Octave Records Celebrates the Holidays With Two New Christmas Albums— Charlie Brown Goes to The Nutcracker by Ron LeGault’s jazz quintet, and guitarist Alfredo Muro’s The Spirit of Christmas offer musical holiday cheer in stunning Pure DSD sound– Boulder, Colorado, November, 2023 – Octave Records warmly invites everyone to celebrate the holiday spirit with two uplifting new releases: Charlie Brown Goes to The Nutcracker by the Ron LeGault quintet, and The Spirit of Christmasby internationally-renowned guitarist Alfredo Muro. Ron LeGault puts a jazz spin on the beloved Charlie Brown soundtrack music and the holiday classic The Nutcracker, while Alfredo Muro brings a heartfelt intimacy and virtuoso performances to a wide range of seasonal favorites. Both albums are recorded with extraordinary sound using Octave Records’ exclusive Pure DSD high-resolution audio process.
Pianist Ron LeGault has been performing his Charlie Brown Goes to The Nutcracker show to packed audiences at the St Julien Hotel in Boulder, Colorado for more than 10 years. “The band and I have wanted to capture the show for posterity, and Octave Records gave us the opportunity. We are thrilled to be able to present this music for everyone to now enjoy.” Recorded live in the studio, the album captures the confident yet relaxed interplay that only comes from years of playing together, with Ron joined by Andrew Vogt (tenor sax, baritone sax, clarinet, flute), Curtis Fox (trombone), Dave Weinand (bass) and Andreas Schmid (drums).The quintet performs a host of Charlie Brown tunes like the familiar “Linus and Lucy,” the “Charlie Brown Theme,” “Christmas is Coming,” and others, along with jazz-laced versions of pieces from The Nutcracker including the iconic holiday classic “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” Added to the mix, the quintet plays a wry, swinging take on “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”Alfredo Muro is a concert guitarist, composer, arranger, and improviser. He’s been described as a Latin guitar virtuoso, yet his styles and tastes are far more wide-ranging, from the classical repertoire to folk, jazz, Brazilian and more. He noted, “The idea of the program presented on The Spirit of Christmas was to choose traditional Christmas themes, combined with Christmas music popular in Spain and South America. Many of those songs are connected to my heart – they are part of my childhood in Latin America.”
The selections range from holiday standards like “Silent Night,” “The Christmas Song” and “White Christmas” to spiritual works such as “Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude” (“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”) and “Ave Maria, and songs that are deeply personal to Muro including “Preludio de Adiós” and “El Noi de la Mare.” Muro’s Paco Santiago Marin classical guitar has a deeply rich tone with a wide color palette and superb dynamic nuances, all captured in remarkable fidelity. On “Villancico de Navidad,” Alfredo is joined by guitarists Robert Chirico, Adam Buer and Felicity Muench and bassist Allen Bossard, to close The Spirit of Christmas on a beautiful and graceful note.
The albums, available on disc or via download, were recorded, mixed and produced by Paul McGowan at Octave Records’ studio, with assistance from Jessica Carson, Alfredo Muro, Ron LeGault, and Terri McGowan. Both albums were mastered by Gus Skinas. Charlie Brown Goes to The Nutcracker and The Spirit of Christmas feature Octave’s premium gold disc formulation, and the discs are playable on any SACD, CD, DVD, or Blu-ray player. They also have a high-resolution DSD layer that is accessible by using any SACD player or a PS Audio SACD transport. In addition, the master DSD and PCM files are available for purchase and download, including DSD 256, DSD 128, DSD 64, and DSDDirect Mastered 352.8 kHz/24-bit, 176.2 kHz/24-bit, 88.2 kHz/24-bit, and 44.1 kHz/24-bit PCM. (SRP: $19usd – $39usd, depending on format.)
About PS Audio Founded in 1973, PS Audio has earned a worldwide reputation for excellence in manufacturing innovative, high-value, leading-edge audio products. Located in Boulder, Colorado at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, PS Audio’s staff of talented designers, engineers, production and support people build each product to deliver extraordinary performance and musical satisfaction. The company’s wide range of award-winning products include the all-in-one Sprout100 integrated amplifier, audio components, power regenerators and power conditioners.
Le Diner en Blanc returns to West Palm Beach for its 2023 edition.
This elegant and secret affair has become THE foodie & dancing holiday event of the year and on Saturday,December 16, 2023, a new secret location will be revealed and guests will dine and dance under the stars.
Le Diner en Blanc is an event that transports guests into another world while celebrating the local community. The sea of people adorned in white is Instagrammable while meeting new people or reuniting with longtime friends. The theme this year is “From Paris, With Love,” with dinner à la française will be the centerpiece – conversation and champagne will flow with French-inspired entertainment. Then the night will be closed with one of the best DJs, dancing shoes are a must.
Le Diner en Blanc in West Palm Beach is hosted by Modernique & Co. Project Management with over 12 years of experience in Hospitality Management and Event Production. Fabie Reid, Project Director and Co-host of Le Diner En Blanc says, “We’re absolutely thrilled to be bringing this spectacular event to picturesque Palm Beach County. Over the years, we’ve taken this event to various stunning locations, from Boca, and Riviera to downtown West Palm Beach, and each time, it’s been a captivating experience to witness our community come together at our carefully guarded secret venue. This event serves as a remarkable opportunity to not only unite our residents but also to showcase the splendor of this region to those from beyond our county borders.”
“Very excited for this year’s theme ‘From Paris With Love’ where the guests will be transported to a Parisian adventure without leaving Palm Beach County,” Jessica Palmer, head leader of Le Diner En Blanc West Palm Beach.
Le Diner en Blanc wants to help boost the local economy by encouraging attendees to shop locally and discover some of the most spectacular event venues served by local vendors such as but not limited to Ganache Bakery Absolute Party Rentals, Trindy Gourmet, and Epic Catering that get transformed with the picnic setting.
To maintain the uniqueness of Le Diner en Blanc, every guest observes certain requirements such as:
Dress code: head-to-toe in white only. Elegance and Originality are key!
Jewelry and shoes can be silver gold, or nude
Table setting & picnic items: all white!
French-influenced event where only wine and/or Champagne are served.
As per the county of Palm Beach in the state of Florida, USA, guests cannot bring their own alcohol. Guests wishing to enjoy some wine or Champagne must reserve online through Le Diner en Blanc’s e-store. However, guests are welcome to bring their own non-alcoholic beverages.
To ensure that the location secret is kept undisclosed until the last minute, guests meet at the assigned departure location and are escorted by a Diner en Blanc volunteer table leader for bus departures or pedestrian groups.
So, the event location is left as clean as when guests arrive, they are required to leave with all their belongings, leftovers, and litter.
Guests are to bring:
A small picnic basket or white cooler comprised of fine food, white tablecloth, and serviettes as well as proper stemware and white dinnerware. (Tables & chairs are provided at the event)
A catered meal option can be pre-ordered online and picked up on-site, for those who do not wish to pack their own. Guests wishing to do so must reserve online through Le Diner en Blanc’s e-store.
Le Diner en Blanc – West Palm Beachgratefully acknowledges Champagne Pommery as national partner and, Vie de Rêve and City of Wellington as official local partners of the 2023 edition of Le Diner en Blanc.
To get the opportunity to be part of the experience, people can sign up now by visiting westpalmbeach.dinerenblanc.com/register adding your email then click Validate to enter your name. Once on the list, an invitation will be sent to you by the end of the day.
About the Hosts of Le Diner en Blanc – West Palm Beach
Le Diner en Blanc – West Palm Beach is hosted by Modernique & Co Project Management Firm with a specialty in Hospitality Management & Event Production. The visionary team brings over a decade of expertise to amplify brands and creative ventures. With an unwavering commitment to client success, we offer innovative solutions from project inception to completion. Our multifaceted experience spans diverse industries, providing tailored strategies, trend-spotting, and cost-effective operational support.
For the Silo, Kat Fleischman.
About Le Diner en Blanc
Le Diner en Blanc is so much more than an event. It’s a unique cultural movement that empowers friends of friends to gather and celebrate their shared passions for life, food, fashion, and community, year after year, with a pinch of mystery and a large serving of spontaneity. Elegantly dressed all in white, guests arrive at a secret location for a chic picnic en masse. They bring their own tables, chairs, picnic baskets—all the trimmings—to sit down with friends and make new connections in one of their city’s most beautiful public spaces. The location remains secret up until the very moment of arrival. Over the course of the evening, guests from all backgrounds eat, dance, and reconnect with the finer things in life, as they appreciate the night’s magical experience.
To this day, over 120 cities in 40 countries have joined the ever-growing and international network to celebrate gourmet cuisine, offer extraordinary entertainment, and bring together vibrant individuals and bon vivant around the world. While Diner en Blanc International is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, every event in every city is hosted by passionate local organizers who fell in love with the original Parisian concept and wanted to bring it home and dress it up with local flair. For more info, photos, and videos of Le Diner en Blanc events from around the world, visit dinerenblanc.com.
Bus-Powered USB-C® Adapter Harnesses DisplayLink® Technology to Drive Two Displays, Supports Connection of Computers’ USB-C Power Cable for Laptop Charging and Operation, All Through a Single Computer Port
What’s New: Sonnet Technologies today announced the USB-C® to Dual 4K 60Hz HDMI® Adapter, a new addition to the company’s line of dual-display adapters for Apple® M series and Intel® Mac® computers and Windows® and Chromebook™ computers. The adapter incorporates a captive cable with a USB-C connector that connects to a compatible computer’s USB or Thunderbolt™ port for bus-powered operation.
What It Does: The Sonnet USB-C to Dual 4K 60Hz HDMI Adapter enables users to connect two 4K @ 60Hz HDMI displays to a single port on their computers. This adapter is ideal for use with productivity software such as Microsoft® Office, enabling users to work more efficiently by expanding their computer’s workspace — whether by opening multiple applications on their own screens, editing code or viewing spreadsheets in detail on a large display, or mirroring their computer’s display on a larger monitor. They can also connect a computer to a big-screen TV for browsing the web and watching videos on YouTube and other content at a distance. The Sonnet adapter also includes a USB-C power passthrough port for connecting a laptop computer’s charging cable, and passing up to 90 watts of power to the computer for operation and charging.
Why It’s Important: Apple M1/M2 series MacBook Air®, M1/M2 13-inch and M3 14-inch MacBook Pro® computers with two Thunderbolt/USB4® ports deliver great performance but limit the number of peripherals — displays included — that can be connected. Ultrathin Windows and Chromebook laptop computers with two Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 ports may be similarly restricted. With one port often used for charging the computer, only one port remains open for plugging in another device. More importantly, these computers natively support only a single external display. Sonnet’s USB-C to Dual 4K 60Hz HDMI Adapter overcomes the computers’ limitations to enable users to connect a computer’s USB-C charging cable and two 4K 60Hz displays at once through a single port on their computer, thereby freeing the other port for connecting an additional peripheral device.
How It’s Distinctive: Many dual-display adapters are either incompatible with M series Mac computers, only support lower-resolution displays, or support just one display at a 60Hz refresh rate (the other limited to 30Hz). The Sonnet USB-C to Dual 4K 60Hz HDMI Adapter supports two 4K — or lower-resolution — displays, operates off power from the host computer’s USB or Thunderbolt port, and is fully compatible with M series and Intel Mac computers, and PCs running Windows® 11 or 10 or ChromeOS™ build R51 or later. Also, most dual-display adapters lack a USB-C power passthrough port.
When You Can Get It: The Sonnet USB-C to Dual 4K 60Hz HDMI Adapter (part number USBC-DHDMI) is available now from Sonnet and soon from channel partners worldwide at the suggested retail price of $99.99usd.
About Sonnet Technologies Sonnet Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of Thunderbolt™ technology products and network, storage, and other interface cards for pro users in the audio, video, and broadcast industries. Sonnet’s array of Thunderbolt products includes a broad variety of docks, pro media readers, and network interface and display adapters, plus PCIe® card expansion systems that enable the use of pro audio I/O and DSP cards, pro video capture and transcoding cards, GPU cards, and other high-performance PCIe cards with computers with Thunderbolt ports. Due to Sonnet’s Thunderbolt Technology expertise, it has become a leading designer/manufacturer of ODM boards that enable the integration of Thunderbolt ports into third-party products. For nearly 40 years Sonnet has pioneered and brought to market numerous innovative and award-winning products that enhance the performance and connectivity of Mac®, Windows®, and Linux® computers. More information is available at www.sonnettech.com.
Craving a dessert that won’t weigh you down? The struggle is real. But fear not, as this guide will unveil the art of crafting desserts that are both light and delectable.
The struggle is real, but the solution is incredibly sweet. In a world where indulgence often comes with guilt, these dessert ideas offer a refreshing change. They’re the epitome of culinary elegance, balancing flavor and lightness in a harmonious blend.
The Magic of Fruit-Based Treats
Fruit serves as nature’s candy, offering sweetness. Consider a mango sorbet, a dish that dances on the palate while being kind to the waistline. A chilled grapefruit brûlée can also be a revelation, its tartness mellowed by a thin layer of caramelized sugar.
The Tasty Note: Strawberry Sour Candy
In a realm of endless possibilities, let’s not forget the simple joys like strawberry sour candy. Sometimes, a single piece can offer a burst of flavor and nostalgia, encapsulating the essence of light and delicious desserts.
