#but other than that its great sofar

[x--daughters-of-darkness--x]

9 ways you can help your favourite band

Cancelled tours mean one thing for touring musicians: no income. But you can make a real difference

9 ways to help your favourite acts

1. Keep buying tickets For small acts, this is the most direct and immediate way they can make money and it is a critical part of their income. Buy tickets in advance (rather that walk up on the night) as the venue, promoter and act will be closely monitoring sales – and shows can get pulled if ticket sales are slow. Even if the worst comes to the worst and the show is cancelled, you will be refunded. Buying tickets now is a very public display of support, especially for a band that's rescheduled its tour for November.

2. Buy merchandise from band's online stores If a band are not able to tour, their online store is a good place to show support. Rather than buying their CD or LP from a “tax-efficient” online retail behemoth, buying direct from the act means that more of the money actually goes to them. They still have fulfilment costs, but the margins in selling this way are much higher. Plus they generally have nice limited-edition items (e.g. signed or coloured vinyl) and offer good deals on bundles (e.g. album + T-shirt + ticket) that can keep the wolf from the door in the lean times.

3. Pre-order the album If your favourite act has a new album coming out later this year, check if they have pre-orders open on their website, on iTunes or other online retailers. Buying it in advance not only means that some cash is coming in, it also sends a message to the retailers that there is growing anticipation for the release. Strong pre-order numbers can see the album pushed up the pre-order charts on download stores and online retailers, resulting in extra editorial support that it might not otherwise get.

4. If they have a Bandcamp presence, buy music there Bandcamp is an enormously important platform for new acts as it lets them easily sell music downloads and merchandise items direct to fans – and they get to keep the bulk of sales income. On top of this, Bandcamp has a subscription feature that means acts can make money from fans taking out a monthly or annual subscription in exchange for access to a wealth of things like live recordings, demos, interviews, early access to shows and more. It also means acts know what money they have coming in each month and can budget accordingly.

5. If they have a crowd-funding page, fund it The ugly and painful collapse of PledgeMusic at the start of 2019 had catastrophic effects for a multitude of acts as projects they were trying to get off the ground either fell apart or their profits were wiped out. It exposed how important crowd-funding is for so many acts.

Thankfully there are many other platforms – such as Patreon, Kickstarter, Indiegogo, ArtistShare and more – offering acts ways to get much-needed money to bankroll their next record or tour. They all have targets to hit otherwise the project gets cancelled or scaled back (depending on what platform they are using) so every pledge counts. Now, more than ever, it is critical to show your support, not just for what an act has done in the past, but also what they want to do in the future.

6. Get political: campaign for better deals for acts Musicians have to do much more these days just to keep their heads above water and sometimes they are fighting against unfair systems or seemingly insurmountable odds. There are, however, schemes and bodies out there that are trying to tilt the balance back in their favour. In light of this, lobbying from fans can genuinely change things.

Take Sofar Sounds, for example, which allowed acts to play in a host’s home – a great way to get in front of new audiences. Except acts felt they were not getting paid properly. The company, seeing the groundswell in favour of the musicians and being dragged over the coals and fined by the New York Department of Labor over how it treated “ambassadors”, changed things and said it would move to give acts better payments.

Meanwhile bodies like Music Venue Trust are fighting to keep grassroots venues open. Supporting these initiatives and signing petitions is not so much digital landfill: it really can change things for the better for acts at the sharp end.

7. Treat streaming as “try before you buy” The record business has been back in recovery position in recent years (after a decade and a half of steep decline) and streaming is a huge part of its financial renaissance, making up almost half of global revenues in 2018. But this digital windfall is not always making its way down to the smaller acts. The fractions of a penny per play paid by a service like Spotify or Apple Music add up if you’re doing hundreds of millions of streams but not if your average track does 40,000 streams. Treat these streaming services as a tasting menu and a way to discover a new act; but when you find that album you can’t stop streaming, instead of hitting repeat, go and buy it from their online store or Bandcamp page.

8. Sign up to mailing lists & subscribe to channels This might sound a bit innocuous or even dull, but signing up to an act’s mailing list is one of the most supportive things you can do for them that doesn’t actually involve putting your hand in your pocket. The way social platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter work is that “organic reach” (i.e. getting in front of people without actually paying) is pretty much non-existent today and bands have to shell out to promote their own posts on the platforms that stand between them and fans.

A mailing list, however, is theirs and they own it, meaning they have a way to talk to fans that is virtually free. Also following their official profiles on Spotify and Apple Music as well as subscribing to their channel on YouTube lets the platforms know that not only are you a fan but that these acts have the kinds of fans who want to know everything about them as soon as they can. That all sends up positive messages to the algorithmic gods that decide what acts get pushed up their recommendations and when. It also means you get notified when they have new music so you won’t miss out.

9. Tell your friends That’s the joy and the power of being a fan – that compulsion to be a total evangelist for the new act you have just discovered and love. Talking about the new album on social media, posting YouTube links to the new video, telling everyone that you have bought tickets to the tour – the cumulative effect of that can be significant.

Personal recommendations are always better than someone seeing an ad as it cuts through the noise and those who see your passion will often be intrigued and play the music. Word of mouth was always the best way for acts to build a following. Now you have a loudhailer and your advocacy can be the best weapon your new favourite band will ever have. May your enthusiasm be undimmed.

[theoutcastrogue]

Istanbul House of Detention: from Poet’s Prison to Elite Hotel

[by Andrea Young, abridged]

Sultanahmet’s courtyard in 1939: a prison. The pictured man is Nazim Hikmet.

There is an inscription, technically more of a graffito, on a remote marble column in Istanbul’s Four Seasons Hotel, repeatedly rated one of the top luxury hotels in the world. Sofar Niyazi apparently carved it in 1935 as evidenced by what is etched there: “SOFOR NiYAZi 1935,” a heart leaning just below it. Niyazi, a taxi driver, was an inmate in the Sultan Ahmet Prison, which is now one of the crown jewels of the Canadian hotel chain. Before any of this, the physical location of the prison-now-hotel was the center of Constantine’s great empire, thought to be built over part of the Emperor’s palace, which sprawled its elaborate kiosks down the slopes to the Sea of Marmara. The site of the building, used as a prison from 1919 to 1969 and then again in the late 1970s/early 1980s, was smack in the city’s nexus. Here was the Hippodrome, which housed 100,000 spectators, the Milion, or milestone, made of gold and said to symbolize the center of the Roman world.

Other than Niyazi’s testimony – hidden in the shadows as, no doubt, it had to be in order for Niyazi to avoid the prison guards’ gaze – there are not many obvious traces that this was a detention center. But Sultan Ahmet Prison was famous in its day, especially as a temporary detention center for writers and dissidents. According to the hotel’s pamphlet on its history: “The life of the prison came to dominate the neighborhood: to say you were going to Sultanahmet invited the question ‘But what have you done this time?’”

Most guests at the Four Seasons (where the cost of a single room begins at $776 and suites top out upwards of $10,000 per night) probably don’t realize they are staying in a prison cell which used to hold between six to twelve inmates or that Turkey’s most famous and beloved poet, Nazim Hikmet, paced the courtyard outside in the winter of 1939.

The poems Hikmet wrote in prison would become his most celebrated. It was more than a decade after leaving Sultan Ahmet Prison that the likes of Pablo Picasso, Paul Robeson and Pablo Neruda rallied to have him released. As a part of a general amnesty, he was. But he was nearly fifty years old then, and had a bad heart. And when he got out, he was constantly under scrutiny and finally given punitive orders to serve in the military despite his health. He ultimately fled the country to avoid a worse fate and later died in exile. He was stripped of his Turkish citizenship in absentia. It was only regained in 2009, forty-six years after his death.

Hikmet shared his time in Sultan Ahmet Prison with other famous writers such as novelist Yaşar Kemal and satirist Aziz Nesin. And some met worse fates than he did—fiction writer Sabahattin Ali, for example, who was duped by a police informer offering to smuggle him out of the country but who led him instead to be shot by border guards. Still, Hikmet’s time in the prison was the beginning of a persecution that would determine the course of his life. It was a political vendetta toward a committed communist who championed the common man and was the first to write poetry in colloquial, conversational Turkish, and it dovetailed with the wave of fascism in Europe determined to silence left-wing voices.

When Hikmet was first apprehended, he was shipped to Ankara and put in solitary confinement in a military prison where he would be held for two months and allowed no contact with anyone, including lawyers. Later, he would say that he felt on the verge of losing his mind. His poetry began to change at this time, as his biographer points out, marking the shift from his poem “Letters from a Man in Solitary:”

No doubt my state can be explained physiologically, psychologically, etc. Or maybe it’s     this barred window,            this earthen jug,                        these four walls, which for months have kept me from hearing another human voice

After Ankara, and Hikmet’s stay in Sultan Ahmet Prison, he was taken onto the warship Erkin where he was forced into the ship’s closed latrine and then its dark bilge. Pablo Neruda would later recall a conversation with the poet about his experience there. Hikmet, overwhelmed by the stench and knowing that those in power were hoping to break him, responded, according to Neruda, by singing: “He began to sing, low at first, then louder, then finally at the top of his lungs. He sang all the songs, all the love poems he could remember, all the ballads of the peasants, all the people’s battle hymns. He sang everything he knew. And so he vanquished the filth and his torturers”. As the ship floated on the Sea of Marmara, Hikmet endured, this time, a navy trial, along with several other writers, for books which were legally published and publicly available. As the prosecutor said, “If these people haven’t done anything today, they will tomorrow”.

Sultanahmet’s courtyard today: the Four Seasons Hotel

Today the courtyard of the Four Seasons is carefully manicured, the watchtower a cheerful yellow blending into the shadowy neoclassical angles housing guest rooms with names like “Palace Bosphorus Room.” Guests are invited to enjoy late night dining where “crisp tablecloths and gleaming silver play against the rhythm of the blue-green waters of the Bosphorus” and are treated to overnight shoe shines. One can easily be dizzied by the immensity of the history surrounding the hotel, and, without knowing where to look, one would never know the building’s history, though one might ponder why its front entrance is on the House of Detention Street or why, around the corner, a street is named the “Day of Celebration,” where fortunate prisoners were released.

What would Hikmet, a committed communist, think should he be transported back to the origin of the imprisonment that would define his adult life? If he were to be offered a writers’ residency, say, in one of the “palace courtyard” rooms, would he note the irony of the fact that the prison that inmates once referred to cynically as “the Hilton” is now, in fact, a western hotel chain smack in the middle of the Eastern heart of the city? Would he, so committed to the principles of egalitarianism and the value of the common man, object to the decadent amenities of the site overshadowing its historical significance? Would he ponder how the center of empire shifted so seamlessly from a holding place for the dissident to a playground for the rich?

Some question the symbolic message of transforming such a place into such an opulent locale. “Its walls are impressively thick, and the service is exceptional, but it’s hard to tell what Orientalist fantasy draws customers to this hotel, with its low ceilings and claustrophobic corridors and memories.” The trend of transforming prisons into luxury hotels is not limited to Turkey, but it carries, perhaps, a particular poignancy given the prison’s association with silencing dissidents.

Would Hikmet, so appreciative of the small beauties of life, somehow admire the tasteful image of the ornate, engraved lock and key which graces the Hotel’s brochure about its history? Would his familiarity with life’s absurdities prompt him to laugh or cringe at Fodor Travel’s description of the hotel as “Unexpected Jailhouse Splendor” or with the joking tone of the Four Season’s brochure which quips: “At reception, new guests didn’t so much flash their credit cards as undergo disinfection”? Or would he share the sentiment of the eighteen-year inmate known as Kani who scratched on its walls: “All the world’s an inn—or that’s the tale / But Sultanahmet is a stinking jail”?

“My strength / is that I’m not alone in this big world,” wrote Hikmet while he was in Sultan Ahmet Prison. Do the guests who sleep in his decorated old cell block feel the same sense of solidarity and purpose? The same stubborn hope that allowed him to sing from the dank stench of the warship’s bilge or write poems inside the grim confines of his cell? With all of the luxury of their surroundings, do they feel the same faith in the future as Hikmet did when he wrote from that same locale:

My love, amid these footsteps and this slaughter I sometimes lost my freedom, bread, and you, but never my faith in the days that will come out of the darkness, screams, and hunger, knocking on our door with hands full of sun.

[source]

[polk-a-dop]

I have entered the next layer of hell, somehow, by now following the try guys on instagram. I expect it to be one of the best and worst descisions ive made.

On a side note i also now know someone that also follows them and i hate that fucking bitch so they will forever be slightly tainted.

