Thabo Sefolosha, NBA rising star is not your typical NBA rising star. He's part Swiss and part South African: born on Lake Geneva, raised in Montreux; lived in five countries, fluent in three languages, plays a mean shooting guard for the NBA, reads Paul Auster, listens to Method Man...

Over the course of three years, Geneva based photographer, Christian Lutz travelled with members of the Swiss diplomatic corp in an official capacity. His own ambiguous relationship to power ("part attraction, part repulsion") reflected through the camera lens captured a dimension of diplomacy he calls "political theater". The result is PROTOKOLL, a handsome pictorial study of authority, power and hierarchal systems...

Andra Borlo channels an ethereal avant pop fueled by woodwind and strings —and the voice of an edgy enchantress; Eliane strums acoustic guitar, her voice wafting over latin percussion with the knowing silky precision of a bossanova princess. They are both Swiss, both New Yorkers, both working musicians with an impressive array of collaborators spanning the realms of rock and jazz. When they join forces it's a Swiss Mix called Swiss Miss where an adventurous brouhaha of Swiss folk tunes come unraveled into a mélange of blues, reggae, jazz—and who knows what else? We caught up with Eliane one half of the Misses after they got back from doing a tour of Arizona and California...

Diplomacy is mostly an intangible thing, so when Andreas Spillman—the new Director of the Landes- museum, Zurich— told his team he wanted to mount an exhibition about Swiss diplomacy, they were presented with a daunting task, "because diplomacy is not something you can actually see" says Pascale Meyer, the show's curator "and also because there are so few objects and so few pictures documenting it." They started with an historical overview. According to Meyer: " We chose different stages in history which were important diplomatic steps Switzerland took. And then we thought about creating an atmosphere which would bring it to the public."

"Everyone got it? If you lose your piece of bread in the fondue, you pay a forfeit! The first time it's five of the best with a stick; the second time you get twenty lashes with a whip; the the third time you get thrown into the lake with weights tied to your feet!" —Fondue scene from Asterix in Switzerland

We're giving 10 copies of the 2nd edition of Erdmann Schmocker's Helvetica Americana Map to the 10 most engaging accounts of Swiss settlers in the U.S. The map (19 x 25, printed on cardboard stock and suitable for framing) is a byproduct of over thirty years of Mr. Schmocker's travels and research. It charts through its geography the immigration of over a quarter of a million Swiss to the United States. In the 19th century several predominantly Swiss settlements emerged such as Berne (Indiana), Highland (Illinois), New Glarus (Wisconsin), Gruetli (Tennessee) and Bernstadt (Kentucky). The Helvetica Americana map highlights such locations, as well as other that have no relation to Switzerland—except a passing resemblance to Lake Geneva (Indiana) or the Jura Mountains (Little Switzerland, North Carolina). Still, Schmocker argues, these faux nomenclatures still point out a degree of Swiss influence in the United States. This is a subject of debate.

For our open contest "When I Think of Switzerland, I Think of..." the entries keep pouring in from children of all ages and diverse nationalities. Here's what we've got so far...

I never lived in a city. I grew up in the soft, rolling hills of rural Switzerland, amid squat brick homes and lush gardens in a quiet neighborhood, just a few yards from the woods, where I roamed as a child. I spent my days outdoors, bare feet buried in soft, velvety grass or dancing over leaves and fir tree needles. I was content. There was nothing amiss. Those are the memories of my childhood: perfect, peaceful, solitary. Yet, as a teenager, I fell in love with Zurich, the City of Ages in the heart of Switzerland, in the body of Europe. I lived only twenty miles from Zurich. In my free time, I felt the draw. I rode a train and walked downtown from the station. The air was always special in the city. I spent hours exploring backstreet shops, where incense beckoned and sales staff smelled wonderfully exotic of Jasmine and Patchouli. My feet grew accustomed to the cobblestones in the alleyways, where once horses tread and found solid footing. Buildings, hundreds of years old shone with fresh paint over aged stone and shadows followed the same, primeval pattern as they had for centuries. I sat by the river on Saturday afternoons and fed flocks of colorful waterfowl. Dreamily, I listened as boats thumped gently against posts and piers. Passersby sometimes joined me for a while, as the ducks made welcome conversation starters. I formed no lasting friendships in those city days, but I was satisfied to engage and disengage, meet and part, observing and learning, noting differences and likenesses in our ways. It was the dance of adolescence, unperturbed by technology and material goods, untouched by consumerism. There was strength in our souls, mine and the city folk's and we met well. Zurich was a progressive city, where teen fashions were born and youth congregated in protest against a rigid adult world; where hippies squandered away time and where the best parties raged. My philosophy of life emerged there and lingers tenaciously to this day. Even in the new millennium, I am not a material girl. I live years from my childhood now and thousands of miles from my city. Dust of East Texas settles in my nostrils with the smell of heat and molded leaves. There are few shadows here and the towns and cities reverberate mostly with engine noise. I don't walk barefoot in the tough, dry Texas grass: it is riddled with purple grass burrs and fire ants. Sometimes, I miss my childhood home in the hills of Switzerland. And sometimes I miss my city. I miss the sounds, as they ricochet off the many buildings and reconvene, multifaceted, like rays of light in a prism. It is a symphony of noise, a medley of familiar songs and it still plays in my memory. I miss feeling the cobblestones under my feet in the narrow old alleys, where cars seldom drive and well-dressed shoppers click their heels from shop to shop. I miss the river, deep and green with algae, home to feathered flocks: shadows dashing after bread crumbs, nimble bodies plowing through cool water. I miss the thick stone walls, the concrete pillars and the heavy oak boat piers. I miss the faceless strangers, who brightened my days and intrigued my nights. Their influence is not forgotten, although their names have long faded into oblivion. Most of all, I miss the scent of my city, cool and ancient in the morning, hot and busy in the afternoon or damp and sinful through the night. There is not another city like my city. There is only one Zurich - and today, for me, it lives only in the past.

