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whiteluztitan · 2 years

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TOP 5 MODERN LIGHTING STYLES SINGAPOREANS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR BTO FLAT

Now that your dream home is finally a reality, it’s time to talk about furnishing it to your tastes. Your BTO flat is a culmination of the long wait in applications and the time and effort spent to cater it to your specifications, so it’s only fair to make sure that your space is lit to highlight its best features and complement its purpose.

Modern lighting should not be restricted to typical mundane track lighting and ceiling fans with built-in light kits. The options are limitless, but the best ones bring out the individualism in your home. Here are some ways to make lighting your BTO flat more creative:

Balcony Lights

To truly bring the outdoors in, treat your balcony as more than just a terrace where you store stuff. Using hanging lamps can completely change the vibe of your balcony, and you can transform it into an extension of your living space where one can entertain guests while enjoying the view, or as a quiet area of the house where one can read in peace. On clear nights, you can even “camp” out with your kids to stargaze or create an intimate dinner with your partner under romantic fairy lights.

Living Room

The living room is more often than not multi-purposed. It is where you receive guests, but on quiet nights, it also serves as a social space where your family bonds. During the circuit breaker as you work from home, it can even be your makeshift office, or on weekends, a place to sit back and unwind.

Using designer-inspired lights as the focal point of your living room ignites conversations with guests and creativity in your family. Your multi-purposed living room deserves lighting that is just as hardworking, setting up a comfortable space that is stylish and warm while being able to foster discussions and spark inspiration whether you’re working or entertaining.

Entertainment Room

Missing the intimate feel of the cinema, where it seems like the real world has fallen away and there’s only you and the story? Simulate that vibe whether you’re watching your favourite shows or playing an immersive video game with smart lighting. Smart lighting can sync with your entertainment system to give you appropriate lighting without straining your eyes.

Smart lighting can also transform the space according to what you need it to be without moving an inch of furniture. It can change the colour and dimness of your lights at the touch of an app, allowing you control over the mood and vibe of your entertainment area. Bonus perk: smart lighting can also give you an extra level of security with scheduled timers to simulate flat occupancy even if you’re not home.

Dining / Kitchen

Lighting your kitchen requires special attention. You want to make sure that it’s bright enough so you can cook and prepare food unimpeded, but at the same time, you want to ensure that it is warm and inviting. This applies to your dining room as well, where you interact with your guests the most. You need to be able to emphasize the food and create an inviting atmosphere while making sure that it’s not too dark to eat.

A creative blend of functional and decorative lights in your kitchen and dining spaces solves this problem. The kitchen needs functional lights that do not detract from the beauty of your interior design. Recessed lighting offers a subtle illumination to a well-lit kitchen space without looking too harsh, accompanied by stylish task lighting like under-cabinet LED strips allows greater focus and brightness to prevent accidents while chopping and cooking. In the dining room, hanging pendants paired with dimmable lights allow you to control the ambience and give your guests room to choose between a night to wind down or for elaborate discussions.

Children’s Room

When it comes to children’s rooms, you need to consider lighting that keeps them interested and stimulated, but safe enough for curious minds and hands. At the same time, it must grow with them as the lighting needs of babies, toddlers and children of reading age are vastly different.

Tricky as it is, it’s not impossible. Make sure that the room’s overhead lighting is bright enough for play and study, and can safely be adorned with your child’s interests. Be it planets and stars, birds and nature, or lanterns in the shape of clouds or even a DIY-light kit to create a cheery room.

But most importantly, don’t forget bedside reading lights. If your child is tucked in with a bedtime story, bedside wall lights or even floor and table lamps will help to set the mood and be conveniently switched off once they snooze.

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mujeeburrehman · 3 years

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5 Modern Ryokan Homes in Singapore

In pre-Covid times, Singaporeans were one of the most avid travellers in the region. It therefore comes as no surprise that many of our homes are usually inspired by the places we have been and seen. These modern ryokan-inspired homes below that take inspiration from traditional Japanese inns are no different.

Made from traditional materials like bamboo and wood, ryokans are typically located in the rural countryside of Japan. Inside the ryokan, sliding paper screens—shoji—separate rooms decorated in tatami mats and futons, as well as a low wooden table and zabuton for sitting. Partaking in a traditional Japanese bath or a tea ceremony is also part of the ryokan experience.

But what is the ryokan appeal for our modern homes? Is it a call for the idyllic, for the simpler and slower pace of life that permeates the countryside? Or a reminiscence of the rich culture and gentle hospitality that we hope to replicate?

Whatever the reason, we cannot deny the ryokan’s quiet charm. If you’ve always wanted a home that looks like one, take inspiration from these modern ryokan homes that have married modern creature comforts with the elements of tradition impeccably.

1. A flexible modern ryokan home for a family of 5 by Pencil Office

The wooden screens, crafted to look like the ones seen in a ryokan, form the basis of the design of this apartment. Paired with laminated glass positioned in between the slats, the sliding screens separate the different areas of the home to allow for more flexibility in the use of the various spaces.

Closed off completely, the screens offer acoustic privacy without having to sacrifice the diffused daylight that gets filtered through. When opened, the apartment becomes a large and airy open-concept space.

This versatility was necessary for this family of five. The adults hosted guests over often, and would often entertain in the dining area or kitchen. They thus wanted to still be able to keep an eye on their young children while retaining a certain amount of privacy when hosting.

Parts of the home retain the original marble flooring, lending a subtle elegance to this minimal space. The rest of the home features a light-toned oak, with the lattice design of the screens casting interesting shadows and offering visual interest amidst the minimal material palette.

2. Attention to details in this 3,500-sqft residence by Upstairs and In-Expat

Enthusiasts of Japanese and Chinese cultures, the homeowners’ brief to the designer was simple enough: to create a ryokan style home for this family of three, along with their lived-in helper. What resulted is a home with meticulous attention to detail and a deep sense of care in regards to the materials and palettes used.

Because of the sprawling square feet, much of the original space was under-utilised. The home was thus reconfigured and left more open and fluid, with screens and columns to segregate the zones.

In the foyer for instance, a structural column was redesigned into a sculptural piece lined with oak veneers and curved edges to serve as a form of visual navigation between the main communal areas. Seigaiha-patterned screens are also decked out throughout.

The open kitchen, previously a tight and cramped space, now features a gorgeous 5-metre long island with plenty of room for food prep or light casual meals. Directly connected to the dining area, it is surrounded by sleek oak cabinets, with appliances flush neatly for a minimal aesthetic.

The living room sits on a sunken level for distinction, evoking the layered spaces seen commonly in a ryokan. One enters this space by stepping down on a Naguri textured plinth that can double up as a tatami platform when there are extra guests. The same material is seen again in the master bedroom, as a form of transition between the balcony and the sleeping sanctuary.

Lending a wonderful contrast, the bathroom evokes a deep dark marble. You see the same material being subtly used throughout the home, seemingly culminating in this most private space of this apartment.

3. An apartment with a $70K budget by Sync Interior

This 4-room flat is home to a couple that fell in love with Kyoto when they visited the Japanese city some years back. So much so that they decided to turn their Strathmore home into a space that resembles a minka, a traditional Japanese house.

Taking architectural references from the Edo period, they incorporated features like a zen garden situated at an alcove in their bedroom, a platform decked out in tatami mats in the living room and shoji-like screens to delineate the spaces. In the bedroom, mattresses are embedded into a low platform so they appear like futons without sacrificing modern comforts.

To further the aesthetic and the sense of traditional Japan, the home is decorated with the couple’s collection of Japanese antiques and souvenirs, including a Japanese tea set, folding fans, Japanese calligraphy, bonsai plants and noren, which are seen over the entrances into the bathroom and kitchen.

4. Infusing Scandinavian elements in this Canberra 4-room flat by 13th Design Studio

The homeowners of this Canberra home loved the look of a ryokan, but wanted a space that felt more modern to live in. As such, they opted to infuse Scandinavian elements into the home, which is the obvious route to take seeing as both styles cover a lot of similar ground.

Wood elements are featured predominantly. From the foyer, an eye-catching apothecary-style cabinet next to the bomb shelter stows away odds and ends. The living room, set on a slightly raised platform, comes with a timber fluted ceiling panel.

Walls here are similarly clad in wood. Coupled with the bay window seat decked out in cushions, the space evokes a cosy atmosphere that feels similar to being housed inside a ryokan.

The wood theme continues in the rest of the home. Along the walkway, a slice of glass panel showcases the homeowners’ collection of toy figurines, while a door within a door allows their kids to move in and out of the room easily.

Likewise, the kitchen, separated into a wet and dry space, is covered in woodgrain laminates, although a part of the full-height cabinets is decked out in grey laminates in order to visually flush the silver-hued double door refrigerator with the surrounding storage.

5. A minimalist BTO with Japanese sensibilities by Obbio Concept

With three young children and a busy lifestyle, the homeowners sought for a sanctuary that they could feel calm in. So when they got their keys to their new flat at Canberra, they opted for a minimalist style that would also reflect their love for Japanese design and culture.

The home relies heavily on the wood aesthetic, but balanced out with bright, white pockets of spaces in order to create a clean, clutter-free feel. In order to accommodate the needs of this large family, the home was designed with plenty of storage spaces. Most of which are concealed and hidden away in line with the theme.

A ryokan-style fluted wood screen was incorporated at the entrance of the home, setting the tone for how the rest of the space will look, whilst also lending privacy from neighbours that walk by. The shoe cabinet was also designed with a bench for wearing shoes that can be conveniently tucked away into the cabinet so that it doesn’t get in the way.

Nifty space-saving features continue in the rest of the home. The kitchen and study areas are enclosed behind glass doors to reduce the visual bulk. In the bathroom, the vanity cabinet was designed with an angle in order to facilitate movement in and around the bathroom. The bedroom too comes with an angled mirror panel at the sides of the wardrobe so that it takes up less space while helping to expand the room visually.

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source https://civilco.construction/5-modern-ryokan-homes-in-singapore/ from Civilco Construction & Interior https://civilcoconstruction.blogspot.com/2021/07/5-modern-ryokan-homes-in-singapore.html

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girlspartydresses96 · 3 years

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you’ve said yes to your perfect wedding dress spaghetti @%……*）straps prom dresses

Once you've said yes to your perfect wedding dress spaghetti straps prom dresses, it's time to start playing dress up with your 'maids. But, this poses the question, who goes bridesmaid dress shopping with you? You thought long and hard about who should tag along to help you pick out your own dress for the big day, and this wedding shopping trip is equally important. While shopping for bridesmaid frocks is way less stressful than choosing your bridal gown, it's still important to select your shopping companions carefully. This experience should be fun and carefree, as long as you bring the right people with you. Geraldine Tay, 28, Operation Specialist, and Don Ng, 30, Events Coordinator, met online, and hit it off so well that they applied for a BTO flat just four months into their relationship! Before they elope on a New Zealand mountaintop accessible only by helicopter next year amelia sposa wedding dresses where to buy, the unconventional couple transformed into a Chinese emperor and empress, and mythical deities, for a unique pre-wedding shoot that could have been set in any of the popular historical Chinese dramas Story of Yanxi Palace, Legend of Fuyao, or Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace! Wearing a wedding veil has been an important wedding tradition in the West since the 19th century. Back then, brides wore white wedding veils as a symbol of their virginity and modesty, while the Roman brides before them wore flame-coloured ones as protection against evil spirits on their wedding day. Today, the wearing of wedding veils symbolises a bride's transition from being a single woman to a married one and is a tradition widely practiced all over the world backless summer dresses.

