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How do I order food?! and other good things to know if youre visiting Japan this summer for the first time since before the start of the pandemic.

With Japan preparing to greatly increase the number of international tourists and relax certain immigration procedures on June 10, there are likely to be many first-time visitors to the country finally able to fulfill their pre-pandemic travel plans. At the same time, even frequent travelers to the country will likely be stepping foot inside the borders for the first time in years. In my case, Im part of the latter group but actually arrived three weeks ago on a work-related family visa and will be in Tokyo for the duration of the summer.

Its been five years since I last visited Japan in 2017 (my March 2020 plans to visit were derailed), nine years since I worked at a Japanese junior high school, and 12 years since I studied abroad in Tokyo. Apart from the slight shock that comes from living in a small, rural town in the U.S. and suddenly finding myself in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, Ive often found myself thinking Huh? Was it always like this? on multiple occasions over the past few weeks. Im not just referring to things that can be expected to change as time goes by, like stations being remodeled, the sales tax now being systematically noted in prices, or stores opening and closing (though seriously, what do you mean theres a Pokmon Center Tokyo DX AND a Pokmon Center Mega now?!), but more like different ways of doing things. The following is a short list of these personal takes on little things about daily life that feel different to me since my last visit.

By the way, the permanent Pokmon Caf is also new since five years ago!

Disclaimer: These reflections are entirely mine and mine alone. It could be that my memory stinks, or that I was just oblivious to certain things in the past and am now noticing them all the time (the frequency illusion). It could also be the fact that my Japan lens is more focused on the happenings of the northeastern Tohoku region, which is where Ive spent the duration of my time living and working in the country. In any case, I hope readers both outside of the country and within can find common ground with me on at least one of these items.

1. Hand sanitizer is EVERYWHERE

Im sure this is old news to anyone whos lived in Japan throughout the pandemic, but alcohol-based hand sanitizer stations are everywhere in Tokyo. Normally this kind of mundane observation wouldnt be interesting at all if not for the fact that they are truly EVERYWHERE here.

Five years ago, hand sanitizers were pretty much limited to supermarket entrances if anywhere, but now you cant go more than a few steps in a public space without spotting one. The entrance to every single store Ive been to has a sanitizer, often with a convenient foot pedal or automatic sensor so you dont have to touch the nozzle.

Foot pedal style of sanitizer station

Its also good to note that at certain stores, especially restaurants, staff will direct you to use sanitizer before they guide you inside, or may even spray it on your open palms using a squirt bottle.

Automatic sensor kind

When I was last in Japan five years ago, I remember one of my Japanese friends commenting on how American it was of me to whip out my little bottle of hand sanitizer from my purse as it was uncommon to use it in Japan back then. Now I dont even think twice about using it when I get on and off the train. As a further note, pandemic protection is such a concern in Japan that staff may possibly scan your temperature or ask you to stand in front of a thermal camera on rare occasions as well, as I had to do the other day while visiting a university class. Just be prepared to follow any guidelines about precautionary health measures that you may be directed to take in public spaces.

2. I can get takeout from pretty much anywhere now?!

Another thing which has caused me to do a double take on several occasions is seeing takeout menus and posters for takeout food plastered everywhere. I dont mean just at places designed for takeout, like those selling bento or drinks, but virtually all types of restaurants offer it now, too. Oftentimes a menu posted outside of the entrance of a restaurant will even note in English something like Takeout OK or indicate the specific dishes that can be ordered to go.

A sign outside of a small, neighborhood caf

Im guessing its directly the result of the pandemic, but to me this is a major shift from five years ago, when most cafes and sit-down restaurants in Tokyo never gave the option for food to-go.

A takeout sign spotted in Odaiba. This one also indicates that online ordering is possible.

Along these same lines, Ive seen many more Uber Eats and other food delivery bikers than I previously recall seeing as well. Im super curiouswill the next big change in Japans restaurant scene five years from now be the ability to take home leftovers?

3. QR codes to order food

Speaking of food, boy was I surprised the first time I sat down at a local restaurant for lunch, only to then be directed by the server to order my food through a QR code taped to the table. Huh? Maybe Ive been living under a rock all these years, and Ive since heard that this system is also being used in some countries like Australia and particularly at bars in the U.S. largely due to the pandemic,but this one was new to me. It seems to be a fairly common practice (but not the norm) here because Ive now encountered it at several eateries in Japan.

A meal by QR code within Shinagawa Station

While it seems pretty split as to whether an English version of the online ordering menu is available at any particular restaurant, they all seem to display good photos of the dishes.

Similarly, some fast food chains like Sukiya seem to have done away with ticket vending machines at a lot of branches and now offer multilingual tablets for ordering at each table.

In a way, the QR system makes me relieved because I dont have to engage in yelling sumimasen across the room to call a server over when Im ready to order something (other foreigner friends and I used to play janken to determine who got to do that dreaded task). On the other hand, I can see how this might create a slight dilemma for international travelers who dont have a smartphone, pocket wi-fi, or international data plan during their stay in Japan. If all else fails, ordering the analog way is still an option.

4. The Land of Point Cards has become the Land of Point Apps

Japan has always been the Land of Point Cards, much to my delight. After all, if I repeatedly pour my yen into a particular store, why wouldnt I like to be rewarded with an occasional incentive (Im looking pointedly at you, Book-OffIve probably spent a years worth of my salary at you over my lifetime). However, something new and unexpected now greets me at the register of almost every retail location I visitthe Point App, as Im thinking of dubbing it.

It happened the first morning I ventured out to order an iced coffee. Do you have our point card? the staff asked, as is standard practice. When I replied that no, I didnt, but would like to get one, she handed me a small document with instructions on how to download their point app. This didnt appear to pose an issue until later when I tried to download the app on my Android phone, only to be told that this app isnt available in your countrys Google Play Store. Darn, but oh well. It didnt bother me at first, but after running into the same issue at every new store I went to, it got to be more and more frustrating.

Now, I try asking if its possible to get a good old-fashioned paper card. Ive had about 50-50 successat some stores, they simply shake their heads and say they dont offer them anymore.

A fraction of my Japanese point card and members card collection, both old and new

Speaking of barcode wizardry, when buying my new Spy x Family t-shirt at Uniqlo the other day, I discovered this new setup. You simply place your bag of items on the right and the system can scan them all at onceeven over a dozen items. Wild!

5. Gates on train platforms

The last observation on my list today is that my first time riding a train in Tokyo again, it immediately struck me that many more JR lines now have automated gates on their platforms that only open when a train has arrived and come to a full stop. I vaguely recall this being the case at a number of particularly busy stations during my last visit (and certainly not where I had lived in the north at all), but now these gates seem much more common.According to official sources, the number of stations with gates in the Tokyo metropolitan area has rapidly increased since 2010, and records show that as of February 2022, 28 out of 30 stations on the popular Yamanote Line have gates. Furthermore, East Japan Rail announced in 2018 that its goal is to install gates at 330 train stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area by 2032, so they really are becoming more commonplace.Theyre certainly a welcome development to prevent all kinds of accidents and other unfortunate euphemistic-sounding delay notices that you might encounter around the city.