[primusparry]

Glymera Party (With @GlymeraPunk

Parry:

*Looking myself over in the full length mirror in my bedroom, I nod in approval. My hair in a sleek updo, subtle makeup, and dressed in a teal satin evening gown, I look every inch the highborn glymera daughter that I am. Although, it does feel a little weird now to wear something other than denim and leather, but I have to make sure that I’m properly attired. No motorcycle jackets and combat boots tonight! My father is hosting a ball and asked me to come, since I hadn’t been to a similar event for a while and he thought I should make a point of attending, at least for a little while. I love my sire, and I’m glad for the chance to spend some time with him. The rest of the glymera, however… I could probably happily never lay eyes on most of those pretentious jerks ever again, but I can suck it up once in a while. The best part of this whole thing tonight is that Peyton’s coming too, so I know that at least I’ll have one other person here besides my dad that I actually like. And Peyton and I had agreed to attend the party together as each other’s dates, since neither one of us are seeing anyone else right now. When I hear a knock on the door, I run a hand down my torso to smooth out the material of my dress and walk over to open the door. Seeing who’s on the other side, I grin up at my best friend.* Hey Pey! You look great. Are you ready for this?

Peyton:

[How in Dhund did I let myself get talked into this? Even as I scowled at my reflection, all trussed up in this monkey suit, I had to roll my eyes. I knew exactly how. Because Paradise had asked, and I was a sucker. Well, a sucker for her at least, although at least I'd hoped, through our time in training that I'd tamped down on some of my more pathetic attempts for attention when it came to her. I was still trying to convince myself that I could, for once, be the better male and settle for her friendship over not having her in my life at all. Still, the two of us attending a full on glymera shindig was its own brand of torture. A glimpse into the path we could have had if we'd just fell in line like mindless robots and done as our parents wanted. But that wasn't in the cards for us, and wasn't what either of us truly wanted. Still, we could play the part, appease our parents, turn a few heads, and start a few rumors. The night would be a total loss. At least that's what I was telling myself. Hair buzzed and quaffed, bowtie perfectly symmetrical, I looked damn good buttoned up in a tux. My father would hate that I could so easily fall in line, so that was all I more reason to attend. Chuckling to myself, my wallet, phone and keys went into my pockets before a pre-rolled joint got tucked behind my ear. I opted for the Alpha Romeo tonight, revving the engine obnoxiously as I pulled down the drive and peeled out on the street. I really couldn't help being a dick sometimes. My father's reactions just made it too easy. Sparking the joint, I puffed away as I made my way through the elite streets of Caldwell, and kept right on toking as I handed my keys off to the doggen playing valet. Strolling my way up the long walk to the Abalone estate, I resisted the urge to stab the joint out on the pristine white door jamb, and opted for the bottom of my polished Cole Haans. My aloof expression in place as I knocked at the door bloomed into a genuine smile when it was Paradise and not another doggen who opened it. Letting out a long, low whistle of appreciation, I dragged my eyes up her gorgeous body slowly, not because I was a creep, but because in a dress like that, she was begging to be looked at.] You look amazing, Paradise. Your father shouldn't let you out of the house. [Smirking as I stepped over the threshold, I offered my best friend my arm.] I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Let's do this.

Parry:

*I feel a slight blush rise to my cheeks at Peyton’s compliment- not to mention the way he was looking me over. It can be disconcerting to be the focus of such blatant male appreciation, but it can still be nice to know that someone finds you attractive- even though there’s nothing romantic going on between us, as much as Peyton might still be wishing otherwise.* Thank you. And thank you for coming tonight. I don’t think I could handle this crap without someone I actually want to be around being here too. *I smile and kiss his cheek before I twine my arm through his, ignoring the faint whiff of weed I can smell clinging to his clothes. As we enter the ballroom and the doggen announces us, I glance around and note that only about half of the invited guests have arrived sofar. I smile and wave at my father before turning back to Peyton.* How about we get something to drink before we start making the rounds?

Peyton: You are absolutely the only one that could get me back to one of these things, Paradise. [Chuckling when her arm is wound with mine, I patted her hand as the doggen made a big fuss about us walking into a room. I swear, the glymera were something else. Once upon a time, I'd been fully immersed in this life, but I knew better now and so did Parry. There were real issues in the vampire world outside of who attended what parties and who's mate was having an affair with who, and we were a part of the solutions. As graduates of the Brotherhood training program we patrolled the city to ensure civilian safety and exterminate the enemy. Everything else paled in comparison. Nodding as my gaze scanned the room, noting familiar faces and ex friends, I bought my gaze to hers.] Scribe, yes. Several. And I apologize in advance for any scene I may or may not make with my father.

Parry:

*Chuckles.* No need for an apology, Pey. I know what your sire can be like. *We get our drinks and start going around chatting with guests as the ballroom continues to fill up, and I am quickly bored out of my mind. Why can’t these people ever talk about something that actually matters?! Who the hell cares who is wearing what, or who’s dating who? Sweet Scribe, I’m so glad that I’ve left this whole lifestyle behind, for the most part. There are so many more important things to worry about, beyond what color a female’s dress is, or how much a male paid for his shoes!! For starters, the survival of our entire freaking species!

Peyton and I end up out in the gardens, hiding out for a few minutes for a breather. We sat in a little nook, out of sight of any passersby to avoid getting sucked into another inane conversation. Then I hear footsteps, and voices approaching.

“..... is our host’s daughter…”

“But dressing as she does, training, actually going out to fight in the alleys and gutters of the city? I don’t know how she ever expects to find a hellren like that!”

“Exactly! What male would want such a shellan? Paradise is glymera, she should act as such. Not like some gutter rat!”

As the voices fade away again as the speakers continue on their way, I find myself standing up with my fists clenched, trembling as multiple emotions fight for dominance within me. Insult, anger, hurt, humiliation… Torn between wanting to scream, or cry, or chase after those vicious cows and give them a piece of my mind, I turn to look at Peyton* What the hell?!

Peyton: [The alcohol and pre-snoozefest joint helped me from keeping my eyes from rolling so far back in my head they got stuck that way as we made our way around the room. Only a handful of the guests even wanted to engage in more than small talk or a formal greeting with either of us. Word had spread about where we'd been spending our nights, and let's just say that while the upper class was glad to know that the race was being protected, they were none too happy to be losing sons and daughters to the cause. Pity for them, I couldn't care less. But, this was Paradise's home and I didn't think she deserved to be disrespected in it. After one too many sidelong glances of disdain, I escorted her out to the gardens. We both needed a breath of fresh air after so many blowhards filles the ball room. Besides, I was a sucker for the way she looked in the moonlight. Ever the gentlemale, I draped my tux jacket over her shoulders as we settled on a tucked away marble bench and was just about to pull some mundane topic from thin air, and a joint from my pocket, when we heard the other guests. The last of their words were drowned out by the growl rumbling my chest, the only thing that kept me from launching over the hedge was the fact that Paradise was already on her feet. One of us had to keep our heads, and as it was her house, she got first dibs on the beat down, or at least that's what my reaction would have been. Pushing to my feet, I gave my best regal bow, gesturing with one arm towards the unknown focus of our joined ire.] Shall we show these neophytes exactly what a female of your station and skill can do, my lady?

Parry:

*I could see that Peyton’s nearly as upset as I am- snarling, fangs bared, looking like he wants to rip the throats out of those who had spoken. But he pulls himself together as he stands up and gives me an exaggerated bow, the move almost, but not quite succeeding in getting me to smile. At his words, I nod* Yes, I believe we shall. *I take off his jacket and lay it neatly on the bench. Then I lead the way out of the alcove and follow the path in the direction my detractors had gone in. We turn a corner in the path, and there they are. Yeah, I recognize them, it’s just who I’d thought it was from their voices. I decide that enough is enough, I’m tired of all the derision, snubs, and bad attitudes. Fuck this, it’s time to let my anger have its say and put some of these morons in their place. I square my shoulders and clear my throat* Good evening, ladies! *I smirk as they turn, slight blushes rising to their cheeks, and surprise and guilt in their eyes, quickly covered up. That’s right, you ridiculous bitches, you got busted!* I have a question: How dare you? How fucking dare you come into my father’s home- into MY home- and speak that way about me? You, who have never done a single damned worthwhile thing in your shallow, vapid lives, dare to look down on me?! I’m doing something good with my life, something important and vital. While you’re all sitting in your daddies’ mansions worrying about your hair and clothes and other such superficial nonsense, I’m out there night after night literally risking my life to protect our race, to help try to prevent our extinction. I’m a warrior, and you’re nothing but useless, brainless dolls. I’m extremely proud of what I’m doing, what I’ve become, and I thank the Scribe Virgin that I’m nothing like you anymore! *As I pause my tirade to take a couple breaths, I feel Peyton lay a hand on my shoulder- not like a male comforting a female, more like a gesture of camaraderie and support, friend to friend and soldier to soldier. I lay my hand on his as I turn to him.* Let’s go, Pey. Our present company is beginning to turn my stomach.

Peyton: [Taking my position at her back as she walked with purpose through the garden, I tried really hard not to notice that glint of the moon reflecting off the satin rounding her ass as she walked...and failed miserably. If she could ever read my mind, she'd rip my throat out. Pulled from my musing by the f-bomb she dropped when verbally tearing into the ignorant females, I stood my ground, just behind her and to the left, my military stance engaged, features stern, all the while thankful for the loose drape of my tuxedo slacks as she tore them to shreds. If this wasn't the hottest thing I'd ever witnessed, don't know what was. Throat. Out. Internally chastising myself, I took one step closer when she stopped to breathe, laying my hand on her shoulder, as my gaze narrowed on the females standing gobsmacked before us. Letting a slow, sinister smile curl my lips, I let my fangs show, a move that would appall the glymera. How dare I let my animalistic nature free.] Sapphire. Jade. I think it's time you have a doggen show you out before I let slip to your mahmens and fathers that I bore witness to your insults to the beloved daughter of the king's first advisor, in her own home, no less. [Flicking the tip of my tongue to the point of my fang in a blatant threat, I slid my arm around Paradise's shoulder, nodded once, and steered her away from that garbage, addressing her, but loud enough that they'd hear.] You have never been anything like them, Paradise. They aren't worthy enough to clean your toilet. [The gasps at our backs as we moved away had a grin stretching as I tipped a wink in her direction.]

Parry:

*I grin back at Peyton as he delivers his parting shot and winks at me as he leads me away from the dumbfounded females I had faced down. I suggest that we go back inside and tell my father about the incident so that, as host, he’s prepared to handle any fallout. As we walk, I feel lighter and lighter- I don’t think I fully realized how much I was holding in, how much I was bothered by what the rest of the glymera was saying about me and the rest of my trainee classmates. But now that I’ve let loose some of those bottled up feelings, I feel better. I also realize that it really shouldn’t matter what the glymera thinks of me, so I won’t let it. Why should I? Forget them! By the time we get back to the alcove to get Pey’s jacket I feel downright giddy* Oh, that felt so good! Did you see the looks on their faces?! *I start laughing, and throw my arms around him. Then, following an impulse I don’t understand but also don’t think to question, I pull his head down to mine and kiss him. Lost in the moment, in the sensations of his tongue dueling with mine and his hands gripping my waist tight, I don’t really think about what I’m doing. But then it hits me- and so does the embarrassment. I pull back as heat floods my cheeks, and I find myself barely able to meet his eyes as I stammer* Pey, I- I’m so sorry! I don’t know what got into me just then…

Peyton: [My grin was huge as she practically skipped back to the alcove where my jacket waited. It didn't bother me one way or the other if we told her father, but I understood why she'd want to. Nodding along as she spoke, I chuckled as Paradise, in her own Paradise way, cursed the females without uttering a profanity.

And then her lips were on mine and my brain shorted out. This wasn't just a friendly peck. When I felt her tongue, Scribe yes, I went with it. A low growl rumbled my chest as my body came to life, my hands gripping her hips to keep her again me as I savored my first taste of Paradise. All too soon it was over. Like a bucket of ice dumped over my head, I knew the first would be the last, and damn if her cheeks didn't look good that color. Alright, Pey, whatever you do, do not beg for more. Wanker. With my own version of a pep talk in mind, I groaned internally before lifting my hand, brushing my knuckles over her cheek.] Hey, none of that. You know my lips are at your disposal for insulting glymera, or...those. [Tapping a fingertip to her lips my smirk was cocky, aloof all while I died a little inside. Clearing my throat, I dropped my hand and stepped back.] You know, maybe we shouldn't tell your father. [Holding up surrender hands at the shocked look of betrayal on her face, my statement had done the distracting I wanted it to.] Hear me out! We'd have some to hold over their heads. A card to play if we need a favor down the road? You never know… [Both brows rose as I tried for an innocent look, waiting for her to respond. Maybe she'd kiss me again?]