But is this the honest-to-goodness truth? Perhaps no one will ever know 9 Tips on Wedding Dresses Shopping From An Experienced Bride's Guide, but I'm sure that those who lived the era sygdljdress20112 can explain why in better detail. While we can say 'so and so wore that and so it became popular' or 'so and so designer decided it was worth putting on the runway' to trace origins of fashion's popularity to its roots, understanding vintage trends prior to the emergence of mass media is much more difficult. If you're into fashion, then you probably know that accessories can make or break an outfit. A belt can add color, create a waist line, or freshen up a dated look. But there are times when it's better to leave this accessory out of the picture. Here are three easy rules to help you decide when to add a belt, and when to skip it. 'Our decision to photograph this gown in Chinatown was one made with ease,' shares Renee. 'The beautiful traditional Chinese architecture set the mood for the hand-embellished gown to boldly reflect high fashion in the 1950s.' Hailie accessorised her gown with a retro beaded bag and matching red pumps, and Lalu added a touch of mystery and glamour with an oriental fan. 1. Instead of choosing just one shade of blue for our palette, we've used four hues to showcase this colour's versatility, and four other colours that complement and contrast well prom necklace. From aqua blue, cobalt blue, royal blue to navy blue, you'll find that appropriate hues of silver, pink, and greens can create all kinds of ambience and moods. You May Also Like: Perfect for Beach Holidays A pass is made for de-stressing ... cheap dinner dresses for ladies&formal evening dresses ... Sweetheart Spaghetti Straps Short Chiffon Homecoming Dresses With Appliques Perception for well-made items that you can decay again ... this beautiful costume wear is usually worn simply by brides ...

#spaghetti straps prom dresses

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fitnesshealthyoga-blog · 5 years

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New Post has been published on https://fitnesshealthyoga.com/beautycounter-lead-conference-recap-the-fitnessista/

Beautycounter LEAD Conference Recap - The Fitnessista

and WE SAW MICHAEL BUBLÉ.

(I’m not even going to hide my creeper status. And don’t worry, my mouth didn’t actually touch the poster.)

Hi friends! How’s the morning going? I’m just getting back from a whirlwind trip to Phoenix for the Beautycounter LEAD conference… and to see Michael Bublé, my favorite ever.

I got into Phoenix on Thursday morning, and met up with Arsy and Tina at the adorable Airbnb where we’d be staying. It was my first Airbnb experience and I was beyond impressed with the whole thing.

Check out the cuteness!

It was in a neighborhood filled with unique older houses, and they completely gutted and redid the interior. The wood floors and tiling in the bathroom were gorgeous, along with exposed brick, modern art, and unique touches (like the book selection in each bedroom).

Arsy surprised us with little goodie bags on each of our beds, with Hu chocolates, travel Cote nail polishes, Bee’s wrap, the best hair ties, a Beautycounter pen, and a sweet card. She also stocked the fridge with some healthy essentials, cold brews, and waters.

I’ve been working with Arsy for almost 3 years and it was my first time meeting her in person. Of course, she was just as kind and lovely as I expected, and I had such a great time hanging out with her and Tina all weekend.

Thursday night, we had our team dinner at True Food, and then Friday morning, it was straight into the official festivities. We had quite a few sessions on Friday, and each one left me feeling more inspired, motivated, and grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to work for such a respected and innovative company. (Beautycounter is the #1 Googled beauty brand of 2018 and the top clean skincare brand in the world.) They generally care for the health of all living beings on this planet, and are constantly working to impart change in the beauty industry, which is severely unregulated. The last federal safety law for cosmetics was passed in 1938!! We’re actively working to get this changed and make clean products accessible to everyone. This means no matter what store you go to and what brand you purchase, you should be able to have have the confidence that they were manufactured without endocrine disrupters, known carcinogens, and harmful preservatives.

My very favorite quote from the weekend:

– The greatest gift you can give anyone who loves you is your own wellbeing

While there was a lot of motivational talk, they also addressed burnout and importance of paying attention to what truly matters: your family, your health, and your relationships. I love how much they emphasized balance and taking the time to share your life with those you love and make yourself a priority.

We also had the opportunity to hear Gregg Renfrew speak. She’s our CEO and the Founder of Beautycounter and she’s so.darn.real. The entire room of 1700 was captivated the entire time she was talking. She was so encouraging, humble, and generously shared her knowledge and inspiration with us all.

They also had some pretty solid snack breaks and lunch in between the presentations. 🙂

Friday afternoon, the Pilot picked us up from the conference and we headed to the house to get ready for the evening. The girls went to another team dinner at a downtown hotel, while the Pilot and I enjoyed a sushi date at Moira Sushi before Michael Buble.

(Shoes are here // dress is here — got it from Rent the Runway and was so pumped it actually fit. I feel like it’s so hard to tell what will work from the sizing but the S was just right)

We arrived at the arena, ordered wine in a can for me + beer for him, walked to our awesome seats (!) and I buckled up for the best concert experience of my life. I’m a HUGE Michael Bublé fan – I sporadically listen to his music all year and just switch to his Christmas album for November and December – so I was expecting a lot, but it was beyond anything I could have imagined. His perfect voice, the set design, the orchestra, his backup singers, everything. Just.SO.freaking.good.

(He started off with “Feelin’ Good” and I screamed like a teenager at a BTO concert.)

#1) He is HILARIOUS. He was cracking a ton of jokes in between songs, many of which were gloriously inappropriate, and the Pilot and I were laughing our faces off. I had to keep myself from breaking into the full-on dinosaur cry during Home and one of his newer songs, Forever Now. If you want to get a glimpse of what I was feeling, listen to the song, and then picture in your mind a child’s bedroom and how it changes from when they’re born (a nursery with sweet printed wallpaper, a crib, and a rocker) until they MOVE out (a large bed and a room strewn with moving boxes, to completely empty room). That’s what they flashed on the arched screen above the stage and I think they pretty much wanted to pull my heart out of my body. Of course, all of his lighthearted jokes and the fact that he doesn’t take himself too seriously kept me from crying too hard.

2) He is so grateful to all of his supporters. Multiple times he thanked us for spending our money and our time to be at his concert. He said that his supporters lifted their family while they went through something absolutely heartbreaking, and was so heartfelt and genuine in thanking the audience. You can just tell he’s a really good guy.

3) I tried to meet him but I failed. So here’s the thing, in college and my early 20s, I got backstage after concerts if I wanted to meet the band or singer. It’s not because I’m cool or had a VIP pass, but I’d just casually go to the side of the stage and ask security if I could just go back and get a photo with whomever. You’d think it would be a fail but it worked every time! I would just be chill about it and I think they saw a young non-threteaning kid and were like, “Go. Live your dream.” I didn’t know if I would work for Michael Bublé because, I don’t know, I’m like 15 years older now, BUT I figured this was my only chance and went for it. Unfortunately, they did all of the meet and greets before the show, not after. So when I went to ask if I could pleeeeeease go back and take a pic, security told me they did all of that stuff earlier. It’s NBD, but I did try. #shameless #dontcurr

The Pilot and I stayed at Westin, which was lovely, and then Saturday morning, we grabbed a quick breakfast at Coronado (a cute vegetarian cafe!) before he hit the road back to Tucson and I headed back to the conference.

I got there just in time to learn about the new products from our Product Development team, and get excited! There’s so much good stuff on the way, including a face cream that supposed to feel luxurious and gorgeous like La Mer, but with clean ingredients. So pumped about this! I’ll definitely share more info when it’s on the way, but our new line was modeled after Asian skincare rituals (yas yas yassss) and is going through clinical and client trials now. I’ll also have the chance to try it out before it’s released and will absolutely share my experience.

Beautycounter is also transitioning to more glass, less plastic, and are going to include refill options.

We attended sessions on social media and coaching, and then had a delicious lunch.

When I left the conference, I felt energized and excited to implement various action plans in my team and with my business. As you guys know, I’m very particular about brand alignments. For everyone I say, “Yes” to, there are at least 20-30 “No, thank you”. When I first joined Beautycounter, I knew I liked the products and I loved their mission to get safer products into the hands of everyone. I didn’t know that it was so much more than that, and that it would have such a huge positive impact on my life and business.

(Jumpsuit is here // shoes are here. Jumpsuit is also from Rent the Runway and I wish I could have kept it!)

Behind this mission, there are thousands of women working hard to change the beauty industry, sharing the products with those they love, and taking their success into their own hands.

I was so thankful to FINALLY meet Teri, who feels like my BFF after all of these years and I still hadn’t met in person! I also got to chat with Lexi, Juli, Cassy, and so many lovely women on our team.

Having this blog has been one of the biggest blessings in my life because it’s enabled me to connect with a motivating, incredible community of women (and dudes!). One of the best parts: I can do it anywhere! As a military wife, this was critical since we were moving every 2 years or so, which this makes it very hard to get and keep a traditional job. Beautycounter gives that same flexibility to those who want to work on their own schedule, wherever they want, and carve their own path. It has been one of the best things I’ve added to my business, and it’s fun, easy, and I get to meet with connect with new people. The money potential is bananas – if you want to talk about it, please email me – and it’s cool to be able to make an income while supporting a company that’s championing for change. If you’d like to make a transition to safer skincare products, or a tiny voice is telling you that consulting may be for you, please email me: [email protected]

Well, I’m off to unpack my suitcase, only to RE-pack it for a short trip to Portland for a brand meeting. I hope you have a happy Monday!

Gina

Tell me, friends: first concert experience? If you could see anyone live, who would it be?! My first concert was Boyz II Men in 5th grade. “Motown Philly back again….” Also, has anyone met Michael Buble?! Please tell me everything.

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identitycris1s · 5 years

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so this is the new year

im finally taking time to sit down and reflect on the past few months. the new year came and went and its been a bit of a whirlwind. i suppose i’ll just go by chronological order cos i dont really know how to start...also i dont think im an abstract thinker so really my life isnt ordered by “themes” or “lessons” or whatever but i sort of think of it in terms of events and the epiphanies or lessons that flow therefrom. this is probably just gonna be a stream of consciousness exposition cos im lazy to organise my thoughts and this is basically my journal so WHATEVER!

