#Canal Concert Series

[nerdgatehobbit]

Dinotopia Poll

There are descriptions for locations below, I couldn't figure out how to summarize them within the poll listings.

1- A Hatchery. There are baby dinosaurs to take care of! Farms are in the surrounding area. This one is probably cheating a bit as it's not a specific place, but a hatchery relatively close to the shoreline is the Denisons' introduction to Dinotopian society. Also, it bears repeating: baby dinosaurs.

2- Pooktook. Admittedly it's one of the lesser described cities, but it got a vibrant, bustling panorama. There is an implication there's a thriving craft industry, but that's the norm for Dinotopian locations.

3- Volcaneum. A town set in a caldera, there's a notable focus on metalworking. Like Pooktook, the specifics aren't dwelled on. It's probably a bit more industrial than the rest of Dinotopia, but that's a very low bar.

4- Waterfall City. This is likely the city first thought of when Dinotopia as a franchise gets mentioned, given its stunning visuals in multiple books and its focus in the TV series. The canals are a major method of getting around, but there are also plenty of bridges. Gliding and narrow paths are the ways in and out of the city. The city itself has a library, theaters, gardens (including a hedge maze), observatories, hot baths, a rare flower house, concert halls, and a Haven of the Muses (it seems to be more of a gathering place for various artist types than a school).

5- Hadro Swamp. No specific settlement is named in the main books that I caught, but the imagery used is memorable (to me, at least). It's probably a slow-paced way of living. There are regular concerts held by humans and, well, hadrosaurs (no surprise there). Reed boats are used for travel.

6- Treetown. Don't go here if you're afraid of heights, but if you loved the Ewok village in Return of the Jedi, this is the place for you. North of the Backbone Mountains and the Rainy Basin, Treetown is a relatively small community. There are plenty of sauropods. I'm not sure if it's specific to Arthur or not, but there is plenty of botany that can be researched here.

7- Cornucopia. It hosts the regular Dinosaur Olympics, where youths (saurian and human alike) prove that they've undergone physical training. It's implied that mental growth, especially in regards to teamwork, is also tested here. It's relatively close to Treetown, so both locations are near the Deep Lake.

8- Canyon City. Again, don't go here if heights are a concern. The primary Skybax Rider rookery is here as a result. However, there is a "network of trails and bridges" for the rest of the population that don't ride Skybaxes. Stone apartments are either carved out of the stone itself or constructed under ledges; windows are papered over rather than having glass. Nearby are farms growing primarily cotton, peppers, and squashes. Deeper in the canyon itself are the Sentinels that mark the entrance to the World Beneath.

9- Thermala (or another 'summit village'). A bad option if you dislike the cold and snow, as it's up in the Forbidden Mountains. Ice Age mammals are a common sight here- primarily the herbivores, but the sabertooths do have their own isolated caverns they dwell in. Sky Galleys bring supplies regularly. They tend to be one sprawling stone structure with rooms linked by passages. Mammoth-sized rooms are tunneled/carved into the mountains. Speaking of which, shed mammoth fur is spun into cloth. Music, cooking, and puppetry are common activities.

10- Sauropolis. The capital city of the island, so even on Dinotopia politics are a thing. Gardens and theaters are common. Street bands travel on dinosaurs. Due to being at a river delta, there are canals here as well (possibly part of why the TV show might have elevated the mayor of Waterfall City into a major political figure). Bicycle taxis are used to get around by many and sauropods act as school buses. There are cafes and fashion is a more important aspect of life here than in most other locations.

11- Bonabba. A small farming village with pod-shaped buildings, located near Moss Valley and Bogpeat Mash. It's used as a starting point for sauropod convoys crossing the Rainy Basin so there are large barns nearby. There are definitely spring festivals, and it's likely there are ones for the other seasons as well. Puppets and masks are used on a regular basis.

This isn't a complete list, especially as I deliberately left off the titular city of the third main book (Chandara) given its isolationist status. Being a homebody is going to be a personal choice here. Anyway, I'm curious to see what you all pick, especially those of you who are only hearing about these Dinotopian locales via this poll (which is why there are lengthy explanations).

[kiltro]

Kiltro Q&A Session (28/07/2023)

"This event was made possible by Jack Trueax, their sound technician and tour manager, who facilitated our communication with the band and assisted in compiling their answers; and Trevor, aka CATZ, a member of our server who kindly shared the server with Jack in the first place. We'd also like to express our immense gratitude to their sound engineer Kyle Smith and the rest of the band for generously taking the time to answer our questions, as well as for their continuous involvement with, acknowledgment, and support of the community. We seriously can't thank y'all enough, it was a dream come true." Written, compiled and formatted by @starfunkbonnibel over on rateyourmusic.com! All credit goes to her - this post is simply meant to facilitate reading and sharing.

Join the Kiltro server here: https://discord.gg/M67HjF9C9V The following is a transcript of a Q&A session with the band hosted on our Discord server, around July 28th, 2023. With the exception of certain typos and emojis, the questions and answers remain intact. Enjoy!

Introduction

Kiltro is an indie latin folk rock project created by Chilean-American musician Chris Bowers Castillo while working as a walking tour guide in Valparaíso, a formerly prosperous port city northwest of Santiago, Chile. After the opening of the Panama Canal, the city transformed into an elusive haven of bohemians and stray dogs - or "quiltros", Chilean slang for "mutt". Inspired by the liminal nature of Valparaíso, Chris wrote a series of short stories that would later evolve into the material of the band, using the symbol of the stray dog as both a metaphorical vehicle and an empowering term for his mixed identity and music, ultimately naming the band after them. Subsequently, he would reunite with an old college friend, Will Parkhill, who would go on to join as the band's bassist, alongside Michael Devincenzi as their drummer. Together, they would shape the sound of Kiltro, reanimating Chris's stories into the mysterious characters, melodic allure, and intangible soundscapes that comprise and lurk beneath their debut album Creatures of Habit. Later on, affected by the quarantine, the band took a more introspective approach, deciding to use cats as a motif for their sophomore record, Underbelly, inspired by their solitary and contemplative nature. Around this time, Fez García joined the band as a second percussionist for concerts, completing the lineup as we know it today. (Carroll, 2019) (Mitchell, 2023) Info sourced from: Carroll, E. (2019, 13th November). Here, There and Everywhere: Kiltro’s Mutt Rock. Westword. https://www.westword.com/music/kiltro-frontman-chris-bowers-castillo-talks-mutt-rock-11494843 Mitchell, M. (2023, 1st June). Kiltro Go Behind the Scenes on Underbelly Track By Track. Paste Magazine. https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/kiltro/underbelly-track-by-track

Q (regulus_di): What's the best show the band has ever had, or alternatively the most special?

WILL: the last run of tour had the most special shows in a while, especially the navy pier in Chicago, Vienna, and Brooklyn. The growth and excitement has been extremely exciting to see.

CHRIS: The show on the staircase outside of a friend’s restaurant, in Valparaiso, Chile.

MICHAEL: the shows in which there are zero expectations about the city have been the best. Every time we arrive in a town that we know nothing about, we are blown away by the hospitality that we receive. Towns like Columbus, Phoenix, Richmond, Vienna, and Detroit come to mind.

FEZ: can’t decide. He says it’s like asking him what his favorite meal of all time is, “they all filled my tum tum” 😂

SOUND CREW: the Hollywood theater in Vancouver, BC, and Baby’s Alright in NY have sounded the absolute best From Chris's favorite show 😱

Q (goodman873): Chris solo album?

A: Currently the focus is Kiltro, if a song is written that seems out of place for the current state of the project, it’s often left on the shelf to return to at another time. There are a handful of songs that were planned for Underbelly that ultimately didn’t make it onto the final version for one reason or another, the possibility of them being included on a future album always exists. If a song appears that categorically falls outside of the vision of the band, then a solo project might be considered, but the ultimate goal is to experiment and push musical boundaries.