Parry:

*As Peyton steps back and looks at me with such an indifferent smirk on his face, I feel a stab of hurt. Did he not have romantic feelings for me anymore? Or had I completely misread things to begin with? Even if so, how could he act like the kiss hadn’t meant anything to him? After all the time we’ve been friends, everything we’ve been through together? For just a second during the kiss, I’d thought…. But maybe I was wrong. Before I can process this, he hits me with the double whammy of not wanting to tell my father about the incident after all. Before I can respond in the negative he explains why he thinks we shouldn’t, and I realize that he might have a point, so I nod and agree with him. After all, it might be better to keep those two guessing about what I might do about it, and when. Keep them off balance. I hate to be so calculating and manipulative, but sometimes that’s the only thing those of our class understand. I keep my distance from Pey as we walk back inside, careful not to touch him, for fear of feeling his indifference again. That might actually make me break down and cry- something I absolutely don’t want to do in front of him. As we walk through the doors, I glance at the stairs and think of my room- and, as much as it galls me to do so, I decide to take the coward’s way out and escape.* You know what, Pey? I’ve put in an appearance and made the rounds, and that’s really all I promised my dad I’d do. I think I’m gonna go ahead and just call it a night. See you at the training center tomorrow night… * I go up the stairs, keeping to a moderate pace (I might be running away, but damned if I’ll let him know that!). As soon as my bedroom door closes behind me, I start pulling the pins out of my hair and pull it back into a simple ponytail. Then I change into sweatpants and a t-shirt and curl up on the couch in my sitting area, trying to sort out my increasingly tangled feelings regarding my best friend.*

Peyton: [I could tell she was still out of sorts as we entered her home again, whether it was from the confrontation or the kiss, I could only guess. Was telling her that my lips were at her disposal any time she wanted them even too much? Not that open mouth, insert foot wasn't my usual go to when it came to Paradise, and something we were both used to, but damn that kiss had thrown me for a loop. I knew the fantasies running through my mind weren't even a notion in hers as we walked silently into the ballroom, but I wasn't surprised when she decided to take her leave for the night. It was a relief actually as I caught my father's judgmental stare from across the room, and just as my buzz was starting to wane. Yes, ducking out now was best all around. The only thing that would make it better was if Paradise were to ask me to join her in her rooms, but that was those fantasies fucking with my head again. Never gonna happen, Pey. Nodding as I walked her to the bottom of the grand staircase, I lifted her hand as I gave a half bow, but instead of brushing my lips over her knuckles, I turned her hand over, and pressed a kiss to the pulse point of her wrist. With a wink and a smile that was equally devilish and just plain stupid, I bid my date good night and turned for the door. Thanking the doggen as he held out my cashmere coat, I was sparking the joint I had tucked in the inner pocket before another doggen arrived with my car from valet. The J and replay of that kiss from Paradise would keep me warm for the rest of the night and following day.]

#GlymeraParty #SASBDB

[mcbride58conner-blog]

If Steph Will Undoubtedly Be Suspended For Recreation 7 many People Are Questioning,

Yahoo released factory reset safeguard (FRP) in Android 5.1 to make it impossible to employ a compromised product. But if the SE appears similar to the 5S, then there is no motivation for me to buy the SE over the cheaper 5S. I really don't sport thus functionality doesn't issue, both 8mp camera OS model, equally fingerprint scanner, etc. We appreciated every Story of Heroes” recreation produced sofar, and I feel such as the figures were a bit more distinctive, while the PSP activities all acquired slower startup moments. Also you can not delay and when you have an system that may upgrade to Nougat, go right ahead and install it. The rollout seems need certainly to removed and there have not been any technique- parasites that are breaking, or problems of one. A properly tuned portable front-end to a current Web-based commerce engine may not be significantly more than insufficient to support people requires. Telltale Activities found a way to present yet another account walkway through the Jogging Useless using its venture game collection. This may bode well for your gaming sector, implying that sport corporations simply treat their staff better-than in the past. The Question Raven I got nearby the game's beginning finished up having myself through the entire matter. Reasonable notice: The base recreation is of entertaining to enjoy, nevertheless, you likely aren't planning to get complete satisfaction from the jawhorse having simply the three commencing heroes in the game and you will be locked-out of the lot of material that will require more bagsPERheroes to access. The beta also suggested at other settings, figures and routes but didn't permit persons usage of these, declaring they certainly were not only unavailable in the entire game. Additionally, there's the part from PC World that Google was prepared to separate earnings that is portable in its dash to create Android to promote, because it was with Ms mostly during the time involved with Solar. As well as selection for play station navigation, the leading portable producers like Samsung phones and Nokia Indian and attributes like high-resolution camcorders, give you a wide range of accessories designed for tech-savvy customers. Really. Folks presented it a 80 meta when Nintendo report a 90 and can shit every-other recreation available. 1989's Castlevania: The Adventure, the first Castlevania discharge for that Game Boy, was an unoriginal and unimpressive misfire. The equipment you utilize to enjoy them is merely likely to transform, and like all of the previous cellular system unity we have witnessed if itis, it'll probably be for that better... Over being irritated since things once we get, are modifying, anyway. It truly is certainly not the most effective sport previously, there is many rather clear issues increase the knowledge and they could have done to increase it a bit. The reward scheme with this game is completely fk'd, about making people towards the IAPs if they previously desire to benefit from the recreation creating no pretense. In the Android industry are many alternative party DLNA host apps, including a minumum of one that has certification that is official. While these have already been resolved, fragmentation” and the supply of the Android method is a disappointment for the trusting customer. Think of it this technique before you receive upset time that is next: These articles let me pay market that is relatively to be posted about by authors Activities like Build the Planet. We explain to you a number of other available choices in our just how to play iTunes tunes and videos on your own Android telephone Make Suggestions can not officially copy films to your smartphone from your own iTunes as you would have to take away the DRM protection first. Desktops still pretty much have recreation development locked -for the present time- in addition to specific pro-levelOR several common and esports activities and indianapolis activities initially and only there also. I ended my preorder around three weeks ago due to everyone certainly not realizing exactly what the sport was, everything you does, we determined several nights back simply too chunk the topic and find out, I Have not been dissatisfied, for a recreation that's obtained such hype we never after predicted it also meet up with the hype, in my scenario it'sn't just met it but maxed it. Great job men! You'll be able to conserve at any time via the stop menu, which will be also not very useless for a-mobile RPG. The overall game is designed to permit you to preserve your face free when you roam because walking around with your eyes stuck for your cellphone is just a small safety danger. One of many items that keeps everyone is the fact that whenever I obtain a product that is fresh I - can simply recover from a copy and everything is as it had been on my device that is old - except Neverending Tower which seems to be immune. Formally, this iOS dock can be a copy of the 2004 re release of the original 1987 experience game; in-part, this is exactly why it seems a little slicker than some of those other WIearly-years games. In short, there are activities for every single break and every overeat, actually preference and every expertise. After seeing that video, it made everyone re evaluate my entire life and understand how unbelievably ridiculous the sport is. I removed it off my phone. Don't wish to fight about it, but I firmly think that cellular gaming is merely nonviable, but the way of the near future as-well. Curiously though, I found that loading situations for activities did not fluctuate significantly between the two gadgets, and in several games—Minecraft for instance—the Moto GRAMS truly hundreds quicker. Of what supplements are utilized regarding likewise this notion influences how they are approached by game developers. Analysts are regularly creating solutions enhance microchip ability and to miniaturize mobile phones. Frankly though, I believe that ultimately, gambling that is mobile can be quite a serious gaming software as much as any unit that is other as long as persons devote the effort to get the superior games. If you like to transfer your entire images, first ensure then proceed and select your unit again , and choose the Photographs case up top. So, in case you are looking for applied mobiles, it would be to your benefit to appear upwards the best sources of details rather than let-up about it. It'd be in your favor for more information and produce news paper that are available for that city and perform a thorough research about the kind of facts that's within them if you would like utilized mobiles in Hyderabad. The sport was initially produced solely for Android, but it has merely being presented for iOS mobiles and furniture. In order they're currently declaring themselves items will simply enhance and also this is definitely an OBVIOUS and historically established ACTUALITY in video game consoles. You've games, your figures, your 2D place window, skills, and so on. It is the detail that status displays such as this include that really helps to modify your character how you wish while it can be a little congested and perplexing at-times. Character Musician Xavier Coelho-Kostolny attracted a comparability between the movie's figure types and people of the overall game. The design and appearance of cellphones offers come a considerable ways since the mid-1980s when cell phones were not as small as a people brain. Your Android is worked on by bad and it can be actually controlled by you. But the one catch is the fact that when you you future want to play the overall game you should have to go through some shenanigans again.

[pleasantmag]

Show Review: 3/21/22 Great Calling featuring Dan Croll and Priya Ragu

photo & post by r.z. anderson

Last week, I was invited to attend the first of the Great Calling shows here in NYC. This show was at Great Jones Distillery on Broadway and it featured Dan Croll, and Priya Ragu. If you are unfamiliar with The Great Calling, it is an initiative to raise awareness on how UK artists shape global cultures, how the UK is a creative and cultural hot house, how its hope to many famous festivals and music venues, and how they do not get the credit they deserve. For this run of shows they partnered with Sofar Sounds which made it a really intimate experience. 

The show opened with Dan Croll who is an indie singer songwriter from the truly iconic city of Liverpool, which is home to bands such as Elvis Costello, Big in Japan, Echo and the Bunnymen and of course The Beatles, just to name a few. Being educated at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts started by none other than Sir Paul McCartney, yes the Beatle. Now Dan resides in the Los Angeles. He has shared the stage with bands like Bombay Bicycle Club and has been featured on the soundtracks of FIFA 14 and Grand Theft Auto V. I thought he was really very good. His blues driven indie sound was a very nice way to start of the night and really was excellent. It really set the tone for the rest of the evening. One of the songs he played was called ‘Yesterday’ and it was about meeting Sir Paul at the school. Dan had said it was an apology to Paul for being so tired upon meeting. I really can’t wait to hear what he is going to come out with next and I will definitely be checking him out again next time.

Following Dan was Priya Ragu who is really blowing up in England right now. Born in Switzerland, Priya relocated to NYC with the goal of writing 10 songs, hit the goal and then finally settled down in the UK where she is getting a lot of air time on the radio. With her self described “Raguwave” sound her song “Good Love 2.0″ has been all over BBC and has been featured on their “BBC Sound 2022″ which is an incredible feat. Priya’s set was really quite cool to see. Her term “Raguwave” is the only way to really describe what it is; To put it in layman's terms the best I can, it is something similar to hip hop with an english club sound. She really put on an energetic set and was really good. I’d say if you have the opportunity to see her I would before she starts selling out Madison Square Garden. 

Overall, this show was incredible and I’m so happy I had the opportunity to see and support such incredible UK artists.  

[solar-kart]

What is Solar Inverter ?

What is a Solar Inverter ?

A Solar Inverter is a device that converts the direct current (DC) from the solar panels into alternating current (AC) which is used by domestic and commercial appliances in solar rooftop power plant. It is one of the most critical components of the solar power system as it converts power from the sun into more useful energy and is often referred to as the brain of a solar system. Solar inverters are a crucial part of a solar system since power from sun cannot be directly used to run electrical appliances. Starting out as just boxes converting DC into AC, today, solar inverters have evolved to become much more smart and intelligent units, performing other functions such as data monitoring, advanced utility controls etc.

Solar Inverters in India are mostly imported through a few domestic and international manufacturers have set up manufacturing operations in India.

String inverters can be used for both rooftop and utility solar, while central inverter is used exclusively for utility-scale applications. Micro inverters are the best option for residential solar but they are not yet very popular in India.

Types of Solar Inverters

Inverters can be broadly classified into three major types:

i) Off grid Solar Inverter / Standalone inverters– works independently off the grid and requires battery storage

ii) On grid solar inverter / Grid tie inverters– are dependent upon the grid

iii) Hybrid Solar Inverter — incorporate both battery and grid connection and have an inbuilt solar charge controller. Today Hybrid inverters works majorly with lithium ion battery.

Grid tied solar inverters are further categorized into micro, string and central inverters.

PWM Vs MPPT

PWM Solar Inverters — The smaller rating inverters less than 2 kw to be used in Rural area and to make it affordable, it is made with PWM (pulse width modulation) Technology.

MPPT Solar Inverter — It is the best charge controller technology with highest efficiency between 95–97%. All high efficiency inverters, grid connected inverters are built with mppt (maximum power point tracker) technology. An inverter built with MPPT technology takes 30% less time in charging a battery using solar panels.