November

X told me he liked me and asked me out. i was shocked. but sort of saw it coming (what else could “r u free after lunch, i have some stuff to say” mean...LOL). i reacted awkwardly - distinctly remember saying “huh..what does that MEAN!!!” (LOL) i told him i would think about it but could probably only give him an answer after part b was over.

tbh this was probably just me stalling for time. i think instinctively i knew that i didnt see him in that way, but he seemed to tick so many boxes in terms of who i was “supposed” to be with - that sounds dumb, but what i mean is he’s a steadfast christian, a good boy, similar values, similar tastes in music / movies / books, same bloody industry LOL...

also he seemed really serious about it - ermmm he brought up marriage on that first day :0 ok i suppose thats unfair and it sounds insane without context - he said it with reference to how dating is always with a view to marriage which i do agree with but yes it was a lot to absorb in one conversation. and then he cracked out this book about dating and marriage and i was like woah. so, given how much thought he seemed to have put into this (he also said he chatted with his CG leader about me yikes) i felt obliged to at least think it through properly and give myself some time to consider rather than immediately rejecting him.

and so i mulled it over whilst studying for part b. he was overseas for a while towards the end of my studying period (ie when i was freaking out the most and generally being a headless chicken) and this probably contributed to me feeling like i liked him more than i really did hmm wonder what this says about me. i like to feel like someone’s out of my reach i suppose. so fucked up lol! and so during this period we were texting everyday and i would look forward to his replies and he was a real source of comfort during that stressful period and i never told him this and i probably never will.

December

exams were over and i had to face D DAY!! so i went to meet him to give him my answer and honestly even on that day i didnt know what my answer was. we met at BTM and he literally had written down a list of things to talk about and i think in that moment i knew this probably wouldnt work out. hes so damn thoughtful about every little thing and he thinks everything through and even though he seems to think he “doesnt take things too seriously” I THINK HE DOES...and i really dont...so i felt that showed how incompatible we were. its not a bad thing to be thoughtful. its just that i felt so pressured by how seriously he was taking things...i thought “trying this out” would be casual and chill and we would just hang out as if we were friends but with this overarching agenda of potentially being together but no his conception of “trying things out” is much more intense and serious and thought out and in his words “intentional”. which i realised is some christian dating jargon haha.

dinner was normal until he cracked out that list i was talking about. then he started talking about what he wanted out of a relationship and asked me what i wanted out of a relationship. like it was a damn interview. you know what, im saying this in a really condescending tone and i wouldnt ever be this hurtful if i knew he was gonna read this - in fact i really do think this kind of approach would suit many people and perhaps a more emotionally well adjusted person would think this was normal but i felt so bombarded and i really didnt know what to say in response. so i blurted out some nonsense about wanting to be with someone who was God fearing and “kind and compassionate” and “ambitious” LMAO...what bullshit (that last one i mean). and he had clearly thought out his answers a lot more and he went on a whole spiel about wanting to be with someone who could stand on their own as a christian and who he didnt have to “drag along” on their walk with God and i was like ok cool but i think im not that...im not what youre looking for...but of course i didnt say this. idk why. maybe i enjoy being wanted and sought after and i didnt want to shatter his illusion that i was what he was looking for, even though i was kinda seeing that he wasnt what i was looking for.

anyway, being the shitty person i am, i told him it wasnt a no but it wasnt a straight out yes either i.e. i would be willing to try with a view to potentially saying yes. and we left it at that. but even as i said bye to him that night i kinda knew this wasnt gonna work...but i wanted it to! i wanted to like him! i want to be the kind of person who can accept love from a well adjusted person who’s not afraid to be real and to take things seriously...but i suppose i have some emotional growth to work on...or is it perfectly valid for me to not want to be with him? tbh i never found him attractive (physically or even personality wise oops) - he doesnt make me laugh, hes kinda too uptight, he doesnt get my jokes (i have to be like “JUST KIDDING” a lot of the time..ded) but somehow we worked as friends. but to be with someone requires something more than just working as friends doesnt it?? ack

so we met a few times in dec (i think we went on four or five “dates” in total...im so reluctant to call them dates cos throughout i just couldnt see him in that light, but thats what they were i think) and through the course of our interactions i started picking up on things that i didnt like about him / about our interactions. this sounds awfully petty and i dont wanna be mean about this cos im sure i have MANY MANY MANY flaws that one could nit pick but these were just some signs that we would not work (quite apart from my lack of physical attraction to him)

1. our conversations always end up argumentative. i think this probably stems from both of us being law students and so whenever we disagree on something we both cant seem to fucking let it go. i distinctly remember one stupid conversation, i shall put it here (not verbatim but this is the gist of it)

X: what are your new years resolutions?

S: i dont like making new years resolutions because they always end up in disappointment because i never stick to them.

X: but disappointment isnt always a bad thing because you can learn from it and improve from there

S: yes but that doesnt mean disappointment isnt a bad thing - cos disappointment in itself is bad (like duh the feeling of disappointment is bad) but what comes after disappointment can be good or bad i.e. you can choose to work on yourself and improve or you can wallow in the disappointment.

-some more argument and confusion about what we are even talking about-

S: ok lets not argue on this its a semantic point.

X: is it semantic? its not semantic.

S: it is semantic. we are disagreeing on what the word disappointment means. i think it is necessarily negative but you are saying that disappointment isnt always negative because of what can come after but i think thats sidestepping the point of disappointment being negative in itself.

do you see what i mean. what kind of petty argument is this? whats the damn point? of course im definitely not blameless in this at all. i perpetuate it. but what im saying is i feel like talking to him brings out this argumentative side of me that im not a fan of. also its fucking exhausting haha.

2. he is so. fucking. serious. every conversation involves some heavy thing like spirituality or self evaluation or Godliness etc. which i suppose is good but i just found it tiring...why cant things be light? why cant things be fun? why do we always have to talk about *important* or *weighty* things? tbh i think he sorta compartmentalises me as a friend whom he can talk about these *weighty* things with cos im also a christian and i get what hes saying when he talks about God but i dont want to only talk about that...

3. we dont have similar senses of humour. i dont think he thinks im funny...but i think im bloody funny ok haha also i dont think im deluded on this? my friends think im funny too? yeah i think its a major problem that we cant really laugh together...hes not someone that makes me laugh at all :(

ok enough bashing X haha i really do think hes a great person we are just NOT compatible romantically.

ANYWAYS! sometime in dec i also met up w SM for the first time in aaaages. but things were like normal again. sounds stupid but i think ill always think of him as the one who got away LOL....emotionally unavailable and not interested in me?? IM DOWN! haha. ok hes not emotionally unavailable tbh i probably was more emotionally unavailable in the course of our friendship but he defo never really expressed any interest in me other than always hanging out one on one but that doesnt really count for anything does it. anyways! he told me about his BTO plans and im honestly v happy for him :) friends r growing up and moving on in life mang..

sad part was i dropped avo toast on my new everlane pants and that honestly ruined my day lol

January

NYE was spent w S and some of her friends plus R and A (who went home after dinner cos of family drama lmao angie is siao) - we went to AL’s fam friends party at fullerton for countdown and the fireworks were amaaaazing, lasted about an hour (which made us question the budget allocation on this tbh isnt it a bit of a waste?? fireworks are insanely expensive??) and we promptly went home after the clock struck 12 which was perfect haha i have no stamina to stay out late anymore.

work started on 2 jan! its been fun tbh - back with the trainees and meeting some new people and using my brain again. i like feeling useful and being stuck in a routine...at least for now haha. check in on me in about 3 months and we’ll see.

and....i finally mustered up the courage to tell X the truth ie i didnt see this going anywhere and we should just be friends. we had kind of an awkward dinner (i could feel myself being rude to him and being dismissive etc but i think it could partially be attributed to me being tired from work..but mostly cos i didnt wanna be with him!! as a romantic partner!! it felt wrong!) and so i told him after dinner otw to the mrt (funny, we always have these convos otw to the mrt haha). he said he understood and he sort of felt it coming. and i felt bad - he mustve picked up on my coldness and rudeness over text and in our meetings also...why am i like this. i shouldve been up front with him on the first day. but i didnt know!!! i didnt know for sure this is how i felt. ahhh well u live and u learn right. next time ill be better at this. hope theres a next time LOL God pls send me someone whos right for me

ok bye for now! this was a lengthy post haha

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wisegirlandseaweedbrainforever · 7 years

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Every so often I meet people who claim they are DC fans but I get the feeling they should really Marvel fans. These people are ALWAYS angry and upset with their "favorite" characters and the writers who them, saying they aren't being written "right", the writers just don't "get" them, and they don't like this "new" direction the writers are taking them(most of the time the characters have always been written like that and they just haven't read enough bto know that). When I meet these people I always have a strong urge to run to the nearest comic book store and buy them a bunch of marvel comics, and just say "here try these maybe you will be happier!". Now I'm not saying that if you don't have the same opinions on DC comics or it's characters I do you aren't a "real" DC fan, I'm just saying that marvel and DC tend to appeal to different types of people, and if you aren't happy with the comics from one maybe you should try the other.

#comics #DC #marvel

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jonasmaurer · 5 years

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Beautycounter LEAD Conference Recap

and WE SAW MICHAEL BUBLÉ.

(I’m not even going to hide my creeper status. And don’t worry, my mouth didn’t actually touch the poster.)

Hi friends! How’s the morning going? I’m just getting back from a whirlwind trip to Phoenix for the Beautycounter LEAD conference… and to see Michael Bublé, my favorite ever.

Check out the cuteness!

My very favorite quote from the weekend:

– The greatest gift you can give anyone who loves you is your own wellbeing

They also had some pretty solid snack breaks and lunch in between the presentations.

(Shoes are here // dress is here — got it from Rent the Runway and was so pumped it actually fit. I feel like it’s so hard to tell what will work from the sizing but the S was just right) 8883621234

(He started off with “Feelin’ Good” and I screamed like a teenager at a BTO concert.)

Beautycounter is also transitioning to more glass, less plastic, and are going to include refill options.

We attended sessions on social media and coaching, and then had a delicious lunch.

(Jumpsuit is here // shoes are here. Jumpsuit is also from Rent the Runway and I wish I could have kept it!)

Behind this mission, there are thousands of women working hard to change the beauty industry, sharing the products with those they love, and taking their success into their own hands.

Well, I’m off to unpack my suitcase, only to RE-pack it for a short trip to Portland for a brand meeting. I hope you have a happy Monday!

Gina

The post Beautycounter LEAD Conference Recap appeared first on The Fitnessista.