The gates on a JR Yamanote Line platform

Despite all of these little differences that Ive observed for myself, Ive found an equal number of things about daily life in Japan to be comfortingly familiar. Certain store jingles are still exactly the same (If youre selling books, its Book-Off ). I still want to bring ALL of the cute stationery at Loft home with me. Starbucks Japans limited-time seasonal drinks are still delicious. French fry portions are still way too small for my potato-loving comfort (unfortunately I missed Freshness Burgers 25 percent portion increase for free earlier this year). My 12-year old Suica transportation card still works like a charm. Japanese people are still pros at courteously lining up for anything. Elementary school students still walk themselves to and from school every day. I can still pass through a city block only to discover a tranquil Shinto shrine sandwiched between two high-rises. It makes me think, Oh yes, this is Japanand that will never change.

Reference: Reports for the FutureAbout Railway and InfrastructureAll images SoraNews24 Want to hear about SoraNews24s latest articles as soon as theyre published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

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How life in Tokyo has changed from five years ago: Five personal takes from our reporter - SoraNews24

Fish Producers from across the island have called for a fair share of the rights to fish in the waters of our 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Other nations catch about 250m worth of fish a year in our waters almost twice as much as the Irish fleet catches, says IFPO chief executive, Aodh ODonnell.

The Carrick seafood producer says the quotas allocated by the EU to the Irish fishing fleet amount to a paltry 18% of the volume of fish in our 200-mile Zone every year. Other nations take the balance of the fish, but bizarrely some EU States are unable to catch their annual quota allocations in this EU zone.

So, we are calling on the EU to at the very least enable reallocation of annual uncaught quotas in Irelands EEZ to Irish vessels, to give us a more equitable share.

The IFPO statement follows a series of meetings in Brussels last week, arranged and hosted by SF MEP, Chris McManus. The meetings were attended by the IFPO, alongside other fishing organisations, such as Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation, the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association, the Irish Fishing & Seafood Alliance, Foyle Fishermens Cooperative, and the Galway & Aran Fishermens Cooperative.

Irish Fish Producers meet with Director General of the European Commissions Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG Mare).

The fishing organisations presented a united front, engaging with the EU marine and fisheries officials at the highest levels, says ODonnell. We met the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament (Pech) and the Director General of the European Commissions Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG Mare).

Mr ODonnell says the team outlined ways of allocating the uncaught quotas of other EU states for species such as langoustines and monkfish, to Ireland. We support calls for a sensible mechanism for an equitable redistribution of all the annual uncaught EU fish quota in EU waters. We acknowledge that any such redistribution would take account of the quota rights of each of these member states.

At present, non-EU fishing vessels can fish large volumes of pelagic fish on Irelands west coast, based on annual access agreements negotiated to benefit other EU States. At the same time, the Irish fleet finds itself tied up at port, hindered from catching these same fish by low quotas. This needs to be addressed in a meaningful way so that our share of the important catch is more equitable. `

Irish fishing industry representatives and Sinn Fin delegations outside the Parliament Building

The delegation said the quotas transferred to the UK under BrexitsTrade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) were inequitable. In particular, Irish fishing vessels were excluded from traditional fishing grounds in the waters around Rockall. So, we made the case that quotas needed to be adjusted to rebalance long term losses and to restore access to these areas.

He says fishing organisations are united in a call for an urgent review of how the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is implemented. In particular, we want changes in how the annual quota of fish is allocated to the Irish fishing fleet and to rebalance the significant Brexit losses. We also believe allocations should be based on having greater rights to fish in our own Zones . This would be more democratic, and reduce the carbon footprint of EU fishing vessels, as they would travel shorter distances. It would also strengthen the economic and social linkage between those catching the fish and their coastal communities.

The IFPO say its also time now to examine diversification opportunities and allocate a quota for Atlantic bluefin tuna. Its proven to be in abundance and available on the West Coast within the Irish EEZ and could be worth 150 million annually in revenues to the Irish fishing and Tourism Sectors. This initiative could also impact favourably on the carbon footprint in terms of reducing long transit routes of distant water fleets to these waters from countries such as Japan, large vessels that travel halfway around the globe to harvest this high valued tuna fishery.

The fishing industry delegation to Brussels was also supported by key fishermen stakeholders from Greencastle, Galway and Clogherhead with first hand contributions to the process. It was also attended by Oliver Mc Bride of The Fishing Daily

The Sinn Fein delegation was arranged and led by MEP Chris MacManus and TD Padraig MacLochainn, and supported by TDs Rose Conway Walsh, Johnny Mythen & Pa Daly. The SF team also included Cllr Tom Cunningham, Clogherhead and Cllr Conor Mc Guinness, West Waterford as well as area representatives Clare O Callaghan Cork SW, and Louis O Hara Galway East.

Mr Colm O Silleabhin, Irish Permanent Representative and EU Marine attach, also attended some meetings.

The fishing industry delegation also met several Irish MEPS including Fine Gaels Colum Markey, a member of the fisheries committee, who has previously hosted a number of fishing industry meetings in Ireland and Brussels. Other MEPs they met on this trip included Fianna Fil MEP Barry Andrews, and Independent MEPS, Clare Daly and Mick Wallace.

The Commission officials took note of the submissions and undertook to have an additional follow up meeting in Ireland.

Other nations catch almost twice as much as the Irish in our waters IFPO was last modified: June 9th, 2022 by Staff Writer

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Other nations catch almost twice as much as the Irish in our waters IFPO - Donegal Daily

With a lack of whakairo facilities in Tauranga, The Incubator Creative Hub has decided to open their own hub to further support Toi Maori in our community.

The whakairo hub was blessed and named Te Whare Toi O Te Moana last Thursday, as a part of The Incubators Matariki celebrations launching this month.

Carver and artist Peri Kohu of Ngi Tamarawaho gifted the hubs name, and was supportive of this initiative, being the previous lease-holder of the new whakairo space.

This is an important initiative as there are currently no other venues offering this type of facility in Tauranga, and I believe there is a need and a desire for many of our locals and visitors to participate in and get up close and personal with Toi Whakairo where the mana is often diminished both culturally and financially through lack of understanding and value, says Marama Mateparae, who is director of support and project development at The Incubator.

Marama says The Incubator recently applied for funding for a whakairo hub through Creative NZ but were disappointed to miss out. Even without knowing where we are getting the funds from we have decided to launch the hub with the aim to find funds over the next year, says Marama.

