announced that they had signed free agend defender Brendan Hines-Ike. Hines-Ike spent the last two seasons with D.C. United.

### Slow Start - February / March

Austin FC started the 2024 MLS season in a lackluster loss Austin to Minnesota United FC 2–1, with Guilherme Biro salvaging a stoppage time goal. On March 2, Austin struggled offensively, being outshot by the Seattle Sounders 9–0 in the first half, but stood strong defensively, earning a 0–0 draw. Returning to Q2 Stadium for their second home match of the season, Austin FC gave up a 2–1 lead, allowing a stoppage time goal against St. Louis City letting their win slip through their fingers, then did the same thing the next week, earning another 2–2 draw, their third straight, this time against the Philadelphia Union. Sebastian Driussi made his first appearance of the season against the Union. Austin lost the next week to Orlando City 2–0. For the next game March 30, Austin ended the first stretch of the season on a high note, defeating in-state rival FC Dallas 2-1 for their first win of the season, with Diego Rubio netting the match-winner in the 70th minute.

### Springtime Surge - April / May

The Verde and Black took advantage of the win against Dallas, and followed it up winning a 4-3 thriller against the San Jose Earthquakes. Trailing 2-0 an hour into the match, Austin got three goals in the next 7 minutes - a penalty from Sebastian Driussi, Jáder Obrian 's first goal with Austin, and a goal from Guilherme Biro. San Jose tied it in the 74th minute, but Driussi scored the match-winner 11 minutes into stoppage time on the last kick of the match, the latest goal in Austin FC's short history. Austin wasn't able to keep up the momentum at a road loss in St. Louis where they didn't register a shot on goal, but finally got their first road win of the season, beating the Houston Dynamo 1–0 on an 86th-minute goal by Emiliano Rigoni the next week. It was also their first road goal of the season. On April 26, Austin FC announced they had extended Žan Kolmanič 's contract through the 2025 season with an club–option for 2026. El Tree finished April by shutting out LA Galaxy 2–0 at home on two first half goals, one from Diego Rubio, and another from Obrian.

Starting the month of May, Austin FC travelled to Canada to earn one point from the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in a 0–0 draw in the Whitecaps' 50th anniversary match, which set an MLS-era attendance record for them. In their third Copa Tejas match of the season, Austin FC fell behind FC Dallas in the fourth minute, eventually losing with a final score of 2–1. In their next Copa Tejas match of the season four days later, Austin FC scored another late goal against the Houston Dynamo, with Driussi netting the match-winner in the 87th minute. Three days after that, Austin FC took on Sporting Kansas City on May 18, earning a 3–2 victory at home on a brace by Obrian and team leading 5th goal by Driussi. Austin set a new home win streak record of 5 straight home wins. On May 21, Austin FC announced they had exercised their buyout option for Emiliano Rigoni, freeing up a DP, senior roster, and international slot all at once. Austin FC earned a 1–1 draw against San Jose, with center back Brendan Hines-Ike scoring his first goal for the club. Closing out May, Austin FC snapped their home win streak on what Coach Wolff described as a sloopy performance, falling 0–2 to the Portland Timbers. One day later, Austin announced they had signed Ghana-international winger Osman Bukari from Red Star Belgrade for a reported $7.5 million. Bukari will occupy a senior roster, designated player, and international player slot

### Adding Reinforcements and Leagues Cup - June / July

Austin ended the first half of the MLS season with their worst loss, falling 5–1 to Real Salt Lake on Chicho Arango 's goal of the year candidate, leading to a hat-trick. Alex Ring added a consolation goal on a PK earned in extra time by Owen Wolff. After a two-week break, Austin FC returned to play against the Colorado Rapids and lost 2–0 on the road. Austin then mustered a draw against LAFC on a 19th-minute goal by Jáder Obrian, but Kei Kamara scored the equalizer in the 90th minute. It was Kamara's 145th MLS goal, putting him in a tie with Landon Donovan for second all-time. The Verde and Black got back in the win column with a 1–0 win against Minnesota United. Hassani Dotson received two yellow cards in a span of 40 seconds, and Austin capitalized when Diego Rubio scored his fourth goal of the campaign in the 31st minute. Austin FC was held to only two shots oh the road against Sporting KC, dropping all three points in a 2–0 loss. In their first match of July, Austin came from behind on a brace from Gyasi Zardes to earn a win at home against New York City FC. On a flat performance at home, Austin fell 1–0 to Seattle Sounders at home on a 63rd minute goal by, half-time sub, Jordan Morris. Going into their fifth Copa Tejas match of the year, Austin only needed a draw to earn their third straight title. FC Dallas proved to much at home, winning 3–1, after a Sebastián Driussi red card in the 60th minute. In their last match prior to the Leagues Cup, Austin earned a 2–2 draw against Charlotte FC on goals from Alex Ring and Joh Gallagher. Two of Austin's new signings saw their first minutes, with Osman Bukari starting, and Mikkel Desler coming in as a 2nd half sub.