Beautycounter LEAD Conference Recap published first on https://olimpsportnutritionde.tumblr.com/

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blkwidowsweb · 6 years

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Chicago Spotlight: A Conversation With Mike Dunn

Growing up record shopping with his mom and listening to his parents’ music collection at home in Chicago’s Robert Taylor Lower Development Homes, Mike Dunn fell in love with soul, funk and disco music, and later, house music and hip-hop. That love took him outside his home when he began DJing block club and basement parties in and around his neighborhood, then progressed to clubs and events around the city, working with house music legends such as Bam Bam, Tyree Cooper, Marshall Jefferson, Armando, and others. In 1987, Mike produced his first house music release, “Dance You Mutha” on Westbrook Records. As he continued to work in the studio in Chicago and in clubs around the world, Mike’s signature Chicago house track/acid house and hip house sound emerged and was reflected in a string of releases, including house classics “So Let It Be Houze!”, “Pressure Cooker” “Life Goes On”, “Magic Feet”, “God Made Me Phunky” and the infamous “Phreaky MF”. Mike later added hip-hop and R&B to his production plate when he inked a deal with Sean “P. Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Records for his imprint, Dunn Ruff Entertainment, through which he released the Chicago anthem, “On My Momma” by True Enuff featuring Swing & Bigg Huss. He also produced records for Public Announcement, Do or Die, Syleena Johnson and Jennifer Hudson. Most recently, Mike has teamed up with long-time friend and fellow Chosen Few DJ member Terry Hunter to create House N’ HD, a production group. The newest member of The Chosen Few DJs, Mike joined the group in 2012. (courtesy of ChosenFewDJs.com) I had a chance to talk to Mike Dunn about his career, his work ethic, his vision and his new album, My House from All Angles, coming out December 1st.

Black Widow: Your career spans 20+ years, what attracted you to house music?

Mike Dunn: I come from the disco era, so the transition was smooth. If disco had a child, it would have been house. I used to go to the record store with my mom. My mom always wanted the disco version of a song. She always asked the lady at the record store if they had the “long version” of a song. That’s what got me into the music. I was always into music. My mom and my dad were musical people. When we lived in the projects, my dad and this other guy in my building, Rico, were the only two people that had a real sound system. He had Boise speakers, Dynaco amps, Boise 901’s, and things like that. I got the DJ bug when I went to Rico’s house. Rico had two turntables and a mixer. Back then you weren’t mixing, you were doing seamless. As soon as one faded out, the other faded in. I was into all of that. By the time I went to high school, I moved in with my grandma in Englewood. That’s where I met Tyree (Cooper). We were trying to be DJs back then and a year or so later, Hugo (Hutchinson) came. It was always the three of us. We would do all the high school parties; Limbloom, Hubbard., etc. That’s what got me into house. I remember my grandma opened an account for me and had like $4000 in it. I got brave one day and grabbed it because I knew where she hid it. She hid it under the mattress and I took it and went to the bank and got all the money and went to Import Records and got everything!

Black Widow: NO! MIKE SERIOUSLY? [LAUGHTER]

Mike Dunn: I had to bring the records to Tyree’s house because I couldn’t walk into the house with all that. Now we had everything. Tyree had his record collection and I had mine so now we had doubles. You had to have doubles if you wanted to do tricks and stuff like that.

Little side note: the original “On and On” record was a limited release, so it was hard to get. That record was pressed from my copy which I bought from Otto for $50. Back then it was a lot of money to pay for a record. Tyree took it to Larry Sherman and Larry pressed it off my copy…just a little history!

Black Widow: A little side note huh? [LAUGHTER]

Mike Dunn: Everyone thinks I popped on the scene or something but that’s for the new house people. I’ve doing this since ’82.

Black Widow: Who were some of your early influences?

Mike Dunn: Listening to Farley and Leonard Roy made me want to DJ. Farley was on the radio, so I’d listen on my Walkman to the lunchtime mixes. When I went to parties, I would go to the Rink Zone on 89th & Ashland. That’s where I saw Leonard. He used to do amazing tricks and things like that. When Tyree introduced me to him, we went where all the DJs on the south side had to go. You had to go through this house or you weren’t considered a DJ. That was Greg Hines and his brother Otto’s house. Their company was BTO. Everybody came through there. He had the 1800 technics, Teledyne mixers, and a couple other mixers but they had every record ever made as far as disco. It wasn’t even house yet it was the Euro-Italo stuff. It was during our preppy stages. It wasn’t considered house because none of those records were made yet. We would go through there and I saw Leonard doing his edits for parties and I remember once he was editing Kasso, “One More Round” and that’s one of my all-time favorite Italo/disco records. After seeing that, I knew what I wanted to do. Later down the line, I spun with Ronnie (Ron Hardy) a couple of times but was more into Frankie (Knuckles) because he was more technical. Ronnie was more of a programmer. He knew what to play and when to play it. He found records nobody thought of playing. He was great at that. He didn’t do tricks and stuff like that. He knew how to pick songs, how to play them and when to play them…he was the master at that.

Black Widow: You’ve had a successful residency for almost 10 years now. Next year marks Reynolds 10-year anniversary. What’s the key to a successful residency?

Mike Dunn: I’ve always been a resident DJ. Starting with Ogden Park, The Courtyard, Jacks, High Society etc.… I knew what it took to be a resident DJ because I followed Frankie’s blueprint from afar. There are a few keys to having a successful residency; the right people, a great sound system, friendly hosts and security and a DJ knowing their crowd. If anyone came to Frankie and said security was mean or disrespectful, they were fired immediately. Like that night! He didn’t stand for that. When I say know your crowd, I’m saying when I come in, I speak, shake hands, take pictures, interact. When you take time to do that, people feel connected to you, so they continue to support you. When people tell me I’m your biggest fan I tell them not to say that, say you are a big supporter. Fans cool things off, supporters keep you hot. I don’t want any fans. They jump on and jump off. People who support you, support you forever, fans come and go on to the next hot thing. It’s all about not being afraid of your crowd.

I play stuff and sometimes they look at me like “Mike Really? You playing this?

Black Widow: [LAUGHTER] True!

Mike Dunn: But that’s what keeps people interested and coming back. Every week I got something different. Either I’ve retouched it, made it myself or edited it. Every time you come to Reynolds you are going to hear something you didn’t hear the previous week. You are never going to come in and hear the same stuff every week. I’m going to always go different directions. It may be classics, or the new stuff, the soulful or the afro. You have so many avenues and directions as far as house music. A lot of folks want me to disco them to death or bang them to death, but if I do that, it becomes boring and predictable. You come every week because you want to know if I’m gonna give it to you this week and if I don’t, you come next week to see if I’m gonna do it this week. So, I give ya a lil bit…

[LAUGHTER]

That’s what keeps you coming back. You get that hit and you keep coming back! It’s the blessing and the curse. I feel like I’m the most loved and the most hated sometimes. It’s the gift and the curse. A lot of people like to bash us (Reynolds). Why are we still around? Why are we still doing this? You won’t give anyone a shot? You won’t give anyone a chance…stuff like that. It’s crazy. We never did Frankie like that. We never did Farley like that. We never did Ronnie like that. We paid homage. The thing is, they ask the wrong question. The question is not why are we staying around so long? The question is how are we staying around so long? Once you ask the right question, you get the right answers.

Black Widow: You had a time in your career when you were at Bad Boy doing hip hop. What was it like returning to house after that?

Mike Dunn: For me it’s about reinventing yourself. I had to reinvent myself all over again. That’s why I ended up at Reynolds. I felt like Reynolds was the beginning. It’s not the big club or spot with the big dance floors. It’s how I started when I started DJ'ing. Reynolds is a little spot that I made a staple over time. My guy Gil Carpenter, we call him “Scatterman”, kept telling me to come back to house music. When my deal was dropped with Bad Boy, I was in a funk. I was depressed…you know…losing a million-dollar deal does something to you. I sold a lot of stuff and I lost a lot of stuff because I felt like I was good at it but that wasn’t what I was supposed to be doing. You only go so far before you hit a brick wall. Once you do that, you know that’s not what you are supposed to be doing. Some people keep trying to hit that brick wall and knock it down and it never happens and, so they drop off. That’s why it’s so many angry DJ’s. You know, it may not be what God put you here for. You may love to do it and that’s cool but don’t force it. That’s why success doesn’t come, or why you only have a certain amount of success and that’s it.

"I know what I was put on this earth to do. When I touch those tables, I know this was what I’m supposed to be doing".

Black Widow: What do you think your role is as a producer?

Mike Dunn: People think a producer just makes the beats and music but that’s not it. A producer gets a project from beginning to end. I’ve been around a lot of great producers and I’ve learned so much from them; what to do and what not to do. I’m a sponge and still a sponge in the game. I still listen and I’m still learning. I listen to the younger cats doing stuff now, it keeps me fresh and it keeps my sound fresh. I don’t sound dated unless I want to sound dated. Ya dig? [LAUGHTER] I have to stay fresh. My ear is always to the streets and what’s going on.

Black Widow: And you are constantly learning?

Mike Dunn: Yeah…constantly! Anyone who really knows me, knows…I read a lot. I watch videos, and tutorials. I’m a sponge. I want to know everything. That’s how I was as a kid. I want to know how things work. I remember my grandma bought me a component set when I was young, and I took it apart. A few days later, I put it back together again. That’s just me. I don’t just want to know that it works. I want to know how it works and why it works this way. Once you understand that you can manipulate it any way you want because you learn what its capable of.

Black Widow: So it’s not just about making the beats? It’s all encompassing…the beats, music, the sound, the editing, mixing?

Mike Dunn: Yeah…I wanted to know everything. I not only produce, I engineer, mix, master, remix…I want to know everything about the game. I’ve come up under great engineers and watched them in sessions. Folks like Peter Mocrum, Ron Gresham, and Larry Strom (RIP); some of the best engineers in Chicago. That’s always been me. I wanted to be self-sufficient. When you make yourself that valuable, you become invaluable because somebody is going to have to deal with you in some capacity. I remember when I was working with Puff (Sean “Puffy” Combs) and bringing stuff to him, he was like, “Who did all this”? I’m like, “Me”. He couldn’t believe it.

Who Mixed it?...Me Who produced it?...Me

Who made the track?...Me.

That was important to me. You know, Michael Jackson was my favorite artist, especially because we share the same name, but it was Prince that showed me how I wanted to do it. He did it all. He could go into the studio and not need anyone. Look at the credits! Drums by, Guitar By, Produced by, etc...that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to go into a studio and do what I wanted to do from beginning to end.

Black Widow: What takes a track from good to incredible?

Mike Dunn: It’s a few things that must be aligned. First, the energy has to be good. When you are making the track, or recording a track and putting it together, it has to be good energy in the room. If the artist or musicians or anyone’s energy is off, I’ll send them home. It’s not a good day. It’s a marriage. The track and the vocals have to be seamless. Everything has to melt together. It’s like when you are cooking, all those ingredients in those different measurements have to go in the dish. You have to have the right amount and combination of ingredients for that track to be incredible. One of my favorite producers knows how to do that. That’s Louie Vega. He knows how to put that shit together.

Black Widow: That Musical Gumbo!

Mike Dunn: RIGHT!!! Terry (Hunter) too, he knows how to put that shit together. Even though I may come to help Terry in the studio, I’m still learning. He may do something I wasn’t even thinking about in the studio and that will send me home wanting to try it but put my own spin on it. You know what I mean, you can’t copy and claim stuff, you got to put your spin on it. That’s what makes your style. Everyone wears clothes but what makes yours different? It’s your flavor. It’s nothing you can do but you know it when it happens. That’s the magic. That magic doesn’t have a formula. If there was a formula, everyone would have hits. There are steps and things you can do to get you close, but when the magic happens it just happens. That’s the moment when you are listening to the playback and go WHOOHOOOO!! When Terry hears something, and I know he really likes it, he goes WHOO! WHOO! When I hear that from Terry, I know I got some shit!