She adds: Tauranga Moana is home to many esteemed Whakairo artists, many of whom have already expressed an interest in using this facility to run wnanga or as a place they could mentor students.

Further afield

Marama says that there are whakairo courses through local schools such as Tauranga Boys College and Te Wharekura o Mauao but little access outside of these.

Im often contacted by ex-students of mine who are wanting to practise and learn more whakairo but there isnt anywhere else in Tauranga they can go, says Joel Komene, director of Aronui at Tauranga Boys College.

Joel is happy about the development of a whakairo hub and says it will be a space where the public is able to view carvers working, to be able to interact with them, see the tools and processes that are used in this artform, to learn the history and stories of local iwi that are told through the carvings, and to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of this artform and Mori culture.

Breath and growth

The hub space is also local whakairo artist Whare Thompsons studio and is where he created his piece H which is y on display as a part of The Incubators Matariki exhibitions.

Experimenting with recycled wood, Whare says the piece was carved into a dining table top using a water jet cutter. Whare also installed led lighting into his carving to backlight it with different colours to give unique meanings to his work.

H means breath and Whare says: [The design] creates a single face and that single face is representational of two people coming together and greeting each other; and that whole process is the exchange of breath with the hongi.

From that breath of life comes growth, hence the kowhaiwhai design that sits behind the figure.

Whare says its the connection between breath and growth which ties his work to Matariki.

The whakairo exhibition runs from June 3-July 10 at The Incubator Gallery as a part of The Incubator Creative Hubs Matariki celebrations.

See what else is happening in and around Tauranga below:

Saturday 11 June

A Course In MiraclesThis is A Course In Miracles, a required course. Study this life transforming course for free in your home. Full support given. Txt/Ph 0210 274 2502

Art in the ParkOriginal art for sale. Weather permitting.9am - 4pm. Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui.Tauranga Society of Artists

Association CroquetSat, Mon & Wed at Club Mt Maunganui, 45 Kawaka St. 9.15am for 9.30am start. New players & visitors welcome. Ph Jacqui 07 574 9293

Bay Singles Social GroupJoin a bunch of over 50s young singles. Weekend dinners, pot lucks, occasional outings. Have a go! ph Delia 027 284 8762, Andrea 021 133 0313

Beth-El Messianic Family Celebrate Shabbat (Sabbath) as did Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), his disciples and early believers. All welcome Otumoetai Primary 10am or Facebook Live 11am. Joel 021 768 043 info@bethel.org.nz

Greerton Hall MarketMARKET Listing content: Last Saturday of each month. 8am-12pm. Stalls inside/outside. Discounts for charity groups. Refreshments at kitchen. Phone/txt for site. Tricia 075431487/ 0279082952, www face-book.com/greertonhallmarket

Indoor Bowls12.30pm Sat, Tues & Weds. Tauranga Senior Citizens Club Hall 14 Norris Street. $3 refreshments. Must be fully vaccinated. Come join us. Carol 022 639 2411

Ipu Weaving WorkshopWeave your own ipu with base and lid. Aroha & Sandra 11am-1pm at The Artery. $65, all materials and tools will be provided. To book, visit http://www.theincubator.co.nz/the-artery

Otumoetai Tennis ClubAdult tennis. Start 1.30pm. Bellevue Park, Windsor Rd (adjacent to swimming pool). New players & visitors welcome. Ph Victor 027 577 1818 a/hrs.

Otumoetai Toy LibraryQuality toys for children of all ages. 94 Bureta Road, Otumoetai, behind St Johns Anglican Church. Tues, Thurs & Saturday from 9.30-11.30am

Petanque Tauranga BOP AssociationClub days Saturday, Tuesday & Thursday. Tawa Street, Mt Maunganui. French game played with Kiwi flair, boules available. Ph Ray 027 756 3565 for playing times.

Rwena Mori Bread WorkshopLearn to make rwena bread with Karin Egan, step by step, beginning with the mixture/bug. 1.30-3.30pm at The Artery. $10. To book visit http://www.theincubator.co.nz/the-artery

St Stephen's Jigsaw LibraryEvery Saturday 10am-12noon. Hire a variety of 500 puzzles, of 100 to 2000 pieces. Please wear masks and bring Vaccine Pass. Located behind church at Highmore Terrace, Brookfield.

Taijiquan and Qigong9am Saturday & Weds free Taiji and Qigong group. Kulim park on beach by big rock. All welcome. Ph Petro 021 751 665

Tauranga Social DanceSequence dancing 7-10pm Wesley Church Hall 100. 13th Ave this Saturday 11th June Phone Jan 5763455

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What's On: Carving the future of whakairo - The Bay's News First - SunLive

Check out Aditi Rao Hydari's best blue outfits

Aditi Rao Hydari, the popular Bollywood actress, is beauty personified. The actress makes style statements and emerges as a head-turner on every occasion. From giving us style lessons on how to rock all one-piece outfits to nailing winter street fashion with elegance and charm, she has been on a roll.

Aditi is a fan of blue outfits. She once wore a blue Chikan ethnic dress with black sunglasses. The actress enhanced her look for the day with Kolhapuri chappals and a multicoloured handbag. Aditi celebrated Pongal 2021 in a breezy blue floral anarkali. Her outfit comprised of a blue anarkali kurta featuring pink, white and yellow flowers, a matching sheer dupatta, and churidar pants in a solide hue. Instead of piling on the jhumkas and kadas, the actor skipped on jewellery this time, and completed her ensemble with nothing but simple brown Kolhapuris.

At Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohlis wedding reception, Aditi wore blue Benarasi Manish Malhotra lehenga. The Padmaavat actor teamed it with an off-the-shoulder velvet blouse in the same navy shade, which was accentuated with Benarasi fabric on its sleeves. Check her best blue outfits below!

Also Read: Aditi Rao Hydari Looks Regal In Blue & We Surely Want This Outfit: See Pic

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5 Times Aditi Rao Hydari Proved She Is A Fan Of Blue: Checkout Her Blue Wardrobe - IWMBuzz

Playing acoustic guitar is an entirely different experience than playing electric. For that matter, playing an acoustic thats plugged in is entirely different from playing an acoustic acoustically. Try your normal electric go-to stuff on an acoustic and youll probably be disappointed with the results. Plug an acoustic with a pickup straight into a DI or board, and its not going to respond or sound like an acoustic in your living room.

As a guitar nerd, I disliked that whole MTVUnplugged series. Mostly it was rockers just strumming away, kumbaya-style, on a harsh-sounding, plugged-in acoustic where you hear the pickup rather than the guitar body. Unless the song was either acoustically friendly or the artist came up with a completely different interpretation of the song, like Clapton did with Layla, most acoustic covers of electric songs undermine the guitar part.