Q (evantheblank): Favorite unreleased / scrapped song, and is it planned to be available at some point?

A: There are tons of demos that have silly working titles, some of the songs that make it into the final version often don’t have a legitimate name until close to the end of the writing process.

CHRIS: the song Alpaca that was written as the same time as Guanaco, different energy but in the same vein and style. Never played live

WILL: Sin Salida that was included in an Instagram reel with a bunch of Super 8 footage

MICHAEL AND FEZ: Tambach

Q (allisawr): Any plans to record a live album?

THE BAND: we try to capture every show 😉

SOUND CREW: We are currently multitrack recording every live show for reference purposes and our personal archives. If a particular recording stands out, then it will be heavily considered for a live release.

Q (syd1288): What's with the cover art of Creatures of Habit?

A: The cover was a collaborative piece done by Markus Puskar and Julian Brier, heavily inspired by the work of M.C. Escher

The songs on CoH have a lot to do with the monotonous liminal spaces in our everyday lives, and the lyrics are very character driven. The art is meant to invoke the illusion of a society that feels like it is going in loops and circles, in which we are becoming “creatures of habit.”

Q (regulus_di): What games are the guys into atm/pre-tour?

A: We love to play giant jenga and a card game called “Hanabi,” we also invented a pool game called “twenty ball” in which Will is the (heavily disputed) champion.

Chris is currently working through another play through of Dark Souls, he’s been tearing through it on the switch in the van. We’ve also played The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and a lot of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury. Stardew Valley and Roller Coaster Tycoon Classic are also big hits on the iPad.

Q (kalamaroe): What inspired the visuals in the If I Lead music video? I've always found it very hypnotising

A: Generally the band doesn’t like to be too specific with the meaning of the artistic content and likes to leave it more to interpretation from the audience. At the time that the video was shot, the band was interested in experimenting with old school classroom projectors, spinning images, double exposures in Will’s photography, and super 8 film footage. The goal was to add visual content to live shows, and a lot of the footage came from that effort.

Here’s some behind the scenes footage from that video courtesy of Will 😱

Q (happidragon): What are the band members' favorite songs to perform?

WILL: it’s hard to pin down and is always changing based upon each performance, but Guanaco is always up there

CHRIS: it really depends on the show, Softy has been a favorite recently because of how dynamic it is, and Lovers of death is another that has been a longtime standard in the sets for that same reason.

MICHAEL: Underbelly, Softy and Lovers of death are all favorites. The dynamics and drum progression allows for a lot of exploration in each performance.

FEZ: Crazy because of the shaker and wood blocks, there are a lot of fun little percussion parts

SOUND CREW: Errasuriz is the most fun to mix, and is always right in the middle of the set when we really have things dialed in.

Q (gumibearheart): How do you guys approach music and the moving parts of it?

A: The writing process is slightly different for each song but tends to coalesce in a similar way, with lyrics typically coming later on in the process. Many songs that start as musical loops get jammed on in rehearsal and recorded as practice demos, the most exciting material eventually evolves into something worth returning to.

Q (starfunkbonnibel): What has been your approach in connecting all these sounds with the themes and stories of your songs? And are there any plans to do one continuous narrative in an album?

CHRIS: I think the soundscapes and by extension the “story” comes from whatever I’m interested in or experiencing at the time of writing. I start in one place, whether it’s a chords progression or an interesting ambient loop, and move in whatever direction feels most compelling and true. I find that a lot of ideas begin to link together because I tend to cycle back on ideas multiple times throughout the process. Because I’m working it out for myself. That goes for sounds, samples and progressions too. Overarching themes or the recurring “character” of the sounds and the places they evoke emerge as the process goes on, and in that is often a kind of story. Or many stories in a similar setting. I visualize things a lot when I’m writing.

In a sense, I think we already work “narratively,” it’s just that there’s not necessarily a script or a series of events. I’d like to make albums that exist in a specific space and create the context for meanings and patterns to emerge. Not a narrative per se. There are bands that do that well but I like to keep things more abstract.

Q (goldengoldstar): Although we know of the influence artists like Víctor Jara, Violeta Parra and Atahualpa Yupanqui have had on the music of Kiltro, are there any other artists or bands you might mention as big influences or inspirations?

A: Thanks to everyone who listens to and shares the Kiltro playlist! This is a stream of consciousness list from all the guys in the band in no particular order: Manu Chao, Deerhunter, Devendra Banhart, Ween, Talking Heads, Jorge Ben, Radiohead, Damon Albarn, Thelonious Monk, Damu the Fudgemunk, Moses Sumney, Animal Collective, John Coltrane, Boards of Canada, Chico Trujillo, OutKast, Teke Teke, Travel Kit, New Order, Kraftwerk, Stereolab, Broadcast, Jack Canaan, Charles Mingus, Sonic Youth, Polo y Pan, Andrew Bird, Marvin Gaye, Metronomy, Sade, YĪN YĪN, Fela Kuti, Tortoise, Cocteau Twins, Air, and Erlend Øye.

Q (goldengoldstar): Are there any plans to play in Latin America?

A: No plans currently, but it’s definitely a long-term goal

Q (starfunkbonnibel): What are your favorite moments of experimentation during the making of Underbelly?

KYLE: During the production/recording process of Curicó (being one of the first songs Chris, Will, and I dove into, if I remember correctly) I was in the studio with Chris focusing on the song’s momentum. I believe this may have been before real drums were put down? Idk, can’t completely remember… but my goal in that session was to add excitement and some kind of uplifting drive to the song. In one moment, I was trying to think of a way to show Chris how we “could” add a particular energy to the song to see if he liked the idea/direction. I decided to give Chris an example by grabbing a shitty/lofi mic and shouting “HEY! HEY! HEY!.. etc” into the mic along with what we had recorded so far. And I was like, “that’s the kinda of energy I’m thinking we can add,” and then Chris was basically like… we should just keep that hahahaha. In that moment I personally felt like we or I at least had figured out a key to the energy of that song, and also my creative flow with Chris, Will, and so forth going forward. Not to mention the beginning of a great friendship 🙂 this was fun to write about! Thanks to everyone here for being a part of their music ✨🐕 This wasn’t about Underbelly, but it’s what the question made me think of lol sorry But still fits a vibe of how I think we all have fun working together on all the music 🙂

Thank you for reading! Event managed by: Kamsthetics , MartixArtist, GoldenGoldstar, and StarfunkBoogie / @starfunkbonnibel. Transcript revised by: plantboyfriend / @plumerii Format inspired by silvershr0ud_'s interview

[jules-has-notes]

2016 VoicePlay summer fun — campers, cruises, costumes, charity, and… cops?

The excitement of the spring months rolled right into the summer. After he'd had a few weeks of concentrated new-dad time, the other guys gathered up Layne and headed to Ohio.

They first returned to Port Clinton for a show at the Lakeside Chautauqua Auditorium, and spent the night at a vintage (possibly haunted) hotel. From there, they scooted down to Dayton to be the featured artists at Camp A Cappella.

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Ahoy, mateys

A week later, while the others took care of things at home, Geoff and Earl teamed up with three of their buddies from Echo — Erik Winger, Antonio Fernandez, and Deejay Young — for a quick cruise on the Royal Caribbean Allure to the Virgin Islands. During their time at sea, they crossed paths with Us the Duo, who had just finished opening for the North American and European legs of Pentatonix's world tour.

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No rest for the ambitious

They arrived home to an exciting milestone: 100K likes on Facebook! In the meantime, Eli did some session recording work, while Layne and Tony prepped for their next PattyCake video, and Layne worked on an additional side project. (Paternity leave was supposed to be less busy, dude!)

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Runnin', runnin'

Once the guys were all together again, they got into production on projects for both PattyCake and VoicePlay for most of August. In between location shoots for "Will.of.Oz", they reunited with Emoni Wilkins to film their video for "I Love Me".