Black Widow: [LAUGHTER] He did that when I did the vocals for Fenix!

Mike Dunn: [LAUGHTER] If I don’t hear that, I’m going back to the drawing board! If I hear that WHOO! WHOO! Then I know I got some fire!

Black Widow: You have created so many tracks over the years, but this is your first album release since 1990. What made you decide that now was the time to do an entire project?

Mike Dunn: I just felt like I couldn’t get people to understand what I was doing with just a single here and there. My guys out of London, Paranoid London, did their album and it was a lot of the old stuff. When I talked to them, they were talking about how much they looked up to what I was doing, Armando, a lot of Chicago cats were doing and that’s what inspired them to do their album. That inspired me to do an album. I felt like I needed to capitalize off that. We are the last on the totem pole to be compensated on an entire sound we’ve created. I wanted people to understand where this music came from. The album was for the newer and younger house kids that are “doing us”. I’m always asked to do vocals on songs because they want that old classic, God made me funky, Chicago House sound. They love that! They want some jackin shit! I said to myself, should I deny myself and my listeners who still love the acid and the funky stuff? I wanted to put all my pseudonyms together and make one album; MD express, Mike Dunn, QX1, Jazzman, all the pseudos’ I’ve used in the past and put them all in one project.

Black Widow: That explains the sound and variety of subgenres on the album…

Mike Dunn: I wanted to go back to the old feel. I didn’t use a lot of plug in’s. I went back to my sound modules and analog. I went back to my analog gear. I just wanted it to sound authentic. I didn’t want it sound like I was trying to make it sound like that, but I wanted it to SOUND LIKE THAT. When you listen to it, take note, I purposely made it sound like that! It’s that way for a reason.

Black Widow: Aside from talent and/or natural ability, what qualities are important to you when working with an artist’s?

Mike Dunn: Hungriness! When I came into the game, I was extremely hungry. I go back me being a sponge. I wanted to know everything…just let me sit in the studio and observe. That’s what I used to do. If folks needed food or coffee or whatever...I just wanted to watch. I would carry Tyree’s records to get into parties. I remember one day, Sam Chapman came up to me and asked me, what do you do? I told him, I DJ. He’s says, I’m going to give you a shot and he did. This was when he had High Society and that’s where I showed him what I could do. So, I started opening and Tyree was closing. A few months later, I was the closer.

Black Widow: You created opportunities and chances to learn?

Mike Dunn: Yeah…I didn’t go out bashing and talking crazy. I wasn’t out here saying, Y’all ain’t putting me on, yall ain’t giving me a shot, I’m the coldest…blah blah blah… NAH. I wasn’t doing all of that. I always tell people to let their work speak for itself because your mouth will get you in trouble. A lot of cats want to spin in Europe or go overseas to DJ but it’s never going to happen for them. They don’t like that kind of stuff. They don’t want to deal with all of that. You may think you are talking for your people here, but other people are seeing you and saying…aww naw! If they were thinking about booking you, you just ruined it. You turned them completely off because you don’t let your work speak…you let your mouth speak instead. Anything may come out your mouth, especially when you are clicking and typing. You may mean it one way but a person will read it another way. So then have to go back and explain yourself and you dig a bigger hole and get yourself in more trouble.

Black Widow: Meanwhile, someone else is moving forward and progressing because they kept the focus on the craft!

Mike Dunn: Exactly. I remember a moment a while ago on social media that just made me laugh. There was a post on Facebook saying, “some so-called legends” (side note: when you see stuff like that, they are talking about us 90% of the time, us being The Chosen Few) Anyway…the post said, this so-called legend doesn’t have a passport and can’t travel out the county blah blah blah… so everyone starts posting theirs. “I got mine”! I got mine! I got mine! [LAUGHTER] Everyone knew they were talking about me. I just sat back and laughed because I was already in the process of handling that. I said to myself, I’m just gonna wait. I’ll take pictures when I’m out the country. I don’t have to address anything. My work will always speak for me.

Black Widow: I can show you better than I can tell you!

Mike Dunn: Listen… I’m a Bad Boy for life. Once you are a bad boy, you are a bad boy for life. What I mean is Bad Boy Records. Real Bad Boys always move in silence. That’s why I don’t react to anything or say anything. People are always gonna post stuff and say stuff. Folks say, “well why won’t he respond, it must be true”. NAH! I don’t get into any of that. I have too much to do. I’m working. When you have business, you have no time to worry about other people’s business.

Black Widow: What a Word!!! [LAUGHTER]

Mike Dunn: I’m so glad we are doing this interview. You are getting the realest interview I’ve done, and I’ve done a gazillion of them! [LAUGHTER]

"People who grind are trying to get it, people who work are trying to keep it."

That’s why you always see or hear me saying, let’s go to work. I got to keep it so I gotta go to work.

Black Widow: What does 2018 have in store for Mike Dunn?

Mike Dunn: Blackball Muzic! That’s what poppin in 2018!!! Of course, I’m going to be heavily involved with T’s Box but I’m also getting Blackball Muzic off the ground. Blackball will be a bit different, so I can still do what I do with Terry.

Black Widow: You guys have been friends for the longest. What makes this duo work so well together?

Mike Dunn: It’s funny, people say crazy stuff to me sometimes. Why you under Terry? Oh, you are Mike Dunn, blah blah… Let me tell you I’m a smart one! I’m not going to sit here and pump my chest up or let anyone else pump me up. I came to Terry and said put me back in the game because he was on. You know how Terry is. He wanted to do it but was hesitant. I had to prove myself. Folks were trying to get in my head, even some of the big guys. They don’t get it. You get more done with numbers. We work together like peanut butter and jelly. That’s my brother! This ain’t no new shit. We’ve been friends for years. If he needs me, it’s no hesitation and vice versa. No Question.

Black Widow: Friends for real! He respects and values your opinion.

Mike Dunn: Yeah but like I said, that’s my brother. That’s how the House N HD came about. I wanted to be a modern-day Masters at Work. They were my favorite duo in the 90s! Kenny and Louie were killing it! It was nothing they couldn’t touch. That’s what we want for the kids now.

Black Widow: So BlackBall Muzic, House N HD, T’sBox…

Mike Dunn: Man I got that "Fiyah" coming!!!

Black Widow: Yeah…like a Black Widow Project coming soon!

Mike Dunn: BLACK WIDOW!!! Ya Dig!

Black Widow: I’m ready! [Laughter] This was fun! Mike thank you so much for talking with me!

Mike Dunn: You know it!

I hope you enjoyed another great interview! Until Next Time,

See you on a dance floor!

Black Widow

You can find Mike Dunn at the following:

Facebook: @therealmikedunn

soul106.3radio.com

Twitter: @therealmikedunn

Instagram: @therealmikedunn

#mike dunn #chosen few djs #house n hd #ts box records #classic house #chicago house #acid house #jackin house #afro house #blackball muzic #chicago house scene #blkwidowsweb #Black Widow's Web

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riffrelevant · 7 years

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BRIAN ‘BUTCH’ BALICH

(By Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Lead Journalist/Writer, RiffRelevant.com)

I don’t even know where to begin. That is something you will rarely ever hear me utter let alone admit but yet, here I have. The reason I have is the subject of the following exchange that shall ensue below, singer Brian ‘Butch’ Balich. The man is the powerful voice of at least four current projects that I have immensely enjoyed and submersed myself in both recently and in the past.

See, Butch is the venerable vocalist and lyrical lamenter for Argus, Penance, Molasses Barge and Arduini-Balich. Now, if you are even just an amateur newbie in the world of power metal or doom music then surely you know at least one or two of those acts. If you are like me, a maniacal metalhead that’s neglected other aspects of normal life so you could obsess over underground music for nearly four decades…well then, suffice to say, you know Butch is “The Man” so to speak. As The Man, Butch is currently on an oh-so glorious ride upon the topside of this world as he participates in creating some of the most amazing music known to man.

Sure, you can say I am a fan, and have been since discovering his work with U.S. doom icons Penance in the late Nineties. Just his work on 3 of their official releases, “Proving Ground” (1999), “Alpha & Omega” (2001) and “Spiritualnatural” (2003), gives the guy some major street cred. By the way, it’s that middle album that will be the focal point of some discussion in a minute but allow me to finish this hype first, please.

From there, Butch’s involvement with the much-revered Argus is well documented on a string of official albums. The latest of which, “From Fields Of Fire“, was just released this week from Cruz Del Sur Music. You can expect to hear a lot more about it as it ignites in the journalism realm and then lands on the annual year-end Best Of…lists. It won’t end there for Butch though as I am convinced, and have said on the record, that I fully expect him to score a triple crown win when all is said and done. I say that because of the other 2017 releases that he’s involved with, the recently released, superb Molasses Barge self-titled album for Blackseed Records (review here) and the phenomenal collab with Fates Warning founder, Victor Arduini. The latter came under the moniker of Arduini-Balich and their “Dawn Of Ages” debut also via Cruz Del Sur Music earlier this year.

Did I tell you that I didn’t know where to begin? Now you have a little inkling as to why I said it, huh? Anyway, the crazy things is, I have never seen Butch Balich live in ANY of these projects but if all goes according to plan, that shall soon be remedied! On Saturday, September 29th, Butch will once again front Penance as the legends headline the inaugural Descendants Of Crom Festival in Pittsburgh, PA. But he and I will expound further upon that event as I now segue us into this thing we’re all gathered here for…

It is my great pleasure, and with my own personal, enthusiastic enjoyment to invite you to delve further inward (downward?) upon this page for The Riff Relevant Interview With Brian “Butch” Balich!

Pat Riot – Butch, you currently have quite a bit going on but let’s start with current events: This month, at the end of September, Penance will headline the Descendants Of Crom festival in Pittsburgh..what is the current status of Penance (active, inactive, semi-retired) as I know there has been a few festival appearances here and there? Are there any kind of “long-term” plans concerning the band (i.e. reactivate full time, record new material, tour, etc.)?

Who will comprise the roster of Penance live for the DOC appearance? I have “heard” this may be the Alpha & Omega era line up, possibly their first show as such in roughly 15 years or so?

PENANCE (Then)

Butch – Right now it’s 5 friends who missed jamming with each other and thought this gig would be a lot of fun. The last time Penance played was around 2013 – that was Mike, Terry, Rich Freund, Brian Goodbread and I. We’ve been talking about maybe doing a new album. I know Terry has material ready to go. Everyone seems to be up for it but we’ll play it by ear once this show is under our belts. It is Mike Smail, Terry Weston, Mary Bielich, Matt Tuite and me. The Alpha & Omega era line-up. It is the first time we’ll gig together since around 2002-2003.

Pat Riot – Is there a / any (particular) band set to play DOC that you yourself are personally excited about seeing..and why?