The Allure of Dairy Alternatives
Dairy often contributes to the heaviness of desserts. However, alternatives like almond milk and coconut cream can work wonders. Imagine a chocolate mousse made with avocado and coconut cream. It’s a luxurious experience that leaves you satisfied, not stuffed.
The Charm of Miniature Portions
Sometimes, less truly is more. Opt for desserts that are small but big on flavor. A single chocolate truffle infused with lavender can be more satisfying than a whole bar of milk chocolate. Similarly, a small serving of panna cotta flavored with a hint of vanilla and lemon zest can be a heavenly experience.
The Elegance of Herbal Infusions
Herbs aren’t just for savory dishes; they can elevate desserts too. A basil and peach compote can be a game-changer, offering a complex flavor profile that’s both unexpected and delightful. Rosemary can also be a surprising ally, especially when paired with citrus flavors in a light sorbet.
The Sophistication of Sugar Alternatives
Sugar is often the culprit behind heavy, overly sweet desserts. But alternatives like stevia, monk fruit, and honey can offer a different kind of sweetness. Picture a lemon tart sweetened with honey, its tanginess perfectly balanced, making each bite a small celebration.
The Enigma of Unconventional Ingredients
Ever thought of incorporating vegetables into dessert? A beetroot and chocolate cake can be moist, rich, and surprisingly low in calories. Another intriguing option is a zucchini bread made with almond flour, a treat that’s both nutritious and indulgent.
The Craftsmanship of Technique
The way a dessert is prepared can significantly impact its lightness. Techniques like folding and whisking can introduce air into the mixture, making it lighter. A well-whisked aquafaba can replace heavy cream in many recipes, offering a vegan and lighter alternative.
The Grand Finale: A Symphony of Choices
The world of light and delicious desserts is vast and inviting. It beckons with the promise of guilt-free indulgence, a symphony of choices that cater to every palate and preference. So go ahead, take a culinary leap, and discover the myriad ways to satisfy your sweet tooth without the weight of regret.
In this guide, each suggestion serves as a note in a grand symphony, creating a melody of flavors that’s both light and irresistibly delicious. The struggle is real, but the rewards are sweet—literally and figuratively. For the Silo, Bill Gordon.
Canadians are still bouncing back from the health impacts of years of isolation. A recent survey of over 1,000 citizens shows that almost one-third of them don’t exercise at all, despite the country’s health officials’ recommendation of at least 150 minutes per week of physical activity. After all, finding the motivation to go to the gym or do that morning run can be difficult when you only have yourself to be accountable for. This is why more people are opting to attend weight loss classes, helping them to stay consistent with their routine. But the effects of weight loss classes transcend merely the physical. Here are a few ways they can benefit your overall health:
Physical wellness
Weight loss workshops are as crucial as meal plans and gym sessions because they provide holistic guidance and tips to keep you on the right track, from changing your relationship with food, sharing stories about your unique challenges, and sourcing motivation to keep exercising, among other benefits. By searching “weight loss classes near me” online, you can evaluate which features work for you. In-person classes allow you to meet with coaches and like-minded peers. If those don’t fit your schedule, a bevy of virtual workshops can connect you to a coach who will help you work on your wellness goals with science-backed strategies and inspiration, even at a distance. Peer group virtual workshops can help you get out of a fitness rut by providing support and accountability. These build the foundation for a consistent fitness routine that ultimately benefits your body.
Mental wellness
Group workouts offer a unique balm to your mental health that working out alone may not. A group setting facilitates a more engaging and energizing environment that encourages you to have fun and even engage in some healthy competition. If you’ve had a difficult day, it can help you get “out of your head” instead of stewing in negative thoughts. In a previous post, we talked about how yoga can calm the mind, relieve stress, and reduce anxiety. These effects are further emphasized in group yoga, where shared energy and cohesiveness can bring a comforting sense of community, encouraging dynamic balance and mental clarity. In a study, 64 women with severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were asked to participate in a weekly 1-hour yoga class for ten weeks. By the end, 52% of participants no longer met the criteria for PTSD.
Social wellness
Mental health issues like depression and anxiety are inextricably tied to loneliness, which is why it’s concerning that over 40% of Canadians report feeling lonely some or all of the time. Excess weight may be another interconnected factor; among obese Canadian adults, 11% report being depressed or having a mood disorder compared to only 6.9% of normal-weight adults. For those who live alone or work from home, social interactions may not be as seamlessly integrated into their schedules, which is where group weight loss classes come in. They can help target the sedentary lifestyle commonly associated with loneliness, as well as provide a sense of belonging for people who need it. Participants often arrange social gatherings before or after classes, such as sharing meals or grocery shopping, to build camaraderie and keep one another on a healthy path for weight loss.
While weight loss may manifest most noticeably in your physical appearance, the team spirit offered by group weight loss classes carries mental and social benefits that can help you keep the weight off long-term. Having supportive figures you can lean on for advice and encouragement enables you to perceive weight management in a healthier, more positive light – and not something you must go through alone.
Today Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO’s Director-General, unveiled a report arguing that the continent has all it takes to become one of the next global fashion leaders, if public decision-makers offer greater support to all those who work in the sector and play a role in the fashion ecosystem.
Fashion is really taking off in Africa, and this report shows that it can be developed even further. In order to achieve this, designers, professionals and the entire production and distribution infrastructure need more support from public decision-makers. The potential is enormous, not only for the economy, but also for young people’s inclusion, women’s empowerment and for African culture to resonate globally.
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, at the launch of the report at Lagos Fashion Week.
Entitled “The Fashion Sector in Africa: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Growth”, the UNESCO analysis shows that the continent holds all the cards to become one of the next world fashion leaders. It is a major producer of raw materials – 37 out of 54 countries produce cotton -, an exporter of textiles to the value of $15.5 billion a year, and an importer of textiles, clothing and footwear to the value of $23.1 billion a year.
There is a growing consumer trend on the continent for fashion Made-in-Africa, particularly among young people – the under-25s account for 50% of the continent’s total population – and among the burgeoning middle class – which already make up more than 35% of the population – opening up new consumer markets. Africa is also experiencing very rapid growth in the digital sector, which is facilitating intra-African trade and the emergence of young talent.
As evidenced by the 32 Fashion Weeks held each year, Africa is also brimming with talent in the fields of haute couture, crafts and clothing. A 42% increase in demand for African haute couture is expected over the next 10 years.
In its report, UNESCO highlights 4 challenges which governments and decision-makers must tackle if they want to realize the potential of Africa’s fashion sector:
1. Legal protections for designers and professionals need to be strengthened, in terms of intellectual property rights, remuneration levels, working conditions and the ability to organize into professional unions and social rights. With this aim, UNESCO is already helping 23 African countries to improve the status of artists through legislation and regulations.
2. Investment must be made in small and medium-sized enterprises, which today account for 90% of businesses in the fashion sector in Africa. Covering the entire continent, they are the gatekeepers of the diversity of cultural practices and expression. Generators of local employment, they are also a powerful lever for giving young people who want to enter the sector a chance.
3. Environmental standards need to be set. While the fashion industry remains one of the most polluting industries, Africa can make greater use of local materials, innovate around sustainable textiles, and raise awareness of sustainable consumption patterns. Production of organic cotton fibre in Africa has already risen by 90% between 2019 and 2020, and now accounts for 7.3% of global production. The second-hand clothing market is one of the most dynamic in the world – representing a third of global imports – but still suffers from a lack of recycling channels, with 40% of these garments ending up in landfill sites, or even in oceans and rivers.
4. Both the transmission of savoir-faire, and formal training need to be improved. Africa is rich in traditional skills and unique textile techniques, some of which are already protected by UNESCO. The report encourages countries to set up mentoring schemes to ensure that these practices are passed on from generation to generation and can continue to inspire young designers. At the same time, UNESCO is calling for an increase in the number of qualifications available in key related professions – quality control, commercial law, marketing – and in training in new technologies, such as 3D printing and e-commerce.
“Across the continent, people are increasingly looking for products ‘Made in Africa’ which they see as a symbol of pride and a way to affirm their identity. But in order to meet this growing demand, the entire production chain needs to be strengthened. This UNESCO report is useful because it maps out the path to achieve this, and it will increase the awareness of public decision-makers”, said Omoyemi Akerele, the Director of Lagos Fashion Week.
Cleaning is called a “chore” for a reason, it’s a pain to do and nobody likes doing it! Imagine if there were robots that could do ALL of the cleaning for you so that you can relax and spend more time living your life. Look no further than Ecovacs Robotics, an award-winning brand of home robotics.
When the DEEBOT D35 was brand new in 2015, it was the first robotic vacuum designed for kitchen and bare-floor cleaning that had “direct suction” vacuuming. Dual-sweeper side brushes allow cleaning along baseboards, which often collect the most dust and is hardly ever noticed. D35 also has smart technology that can detect obstacles such as furniture to keep from bumping into them, along with sensors to detect stairs, so it can remain safe from taking a tumble. Plus, it will automatically return to the charging station to re-energize after cleaning.
Also from Ecovacs Robotics is the WINBOT W730, the world’s first robotic window cleaner. WINBOT’s operation is very easy – users just power her on, securely place her on the window, and press start. WINBOT’s Pathfinder Technology automatically scans and calculates the size of windows and programs a custom path for speed and efficiency. Her internal vacuum pump and powerful suction motor create a double seal that is able to bear up to 26 pounds and a back-up battery and safety pod ensure that WINBOT will stay secure even if the power is disrupted.
The DEEBOT D35 is available for an affordable $199.99, and the WINBOT is priced out at $399.99 [US dollars]. Learn more about home cleaning robots at www.ecovacsrobotics.com.
Dr. Eric Dolansky- Goodman School of Business at Brock University: “Consumers are happier about price increases when they know they’re coming and why they’re happening.”
For years, hotels and airlines, car rental agencies and energy companies have been using a phenomena known as dynamic pricing to set costs for their consumers. This real-time pricing results in fluctuations depending on a variety of factors, but is often associated with supply and demand – and it is becoming more and more prevalent in the sports world.
This economic practice has been studied by Dr. Eric Dolansky, an assistant professor at the Goodman School of Business at Brock University. Specifically, Dr. Dolansky has examined sequences of pricing and the effect it has on consumer habits. While many consumers grumble about dynamic pricing causing hikes in gas prices, that in part has to do with the unpredictability of the increases.
The situation with sports tickets is a bit different in the minds of consumers, argues Professor Dolansky. This type of dynamic pricing is tied to demand, so consumers expect the prices to increase as the nature of the competition increases, or the date of the event nears and the supply of available tickets dwindles. For example, seats in Section 121 at the Air Canada Centre on October 17 for a Toronto Maple Leafs game against the Carolina Hurricanes range from $193 to $223. But in the same section for the Leafs’ October 26 game versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, tickets range from $253 to $288.
It’s not a new idea- from wanderstories.com: “In Roman times, the tickets were known as tessara – small clay discs, which were stamped with details of the locus, or seat number, gradus or row number, cuneus, or sector and entrance gate. For example: LOC X, meaning seat number 10, GRAD V – row number 5, CVN III – sector number 3. Tickets were free, but everyone had to have a ticket to attend. Tickets were distributed to organizations, institutions and groups, who in turn, distributed them to the Roman citizens. As the games were popular, there was also a black market, where tickets would be sold, with high prices for some of the most important games.”
Evidence Professor Dolansky has studied suggests when consumers are aware prices are going to rise from a particular point, and they have a basic understanding of the events that are driving the increase, they tend to believe it is more fair. For the Silo, Stephen Murdoch
Supplemental- Conference keynote presentations by Dr. Dolansky
Clemente, S., Dolansky, E., Mantonakis, A. and White, K. The Effects of Perceived Product-Association Incongruity on Consumption Experiences – Academy of Wine Business Research Conference, Niagara, Ontario, June, 2013.
Clemente, S., Dolansky, E., Mantonakis, A. and White, K. The Effects of Perceived Product-Association Incongruity on Consumption Experiences – Society for Consumer Psychology, Las Vegas, Nevada, February, 2012.
Clemente, S., Dolansky, E., Mantonakis, A. and White, K. The Effects of Perceived Product-Association Incongruity on Consumption Experiences – Association for Consumer Research, Vancouver, British Columbia, October, 2012.
Clemente, S., Dolansky, E., Mantonakis, A. and White, K. The Effects of Perceived Product-Association Incongruity on Consumption Experiences – Southern Ontario Behavioural Decision Research, Waterloo, Ontario, May, 2012.
Data calculated by Learnbonds.com shows that the United Kingdom has the highest tuition fees among the top ten world’s most influential countries at $13,900 per year.
Tuition fees compared
Among the top countries, Japan ranks second with an average of $12,400 to represent a percentage difference of 10.7% with the UK.
According to the data:
“The United States ranks third with average public college tuition of $10,000 representing a percentage difference of 28% when compared to the UK.”
Israel ranks fourth with $9,200 followed by Canada at $4,700. In the sixth position, is Italy with average tuition fees of $3,800. China and Russia are among countries that rank lower in average tuition at $3,650 and $3,500 respectively.
Among the top ten most influential countries, Germany and France are the only nations with average tuition below the $1000 mark. In Germany, the public college tuition fee is at least $900 while France is $620.
Germany’s cheap tuition fees can be attributed to the free tuition policy. In France, the fees are affordable for students with the EU/EEA and Switzerland.