Wanting to introduce and purchase a solar powered inverter for utility-scale, business and private activities, yet getting befuddled among top 10 solar on grid inverter brands (makers) in India 2021? We have explored about the solar based inverter advertise from various sources, for example, framework integrators, solar oriented board installers, wholesalers and vendors. We found the accompanying solar based inverter marks that work in utility-scale, business and private undertakings.

Top 10 Solar Inverter Suppliers in India — Grid Tied (On Grid)

Delta India is the first to cross the achievement of 1 GW+ housetop establishments. The worldwide pioneer in solarlight based inverters presents to you the inverter run: Delta RPI-Home and Commercial Series, Utility Series, and Hybrid Series. Experience the intensity of businesses driving productivity levels, conveying Delta’s guarantee of greener vitality and strong quality.

SMA India is a backup of worldwide solar oriented pioneer SMA Solar Technology AG situated in Kassel, Germany. Being a worldwide market pioneer for PV inverters, SMA grandstands itself as a vitality the executives gathering offering imaginative key advancements for all plant sizes, both network tied and off-grid.

SMA India gives solar based PV answers for private, business and utility divisions in the Indian and Southeast Asian markets. With its business and administration central command in Mumbai-India, SMA’s essence deliberately ranges crosswise over India as per its built up establishment base.

GoodWe is a main, deliberately thinking venture which spotlights on research and assembling of PV inverters and vitality stockpiling arrangements.

GoodWe is a main, deliberately thinking undertaking which spotlights on research and assembling of PV inverters and vitality stockpiling arrangements. With a normal month to month deals volume of 30,000 pieces in 2017 and 20 GW introduced in excess of 100 nations, GoodWe solarlight based inverters have been to a great extent utilized in private housetops, business frameworks, and vitality stockpiling frameworks, extending from 1.0 to 80kW. They offer dependable activity and great execution and are profoundly discussed by its clients around the world. GoodWe benchmarks its prosperity on the achievement accomplished by its clients by distinguishing and coordinating the most progressive parts and strategies accessible while offering an unrivaled after-deals administration.

ABB is an enormous scale maker of solar powered inverters in the business, fabricating smaller scale, three-stage string and focal inverters. It serves all private, business and modern portions. The string inverters are most appropriate for private purposes and ABB offers both single stage and three stage solar oriented inverters in such manner. The organization additionally has an assembling base in India.

TMEIC or Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corporation was shaped because of the mix of Toshiba and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation’s mechanical frameworks divisions in 2003. The organization supplies Solar Ware inverters in 1000V and 1500V capacities with regards to a wide scope of modern applications in India.

An enthusiasm for new advancements, serious research and progressive arrangements have been forming the Fronius brand since 1945. As the innovation head, we discover, create and execute imaginative strategies to screen and control vitality for welding innovation, photovoltaics and battery charging. We fashion new ways, have a go at something troublesome and succeed where others have bombed in accomplishing what is by all accounts unimaginable. In any case, these are not by any means the only reasons why Fronius is the worldwide pioneer in advancement and innovation.

SOFARSOLAR (EST 2012) is one of the backups of SOFAR Group in China and has practical experience in R&D, generation, deals and administration of matrix tied inverters extending from 1kW to 7.5kW (private), 10kW to 70kW (business) and other related sustainable items.

Sungrow produces both focal and string solar oriented inverters evaluated at 1500 Vdc and has a nearness crosswise over utility-scale, business, and private parts. The organization has an over 15% worldwide piece of the pie and is known for its 99% productive solar powered inverters. Solargrow has sent more than 60 GW worth of solar based inverters around the world. Established in 1997, today the organization has turned into a worldwide R&D pioneer in solar powered inverters with an embrace patent portfolio.

Huawei transported over 2GW of inverters in 2017. The organization is known for its string inverters with smart administration innovation. It makes Solar PV string inverters in 1000V, 1100V and 1500V capacities with regards to business and utility-scale solar powered. The inverters accompany a base efficiency of 98.5%.

Solis is a Spanish name gotten from the Latin sol solis, truly signifying “SOLAR”. Solis Australasia are glad to convey the most recent in solar oriented inverter innovation from Solis Technologies as the new Solis scope of inverters. The Solis inverter item range has the advantage of over 20 years of specialized advancement and improvement coming about because of the experience and assurance of the Solis architects to deliver the absolute best item accessible. They have strived to consolidate the absolute best in effectiveness with the powerful and dependable qualities that are requested in the Australian market. Unwavering quality is first in the structure and creation of the Solis inverter.

Solar-Kart offers On grid / Grid Tie Inverters from Global brands under one roof at lowest prices. This platform will help to provide all technical and warranty details of top selling on grid inverter

Solar-Kart has comprehended this issue and now we will offer on framework inverter from every single driving brand universally and will give at your doorstep at a focused cost. Solar-Kart also offering solar rooftop power system for residence, commercial & industry along with solar home lighting system, solar fan, solar cooler, solar lamp & solar street light as additional products.

If any buyer has an inquiry about on grid solar inverter from 1KW to 100KW, they can easily find it on this platform.

[spilledinksoul-blog]

Nutrisystem Food regimen Overview

Nutrisystem is an environment friendly weight management plan that is widely distributed through the net. I had NutriSystem prompt pudding for dessert, which was very similar to Jello instantaneous pudding, although not fairly as flavorful or candy. I have never exercised nearly as much as I've wanted too, but I've positively caught to the Nutrisystem plan even when I've lacked the exercise time. Separately, NutriSystem mentioned it also tied up with Wal-Mart's warehouse division Sam's Club for its 35-day weight-loss program, which will likely be available in late December. With all weight-reduction plan programs, especially people who present pre-made meals, you must set your expectations appropriately. Of course, your total price may be slightly different depending on the plan that you select and your flex food options. Each program comes with detailed explanations of the stretches and exercises you're alleged to carry out. While most of these eating regimen packages often seem expensive, they are usually solely slightly costlier than an individual's ordinary expenditure on food, each at dwelling and on the go. For individuals who have been consuming an extreme variety of calories anyway, or who continuously eat out, it might even be that their grocery payments cut back when they sign as much as the program. Oh the primary few days have been laborious, I did have further food plan shakes in the home and used them to complement the starvation pains however on the third day the extra cravings went away, right now I woke with more energy and started a exercise plan. In response to this need, the Nutrisystem food regimen comes to the rescue as a straightforward resolution to the face paced way of life that leaves little room for engaged on a conventional food regimen that must be sourced, prepared and cooked by the particular person using it. When there is no such thing as a time for all of that, the weight loss plan plans from Nutrisystem fill the void perfectly as a result of they're virtually utterly work-free almost about all that food preparation and cooking, never mind all of the calorie calculating and portion control. I wrote this Nutrisystem assessment to share my weight reduction story and inform, encourage and encourage others who are looking to drop extra pounds with a straightforward and reasonably priced weight loss program. I already misplaced 2 lbs the primary day and I do not know if its as a result of its a great food plan or as a result of everything is so gross I can hardly finish it. The only good thing sofar are the brownies. The elements in nutrisystem meals Nutrisystem meals will support promote heart nicely being and can maintain you feeling fuller longer. The truth is, there's actually only one place where you may constantly buy Nutrisystem products. You join and order by way of the Nutrisystem web site You too can order through QVC or purchase at Costco. Whenever you're selecting your diet plan, you'll be sent a whole whole month's worth of meals gadgets. The plan I chose, which is the Core plan, solely consists of the shelf foods as an alternative of the frozen varieties. Nutrisystem not only is here to help in making our lives better but additionally they truly care about our lives and what we are coping with in on a regular basis life. I want things to be easy and straightforward to arrange and Nutrisystem is nice for individuals who like comfort. What Nutrisystem has made me notice about my prior eating habits is that 1) my portions had been TOTALLY out of whack, and a pair of) I thought I used to be eating enough greens in my previous life, however I most likely wasn't. You are also inspired to raise weights and get along with other Nutrisystem customers in your space for sports activities activities. I did not lose any weight on Nutrisystem even whereas pared with every day exercise as a result of my body went into hunger mode. Individuals typically want to know how this system works, whether or not you continue to eat the nutrisystem meals, and approximately how a lot this program costs. Therapeutic Life-style Changes , or TLC, is a really stable weight loss plan plan created by the Nationwide Institutes of Well being. I additionally wasn't used to the chocolate taste but now i'm and that i find it irresistible. This diet is the one one that has labored for me, i have 50 kilos to lose. They are not out there to you as part of your meal plan shifting forward except you need to pay individually for them. In a scientific examine sponsored by Nutrisystem, those that adopted Turbo10 lost 3x more weight, 3x more complete physique inches and 3x more physique fat within the first month in comparison with those that adopted a do-it-yourself (DIY) weight loss plan. Nutrisystem has so many constructive things going for it that so long as you stick to the food regimen, it'll be just right for you and you'll drop a few pounds. A true Paleo weight loss program could be an amazing option: very lean, pure meats, numerous wild crops, stated one expert-quickly adding, however, that duplicating such a routine in fashionable times could be difficult. Lack of weight reduction when on a calorie managed weight-reduction plan is usually attributed to a slowdown of metabolism to match the lower calorie rely. Some sample Nutrisystem meals include: Butternut Squash Ravioli, Candy and Bitter Rooster, and Hen and Cheese Quesadilla. I plan to continue as a member of Nutrisystem and revel in all the advantages they have to supply. Ice cream would've been a nice addition, however I think it has a bit of too much fat to be thought of part of this weight loss plan. I discovered methods to use my vegetables to my meals in inventive ways comparable to including spinach or olives to my Nutrisystem pizza or including spaghetti squash to my Nutrisystem meatballs. We've been going with nutrisystem for 3 weeks and he misplaced 11 lbs to my 9 lbs so far. In short, it is fairly unlikely that you'll able to hop in your automobile after which come home with bags filled with Nutrisystem merchandise. A whole lot of the meals tastes like food plan meals, but read the food opinions and choose what sounds good to you. The weight loss plan is decreased calories, and scientific trials undertaken by Nutrisystem have proven vital weight reduction (on the newer programs using the Turbo 10 start). By going to the official Nutrisystem web site, you will note that there are quite a few choices which you can select from, together with women's weight loss program plans, men's food plan plans, and plans which can be particularly for individuals who suffer from diabetes. You get any two days off on the flex plan so it is the cheapest option on the market. I was planning to continue this system after I get settled but after this, I wouldn't want to, said another. A lot of people do not understand that if they tough it out for a few days they can get used to this weight loss program and begin feeling nice, it is the primary few days that are the toughest. Not like many of its opponents, this weight loss program program actually has one thing to supply. For the past forty years, Nutrisystem has helped millions of people obtain real, vital weight reduction results. I also save slightly bit extra money by going by means of a web site called TopCashBack that just hyperlinks to on-line websites like Walmart and then provides you money again in return. This sample of eating is often referred to as the 5:2 weight loss program - you eat normally for five days of the week and minimize your energy to about 25 p.c of regular intake on two nonconsecutive days of the week. So should you wanted to lose 30 pounds, your complete cost to reduce weight on Nutrisystem could be roughly $1619.ninety four - $2,159.ninety two depending on whether it takes you three months or 4 months to lose the weight. Actually, simply counting the energy, and eating normal food is a lot healthier than consuming special weight-reduction plan meals. Whats up, I have been on nutrisystem for 3 and 3/four months and I've misplaced 60 pounds. My husband came dwelling, took one have a look at me, and told me I wanted to get off this diet. I would like to have the ability to order their meals without having to commit to a selected plan and pay more. As a result of you can get sufficient food for a month generally within the mid $200 vary which is more economical and will final you for much longer and provide you with far more meals to work with. He assured me that the eating regimen was based on the under 2000 mg a day that my own doctor has beneficial. Most cost-effective plan: Not customizable, and is fairly basic, costing from $239.99 for a 28 day package deal. What I did not understand on the time is that the nutrisystem meals and program goes to be the same no matter who is buying it and using it. They don't make different food for celebrities or for the people who have essentially the most success.

[passportrequired]

The Music Lover’s Guide to New York

Much has been said about New York City. Many call it “the city that never sleeps,” while others refer to it as the familiar “concrete jungle where dreams are made of” (thanks, Alicia Keys and Jay-Z), and so much more.

What ‘so much more’ means, of course, is up to you. NYC is home to the best of everything, be it theater, food, architecture, or art. We can go on for days chronicling all there is to see in NYC, but we’d still only be scratching the surface.