In 1978, Eddie Van Halen put his swagger, groove, and ferocious riffs on You Really Got Me, and turned a weird Kinks tune into a game-changing rock anthem. But watch their 2012 acoustic version: It sounds like a solid but unremarkable player sitting around a campfire. Eddie was a brilliant acoustic player, as Spanish Fly from Van Halens second album demonstrates, but that was Eddie doing a specific acoustic composition.

Acoustic guitar is a different animal than electric. Ergo, one of the greatest guitarists ever sounds like a mere mortal when trying to make an instrument do what it cant do. In fact, a basic electric guitar in 1978 wasnt capable of what Van Halen wanted it to do, so he built his own. But the point of Unplugged was to showcase the song more than the riff.

Most of my session work is on acoustic. I love playing acoustic sessions: low pressure. With electric sessions, you must deal with buzzy amps and scratchy pots that you only hear under the microscope of recording. Take away pedals, amps, pickups, or cables, and nothing goes wrong. Theres rarely equipment failure when youre not plugged in. But thats not the only benefit.

With electric sessions, theres pressure to wow the audience with riffs and fresh signature parts. With acoustic, its always serve-the-song and rarely look-at-me. Usually youre laying down a simple, sturdy foundation, supporting the vocals and building the bed for the electric to shred. If done well, it brings out the best in the song and the lead instruments. Acoustic sessions are probably a bit like being a pilot: smooth/simple/routine procedural bits with the occasional terrifying part where you must land a plane with a wing on fire (or play a fast bluegrass solo).

The juxtaposition of an acoustic with an electric is a tried-and-true production approach because those textures work perfectly together. Some of the most epic hard-rocking songs rock all the harder because they start with acoustic. Por ejemplo: Hearts Crazy on You, Bostons More Than a Feeling, Pink Floyds Wish You Were Here, and Bon Jovis Wanted Dead or Alive.

Its like putting something delicate and sweet, such as a tiny fawn covered in white spots, next to a grizzly bear on its hind legs. The bear and the electric guitar seem even more powerful and scary by comparison.

That said, an acoustic guitar in the right hands can sound as big and awe-inspiring as a great three-piece band in full flight. Players such as Mike Dawes, Andy McKee, and Marcin Patrzalek cover bass and lead with 6-strings, then add their percussive element by beating on the guitar. They use internal mics and reverb to get a huge drum sound that you cant pull off on a Tele or Les Paul.

On the other hand, masters of bluegrass flatpicking, like Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, and Tony Rice, play single-note melodies that, even when unaccompanied, sound complete. For an amazing example of a hybrid approach, check out Joe Bonamassas Woke Up Dreaming. At times, its classical fingerpicking. Then its Al Di Meola-eque blazing, then a hybrid thing that really sounds like two guitar players at once. Ive listened to that track probably 20 times and I still dont know how he does it.

Then theres Tommy Emmanuel, who has everything in his bag. He does the percussive guitar-as-a-drum thing and combines it with Travis thumbpicking and break-neck flatpicking. And Jerry Reed played some of the most complex, funky guitar music ever recorded on his gut-string.

Guitar shredding predates electricity, so it all started on acoustic. Charley Patton, Lonnie Johnson, Skip James, Son House, and the Devils own, Robert Johnson (armed with a high-action wooden box with strings bought from a Sears catalog), reimagined what the instrument could do. Its a long, winding journey, but the road to rock n roll and blues was paved with acoustic guitars.

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Last Call: The Fawn & the Bear - Premier Guitar

Blondie will finally release their first box set. Blondie: Against the Odds 1974-1982 is set to arrive on Aug. 26.

The new collection covers theinitial eight years of Blondie's storied career and will includenew editions of the band's first six albums, remastered from the original analog tapes and cut on vinyl at Abbey Road Studios. The set will also featuredemos, alternate versions, studio outtakes, previously unpublished photos, two volumes of liner notes, track-by-track commentary from the band members and more.Of the box's124 tracks, 36 have never been issued before.

A complete track listing can be seen below.

Multiple formats of the release are currently available for preorder, including aSuper Deluxe Collectors Edition, deluxe four- and eight-LP sets and a three-CD version.

"It really is a treat to see how far we have come when I listen to these early attempts to capture our ideas on relatively primitive equipment," Blondie singer Debbie Harry said in a press release. "Fortunately the essence of being in a band in the early '70s held some of the antisocial, counterculture energies of the groups that were the influencers of the '60s. I am excited about this special collection. When I listen to these old tracks, it puts me there like I am a time traveler. As bad as it was sometimes, it was also equally as good. No regrets. More music.

You can view an unboxing video of theSuper Deluxe Collectors Edition below.

It is amazing that after all this time, and against the odds, our Blondie archival box set will finally be released," drummer Clem Burke added. "Its been a long time coming, and we are all very happy and excited with the final results."

Ahead of the full set's release, a previously unreleased recording of Blondie's "Moonlight Drive" is available today. You can hear it below.

"I am hopeful that this project will provide a glimpse into the process and some of the journey that the songs took from idea to final form, guitarist Chris Stein said. Some of this stuff is like early sketches; the old tape machines are like primitive notebooks. The trickiest thing for me was always about getting the melodies out of my head into reality and the changes that would happen along the way."

From the moment I walked into Chris Steins barn and saw a wall of tapes, I knew we were on the precipice of something extraordinary, producer Ken Shipley said. Againstthe Odds is a treasure chest disguised as a box set.

Blondie 'Against The Odds 1974-1982' Super Deluxe Collectors Edition Track ListingThe studio albums:BlondieSide A1. "X Offender"2. "Little Girl Lies"3. "In the Flesh"4. "Look Good in Blue"5. "In the Sun"6. "A Shark in Jets Clothing"Side B1. "Man Overboard"2. "Rip Her to Shreds"3. "Rifle Range"4. "Kung Fu Girl"5. "The Attack of the Giant Ants"

Plastic LettersSide A1. "Fan Mail"2. "Denis"3. "Bermuda Triangle Blues (Flight 45)"4. "Youth Nabbed as Sniper"5. "Contact in Red Square"6. "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear"7. "I'm on E"Side B1. "I Didn't Have the Nerve to Say No"2. "Love at the Pier"3. "No Imagination"4. "Kidnapper"5. "Detroit 442"6. "Cautious Lip"

Parallel LinesSide A1. "Hanging on the Telephone"2. "One Way or Another"3. "Picture This"4. "Fade Away and Radiate"5. "Pretty Baby"6. "I Know But I Don't Know"Side B1. "11:59"2. "Will Anything Happen"3. "Sunday Girl"4. "Heart of Glass"5. "I'm Gonna Love You Too"6. "Just Go Away"