In most countries, the cost of education is higher when you factor in the cost of living. Students have to incur extra costs in food and housing.
Top 10 Countries by International InfluenceDetails: according to 2019 dataData: US News
#
Country
GDP
Population
GDP per Capita
1.
United States
$20.5 trillion
327.2 million
$62,869
2.
China
$13.6 trillion
1.4 billion
$18,116
3.
United Kingdom
$2.8 trillion
66.5 million
$45,741
4.
Russia
$1.7 trillion
144.5 million
$28,797
5.
Germany
$4.0 trillion
82.9 million
$52,386
6.
France
$2.8 trillion
67.0 million
$45,893
7.
Japan
$5.0 trillion
126.5 million
$44,246
8.
Italy
$2.1 trillion
60.4 million
$39,676
9.
Israel
$369.7 billion
8.9 million
$37,994
10.
Canada
$1.7 trillion
37.1 million
$49,690
Apart from tuition fees, students also have to pay for other expenses, such as housing, food, and books, which can run into thousands of dollars a year. However, in the United States, the cost of education depends on the choice of institution. The student loan burden is at crisis levels in the US, say many observers.
Israel comes fourth with an average fee of $9,200 while Canada occupies the fifth position. Between 2019-2020, the average college fees in the North American country were $4,700 representing a figure almost three times less than the UK.
In the sixth position, is Italy with average college fees of $3,800. During the period under review, compared to the UK, a percentage difference of 72.6%.
China and Russia also rank among countries with low tuition fees at $3,650 and $3,500 respectively.
China has invested heavily for years in its education system to make it affordable for citizens and foreigners. Chinese universities have a reputation for offering quality education with high-standard facilities.
France, Germany among countries with the cheapest college fees
Among the top ten most influential countries, Germany is among countries with average public college tuition below $1000. During the period under review, the average cost was $900. Compared to the UK, this is a percentage difference of 93.5%.
In Germany, the low cost of education can be attributed to factors such as the existing free tuition system. However, students can incur extra costs in student union and semester fees. Despite the extra charges, compared to other countries, the fee is still affordable.
However, France has the most affordable college education among the rated countries. The average public college is $620 to represent a percentage difference of over 95% compared to the UK. Generally, in France, tuition fees are lower for students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland. Students outside this region pay more.
Although most students can afford tuition fees in most countries, extra charges such as housing and food make college education more expensive. The situation is worsened especially in regions with a high cost of living. Globally, private tuition fees are usually higher compared to public institutions, ranging between $15,000 – $40,000.
Shoe tossing and shoe posting are seen in most Canadian cities and rural motorways.
Its history and its symbolism are remarkably complex.
Shoe tossing is when shoelaces are tied and tossed over telephone or power lines so that the shoes hang loosely above the ground. Yet shoe tossing does not accurately describe shoes that are affixed to telephone poles or other inanimate objects using nails and staples. It seems that “shoe posting” would be a more appropriate terms for such occurrences. Nevertheless, each tossed or posted shoe represents either personal or cultural meaning.
There is a cultural meaning to each and every ‘tossed’ shoe- but what is it?
It may come as some surprise that shoe tossing holds a distressing history.
For example, many have noted that tossed shoes indicate the specific location where drugs like crack and heroin are used or sold. Moreover, others have mentioned that tossed shoes signify the physical boundaries of gang territory. For this reason the mayor of Los Angeles, California launched a campaign to remove tossed shoes from the city altogether. Further still, shoe tossing may be the product of bullying, theft and other forms of civil disobedience.
Is it safe to say that shoe tossing is primarily a form of civil disobedience or is there more to it?
On the other hand, there are some positive aspects of this mysterious phenomenon.
Shoe tossing, for instance, has been known to represent a rite of passage associated with graduation from an educational institution or a discharge from military service. While tossed and posted shoes mark our social environment in negative and positive ways they also call to mind images from the not so distant past.
Could there be a deep rooted collective unconscious meaning to shoe posting/nailing? H Joie Crockett Photos – Near the entrance to Rangeley Lake State Park you will find this oddity of a telephone pole with shoes nailed to it. The question is “Why?”
The pilfering of clothing and other possessions in extermination camps by Nazi forces during World War II included the shoes of men, women and children. These shoes were generally thrown on top of each other one by one. The result is a dense heap of shoes that were once filled with Jewish feet. Now, these shoes piles exist in Holocaust museums around the world as evidential markers of Nazi atrocity.
Holocaust shoes
Can tossed or posted shoes be thought of without considering the indelible Nazi shoe piles?
This is an idea that has not been explored and deserves further attention in visual culture discourse. It is difficult to deny that the formal appearance of tossed and posted shoes in contemporary society reference past images of Nazi piles of Jewish shoes during the Holocaust. This may arguably be a far stretch for some; but for others, the sight of tossed and posted shoes may trigger the painful memories and agonizing reminders. Shoe tossing is at once close to life but never far from death. The meaning one subscribes to these curious objects is, like most things, one’s own. However that does not suggest that particular objects seen in everyday life, like tossed or posted shoes, cannot allude to the images of history. For the Silo, Dr.Matthew Ryan Smith.
PURPLE are now working on a multi-city arts project in China and Hong Kong with The House Collective, a collection of uniquely intimate luxury hotels that includes Upper House in Hong Kong that was just listed as part of World’s 50 Best.
‘Encounters Across Cultures’ will be an immersive journey that travels across four dynamic cities: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Beijing with The House Collective taking a stance on the importance of creativity within Chinese tourism.
The projects will feature singer-songwriter Vicky Fung, music producer TJoe, erhuist Chu Wan Pin, and the visionary new media artist, Keith Lam. Together, their work will harness the power of biometric data to craft mesmerizing musical compositions and awe-inspiring data sculptures that capture the very soul of each city. Below is a quick snapshot of the key elements of ‘Encounters Across Cultures’:
· Vicky Fung and Keith Lam have created a series of multi-sensory data sculptures that follow four traveling artists – TJoe, Chu Wan Pin, and themselves – as they tour each city.
Data sculpture rendering
· Creating a tangible journey for audiences, ‘Encounters Across Cultures’ will weave together these stories to create four musical pieces and data sculptures, designed with soundscape recordings of the musicians’ movements and biometric data, such as pulse and skin resistance.
Graphic Notation Keith’s Biometric data
· The process includes Lam’s representation of this biometric data into emotive graphics, which Fung reshapes into musical tracks; the biometric data is then transformed into data sculptures that embody each traveller’s visceral sense of the city.
· The House Collective’s four Houses will host the installations, capturing these private journeys into one shared experience for visitors.
This journey begins in October and continues until January, with specific dates for each location as follows:
• The Upper House in Hong Kong: October 9th to October 23rd
• The Middle House in Shanghai: October 30th to November 13th
• The Temple House in Chengdu: November 20th to December 6th
• The Opposite House in Beijing: December 14th to January 15th, 2024
THE HOUSE COLLECTIVE UNVEILS ‘BIOMETRIC’ SENSORY ART EXPERIENCES INSPIRED BY FOUR CITIES FOR THIS YEAR’S ‘ENCOUNTERS ACROSS CULTURES’
Artists and travelers collaborate to capture the heartbeat of four cities, inviting viewers to experience their emotive journeys across each city soundscapes through art, music, and technological forms.
The multi-sensory installations combine numerous art mediums to question whether technology is always a force disconnecting us from one another, or if it can reveal our innermost emotions.
October , 2023 – The House Collective, a collection of intimate luxury hotels, announces the third iteration of its biennial program ‘Encounters Across Cultures’ , which celebrates the immeasurable creativity fostered through multicultural and multidisciplinary collaboration. This year’s program explores the intersection of technology and the creative arts through four multi-sensory data sculptures and music tracks, inspired by biometric data captured during journeys across four cities — ‘Encounters Across Cultures’ will open at The Upper House in Hong Kong, travelling to The Middle House in Shanghai, The Temple House in Chengdu, and The Opposite House in Beijing.
“Art and culture are part of The House Collective’s core DNA and values. Since the launch of Encounters Across Cultures in 2019, we’ve worked with global artists to stimulate creativity and showcase the power of collaboration across borders. This program is not only an extension of The House Collective’s values, but we also hope to invite our guests to explore the beauty of cross-cultural connections, and to be immersed in this unique and sensory art experience together.” – Teresa Muk, Head of Brand and Strategic Marketing at Swire Hotels.
In their first ever collaboration, Hong Kong-based artist and music producer Vicky Fung and media artist Keith Lam have created a series of multi-sensory data sculptures that follow four travelers – guitarist TJoe, erhuist Chu Wan Pin, and themselves – as they tour the four cities. Creating a tangible journey for audiences, ‘Encounters Across Cultures’ weaves together all of these stories to create four musical pieces and data sculptures, designed with soundscape recordings of the musicians’ movements and biometric data, such as pulse and skin resistance. The process includes Lam’s representation of this biometric data into emotive graphics, which Fung reshapes into musical tracks; the biometric data is then transformed into data sculptures that embody each traveler’s visceral sense of the city. The four Houses will host the installations, capturing these private journeys into one shared experience for visitors.
“I do not see the biometric data that we have collected as cold and lifeless data points – instead, each biometric moment is a representation of the traveler’s thoughts and feelings through their movements, and their changing reactions as they enter new environments. We wanted to share our heartbeats, our senses of touch and sight, with everyone through this immersive installation so that they could really feel exactly as we did in each city.” – Keith Lam, Program Artist.
“While we may come from very different backgrounds and live in different places, when I studied the biometric data, I instead found that we were all experiencing many of the same feelings and emotional journeys. The installation brought us closer together, as I felt totally connected to the person on the other side.” – Vicky Fung, Program Artist.
“Earlier this year, we celebrated the brand’s expansion in Tokyo through a cross-disciplinary dance performance that tells the story of honored tradition, modernity, harmony and new possibilities. For this year’s Encounters Across Cultures, The House Collective continues to tell cross-disciplinary stories, pushing the boundaries of innovation and delving into the dynamic realm of Art Meets Tech. Through these programs, we aim to share unforgettable experiences with our guests and expose them to locally curated artistic flavors, where we offer the comfort of being Houses not Hotels.” – Dean Winter, Managing Director of Swire Hotels
Viewers are invited to take a seat on the multi-sensory data sculptures, where they can be immersed in the music created from the biometric data. The result allows viewers to interact with their sense of touch, sight, and sound as they explore the installation.
The House Collective by Swire Hotels is a group of refined, highly individual properties that defy comparison. Each uniquely imagined, The Opposite House in Beijing, The Upper House in Hong Kong, The Temple House in Chengdu and The Middle House in Shanghai were designed for seasoned travelers who seek a different, intimate and personalised experience in luxury travel. Each House is a sophisticated, singular piece of design, created by talented architects and designers, that reflect the unique qualities of their surroundings.
Program Creators
Keith Lam – Media Artist
Media Artist and Co-founder and Artistic Director of Art & Technology studio Dimension Plus. His works have won awards at international art festivals, including Prix Ars Electronica and Japan Media Arts Festival. His works have been shown around the world at top museums and art festivals including Hong Kong Museum of Arts, The National Art Centre at Tokyo, OK Center for Contemporary Art, Ars Electronica Festival, The New Technological Art Award Biennial at Belgium, FILE, ISEA, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, National Taichung Performing Arts Center and Hong Kong Art Festival.
Vicky Fung – Artist and Music Producer
Artist, music producer, singer-songwriter and curator, Vicky has always presented uniqueness and novelty in her works with a strong sense of emotional synchronicity. A Clore Fellow of 2023, she has worked with many prominent music artists in Hong Kong with an impressive list of music awards from media and professional associations and seeks to develop her interest in socially engaged art projects. In recent years, she has ventured into multi-media creation, including “Utopia…Momentarily” (2016) in the New Vision Media Festival, interactive virtual reality experience “Silili and The Tree” (2021) and immersive art and music performance “Soul Walk” (2022).
Joel Kwong – Media Art Curator
Joel Kwong is a media art curator, writer, producer and educator based in Hong Kong. She is currently the Program Director for Microwave International New Media Arts Festival, and the founder of SIBYLS – a creative Arts x Tech consultation and production agency. Most recent produced and curated projects include Reimagines Heritage (online portal) (2023), Out of Thin Air – HK Film Arts & Costumes Exhibition at Hong Kong Heritage Museum (2023). Juried around Asia include VH Award (South Korea) (2022), and Siggraph Asia 2020 (South Korea) etc. She has given lectures in many Hong Kong tertiary institutions and universities and has also given talks at international art festivals including Ars Electronica in Linz, Transmediale in Berlin, and ACT Festival in Gwangju, South Korea.
Tjoe Man Cheung – Guitarist
Tjoe Man Cheung, London-based musician and producer working across with artists across UK and Europe, including Brown Penny and PYJÆN, and in different festivals across the world. Alongside, Tjoe also initiated his own solo music projects and has founded NTBM (a jazz collective formed by emerging musicians from around the world) and his solo music projects. A graduate from the Musicians Institute, Tjoe was inspired and nurtured under the tutorship of Scott Henderson, Allen Hinds, Brad Rabuchin and Daniel Gilbert, with influences of jazz, funk, blues and pop.