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Cruisin'

At the end of the month, the guys grabbed Winger again, and boarded the Royal Caribbean Oasis for yet another voyage. Since they set sail on Geoff's birthday, they had a toast on board.

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Almost as soon as they got home, they traded one guest for another, snagging Antonio for the middle leg of an eastbound Panama Canal trip on the Disney Wonder. (Though it seems that they were possibly getting weary from so much travel.) They also seem to have run afoul of the Mexican police on their way home, but I'm pretty sure the getting arrested part was just a joke.

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Hop, skip, and a jump

After a few days of rest, they embarked on a series of quick trips. First they flew up to New Hampshire for the UNH A Cappella Fest. Next came a show in Iowa, and then a charity fundraiser in Chicago.

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All about those babes

During their next stint at home, they made time for a little hanging without working. Most of the guys let someone else do the singing for once when they attended a local Meghan Trainor concert. The group included Layne, Cyndi, and their older girls; Cyndi's sister Steph and her elder daughter; Earl and Nick; and Tony.

Meanwhile, Eli spent some time with his own family to celebrate his sister's birthday, and Geoff got his domesticity on at home with Kathy.

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Back to woOOOork

As summer wound down, VoicePlay prepared for their favorite time of year by finally filming a music video for their arrangement of "Grim Grinning Ghosts" off of their 2012 album "Once Upon an Ever After".

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All eh-board

They closed out September with a cruise on the Disney Magic from Nova Scotia to NYC and back. Since Tony and Layne were deep in production for their next PattyCake project (and Layne understandably wanted some more time at home with the baby), the rest of the guys called on both Winger and Antonio to fill in again.

[rowanhoney]

travelling 2 london for a bit this summer, do you have any recommendations about neighborhoods to stay in/ things to go see etc? xx

unfortunately I didn’t see this and I’m several months too late BUT for anyone else planning a london trip or just needing to explore

Definitely worth hitting the design museum! There’s usually some interesting exhibits and you can continue your day by walking through Holland Park after! The Dutch garden and especially the Kyoto garden are so so beautiful

Classic Londoner day out is a walk along soutbank too. There’s enough tourists that there are things to do but not a major tourist trap. Along there you have the royal festival halls, BFI, London eye, OXO tower, Tate Modern, Globe theatre. The river waves are relaxing as well. By the time you reach the end cross over tower bridge and go to the Tower of London for some grim history. Then have dinner 5 mins away along st. Katherine’s docks - lovely peaceful spot with great restaurants and sparkling lights over the canals. Bit if a hidden gem for sure

Neighbourhoods to hit:

In the west there’s Richmond! Definitely cute but a bit snobby. Richmond park is huge and you can see wild deer! On the side of town closer to the Thames you have Kew Gardens which is an absolute must and needs a dedicated day.

In the East the typical spot to hit is Shoreditch. Great for record stores, vintage shops, underground gigs, 24hr Beigels, quirky fun bars, and not too much further in Bethnal Green there’s the Last Tuesdays Society; a very macabre little collection and some strange cocktails. They even have an absinthe range.

In the North everyone wants to go to Camden which is fine, lots to see and do but the alternative side to the town has become so commercialised in the past few decades. Still worth hitting but imo Bloomsbury is nicer with lots of niche little museums hidden away and one big one ! The Wellcome Collection! They always have some really great free exhibition on. There’s some controversy about the collection but there always will be in this country. Also 2 great bookshops - Gay’s the Word and Houseman’s <3

South London, my beloved forever. I say it all the time but I love Crystal Palace. It’s just a nice little neighbourhood with a lot of history. The triangle is great for little boutiques of all kinds, really good food around, there’s a 4 floor antique store where you can find all sorts of trinkets even affordable ones. The park is huge and wonderful! There’s a boating lake, a petting zoo, an athletics centre, dinosaurs! A maze! And at various times of the year there are fireworks shows, lights shows, a series of concerts in summer, frequent funfairs and other events. Don’t forget the south london Eiffel Tower (it’s just a radio tower but most kids who grew up here thought the same). Not far on in Sydenham is the Horniman Museum and Gardens which is well worth a visit but is too often disregarded for being a little out the way. Special mention to SE London. Greenwich has a few museums, a great little theatre, the cutty sark ship and the observatory! Also within a big beautiful park.

My love to everyone who comes here 🫶 please just remember to stand on the right of the escalators

[jackhkeynes]

Vascony

Vascony (Vascon: Vasconna), or more fully the Vascon Kingdom of Navarre and Aquitain (Vascon: Lo Reiame Vascòn a Navarr'i Aquitanna, Vask: Navarron t'Aquitainon Vasca Herria) is a polity of western Europe occupying parts of southern Gaul and northern Spain.

History

Vascony was formed from the political union of Aquitain and Navarre, later expanding to vassalise Leon in the twelfth century.

The fifteenth century saw the Vascon Ascendancy, which began by most accounts in the reign of Ambrose II and reached a peak with his grandson Ambrose III. At the start of this period Vascony was at its territorial maximum: it had conquered northern Portingale and subjugated the rest as a nominally-independent client, as well as much of southern Burgundy (which is to say, enough of Provence to share a border with the Italian states of Genova and Romaine).

In 1458 Ambrose III established by royal decree the New Navarre Enterprise, whose primary aim was to solidify Vascon supremacy in the trade of North Atlantic fish through the Middlesea. British dominion over the Atlantic had long frustrated Vask fishing families, members of which still predominated in the aristocracy. It was ships of this guild that in 1471 sighted Brasil and brought news of the Novomund to Europe.

The decades following the Novomundine Landfall brought new prosperity to Vascony, and in particular to Portingale. At the same time, the polity suffered militarily: the Kingdom of Burgundy retook Provence in 1494 (sparking the 1497–99 War of Provincial Independence), and a decade later the remainder of Vascony's Middlesea coast (primarily the region of Tolose) was taken by Barcelon.

Being a maritime power, Vascony had explored parts of the African coast (as far south as Sant Adrian [Bioko]) during the fifteenth century. However, for much the same reason Vascony lost over a fifth of its population to the Second Great Dying in the years after the plague's arrival in Europe in 1519. Despite this, thanks to Novomundine profits in furs and other goods, the polity actually saw in increase in population from 1500 to 1550 (excluding Portingale) due to immigration.

The Vascon Ascendancy is generally considered to have ended with the War of the Two Queens near the end of the sixteenth century, which also saw the formal end of feudalism within the polity.

The parts of Mendeva first explored by (and whose trade was monopolised by) Vascony—to wit, the island of Brasil and the lands westward thereof—was named Ambrosia in honour of Ambrose III.

During the Romantic Wars of the mid-seventeenth century, Vascony fought primarily with Morrack to the south. The polity was forced to cede Portingale, its economic heart, to Andalus (then controlled by Morrack) after a series of military defeats.

In an example of early international cooperation, a canal system connecting Bordew to Audaz in Barcelon was completed in 1679.

Vascony was at the vanguard of the Modest Arrangement, a social movement in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries characterised by more stringent enforcement of morality codes, especially with respect to familial powers. Famously, author Antòin Herrel (latterly Tony Smith) was forced to flee Vascony to Kent after attempting to publish his blasphemous work 'Earthly Scene' (Vista Terrena).

At first, Vascony managed not to become embroiled in the Second German War of the 1820s. Once its interests in Mendeva and the East were threatened, however, then-king Hernand IV had no choice but to declare against the Northern Concert and in favour of the Convoy.

Into the twentieth century, Vascony maintained strong ties with its neighbour Provence by virtue of a shared enmity towards the Drengot Collusion to their north.