Eat to the BeatSide A1. "Dreaming"2. "The Hardest Part"3. "Union City Blue"4. "Shayla"5. "Eat to the Beat"6. "Accidents Never Happen"Side B1. "Die Young Stay Pretty"2. "Slow Motion"3. "Atomic"4. "Sound-A-Sleep"5. "Victor"6. "Living in the Real World"

AutoamericanSide A1. "Europa"2. "Live It Up"3. "Here's Looking at You"4. "The Tide Is High"5. "Angels on the Balcony"6. "Go Through It"Side B1. "Do the Dark"2. "Rapture"3. "Faces"4. "T-Birds"5. "Walk Like Me"6. "Follow Me"

The HunterSide A1. "Orchid Club"2. "Island Of Lost Souls"3. "Dragonfly"4. "For Your Eyes Only"5. "The Beast"Side B1. "War Child"2. "Little Caesar"3. "Danceway"4. "(Can I) Find the Right Words (to Say)"5. "English Boys"6. "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game"

Bonus Tracks7" 45 rpm1. "Moonlight Drive"2. "Mr. Sightseer"

10" LP Outtakes & rarities ('Out in the Streets')Side A (1974 Session)1. "Out in the Streets" (1974)2. "The Disco Song"3. "Sexy Ida"Side B (Betrock Demo)1. "Platinum Blonde"2. "The Thin Line"3. "Puerto Rico"4. "Once I Had a Love" (1975)5. "Out in the Streets" (1975)

LP 1 Outtakes & rarities ('Plaza Sound')Side A1. "X Offender" (Intro)2. "X Offender" (Private Stock Single)3. "In the Sun" (Private Stock Single)4. "Little Girl Lies" (Private Stock Mix)5. "In the Flesh" (Extended Intro)6. "A Shark in Jets Clothing" (Take 2)7. "Kung Fu Girls" (Take 8)8. "Scenery"Side B1. "Denis" (Terry Ellis Mix)2. "Bermuda Triangle Blues - Flight 45" (Take 1)3. "I Didn't Have the Nerve to Say No" (Take 1)4. "I'm on E" (Take 2)5. "Kidnapper" (Take 2)6. "Detroit 442" (Take 2)7. "Poets Problem"

LP 2 Outtakes & rarities ('Parallel Beats')Side A1. "Once I Had a Love" (Mike Chapman Demo)2. "Sunday Girl" (French Version)3. "I'll Never Break Away From This Heart of Mine (Pretty Baby)"4. "Hanging on the Telephone" (Mike Chapman Demo)5. "Will Anything Happen" (Instrumental)6. "Underground Girl"Side B1. "Call Me"2. "Spaghetti Song (Atomic Part 2)"3. "Die Young Stay Pretty" (Take 1)4. "Union City Blue" (Instrumental)5. "Llamame"

LP 3 Outtakes & rarities ('Coca Cola')Side A1. "I Love You Honey, Give Me a Beer (Go Through It)"2. "Live It Up" (Giorgio Moroder Demo)3. "Angels on the Balcony" (Giorgio Moroder Demo)4. "Tide Is High" (Demo)5. "Susie & Jeffrey"Side B1. "Rapture" (Disco Version)2. "Autoamerican Ad"3. "Yuletide Throwdown"LP 4 Outtakes & rarities ('Home Tapes')Side A1. "Nameless" (Home Tape)2. "Sunday Girl" (Home Tape)3. "Theme From Topkapi" (Home Tape)4. "The Hardest Part" (Home Tape)5. "Ring of Fire" (Home Tape)Side B1. "War Child" (Chris Stein Mix)2. "Call Me" (Chris Stein Mix)3. "Heart of Glass" (Chris Stein Mix)

UCR takes a chronological look at the 100 best rock albums of the '80s.

Here is the original post:

Blondie Announce Their First Box Set, 'Against the Odds' - Ultimate Classic Rock

Zakk Wylde was barely out of his teens when he became Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist, going on to help pen some of the singer's best loved songs. 35 years later and Wylde is hailed as one of metal's most iconic guitar players, his work with Ozzy and the likes of Pride & Glory and Black Label Society helping to inspire generations of musicians to pick up the instrument.

"I'm just doing what the guys before me did," he says with a smile. "Chuck Berry came out and inspired Jimi Hendrix, then Hendrix inspired people like Eddie Van Halen. The guys that came before lift you up on their shoulders so you can take playing to another level - that's how this all works.

That in mind, we asked Zakk to pick out the ten songs that best tell his story...

If were talking about the 10 songs that tell my story, wed have to start with Miracle Man as thats the first song I wrote with Oz. Hearing that on the radio the first time was pretty insane; Id never made a record before that or even been in a studio of that magnitude.

That first album was a learning experience for me, working with Keith Olson on my guitar tone. Id be playing Ronni Le Tekr from TNT, 10,000 Lovers and hed go cool, keep playing and well get that sound from you too'. We were in England and every day wed record, then go back to this pub called The Wheatsheaf, jamming and drinking from around 11 in the morning - things got pretty hilarious.

Oz and I worked on Mama Im Coming Home in my apartment, which at the time I shared with my girlfriend now wife Barbaranne. Were sitting on my piano in my apartment and we wrote it right there, but when we recorded it on record it all got converted back into guitar. Listening to the finished version of it, I remember just being like wow and then Ozzys vocal comes in and is just unbelievable. He got some great vocal melodies on that album just check out the harmonies on Time After Time.

The framework of what Ozzy does was all set by Randy Rhoads on those first two Ozzy albums. Thats the template for how an Ozzy car is made, but you can make tweaks on that design to do something different like what Jake [E. Lee, ex-Ozzy guitarist] did with Bark At The Moon. At the same time, that means something like the banjo intro to a song like Losin Your Mind would never really fit into how an Ozzy record should look or sound. Its too much of a southern rock flavouring, even if on a song like Mama I was putting a bit of a country spin on the guitars, bringing a bit of a Allman Brothers Melissa type thing into it.

I ended up doing Pride & Glory up in Seattle with Rick Parashar, the three of us me, James [LoMenzo, bass] and Brian [Tichy, drums] living in a house that he owned and using this rental car, so it was non-stop shenanigans the whole time we were there. It was fun doing so much we didnt have room to do in Ozzys stuff, like using mandolin on Lovin Woman. We didnt double the guitars or anything either it was a real power trio vibe, more like Cream approach as opposed to Ozzy where everything gets built from the ground up.

We were working on Ozzmosis when I started writing the Book of Shadows record. Wed record all day, then at night Id go over to this bar called Brews. Id be in there until four, five in the morning most days and the sun would be coming up as I was drinking. They had this great jukebox stocked with Neil Young, The Eagles, Bob Seger, the Stones classic rock, all this killer mellow stuff.