Since you’re here, we’d like to assume that you’re either an NYC lover or a music enthusiast. If you happen to be both, then you’ll be happy to know that NYC is the perfect destination for audiophiles. The city has a deep relationship with music — from Harlem’s rich history of gospel music, to the East Village’s iconic rock joints frequented by the likes of Jimi Hendrix. If you love music just as much as I do then you should definitely check out the Steinway premier dealership.

While some bars and venues have closed their doors, NYC continues to be the ultimate playground for the musicians of today. If you’re looking to get your live music fix with a cold beer in hand, we’ve got the places for you.

The Apollo Theater

Image credit: @apollotheater on Instagram

The Apollo Theater is basically the ground zero of the Harlem Renaissance. Historic greats like Ella Fitzgerald and modern-day icons such as Lauryn Hill have all graced its stage. However, what most people don’t know is that the venue started out in 1913 as a burlesque theater, and was only named the Apollo (and removed from its burlesque beginnings) some 20-odd years later. Nowadays, the theater acts as a sort of gatekeeper for those who want to make it big with their music.

Silvana

Image credit: @silvanaharlem on Instagram

You’ll have to travel north for this one, as Silvana is located in South Harlem, on 116th Street. In a previous post on Passport Required, we talked about some hidden gems in the neighborhood, and Silvana is definitely one of them. Its music selection is diverse, offering everything from Brazilian jazz to electronic rock. With live music playing every night and repeat guests flocking from all corners of the city, this bar makes the trip worth it, this bar has passes available like the vegas Bar Pass.

Sofar Sounds

Image credit: @sofarnyc on Instagram

What started as a gig scene in London has since made its way worldwide. In New York, Sofar Sounds regularly hosts intimate gigs in the most nondescript locations — ranging from random living rooms to secret bars. The catch is that the location is only announced the day of the gig, but its previous artists include the likes of Jorja Smith, Vanessa Carlton, and Gang of Youths. You can only choose which neighborhood’s Sofar you want to attend, but the rest is an adventure waiting to happen.

Elsewhere Rooftop

Image credit: @elsewherespace on Instagram

This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning a rooftop bar. After all, NYC is synonymous with its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings. Yoreevo estimates that approximately 13,500 high rise buildings were built between 2010 and 2015, and that number has only increased since then. One of those buildings is Elsewhere, a club located in artist haven Bushwick. At 24,000 square feet, it isn’t a tiny bar where you’ll have to elbow your way to the bar. They’re known for hosting some of the hottest live DJ shows, and their cocktail menu is a welcome addition to the city’s thriving booze-in-the-sky scene.

Smalls Jazz Club

Image credit: @smallsjazzclub on Instagram

Jazz is just one of those genres that artists keep constantly reinventing — and we don’t mind it one bit. For a more relaxed evening, Thrillist suggests the Smalls Jazz Club over in the West Village. While the venue is significantly less crowded compared to NYC’s more famous jazz joints, that means you’re more free to drown in a sea of sax than gets lost in bustling crowds.

Barclays Center

Image credit: @barclayscenter on Instagram

Sure, Madison Square Garden is a household name when it comes to concert halls, but frankly, Barclays Center is where it’s at. The arena is located in Prospect Heights and was made for show-stopping concerts, having hosted the likes of Barbra Streisand and The Rolling Stones. There’s nothing quite like watching a grand concert, but it’s even better when the location itself adds to the experience.

Arlene’s Grocery

Image credit: @arlenesgrocery on Instagram

No, this isn’t where to go to restock your pantry. The name might be a bit misleading, but music venue Arlene’s Grocery at least started out as a bodega and butcher shop. Now, this Lower East Side location has since been turned into a rock music bar that plays live music every night. Queen of moody pop Lana del Rey performed here before getting her big break, as did a certain Lady Gaga.

The Music Lover’s Guide to New York was originally published on Passport Required

[meltedmagazine]

AN INTERVIEW WITH DEL WATER GAP

      “IN THIS WIDE AND PERILOUS ALL-TOO-BIG WORLD DEL WATER GAP WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR BEING CLOSE.” Close through their music, close through their emotionally raw lyrics, close through the heartfelt voice mails piling up on the band's answering machine. If there's one thing the trio isn’t, it’s far away. Grounded in their own blend of folk rock and the occasional trumpet appearance, they’re always just a phone call away according to their new EP title: 1 (646) 943 2672. I had the opportunity to talk to lead singer Holden Jaffe about the EP, the good ol’ days, and voice mails.

_____________________________________________________________

What's the significance of the place Del Water Gap? You guys are from New York so how did you end up with that name?

     Good question, I admittedly have never been to the Del Water Gap. However when I was 16 or so I was in a noise rock band called Great Blue Heron that was based out of New Jersey, Morristown and so I ended up driving around that area a lot and saw a lot of signs for DWG and one day we were driving and I was sitting shot gun and I saw it written on a box truck and it was written in sort of like primitive handwriting, it looked like it was scratched in and I just thought it looked really cool so I added it to my growing list of band names cause I was trying to start my own band and it ended it up at the top of the list and it has remained!

You put a phone number as the title of your newest EP and you can call it and leave a message, what was the purpose of that?

    We were turning in the EP and I had a few names and I was really stressing over it trying to come up with the right name. The EP had to come out soon and I started thinkin and I was like i don’t know the names of any EP’s, I know some album names but the bands I like the most as far as EP’s go I don’t know the names so I was like okay maybe we can do something different here and right around that time I lost my phone. I left it on a plane and it was in rural New Hampshire and I felt very off the grid and I didn’t have my phone for the first time in years. I didn’t have a computer and I realized in trying to get in touch with my parents I didn’t know their phone number anymore and I didn’t know anyone's phone number and I was like wow this is really interesting we’re living in this time where you don’t need to know anyone's phone number which was probably a really intimate thing to know at one point, you know the 1950’s you probably knew everyone's phone numbers, all your best friends your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your parents, your grandparents. You had to so I was like yeah you know that's such a gesture to give someone a phone number right and know it and I think in the era in music right now where's there's so many bands and there's spotify you're constantly being exposed to bands and it's sort of a blur and i thought it would be an interesting gesture to sort of offer access to me and the rest of the group and sort of as an experiment too to see if people would reach out. People have reached out so.

Any really unique messages?      Yeah I have. I decided that I wasn’t going to pick up the phone unless I’m in my room because I didn’t want to take the phone outside because I was like if I lose this phone like you know so I’ve gotten a lot of messages, I get about 20 a day. I try to go through them and I’ve been sort of collecting them and listening to them. A lot of them are really interesting, a lot of them are people being very genuine and sweet and calling from all over the world and just sharing messages about finding music at a certain time in their life when it meant a lot and a lot of people very surprised like ”wait what this actually works.” A lot of stoned people on spotify calling. I picked up the phone once, I’ve only been there once for an actual phone call, I picked it up and it was a kid from Nova Scotia and he said “hello” and I was like “hello” and he was like “who is this” and I was like “dude you’re calling me who are you” and he was like “I’m so and so I saw this on spotify and thought i’d call this” and I was like “yeah dude whats going on” and we just talked for a bit. To me it sort of proved my experiment was a success I was able to connect with some stranger and it was a really pleasant and he texted me later and was like “yo I love the record,” it was nice.

Song off the EP that means the most and why?

    There is a song, the last song on the record that's really special to me, it's called “Love Song For Lady Earth” and I’m really proud of it as a song but also I just wrote it at a really formative time for myself. I was staying in Charleston with my mom, in Isle of Palms, it was like the off season, not the tourist season so there wasn’t really anyone there and it was really cold and I was dating this girl at the time and we weren't really getting along and we were cooped up in this house and she flew back to New York and I was there with my mom for another week and a half and I just wrote a lot over that 2 weeks for whatever reason. Some of the best songs to this day, something about just being holed up there and not being able to leave and feeling sad but in a really comfortable way, and I ended up writing that song and it's just one of the few songs I never edited, it just sort of came out well and yeah it feels good, it feels like a good summary of a few years of life into a few minutes.

What was it like to play your new songs at the Sofar session you guys did a while back? What was the emotional change to play it live?

     It’s funny because I sort of cut my teeth as an acoustic singer/songwriter boy, you know doing a lot of acoustic guitar and vocals just playing shows by myself playing guitar and singing. Once I started playing in a rock band I sort of realized in a lot of ways bands can be a crutch as far as what you can get away with, how clean you have to be with your playing and your signing and I just find it much easier to talk in front of a room with a band behind me and that's nice but it's also nice to be reminded that you know you have to treat it as a craft. At Sofar sounds and those types of shows, it's a good opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone. I really like playing Sofar, I’ve done a few of them and it’s always been a good experience and it  reminds me which songs are actually good cause you know everyone's sitting there staring at you reacting in real time which isn't always true at venue shows, people are always talking and texting and it's whatever but at Sofar the expectation is that you engage.

What is it like to be an artist in the 21 century?

    You know it's obviously changed everything about our society and it’s had the equal effect on the music industry. It’s changed more in the last 2 years then probably the 60 years prior. The main thing I’ve seen in being a band in the era of social media or whatever you want to call it is image. It's obviously really prevalent in music and affects people's willingness to click anything in this age of content it's so based on image so it’s obviously challenging but it's also a challenge in that we have to create content that's a little more challenging and innovative even within its own world. Like if you’re going to be another white guy making guitar rock then you need to do it well and I think it’s a healthy thing but there's definitely times when it can be distracting. There's been periods of time for myself and I can speak for my friends in bands where the music falls behind to a lot of other work and it needs to maintain a certain level of presence in the social sphere.

So for “Hightops” and “Vanessa” you used a zoomed in part of the picture that you used for the album cover, what's the significance?

    Well actually there's a really interesting story behind the photo so I’m just going to tell you about that first. I was on reddit and there was a subreddit called ‘old school cool’ and I saw a photo and was like this is a really completing photo, something about that, the red gloves right in the middle, the look on this woman's face, this is a really cool photo. Naturally I was looking for content so I messaged the user and was like “hey shot in the dark I was wondering if you own this photo I was wondering if I could license it from you for my album cover” and I get this email back within 30 seconds and it's this guy like “yo this is so crazy i'm 14 years old I live in the mountains in china and yes this is my mom she’d be honored if an american band would use her for your album cover” and I was like what? It was such a funny and immediate response but he was like yeah the one thing is he wanted his dad's name on the album cover because he took the picture and I was like “ah i don't know if we can do that I don’t know if I can put your dad's name on the front but I can credit him.” I had that picture and I was thinking about how to put together the singles and I just thought about the idea of what it would look like to have 2 single album covers and then the full album cover together in a line because the way they’d present visually as a package as if they were 2 sort of 7 inch single sitting on a self and what would that look like and so that's what I thought would be a good angle.

So “Hightops” was the last song released before the full EP. What was it about that song that made you want it to be the last thing people heard before the release?

   The few people I played it for thought it was special so naturally I was like okay maybe this is special. I wrote it with a  guy who I really admire named Michael Tighe, who was Jeff Buckley's guitarist, and he’s just a reallyseasoned musician, he’s played on a lot of great records.  I met him and became friends with him and this was the first song we wrote together and it was very indicative to me personally of this friendship and mentorship so that obviously affected it and it seems a little different than the other songs I structure, the writing was more classic and it just felt right

That song as well as “Be My Own” stuck out to me, can you tell me a little bit more about that one too?

    “Be My Own” is on the record we put out 2 or 3 years ago and that song I wrote in Hawaii.  I was in Hawaii with my best friend and at that time he was living in this very open lofty house and his sister's bedroom didn't really have walls, well it had walls but it kind of ended 2 feet before the to of the ceiling, so we were in the kitchen hanging out trying to be quiet in case she was sleeping there. We were just sitting on the floor and I was messing with this song and I was with this girl at the time who I really liked and she was sort of the first girl I brought home to my parents so I was like ‘wow so romantic the idea of domesticity like wow isn't that romantic like you can have breakfast and make the bed together wow you know.’  I’ll never forget just sitting there with him writing it and he was helping me out and finished it. I wanted to put it on that record and it was my freshman year of college and I was living in this dorm room with the sweetest guy but he was always in the room. I said “hey what's up dude you're still here you know I’m trying to record a little bit.” I actually recorded, I made myself get comfortable with recording when he was in the room. I was like “hey just be quiet for like 3 ½ minutes, it’ll be chill” and so I recorded that song and he was walking in and out of the room and I just managed to get through a take without him ruining it and that was the one that ended up on the record so once again very indicative of the time and the living space.

What's the NYC music scene like?

     Well I went to NYU so I’m very much apart of the NYU scene which is very mixed. I went to this school for Clive Davis and it’s a very pop centered program, so there's a lot of bands that were in my class that are really doing impressive things in the pop world and equally there's a lot of indie bands and rock bands like Del Water Gap who play shows here and tour constantly and go to college. It’s a good place to be for music. 