People

Monarchs

Ranolf VI, (crowned 1170), during whose reign Leon became a vassal of the kingdom

Ambrose III "The Ascendant" (17 March 1435–28 February 1518), who presided over the Vascon Ascendancy

Hernand IV (fl. 1820), who reigned during the height of the Modest Arrangement and the Second German War

Other nobles

Princess Alexandra of Vascony (b. ca. 1430), first European royal to set foot in the Nvomund

Prince Mark of Tolose (d. 1453), who predeceased his son Ambrose III

Princess Natalia of Vascony (b. ca. 1440), younger sister of Ambrose III

Prince Victor of Astorga (b. ca. 1440), younger brother of Ambrose III

Writers

David Bensaíd (fl. 1751), author of the influential political treatise "The Three Cities"

Antòin Herrel (fl. 1820), who was forced to flee to Kent after his work was banned in Vascony

Gonçala Jaubèt (fl. 1902), who later in life moved to Valencia

Galarça fi Molhomé (fl. 2014), lovetale writer turned popular historian

García Ramires (fl. 1920), who translated Bellamy's "A Door, Once Opened" into Leon

[arqueete]

2022 New Year's Meme

Every year I do this survey that went around Livejournal in the 2010s. Anyone is welcome to do the survey!

1. What did you do in 2022 that you’d never done before?

I got married! I had a wedding and a honeymoon (my first time visiting Montreal)!

I visited Columbus, OH for the first time (and second time) to visit the office of my new job.

I played pinball machines for I think the first time? At least the first time in my adult life.

I went to local science museum Discovery World for the first time (as far as I remember) as well.

Some food I cooked for the first time: cream puffs, fondue, ice cream, chicken paprikash, baozi.

Finally went to local summer concert series Jazz in the Park.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions and will you make more for next year?

My resolutions for 2022 were to be more physically active (and try a fitness challenge), and to keep up with learning Italian. I bought rollerblades and did a little rollerblading (though not as much as I would've liked), I feel like I did start walking places a lot more in the summer, and I was doing a calisthenics routine for a while there, so I did at least make an attempt at being more physically active. I haven't been working on Italian as much as I'd hoped either, but I did take a six week Italian class in the spring and that was really helpful!

In 2023, I have a few resolutions:

I have a membership at a pottery studio but I don't actually use it very often. Next year I'd like to make more of a routine out of going and have something in progress at all times.

I want to make more of a habit of finding ways to use up leftover ingredients and throw away less food.

I mostly get around via the free streetcar and my car--I haven't ridden on a local city bus since before the pandemic started. I'd like to ride the bus a little more in 2023.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? A friend of mine had a baby girl earlier in the year! 4. Did anyone close to you die? Fortunately no.

5. What countries did you visit? I visited Canada for the second time, this time to stay in Montreal. I really enjoyed it there--the French was a little challenging at times but rewarding and interesting other times, the historic neighborhoods were fun to explore, I appreciated the public transit options, and I generally was very charmed by this city! I'd love to see it again someday. 6. What would you like to have in 2023 that you lacked in 2022? Last year I said I wanted to find a job that I would enjoy and where I felt I could stay for a while--I'm really happy to say I did start a new job this year where I feel supported and enjoy spending time with my smart and fun coworkers.

In 2023, I'd like to have closer relationships to people who live nearby. It seems like we keep on putting off inviting people over (or out). I want to take the initiative more to see people and maintain connections. 7. What date from 2022 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? October 16, 2022 was the day I got married! 8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I do think it has to be planning the wedding. I've definitely never organized any event of that size and boy was it a lot of work. 9. What was your biggest failure? I don't want to be overdramatic about it but it was a bummer that I worked hard on an entry to the state fair knitting competition this year and I was really proud of what I made, but I didn't place. 10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I had my first ever root canal this year for a cracked tooth. I also developed chronic hives, which is ongoing and I'll be seeing an allergist about it in January.

11. What was the best thing you bought? A lot of the best things I acquired this year were gifts (like my ice cream maker) but I think it was sometime this year that I bought this nice water bottle from Target, and I was never really a water bottle person before but I am now. 12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My friend @prosopopeya changed careers!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? The supreme court. 14. Where did most of your money go? It's always rent. Aside from that, wedding/honeymoon expenses and groceries. 15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Besides my wedding (which was sometimes as nerve-wracking as it was exciting) I got really, really, really excited when I stumbled upon the Phantom of the Opera pinball machine!!! 16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2022? Earlier in the year I got really into the Glass Animals album Dreamland (and I saw them live this year! My diving in to the album mostly came after the concert.) At the end of the year I really enjoyed the new Death Cab for Cutie album Asphalt Meadows. It was already my all-time favorite love song but our first dance at our wedding was to "Passenger Seat" by Death Cab for Cutie.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: i. Happier or sadder? Happier. ii. Older or wiser? Wiser. iii. Thinner or fatter? Thinner. iv. Richer or poorer? Richer. 18. What do you wish you’d done more of? I wish I had seen more theater. I already have tickets to a couple shows for next year so hopefully I can turn this around. 19. What do you wish you’d done less of? I need to stop going to the grocery store so often. The pandemic had forced me to plan meals and make infrequent shopping trips and work with what I had on hand and this year I threw all of that out the window and I am constantly at the store. 20. How will you be spending Christmas? We were really relieved that we got to have a "real" Christmas this year after Covid kept us at home the past two years. We went to my parents' house on Christmas Eve, then we hosted my in-laws at our apartment Christmas morning, and then had Christmas dinner out near Madison, WI with my husbands' extended family.

21. How will you be spending New Year’s Eve? We plan on having a charcuterie dinner at home and then we have tickets to a speakeasy-themed event at a local bar. On New Year's Day we will maintain our tradition of attending the 36th Annual Cool Fool Kite and Ice Festival and flying our octopus kite, Squeaky Jr.

22. Did you fall in love in 2022? I'm still in love with my new husband! 23. How many one-night stands? None.

24. What was your favorite TV program? I loved What We Do In the Shadows and Derry Girls.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I've never liked Elon Musk but boy am I tired of hearing about him causing chaos this year. 26. What was the best book you read? I'm really proud of how much I read this year! I usually read only a few books a year but I read at least a dozen books in the last half of the year alone.

But when it comes to the best book I read... I think it has to be Dracula. I participated in Dracula Daily, an email mailing list that sends you excerpts from Dracula on the day the book says they occur, and experienced the entire book that way along with a bunch of other people on the internet.

The experience was so unique and interesting--to really get a sense of the passage of time in the story (it begins in May and ends in November), to often only get a little bit at a time which helped me appreciate little details and maybe made the more boring and long-winded bits more tolerable (I know @hrello has been suffering through this on his solo read), and to read along with lots of other people and share jokes and bits of historical context with each other. And of course the story itself, which feels actually kind of novel and refreshing after seeing vampires remixed so often in pop culture--generally, myself and people on Tumblr really rallied around the human characters in the book more than the vampires. Dracula is a novel about the power of friendship! 27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Bon Iver's Justin Vernon started a monthly radio show called Song Chest Radio Hour, and in one I listened to (maybe I should listen to more in 2023!) he said something like, "If you've never heard of The Roches you're in for a treat," and played their song "Hammond Song." He was right, it really is a treat.

28. What did you want and get? Last year we bought a stand mixer and ever since I have dreamed of the stand mixer ice cream maker attachment. This year I got it as a wedding gift and it is all I ever dreamed of--I've made several different cereal-flavored ice creams and I want to experiment more.