Butch – Valkyrie is the band I’m most looking forward to. They have been one of my favorite bands since I first heard them. GREAT live band – one of the best. And those guitar harmonies are godly !!! Plus they are really good dudes and it’ll be good to see them again.

Pat Riot – I only recently discovered Molasses Barge (the new LP is phenomenal by the way), what are the origins of that band? How has the overall reception of the new album been and what prompted the decision to release it through Blackseed?

This new Molasses Barge S/T CD comes with a bonus disc of cover tracks, ‘Covered In Molasses’..how did you all as a band select what songs to cover and what was the criteria (if any) for making the cut? (BTW – The BTO ‘Not Fragile” is so kickass!)

Butch – Molasses Barge was put together by Justin Gizzi and Wayne Massey to write and play doom and I was asked to join as vocalist. We went through a number of bassists until we solidified the line-up with Amy Bianco on bass and Kenny Houser on guitar, along with Justin. Kenny later left the band and we were joined by Dave Fresch and that’s where we sit now. Thank you so much for your compliments on the album – we’d been threatening to release one for years and I still have to pinch myself that it is out and that it turned out as well as it did. So far lots of good feedback on the album and on the covers disc we included with it.

We released through Blackseed because we trust Shy Kennedy and because of her devotion and tireless energy being involved in the scene here with her own projects (Horehound is awesome!) and her support for bands in town here. It’s a fun band – I really think we just enjoy playing with each other and even though this is sort of a side band for most of us it really does feel like home as well. I feel very lucky to play with these folks – I love them as musicians and as people.

Justin came in with a list of songs he thought would be cool, as well as songs we’d discussed over the years. It was a pretty pain-free decision making process. We just wanted to have some fun and so we were all game for whatever songs were decided on. I think the only one I hesitated on was “Love Child” by Deep Purple because it is just at the edge of my range and I was worried I’d shit the bed singing it. The whole disc came out great – I love the way “Hiding Mask” and “Sinister Purpose” came out. I know Justin says it his favorite recording of anything he’s ever done. I’m really happy we did it and that it made him happy too.

Pat Riot – People seem automatically inclined to label you a “Doom vocalist” time and time again. Personally, I believe you expand into places far beyond such a limiting scope…how would YOU describe your vocal abilities? Do you play any instruments besides, or outside of, singing?

And depending on how you answered that last query, how involved are you personally in the songwriting for these varied projects? Is there ever a point where you may have come up with a melody or vocal part originally intended for a certain band but then you’ve perhaps thought it would suit one of the other projects better?

Butch – As far as my voice I think my strengths lie in my power, sense of melody, and ability to take what limited range I have and utilize it to its fullest. I don’t consider myself just a doom vocalist because doom is just part of what I have done over the years. It’s nice to be respected in doom circles, believe me, and I love doom but I don’t see myself as limited to just that one niche. But, ultimately, I honestly don’t get too bogged down in wondering how I’m perceived. Yeah, I want people to like what I do but I learned a long time ago, from those who I look up to, to not to put so much stock in either criticism OR praise. Just do what you do…for yourself and if others dig it that’s a bonus.

I don’t play any instruments unfortunately. I tinkered with bass and guitar but never beyond that. I can do some powerchords and really simple bass lines but not even a garage band would want me LOL! I do have a guitar though and my goal for the next year is to start learning so I can get to the point where I can write songs or just play for my own enjoyment. It’s not something I could see myself doing live but I do want to try to learn and see where it goes. Some day my voice will conk out and when it does it’d be nice to have something to fall back on.

In Argus, I do all the vocal melodies and lyrics but I’m also involved in arrangements along with the rest of the band. Dave and Jay are the main writers but we all contribute ideas at rehearsal. It’s all very group-oriented at that point.

Justin pretty much writes everything for Molasses Barge including the lyrics and melodies, which is cool by me. He has a certain vision when he writes and it is nice to interpret his ideas rather than be as intricately involved in the writing. I will make tweaks based on my voice but generally he teaches me the melody, gives me the words and we’re off!

With Arduini-Balich…Victor wrote all the music and sent it to me. I did all the lyrics and he and I collaborated on melodies, or I did the melodies on my own. It was a different way of working as he’s in Connecticut and I’m in Pittsburgh and so a great deal of trust was involved on his part. He’d send finished music tracks and I’d write and record and often he was hearing the melodies for the first time when he received the final tracks. But Vic and I are on the same page with a lot of things so it worked very well.

Pat Riot – Assuming you write (most or all) the lyrics you sing….where do you cull lyrical inspiration from?

Butch – Personal life, the world around me, history, literature…. Sometimes just an emotion…. There are a lot of guys I look up to but whom I could never hope to come close to – Phil Lynott’s storytelling, Dio’s realms of fantasy washed through reality – Steve Harris’ historical lyrics always fascinated me. I like clever writers like Ian Gillan and Steven Tyler and then a guy like Dave Wyndorf who paints vivid paintings with his words. But for my writing, I kind of feel for the moods in the music first and then join that to words that fit that mood.

ARDUINI-BALICH

Pat Riot – You mentioned Arduini-Balich. How was the overall experience of working with Victor Arduini and did you have any inkling that Dawn Of Ages would be so well received ultimately? What are the chances of a sophomore album manifesting from that team-up?

Butch – I loved working with Victor. He inspired and pushed me to be a better singer. He was really easy to work with – very creative, open, and enthusiastic. It was one of the most positive experiences I’ve ever had. We worked hard but it was very gratifying. We knew we had something special with “Dawn Of Ages” and we’re both really happy that it reached people and spoke to them and that those who have taken the time to tackle the record seem to love it. It’s gotten great reviews and word of mouth from people is really positive. We’re very proud of the album. There WILL be a sophomore album. I think we’ll start talking seriously about it next year. And we’re still hoping to play a few select shows at some point.

Pat Riot – As far as your singing goes, who are / were some of your own biggest musical influences at any point and why do you believe that they impacted you in such a way?

Butch – Ronnie James Dio is my all time favorite – his range, power…. he had a masculinity to his voice that even when he sang high he never sounded thin or wimpy. His voice was deceptively high because he sang so powerfully – you’d think “I can sing that” and then realize “holy shit that’s up there”. “Rising” and “Heaven And Hell” being chapter and verse of amazing singing. Of course Halford, Dickinson, but also guys like a Paul Stanley who, with KISS, really made me want to do this. Steve Marriot, Paul Rodgers, Brad Delp, Robin Zander, John Arch, Frank DiMino of Angel…. Pete Steele was the first singer who made me want to hit LOWER notes. He was unbelievably underrated as a singer. Tom Jones. Marvin Gaye. James Brown. I am all over the map and find a lot to love and be inspired by in all kinds of vocalists for different reasons- range, power, rhythmic sense, melody, soulfulness…..

Pat Riot – You mention inspiration from Paul Stanley…during your youth, what was the catalyst event that set you upon the musical path i.e. a certain band, specific album, life event, etc.? (For me it was buying Kiss’ “Hotter Than Hell” in ’74 at age 5, ha!).

Butch – KISS was THE band that made me want to play music. As a kid of 5 in ’76, I revered the “Destroyer” 8-track I’d gotten from my Grandmother… and then “Rock And Roll Over“. I can remember listening to “I Want You” and my buddy and I howling with laughter over the stuttered “buh buh buh buh babe….”. Of course it was the image at first but I fell in love with their music and that was it for me. It launched me into music.

Pat Riot – Another band you’re part of, Argus, will release their 4th full-length studio album ‘From Fields Of Fire’ less than a month from now (Sept. 8). What can fans expect from this new album? (Interviewer Note: This interview was obviously done prior to the Argus record..which is out NOW! – Pat)

I know Argus played on the Aug. 16th date of the ‘Tour Of The Doomed’..how excited were you about that opportunity / line up and might there be any lengthier Argus touring plans in the future?

Butch – We are very proud of “From Fields Of Fire”. I think it’s the best overall album we’ve done. Heavy, melodic, moody, dark, but catchy too. It’s Argus through and through but we did try some new things to try to expand upon that sound. Songs like “Devils Of Your Time” and “No Right To Grieve” especially. We don’t want to repeat ourselves or tread water so we’re always going to see how we can change yet be true to the Argus that our friends know and love. Move forward but always remember and respect where you come from. So – it’s 7 full new songs and an intro and outro piece. Lyrically more personal and dark than we’ve ever been. We tried to do more vocal harmonies and of course the guitar harmonies weave throughout the album. I think if folks give it a few spins they will discover it grabs them more with each listen.

The show went well and it was great to see our friends in Beelzefuzz and Spillage and also to see Sheavy live (my first time) – they were really good and tried to cover most of their discography’s eras.

Pat Riot – As an outsider (me) looking in so to speak, Pittsburgh appears to have a tightly knit, self-supportive scene, very community-oriented or where things appear to be like one big family. If I’m not off-base with this perception and you agree, what would you attribute this to?

Butch – It is a pretty cool scene and I wish I could get out more because there are some really talented people here and there’s a lot of color to the scene…. it’s not just a homogenous heap. From metal to punk to experimental stuff….Pittsburgh is kind of a “big” small town really so you’ll run into each other a lot and a lot of us are in multiple bands. So it makes for a cool community!

Pat Riot – Juggling 4 bands (or 3 and a collaborative project?) as you do or are at this time, what non-musical, if any, things do you enjoy or like doing in your private life i.e. hobbies, travels, etc.?

Butch – Time with my kids is very important to me. Any time I get with them is important. I like to read a lot – I’ll read fantasy, musician bios are big with me… anything that seems interesting. I also love comic books but that’s an expensive hobby. I dig movies and some tv – Walking Dead, Better Call Saul …. big Steelers fan. Split season tickets with my ex-wife.

Pat Riot – Speaking of collaborations and such, if you could work with one person from the world of music history, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Butch – I would love to work with Tony Iommi. He’s THE riff master and his work has been so important to me. I would give my left nut just to do one song with him. (Now THAT is a powerful desire and ever more powerful commitment to making it happen! 🙂 – Pat)

Pat Riot – I’m going to kind of put you on the spot here, Butch so I apologize in advance, ha…If I am an average John Q. music fan and run across this interview and have never heard of Brian ‘Butch Balich, where or what would be your suggestion for me as a starting point? Not disrespecting any band over another of course, but which of your musical endeavors would you suggest that person begin with? What specific release and why so?

Butch – I’d start with ARGUS “From Fields Of Fire” and work backwards. This album and “Dawn Of Ages” has me at the best I’ve ever been and at my most diverse. I really love most of the work I’ve done over the years and am ashamed of nothing but I think where I am now is pretty damn good.

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Pat Riot – Hypothetically speaking and depending on the Argus release, you stand a chance to theoretically place on 2017’s annual year-end round ups aka ‘Best Albums Of…’ lists anywhere from 1 to 3 times (all at once) due to the remarkability of the albums and output you have been part of this year…any thoughts on that either way?