Id spend all night drinking then go back to my hotel room inspired and thats how Book Of Shadows came about. It was a singer-songwriter, James Taylor type thing while I was working on it. I loved some of the vocal melodies and the Neil Young harmonica on Between Heaven And Hell was so much fun too. I think any great musician is a reflection of the stuff they truly love and that really holds true for that album. It was cool revisiting the idea for Book Of Shadows II, 20 years later too. Well have to top that next time 25 year wait for Book Of Shadows III, ha ha.

The first Black Label Society song I ever wrote was A Spoke In The Wheel, if you can believe it. A mellow song! I was sitting in a hotel in Japan doing promotion for Book Of Shadows, just up in my room with my electric guitar. Over the years we converted that into piano, but on the record its just an acoustic and single vocal looking back on Black Label, thats where it all began.

The idea then is still the same idea today the Black Label Society soup all starts with a riff, thats the foundation of the song. The guiding lights for me are Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Cream and Deep Purple. Those riffs dictate the song look at something like Smoke On The Water, or Paranoid or Sunshine Of Your Love that riff is probably the very first heavy metal riff, ever. Thats my mount riffmore.

I called Oz and asked him to do the background vocals with me for Stillborn. We did the video for it with Father Rob Zombie which was great fun too. I was just trying to write a song based off a riff and to use as few crayons as possible if I give you only three ingredients and ask you to make a meal, Im interested in seeing what you can put together.

When people go oh man, imagine if The Beatles or Jimi Hendrix had Pro Tools, wouldnt that be great? and Im just like no. The reason theyre so great is because they had so little to work with, they had to use their imaginations to bounce tracks and create something that didnt exist. If youre there and can only use two strings, I wanna hear what you can write. Stillborn was exactly that its one note, F-sharp. Thats how Ive always approached the Black Label stuff how much can you do with as little as possible?

The crazy thing about In This River is that Id written it before Dime had even passed away, it was all about life in general. We dedicate that song every night to Dime, itll never leave our sets when we do a headline show. These days we dedicate it to Dime and Vinnie, which is crazy too. But when we first wrote it, both of those guys were still with us. But after everything happened, I knew that had to be his song.

Probably the most important collab Ive ever done was joining Generation Axe. Jamming with Yngwie [Malmsteen], Steve Vai, Nuno [Bettencourt] and Tosin [Abasi] was a blast every night.

Youd hear the horror stories of the music business, especially from Yngwie and Steve whod seen the comedy and tragedy in the whole thing. Steve even said one night he was glad he put the thing together for that reason, for the pure music business comedy its like the wild west. Rolling with the fellas is a blast.

Vertigo was all about celebrating the 50th anniversary of that first Black Sabbath record. We went out on tour to play as Zakk Sabbath and when we did that, its so obvious how inspiring it is. Re-recording that whole album just reiterated to me that Black Sabbath are the Beatles of heavy metal.

We even played in Birmingham, Black Sabbaths home town, on the 50th anniversary of that album, opening with Supernaut. There are two riffs in that song and its absolutely phenomenal. Into The Void is ridiculous too Lord Iommi is the Lennon, McCartney, Bach and Beethoven of riffs.

When the pandemic hit, my wife said hey, maybe you should work on a record so when it all ends youll have something to release. I spent a month working on my little book report ready for when the guys arrived and we could actually record. For the first time, Id recorded all my parts before the guys even arrived. Theyd come round, listen to what I had, then knock it out.

I was really happy with how Farewell Ballad came out, and that I finally managed to finish it. That song has been sitting around since like 2007 or 2008; I was doing something for Guitar Techniques magazine and needed something to solo over, so I wrote that piece right there. Over the years that things has had millions of views and people doing their own versions, absolutely crushing it and doing a great job, so I figured why not actually finish the piece.

Excerpt from:

Zakk Wylde picks the 10 songs that have defined his career - Louder

MTV Movie + TV Awards: Shop The Night's Hottest Trends

Jun. 6 2022, Published 5:04 p.m. ET

All products featured on OK! Magazine are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, OK! Magazine may earn an affiliate commission.

At last night's MTV Movie + TV Awards, all of our favorite stars were in full force, bringing with them several styles we want to rock all summer long.

From auguts-inspired sets to reimagined LBDs, here are three trends that dominated the red carpet.

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Edgy LBDs

Source: @oliviarodrigo/Instagram

Little Black Dresses have always been a fashion must-have, but this year, Olivia Rodrigo and Jennifer Lopez proved that a cool LBD can still pack a punch, especially when appearing in bold fabrics like leather or boasting lingerie-inspired details. Put an edgy spin on this iconic look by reaching for black dresses in unique materials we love Alice + Olivias Nelle mini dress in vegan patent leather. For a more old-school look, take after Rodrigo, opting for a gown with sensual straps and a corset-like structure.

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Alice + Olivias Nelle Patent Vegan Leather Mini Dress etails for $275 at aliceandolivia.com.

Lulus Head to Happy Hour Black Satin Tie-Strap Bodycon Mini Dress retails for $68 at lulus.com.

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Keeping It Y2K

Source: @sydney_sweeney/Instagram

Amid all of the swoon-worthy styles that graced last nights award ceremony, one style movement seemingly reigned supreme the Y2K revival, with celebs like Euphorias Sydney Sweeney and host Vanessa Hudgens pairing vintage-inspired crop tops with micro miniskirts.

While rocking a short polo like Sweeney can give a bit of Britney Spears-inspired glamour to any retro look, sporting a scarf top like Hudgens is always a classic. Why not try Y2K your way?

Versaces Safety Pin Crepe Miniskirt retails for $1,225 at nordstrom.com.

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Alo Yogas Choice Polo retails for $68 at aloyoga.com.

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Pretty In Pink

Source: @lanacondor/Instagram

As OK! has previously reported, bold pink is one of 2022s hottest hues, appearing on celebrities like Zendaya, Justin Bieber and Saweetie, to name a few. And it seems this trend is still going strong, with actress Lana Condor and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp rocking pink on the red carpet. While opting for a structured jacket like Condor offers an element of edgy juxtaposition, adding sparkles to the mix like Mellencamp is a fun and feminine way to hop on this trend.

Alice + Olivias Chloe Vegan Leather Croc Cropped Jacket retails for $495 at aliceandolivia.com.

Lulus Hilaria Fuchsia Sequin Bodycon Mini Dress retails for $66 at lulus.com.

Go here to read the rest:

MTV Movie + TV Awards: Shop The Night's Hottest Trends - OK!

How long do BIAB nails last?

BIAB nails can last for up to four weeks depending on the growth of your natural nails. (Tip: Dont forget to pre-book your appointment for infills, yall.)