29. What did you want and not get? Dying waiting to see our wedding photos. The photographer still has a few weeks left, contractually, to deliver them to us so there's nothing to be annoyed about yet but we were really hoping to at least get them by Christmas. This is past the time he mentioned it usually takes him to deliver so we can't help but worry about it. (What if he sent them weeks ago and we didn't get them for some reason?) I have some cute frames waiting for photos! 30. What was your favorite film of this year? Everything Everywhere All at Once blew me away--it made me feel so much and reminded me of what makes movies great and special as an art form.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 32 this year (which hasn't really sunk in yet) and our original plan was to go to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, which I'd still like to do, but it was the Saturday after Thanksgiving and we just weren't up for it. Instead, we got breakfast at a local waffle place, went to the Public Museum to see the Streets of Old Milwaukee decorated for Christmas, had lunch and freaked out over a water leak in our apartment that required an emergency maintenance call, and then went to Discovery World. I had the Milk Bar malted chocolate cake made for me by my husband as a birthday cake.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? If we hadn't had so much drama around Thanksgiving and my family canceling and then my husband's family canceling. Those big family holidays feel extra precious since the pandemic started. 33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2022? I started working for a company that sells clothes, which does do something to a person. I feel like I approached 2022 with an open mind about my personal style, challenging some ideas about what is "me." I wore a couple dresses with low necklines. I bought an animal print sweater. I bought a cropped sweatshirt. At the same time, I embraced feeling comfortable and felt like I learned more about how to look sexy or confident or put together in a relaxed way. 34. What kept you sane? Reading. I tried to use reading to replace some of my social media usage this year so that scrolling through feeds isn't like, my default state of being. I read a lot of books and also got a few magazine subscriptions so there's always things around to read without looking at screens. 35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I enjoy the cast of What We Do In the Shadows. 36. What political issue stirred you the most? The mid-terms were this year and fuck Ron Johnson but the big one for me was the overturning of Roe v Wade. 37. Who did you miss? With the whole Darren Criss in Chess thing this year, and showing my husband Spring Awakening for the first time, I really wished Jaymee were around so I could tell her about it. 38. Who was the best new person you met? My new coworkers! There are some people at my new job that I really get along with and I'm so grateful. 39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2022: I think weddings can be a good exercise in having reasonable expectations for what you will get out of your relationship with different members of your extended family. There can be this feeling, especially with all the tradition that is attached to a life event like that, that surely everyone will show reverence to this important moment even if they don't have a history of showing up for you in that way and... you know better, right? And I don't mean that in a bitter way but with a sense of peace.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

You've had too much of the digital love You want everything live, you want things you can touch Make it feel like a movie you saw in your youth Make it feel like that song that just unopened you

Glass Animals - "Dreamland"

[sunmarketing]

Bucket List Travel #1 - Copenhagen, Denmark

Welcome to the Special Bucket List Travel Series of Dr. Mary Travelbest Guide.

  Patti Christensen from San Diego talks about one of her favorite travel destinations, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Copenhagen, like much of Denmark is a city on the water. One of the first things you want to do when you go to Copenhagen is go on one of the sightseeing Canal boat tours with a live guide. You hop on this great open-air boat and slowly experience various city views. Copenhagen combines brand new shiny buildings and historic buildings going back centuries. The boat trip past the multicolored buildings is fantastic, with photo-worthy sites all along the route.  And as long as you’re in that area, you might join the locals in a dip in the swimming beaches in the harbor. I found the water extremely cold, but the docks and the beaches were full of sun-worshiping people enjoying themselves.

  There are also so many wonderful and free museums and historic sites to see. Among my favorites is Rosenborg Castle, where you can see the Danish Crown jewels. There are also several other palaces and historic sites. At Amalienborg Palace in downtown Copenhagen, you can watch the changing of the guards every day at noon. It's very similar to that in London but with fewer crowds.

  Another must-see in Copenhagen is Tivoli Gardens. This was the world’s original amusement park; they say that Walt Disney got some inspiration from Tivoli Gardens. It combines beautiful flowers and landscaping, kids see buildings and children shows, and wonderful restaurants. Throughout the summer, great concerts are going on. One must make a trip to Tivoli Garden and eat some beautiful food.

  One of the things you’ll notice in Denmark is everybody rides bikes. if you get a chance, rent a bike and tool around. The city is very flat and very breakable. You’ll see whole families riding bikes, kids riding bikes to school, and adults using bikes to commute. You have to ride a bike in Copenhagen.

  There are many places that have great street food, especially at the Reffen Copenhagen Street  Food market.  This is the largest street food market in all of the Nordic regions.  It includes reasonably priced food from around the world. Copenhagen is definitely a melting pot. The most famous sausage eaten in Denmark is a medisterpolse, spicy and delicious.

    One more thing that you could really enjoy if you happen to be in Copenhagen in July is the Copenhagen jazz festival. The Danes love their jazz, which goes back to the 1930s and 40s when American jazz artists traveled extensively in Europe. The jazz festival, started in 1979, is a month-long festival at small venues, large concert halls and churches, and really big outdoor stages. Many of the events are free and the music is fantastic.

  And of course you have to go and at least have a glimpse of the little mermaids statue. This comes from Hans Christian Anderson’s fairytale about a mermaid. When you see the little mermaid, you might be surprised at its size. My local cousin said, “Nobody ever called the big mermaid”. But getting your picture taken by the statue is one of the experiences you should have at least once.

 Thank you, Patti Christensen for that great episode.

If you like this, listen to three more episodes from the Bucket List Series Podcast of Dr. Mary Travelbest's Guide. This is a Step 5 trip (5 Steps to Solo Travel).

Connect with Dr. Travelbest

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In the news

  Check out this Dr Travelbest episode!

[travelsgap]

Venice of Florida in Winter Park || A Traveler’s Guide

Winter Park, often referred to as the Venice of Florida in Winter Park, is a charming city known for its picturesque scenery, vibrant arts scene, and historic architecture. This guide explores the various attractions and experiences that make Winter Park a must-visit destination especially during the winter season.

Scenic Canals of Winter Park

The moniker Venice of Florida in Winter Park is largely due to the city’s scenic canals. These waterways are reminiscent of Venice, Italy, offering visitors a unique and tranquil experience. The Winter Park Chain of Lakes connects through a series of canals that provide a beautiful backdrop for boat tours, kayaking, and paddle boarding.

Boat Tours

One of the best ways to explore the Venice of Florida in Winter Park is through a boat tour. These guided tours navigate through the interconnected lakes and canals, showcasing the stunning waterfront homes, lush landscapes, and historic landmarks. Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour is a popular option that offers informative and enjoyable rides.

Kayaking and Paddle boarding

For those who prefer a more active way to experience the Venice of Florida in Winter Park, kayaking and paddle boarding are excellent choices. The calm waters of the canals make it a perfect spot for these activities. Rentals are available from local outfitters allowing visitors to explore at their own pace.

Historic Charm of Park Avenue

Park Avenue is the heart of Winter Park, brimming with historic charm and modern attractions. This bustling street is lined with boutique shops, gourmet restaurants, and art galleries, making it a favorite spot for both locals and tourists.

Shopping and Dining

Visitors to the Venice of Florida in Winter Park will find an array of shopping and dining options along Park Avenue. From high-end boutiques to quaint local shops, there is something for everyone. The dining scene is equally diverse, offering everything from fine dining to casual cafes.

Cultural Attractions

Park Avenue is also home to several cultural attractions. The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, which houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany is a must-visit. The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens is another notable attraction featuring the works of the acclaimed Czech sculptor.

Winter Park’s Beautiful Gardens and Parks

The Venice of Florida in Winter Park is also known for its lush gardens and parks. These green spaces provide a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, offering a perfect setting for relaxation and outdoor activities.

Central Park

Central Park is the crown jewel of Winter Park’s green spaces. This 11-acre park in the heart of downtown features beautiful landscaping, fountains, and walking paths. It is a popular spot for community events, art festivals, and concerts.

Mead Botanical Garden

Another gem in the Venice of Florida in Winter Park is the Mead Botanical Garden. This 48-acre oasis offers a variety of ecosystems, including wetlands, uplands, and a butterfly garden. It’s a great place for nature walks, bird watching, and picnics.

[sethmeeyn]

Canal Days Concert Series - Aug 4

Hendry and the Seth Meeyn in the afternoon and The Bomb and Neon Nostalgic in the evening. . The Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival Concert Series ...

[presentecronologia]

1994 - Aparece la primera estación dedicada al rock-pop comercial en la frontera, More FM 98.9 FM, la cual duraría hasta el 2004 y regresaría en Septiembre del 2010. Dentro de sus conceptos, destaca More TV Canal 45 (canal de videos), Concert Truck (escenario móvil para conciertos), Estudio Uno (sala para conciertos), Acceso al Pasado (programación de música retro) y la Serie de Conciertos More 7+.