Butch – I honestly try not to get too wrapped up in that but it’s a pretty cool thought that I am on 3 albums this year and they are all really good. And that’s a testament to the musicians I am honored to be in bands with. I am very, very lucky that musicians of their caliber chose me to work with them.

Pat Riot – Butch, I have a tradition of closing my interviews with allowing the subject to have the last word so anything you would like to say, state, share, rant about or whatever, this is your shot, sir…have at it:

Butch – Thanks so much for taking the time to put this interview together, Patrick. I really appreciate being able to talk to you for Riff Relevant. I look forward to meeting you at the Descendants Of Crom fest. I hope anyone reading this will check out the fest – it promises to be a great event. See you all soon!

Indeed it does! Now, that’s powerful stuff, my friends and I hope you made it to this ending point. Like I said, I’m a big fan of Butch’s so I was damn sure determined to touch all the bases that I myself was curious of and interested in. I hope you were also and I can’t wait to see him perform live and meet too.

I want to thank singer supreme, my guest Brian “Butch” Balich, for taking the time, energy and effort to answer my myriad queries. I want to thank Descendants Of Crom organizer, Horehound vocalist and wearer of a dozen other hats, one of which is my friend, Shy Kennedy for facilitating this exchange and with that…make sure to get to Descendants Of Crom!

You can see a host of kick-ass bands including Butch’s own, Penance as well hob-knob with myself and Riff Relevant‘s own Leanne Ridgeway and David Lamay, among many others and we will hopefully see you there!

Descendants of Crom Festival – Poster by Blackseed Design

Sonic Fire For The Ages: The Riff Relevant Interview With Brian ‘Butch’ Balich Of Argus, Penance, Etc. Fame (By Pat 'Riot' Whitaker, Lead Journalist/Writer, RiffRelevant.com) I don't even know where to begin. That is something you will rarely ever hear me utter let alone admit but yet, here I have.

#Arduini-Balich #Argus #Blackseed Records #Brian &039;Butch&039; Balich #Cruz Del Sur Music #Descendants Of Crom #Festival #Molasses Barge #Penance #Pittsburgh #Victor Arduini #Vocalist

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designandanythingelse · 7 years

Text

My Windows 10 Experiment : Perspective From a Mac User.

In this thread, I will describe my experiment with Windows 10 as a Mac user.

I always owned Macbooks (white Macbook then Macbook Air then Macbook Pro) for college and never thought about buying a PC because that’s what I was used to and because of all the shit you hear about Windows. And also because my parents helped me to pay for those computers and they always suggested Macs.

Now I’m out of college. I don’t need a laptop anymore so I’m looking for alternatives to Macs because those are expensive when you buy them with your own money. I’m always a “good bang for the buck” kinda guy so I’m looking for the best value, according to my use case. I’m also not pleased with the butterfly keyboard and lack of legacy ports. In January, I purchased a 2016 unit and tried to get used to it for 2 weeks writing essays on it but ended returning it because I just despised the typing experience. I like travel on my keyboards and for me, good design is adapted to the end used, not the other way. Despite what some people say around this subreddit, I think a keyboard has to be adapted to me, I don’t have to get “used” to it. I always loved Apple keyboard and enjoy typing on my 2015.

So I recently bought a used (Craigslist) Intel NUC with an i7, 8gb RAM and 256 SSD M.2 drive for 500$ Canadian so about 395$ USD. It runs Windows 10 Pro. Usually, you have to buy the NUC, Ram, SSD and OS but since it was pre-owned, the guy already assembled it. Here is the link for the unit I own : http://ift.tt/2fQ8Jqa

For the geeks, it’s a 5th Generation Intel Core i7-5557U processor, so a little bit faster than the i5 in my 2015 Macbook Pro.

I’ve been using this (tiny) computer for about 2 weeks now and I’m very surprised at how good it is for my workflow. I’m mostly doing Microsoft Office stuff and browsing with Chrome. No games, and I would be disappointed because it has integrated graphics anyway. I downloaded all my files from the cloud with Google Drive, installed Microsoft Office 365, Spotify, Utorrent, VLC, etc. I must confess I’m very pleased because I had zero blue screen, driver issue or annoying software update. It was basically plug and play with my mouse, display, keyboard and printer. It boots quicker than my 2015 Macbook Pro and is even a little bit snappier for everyday work. I’m not yet used to the shortcuts so it may take some time before I’m as quick as on the Mac but I’m sure I’ll get used to it.

My guess is most bugs on Windows 10 are now ironed because the OS is already 2 years old. Also, since I’m using an SSD, it’s super quick and most people probably still use HHD so that slows their computer.

Pros • Upgradable: up to 32gb or RAM and 2Tb SSD • Also cheap to upgrade… get your SSD and RAM on Amazon for much less than Apple’s BTO unit • It’s super tiny, can carry it easily • Work very well with my 32 Inches BenQ monitor • Boots in 10 secs. • Way cheaper than a Mac Mini

Cons • Meh UI: While it’s functional, I must confess Windows 10 isn’t as beautiful as macOS. I don’t care much honestly, but for those who are very attached to the prettiness of macOS, it may be a bummer. I also couldn’t find nice Calendar and Email apps so I just use the Windows 10 apps instead. They are not pretty, I prefer Spark and Fantastical 2 (or even macOS’ own email and calendar) but they work OK so for the moment I stick to them. • No iMessage app. Most of my friends are also on Facebook so I just switched to Facebook Messenger. It works alright. I’m not going to pay a premium for a proprietary messaging app. Not an issue for me. • Noise: The computer isn’t loud per se, but I can certainly hear the fan even on idle. It may be because mine is an i7 and it runs a little bit hotter than an i3 or i5. I’ve heard it’s normal to hear the fans purring on the background on Windows PCs. Mac users who don’t use PCs don’t realize that but their computers are dead silent when they aren’t under load. • Choosing a PC can be very exhausting. There is SOOO much choice! How do you know what to pick? I overcame this problem by tracking my computer usage with a small App I downloaded on my Mac (Usage is the name of the App). After a month of tracking, I realized I was spending my time between Microsoft Office, Mail, Chrome. I also used Lightroom but very rarely (2 times a month, to edit some images for Wordpress). So I realized I didn’t need horsepower of anything fancy, certainly not a quadcore or a fancy graphics card. I wanted a very small form factor, cheap system, upgradable and SSD.

I realize it’s something weird because when you spend so much time on an OS, you get used and attached to it. People still like to call themselves a “Mac guy” or “PC guy”. I like to say OS are tools and don’t care much about labeling myself to my operating system. So overall, I’m a happy camper with my new computer. For my use case, it does all I need it to do. And with the SSD in it, it will probably not slow down over time like Windows PCs can do after a couple of years. I can say that Windows 10 is NOT the piece of shit operating system people like to describe on Apple forums all around the web. I enjoy the freedom of not being “trapped” in the Apple ecosystem. I use Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos so I don’t loose much. Never really liked iCloud. I still have my 2015 Macbook Pro but didn’t use it since I set up this computer. It’s still worth about 1800 CND on Craigslist… and to be honest, I’m thinking about selling it and get a cheap Chromebook for browsing on the couch and call it a day.

I’m aware that all this is very recent and I didn’t test it extensively yet. If you guys like the thread, I intend to do a follow up or “Part II” in a month or two to report my experience and if I still feel the same about Windows 10.

TLDR : Mac user all my life, decided to try the “dark side” and see how was Windows 10. I’m very pleased to say the least and may even sell my 2015 MBP.

Cheers!

http://ift.tt/2iaeeAE

#design #My Windows 10 Experiment : Perspective From a Mac User.

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spynotebook · 7 years

Link

It’s the $89 price tag that makes the Pinebook Linux laptop such a tempting purchase

But few real-world reviews exist for this cheap and cheerful device — until now.

Well, sort of.

Pine64, the company behind the 64-bit ARM-based Pinebook laptop, has begun to ship devices on a buy-to-order (BTO) basis. Some of these early units have landed in the hands of fans and websites.

But what’s the performance like?

Few people expect the Pinebook to be deliver anything other than the sum of its parts: cheap, basic computing built around a capable (but not exceptional) maker board, the Pine A64.

Spanish website Muy Computer got some hands-on time with the $99 14-inch unit. Their piece speaks nothing to the actual performance of the device but offers a solid recap of the specs and a few impressions on the overall build quality (spoiler: better than expected).

But it’s a post on the Pine64 forum that helps sets expectations.

“I think that it’s fair to say you are getting a lot for the asking price,” forum member Luke writes in a review.

“If you are looking for a device in a convenient laptop form-factor that you wish to tinker with, then I feel it is safe to say the Pinebook is the right device for you – in particular if you are a developer or tinkerer who is willing to document, share and give back to the community.This is also especially true for those of you who wish to run Linux on the device, since Linux is by-and-large a community undertaking,”

“I don’t wish to discourage anyone from getting a Pinebook, as it is a good piece of hardware, but if you are looking for a device to replace for your current work or school laptop then perhaps it’s wise to look elsewhere.”

Better Looking than Before

Aesthetically the Pinebook is said to have had a few cosmetic tweaks since development prototypes surfaced online last year. The clamshell casing is now made from a more robust plastic, and is thinner in all the places where it matters, like the screen bezel. The device is also neater looking inside as well as out.

Another minor change that will please Linux fans: the final production unit apparently does not ship with a Windows key. I know may of you spotlighted the inclusion of one on a device that can’t run Windows.

Size aside, both the 11.6-inch model and the 14-inch Pinebook use the same TN display (both have a 1366 x 768 resolution). They also share the same hardware inside too, being composed of a quad-core 64-bit ARM Allwinner SoC, Mali-400MP2 graphics, 2GB RAM and 16GB of (user-replaceable) eMMC storage.

Battery life is estimated at around 6 hours of continuous use.

OS wise Android 7.1, BSP Linux and mainline Linux builds are available, but only BSP Linux will ship on the production units according to the above Pine64 forum post.

Demand for the Pinebook seems to have been far greater than the company was expecting too. The news leaking early likely contributed to this. An The BTO queue is said to be “10 months long.”

Somewhat amusingly shipping prices for the laptop (hitherto unknown) can cost as much as ~1/3 of the product price depending on your distance from Hong Kong, where they ship from.

No warranty (!) is offered on the Pinebook outside of a 30 day money back guarantee.

Thanks Koi

#IFTTT #Feedly

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baburaja97-blog · 7 years

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New Post has been published on Vin Zite

New Post has been published on https://vinzite.com/macbook-pro-2011-15-inch-review/

Macbook Pro 2011 15 Inch Review

The rumor mill ran wild following the highly anticipated MacBook pro refresh. Liquid metal, standard SSDs, higher-res, updated design were among the false reports. What has changed however are the internals? Questions like: is this model worth upgrading to, or should I wait for the new model, will be answered in this article. Let’s start with the changes.

Hardware

The model under the microscope is the high-end 15″ model, which contains a 2.2ghz Sandy Bride quad-core i7 processor, 4gb ram and a 6750m from AMD. That’s a big upgrade from the previous generation. I’ve also opted for the high-res screen, which is a given in my (mac!)book. *pun intended*

Apart from the high-end 15″ Macbook pro, Apple also offers two 13″ models and a single 17″ machine. Across the board, each model enjoys a faster processor, faster ram, and thunderbolt.