Wan Pin Chu – Erhuist
Wan Pin CHU is an international award-winning Erhuist and film composer based in Hong Kong. Wan is recognized as a versatile performer with rich emotions and limitless virtuosity in his music. In the UK, he is the first Chinese instrumentalist to perform in The Duke’s Hall in Royal Academy of Music and have performed in over hundreds of concerts all over the world including UK, US, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Mainland China, and won an impressive list of national and international music competitions. Chu is is also a dedicated composer and have participated in the scoring of many films, televisions, games and commercials.
As millions upon millions of Canadians and Americans look ahead to Thanksgiving with trepidation about overeating,Susan Peirce Thompson, Ph.D., a brain and cognitive scientist specializing in the psychology of eating, offers this timeless wisdom:
Thanksgiving, with its underlying message of gratitude, can help, not hinder, willpower around food.
In fact, says Susan — who is President of the Institute for Sustainable Weight Loss author of the forthcoming book,Bright Line Eating: The Science of Living Happy, Thin and Free (Hay House, March 2017) — when incorporated into the scaffolding of your life, giving thanks before EVERY meal has immeasurable health and weight control benefits, for the following reasons:
It reinforces the routine of eating meals on a regular schedule
Eating regular meals at consistent times is crucial in that it lengthens the body’s fasting window, which increases fat loss and strengthens the process by which cells recycle and repair. It also improves insulin sensitivity and lowers cholesterol.
It takes the burden off willpower
Willpower depletion is a very real phenomenon. In fact, research shows we may have as little as 15 minutes of willpower at our disposal before it runs dry. However, research also shows that something as simple as making a gratitude list can replenish its stores. Hence, practicing an “attitude of gratitude” is one of the best ways to harness the brain’s ability to resist unwanted and unneeded extra food.
No matter where you are in the world, no matter what party or occasion, no matter what restaurant, you can always turn your mind toward gratitude. Doing so shifts the focus from what you want, or crave, to what you have. It also supports mindfulness, helping sharpen awareness of your actions and lead to better choices.
With the retirement of Francesco Totti five years ago, fans had been wondering if his team, Roma, would retire his famous number 10 shirt. In the end, they did not.
That got us thinking, what are the most famous shirt retirements in Soccer – Football history? Let’s take a look.
Kanazawa remains one of Japan’s most curious cities. True to its deep roots, its architecture and layout continue to reflect the style and look that dominated its feudal era during the famed Edo period. Even today, its mysterious districts draw visitors and photographers from around the world who wish to experience and capture its intrigue, which is well-depicted on the Visit Kanazawa website replete with captivating visuals and trip planning resources.
One of its most intriguing elements is its Geigi culture—a world that is quite mysterious to many. In Kanazawa, Geisha is called “Geigi” and the life of these women is dedicated to mastering various forms of entertainment that is performed for guests, from dancing and singing to playing instruments and games. Brittanica notes that “many geisha are also adept at flower arranging, performing the tea ceremony, or calligraphy.”
A report on Bokksu.com notes that, “Nowadays, there are just 1,000 geisha left in Japan, most of whom live and work predominantly in Tokyo and Kyoto. These modern geisha tend to remain within their district, where they’re treated with the utmost respect by Japanese locals, and not approached for photos or conversation.”
For its part, Kanazawa is home to three distinct Geigi districts and, though it can be difficult to secure, a private appointment with a Geigi is actually possible. These opportunities are not for the budget conscious. However, the experience promises to be an unforgettable evening once you are able to get your foot in the door.
A private appointment with a Geigi must come by personal referral, or through a trusted travel partner with proper access when on-site. Once in, the evening is a captivating series of conversations, questions, performances and masterful displays of the arts accompanied by several courses of unique traditional Japanese dishes. Guests are able to engage, observe and take photos with the Geigi while they ponder such a lifestyle and glean a more defined understanding of the culture that is still so vibrant today in Kanazawa’s labyrinth-like streets.
For those who don’t need the private appointment to fulfill their curiosity, there are plenty of alternative options. Geigi Evenings are available at Kaikaro teahouse, the largest teahouse in Kanazawa, which offers guests an opportunity to see Geigi in full traditional dress, makeup and ornate hairstyle. One of the highlights at Kaikaro is to meet the legendary landlady, Lady Baba, who provides informative, entertaining speeches regarding the teahouse and Geigi culture entirely in English. And, if one happens to visit off season when Geishas take a break from full dress, it’s possible to take in the Geigi Practice Session where you can observe the ladies during daytime hours , roaming makeup-free with natural hair and casual dress as they practice their performances.
Geigi culture reconvenes annually each September with Kanazawa Odori, where performers from Kanazawa’s three teahouse districts unite to perform together with various musical instruments and traditional dances that tell stories.
The Visit Kanazawa Facebook page is a great place to get inspired and learn more about the wonders of this enigmatic destination.
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Merilee Kern, MBA is an internationally-regarded brand strategist and analystwho reports on cultural shifts and trends as well as noteworthy industry change makers, movers, shakers and innovators across all categories, both B2C and B2B. This includes field experts and thought leaders, brands, products, services, destinations and events. Merilee is Founder,Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List” as well as Host of the “Savvy Living” lifestyle TV show that airs in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Atlanta and other major markets on CBS, FOX and other top networks; as well as the “Savvy Ventures” business TV show that airs nationally on FOX Business TV and Bloomberg TV.
Merilee also hosts the Savvy Ventures Podcast & Radio show available globally on W4CY Radio—the #1 ranked live streaming radio station—among others as well asall major podcast platforms, including Pandora, Audible, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Streamyard, iHeart Radio and dozens more.As a prolific lifestyle, travel, dining and leisure industry voice of authority and tastemaker, Merilee keeps her finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme.
Her work reaches multi-millions worldwide via broadcast TV (her own shows and copious others on which she appears) as well as a myriad of print and online publications and she is a regular contributor here at The Silo.
***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided or arranged at no cost to accommodate if this is review editorial, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.***
Research from acoustics scientist Dr. Floyd Toole indicates that bass quality accounts for about 30% of your system’s sound quality. So, I’ve experimented with target curves that raise the bass loudness relative to other frequencies and added bass traps to reduce its decay times to improve my system performance and satisfaction. My experiments are on top of already “perfectly time aligned” and EQ’d subs and main speakers via FIR convolution correction filters using Audiolense software. OmniMic software is used to measure decay times and frequency response. I’ll summarize my experience below.
Room Layout and Bass Trap Types
My living room layout (25′ x 11.25′ x 8′) is open on the left and right sides to a dining room and foyer and long hallway respectively. At the back of the room on the right side it’s open to a den. While these openings may act like bass traps allowing bass waves to escape before bouncing back with less energy, there is still much that can be done to improve the overall bass quality. I use 25 bass traps, most in the listening room but 4 in a foyer/hallway, and 1 very large DIY in the dining room and den. Six traps are “pressure” types that use a membrane to absorb bass, while the rest are “velocity” type traps that use insulation and friction to turn bass waves into heat. Typically, pressure bass traps work below about 100Hz while velocity traps work above it. Therefore, they are complimentary and both are needed when a system plays to the lowest bass notes. Pictures of my room and trap locations follow.
Front Wall Trap Placement
Picture 1 above shows large bass traps in each front wall corner extending upwards to the ceiling.
Left Side Wall Trap Placement
Picture 2 above shows black membrane traps on the floor against the wall (with boards atop) and a black velocity trap on its side on the far left. Additional traps are behind the couch.
Back Wall Trap Placement
Picture 3 above shows the back wall with alternating white RPG Skyline diffusion and GIK Monster Bass Traps with FlexRange elevated above and behind the couch, while more GIK traps sit behind the couch on the floor.
Bass Loudness
It’s worth noting my preferred target curve to boost the bass frequency loudness is as follows: 250Hz is XdB 125Hz is X+1dB 63Hz is X+3dB 30Hz is X+6dB This is a gentle almost logarithmic increase to partially-match our hearing’s “equal loudness curves.”
Bass Trap Positioning Affects Decay Times
If bass wavelengths are long and omni-directional, then traps can just be spread around the room I thought. Well, in my room, it turns out that placing traps in the adjoining rooms and hallway helps to reduce bass decay times but not by as much as when the traps are moved and placed closer to the mic or speaker positions. The membrane pressure bass traps for <100Hz were more effective when placed in a three-surface corner and in front of rigid concrete support walls where bass pressure is highest, and less effective in front of less rigid drywall etc. The insulation filled velocity bass traps for >100Hz were sensitive to air space depth behind them, and I was surprised to find some places where they made little effect – not every wall is equal. Trial and error and measurements helped find their best positions.
Calculating Decay Times
If your room is enclosed (and not open to the rest of the house), then one of the theoretical equations may work for you: Decay Time = 0.3 X [(Cubic Room Volume/3532)(1/3)] Divide your cubic room volume by 3532, then take the cubed root, and then multiply it by 0.3 which equals the average decay time based on room size.
However, if your room is an “open concept” or “great room” open to other rooms and hallways like mine, then the theoretical equation may not be best. I prefer to measure decay time in 1/3 octave intervals and take the average from 20-20khz and then add/subtract 15% to represent an upper/lower limit respectively. Each channel is measured separately to spot any anomalies and then their averages are combined as a single average decay metric.
Bass Ratio and “Warmth”
Perceived bass warmth is its loudness and decay times relative to mids/high frequencies and is a personal preference. Perceived bass warmth factors include: > frequency response (e.g. desired target curve to boost bass frequency loudness) > decay time (e.g. absorption amounts) > room acoustics (e.g. dimensions, materials, furnishings & acoustic treatments) > personal preferences (e.g. preferred musical genres)
Musical genres seem to influence how much bass warmth we enjoy. > Genres with More Bass Warmth: jazz, blues, R&B, soul, classical, reggae, folk > Genres with Less Bass Warmth: electronic dance, rock, metal, pop, hip-hop
In attempts to quantify perceived bass warmth, I borrowed the “Bass Ratio & Warmth” metric found in F. Alton Everest’s book “Master Handbook of Acoustics” used for large spaces like auditoriums and concert halls. It uses 2 bass octaves (centered at 125Hz and 250Hz) and compares it to the 2 midrange octaves above them (centered at 500hz and 1KHz). Because it’s based on a ratio, it should work for smaller domestic rooms also I recon. While large spaces use the RT60 metric for decay time, I prefer the T40 for domestic rooms. It’s calculated as: Bass Ratio & Warmth = [T40(125hz)+T40(250Hz)] / [T40(500hz)+T40(1khz)] = should be from 1.1 – 1.4
This means that the 2 bass octaves used in the formula have decay times 10% – 40% longer than the 2 midrange octaves (i.e. a 1.4 value is warmer than 1.1).
At one point I managed to get my bass ratio down to 1.2 which sounded a tad thin based on what I was used to hearing previously. To compensate, I boosted the sub’s volume a bit. Today’s ratio is 1.3 which sounds better to my ears likely because it is closer to how I’ve always had it but I no longer boost the sub’s volume. I might experiment with shifting the entire equation down one octave as I suspect my music with synthesized bass lines run deeper than an orchestra, so the calculation would be: Bass Ratio & Warmth = [T40(63hz)+T40(125Hz)] / [T40(250hz)+T40(500Hz)] = maybe 1.2 – 1.5?
If bass warmth is affected by relative loudness and decay times, then how do we combine them into a workable ‘model?’ One way is to recognize that I can get bass warmth under two opposing situations: (A) short bass decay times but louder bass frequencies, and (B) longer bass decay times but with attenuated bass frequencies.
The downside of (A) Short Bass Decay Time with Louder Bass Frequencies > thin sounding as if harmonics are missing > lacks a certain fullness > possible listening fatigue from having the bass volume turned higher
The downside of (B) Long Bass Decay Time with Attenuated Bass Frequencies > muddy or boomy sound where individual bass notes are not defined resulting in reduced clarity > less clear midrange > bass modes may be triggered for an unsmooth frequency response
And in between these two opposing situations is a continuum of possible situations that I attempt to show in Chart 1 below.
Tips
For starters, the subwoofers need to be perfectly time aligned with the main speakers as a minimum. Use measurement software and impulse responses or get equipment like miniDSP or with DIRAC or ARC capabilities. or Audiolense to generate FIR convolution files. If you only have analog sources then pull the subs ahead of the mains due to the sub’s group delay until they sound lockstep with the mains.
EQ bass peaks using FIR filters ideally or use DSP within JRiver/ROON or miniDSP, or graphic eqs as a last resort. Measurements are a must.
Install both types of bass traps to augment each other and extend the absorption down to 40Hz or lower. I’ve found that open concept rooms will naturally have lower high frequency decay times so you’ll likely need more bass traps to try and bring the bass decay times down and in line with the mids/highs compared to an enclosed room.
Take decay measurements as you move bass traps from one location scenario to another – it’s tedious work. Try and achieve different Bass Ratios to hear how different they sound and take notes so you can revisit your best sounding scenario. You want to strive for as flat a decay line through mids/highs with the bass about doubling the mids’ decay time. Aim for 200 – 500ms decay time with the high end for stereo and the low end for Home Theatre. Each speaker should have about the same decay times across the tested frequencies (i.e. little inter-speaker decay variance).
Try and preserve your mids/high decay times through reflections of hard surfaces like diffusion, or bass traps that have a membrane of sorts that reduce its absorbency of mid/high frequencies (e.g. GIK Monster with FlexRange). Air acts as a natural absorber from +2KHz, and so does an open concept room that doesn’t allow the highs to reflect back with much energy.
Experiment with different Target Curves that boost low bass frequency loudness.