During my European trip I kept a journal with various observations. The following are my Swiss observations: There is no span of more than ten feet that is flat in Switzerland. Paris has very little litter on the sidewalks but lots of dog excrement. Lausanne has more litter than dog excrement on the sidewalks. Litter is much easier to get off your shoes. Personal ads look the same in English as in French. The Swiss are very calm for a people who are so punctual. Every public clock in Switzerland in correct. Every one in Italy is wrong. There seems to be only parallel parking in Switzerland. Lausanne, Switzerland could give births to 1000 jigsaw puzzles. (See photo for evidence) In Switzerland, you can ignore no smoking signs in train stations more successfully than you can sit on the floor instead of a bench. Members of the Swiss Army never take the escalator.

My son (age 8) wrote the following poem about his younger brother (age 6) My Brother Fierce Irish, Swiss Sometimes upset Sometimes happy But way fierce. I will come up with a more eloquent story next chance I get. But for now I leave you with those simple words that apply to many Swiss, of all ages.

Out with the old and in with the new. Earlier this summer, the Swiss Helvetia Fund went live with its new and improved website. The new site brings beautiful new graphics, improved navigation ability and an enhanced layout that is sure to give every site visitor more enjoyable experience. Go see for yourself--

http://www.swz.com

Set in the greatest mountain range in all of Europe, home to such iconic peaks as the Matterhorn, the Eiger, the Jungfrau and others, THE ALPS is a breathtaking cinematic adventure that celebrates the pristine natural beauty of Switzerland and the spirit of the people who call theses grand alpine peaks home.

http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/na/imax/welcome.cfm http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/na/imax/welcome.cfm
http://www.alpsfilm.com

Switzerland Video Platform
Upload all your favorite memories of Switzerland on this new video platform:

The Alps - A Giant-Screen Film

As if flavors like Tiramisu, Citron au Poivre, Cinnamon and Blood Orange weren't deluxe enough, Frey has come out with the Freytini, an alchemy of vodka, creme de cacao, Grand Marnier and other fine liqueurs... though not all in one shaker! There's a nice line up Freytinis you see: Cafe au Freytini, Cinnamon Sunset Freytini, Hazel Glo Freytini amongst others. The best part is that you can conjure them in the comfort zone of your home. And here's how:

Meet The Freytini

Ricola is pleased to announce that Ricola Natural Herb Big Bag won the 2007 Woman's Day Best in Beauty & Health Awards in the Cough & Cold Category! Ricola was recognized by the 110,000 members of the Woman's Day Reader Network as the innovative leader in the cold cough category. This award is especially significant because it is based on actual consumers voting for the products they prefer. Here at Ricola, our goal has always been to provide the highest quality herbal cough and throat drops that are delicious and naturally effective. This validation confirms what we've been saying all along... consumers who choose a healthy lifestyle choose Ricola!

Ricola continues to achieve record setting sales and drive the category with new and innovative products. The 2007-2008 cough/cold season should be no exception as Ricola is poised to launch its strongest marketing campaign ever.

Be sure to take advantage of this support and be ready for the increased consumer demand for Ricola.


http://www.ricolausa.com/

Dedicated to providing quality service and personal care, SWISS is committed to delivering true Swiss hospitality to all passengers who are made to feel at home. Enjoy being at home in Swiss First, Swiss Business or Swiss Economy to Switzerland and beyond from Boston, Chicago, New York, Newark, Miami, Los Angeles and Montreal. While on board, enjoy a Taste of Switzerland, as this award-winning culinary program showcases the many regional culinary delights of Switzerland. Listen to various concerts performed at the world renowned Montreux Jazz Festivals of the past. Truly Swiss-made. For excellence in the air, book now at www.swiss.com and be sure to sign up for the SWISS e-newsletter to receive special online offers at www.swiss.com/usa.

www.swiss.com/us