The latter is very interesting and a first for any laptop on the market! I’m actually not going into too much detail about it but basically, it’s Intel’s answer to USB. The connection is capable of transferring video, audio, and data, all simultaneously at very high speeds. That means that a DVD movie will transfer to external storage in about 6 seconds once supported hardware comes out.

When deciding between models realize that the 13″ models all share an Intel HD 3000 graphics as a sole provider. This is a source of frustration for gamers out there because the chip is pretty weak for modern games. The smaller models also use the gaps between the keys as speaker holes and lack a subwoofer; expect a slightly more tin sound.

The 17″ model has a 1920×1200 display and similar specs to the 15″ Macbook pro. This is both a good and bad thing. The good thing is that you’ll have slightly more screen real estate but gaming on the native resolution will definitely struggle.

Body

As noted Apple has retained its famous unibody design for this generation of Macbooks. I don’t consider this a bad thing. Built from a single piece of aluminum, this laptop is very scratch resistant and clean looking. My previous Macbook Pro (same design) definitely withstood the test of time. (not a single scratch!)

In my view, this is the best-looking laptop apart from the Macbook Air. Its design is very symmetrical. Everything is exactly where you’d expect it to be. Like how the speaker holes match the vertical space used by the keyboard keys. The width of the hinge also perfectly matches the horizontal keyboard space. Using a combination of black and silver, Apple managed to create something very aesthetically pleasing. However, I’d have loved to see some Macbook Air elements take over. The battery indicator for one seems unnecessary to me and the DVD super drive is bound to disappear. Guess we can expect those changes in a redesign later on.

Still, the Macbook Pro 2011 is the sturdiest and best-looking laptops out there, a real winner!

Display

The 15″ model comes standard with a resolution of 1440×900. This can be upgraded to 1680×1050, something everyone should do. Apple uses a high-end TN display, so still no IPS unfortunately.

The viewing angles are decent. It’s possible to read the text and distinguish details at any angle. However, inevitably, the screen washes out from the sides, especially grays become yellowish; notice the app store panel lines. I also noticed that the screen has a weak-spot for lower and upper angles. Even at a small degree colors started to fade. This is why we want IPS panels, they’re just noticeably better at this. Still, the MacBook Pro has one of the better screens out there. Colors really pop and the pixel density feels just right. People looking for ultra-realistic color reproductions will have to look at production screens, what else is new?

For the first time ever Apple managed to jam an HD facetime camera into the glossy display. This is a logical step in the evolution of video calling between Apple devices. To test this I called my laptop using the iPhone 4 and configured the facetime app.

Calling is easy and direct. Simply click a phone number or e-mail in your contacts and the system will attempt to set up a facetime call. This process can sometimes take a little longer depending on the network, but after the initial process, it’s usually a smooth ride. The image is crisp and pleasing, but without being overwhelming. The image is still soft, and comparable to Logitech solutions at best. Still for such a small camera that’s a solid achievement.

Benchmarks

Now it’s time to put the internals to the test. This is Apple’s fastest notebook offering so my expectations were sky high. The first thing I wanted to have a look at is the battery. Apple advertises 7 hours of battery for every Macbook Pro model it offers. That’s down from 8-10 hours for the previous generation. Most of this is probably due to the faster processor and a new way of testing that supposedly better represents real world results.

I fully charged the laptop and left the settings at default. The brightness sensor was turned on for more realistic results. During the test, I used everyday apps like Microsoft words and Safari. To mix things up some light 3D work was thrown into the mix.

Very decent results. It’s still not at the point of an entire workday but does very well especially considering it has a thirsty quad-core working at all time. Macbook Air is king in the battery department.

Geekbench

This popular mac-benchmarking tool is often used as a standard to calculate hardware speed. Unfortunately, the free version only runs in 32bit, so the ultimate speed should be a bit faster even. Mind you: the other macs also ran in 32bit mode.

So for the people still in doubt whether this speed bump is considerable; here’s your answer. It’s almost twice as fast!

Xbench

This free benchmarking tool is a great way to get a clear picture of the machine. Not only does it give a score, it also compares the strength and weaknesses of each mac. To prevent incidental scores, this test was run three times and averaged out the following score.

The MacBook Pro outperformed its predecessor easily. The CPU score increase may not look like much, but the i7 was already a screamer and to make a 30 point jump over that is a lot. Also considering that the dual core → i7 gap is equally large.

Application test

The time it takes to launch an app is essential for a proper user experience. The Air does really well at this so I used it as the benchmark. The Macbook Pro comes with a new generation of 750gb 5400rpm drives. The extra data density and latest Seagate technologies should give it the edge over previous Pro models. But how close can it get to its SSD speedy thinner sister?

Both machines woke from a cold boot when they put down these scores. It looks like the Macbook Air is 2-3x faster. Now some smaller applications:

Macbook Air:

iTunes: 2 sec

iPhoto ’11: 4 sec

Words ’11: 4 sec (8 sec in template)

Macbook pro:

iTunes: 4 sec

iPhoto ’11: 9 sec

Words ’11: 7 sec (17 sec in template)

Quite a difference and it’s noticeable. Having used both machines sometimes the Pro feels slower. I should note that once applications have been opened, speeds do improve a lot. Opening up Photoshop for a second time only takes 4 seconds. But from a cold boot, the Air conquers all. Luckily users are free to upgrade the RAM and Storage later on as SSD prices continue to drop. I can’t wait!

700mb video conversion

Now this one is a biggie. Let’s see how Intel’s Sandy Bridge fairs in a pure processor intensive task; converting a movie to the iPhone format. To test this I installed a video converter from iSkysoft and loaded up a 700mb.avi movie. Settings were left at default and the target file was set to “iPhone 4, mp4”, with 640×480 pixels.

Now mind you the Macbook Air has a 1.86ghz dual core processor compared to the Sandy Bridge quad core i7 2.2ghz from the Pro model. That’s two generations behind and lacking two extra cores; it shows. This is the strength of the current MacBook Pro generation; it really is a portable workhorse. It should also be shared that the Macbook Pro’s processor kept a 20 ~ 25% margin at all time, whereas the Air kept pushing its limits.

Gaming

This particular model comes equipped with a Radeon 6750m 1gb GPU. That’s up from the Nvidia 330m 512mb present in previous Macbooks. Now it’s time to see how much difference a year makes. Games were either tested in Mac natively or under Bootcamp (windows 7, 64bit).

Crysis

Released in 2007, Crytek had set the bar for hardware for many years now. And still, new products struggle to run the game at anything beyond 1920×1080 res. I first attempted a run at 1024x 768 pixels, comparing it to last year’s outing.

That’s pretty good and I actually got a little daring. So I upped the resolution to 1670×1050 (native, BTO), and ran the same tests.

Using the native resolution some gamers may want to divert to medium settings. Still, for a laptop, these are really decent scores!

Company of heroes

Games like COH have turned out to be real classics. Playing skirmish is still a blast and because the game is from 2007, high settings should be on the cards. I turned every dial to maximum and held my breath.

For no apparent reason, Company of Heroes can be run at full and the game still looks terrific. The minimum was 1.8fps, but upon further investigation, this only happened once for a split second. So seemingly the system was doing something in the background which caused some momentary instability.

F1 2010

Codemasters’ latest racer. I used the latest 1.01 patch (DX11) and the internal benchmarking tool, which includes a full grid lap around the Silverstone circuit. Remember that DX11 settings are only used in the ultra range.

The game performance is really good for a midsized laptop. It should be said though that the fan speed went pretty wild during some of the peak moments. In fact, sometimes they sometimes hit 2500+rpm for seemingly no reason. Here are the temp and decibels produced, according to internal readings and an iPhone decibel app.

Temps, fans, noise

To get a good reading I played Civilization 5 (mac native, though lazy port) for a few hours and kept steady track of the DB throughout. The ambient was dead silent apart from some occasional cars/talks etc. I cut those out and calculated the average.

38db – 46.3db. With an average of 42.6db. This may or may not ring any bells, but in human language; the fans were audible but stayed in check. They would be too loud for a dramatic scene in a movie, but gameplay wise it’s fine.

The fans didn’t start kicking in until about 20 minutes into the game, after which they remained steady at about 2700rpm each. Temps clocked at the following:

Intel CPU: 67 degrees Celsius (idle: 46) | or 153 Fahrenheit (idle: 115)

AMD GPU: 65 degrees Celsius (idle: 45) | or 149 Fahrenheit (idle: 113)

This again may or may not tell a lot but in any case, the Macbook wasn’t complaining and the case felt warm at best. Note though that it’s early spring now and things could be different mid-June. But from experience, I think everything’s just fine.

Conclusions

The Macbook Pro 2011 is a great upgrade over the previous models. Most changes are internal and it shows. The speed increase is pretty dramatic, making this the first real portable “Mac pro”. It comes at a price, though. The fantastic unibody design sometimes struggles to keep the hardware at bay. It should also be noted that they’re still very expensive and that users with shallow pockets could be forced into using Intel graphics. Not a great thing for a $1200+ laptop. This particular model, however, is as good as it gets; despite, in Apple world, now looking like the run of the mill.

Now to answer your questions. For me 2010 Macbook pro owners shouldn’t feel rushed to upgrade, in fact, 13-inch gamers shouldn’t at all. And yeah you could wait for a redesign, it’s always possible. But deciding to wait at the beginning of a product cycle seems like a silly thing to me. It’s like saying: yeah I’ll wait for the next model ‘cuz it will have everything I could wish for. The thing is; that may or may not be the case but consider this: the model after that will be even better. So buy it now (just launched) if you want/need it.

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designandanythingelse · 7 years

Text

My Windows 10 Experiment. From a Mac user.

Disclaimer : English isn’t my first language, so please don’t focus too much on my mistakes and mostly on the message. 😊

In this thread, I will describe my experiment with Windows 10 as a Mac user.

About me : I’m 31 years old and have been using a Mac for pretty much all my life. Once, my dad bought a Windows PC so my brother and I could play Baldur’s Gate and Unreal Tournament. It worked for a while but didn’t last because we caught some viruses and it was shit to keep up with the drivers. I don’t remember what OS it was but think something like XP or 98. Finally my father put the PC in the trash and bought an iMac instead. I always owned Macbooks (white Macbook then Macbook Air then Macbook Pro) for college and never thought about buying a PC because that’s what I was used to and because of all the shit you hear about Windows. And also because my parents helped me to pay for those computers and they always suggested Macs.

It’s a 5th Generation Intel Core i7-5557U processor, so a little bit faster than the i5 in my 2015 Macbook Pro.

TLDR : Mac user all my life, decided to try the “dark side” and see how was Windows 10. I’m very pleased to say the least and may even sell my 2015 MBP.

Cheers!

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#design #My Windows 10 Experiment. From a Mac user.

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