The soak-off method reduces damage to your natural nails. While its always recommended to get BIAB nails removed by a professional, you could do it yourself. All youll need is a bottle of acetone, some cotton and tin foil to get the job done. First, place an acetone-soaked cotton ball onto your nail and wrap a strip of tin foil around it to keep it in place. Wait a few minutes before unwrapping the foil and brush off the excess polish using the cotton ball. (If there's still leftover polish, repeat the steps.) Once the polish has been removed, massage a few drops of cuticle oil and moisturizer over your nails and hands to rehydrate the area.

With the cost of for BIAB nails starting at $40 (which is similar to gel manis), we just might be official converts.

RELATED: We Ask a Derm: Are Acrylic Nails Bad for You?

See original here:

Are BIAB Nails the Solution for Brittle Tips? Lets Find Out - PureWow

Once upon a time, you couldnt find a single machine in my home that wasnt running on Linux. A handful of laptops and one or two desktops came in and went out, but Linux stayed for more than ten years. If my fridge could run on Linux, I wouldve installed it. And then, Edge entered through the Windows, and showed Linux the door (for good?!).

Once upon a time, you couldnt find a single machine in my home that wasnt running on Linux.

A handful of laptops and one or two desktops came in and went out, but Linux stayed for more than ten years. If my fridge could run on Linux, I wouldve installed it. And then, Edge entered through Windows, and showed Linux the door (for good?!).

Theres a saying, once you try Linux, you never go back to Windows. My Linux transition can be best described as revelation and liberation.

For years I had only two options when it comes to Windows. The first one was to bleed for two years until I pay off my contract with a mobile provider. I get a laptop with a preinstalled Windows, which was usually a cheaper Home version strictly limited to one user without Office.

A bitter cherry on top was the simple math that could have bought two laptops for the price of a two-year contract. Why didnt buy a laptop and Windows separately? Well, this question brings us to option two.

Ive always hated the local self-proclaimed Windows Gurus.

You want Windows installed on your computer - you have to pay to play. Why didnt I do it myself? Because I didnt want to go on a treasure hunt for missing drivers, thats why. So, I had to call, wait, and eventually listen to the most boring life stories imaginable.

I lost count of how many times I bought a cat in a bag. God knows where these Windows versions came from. Im sure back in the day, I got some malware or trojan for free. Its on the house, buddy, but no worries, everybody is doing it. If you wanted a trustworthy key, you had to pay extra for it.

It wasnt about the money. I was sick and tired of feeling helpless on dependent on these Windows Gurus. Oh, how they enjoyed themselves showing off their expertise. I had to be grateful and generous, if I wanted to see them again doing their magic on my machines.

Then one day that was both the worst and the best at the same time, I just had enough. The famously infamous blue screen of death made me cry, literally. For the first time in my life, I was looking for Windows alternatives, for real.

I heard stories about the thing called - Linux, which my PC gurus referred to as Windows for the poor. At that point, I was absolutely desperate and determined.

Just in case, you havent been told - UBUNTU - is a beautiful word. Short story even shorter, I followed Linux-for-dummiest-dummies step-by-step how-to-this-and-that available online. A few hours later, not only did I kill the blue screen of death, but also installed my very first Linux on

HP Stream Notebook PC 13, which is a Windows 10 nightmare with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB hard drive. Ubuntu worked like a charm on my favorite laptop with a battery that lasts almost as long as the final season of Peaky Blinders.

I felt like I had been living under the Windows rock all that years before Linux. So much misery, time, and money wasted. But, no more baby, no more. I became a Linux missionary. You know what that means, dont you, for the bloodsucking Windows gurus from my neighborhood?

Whoever wanted Linux Ubuntu on their computer could get it for free. My reward was the challenge of installing Linux on the old and weak machines with more dust than their owners trust that theyd use them ever again. I never said no to a desperate call for help. I also never said no to a pizza and beer either. No money, but if you want to surprise your friendly Linux neighbor, knock yourself out, honey!

Those were the days. I was invincible. No more rage against the machines. Even when I got a new laptop with the preinstalled Windows, I had no mercy. I didnt care about the warranty BS for switching to another OS, which was a big deal back then.

They also say that love is blind. I was happy and careless that I didnt have the time or need to bother myself with the technicalities.

Somewhere along the way, Linux people got lost in translation. Maybe it was just me, but I could read it clearly between the lines of new Ubuntu releases. We can match Windows. If youre asking me, and you aint, Linux has been chasing its own tail with all these new releases. I dont want something thats as good as or even better than Windows. I want something different, as simple as that.

Then, one day, I realized that not even 4 GB RAM wont be enough for the latest Ubuntu release. Dont get me wrong. I dont live in the stone-computer-age. I aint no Scrooge McDuck when it comes to buying a new machine. But, cmon guys, Im a writer, not a gamer. If you are a coder or a designer, I can understand why you look down on anything thats running with less than 8 GB, 16 GB, or even 32 GB RAM.

For the first time in my Linux life, I started paying attention to the LTS dates. For example, Ubuntu Linux 16.04 LTS is no longer supported. So, whats the big deal? Upgrade to 18.04. But, I dont want to. After Ubuntu 20.04 got released, I just lost it.

In the meantime, the little Microsoft bees were busy working on something that will/would turn out to be a game-changer. If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed will go to the mountain.

I closed my Twitter account. Nah, its not what you think. It has nothing to do with Elon. So, chill out. I tweeted with pride and excitement when I installed Microsoft Edge on Linux while it was still on Dev Channel (Beta). It worked. It ate less memory than Chromium! I didnt keep the screenshots. Feel free to correct me if Im wrong, but thats not the point.

The almighty grandpa Microsoft made something for Linux. I was shocked, to say the least. What was that supposed to mean? What an unexpected nod to Linux. Why? Was that some kind of a recognition? Or an olive branch of some kind?

As I said, I tried it. I liked it. One thing led to another. I didnt know or I totally forgot that a Microsoft activation key stays attached to your Microsoft account. So, I installed Microsoft again after almost a decade. I felt as if I was cheating on Linux. I already explained to you that I have a thing against the browsers, which are memory eaters. One of my friends showed me that each new Chrome tab is another memory-hungry mouth your computer has to feed. I did a quick comparison of Edge against Chrome on Windows. However, when it comes to performance numbers, I prefer that the pros at Toms Guide have their final say:

I no longer need local Windows Gurus to do the installation work. I can do it myself. Only one of my machines runs on Windows 11. Honestly, I dont see it as a problem. Windows 10 will be supported by 2025. By then, I will renew my PC army, and all of my computers will have Windows 11 or 12 or whatever gets introduced in the meantime. One more shocking revelation. The same friend, I mentioned earlier, showed me that you can add extra RAM to a laptop, which I considered to be a heresy. Plus, an extra surgery that involves an SSD, and your laptop gets a new Windows life. This time, the math was on my side.

Lets not forget app compatibility. No need for Linux alternatives. Although it was fun to use Terminal. It made me feel - smart.