LISTEN TO DEL WATER GAP HERE

interview by SAMANTHA SULLIVAN

photo by CAITLIN MESSINGER

[mantis-lizbian]

so i have a new friend who is somewhere in their 40s or so i think, and has never gotten into science fiction or fantasy. can barely even remember the name “Harry Potter” when trying to give examples of things they are at least aware of. in fact, they don’t seem to have seen anything more challenging than The Expendables. however, they’ve expressed a desire to broaden their horizons, and i would love to oblige.

but another friend jumped the gun a bit and tried to show them the new Alice in Wonderland which i wouldn’t have thought was a great first step anyway, but really showed how …tricky… this may be. because they didn’t get any of it. forget the point and themes, they had difficulty just getting past the talking cat. so clearly, i have my work cut out for me.

however, i have a rudimentary plan. since there are basically two goals that need to be accomplished: 1) introduce them to fantasy/sci-fi conceptually (learning how to get past the unreality of the setting and accept its reality in stride - in sofar as is necessary to experience the story, at any rate), and 2) show what the point of fantasy fiction is. not just individually on a case-by-case basis - that’s just giving a man a fish, and i want to try to actually teach fishing.

anyway, to this end, i’ve been wracking my brain for films to use for this introduction. currently, i’m thinking Paranorman (very simple fantastical elements, that are surely at least somewhat familiar even to those who are unfamiliar with the genre, and an easily understood, approachable theme), Stardust (almost a crash course in common fantasy elements and tropes, but introducing them slowly and concisely enough that it shouldn’t cause a problem; also simply fun), Zootopia (a simple illustration of how fantasy can make it easier to tackle real-world issues), and to my own surprise Hogfather which, while long and chock full of fantastical elements, basically outright explains why we have fantasy. i really wish i could squeeze in some sci-fi but the simplest things that i’ve got under that umbrella are Firefly (serialized fiction rarely makes for good introductory material - i’ve also decided not to include Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter for this reason, though i will be recommending all three if this whole thing is a success) and Spaceballs (satire requires a fair bit of grounding in what is being satirized to really appreciate - also, they’ve never seen Star Wars, my copy is on VHS, and i have nothing to play it on).

anyway, open to suggestions for other films. reasonings for why it would be a good introduction are appreciated, but not strictly necessary.

[thehighhighlightlife]

May 2020

Okay I clearly WISH I would keep up more here so here is my goal. At the end of each day, write down everything that happened that was the most memorable. the best things, Maybe even if its at the end of the week JUST KEEP WRITING TO REMEMBER LIFE!

So since September 2019 down below...

September 2019: Show at Pianos with Ben, moved upstairs, started working more with Clayton, went to Colorado for Daniels Bday and to see Big Wild @ red rocks! Surfed with Alyssa,

October 2019: Performed at Ludlow house, Went to Cornwall, London then AMSTERDAM! Stayed with Elisa in a gorgeous hotel, met Tom who told me if I come back to Berlin he’ll help me wants to sign me. Met the team and really had the best time ever. Worth every penny. Went to Nashville and stayed with Manon! We went to Kacey Musgraves concert and then Abraham the next day!

November 2019: Thanksgiving with Shane! Went to Knicks game with Laure!

December 2019: TOOK MY GREAT LEAP! It felt like a fuck it moment but I really pushed myself to change and give myself what I had been yearning for FOREVER. Ultra party, ATV holiday party, became close with Denise, scheduled meeting with Brett Alperowitz, christmas with the fam in colorado skiing. Trusted in myself more than ever.

January 2020!!: Sofar sounds show with Denise, Meeting at republic! BMI! sony threw a little party for me hehe so cute and sweet with levain and van lewuuans, GRAMMYS! LA with Denise, stayed with Sam and got to see Shane, Casey, Jeff. After parties... republic, 30before30 etc! Getting Haleys contracts squared away. 

February 2020: Birthday month!!! So many writes: Matteo, Carly, Alexa. Dom. Jeremy!! Spending my birthday with Emma. Denise. Matteo. Alexa. Dave & friends. From the event that Blue invited me too. To meeting Sheila and Diana. To going to The Knocks DJ set on my bday eve. To hitting it off with Jeremy. Going to Costa Rica. WHICH WAS A TRIP that is literally impossible to explain here. 

March 2020: GERMANY! Went to Bingen and saw omichen. then BERLIN! Went out with Avery and her brother and spencer on the very first night! Stayed in Prenz lauerberg at Sylvias for almost 2 weeks! Offered ultra publishing deal. Wowowowowow. Meeting with Franzi. AMAZING. Then stayed a night with Sarah Bird and then stayed the weekend with Antonia until I moved into my new place! It all totally worked out! Didn't think I was ready to go home after one month after everything started to get cancelled, so it perfectly worked out that I stayed another month.

April 2020: BERLIN! Music music music. I got so many songs. Worked with Doug. Leif. Patrick. They all saved me during that time when some things didn't work out. Still this was one of the happiest I ever was. It was hard at times managing my time and my thoughts but overall I was able to get myself out there SO much more. I performed 3 times outside and wanted to do 4 but I did the session with Leif so i’m good with that and I posted songs of my performing!!! getting over my insecurities feels amazing. End of April flew back to NYC, packed up my shit with corey and lezlie and got the HELL OUTTA THERE! 

May 2020: Ah, Denver. here we are. I feel so good here. I really do. I wish I had more privacy to do writes and sing and be more loud but other than that. I’m so thankful for my mom. I love her so much. I love Daniel so much. I love colorado so much. I feel good here. I feel safe and grounded. I’m working on my releases now. Which I feel like this all really worked out. I had my time of creating and now its promo time and release time. Getting ready for so much new music to come out. I really do want to sign to ultra even if its not the best deal. I just feel like its going to open up so many more doors for me. this is something I've wanted since i heard of ultra!!! i dont think its about tom. its about being in the system. not necessarily the person who hired me. I would love to go to LA but I want to have a gig lined up before then and maybe let this pandemic settle more. 

[data-bridge-market-research]

Global Surgical Robots Market Competitive Analysis: Intuitive Surgical, Accuray Incorporated, Stryker, MEDTRONIC, Smith & Nephew

Global Surgical Robots Market By Product Type (Instruments, Robotic Systems, Accessories and Services), Brands (DA Vinci Surgical System, CyberKnife, Renaissance, Artas, ROSA, Others), Application (General Surgery, Urological, Gynaecological, Gastrointestinal, Radical Prostatectomy, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Radiotherapy, Others), Geography (Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa) – Industry Trends & Forecast to 2026

Request Sample Copy of Report @ https://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-surgical-robots-market

Some of the major players operating in the global surgical robots market are

Intuitive Surgical,

Accuray Incorporated,

Stryker,

MEDTRONIC,

Smith & Nephew,

THINK Surgical, Inc.,

TransEnterix Surgical, Inc.,

Zimmer Biomet,

Verb Surgical Inc.,

Auris Health, Inc.,

Virtual Incision Corporation,

Restoration Robotics, Inc. and     others.

Global Surgical Robots Market is expected to reach USD 19,413.63 million by 2026 from USD 6,788.29 million in 2018, at a CAGR of 14.1% in the forecast period of 2019 to 2026. 

Drivers:

RISING AGEING POPULATION:

With increasing age, the patient pool for chronic disease is rising. Older populations are more prone to diseases such as diabetes, allergies, arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, infections, gastrointestinal and other problems.

According to the U.S. census     the number of people aged 65 and older in the United States on July 1,     2015 were 47.8 million.

In 2017, as per the United     Nation (World Population Prospects), the number of people ageing 60 or     above in the world was about 962 million, which were around 13% of the     total population across the globe. This is increasing at a rate of around     3% per year.

In 2017, according to United     Nations, 25% of the European population was 60 or over. It is estimated     that the rapid ageing would occur in other parts of the world too, so by     2050, except for Africa, all other regions of the world will nearly have a     quarter or more of their populations in the aging age group.

There are various health issues which are affected by the senior citizens such as osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoarthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases among other diseases which are rising in the demand of surgeries. The demand for surgeries is growing but the number of doctors is decreasing, in such situation the surgical robots can be very helpful as they would help in reducing the time span of surgeries. Hence, the ageing population is expected to drive the market for the surgical robots.

RISING CASE OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC DISEASES:

The prevalence of diseases and conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, cancer and many others over the period of time.

According to American Cancer     Society, in 2016, it is estimated that in the U.S. around 1,685,210 new     cases of cancer will be diagnosed and approximately 595,690 people will     die due to this disease.

According to the World Health     Organization estimates, released in December 2016, there were 383000     deaths due to asthma in 2015.

According to National Center     for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), stated that     in America, each year 6 in 10 adults have a chronic disease whereas 4 in     10 adults have two or more chronic diseases in the U.S.

According to Centers for     Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stated that in the U.S., each year     about 610,000 people die due to heart diseases.

According to Centers for     Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stated that in America, each year     about 735,000 people have a heart attack

With the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases the demand for the development and innovation of drugs and devices are increasing. This growing demand has provided an opportunity for the pharmaceutical companies to focus on introducing various products in the market in order to meet the rising demand for targeted drug delivery systems.

For instance, in 2016, Intuitive Surgical and Fosun Pharma agreed to establish a joint venture for the researching, developing, manufacturing and selling the robotic assisted catheter-based medical devices. This would help in producing the products which help in targeting the early diagnosis and cost-effective treatment of the lung cancer.

Restraints:

REGULATORY SCENARIO:

Robotics and the autonomous systems are being hailed as the fourth industrial revolution. Its impact will be felt more widely than either the computer or communications revolutions that preceded it. The exploitation of robotic technology in the healthcare setting has a great deal of potential and is an exciting area of development. Regulatory authorities are actively involved in various stages of robots development.

Two of the most important pieces of legislation in this area are:

Council Directive 93/42/EEC     concerning medical devices amended by Directive 2007/47/EC) (“Medical     Device Directive”)

Council Directive 90/385/EEC on     the approximation of the laws of the Member states relating to active     implantable medical devices (“AIMDD”)

Surgical robots fall under the regulation of the medical device directive. The FDA classifies medical devices into three categories – Class I, Class II and Class III- based on the risks associated with the device. Hence, too many rules and regulations by the government restrains the market growth.

HIGH COST OF THE EQUIPMENT AND SURGERY:

Surgical robots are the new technology that holds significant promise. One of the main factors which are restraining the growth of the market is the high cost of the equipment and the high cost of surgery involved.

For instance, robotic surgery     involves a huge amount of USD 1 million to USD 2 million and ongoing     annual maintenance costs of approximately of USD 250,000.

The cost of da Vinci system is     very huge and expensive. The system costs more than USD 1.5 Million per     unit.

The U.S. list price of     CyberKnife system is around USD 4.2 Million to USD 5.75 Million based on     the system configuration and the options which are purchased by the     customers.

Thus, the high cost of the equipment’s and the high cost of the surgery are restraining the market to grow.

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Opportunity:

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS TO EXPAND BUSINESS:

Companies dealing in surgical robots have been leveraging mergers and acquisitions, internal R&D and new partnership to expand their business in other regions, especially in promising emerging market also to increase their surgical robots market size and to grab the opportunity of surgical robots in market.

In July 2016, Zimmer Biomet     (U.S.) acquired Medtech SA (France) for an estimated USD 132 million and     joined the surgical robotics market. This would help the company to allow     Medtech’s minimally invasive surgical robots for reaching a greater number     of patients who are suffering from the spine and neurological disorders     across the globe.

In April 2016, Auris Health,     Inc. (U.S.) and Hansen Medical, Inc. (U.S.)signed a definitive merger     agreement under which Auris has acquired Hansen Medical for USD 4.00 per     share in cash or a total equity value of approximately USD 80 million.

Mergers and acquisitions will lead to expansion of business as these mergers and acquisitions will create an opportunistic scenario for surgical robotics market leading to new product development.

Challenge:

INCREASING COMPETITORS:

Intuitive Surgical is the leader in the robotics surgery space. The Da Vinci Surgical Systems developed by Intuitive Surgical was launched in 1999 that have been used in more than 3 million procedures till date around the world. Recently, Toronto based Titan Medical, unveiled recently its SPORT (Single Port Orifice Robotic Technology) surgical robot, which is similar to the Da Vinci system.

Other players also in the market include Auris surgical robotics, Cambridge, Vecna technologies, Sofar and Health robotics, Mazor Robotics, Cambridge Medical Robotics and Swisslog holds a very good position both in international market and domestic market but due to the rise in demand of innovative technology in the market.