Want Less Bass Boom/Warmth?
If you want less bass warmth then: (i) move the starting point of the bass loudness boost from 250Hz to 150Hz or 100Hz (ii) use a less steep target curve to reduce the amount of boost at the lowest frequencies (iii) move speakers away from walls that reinforce bass (iv) add bass traps to reduce decay times and modal ringing (v) move your listening chair (vi) EQ out bass peaks.
When assessing the perceived warmth of bass, consider frequency response loudness levels across bass and midrange frequencies and their decay times.
Chart 1 above shows how bass loudness and bass decay times can be combined to provide good bass quality from subtle to pronounced warmth. For the Silo, Kevin Fielding.
Kevin Fielding offers acoustic measurements services and serves the greater Toronto area in person and will consult remotely with people farther away. He is reachable at [email protected]
Guitarist Ana Vidović Performs a Spellbinding Selection of Classical Works On Live at Hampden Hall— Renowned classical guitarist Vidović offers a program of J.S. Bach, Barrios, Scarlatti, Sor and more in an intimate Pure DSD 256 live recording–
Boulder, Colorado, September, 2023 – Octave Records is honored to present internationally-acclaimed classical guitarist Ana Vidović on its latest release, Ana Vidović Live at Hampden Hall. Recorded with impeccable clarity using Octave’s Pure DSD 256 process, the album features Vidović in an intimate live setting performing a two-disc set of works by J.S. Bach, Barrios, Scarlatti, Sor and other composers.
Ana Vidović has been hailed as one of the world’s finest classical guitarists. She began playing at age eight and became the youngest student to attend the Academy of Music in Zagreb, Croatia. She has appeared at recitals, concerts and festivals worldwide and won numerous international awards including the Fernando Sor Competition in Italy, the Francisco Tarrega Competition in Spain, the Eurovision Competition for Young Artists, and many others. She is a graduate of the Peabody Institute.
Vidović plays with a beautifully expressive, rich tone, where notes seem to bloom out of her instrument, an Australian Jim Redgate guitar. Vidović said, “Guitar is a very interesting instrument with such a wide range of colors and dynamics. I really try to explore that.”
Ana Vidović Live at Hampden Hall presented her with the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream. “My wish has always been to do a live recording. And finally, I had a chance to do that, so I’m very happy.” Recorded at Hampden Hall in Englewood, Colorado, all the nuance and expression of her playing were captured using Neumann U67 large-condenser main and close mics, along with a stereo Telefunken mic at a distance for hall ambience. The album was recorded using Octave’s Pure DSD 256 process to convey the highest level of clarity, depth, spaciousness and musical realism.
The double album, available on disc or in two volumes via download, was recorded, mixed and produced by Paul McGowan, with assistance from Jessica Carson and Terri McGowan. It was mastered by Gus Skinas. Ana Vidović Live at Hampden Hall features Octave’s premium gold disc formulation, and the discs are playable on any SACD, CD, DVD, or Blu-ray player. They also have a high-resolution DSD layer that is accessible by using any SACD player or a PS Audio SACD transport. In addition, the master DSD and PCM files are available for purchase and download, including DSD 256, DSD 128, DSD 64, and DSDDirect Mastered 352.8 kHz/24-bit, 176.2 kHz/24-bit, 88.2 kHz/24-bit, and 44.1 kHz/24-bit PCM. (SRP: two disc-set, $58usd / 78$cad ; each volume via download, $19 – $39usd / 26$- $53cad depending on format.)
The album begins with a masterwork – a guitar transcription of J.S. Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major. Vidović performs this extremely challenging piece with a spellbinding depth of feeling. Other selections include Bach’s Violin Sonata No. 1, the Gran Sonata Eroica, Op. 150 and Grande Ouverture Op. 61 by Mauro Giuliani, Intro and Variations on a Theme by Mozart, Op. 9 by Fernando Sor, and Augustin Barrios’ magnificent La Catedral, all performed with Vidović’s remarkable virtuosity and connection with the music. She noted, “My goal is to present each piece in a unique way, to try to find things that always have the guitar in mind and what the instrument can do.” For the Silo, Frank Doris.
I bet you did not know these facts from our friends at toptenrealestatedeals.com : British singer-pianist-composer Elton John is the most successful solo artist in the history of the Billboard charts, with more than 50 number-one hits, seven number-one albums, and over 300 million in record sales.
He has received two Oscars, a Tony, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. The revered artist has recently completed his final tour, Farewell Yellow Brick Road, which became the highest-grossing concert series of all time.
Now moving permanently to his Windsor, England estate, he is offering the Atlanta condo that has been his US base for thirty years for sale at $4,995,000 usd / $6,744,249 cad.
John originally purchased a duplex on the 36th floor of the luxurious Park Place high-rise tower in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood for $925,000 usd/ $1,248,935 cad, then added five neighboring units over the years to construct his 13,300 square-foot, four-bed, seven-bath residence spanning two floors.
The meticulously designed home features stunning wood walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, and 360 degrees of city skyline and western canopy views.
A few years back, I posted the “I Found a… Pipe” blogpost – an attempt to initiate a series of found object accounts; exploring the dynamics of curiosity, the chance encounters, the chains of association, the pratfalls and prat-uplifts that may accompany such discoveries.
One of the persistent themes is the idea that electronic-equivalents of sound-making processes can be found for free in the physical world – an ideal driven by poverty and its resultant anti-capitalism, and accompanying skepticism towards commercial electronic hardware flavours-of-the-months. Whereas the “pipe of 2018” had limited sound-making value, this new blogpost examines the musical scales obtainable from multi-holed hollow flints, found during pandemic walkabouts.
I’ve been traipsing around fields.
The flint-rich geology of the locale boasts rocks with hollow cavities – channels left by decayed ancient sea sponges. These hollow flints are difficult to spot, as their holes are usually clogged with mud. After some cleaning with water and bell-wire, the cavities can be cleared, creating almost ocarina-like ‘instruments’. So far, a number of different flints have been found with interlinked channels, each offering unique microtonal musical scales.
These stones, each with their own in-built set of pitches formed 500 million years ago, are good grist for the arbitrary tuning mill.
Why is arbitrary tuning important? I consider it a topic all-too-frequently dismissed. For those who enjoy the divergent aspects of differently-tuned music, or wish to escape the ubiquity of the equal tempered musical scale, it may be surprising that microtonal/xenharmonic music offers very little refuge – it is here that just intonation and “pure” harmonic mathematical dogmatism supplants one tyranny with another. I exaggerate here a bit, but it’s fair to say that random/arbitrary musical scales are generally viewed as unsophisticated in microtonal music circles.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1273936272562753536
A few years ago I tried to establish a historical basis for ‘intuitively selected tuning systems’ in my Radionics Radio project (on Sub Rosa records), but drawing upon a fringe science – no matter how artistically groundbreaking those acoustic-radionic activities were in the late 1940s – didn’t convince many (radionics involves ‘psychically’ selecting frequencies that correspond to thoughts).
Random tunings offer complete freedom, and reveal the idiosyncrasies of the instruments used, as well as the identities of soundmakers. I would go as far to politicise it: arbitrary tuning is perhaps the ultimate musical ‘decolonisation’ whilst also being a practical and philosophical ideal for microtonal music’s LGBTQ+ lineage that embraces such varied personalities as Kathleen Schlesinger, Elsie Hamilton, to Harry Partch and Wendy Carlos – a lineage rarely-discussed, but deeply rooted, I believe, in the opposition to the norms of western equal temperament (and the contra-norms of just intonation and equal divisions of the octave).
The hollow flint… containing a scale.
Hollow flints found in fields speak of the primacy of arbitrary tunings: random, fully individuated tunings literally set in stone.
My favourite is a handheld flint with five channels. Unlike the specially-lipped ocarina, hollow flints cannot produce pure tones when blown into, unless a sharp ‘labium tip’ is expertly chiselled into it somehow (a feature of all fipple flutes). This isn’t necessarily a problem – for instance, sound artist Akio Suzuki has been playing upon unrefined natural stones for decades, eliciting exploratory pitched noise: half-tonal, half-percussive, and sensitively done. Covering the holes on the flint while blowing does produce vague pitches, but too broad to measure precisely.
Kathleen Schlesinger, in her 1939 deep-study of ancient greek auloi (reeded wind instruments dug up from historical sites) and their possible scales remarked that “it is impossible to determine the pitch, scale, or modality of any pipe that lacks a mouthpiece which will play it”.
These rocks are not instruments, and it is indeed tricky treating them as such: even if a fipple mouthpiece (from a wind recorder, for instance) is introduced to the rock (which I did), the pitch of the notes varies due to its player’s breath pressure: the more open holes there are, the more breath pressure is required to produce a tone – and the natural reflex action is to supply more breath pressure, an action so unconscious that it almost feels as if the rock becomes an extension of the body. Try it yourself.
It is possible to connect a small lapel microphone to a loudspeaker amplifier, and place the microphone inside the flint to hear feedback. The feedback pitch is relative to the cavity, and alters according to the fingering of the cavities. I did a brief experiment with this on camera, and posted it to Facebook to advertise the episode of Wavelength on Resonance FM where I describe these experiments.
On the internet, there’s always either a miserable don’t-know-who, or a know-it-all nonsenseclown poised to blurt.
If they’re remotely connected to creative doings, it tends to spur on the mission to legitimise arbitrary scales. On this occasion, one such character (I can’t discern which) emerged from the woodwork to advertise their obliviousness to these experiments’ contexts: “eh, this is like sticking a piezo transducer in anything. Ok; weird, somewhat regulated noise. ‘Man farting in field’ has been Lucier’d to death.”
Maybe this person is rightfully irate to some extent: the volume required to obtain the pitches of the flint cavity is horrendous on the ear. To record it, one rainy afternoon I walked to the field where the flint originated, specifically to avoid remonstrations. Alvin Lucier used compressors to limit the volume of his object-based feedback. This feedback technique actually pre-dates Lucier’s work by eight decades – the feedback flute was proposed by Alfred Graham, patented in 1894 – a failed history I’ve excavated and written about in ‘Magnetic Music…‘ and ‘Failed Histories of Electronic Music‘, and recreated as a working model. Graham recognised the many variables affecting the flute’s pitch, such as battery power, the shape and construct of the loudspeaker and microphone, and their relative positions.
Nevertheless, the feedback flint, if held stable enough, is a fairly accurate approximation of the pitch intervals obtainable. By comparing the feedback-generated intervals with the intervals obtained with an attached fipple, and also with the vague windy tones created when blowing, mean averages can be obtained.
Alfred Graham’s feedback flute, 1894.
With the lowest note registering as 669Hz, the ratios are calculable as 1/1, 737/669, 775/669, 263/223, 269/223 and 828/669 (giving an ascending 167.590, 254.628, 285.622, 324.674, 369.149 in cents).
What can be done with these notes?
Well, the scale of this handheld flint encompasses less than four semitones (3.69, to be exact), which is a restrictive set of notes, but frequent exposure to the notes acclimatises the ear to soundmaking/melodic possibilities. This is something noted by the composer Susan Alexjander who derived scales from DNA bases. DNA bases’ tunings might as well be arbitrary, such is the inharmonic chaos – they seemed “so strange and alien that one at first despairs of ever creating a beautiful work of art, or making any coherent ‘sense’ out of them”, according to Alexjander. By constant exposure to the new scales “played over and over on the synthesiser, some arrestingly beautiful combinations began to appear”… so when dealing with such disorientating scales, perseverance is key! For the Silo, Dan Wilsen.
More can be heard on Wavelength, broadcast on Resonance 104.4FM on 19th June 2020. “A programme of multiple agendas presented by William English. This week: a tape sync with Oscillatorial Binnage member Daniel Wilson who, prevented from bin-diving during the Covid-19 epidemic, instead turns to “ground-diving” to dig out unusual stones from the earth. The potential for producing ‘rock music’ is showcased after a lengthy preliminary chat with William on the current state of the second-hand book trade.”
Attract attention to your feet with these two new VENUS additions to the 2568’s collection.
Are you a shoe junky? If you are, you might take a special interest in 2568’s men’s and women’s new footwear line.
These shoes are comfortable classics with a twist: moccasins, loafers and boots, ballet and pointy flats, in unexpected materials and pattern featuring distinctive fabrics and leathers. Unique details also include colorful laces and decorative tassel bows. 2568 Shoes http://2568shoes.com are inspired by Guatemalan creativity found in garments, handbags and small leather goods.
Fun,bold and funky colour patterns. The Venus line from 2568 Shoes.
The Venus loafers and Vanessa flats come in five different patterns with colors ranging from dark blues and blacks to reds and oranges. The colorful fabrics can make any outfit and can easily transition throughout the seasons.
The Vanessa line from 2568
Sizes range from 8.5 to 12. Price points range from $79 [USD] and up, and for every shoe purchase, 2568 will send a free Guatemalan friendship bracelet. About the owners: Lorenzo Castellon is the Manufacturing/Business Manager and Jamie Lawenda is the Creative Director. The couple met on a job interview and thirty years later are married, have a child and own a sourcing and shoe Design Company.
Another Vanessa example
At first they created shoes and boots for other brands, including Sendra, a Goodyear welted high-end line of leather boots made in Spain. The couple continues to design and sell Sendra in the US.