Three years ago I published a totally different story about my Linux experiences and feelings while using Ubuntu and LibreOffice. Now, Im writing this one on Windows. What a difference one browser made.

Even OMG!UBUNTU! cherished the moment of Edges stability with a headline that sounded as if came right from Microsofts marketing kitchen: Microsoft Edge for Linux is Finally Stable. Wow! Just in case someone would like to label me as a traitor.

Not so long ago, it used to be like this:

Once upon a time, you couldnt find a single machine in my home that wasnt running on Linux.

A handful of laptops and one or two desktops came in and went out, but Linux stayed for more than ten years. If my fridge could run on Linux, I wouldve installed it. And then, Edge entered through Windows, and showed Linux the door (for good?!).

Theres a saying, once you try Linux, you never go back to Windows. My Linux transition can be best described as revelation and liberation.

For years I had only two options when it comes to Windows. The first one was to bleed for two years until I pay off my contract with a mobile provider. I get a laptop with a preinstalled Windows, which was usually a cheaper Home version strictly limited to one user without Office.

A bitter cherry on top was the simple math that could have bought two laptops for the price of a two-year contract. Why didnt buy a laptop and Windows separately? Well, this question brings us to option two.

Ive always hated the local self-proclaimed Windows Gurus.

You want Windows installed on your computer - you have to pay to play. Why didnt I do it myself? Because I didnt want to go on a treasure hunt for missing drivers, thats why. So, I had to call, wait, and eventually listen to the most boring life stories imaginable.

I lost count of how many times I bought a cat in a bag. God knows where these Windows versions came from. Im sure back in the day, I got some malware or trojan for free. Its on the house, buddy, but no worries, everybody is doing it. If you wanted a trustworthy key, you had to pay extra for it.

It wasnt about the money. I was sick and tired of feeling helpless on dependent on these Windows Gurus. Oh, how they enjoyed themselves showing off their expertise. I had to be grateful and generous, if I wanted to see them again doing their magic on my machines.

Then one day that was both the worst and the best at the same time, I just had enough. The famously infamous blue screen of death made me cry, literally. For the first time in my life, I was looking for Windows alternatives, for real.

I heard stories about the thing called - Linux, which my PC gurus referred to as Windows for the poor. At that point, I was absolutely desperate and determined.

Just in case, you havent been told - UBUNTU - is a beautiful word. Short story even shorter, I followed Linux-for-dummiest-dummies step-by-step how-to-this-and-that available online. A few hours later, not only did I kill the blue screen of death, but also installed my very first Linux on

HP Stream Notebook PC 13, which is a Windows 10 nightmare with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB hard drive. Ubuntu worked like a charm on my favorite laptop with a battery that lasts almost as long as the final season of Peaky Blinders.

I felt like I had been living under the Windows rock all that years before Linux. So much misery, time, and money wasted. But, no more baby, no more. I became a Linux missionary. You know what that means, dont you, for the bloodsucking Windows gurus from my neighborhood?

Whoever wanted Linux Ubuntu on their computer could get it for free. My reward was the challenge of installing Linux on the old and weak machines with more dust than their owners trust that theyd use them ever again. I never said no to a desperate call for help. I also never said no to a pizza and beer either. No money, but if you want to surprise your friendly Linux neighbor, knock yourself out, honey!

Those were the days. I was invincible. No more rage against the machines. Even when I got a new laptop with the preinstalled Windows, I had no mercy. I didnt care about the warranty BS for switching to another OS, which was a big deal back then.

They also say that love is blind. I was happy and careless that I didnt have the time or need to bother myself with the technicalities.

Somewhere along the way, Linux people got lost in translation. Maybe it was just me, but I could read it clearly between the lines of new Ubuntu releases. We can match Windows. If youre asking me, and you aint, Linux has been chasing its own tail with all these new releases. I dont want something thats as good as or even better than Windows. I want something different, as simple as that.

Then, one day, I realized that not even 4 GB RAM wont be enough for the latest Ubuntu release. Dont get me wrong. I dont live in the stone-computer-age. I aint no Scrooge McDuck when it comes to buying a new machine. But, cmon guys, Im a writer, not a gamer. If you are a coder or a designer, I can understand why you look down on anything thats running with less than 8 GB, 16 GB, or even 32 GB RAM.

For the first time in my Linux life, I started paying attention to the LTS dates. For example, Ubuntu Linux 16.04 LTS is no longer supported. So, whats the big deal? Upgrade to 18.04. But, I dont want to. After Ubuntu 20.04 got released, I just lost it.

In the meantime, the little Microsoft bees were busy working on something that will/would turn out to be a game-changer. If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed will go to the mountain.

I closed my Twitter account. Nah, its not what you think. It has nothing to do with Elon. So, chill out. I tweeted with pride and excitement when I installed Microsoft Edge on Linux while it was still on Dev Channel (Beta). It worked. It ate less memory than Chromium! I didnt keep the screenshots. Feel free to correct me if Im wrong, but thats not the point.

The almighty grandpa Microsoft made something for Linux. I was shocked, to say the least. What was that supposed to mean? What an unexpected nod to Linux. Why? Was that some kind of a recognition? Or an olive branch of some kind?

As I said, I tried it. I liked it. One thing led to another. I didnt know or I totally forgot that a Microsoft activation key stays attached to your Microsoft account. So, I installed Microsoft again after almost a decade. I felt as if I was cheating on Linux. I already explained to you that I have a thing against the browsers, which are memory eaters. One of my friends showed me that each new Chrome tab is another memory-hungry mouth your computer has to feed. I did a quick comparison of Edge against Chrome on Windows. However, when it comes to performance numbers, I prefer that the pros at Toms Guide have their final say:

I no longer need local Windows Gurus to do the installation work. I can do it myself. Only one of my machines runs on Windows 11. Honestly, I dont see it as a problem. Windows 10 will be supported by 2025. By then, I will renew my PC army, and all of my computers will have Windows 11 or 12 or whatever gets introduced in the meantime. One more shocking revelation. The same friend, I mentioned earlier, showed me that you can add extra RAM to a laptop, which I considered to be a heresy. Plus, an extra surgery that involves an SSD, and your laptop gets a new Windows life. This time, the math was on my side.

Lets not forget app compatibility. No need for Linux alternatives. Although it was fun to use Terminal. It made me feel - smart.

Three years ago I published a totally different story about my Linux experiences and feelings while using Ubuntu and LibreOffice. Now, Im writing this one on Windows. What a difference one browser made.

Even OMG!UBUNTU! cherished the moment of Edges stability with a headline that sounded as if came right from Microsofts marketing kitchen: Microsoft Edge for Linux is Finally Stable. Wow! Just in case someone would like to label me as a traitor.

Not so long ago, it used to be like this:

Read more here:

How Microsoft Tipped My Linux Love Over the 'Edge' - hackernoon.com