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Television

Adding Human Texture to Leonardo da Vinci's Hagiography

2024-11-18

Beyond the expected sense of wonder, this two-part PBS documentary, co-directed by Ken Burns, brings a unique human touch to the traditional glorification. "Leonardo da Vinci," a four-hour, two-part documentary set to air on PBS on Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m. (check local listings), is a comprehensive and captivating biography that inevitably leaves one with a sense of incompleteness. Such is the nature of its vast and extraordinary subject. As one expert explains, "Leonardo, for his time, holds the most knowledge in the world."

Engaging Narrative and Expert Insights

Narrated by Keith David and directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon, this documentary offers a straightforward yet still lyrical analysis. We delve into da Vinci's early life, family, education, and lovers. The doc does an admirable job of not only explaining his excellence but also his innovation. Just enumerating the areas of his curiosity alone would take four hours, so the focus here is primarily on his output. Even now, its scope and impact remain singular. (Perhaps we could revive more aspects of his influence: Painting is wonderful, but why are there so few weddings where performers dressed as Greek gods bless the union and dance around a giant gilded half-egg? Party planners, something to ponder; da Vinci orchestrated such an event in 1490.)Another expert points out, "For the first time in the history of Western culture, the process becomes the fascinating aspect of how art is created," and "Leonardo da Vinci" follows this path as well.

Half-Starts and Humanizing Moments

But beyond the appropriate awe, there is a consistent thread throughout of half-finished attempts, abandoned drafts, and setbacks. Flying machines that were never meant to fly, hydroarchitecture that failed completely, and paintings that were never realized for unknown reasons. These efforts are presented with a charming "well, nobody is perfect" shrug, adding a human texture to the hagiography. One of the greatest minds in human history trails off in one of his final mathematical treatises because, as he writes, "the soup is getting cold." Geniuses: They are just like us.

Other Noteworthy Releases This Week

From left, Gracie Lawrence, Alyah Chanelle Scott, Pauline Chalamet, and Amrit Kaur in a scene from Season 3 of "The Sex Lives of College Girls." Tina Thorpe/Max."Interior Chinatown," based on the novel by Charles Yu, arrives on Tuesday on Hulu."Our Oceans," narrated by Barack Obama, arrives on Wednesday on Netflix.After many failed attempts over the years, a TV adaptation of "Cruel Intentions" finally arrives on Thursday on Amazon Prime Video.In the spirit of "Floor Is Lava" comes "Human vs. Hamster," a lighthearted obstacle course series arriving on Thursday on Max.Season 3 of "The Sex Lives of College Girls" begins on Thursday at 9 p.m. on Max.

LTS Global Solutions has embarked on a significant journey by partnering with Aquarius IT. This alliance aims to bring about a revolutionary transformation in compliance and fleet management processes. Aquarius, with its 20-year-long reputation for developing cutting-edge fleet compliance and data management solutions, has played a pivotal role in helping operators of all scales transform the way they handle vehicle maintenance, inspection, and driver activities.

Key Features and Benefits

After a meticulous search for a solution that could consolidate multiple aspects of its operations into a single, efficient platform, LTS Global Solutions turned to Aquarius. As a trailblazer in digital compliance and fleet management systems, Aquarius integrated critical functions like compliance reporting, vehicle maintenance, and workforce management into a comprehensive digital system.LTS has adopted Aquarius IT’s tachograph analysis software, ClockWatcher Elite. This allows the company to manage all aspects of driver and fleet compliance, along with driver data, in accordance with UK domestic and EU regulations. As part of this, the logistics solutions specialists implemented Aquarius’ digital driver walkaround checks, enabling a seamless transition from paper-based processes to a more efficient and accurate online system. Additionally, the IT specialist’s maintenance management system was integrated to handle Preventative Maintenance Inspections (PMIs), MOTs, services, and other essential records.Rather than dealing with a convoluted paper trail, the system’s Document Management Portal enables LTS to store all policy updates and procedures in a single app. This gives staff easy access to important company information like driver handbooks with just a click.To enhance transparency and efficiency in managing its workforce, Aquarius’ Time & Attendance solution was included. It effectively monitors and manages everything related to employees, from shift times to annual leave.

Impact on the Business

Dave Hands, Managing Director at LTS Global Solutions, highlighted the significance of this partnership. He stated that the road transport industry has undergone a dramatic change in recent years, and the need for transparency and compliance demonstration is crucial. Creating paper trails was a time-consuming process, but with the digital age, that is no longer necessary.By converting to Aquarius, LTS has streamlined processes by bringing all compliance, fleet, and workforce management requirements under one comprehensive system. This has led to significant improvements in operational efficiency and transparency. From monitoring time attendance, walk around checks, to tachograph analysis, the level of integration offered by the new solution allows the company to operate more efficiently and with greater ease. It has significantly reduced downtime and administrative overhead, especially in terms of managing multiple systems. The access to critical data also enables faster response to any issues and ensures fleet compliance while on the road.

Partnership Success

Subir Gupta, Aquarius IT Sales Manager, expressed his satisfaction. He mentioned that working with LTS Global Solutions has been a great experience. The team was positive and engaged throughout the onboarding process, providing valuable ideas and commercial development suggestions that have been implemented in the software. The full embrace of Aquarius’ software and its connectivity, including using the open API to integrate driver and vehicle data into other business software, is set to yield even more benefits. The team looks forward to more sharing and creativity and a long, successful partnership.This latest investment in the business follows a series of similar initiatives in recent years, as LTS Global Solutions strives to instill excellence at every level. The partnership with Aquarius IT is a game-changer for LTS, and they are excited to see the long-term benefits unfold in the coming months and years.