The SAMOSA boot has a decidely Guatemalan influence. #goodlooking #boot
Cross-border shopper alert! The Venus loafers and Vanessa flats can be purchased at PiperLime, ThomShoes, ShoeInn and FreePeople. The Newman is available in four other colors: patent leather black and red, silver snakeskin embossed leather, and white leather.
What does it take to make $1 Million Dollars at a business in just six months? Devotion. However, according to one expert, devotion and commitment are two totally different things.
Makhosi Nejeser, known as “The Royal Shaman”, is an authentic African shaman specializing in energetic alignment and human potential. She helps individuals create powerful transformations amplifying success and mentors high performing entrepreneurs. Makhosi is being recognized as a Spiritual Guide For Business Empires. Asked about devotion versus commitment she said:
“You have to be all in. Devotion is that. It’s the same thing that generates $1M in revenue.
Right now, as a society we suck at this.
Devotion is a different energy. When you’re devoted to something you’re approaching it with your whole heart. Commitment is about what you can get out of a situation. Devotion is about what you can give. Commitment equals responsibility while devotion is love.
It’s the ones that are devoted to their message and vision that really win big.”
With years of experience in mental & spiritual wellness, Makhosi can give valuable insight on:
Her journey from making $8/hour to generating $1M in revenue over just 6 months
Becoming your best by taking aligned action and implementing incremental change
Turning obstacles into opportunities and portals of evolution that improve yourself
How using integration can bring fulfillment, freedom, and mastery to your life
Understanding the energetic blueprint to reach your greatest human potential
Rewiring C-Suite executives and guiding their teams to maximize themselves
Referred to as “The Get Sh*t Done Shaman” by Refinery29, profiled in Business Insider, and featured for her expertise inPOPSUGAR, Entrepreneur, Authority, Thrive Global, Nicki Swift, and on LA news station KTLA 5,Makhosi can provide incredible insight.
Backyard Movie Night was a 3D triple bill. First was ROBOT MONSTER (1953). Having never seen this, I only know its infamous reputation as one of the Worst Films Ever Made. After watching the 3D Blu-ray, I can say that it is like most films given that title: Not even close to the worst.
Like most films given that distinction, this one is just too much of its own weird thing. I certainly wouldn’t call it “good”, but I was glued to the screen nonetheless. It’s almost like outsider art, the way it presents a guy in a gorilla suit and a diver’s helmet and tells us “This guy right here? He’s an alien who managed to destroy all life on Earth. He’s that good.”
(It’s more impressive than the Psychlos defeating all of Earth’s militaries in nine minutes.)
Turns out there are eight people left, so maybe he’s not *that* good. And so in between hanging out in his cave — communicating to his superior on what appears to be a mirror on top of a chest of drawers, working with machines that make bubbles for some reason — “Ro-man” stalks the “hu-mans”.
Ro-man tells the humans that if they give up, he will give them a painless death. Otherwise, they’re gonna take the scenic route to Oblivion.
There are some surprisingly dark moments in this goofy movie, like when the father of the group casually mentions that the gun he’s carrying is not for defense purposes, it’s for taking him and his loved ones out a la THE MIST when the time comes.
Believe it or not, I found it kind of effective, specifically the doom-laden atmosphere of the whole thing. Whenever our hu-mans are looking to come out on top of things, here comes another transmission from Ro-man, pointing at them not unlike those shitty Grim Reaper tattoos that say “YOUR NEXT!” (sic) on them, telling them how their plans won’t work, with Elmer Bernstein’s portentous score of Death blaring over it.
Director Phil Tucker attempted suicide after this movie, and yeah, that tracks, because it’s one of those movies where you can catch traces of the director’s sickness here and there, in between the bad acting and ridiculous scenarios.
The 3D was pretty snazzy; in addition to the bubbles, there’s a nice effect where separate images on the left and right eye overlap.
Anyway, had there been any angora or crossdressing, you’d have the best Ed Wood film that Ed Wood never made.
Next was AMITYVILLE 3-D (1983), with Tony Roberts as a recently-divorced journalist who gets a great deal on a house, on account of that house being the site of a murder-suicide. Soon, the house starts pulling its haunted shenanigans, before upgrading to putting some serious hurt on Roberts and those around him.
Not particularly scary (or good), but I think there’s enjoyment to be had if seen as a 1950s drive-in scare flick updated to the 80s. In an alternate universe, MST3K would’ve covered this during the Joel era, except it would’ve been one of those Film Ventures International pick-ups with opening/closing credits made on a public access-quality character generator, with an alternate title like “Demon in the House” or something.
The 3D added to the fun, with director Richard Fleischer and d.o.p. Fred Schuler showing no shame in shoving objects directly at the audience.
It doesn’t help that Roberts is such a dunce, I get that he has no time for superstitions, but it gets ridiculous. I found myself liking everybody else over him, especially Tess Harper as Roberts’ ex-wife; she gives the best (and most sympathetic) performance. Candy Clark plays Roberts’ partner who spends the entire movie horrified that something really bad is going to happen to her, and then it does; that’s one of my favorite horror tropes, btw, the scaredy-cat/walking self-fulfilling prophecy.
Also, Lori Loughlin and Meg Ryan show up, and while I’m not a big fan of how girls generally looked in the 80s, I gotta say they looked really nice here. (I hope that reads as pervy-uncle as I intended it.)
Last was GOODBYE TO LANGUAGE (2014), in which Jean-Luc Godard presents two couples going through the same thing; buying books, philosophizing, watching DVDs, philosophizing, driving around, showering, philosophizing, walking around naked, philosophizing, taking watery shits in front of each other, philosophizing, and so on and so forth.
Also, there are occasional cutaways to a dog, who is awesome by virtue of the fact that he’s a dog. The narrator and characters all remark at one point or another how animals are better at taking in the world, because they don’t complicate with the kind of bullshit hu-mans are wont to do.
The film is right. Animals rule, hu-mans drool.
I fear I might have made this sound simpler than it plays out. This is Godard, after all, a filmmaker who in his younger years was known for fucking around and breaking rules in with a form of storytelling that he thought was already getting old. If he was bored then, then it shouldn’t surprise you how bored he must’ve been by the time he made this film, in his 80s.
It’s not enough for him to shoot this in 3D, he has to jack around with the format in any way possible. One can imagine Godard feeling like a kid again, doing things with 3D that either you’re not supposed to do, or never thought to do.
He messes with the perspectives, the lighting, the angles. At one point, Godard (and cinematographer Fabrice Aragno) make this odd move of keeping the left lens on a man sitting down on a bench, while moving the right lens away from him as it follows a woman going to talk to another man a couple yards away. I’d close my left eye to see the woman, and then if I closed my right eye, I’d only see the man.
I’m not sure what kind of use could come out of such a technique, but I’m glad Godard actually bothered to do it, because I’m sure it’s the kind of thing a camera nerd will shame you for even entertaining the thought of pulling off. And so I’d like to imagine those very same camera nerds pulling what’s left of the hair on their know-it-all No You Can’t Do That heads.
I feel less enthused about his wild sound mix, which randomly cues tracks from DJs like Beethoven and Tchaikovsky (they make their own beats!), only to just as randomly cut them off. The sound is also all over the place, sometimes playing from the left speaker before moving to the right, and the volume alternates between too low and too loud.
I’m not going to pretend I understood all of it, and I’m not even sure I was supposed to understand *any* of it. It’s very much Godard expressing himself, and he probably couldn’t give a good god damn if you could make heads, tails, or snails from it.
And I’ll be honest, some of it left me thinking that if this had been made by some rando, instead of one of the legends behind the French New Wave, it’d probably end up being covered on some annoying OMG How Did Dis Bad Movie Get Made WTF?!? channel on YouTube, rather than gather awards and accolades by the cine-literati.
But it sure is *something*, and whatever that something is, I felt a feeling throughout that I can’t classify as Negative. Some of it was even pretty funny — intentionally so, even! For The Silo, E.F. Contentmenthttps://www.facebook.com/efcontentment.
As many dedicated foodies will know, hunting for the most incredible food spots when traveling requires a savvy approach. There are plenty of bustling food markets, charming eateries, and hidden culinary gems around the world to explore – but where are the best cities to be a foodie?
To find out, our friends at Spin Genie looked at various factors, such as the average cost of visiting a restaurant in different parts of the world, the cities with the most restaurants, and the most Instagrammable food spots.
Whether you’re looking to try out sizzling street food in Bangkok or seeking the ultimate Michelin-star experience in Paris, we’ll reveal the ultimate travel guide for food lovers and unique spots to indulge in flavourful cuisines from across the globe.
The Best Foodie Cities Around the World
1. George Town, Malaysia – 7.86/10
George Town takes the crown as the best foodie city, scoring 7.86 out of 10. The colourful, multicultural capital is surrounded by stunning colonial streets and is described as a center for vibrant culture, street art, and the country’s best street food.
Also in the top place for its wide range of affordable food spots, George Town has plenty to offer food lovers, from Michelin-starred feasts to street eats. Teksen Restaurant is a top choice, serving delicious dishes since 1965. The well-known Chinese restaurant among its locals has won the hearts of serious foodies with its traditional Cantonese cuisine infused with a local twist.
2. Taipei, Taiwan – 7.31/10
Taipei follows closely behind, scoring 7.31 out of 10. The food capital of Taiwan offers an array of things to experience and explore, from the island’s fascinating temple culture and architecture to its indulgent food at affordable prices.
Some of the best food spots for quality, flavourful dishes and good service in the capital include Din Tai Fung, which has been serving traditional Chinese dishes since its opening
in the 1980s. Another top-rated restaurant is Raw, a French-style restaurant with vibrant cuisine infused with Taiwanese flavours.
3. Osaka, Japan – 7.24/10
Described as the economic powerhouse of the Kansai Region, Osaka is a large port city known for its modern architecture, vibrant nightlife, and hearty street food. If you’re looking for some of the best food spots in Japan, Osaka has plenty to offer.
Osaka Cuisine Asai is a Michelin-star restaurant that serves various course meals made with fresh, seasonal ingredients daily. With such a vibrant food scene, it’s no wonder the popular city completes the top three, scoring 7.24 out of 10.
The Most Affordable Foodie Cities for a Quick Bite
1. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Average cost at a cheap restaurant: C$1.98
Chiang Mai grabs first place as the foodie city with the most affordable meals at a cheap restaurant. On average, meals are incredibly inexpensive, costing just C$1.98. Some of the best cheap eats in Chiang Mai include The Breakfast Club, a bakery restaurant at the heart of Chiang Mai, and Tong Tem Toh, a popular restaurant specializing in Northern Thai cuisine.
The Most Expensive Foodie Cities for a Quick Bite
1. London, England
Average cost at a cheap restaurant: C$34.70
London tops the list when it comes to the foodie city you’ll most likely pay more for, even while dining at a cheap restaurant. The capital city harbours some of the world’s best hotels, bars, and restaurants, but sometimes at a hefty price.
With over 300 Michelin-star restaurants in the city alone, it’s no surprise London has a wide range of food hot spots that tend to be more expensive. In fact, on average, you can expect to spend C$34.70 for a meal.
Foodie Cities with the Most Affordable Mid-range Restaurants
1. George Town, Malaysia
Average cost at a mid-range restaurant: C$13.46
George Town tops the list for having some of the most affordable meals at a mid-range restaurant. On average, a meal for two costs as little as C$13.46, much lower than in many other major foodie cities.
One of the most popular areas for street food is New Lane; here, you can find stalls selling everything from BBQ chicken wings to rice noodle rolls at highly affordable prices.
Foodie Cities with the Most Expensive Mid-range Restaurants
1. Copenhagen, Denmark
Average cost at a mid-range restaurant: C$160.21
Described as a classy city with many small independent galleries and cafés, Copenhagen offers diverse worldwide cuisines, from Taiwanese to Ethiopian food spots. There are also around 68 Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants within the city.
It comes as no surprise that the city is the most expensive for a meal. As a matter of fact, it costs as much as C$160.21 for a three-course dinner for two. If you’re seeking a Michelin-star experience for a moderate price, Selma is a great restaurant to experience traditional Danish lunch.
The Foodie Cities with the Most Cheap Restaurants
1. George Town, Malaysia
Total number of cheap restaurants: 280
Number of cheap restaurants per 10,000 population: 17.7
With many favourites, such as Siam Road Charcoal Char Kuey Teow, New Lane Street Food stalls, and the Tai Tong Restaurant, it is no surprise that George Town grabs first place as the city with the most affordable joints. There are just under 300 cheap eats to discover in George Town, with roughly 17.7 cheap restaurants per 10,000 population.
The Foodie City with the Most Mid-range Restaurants
1. Paris, France
Total number of mid-range restaurants: 8,410
Number of mid-range restaurants per 10,000 population: 36.6
The capital of France and a major European city, Paris, is one of the global centers for art, fashion, culture, and, of course, food. Known for its cafe culture, there are plenty of opportunities to grab a bite.
Le Truffaut, Maison, and Le Cadoret, which serve classic French food, are just some of the hottest restaurants in Paris right now.
The Foodie City with the Most Fine-dining Restaurants
1. Paris, France
Total number of fine dining restaurants: 709
Number of fine dining restaurants per 10,000 population: 3.1
Once again, Paris tops the list for the foodie city with the most fine-dining restaurants. The city has, on average, 3.1 fine-dining restaurants per 10,000 of the population. From Odette to Atelier Maître Albert, the city has an impressive 709 fine-dining restaurants in total. This comes as no surprise as the famous capital is home to some of the most renowned restaurants in the world.