After announcing the Bukari signing on May 30, Austin FC announced the signing of Danish defender Mikkel Desler as a free agent on June 3. Desler, having most recently played Toulouse FC, was signed to a three-and-a-half-year deal taking him through the 2027 season, with a one-year club option. Desler will occupy a senior and international slot on the roster. On June 24, the club announced the signing of CB and Ukrainian national Oleksandr Svatok from SC Dnipro-1. Bukari, Desler, and Svatok are set to join the team July 18 before the Leagues Cup. Ahead of their match versus Sporting KC, Austin FC announced they had signed Jimmy Farkarlun to an MLS contract for the remainder of the 2024 season, with options for the 2025 and 2026 season. On July 1, Austin FC announced they had agreed to mutually part ways with Moussa Djitté.

In their return to the Leagues Cup, Austin out on an impressive display, playing with just 10 men after losing Osman Bukari to a red card in the 34th minute. Austin earned their 3–2 win over Pumas on goals from Alex Ring, Gyasi Zares, and Sebasian Driussi. Four days later, Austin stuns Monterrey in a 2–0 victory in another impressive display, earning their way to the Round of 32. Goals were scored by Jáder Obrian and Dani Pereira. Austin FC travelled to BMO stadium to take on LAFC in the Round of 32 of the Leagues Cup. Though they put in a quality performance, they fell 2–0, ending their Leagues Cup run.

### Pushing for the playoffs - August/September

In their first MLS match after the summer break, Austin put in a strong performance, winning 2–0 at Geodis Park, bringing Nashville's losing sreak to 7 games. Goals were scored by Jon Gallagher and Osman Bukari's, who scored his first goal for Austin FC. With a thin chance of making the playoffs, Austin's flat performance against Vancouver FC made their chances even worse. Austin fell 1–0, in a home match that was a sub-par display by all players on the pitch. On the road again, Austin FC hoped to push closer to the playoffs, but fell 2–1 to Toronto FC at BMO Field. The lone goal score by Owen Wolff.

## Transfers

## Non-competitive fixtures

### Preseason

## Competitive fixtures

### Overall record

Last updated: September 14, 2024 Source: Soccerway

### Major League Soccer Regular Season

#### Standings

##### Western Conference

### U.S. Open Cup

Austin FC II represented the club in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup based on a deal reached between U.S. Soccer and MLS.

## Statistics

### Clean sheets

- Last updated: September 14, 2024

- Source: https://www.austinfc.com/stats/

## Awards and honors

### MLS Team of the Matchday


Carlos Alazraqui

# Carlos Alazraqui

## Abstract

Carlos Jaime Alazraqui (born July 20, 1962) is an American actor and comedian. His extensive voice-over work includes the original voice of Spyro from Spyro the Dragon; Shameless O'Scanty, Leslie P. Lilylegs, Elliott Sampson and Tad Tucker on New Looney Tunes; the Taco Bell chihuahua in the Taco Bell commercials; Denzel Crocker, Juandissimo Magnifico, and Sheldon Dinkleberg on The Fairly OddParents; Rocko and Spunky on Rocko's Modern Life; Scooter on SpongeBob SquarePants; Lazlo, Clam, and other characters on Camp Lazlo; Rikochet in ¡Mucha Lucha!; Grandpapi Rivera in El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera; Carlos Casagrande, Sergio, Vito, and other characters in the franchise of The Loud House; Mr. Weed in Family Guy; and the Disney character Panchito Pistoles since 2001. He is a weekly contributor on The Stephanie Miller Show. In live-action, Alazraqui is known for playing Deputy James Garcia on Reno 911!.

## Early life

Alazraqui was born Carlos Jaime Alazraqui in Yonkers, New York on July 20, 1962 to Argentine parents. He has Sephardic Jewish heritage from his father. His mother was a Methodist priest. He moved with his family to Concord, California, at an early age. Alazraqui graduated from Concord High School. He attended college at California State University, Sacramento from 1982 to 1986, where he began competing in open mic contests. After winning in his fourth year, Alazraqui took his prize money and moved to Los Angeles.

## Career

### Stand-up comedy

Originally, Alazraqui began his career in stand-up comedy. He was the winner of the San Francisco Comedy Competition in 1993, beating out fellow comedians Marc Maron and Patton Oswalt.

In addition, Alazraqui joined Miller's Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour in 2014, playing some of the dates with Ward and he has a semi-regular segment on Miller's radio show Coffee with Carlos.