[ivoryhearing]

What to Expect from a Full Diagnostic Hearing Test with Melbourne's Audiologists

Ever wondered what happens behind the doors of an audiologist's office during a full diagnostic hearing test? Let's face it, the whole process can seem a bit like entering a medical mystery novel. Fear not, fellow Melbournian! This blog is your friendly guide, ready to shed light on what you can expect during your hearing evaluation.

First Stop: Consultation and Detective Work

Think of your audiologist in Melbourne as a hearing detective, piecing together the puzzle of your ears' story. They'll chat with you about your hearing concerns, past medical history, and any noisy adventures your ears might have embarked on (think concerts, construction zones, or even that time the lawnmower rebelled).

Ear Examination: A Peek Inside the Mystery

Next comes the otoscope, a fancy flashlight -that lets the audiologist peek into your ear canals and eardrums. Think of it as searching for hidden clues, like wax buildup or other potential culprits behind hearing woes.

The Beep Test: Are You Hearing This?

Now it's time for the classic beep test! You'll wear headphones and listen to a series of beeps and tones at different volumes and pitches. Your job? Simply raise your hand or press a button when you hear the sound. This helps the audiologist map out your hearing range, identifying any areas where sounds might be going missing.

Tympanometry: The Middle Ear's Big Moment

Think of your middle ear as the stage where sound waves perform their magic. Tympanometry measures how well this stage is set up. A gentle probe placed in your ear canal changes air pressure, and the audiologist observes how your eardrum responds. This helps identify any issues with sound transmission.

The Grand Reveal: Putting the Pieces Together

After all the tests are done, the audiologist becomes your hearing translator, explaining your results in clear, understandable language. They'll discuss any hearing loss you might have, its severity, and most importantly, the next steps in your hearing journey. This could involve hearing aids, cochlear implants, or other strategies to help you hear your best.

So, there you have it! A demystified look at what happens during a full diagnostic hearing test with Melbourne's audiologists. Remember, taking care of your hearing is crucial for maintaining your quality of life.

Source: https://ivoryhearing.blogspot.com/2024/04/what-to-expect-from-full-diagnostic.html

[katieandskip]

The races are over and the town is very quiet now. It was a big party for 3 + nights. 4-5 concert areas around town.

The first place winner was Bagnaia, an Italian. There were no Americans in the race. It was a very hot day to be sitting in the stands with temps near 90, I left early. Took a bus back to town and watched the race near the boat in a bar with a cold beer. Met up with Skip and John having some beers with a few Englishmen John met up with.

John left on Monday to go back to Amsterdam for a couple of days before returning to the states.

We stayed on here in Assen because it is a convenient place for my sister Joan to get to when she finishes her tour of Scotland, she’s expected on Friday. We hope to leave on Saturday for the turfroute.

They are a series is small canals created for the transport of peat. Slow going with bridges you lift yourself and locks that are hand operated.

[bones-ivy-breath]

To convey this message [of power] to foreign monarchs [King Louis XIV] took great care that ambassadors stationed abroad received detailed descriptions of events such as the series of entertainments he gave for the entire court over a six-week period in the summer of 1674. Despite the fact that France was currently engaged in a savage European war, these festivities were of an unparalleled magnificence and luxury. They started on 4 July with a feast, which took place in a glade in the gardens of Versailles. As music played softly, guests took refreshments at marble tables that had been set up in leafy enclosures overlooking a specially constructed pond. In the centre of this was a realistic artificial tree cast in bronze, from whose branches water spurted. Jets also gushed from bronze bowls set in the centres of the tables, carefully designed to minimise splashing. Interspersed among the porcelain tubs full of flowers which surrounded the tables were ice figures of various shapes and sizes, a particularly impressive sight in high summer in an age where refrigeration was unknown. Having eaten their fill, the guests returned to the Chateau, where every window was illuminated with candles. A performance of Alceste then took place in the marble courtyard, converted for the evening into a sumptuous theatre, decorated with orange trees in tubs on marble pedestals and lit by crystal chandeliers. Five days later a concert was held in the gardens of the Porcelain Trianon, an enchanting pavilion made of Delft tiles that the King had originally constructed for trysts with Mme de Montespan. On 28 July the King gave a supper for the ladies of the court in the octagonal menagerie and this was followed nine days later by an open-air feast in a specially constructed amphitheatre. The enclosure was bordered by grass terraces, ascending in tiers, and was bedecked with apple, pear and apricot trees in tubs, all laden with fruit out of season. A 'sumptuous collation' was provided, concluding with crystallised fruits and sorbets, with every sort of liqueur being served from crystal carafes. The evening terminated with an opera and firework display over the canal. The final offering in this triumphal cycle of entertainments took place ten days later in another grove in the gardens of Versailles. A circular table twenty-four feet in diameter had been set there with the usual array of delicacies. Around its circumference were placed pyramids of fruit, topped with golden balls and linked with festoons of flowers. Afterwards the King and Queen drove by carriage to see Racine's Iphigenia performed in the orangery, where a temporary - albeit exceptionally elaborate - theatre had been improvised. To approach this structure, they passed down a path bordered with grottoes and fountains, and entered through a marble portico, supported by pillars of lapis lazuli. After the play, the guests again congregated in the gardens to see a firework display and illuminations on the canal. For this final tableau vast figures, artfully lit, were places on stone pedestals embellished with bas-relief friezes. On one of these, captives were depicted huddled at the feet of a triumphant Hercules who was being crowned with flowers and laurels by little children. In this lyrical description of these festivities André Felibien explained that the children 'signified the love of the people who are crowning so many generous exploits' on the part of the King, and that they were binding the captives with garlands of flowers rather than chains to show that 'the domination of the prince who has vanquished them is glorious and sweet'. Whether the subjugated population of the occupied provinces of Flanders would have endorsed this interpretation is questionable. One wonders, too, whether the King's poorer subjects could have shared Felibien's enthusiasm for these sights. Rather, the fact that during the following year the oppressive weight of tax resulted in a series of revolts in various parts of France, tends to support the Abbé Choisy's observation: 'The people were in penury while we talked of nothing but fêtes, ballets and diversions.'

The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV by Anne Somerset

[brookston]

Holidays 3.19

Holidays

Adopt a Dinosaur Day

Carpenter Day (Mexico)

Certified Nurses Day

Client’s Day

Commemoration of the Victory over Kadhafi (Libya)

Day of Equality (Finland)

El Pujilay (Bolivia)

Father’s Day (Belgium, Bolivia, Honduras, Italy, Portugal, Spain)

International Client’s Day

International Read To Me Day

Josefistag (Liechtenstein)

Kashubian Unity Day (Poland)

Let's Laugh Day

Minna Canth Day (Finland)

National Automatic Door Day

National Backyard Day

National Certified Nurse Day

National Day of Oil (Iran)

National Stretch Mark Day

Oil Nationalization Day (Iran)

Operation Iraqi Freedom Day (US)

Pet Passport Day (UK)

St. Joseph's Day (traditional beginning of Frühjahrsbierfest in Munich)

See If You Can Find Someone Who Remembers Honey West Day

Swallows Day (traditional return to Mission San Juan Capistrano)

Taxonomist Appreciation Day

Unity Day (Kashubia)

What the Heck Was That Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Bockbier Season begins [lasts 2 weeks]

Chardonnay Day (Cakebread)

Chocolate Caramel Day

National Oatmeal Cookie Day

Poultry Day

3rd Sunday in March

American Chocolate Week begins [3rd Sunday]

Buzzard Sunday (a.k.a. National Buzzard Day) [Sunday after 15th]

Root Canal Awareness Week begins [3rd Sunday]

Silly Sunday [3rd Sunday]

Independence Days

Alexostan (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Albert Pinkham Ryder (Artology; Saint)

Alemund of England (Christian; Saint)

Alkmund of Derby (Christian; Saint)

Beer Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Film; 2004)

Festival of Anna Perenna (Goddess of the Circle of the Year; Ancient Rome)

Fourth Sunday in Lent (Western Christianity) (a.k.a. ... 