Market Trends:

Global surgical robots market is segmented into three notable segments which are product type, brands and application.

On the basis of product type, the market is segmented into robotic systems, instruments, accessories and services. In 2019, instruments segment is projected to lead with 59.3% shares and is growing with the highest CAGR of 15.1% in the forecast period of 2019 to 2026.

On the basis of brands, the market is segmented into Da Vinci surgical system, Renaissance, Cyberknife, Artas, ROSA and others. In 2019, Da Vinci surgical system segment is projected to lead with 79.6% shares and is growing with the highest CAGR of 15.2% in the forecast period of 2019 to 2026.

On the basis of application, the market is segmented into general surgery, urological, gynaecological, gastrointestinal, radiotherapy, radical prostatectomy, cardiothoracic surgery, colorectal surgery and others. In 2019, general surgery segment is projected to lead with 31.2% shares and is growing with the highest CAGR of 17.3% in the forecast period of 2019 to 2026.

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[endenogatai]

European VC firm Octopus Ventures launches £83M growth fund

Octopus Ventures, the European venture capital firm that’s part of Octopus Group, is launching an £83 million growth fund to further invest in its most promising portfolio companies.

The new fund, which is backed by a number of undisclosed institutional investors rather than individual investors, brings the total Octopus Ventures’ various funds has under management to over £1 billion. Taken as a whole, it also means the VC firm now invests between £250,000 and £20 million in startups at various stages of growth.

Headquartered in London and New York, but with Venture Partners also in San Francisco, Shanghai and Singapore, Octopus Ventures has backed over 100 companies to date. They include allplants, Elvie, Depop, Big Health, Graze.com, Eve, Magic Pony, Secret Escapes, Sofar Sounds, Swiftkey, Swoon Editions, tails.com and Zoopla Property Group.

Meanwhile, the new growth fund coincides with a new strategy for Octopus Ventures more broadly, and will see the VC focus on three key areas: fintech, health tech, and industry 4.0.

In the firm’s own words:

The Future of Money: Seeking pioneering entrepreneurs who want to improve the way society interacts with money and risk by building products that will transform payments, investments, markets and insurance.

The Future of Health: Healthcare will soon be the world’s biggest industry and we back the teams revolutionising health and wellness through patient-driven medicine, clinical decision tools, digital health and disease prevention technologies.

The Future of Industry: Focused on the bleeding edge technologies that will drive the next industrial revolution. These include advanced manufacturing, materials, Internet of Things, robotics and artificial intelligence, as well as those technologies which will keep a fully digitally connected society secure.

Below follows an email Q&A with Alliott Cole, CEO of Octopus Ventures, where we discuss the growth fund’s premise and timing, the new investment focus for Octopus Ventures, industrial competition in Europe, America and China, and — of course — the thorny issue of Brexit.

TC: What’s the thinking behind raising a dedicated later-stage fund and why now?

AC: We have been fortunate to back some really talented entrepreneurs who have gone on to build sizeable, successful companies in recent years. Companies like Zoopla, Secret Escapes, Swiftkey, Tails.com, Cazoo, Big Health require capital to build teams and to accelerate growth, and so it makes perfect sense to us for continue to back them as they progress through the initial stages of company formation to the later stages of growth.

TC: Is this new dedicated follow on fund also a sign of how high European valuations are right now, in the sense that it is designed to ensure Octopus Ventures doesn’t get too diluted in future rounds?

AC: We manage around £800m in an evergreen venture fund which invests close to £200m a year into Seed and Series A, with a focus on the future of money, health and industry. This makes Octopus one of the most active venture investors in Europe.

Because this fund is evergreen it is a great vehicle to take a very long-term view on investing and can be far more patient than a more traditional limited life venture fund which normally will invest for 3-4 years and then look to exit in the next 4-6 years.

Our latest growth fund will invest in the best performing companies out of this venture fund when the founders are comfortable with their product market fit, and are ready to scale to the next level.

TC: Did Brexit come into your thinking here or complicate things with regards to raising this new fund?

AC: You can’t ignore Brexit entirely, clearly, but I wouldn’t say it was a significant hurdle. We are backing genuinely pioneering entrepreneurs with the talent and ambition to radically disrupt their industries. That’s where we see the big opportunity for this fund, and I don’t think Brexit changes that.

For the most part, entrepreneurs we are investing in are looking to make their own “dent in the Universe” and while they are starting their journey in London and the U.K., their ambitions will lead them to build for an international audience. This is why we have an office in New York, and Venture Partners on the ground in Silicon Valley, Singapore and Beijing.

TC: More broadly, what would be your favoured outcome for the U.K. and Brexit?

AC: When you speak to the entrepreneurs and founders in our portfolio, it’s clear that availability of talent is one of the critical issues. So from that perspective, while I’m sure members of our team have their own views, we are agnostic in terms of the outcome so long as our portfolio companies continue to have access to the talent they need to grow and scale. That said, I wholeheartedly believe the U.K. and London will continue to be a global leader in innovation and entrepreneurship regardless of the outcome.

TC: Looking at “the future of money” aspect of Octopus Ventures’ new strategy, what specific opportunities do you see left in fintech? It seems that we are mainly past the first phase where various financial services have been unbundled from the banks and made more consumer friendly, while there are a number of platform plays, including some neo banks or banking appS, seeking to re-bundle these services in a more consumer-centric way. So, what’s left or next?

AC: The opportunities in financial technology are many and diverse. It is certainly true that we have seen the start of consumer banking services being unbundled, but whether we have reached a new point at which this market will re-integrate is by no means clear to me.

Outside of consumer banking, we are really excited by the opportunity in the insurance sector. Despite it being ten times the size of the banking sector it has only received one tenth of the funding. It’s an area where incumbents are paralysed by regulation, legacy technology and bureaucracy meaning they are unable to effectively tackle emerging opportunities themselves, so we see a huge opportunity in this space. As we invest in teams like Bought By Many, DeadHappy and ByMiles, we’re starting to go deeper and learn more about these industries.

TC: The second aspect is “the future of health”. What do you see as the biggest obstacles in this space (e.g. regulation, the different way healthcare is funded etc.) and also the biggest opportunities?

AC: Innovation in health, quite rightly, has a number of unique constraints which can make it more challenging for companies to start and scale quickly. These are both regulatory and commercial in nature – for instance a medical commissioning group can introduce the best digital health therapeutic but if the nurses on the front line in a GP surgery are unaware of the benefits, then these businesses may be overlooked and a great product will struggle to find its way into the hands of the patients.

Some of the biggest opportunities lie in areas where there is far-reaching demand, but this demand is simply not being filled due to stigma or taboo. Take Elvie for example, it is brilliant to see a fem-tech company designing and distributing pelvic floor trainers and breast pumps. The impact it has made in the market in such a short time is remarkable. Equally Big Health, with its initial focus on insomnia, will have a broader application to anxiety, depression and stress – all linked to mental wellbeing.

TC: Lastly, “the future of industry” — or industry 4.0 — is an increasingly common theme within VC and arguably a European strength. Do you think that is true, and if so, why?

AC: Europe, despite what people may think, still boasts a strong manufacturing hub. In fact, the European Union ranks second in the world in manufacturing output, secondly only to China, and ahead of the U.S., according to data from the World Bank. European manufacturing is also relatively high-tech compared to other countries. When you combine this with its ability to educate top talent – we produce more PhDs per capita than any other country in the world – it provides a fuel that drives development and productivity improvements in the industrial sector.

Having the perfect crucible of manufacturing expertise, experience, and existing business combined with top technical talent, results in a combination which naturally leads to Europe being considered a place to look at for ‘the’ Future of Industry. What we’ve historically lacked is the funds to back the emerging winners in this space – but things are changing here.

We have also enjoyed investing in some harder technologies – early on we backed William T-P at True Knowledge, which was acquired by Amazon and now has become the backbone of Alexa, the machine learning and artificial intelligence companies Swiftkey (acquired by Microsoft) and Magic Pony (acquired by Twitter).

TC: With that said, are we more likely to see multibillion dollar industry 4.0 companies coming out of Europe, America or China?

AC: Looking ahead, this is very hard to call, as in reality, industry is blooming across all three areas, and it is likely that we will see multibillion-dollar industry 4.0 companies from Europe, America and China.

In Europe, London leads the way in unicorns, hosting 17 start-ups that have broken the $1bn valuation barrier since 2010. We expect to see many more from London, and indeed the rest of Europe as they expand and grow across the continent. That being said, we cannot ignore the huge potential China offers in this space. According to the World Bank, China are the world leaders in manufacturing output, with a huge 40% of their GDP coming from manufacturing in 2017. Chinese companies have been setting themselves to take Industry 4.0 by storm for a while now, so to ignore the market potential of China would be nothing short of naïve. The same, however, could be said for the U.S. With the likes of American companies Apple and Amazon becoming the first trillion-dollar businesses last year, they too cannot be ruled out.

The truth is that increasing numbers of companies across the globe are heading for that multibillion-dollar status, and I think industry 4.0 is likely to boom across the three continents sooner than we expect.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8204425 https://tcrn.ch/2WVicNk via IFTTT

[toomanysinks]

European VC firm Octopus Ventures launches £83M growth fund

Octopus Ventures, the European venture capital firm that’s part of Octopus Group, is launching an £83 million growth fund to further invest in its most promising portfolio companies.

The new fund, which is backed by a number of undisclosed institutional investors rather than individual investors, brings the total Octopus Ventures’ various funds has under management to over £1 billion. Taken as a whole, it also means the VC firm now invests between £250,000 and £20 million in startups at various stages of growth.

Headquartered in London and New York, but with Venture Partners also in San Francisco, Shanghai and Singapore, Octopus Ventures has backed over 100 companies to date. They include allplants, Elvie, Depop, Big Health, Graze.com, Eve, Magic Pony, Secret Escapes, Sofar Sounds, Swiftkey, Swoon Editions, tails.com and Zoopla Property Group.

Meanwhile, the new growth fund coincides with a new strategy for Octopus Ventures more broadly, and will see the VC focus on three key areas: fintech, health tech, and industry 4.0.

In the firm’s own words:

The Future of Money: Seeking pioneering entrepreneurs who want to improve the way society interacts with money and risk by building products that will transform payments, investments, markets and insurance.

The Future of Health: Healthcare will soon be the world’s biggest industry and we back the teams revolutionising health and wellness through patient-driven medicine, clinical decision tools, digital health and disease prevention technologies.

The Future of Industry: Focused on the bleeding edge technologies that will drive the next industrial revolution. These include advanced manufacturing, materials, Internet of Things, robotics and artificial intelligence, as well as those technologies which will keep a fully digitally connected society secure.

Below follows an email Q&A with Alliott Cole, CEO of Octopus Ventures, where we discuss the growth fund’s premise and timing, the new investment focus for Octopus Ventures, industrial competition in Europe, America and China, and — of course — the thorny issue of Brexit.

TC: What’s the thinking behind raising a dedicated later-stage fund and why now?

AC: We have been fortunate to back some really talented entrepreneurs who have gone on to build sizeable, successful companies in recent years. Companies like Zoopla, Secret Escapes, Swiftkey, Tails.com, Cazoo, Big Health require capital to build teams and to accelerate growth, and so it makes perfect sense to us for continue to back them as they progress through the initial stages of company formation to the later stages of growth.

TC: Is this new dedicated follow on fund also a sign of how high European valuations are right now, in the sense that it is designed to ensure Octopus Ventures doesn’t get too diluted in future rounds?

AC: We manage around £800m in an evergreen venture fund which invests close to £200m a year into Seed and Series A, with a focus on the future of money, health and industry. This makes Octopus one of the most active venture investors in Europe.

Because this fund is evergreen it is a great vehicle to take a very long-term view on investing and can be far more patient than a more traditional limited life venture fund which normally will invest for 3-4 years and then look to exit in the next 4-6 years.

Our latest growth fund will invest in the best performing companies out of this venture fund when the founders are comfortable with their product market fit, and are ready to scale to the next level.

TC: Did Brexit come into your thinking here or complicate things with regards to raising this new fund?

AC: You can’t ignore Brexit entirely, clearly, but I wouldn’t say it was a significant hurdle. We are backing genuinely pioneering entrepreneurs with the talent and ambition to radically disrupt their industries. That’s where we see the big opportunity for this fund, and I don’t think Brexit changes that.

For the most part, entrepreneurs we are investing in are looking to make their own “dent in the Universe” and while they are starting their journey in London and the U.K., their ambitions will lead them to build for an international audience. This is why we have an office in New York, and Venture Partners on the ground in Silicon Valley, Singapore and Beijing.

TC: More broadly, what would be your favoured outcome for the U.K. and Brexit?