### Film and television

Alazraqui is known for his live-action work in Reno 911!, in which he portrayed Deputy James Garcia for five seasons (2003–2008). He played the same role in the series' 2007 spin-off film Reno 911! Miami. As a nod to this role, he also played a "bumbling" Reno cop in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode " Let it Bleed ". He has been a celebrity on the Tom Bergeron version of Hollywood Squares.

Alazraqui also wrote and starred in The Last White Dishwasher, a short film.

In 2020, he reprised his role as Deputy James Oswaldo Garcia in the seventh season of Reno 911! which aired on Quibi. He also appeared in the 2021 Paramount+ movie, Reno 911! The Hunt for QAnon. The eighth season of the series, now titled Reno 911! Defunded, premiered on The Roku Channel in February 2022.

He reprised his role as Denzel Crocker in The Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder, a live-action sequel to The Fairly OddParents, which premiered on Paramount+ in March 2022.

### Voice acting

Alazraqui has performed several voices for Nickelodeon cartoons, including Rocko on Rocko's Modern Life, as well as Denzel Crocker and Juandissimo Magnifico on The Fairly OddParents, Winslow T. Oddfellow and Lube on CatDog, and Scooter on SpongeBob SquarePants. He also voiced several additional voices for the Cartoon Network shows, Cow and Chicken, Kidscity: The Village Dome of Kids, and I Am Weasel during their runs in the mid-late 1990s. He also voiced Spyro in Spyro the Dragon. He was later replaced by Tom Kenny as Spyro in Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!, Spyro: Year of the Dragon, and Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly. In 1997, he voiced Crash Bandicoot in promotional trailers for the game Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, also switching out live performances as him with Tom Kenny at E3 1997. He also voiced the Taco Bell chihuahua in the Taco Bell commercials, Rikochet in the first two seasons of ¡Mucha Lucha! and Mr. Weed (the head of the "Happy Go Lucky" toy factory) on Family Guy. It is mentioned in the DVD commentary track that Alazraqui was reluctant to leave Family Guy. In particular, Seth MacFarlane suggests that the death of Alazraqui's character took the actor by surprise. He also voiced Dr. Julius No in GoldenEye: Rogue Agent.

In 2005, he added the voices for two Cartoon Network series: The Life and Times of Juniper Lee where he played Monroe, a guardian dog with a Scottish accent and three characters in Camp Lazlo: Lazlo, Clam and Chef McMuesli. In 2006, he added Salty Mike from Squirrel Boy and Walden in Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! on Nick Jr. to his credits. He played Wisk in Glen Hill's 2000 film version of L. Frank Baum 's The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. He also provided the voice of Nestor in the Happy Feet films. He has also voiced the Hanna-Barbera characters Baba Looey, Mudsy the Funky Phantom, and Loopy De Loop in modern appearances.

Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, a storyboard writer for Rocko's Modern Life, described Alazraqui's normal voice as bearing "no accent at all". Marsh describes Alazraqui's "Scottish accent" as "one of the best" and that he performs his other accents as "all very well". According to Marsh, Alazraqui uses various accents in his comedy routines. He had worked for the Disney Channel on Handy Manny, where he provided the voice for Felipe, the bilingual Phillips-head screwdriver and for Abuelito, Manny's grandfather. He was the original "voice guy" on the Stephanie Miller Show, later being replaced by Jim Ward, who had previously substituted for him. In January 2008, Alazraqui returned to fill in briefly while Ward recovered from surgery. In 2014, he voiced Mesmo and Torts in Mixels. He voices Tio Tortuga in Sheriff Callie's Wild West.

In 2023, Alazraqui joined the cast of The Case of the Greater Gatsby, a noir parody podcast produced by Shipwrecked Comedy, playing a singing cowboy actor in 1940s Hollywood. The show also features his Fairly Odder co-stars Lesli Margherita and Mary Kate Wiles (Wiles is also a producer). The show premiered on July 26, 2023.

### Web

In 2009, he collaborated with Ted Nicolaou on the web series The Club, which was released in November 2010. The series features Jill-Michele Meleán, Debra Wilson, Johnny A. Sanchez, Lori Alan, and Daran Norris.

In 2013, Alazraqui starred as a drug dealer in one episode of the Melinda Hill web series Romantic Encounters.

## Personal life

Alazraqui resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife and two daughters. One daughter Rylee is a voice actor as well. Rylee is the voice of Rohk-Tahk in the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Prodigy.

## Awards and nominations

- 2012 – Annie Award for Best Voice Acting in a Television Production – The Fairly OddParents - Nominated

- 2015 – Annie Award for Best Voice Acting in a Television Production – The Fairly OddParents - Nominated

- 2016 – Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program – The Fairly OddParents - Nominated

- 2017 – Annie Award for Best Voice Acting in a Television Production – The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show: Ponce de León - Won

- 2022 – Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie - Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon - Nominated