The Most Instagrammed Foodie Hotspots
1. Melbourne, Australia
Instagram hashtags: #Melbournefoodie
Number of Instagram hashtags: 2.8 Million
Melbourne takes the crown for the most Instagrammed food spot with a whopping 2.8 million posts for the hashtag #Melbournefoodie. Some of the most Instagrammable dining experiences include Sebastian, a restaurant reminiscent of the sunny shores of San Sebastian; The Kettle Black, a café featured in Vogue Living; and Higher Ground, a one-of-a-kind location with three levels of dining space and 15-meter high ceilings.
Highest-earning Influential Foodies
1. Gordon Ramsay
Potential earnings: C$64,965 (£37,740)
When it comes to the highest-earning foodie influencer in the world, it comes as no surprise that the British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay tops the list with an impressive potential earnings figure of C$64,965 (£37,740) per sponsored post on Instagram.
During his career, the multi-Michelin-starred chef has opened a string of successful restaurants worldwide, including the UK, France and Singapore. Also a star on the small screen, Gordon Ramsey has been featured in shows such as MasterChef US, Kitchen Nightmares, Hell’s Kitchen, and Hotel Hell.
Thriving as one of the most famous restaurateurs today, the MasterChef has some top-tier restaurants for foodies to visit, such as the Restaurant Gordon Ramsay located on Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea, London. Holding three Michelin stars, foodies can expect nothing but the finest seasonal ingredients for the most elegant modern French cuisines.
The Best Foodie Cities in the US and Canada
1. Savannah, Georgia – 7.86/10
Savannah tops the list as the best foodie city, scoring 7.86 out of 10, known for its beautiful coastal landscapes, charming architecture, and its rich, vibrant history. The city’s food scene is just as impressive. From plentiful coastal cuisines to flavours from around the world – Savannah knows how to serve a good time and a good meal.
A top foodie destination in Savannah for locals, tourists, and celebrities alike is the Olympia Cafe. After more than three decades in business, the dining establishment thrives, serving up a storm with its much-loved traditional Greek and Mediterranean menu.
2. Las Vegas, Nevada – 7.78/10
In second place is Nevada’s finest – Las Vegas, with a score of 7.78 out of 10. The food scene in Las Vegas has grown to become a so-called “Gourmet Rooms” galore hailed by celebrities.
From Bardot Brasserie to Wing Lei, the first Chinese restaurant in the United States to be awarded a Michelin star, the city has every genre of food imaginable, all at various price points.
3. Atlanta, Georgia – 7.26/10
Ranking in third place is Atlanta, scoring 7.26 out of 10. From century-old diners to award-winning eateries, Atlanta offers some of the best dining experiences in the country and is described as one of the nation’s best food cities. The city caters to all tastes and palates, whether you prefer classic southern cuisines or top-tier modern dishes.
Bacchanalia is one of the top-rated restaurants in the city, offering guests a complete dining experience. You will not be disappointed if you opt for their signature dishes or divine four-course tasting menu.
Foodie Cities in the US and Canada with the Most Affordable Quick Bites
1. Savannah, Georgia
Average cost of a meal at a cheap restaurant: C$16.26 (US$12.00)
When it comes to foodie cities with the most affordable meal at a cheap restaurant, Savannah grabs first place with an average of C$16.26 (US$12.00) for a decent plate of food.
If you’re looking for a new dinner spot to try out, Savannah has an array of places to add to your list, including southern favourites such as The Olde Pink House. Whether you’re in search of classic southern cuisines such as shrimp, grits, and buttery biscuits or a plant-based brunch, you won’t run out of options.
Foodie Cities in the US and Canada with the Most Expensive Quick Bites
1. Saint John, New Brunswick
Average cost of a meal at a cheap restaurant: C$35.41 (US$26.13)
Home to a variety of cafes and restaurants that offer an array of colourful cuisines, international dishes, and the ultimate Canadian comfort foods, Saint John tops the list as the foodie city with the most expensive meals at a cheap restaurant. On average, you can expect to pay C$35.41 (US$26.13).
Foodie Cities in the US and Canada with the Most Affordable Mid-range Restaurants
1. Winnipeg, Manitoba
Average cost of a meal at a mid-range restaurant: C$75.89 (US$56.00)
Winnipeg has many great food spots. In fact, a couple of the city’s restaurants are seen as some of Canada’s best eateries, with an average price of C$75.89 (US$56.00). If you’re looking for a trend-setting eatery in Winnipeg, Deer and Almond is the perfect blend of global and local flavours.
Foodie Cities in the US and Canada with the Most Expensive Mid-range Restaurants
1. Seattle, Washington
Average cost of a meal at a mid-range restaurant: C$162.63 (US$120.00)
Surrounded by the Olympic mountains and evergreen forests, Seattle is a hub for many attractions, entertainment, and food and drink spots. The beautiful food scene in the city offers visitors anything from local seafood to downtown gems.
Whether you want to try classic or unique cuisine, Seattle offers it all, from Pacific Northwest cuisine inspired by Filipino-American flavours to contemporary dishes bursting with rich seasonings. However, these delicious cuisines come with a hefty price tag. The average meal cost at a mid-range restaurant in Seattle is C$162.63 (US$120.00).
The Foodie Cities in the US and Canada with the Most Cheap Restaurants
1. Victoria, British Columbia
Number of mid-range per 10,000 population: 11.2
A great place for food lovers to explore and enjoy the local culinary scene is Victoria. The Canadian city has a host of hidden foodie gems and fine dining hotspots that will leave you spoilt for choice.
The city not only has a thriving culinary scene, but it is also the top destination with the highest number of cheap restaurants in both the US and Canada, with an estimated 11.2 affordable restaurants per 10,000 population.
Foodie Cities in the US and Canada with the Most Mid-range Restaurants
1. Victoria, British Columbia
Number of mid-range per 10,000 population: 36.7
Also the top foodie city with the highest number of cheap restaurants, Victoria once again tops the list with the highest number of mid-range restaurants in both the US and Canada.
Whether it’s mouth-watering Chinese cuisine or Danish baked goodies, the city has enough colour and flavour to satisfy culinary cravings at any price point. As a result of its large, diverse range of eateries, Victoria has approximately 36.7 mid-range restaurants per 10,000 population.
The Foodie Cities with the Most Fine-dining Restaurants in the US and Canada
1. Las Vegas, Nevada
Number of fine dining per 10,000 population: 2.3
From Michelin-starred restaurants to world-class cuisine, Las Vegas offers a memorable dining experience. The city tops the list with an estimated 2.3 fine dining establishments per 10,000.
Whether it’s indulging in traditional French fare at Joël Robuchon or immersing yourself in the mouth-watering experience of Japanese delicacies at the world-famous Nobu in Caesars Palace, even the most demanding culinary appetite is guaranteed satisfaction.
The Most Instagrammed Foodie Hotspots in the US and Canada
1. New York City, New York
Instagram hashtags: #NYCfoodie
Number of Instagram posts: 2.1 Million
As a city bursting with character, it is no surprise that New York City takes the top spot for the most Instagrammable dining experiences. From floral-covered interior designs to chic modern rooftops, the Big Apple really does have something for everyone.
Filled with iconic landmarks, the popular city bagged over 2.1 million posts on Instagram using the hashtag #NYCfoodie.
Highest-earning Influential Foodies in the US and Canada
1. Chrissy Teigen
Potential earnings: C$182,849 (US$135,150)
With several best-selling cookbooks under her belt, the American model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen is crowned first place as the highest-earning foodie influencer on Instagram across the US and Canada.
The popular star has also been featured on several cooking channels, such as Cookies and Cocktails and Chrissy Teigen’s Hungry. She also launched her own cooking website back in 2019. Therefore it’s no wonder that the well-known star is estimated to make a whopping sum per sponsored post on the social media platform.
Some of Teigen’s favourite food spots include Giorgio Baldi, a popular restaurant on the Pacific Coast and Via Veneto, a lively Italian eatery in Santa Monica that combines organic and locally sourced ingredients with its creative cuisines.
Methodology
Using a list of articles such as Time Out and Luxury Columnist, we created a seed list of the top foodie cities around the world. With this list, we then used Numbeo to source the average cost of a cheap restaurant as well as the cost of a three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant. Please note that each currency used was also taken from Numbeo. This data was collected on 01/08/2023.
Then, using Trip Advisor, we gathered data on the number of cheap, mid-range, and fine-dining restaurants by using the relevant filters on the site. The data collected was solely based on the number of restaurants from within each city, not including nearby areas. Data collection of this was completed on 21/08/2023.
To calculate per 10,000 population, we used City Population to search for each city’s population. We took the most current data available for each location and only considered cities with more than 50,000 population. This data was completed on 16/08/2023.
To find out which cities are the most Instagrammable, we used Instagram to search for various hashtags relating to each city e.g. #[CITY]foodie. This data collection was completed on 22/08/2023.
Using various articles from Google, our friends also compiled a list of the top foodie influencers, considering how many followers they have on the social media platform. We then calculated their highest estimated potential earnings per sponsored post by using the Instagram Influencer Sponsored Post Money Calculator. The data collection for this section was completed on 23/08/2023.
From Stranger Things dropping the first teaser for its final season to Sex Education Season 4, September is shaping up to be an exciting month for TV fans. New research has revealed the most popular TV series and Stranger Things tops the list. *costs are listed in USD
Our friends at Spin Genie have looked at a range of factors including the cost of the pilot episode, annual Google searches, number of Instagram posts and TikTok views as well as the IMDb rating of the world’s most popular TV series to determine the most successful series of all time.
The most Googled TV shows:
Rank
Show
Annual Google searches
1
Stranger Things
191.3 M
2
Game Of Thrones
69.2 M
3
The Walking Dead
54.1 M
4
Bridgerton
22.5 M
5
The Witcher
21.7 M
6
Westworld
17.1 M
7
The Mandalorian
15.7 M
8
Narcos
11.0 M
9
Orange Is the New Black
10.3 M
10
13 Reasons Why
10.2 M
The most searched for TV show is Stranger Things, with over 191 million annual searches. The show is also Instagram’s most popular TV show with over 15.5 million hashtagged posts on the app.
Taking the second spot is Game Of Thrones which receives nearly 70 million Google searches each year. The series was a worldwide success, with media attention lasting for eight years while the show was on air, drawing over 18.1 billion TikTok views and 13.8 million Instagram posts.
The Walking Dead takes the third spot with 54.1 million Google searches annually. The Walking Dead revolutionised the zombie apocalypse genre and captured the attention of millions of viewers across the world.
The research also revealed the top 10 most successful TV shows of all time:
Rank
Show
Pilot Budget
Google Searches
Instagram Posts
TikTok Views
IMBD Rating
Success Score
1
Game of Thrones
$10.0M
69.2M
13.8M
18.1B
9.2
9.64
2
Stranger Things
$6.0M
191.3M
15.5M
130.2M
8.7
8.10
3
The Mandalorian
$12.5M
15.7M
2.4M
4.6B
8.7
7.86
4
The Walking Dead
$3.4M
54.1M
7.9M
21.0B
8.1
7.50
5
Narcos
$2.5M
11.0M
722.3K
44.7M
8.8
6.43
6
Bridgerton
$7.0M
22.5M
737.0K
17.4B
7.4
6.19
6
Westworld
$25.0M
17.1M
410.0K
277.7M
8.5
6.19
8
The Witcher
$10.0M
21.7M
1.3M
3.3B
8.1
6.07
9
House of Cards
$5.0M
7.0M
454.4K
145.3M
8.7
5.84
10
The Crown
$13.0M
589.2K
571.3K
5.1B
8.6
5.83
Game of Thrones tops the listof the most successful TV shows, scoring 9.64 out of 10. The series is the highest-rated of any of the TV shows on the list, with an IMDB rating of 9.2 out of 10 and has also inspired 13.8 million Instagram posts, the second highest total of any shows.
In second place is Stranger Things with a score of 8.1. The popularity of this series has influenced the charts, with Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill re-entering the charts after appearing on Stranger Things. The series has more Google searches and Instagram posts than any other show in this study, even though the pilot episode budget was just $6 million.
Rounding out the top three with a success score of 7.86 is The Mandalorian. The Disney+ exclusive’s third season stars Pedro Pascal, and the show’s pilot episode is reported to have cost $12.5 million. The series has 15.7 million annual Google searches, 2.4 million Instagram posts and an impressive 4.6 billion TikTok views.
Further findings:
Vinyl has the most expensive pilot episode of any of the TV shows profiled. Created by Mick Jagger and Martin Scorsese, the first episode cost a reported $30 million but failed to generate enough attention for a second season.
When it comes to TikTok, The Walking Dead tops the list as the most popular TV series totalling more than 21 billion views on the platform.
Narcos has the cheapest pilot debut of the series profiled, costing $2.5 million. Despite this, the show has gained a following of fans and has over 722,000 Instagram posts about it. Narcos also achieved a high rating of 8.9 on IMDB.
“This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny.” President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, June 27, 1936
A Rendezvous with Destiny: 1930s American Art, the new online exhibition from Helicline Fine Art, has started and runs through November 5, 2023. The exhibition features a variety of artistic styles and subject matters from urban, industrial and rural to abstract, people working and scenes of everyday life. For New York City based artists, the City itself was glorified on canvas, paper and bronze. Several of the artists who thrived during that period are still well known today, but most are obscure.