AC: When you speak to the entrepreneurs and founders in our portfolio, it’s clear that availability of talent is one of the critical issues. So from that perspective, while I’m sure members of our team have their own views, we are agnostic in terms of the outcome so long as our portfolio companies continue to have access to the talent they need to grow and scale. That said, I wholeheartedly believe the U.K. and London will continue to be a global leader in innovation and entrepreneurship regardless of the outcome.

TC: Looking at “the future of money” aspect of Octopus Ventures’ new strategy, what specific opportunities do you see left in fintech? It seems that we are mainly past the first phase where various financial services have been unbundled from the banks and made more consumer friendly, while there are a number of platform plays, including some neo banks or banking appS, seeking to re-bundle these services in a more consumer-centric way. So, what’s left or next?

AC: The opportunities in financial technology are many and diverse. It is certainly true that we have seen the start of consumer banking services being unbundled, but whether we have reached a new point at which this market will re-integrate is by no means clear to me.

Outside of consumer banking, we are really excited by the opportunity in the insurance sector. Despite it being ten times the size of the banking sector it has only received one tenth of the funding. It’s an area where incumbents are paralysed by regulation, legacy technology and bureaucracy meaning they are unable to effectively tackle emerging opportunities themselves, so we see a huge opportunity in this space. As we invest in teams like Bought By Many, DeadHappy and ByMiles, we’re starting to go deeper and learn more about these industries.

TC: The second aspect is “the future of health”. What do you see as the biggest obstacles in this space (e.g. regulation, the different way healthcare is funded etc.) and also the biggest opportunities?

AC: Innovation in health, quite rightly, has a number of unique constraints which can make it more challenging for companies to start and scale quickly. These are both regulatory and commercial in nature – for instance a medical commissioning group can introduce the best digital health therapeutic but if the nurses on the front line in a GP surgery are unaware of the benefits, then these businesses may be overlooked and a great product will struggle to find its way into the hands of the patients.

Some of the biggest opportunities lie in areas where there is far-reaching demand, but this demand is simply not being filled due to stigma or taboo. Take Elvie for example, it is brilliant to see a fem-tech company designing and distributing pelvic floor trainers and breast pumps. The impact it has made in the market in such a short time is remarkable. Equally Big Health, with its initial focus on insomnia, will have a broader application to anxiety, depression and stress – all linked to mental wellbeing.

TC: Lastly, “the future of industry” — or industry 4.0 — is an increasingly common theme within VC and arguably a European strength. Do you think that is true, and if so, why?

AC: Europe, despite what people may think, still boasts a strong manufacturing hub. In fact, the European Union ranks second in the world in manufacturing output, secondly only to China, and ahead of the U.S., according to data from the World Bank. European manufacturing is also relatively high-tech compared to other countries. When you combine this with its ability to educate top talent – we produce more PhDs per capita than any other country in the world – it provides a fuel that drives development and productivity improvements in the industrial sector.

Having the perfect crucible of manufacturing expertise, experience, and existing business combined with top technical talent, results in a combination which naturally leads to Europe being considered a place to look at for ‘the’ Future of Industry. What we’ve historically lacked is the funds to back the emerging winners in this space – but things are changing here.

We have also enjoyed investing in some harder technologies – early on we backed William T-P at True Knowledge, which was acquired by Amazon and now has become the backbone of Alexa, the machine learning and artificial intelligence companies Swiftkey (acquired by Microsoft) and Magic Pony (acquired by Twitter).

TC: With that said, are we more likely to see multibillion dollar industry 4.0 companies coming out of Europe, America or China?

AC: Looking ahead, this is very hard to call, as in reality, industry is blooming across all three areas, and it is likely that we will see multibillion-dollar industry 4.0 companies from Europe, America and China.

In Europe, London leads the way in unicorns, hosting 17 start-ups that have broken the $1bn valuation barrier since 2010. We expect to see many more from London, and indeed the rest of Europe as they expand and grow across the continent. That being said, we cannot ignore the huge potential China offers in this space. According to the World Bank, China are the world leaders in manufacturing output, with a huge 40% of their GDP coming from manufacturing in 2017. Chinese companies have been setting themselves to take Industry 4.0 by storm for a while now, so to ignore the market potential of China would be nothing short of naïve. The same, however, could be said for the U.S. With the likes of American companies Apple and Amazon becoming the first trillion-dollar businesses last year, they too cannot be ruled out.

The truth is that increasing numbers of companies across the globe are heading for that multibillion-dollar status, and I think industry 4.0 is likely to boom across the three continents sooner than we expect.

source https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/08/octopus-ventures-growth-fund/

[fmservers]

European VC firm Octopus Ventures launches £83M growth fund

Octopus Ventures, the European venture capital firm that’s part of Octopus Group, is launching an £83 million growth fund to further invest in its most promising portfolio companies.

The new fund, which is backed by a number of undisclosed institutional investors rather than individual investors, brings the total Octopus Ventures’ various funds has under management to over £1 billion. Taken as a whole, it also means the VC firm now invests between £250,000 and £20 million in startups at various stages of growth.

Headquartered in London and New York, but with Venture Partners also in San Francisco, Shanghai and Singapore, Octopus Ventures has backed over 100 companies to date. They include allplants, Elvie, Depop, Big Health, Graze.com, Eve, Magic Pony, Secret Escapes, Sofar Sounds, Swiftkey, Swoon Editions, tails.com and Zoopla Property Group.

Meanwhile, the new growth fund coincides with a new strategy for Octopus Ventures more broadly, and will see the VC focus on three key areas: fintech, health tech, and industry 4.0.

In the firm’s own words:

The Future of Money: Seeking pioneering entrepreneurs who want to improve the way society interacts with money and risk by building products that will transform payments, investments, markets and insurance.

The Future of Health: Healthcare will soon be the world’s biggest industry and we back the teams revolutionising health and wellness through patient-driven medicine, clinical decision tools, digital health and disease prevention technologies.

The Future of Industry: Focused on the bleeding edge technologies that will drive the next industrial revolution. These include advanced manufacturing, materials, Internet of Things, robotics and artificial intelligence, as well as those technologies which will keep a fully digitally connected society secure.

Below follows an email Q&A with Alliott Cole, CEO of Octopus Ventures, where we discuss the growth fund’s premise and timing, the new investment focus for Octopus Ventures, industrial competition in Europe, America and China, and — of course — the thorny issue of Brexit.

TC: What’s the thinking behind raising a dedicated later-stage fund and why now?

AC: We have been fortunate to back some really talented entrepreneurs who have gone on to build sizeable, successful companies in recent years. Companies like Zoopla, Secret Escapes, Swiftkey, Tails.com, Cazoo, Big Health require capital to build teams and to accelerate growth, and so it makes perfect sense to us for continue to back them as they progress through the initial stages of company formation to the later stages of growth.

TC: Is this new dedicated follow on fund also a sign of how high European valuations are right now, in the sense that it is designed to ensure Octopus Ventures doesn’t get too diluted in future rounds?

AC: We manage around £800m in an evergreen venture fund which invests close to £200m a year into Seed and Series A, with a focus on the future of money, health and industry. This makes Octopus one of the most active venture investors in Europe.

Because this fund is evergreen it is a great vehicle to take a very long-term view on investing and can be far more patient than a more traditional limited life venture fund which normally will invest for 3-4 years and then look to exit in the next 4-6 years.

Our latest growth fund will invest in the best performing companies out of this venture fund when the founders are comfortable with their product market fit, and are ready to scale to the next level.

TC: Did Brexit come into your thinking here or complicate things with regards to raising this new fund?

AC: You can’t ignore Brexit entirely, clearly, but I wouldn’t say it was a significant hurdle. We are backing genuinely pioneering entrepreneurs with the talent and ambition to radically disrupt their industries. That’s where we see the big opportunity for this fund, and I don’t think Brexit changes that.

For the most part, entrepreneurs we are investing in are looking to make their own “dent in the Universe” and while they are starting their journey in London and the U.K., their ambitions will lead them to build for an international audience. This is why we have an office in New York, and Venture Partners on the ground in Silicon Valley, Singapore and Beijing.

TC: More broadly, what would be your favoured outcome for the U.K. and Brexit?

AC: When you speak to the entrepreneurs and founders in our portfolio, it’s clear that availability of talent is one of the critical issues. So from that perspective, while I’m sure members of our team have their own views, we are agnostic in terms of the outcome so long as our portfolio companies continue to have access to the talent they need to grow and scale. That said, I wholeheartedly believe the U.K. and London will continue to be a global leader in innovation and entrepreneurship regardless of the outcome.

TC: Looking at “the future of money” aspect of Octopus Ventures’ new strategy, what specific opportunities do you see left in fintech? It seems that we are mainly past the first phase where various financial services have been unbundled from the banks and made more consumer friendly, while there are a number of platform plays, including some neo banks or banking appS, seeking to re-bundle these services in a more consumer-centric way. So, what’s left or next?

AC: The opportunities in financial technology are many and diverse. It is certainly true that we have seen the start of consumer banking services being unbundled, but whether we have reached a new point at which this market will re-integrate is by no means clear to me.

Outside of consumer banking, we are really excited by the opportunity in the insurance sector. Despite it being ten times the size of the banking sector it has only received one tenth of the funding. It’s an area where incumbents are paralysed by regulation, legacy technology and bureaucracy meaning they are unable to effectively tackle emerging opportunities themselves, so we see a huge opportunity in this space. As we invest in teams like Bought By Many, DeadHappy and ByMiles, we’re starting to go deeper and learn more about these industries.

TC: The second aspect is “the future of health”. What do you see as the biggest obstacles in this space (e.g. regulation, the different way healthcare is funded etc.) and also the biggest opportunities?

AC: Innovation in health, quite rightly, has a number of unique constraints which can make it more challenging for companies to start and scale quickly. These are both regulatory and commercial in nature – for instance a medical commissioning group can introduce the best digital health therapeutic but if the nurses on the front line in a GP surgery are unaware of the benefits, then these businesses may be overlooked and a great product will struggle to find its way into the hands of the patients.

Some of the biggest opportunities lie in areas where there is far-reaching demand, but this demand is simply not being filled due to stigma or taboo. Take Elvie for example, it is brilliant to see a fem-tech company designing and distributing pelvic floor trainers and breast pumps. The impact it has made in the market in such a short time is remarkable. Equally Big Health, with its initial focus on insomnia, will have a broader application to anxiety, depression and stress – all linked to mental wellbeing.

TC: Lastly, “the future of industry” — or industry 4.0 — is an increasingly common theme within VC and arguably a European strength. Do you think that is true, and if so, why?

AC: Europe, despite what people may think, still boasts a strong manufacturing hub. In fact, the European Union ranks second in the world in manufacturing output, secondly only to China, and ahead of the U.S., according to data from the World Bank. European manufacturing is also relatively high-tech compared to other countries. When you combine this with its ability to educate top talent – we produce more PhDs per capita than any other country in the world – it provides a fuel that drives development and productivity improvements in the industrial sector.

Having the perfect crucible of manufacturing expertise, experience, and existing business combined with top technical talent, results in a combination which naturally leads to Europe being considered a place to look at for ‘the’ Future of Industry. What we’ve historically lacked is the funds to back the emerging winners in this space – but things are changing here.

We have also enjoyed investing in some harder technologies – early on we backed William T-P at True Knowledge, which was acquired by Amazon and now has become the backbone of Alexa, the machine learning and artificial intelligence companies Swiftkey (acquired by Microsoft) and Magic Pony (acquired by Twitter).

TC: With that said, are we more likely to see multibillion dollar industry 4.0 companies coming out of Europe, America or China?

AC: Looking ahead, this is very hard to call, as in reality, industry is blooming across all three areas, and it is likely that we will see multibillion-dollar industry 4.0 companies from Europe, America and China.

In Europe, London leads the way in unicorns, hosting 17 start-ups that have broken the $1bn valuation barrier since 2010. We expect to see many more from London, and indeed the rest of Europe as they expand and grow across the continent. That being said, we cannot ignore the huge potential China offers in this space. According to the World Bank, China are the world leaders in manufacturing output, with a huge 40% of their GDP coming from manufacturing in 2017. Chinese companies have been setting themselves to take Industry 4.0 by storm for a while now, so to ignore the market potential of China would be nothing short of naïve. The same, however, could be said for the U.S. With the likes of American companies Apple and Amazon becoming the first trillion-dollar businesses last year, they too cannot be ruled out.

The truth is that increasing numbers of companies across the globe are heading for that multibillion-dollar status, and I think industry 4.0 is likely to boom across the three continents sooner than we expect.

Via Steve O'Hear https://techcrunch.com