Bretzelsonndeg (a.k.a. Pretzel Sunday; Germany, Luxembourg)

Carnaval de la Laetare (Stavelot, Belgium)

Laetare Sunday (Anglicans, Lutheranism, Roman Catholicism)

Mothering Sunday (UK)

Refreshment Sunday

Rose Sunday

The Sunday of the Five Loaves

Goddess of Fertility Day (Pagan)

Greater Dionysia (Ancient Greece)

Joseph (Christian; Saint) [traditional beginning of Munich’s Frühjahrsbierfest]

Maxwell Smart Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Mojoday (Discordian)

Only 287 Drinking Days ’till 2024 Day (Pastafarian)

Quinquatria (a.k.a. The Mivervalia; Festival to Minerva; Ancient Rome)

Saint Joseph (Western Christianity; if this date falls on Sunday, the feast is moved to Monday March 20) [Austria, Canada, Belgium]

Tara Puja (Buddhism)

Xenocrates (Positivist; Saint)

Zoot (Muppetism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [35 of 71]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 13 of 60)

Premieres

Amos ’n’ Andy (Radio Series; 1928)

Blackboard Jungle (Film; 1955)

Bob Dylan, by Bob Dylan (Album; 1962)

Born on a Pirate Ship, by Barenaked Ladies (Album; 1996)

The Bounty Hunter (Film; 2010)

Bright Lights (Disney Cartoon; 1928)

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Film; 1921)

The Day the Universe Changed (UK Documentary Series; 1985)

Deathtrap (Film; 1982)

Dressed to Kill, by KISS (Album; 1975)

Erased (Anime Film; 2016)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Film; 2004)

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TV Series; 2021)

Faust, by Charles Gounod (Opera; 1859)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Film; 2010)

Green Eyes, by Jimmy Dorsey (Song; 1941)

Kate & Allie (TV Series; 1984)

Mickey Down Under (Disney Cartoon; 1948)

The Nutcracker Suite, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Concert Suite ; 1892)

The 100 (TV Series; 2014)

Point of No Return (Film; 1993)

Porky’s (Film; 1982)

The Runaways (Film; 2010)

The Shaggy Dog (Film; 1959)

South Pacific (Film; 1958)

Takin’ It To the Streets, by The Doobie Brothers (Album; 1976)

Tommy (Film; 1975)

Today’s Name Days

Josef, Josefa, Josefine (Austria)

Ida, Josip, Josipa, Zlata (Croatia)

Josef (Czech Republic)

Joseph (Denmark)

Joosep, Joosu (Estonia)

Joose, Joosef, Jooseppi, Josefiina, Juuso (Finland)

Joseph (France)

Gero, Josef, Josefa, Josefine, Joseph (Germany)

Chrysanthos, Dareia, Hrysanthos (Greece)

Bánk, József (Hungary)

Giuseppe, Giuseppina, Pino, Quartilla, Quinto, Sibilla (Italy)

Daris, Inga, Ingrīda, Ingus, Jāzeps (Latvia)

Juozapas, Juozas, Vilė, Vilys (Lithuania)

Josef, Josefine (Norway)

Bogdan, Józef (Poland)

Daria, Hrisant (Romania)

Jozef (Slovakia)

José (Spain)

Josef, Josefina (Sweden)

Daria, Daryna, Darusia, Ilaria, Laria (Ukraine)

Donahue, Donavan, Donovan, Dorian, Joe, Joey, Jose, Josef, Joseph, Wyatt (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 78 of 2023; 287 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 11 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 1 of 28]

Chinese: Month 2 (Yi-Mao), Day 28 (Bing-Zi)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 26 Adar 5783

Islamic: 26 Sha’ban 1444

J Cal: 17 Ver; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 6 March 2023

Moon: 5%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 22 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Xenocrates]

Runic Half Month: Beore (Birch Tree) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 90 of 90)

Zodiac: Pisces (Day 28 of 29)

Calendar Changes

Fearn (Alder) [Celtic Tree Calendar; Month 3 of 13]

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 3.19

Holidays

Adopt a Dinosaur Day

Carpenter Day (Mexico)

Certified Nurses Day

Client’s Day

Commemoration of the Victory over Kadhafi (Libya)

Day of Equality (Finland)

El Pujilay (Bolivia)

Father’s Day (Belgium, Bolivia, Honduras, Italy, Portugal, Spain)

International Client’s Day

International Read To Me Day

Josefistag (Liechtenstein)

Kashubian Unity Day (Poland)

Let's Laugh Day

Minna Canth Day (Finland)

National Automatic Door Day

National Backyard Day

National Certified Nurse Day

National Day of Oil (Iran)

National Stretch Mark Day

Oil Nationalization Day (Iran)

Operation Iraqi Freedom Day (US)

Pet Passport Day (UK)

St. Joseph's Day (traditional beginning of Frühjahrsbierfest in Munich)

See If You Can Find Someone Who Remembers Honey West Day

Swallows Day (traditional return to Mission San Juan Capistrano)

Taxonomist Appreciation Day

Unity Day (Kashubia)

What the Heck Was That Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Bockbier Season begins [lasts 2 weeks]

Chardonnay Day (Cakebread)

Chocolate Caramel Day

National Oatmeal Cookie Day

Poultry Day

3rd Sunday in March

American Chocolate Week begins [3rd Sunday]

Buzzard Sunday (a.k.a. National Buzzard Day) [Sunday after 15th]

Root Canal Awareness Week begins [3rd Sunday]

Silly Sunday [3rd Sunday]

Independence Days

Alexostan (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Albert Pinkham Ryder (Artology; Saint)

Alemund of England (Christian; Saint)

Alkmund of Derby (Christian; Saint)

Beer Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Film; 2004)

Festival of Anna Perenna (Goddess of the Circle of the Year; Ancient Rome)

Fourth Sunday in Lent (Western Christianity) (a.k.a. ... 

Bretzelsonndeg (a.k.a. Pretzel Sunday; Germany, Luxembourg)

Carnaval de la Laetare (Stavelot, Belgium)

Laetare Sunday (Anglicans, Lutheranism, Roman Catholicism)

Mothering Sunday (UK)

Refreshment Sunday

Rose Sunday

The Sunday of the Five Loaves

Goddess of Fertility Day (Pagan)

Greater Dionysia (Ancient Greece)

Joseph (Christian; Saint) [traditional beginning of Munich’s Frühjahrsbierfest]

Maxwell Smart Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Mojoday (Discordian)

Only 287 Drinking Days ’till 2024 Day (Pastafarian)

Quinquatria (a.k.a. The Mivervalia; Festival to Minerva; Ancient Rome)

Saint Joseph (Western Christianity; if this date falls on Sunday, the feast is moved to Monday March 20) [Austria, Canada, Belgium]

Tara Puja (Buddhism)

Xenocrates (Positivist; Saint)

Zoot (Muppetism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Lucky Day (Philippines) [35 of 71]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Umu Limnu (Evil Day; Babylonian Calendar; 13 of 60)

Premieres

Amos ’n’ Andy (Radio Series; 1928)

Blackboard Jungle (Film; 1955)

Bob Dylan, by Bob Dylan (Album; 1962)

Born on a Pirate Ship, by Barenaked Ladies (Album; 1996)

The Bounty Hunter (Film; 2010)

Bright Lights (Disney Cartoon; 1928)

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Film; 1921)

The Day the Universe Changed (UK Documentary Series; 1985)

Deathtrap (Film; 1982)

Dressed to Kill, by KISS (Album; 1975)

Erased (Anime Film; 2016)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Film; 2004)

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (TV Series; 2021)

Faust, by Charles Gounod (Opera; 1859)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Film; 2010)