The exhibition, of predominantly 1930s artworks, features that range. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibition, “Art for the Millions: American Culture and Politics in the 1930s” celebrates the American spirit during the depression era and serves as the inspiration for Helicline Fine Art’s new exhibition.
After the stock market crash of 1929, Americans experienced a time of great transition at every level of society. After a terrible slump, the men and women of the country came together to rebuild the economy, their lives and their spirits. For the first time, our government paid artists to create. To this day, many Federal buildings – post offices, court houses, schools, hospitals, administrative buildings – still have the murals of WPA artists emblazoned on the walls and statues standing in courtyards. The work of these artists reflected that renewal.
The artists of that generation are being rediscovered in 2023 and for generations into the future, thanks to the Met’s new exhibition, and galleries that keep the modernist art flame burning. Helicline’s proprietors, Keith Sherman and Roy Goldberg, recall discovering the WPA period. “We had just moved into our first apartment, constructed in 1929, on the Upper West Side. In attempting to furnish our home we realized we had no sense of style or taste. We spent time in the Strand Book Store to see what homes looked like in the 20s and 30s,” said Goldberg. “We discovered Art Deco, the Machine Age, the WPA and more.
We spent time in museums, art fairs and something that has disappeared from the cultural landscape, antique shows, where we developed our eye. Today we are collectors turned dealers still collecting. The WPA period is in our hearts,” added Sherman.
Highlights of A Rendezvous with Destiny: 1930s American Art include a bold Stuart Davis gouache on paper; a “Mercury” bronze by Joseph Freedlander that sat on top of 5th Avenue traffic lights from the 1930s-60s; two works by Daniel Celentano (Thomas Hart Benton’s first and youngest student), many works depicting New York City, including a Cecil Bell of street life under the EL train and a Reginald Marsh depicting the Brooklyn Bridge, mural studies, and a Mervin Jules oil of a tailor with astonishing perspective.
MORE ABOUT HELICLINE FINE ART:MORE ABOUT HELICLINE FINE ART:Helicline Fine Art,founded in 2008 by Roy Goldberg and Keith Sherman, specializes in American and European modernism. The gallery’s core offerings are works from the WPA period. Additionally, Helicline offers American scene, social realism, mural studies, industrial landscapes, regionalism, abstracts, and other artwork. Located in a private space in midtown Manhattan, Helicline is open by appointment. The artworks on the site represent a sampling of available works. Helicline’s offerings are also available on artsy.net and 1stDibs.com.
Los Angeles, CA … Lawyers for Donald Trump on Monday asked the federal judge presiding over his election subversion case in Washington to recuse herself, saying her past public statements about the former president and his connection to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol call into question whether she can be fair.
“Regardless of anyone’s personal opinion on the matter, Donald Trump’s motion for recusal has merit under the express provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 455, which requires a judge to recuse himself or herself in any proceeding in which [her] impartiality might reasonably be questioned. It is irrelevant whether the judge is actually biased. The U.S. Supreme Court squarely addressed this issue in Liljeberg v. Health Services Acquisition Corp., 486 U.S. 847, 860, which held that recusal is required even when a judge lacks actual knowledge of the facts indicating his interest or bias.
Judge Chutkan
Here, Judge Tanya Chutkan has made previous comments such as ‘Presidents are not kings, and Plaintiff is not a President’ and, in a December 2021 sentencing hearing, she stated, ‘the issue of who has or has not been charged is not before me. I don’t have any influence on that. I have my opinions, but they are not relevant.’ She has therefore publicly acknowledged her bias, which, at the very least, creates an appearance of partiality. This is nevertheless an uphill battle, as the motion has been submitted to Judge Chutkan, who will rule on this motion.
Having litigated this issue extensively in Angelica Limcaco v. Steve Wynn, Case No. 19-15949 (9th Cir. 2020), Donald Trump has to navigate a difficult path because the optics are problematic for him. The Justice Department will likely argue that Judge Chutkan has no financial interest, or something to that effect. Of course, if the motion is denied, the decision could result in an interlocutory appeal that may delay the case,” explained Jordan Matthews, a litigation partner at Weinberg Gonser LLP.
– Versatile music streamer offers exceptional sound quality and easy setup – Boulder, Colorado, September, 2023 – PS Audio is now shipping its AirLens music streamer, designed to deliver the ultimate in sound quality from streaming audio sources. The new AirLens (SRP: US $1,999.00 / CAD $2,709 ) offers high-resolution streaming via Roon and services such as TIDAL, Qobuz, Spotify, JRiver, and Audirvana, as well as from an NAS storage device or any DLNA-compatible server.
“The secret of the AirLens’ exceptional sound quality is its galvanic isolation,” noted Paul McGowan, PS Audio CEO. “Removing the physical connection between input and output stages eliminates the unwanted noise that can be introduced by USB, Ethernet or Wi-Fi. The AirLens also perfectly re-clocks the digital signal. The result is a remarkable improvement in resolution, timbral realism, and dynamics.”
The PS Audio AirLens connects to a network via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, and provides I2S and coaxial digital outputs to connect to a DAC. Typically, noise from any number of sources including a computer, long runs of Ethernet cable, EMI interference via Wi-Fi, and modems and routers all contribute to increased jitter and a loss of fidelity. PS Audio’s galvanic isolation removes this sonic degradation by eliminating the electrical connection between the input and output stages, using only air as the interface. This ensures 100 percent isolation and noise-free delivery of the digital audio signals. In addition, the signal is re-clocked at the output stage for jitter-free, pure digital audio.
Available in silver and black, the AirLens offers PCM decoding up to 352.8 kHz, and DSD to 256 (4x). Its compact size (10 by 7 by 1.5 inches) and sleek design make it easy to integrate into any audio system. Like every PS Audio product, the AirLens is manufactured using premium-quality parts and construction.
AirLens Features at a Glance:
Galvanically isolated from input to output to eliminate network and Wi-Fi noise and offer extraordinary signal purity and sound quality. Connects to a network via 10/100/1000 Ethernet or 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-FiI2S and coaxial digital outputs. Offers PCM up to 352.8 kHz/32-bit and native DSD up to 256 (4x, up to DSD 128 via coax output)DoP (DSD over PCM) operation. Roon-ready, DLNA-ready, compatible with TIDAL Connect (via Roon), Spotify Connect, mconnect, Qobuz (via Roon and mconnect), Dropbox (via Roon), MQA, DLNA 1.5 and UPnP A/V 1.0 Digital Media Renderer. Available in silver or black10″ x 7″ x 1.5″, 4.8 lbs.
About PS Audio
Founded in 1973, PS Audio has earned a worldwide reputation for excellence in manufacturing innovative, high-value, leading-edge audio products. Located in Boulder, Colorado at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, PS Audio’s staff of talented designers, engineers, production and support people build each product to deliver extraordinary performance and musical satisfaction. The company’s wide range of award-winning products include the all-in-one Sprout100 integrated amplifier, audio components, power regenerators and power conditioners.
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools have far-reaching implications for education and research.
Yet the education sector today is largely unprepared for the ethical and pedagogical integration of these powerful and rapidly evolving technologies.
A recent UNESCO global survey of over 450 schools and universities showed that less than 10% of them had policies or formal guidance on the use of GenAI applications, largely due to the absence of national regulations. And only seven countries have reported that they had developed or were developing training programmes on AI for teachers.
The new guidance, recently launched during UNESCO’s flagship event Digital Learning Week in Paris, calls on countries to implement appropriate regulations, policies, and human capacity development, for ensuring a human-centred vision of GenAI for education and research.
What the guidance is proposing
The guidance presents an assessment of potential risks GenAI could pose to core humanistic values. It offers concrete recommendations for policy-makers and institutions on how the uses of these tools can be designed to protect human agency and genuinely benefit students, teachers and researchers.
The guidance proposes seven key steps for governmental agencies to regulate the use of GenAI in education:
Step 1: Endorse international or regional General Data Protection Regulations or develop national ones. The training of GenAI models has involved collecting and processing online data from citizens across many countries. The use of data and content without consent is further challenging the issue of data protection.
Step 2: Adopt/revise and fund national strategies on AI. Regulating generative AI must be part and parcel of broader national AI strategies that can ensure safe and equitable use of AI across development sectors, including in education.
Step 3: Solidify and implement specific regulations on the ethics of AI. In order to address the ethical dimensions posed by the use of AI, specific regulations are required.
Step 4: Adjust or enforce existing copyright laws to regulate AI-generated content: The increasingly pervasive use of GenAI has introduced new challenges for copyright, both concerning the copyrighted content or work that models are trained on, as well as the status of the ‘non-human’ knowledge outputs they produce.
Step 5: Elaborate regulatory frameworks on generative AI: The rapid pace of development of AI technologies is forcing national and local governance agencies to speed up their renewal of regulations.
Step 6: Build capacity for proper use of GenAI in education and research: Schools and other educational institutions need to develop capacities to understand the potential benefits and risks of GenAI tools.
Step 7: Reflect on the long-term implications of GenAI for education and research: The impact and the implications of GenAI for knowledge creation, transmission and validation – for teaching and learning, for curriculum design and assessment, and for research and copyright.
A human-centered vision for digital learning and AI
UNESCO is committed to steering technology in education, guided by the principles of inclusion, equity, quality and accessibility. The latest Global Education Monitoring Report on technology in education highlighted the lack of appropriate governance and regulation. UNESCO is urging countries to set their own terms for the way technology is designed and used in education so that it never replaces in-person, teacher-led instruction, and supports the shared objective of quality education for all.
Change directionswith this counterclockwise watch!
A watch that ticks to the beat of the Universe
The Raketa Watch Factory releases a re-edition of one of its most popular models: the Raketa “Russian Code” with its counterclockwise hands.
A lightly brushed silver stainless steel case with a spherical sapphire glass, a matt grey metal dial with a 3D representation of the Earth, and a black genuine leather strap give a very classic look to this watch.
However, behind the discreet design lies a revolutionary concept: the concept that time should move in harmony with the natural counterclockwise movement of all the planets in our Solar System. You will notice that the second hand (with the Moon at its tip) also rotates in a reverse direction around the planet Earth that is in the centre of the dial.
You will see through the case back a beautifully decorated automatic movement entirely manufactured and assembled at the Raketa Watch Factory in Saint-Petersburg.
Are you ready to move on to the new generation of watches that tick to the beat of the Universe?
A watch that invites you to be different
To wear this watch, you will have to break free from the most fundamental rule of time-reading — the clockwise movement of time that was taught to us from ancestral times.
Indeed, early people read the time with sundials by observing the clockwise movement of the sun in the sky (from left to right) and of the corresponding shade on the dial (from right to left). When our ancestors finally invented the concept of hands (instead of shade) moving around a dial, they naturally decided to keep this clockwise movement that they observed in nature.
However, there is a serious flaw in this decision: the Sun doesn’t move clockwise in the sky. It’s an illusion — it actually doesn’t move at all. It is the Earth that moves in a counterclockwise direction around the Sun!
The Raketa Watch Factory corrected this mistake by designing a watch where the movement of time follows the natural movement in the Universe.
This watch is certainly not for the faint-hearted but rather for people who are willing to stand out from the crowd and be different!
A watch with a very special movement
The counterclockwise movement of the hands is powered by a very special Raketa automatic movement (2615R). The engineers of the Raketa Watch Factory inverted the movement of the hands by changing the construction of the 2 most important parts of the mechanical movement: the mainspring barrel and the escapement! This engineering feat could only be accomplished because Raketa produces in-house 100% of these parts.
A watch that is true to Raketa’s DNA
By following the movement in the Solar System, this watch underlines the link between Raketa and the Cosmos: the brand Raketa (which means “Space Rocket” in Russian) was created in 1961 in honour of the first manned flight in space by the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Since then, Raketa’s designers and engineers were always inspired by space and regularly made watches for cosmonauts and watches celebrating the Solar System.
Price
This edition is limited to 500 watches with a price of 1500 Euros (without VAT). All Raketa watches are delivered worldwide by DHL free of charge.
The specifications:
Factory:
Raketa Watch Factory (Saint-Petersburg)
Movement:
Calibre:
2615R
Functions:
Automatic with reverse direction of hands
Number of jewels:
24
Testing positions:
4
Average rate (s/d):
-10+20
Average running time (h):
40
Frequency/hour:
18.000 / 2.5Hz
Bi-directional automatic winding:
Yes
Stopper of self-winding unit activated during manual winding:
Alfredo Muro is a concert guitarist, composer, arranger, and improviser. He’s been described as a Latin guitar virtuoso, yet his styles and tastes are far more wide-ranging, from the classical repertoire to folk, jazz, Brazilian and more. He noted, “The idea of the program presented on The Spirit of Christmas was to choose traditional Christmas themes, combined with Christmas music popular in Spain and South America. Many of those songs are connected to my heart – they are part of my childhood in Latin America.”
DinerEnBlanc.WestPalmBeach
DinerEnBlancWPB
dinerenblancwestpalmbeach
operation is very easy – users just power her on, securely place her on the window, and press start. WINBOT’s Pathfinder Technology automatically scans and calculates the size of windows and programs a custom path for speed and efficiency. Her internal vacuum pump and powerful suction motor create a double seal that is able to bear up to 26 pounds and a back-up battery and safety pod ensure that WINBOT will stay secure even if the power is disrupted.