Green Eyes, by Jimmy Dorsey (Song; 1941)

Kate & Allie (TV Series; 1984)

Mickey Down Under (Disney Cartoon; 1948)

The Nutcracker Suite, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Concert Suite ; 1892)

The 100 (TV Series; 2014)

Point of No Return (Film; 1993)

Porky’s (Film; 1982)

The Runaways (Film; 2010)

The Shaggy Dog (Film; 1959)

South Pacific (Film; 1958)

Takin’ It To the Streets, by The Doobie Brothers (Album; 1976)

Tommy (Film; 1975)

Today’s Name Days

Josef, Josefa, Josefine (Austria)

Ida, Josip, Josipa, Zlata (Croatia)

Josef (Czech Republic)

Joseph (Denmark)

Joosep, Joosu (Estonia)

Joose, Joosef, Jooseppi, Josefiina, Juuso (Finland)

Joseph (France)

Gero, Josef, Josefa, Josefine, Joseph (Germany)

Chrysanthos, Dareia, Hrysanthos (Greece)

Bánk, József (Hungary)

Giuseppe, Giuseppina, Pino, Quartilla, Quinto, Sibilla (Italy)

Daris, Inga, Ingrīda, Ingus, Jāzeps (Latvia)

Juozapas, Juozas, Vilė, Vilys (Lithuania)

Josef, Josefine (Norway)

Bogdan, Józef (Poland)

Daria, Hrisant (Romania)

Jozef (Slovakia)

José (Spain)

Josef, Josefina (Sweden)

Daria, Daryna, Darusia, Ilaria, Laria (Ukraine)

Donahue, Donavan, Donovan, Dorian, Joe, Joey, Jose, Josef, Joseph, Wyatt (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 78 of 2023; 287 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of week 11 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 1 of 28]

Chinese: Month 2 (Yi-Mao), Day 28 (Bing-Zi)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 26 Adar 5783

Islamic: 26 Sha’ban 1444

J Cal: 17 Ver; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 6 March 2023

Moon: 5%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 22 Aristotle (3rd Month) [Xenocrates]

Runic Half Month: Beore (Birch Tree) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 90 of 90)

Zodiac: Pisces (Day 28 of 29)

Calendar Changes

Fearn (Alder) [Celtic Tree Calendar; Month 3 of 13]

[malaysiankpopfans]

New OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Unlocks Pure Harmony

The second generation of OnePlus’ flagship true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds get bolder and better, featuring Google’s signature spatial audio and MelodyBoostTM dual drivers that take the auditory experience to new heights

KUALA LUMPUR, 14th February 2023 ─ OnePlus officially unveiled the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, the second generation of its flagship earbuds that boast spatial audio and dual drivers features that are set to elevate users’ listening experience to a whole new level.

“No expense was spared in the creation OnePlus Buds Pro 2. We put a lot of magic into the new mobile accessory to deliver an immersive audio quality, thanks to our collaboration with renowned acoustics specialists that enable us to pack as much power and exceptional performance into a compact footprint,” said Kinder Liu, President and COO of OnePlus. 

The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is imbued with futuristic elements –the two-tone unibody pairs matte and metallic material, delivering a superior tactile experience. The earbuds are initially available in two colours: Arbor Green and Obsidian Black for the OnePlus Buds Pro 2. The Arbor Green was picked to match the Eternal Green of the OnePlus 11  5G to give users a stylish and fashionable look. 

Unlock Audiophile-grade Wireless Sound

OnePlus Buds Pro 2 has two with its MelodyBoostTM Dual Drivers that let enable users to hear music and sounds as they were recorded in the studio. Co-created with Dynaudio,  the dual-driver system includes an 11mm woofer and 6mm tweeter that enable the earbuds to handle high and low frequencies with ease.

As part of the Dynaudio partnership, OnePlus Buds Pro 2 has a default equalizer setting with three customized EQs – Bold, Serenade and Bass – so that every song is heard with its original pure sound.

The LHDC 4.0 Ultra-HD Bluetooth engine fitted into OnePlus Buds Pro 2 also ensures high-resolution audio transmission that is close to a wired connection, while the Audio ID2.0 technology embedded into the earbuds deploys an ear canal scan and a listening test to customize the user experience.

Unlock Immersive Sound 

The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is one of the first TWS earbuds to adopt Google’s signature spatial audio function developed for Android 13, the latest version of its mobile operating system. In collaboration with Google, OnePlus has optimized the spatial audio of the Buds Pro 2 Series to simulate the immersive multi-dimensional experience found in theatres. Under the Android 13 framework, OnePlus also unlocks the spatial audio experience for multi-channel audio sources on YouTube and Disney+. 

The audio experience on the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is elevated when paired with the OnePlus 11 5G smartphone, activating incredible immersive Dolby Atmos audio along with Dolby Head TrackingTM technology. This creates a wide sound field and clear vocals for a cinematic atmosphere of sound while watching videos. Meanwhile, when users play their music, they are ensured clear and natural sound, enjoying a premium, immersive listening experience that feels like a live concert. 

To enable stereo audio sources of mainstream audio and video apps to be supported by the earbuds’ spatial audio functions OnePlus incorporates its self-developed stereo upmixing algorithm into the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 so that dual-channel audio streaming platforms could be optimized and enjoyed with multidimensional sound.

To demonstrate the impact of spatial audio, the multiple Academy Award- and Grammy-winning composer Hans Zimmer. The customized EQ - Hans Zimmer Soundscape Tuning has fewer low frequencies than the default setting as well as a brighter and wider sound field that allows users to enjoy the full orchestral sound of a classical symphony and the multidimensional sound of an action film. 

Unlock a Smart ANC Experience

OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is equipped with the industry-leading TUV-certified Smart Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC) function that eliminates ambient noise up to 48dB and a 4 kHz maximum width. The ultra-high frequency depth of the noise cancellation feature means even sounds like human voices can be better tuned out. Users are given the control to manually adjust the noise cancellation setting according to their needs. 

At the opposite side of the noise cancellation feature, the transparency mode allows users to be aware of ambient dangers without taking off their earbuds. When activated, the transparency mode also allows them to have a clear conversation with people even with their earbuds on.

Unlock the Fast & Smooth Experience

The earbuds’ luxurious design is complemented by its high-powered performance that ensures crystal clear calls regardless of the environment. Users are further assured of long battery life with up to 39 hours of music playback. OnePlus Buds Pro 2 also has a fast-charging feature that allows for 10 hours of playback time with only 10 minutes of charging. Those with the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 can enjoy charging their devices sans the wires.

Furthermore, OnePlus Buds Pro 2 strives to deliver seamless connection by being able to connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously – saving users from the hassle that comes from switching from one device to another. And with its collaboration with Google, the earbuds come with the Google Fast Pair feature that enables the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 to connect with nearby Android devices without depleting your phone battery. The Bluetooth 5.3 LE Audio also lowers latency to 54ms, which can vastly improve users’ mobile gaming experience. Users can easily manage the earbuds’ functions through its touch control feature, without having to take their phone out. 

Unlock the Effortless Life with More Powerful Features 

The size of the earbuds is smaller than the first generation and is ergonomically designed to fit comfortably into the ears while alleviating the ear pressure sensation, which is ideal for long-time use.

The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is also IP55 water-resistant, and its case is IPX4 sweat-resistant, effectively preventing moisture from damaging the device’s internal components. The earbuds should survive minor rinsing under the tap.

Besides encouraging good physical posture with its built-in gyroscope, OnePlus Buds Pro 2 has a Zen Mode Air feature designed to help users keep their mental health by de-stressing. With the Zen Mode Air, the earbuds have stored a selection of five white noise that users can choose from to soothe and calm them after a hard day. 

The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is priced at RM869 in Malaysia. 

For music lovers all around the world, OnePlus will hold an exclusive online performance from Nils Hoffmann X Bailey the Valentine's Day. Watch it on the OnePlus YouTube channel on February 14th.